Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and a communication apparatus. If a terminal does not complete measurement of a CSI-RS or does not generate CSI before a second time-frequency resource, the terminal can still transmit CSI (second CSI) in the second time-frequency resource. The value of the second CSI is a first value, and the first value indicates that the CSI is invalid CSI. A network device determines, on the basis of the second CSI, how long is required for the terminal to generate or prepare valid CSI (third CSI), or the time required for completing cell CSI-RS measurement, so that when the third CSI is available for scheduling and reporting can be determined, that is, a resource (a third time-frequency resource) for scheduling the third CSI is determined and indicated to the terminal, and the terminal can transmit valid CSI on the resource, thereby achieving timely and efficient scheduling of reporting of CSI. The delay in reporting valid CSI can be reduced when less air interface resources are used, and the efficiency of reporting valid CSI can be improved.

Description

Communication method and communication apparatus

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202411346673.2, filed on September 25, 2024, entitled "Communication method and communication apparatus", and the Chinese patent application No. 202510390390.6, filed on March 28, 2025, entitled "Communication method and communication apparatus", both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0003] In the process of switching a terminal from a source base station to a target base station, the transmission rate of the application layer data of the terminal is affected by the modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and the MCS is determined according to the channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) measurement report reported by the terminal. At present, the transmission rate of the application layer data of the terminal in the process of switching the terminal from the source base station to the target base station is slow, which affects the user experience. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus, which can reduce the latency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report by the terminal and improve the efficiency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report in the process of cell switching using fewer air interface resources, reduce the time used for increasing the data rate of the terminal device after switching, and thus ensure a high transmission rate of the application layer data of the terminal and improve the user experience.

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The execution subject of the method can be a terminal. The terminal can be a terminal device, a component (chip, chip system, or processor) supporting the terminal device to implement the method, or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The method comprises: sending indication information to a first communication apparatus; receiving first information from the first communication apparatus, the first information being used for scheduling the sending of channel state information (CSI); and sending the CSI to the first communication apparatus according to the first information.

[0006] The communication method provided in the first aspect is that, after completing the CSI-RS measurement, the terminal informs the target network device (i.e., the first communication device) that the CSI-RS measurement report has been completed through the indication information, and triggers the target network device to schedule resources in time. The terminal can send the CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device on the transmission resources. The delay of the terminal reporting the CSI-RS measurement report and the efficiency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report can be reduced in the case of using less air interface resources, so as to ensure a high transmission rate of the terminal application layer data and improve the user experience.

[0007] The first communication device is a target network device in a cell switching process of the terminal device.

[0008] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information includes first indication information and / or second indication information; the first indication information is used to indicate that the CSI has been generated or the measurement on the CSI-RS has been completed; and the second indication information is used to indicate the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement. Different identities of the CSI-RS correspond to different CSIs. In this implementation manner, the target network device can be explicitly informed of which CSI-RS measurement has been completed or which CSI corresponding to the CSI-RS has been generated. Since the target network device only needs to schedule the upload of the measurement report corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement or the generated measurement report, the accuracy and efficiency of the scheduling of the target network device can be improved.

[0009] For example, the identity of the CSI-RS can be an index of the CSI-RS, a sequence number of the CSI-RS, or the like.

[0010] For example, the completed CSI-RS measurement or the generated CSI can be the measurement of all or part of the CSI-RS or the measurement report (CSI) corresponding to all or part of the CSI-RS.

[0011] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first information includes the identity of the first CSI-RS, the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI, or the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement includes the identity of the first CSI-RS; and the sending of the CSI to the first communication device according to the first information includes sending the CSI corresponding to the identity of the first CSI-RS to the first communication device on the first time-frequency resources. In this implementation manner, the target network device can schedule the upload of the measurement report corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement or the generated CSI-RS measurement report, and the accuracy and efficiency of the scheduling of the CSI-RS measurement report upload of the target network device can be improved.

[0012] For example, the identity of the first CSI-RS can be an index of the first CSI-RS, a sequence number of the first CSI-RS, or the like.

[0013] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first information further includes information of the first time-frequency resource.

[0014] In a possible implementation, if the first information does not include the information of the first time-frequency resource, the terminal can determine the information of the first time-frequency resource according to a time-frequency resource occupied (used) by the first information. For example, the terminal can determine the information of the first time-frequency resource according to a time-frequency resource corresponding to the first information and an offset value.

[0015] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, before sending the indication information to the first communication device, the method further includes: receiving second information from a second communication device (i.e., a source network device), the second information including configuration information of CSI-RS, the configuration information of the CSI-RS including configuration information of at least one CSI-RS, different CSI-RSs corresponding to different identities; and performing measurement on the at least one CSI-RS respectively according to the second information. In this implementation, the terminal can be explicitly informed of the information of the CSI-RS to be measured, and the efficiency and accuracy of the measurement of the CSI-RS by the terminal can be improved.

[0016] The second communication device is a source network device in a cell switching process of the terminal device.

[0017] For example, the CSI-RS information (i.e., the configuration information of the CSI-RS included in the second information) corresponding to the target network device to be measured can include configuration information of one or more CSI-RSs. The one or more CSI-RSs corresponding to the target network device are CSI-RSs transmitted by the target network device to the terminal in the target cell.

[0018] For example, the source network device (the second communication device) and the target network device (the first communication device) can provide communication services for the terminal in different time periods.

[0019] For example, the time periods in which the source network device and the target network device provide communication services for the terminal can also partially overlap.

[0020] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, before the indication information is sent to the first communication device, the method further includes: receiving second information from the first communication device (i.e., the target network device), the second information including configuration information of CSI-RS, the configuration information of CSI-RS including configuration information of at least one CSI-RS, different CSI-RSs corresponding to different identities; and performing measurement on the at least one CSI-RS respectively according to the second information.

[0021] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the indication information is carried in a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration completion message, a message (e.g., random access message 3) of a random access procedure, a medium access control-control element (MAC CE), or uplink data. In this implementation, the indication information can be carried in existing signaling or messages, and no additional (separate) signaling / messages are needed to send the indication information, which can reduce air interface overhead.

[0022] For example, the first information is carried in downlink control information (DCI). In this implementation, the first information can be carried in existing signaling, which can reduce signaling overhead and ensure the efficiency of resource scheduling.

[0023] In the second aspect, a communication method is provided, and an execution subject of the method can be a network side device, which can be a network device, a component (chip, chip system, or processor) supporting the network device to implement the method, or a logic node, logic module, software, or the like capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the network device. The method includes: receiving indication information, the indication information being used to indicate that measurement on channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) has been completed or channel state information (CSI) has been generated; in response to the indication information, sending first information, the first information being used to schedule transmission of the CSI; and receiving the CSI.

[0024] The communication method provided in the second aspect can timely schedule a resource for the terminal to transmit the CSI-RS measurement report in the case that the CSI-RS measurement report (i.e., CSI) has been completed, and the terminal can timely report the CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device (the first communication apparatus) on the resource. The method can reduce the time delay of the terminal in reporting the CSI-RS measurement report and improve the efficiency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report in the case of using less air interface resource, reduce the time used by the terminal device in increasing the data rate after the handover, and achieve the fastest recovery of the data rate, thereby ensuring a high application layer data transmission rate and improving the user experience.

[0025] The first communication apparatus is a target network device of the terminal device in a cell handover process.

[0026] For the specific content of the indication information and the first information and the beneficial effects, refer to the description of the implementation manners of the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0027] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first information includes an identifier of the first CSI-RS, and the generated CSI corresponds to the identifier of the CSI-RS or the completed CSI-RS measurement corresponds to the identifier of the CSI-RS, and the identifier of the first CSI-RS is included. The receiving of the CSI includes receiving the CSI corresponding to the identifier of the first CSI-RS on the first time-frequency resource. In this implementation manner, the uploading of the measurement report corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement or the generated CSI-RS measurement report can be scheduled, and the accuracy and efficiency of the target network device in scheduling the uploading of the CSI-RS measurement report can be improved.

[0028] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, before the indication information is received, the method further includes: sending second information, and the second information includes configuration information of the CSI-RS, the configuration information of the CSI-RS includes configuration information of at least one CSI-RS, and different CSI-RSs correspond to different identifiers. In this implementation manner, the terminal can be informed of the information of the CSI-RS to be measured, and the efficiency and accuracy of the terminal in measuring the CSI-RS can be improved.

[0029] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided. An execution subject of the method can be a terminal. The terminal can be a terminal device, a component (chip, chip system, or processor) supporting the terminal device to implement the method, or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The method includes: sending, to a first communication apparatus, a second CSI on a second time-frequency resource, the second CSI having a first value, the first value being used to indicate that the second CSI is invalid or that the terminal has not completed at least one CSI-RS measurement on a first cell, the second CSI being CSI corresponding to the first cell, the first cell being a cell providing communication services for the first communication apparatus; receiving third information from the first communication apparatus, the third information being used to schedule sending of a CSI on a third time-frequency resource, a time domain resource of the third time-frequency resource being determined according to a first time length and a time domain resource occupied by a fourth time-frequency resource, the first time length indicating a time length required by the terminal to generate the CSI or indicating a time length elapsed from the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to the scheduling of the CSI transmission; and sending, to the first communication apparatus, a third CSI on the third time domain resource, the third CSI being CSI corresponding to the first cell.

[0030] The communication method provided in the third aspect can enable the terminal device to transmit the second CSI on the second time-frequency resource even if the terminal device has not completed the measurement of the CSI-RS or has not generated the CSI measurement report before the second time-frequency resource, and the second CSI has the first value indicating that the CSI is invalid. The network device (i.e., the first communication apparatus) can determine the resource (i.e., the third time-frequency resource) for scheduling the third CSI according to the first value of the second CSI and indicate the resource to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can transmit the valid CSI on the resource. In one aspect, timely and effective scheduling of the reporting of the valid CSI can be implemented, and the waste of communication resources can be reduced. In another aspect, the time delay of the reporting of the valid CSI can be reduced using fewer air interface resources, and the efficiency of the reporting of the valid CSI can be improved.

[0031] For example, the first communication apparatus can be a target network device of the terminal device in a cell switching process, and the first cell can be a target cell. For another example, the first communication apparatus can be a secondary network device, a secondary network device, or an auxiliary node providing communication services for the terminal device, i.e., the terminal device can be in a dual connectivity scenario, and the first cell can be a secondary cell.

[0032] In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the second CSI includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the first time length or an identifier corresponding to the first time length. In this implementation manner, the efficiency and accuracy of the network device determining the first time length according to the second CSI can be improved.

[0033] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the first time length is predefined. In this implementation, the first time length is not indicated by additional signaling, thereby reducing consumption of communication resources.

[0034] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the first value is further used to indicate the first time length, wherein the first value is included in a value set, the value set includes a plurality of different values associated with the second CSI, each of the different values associated with the second CSI is used to indicate that the second CSI is invalid or is used to indicate that the terminal does not complete the measurement of the at least one CSI-RS of the first cell, and the different values associated with the second CSI correspond to different time lengths, the different time lengths indicate different time lengths required by the terminal to generate the CSI, or indicate different time lengths elapsed from the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to the scheduling of the CSI transmission. In this implementation, the efficiency of determining the first time length can be improved, and the first time length is not indicated by additional signaling, thereby reducing consumption of communication resources.

[0035] For example, the first value of the second CSI can be a value converted from all bit values of the second CSI into a decimal number, or the first value of the second CSI can be a value converted from all bit values of CQI in the second CSI into a decimal number. The first value is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0036] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, before the second CSI is transmitted, the method further includes: transmitting, to the second communication device, fourth information including a time length required by the terminal to complete the measurement of the CSI-RS of the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell, and the fourth information is used to determine the first time length. In this implementation, the second communication device can forward the fourth information to the first communication device, and the first communication device can determine the first time length according to the fourth information, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of determining the first time length. The time length required by the terminal to complete the measurement of the CSI-RS of the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell included in the fourth information characterizes the capability of the terminal device.

[0037] For example, the second communication device can be a source network device of the terminal device in a cell switching process, or can be a master node corresponding to a master cell accessed by the terminal device.

[0038] For example, the accessed cell or the switched cell of the terminal device can include the first cell.

[0039] For example, the fourth information can include the value of the first time length.

[0040] In a third aspect, in a possible implementation, the second time-frequency resource or the fourth time-frequency resource includes at least one of a time-frequency resource of a first PUCCH in a process in which the terminal accesses the first cell, a time-frequency resource occupied by a first PUSCH, a time-frequency resource occupied by a random access message 3, a time-frequency resource occupied by a random access message A, a time-frequency resource of a PUSCH scheduled by a random access message 2, a time-frequency resource of an uplink channel scheduled by a handover command, a time-frequency resource of a first PUSCH after completion of access to the first cell, or a time-frequency resource of a first PUCCH. In this implementation, by determining or defining the second time-frequency resource and the fourth time-frequency resource, the terminal device and the first network device can be consistent in understanding the second time-frequency resource, thereby ensuring transmission efficiency of the second CSI. In addition, in a process of cell switching or adding a secondary cell, the second time-frequency resource is as early as possible in the time domain (earlier in the time domain or in time), which can reduce the transmission delay of the second CSI and achieve timely and early transmission of the second CSI.

[0041] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided. An execution subject of the method can be a network device, which can be a network equipment (a first network equipment), a component (a chip, a chip system, or a processor) supporting the network equipment (the first network equipment) to implement the method, or a logic node, a logic module, or software, etc. that can implement all or part of the network equipment functions. The method includes: receiving a second CSI on a second time-frequency resource, the second CSI having a first value, the first value being used to indicate that the second CSI is invalid or used to indicate that a terminal has not completed at least one CSI-RS measurement on a first cell, and the second CSI being a CSI corresponding to the first cell; determining a third time-frequency resource according to a first time length and a time domain resource occupied by a fourth time-frequency resource, wherein the first time length indicates a time length required by the terminal to generate the CSI or indicates a time length elapsed from the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to scheduling of transmission of the CSI; sending third information, the third information being used to schedule transmission of a CSI on the third time-frequency resource; and receiving the third CSI on the third time domain resource, the third CSI being a CSI corresponding to the first cell.

[0042] The communication method provided in the fourth aspect can ensure that the network device receives the second CSI sent by the terminal device at the second time-frequency resource, and the value of the second CSI is the first value, which indicates that the CSI is an invalid CSI. The network device determines the resource (third time-frequency resource) for scheduling the third CSI according to the first value of the second CSI and indicates the terminal device. In one aspect, timely and effective scheduling of the reporting of the valid CSI can be implemented, and the waste of communication resources can be reduced. In another aspect, the time delay of the reporting of the valid CSI can be reduced in the case of using fewer air interface resources, and the efficiency of reporting the valid CSI can be improved.

[0043] For the specific content included in the second CSI, the first value of the second CSI, and the implementation of the second time-frequency resource or the fourth time-frequency resource, refer to the description in the corresponding implementation in the third aspect above. For brevity, the description is not repeated here.

[0044] In a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: receiving fourth information, the fourth information including a time length required by the terminal device to complete the CSI-RS measurement on the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell; and determining the first time length according to the fourth information. In this implementation, the second communication device (the second network device) can forward the fourth information to the first communication device, and the first communication device can determine the first time length according to the fourth information, which can improve the efficiency and accuracy of determining the first time length. The time length required by the terminal device to complete the CSI-RS measurement on the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell included in the fourth information characterizes the capability of the terminal device.

[0045] In the fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a module (for example, including a processing module and a communication module) for performing each step in the first aspect above or any possible implementation of the first aspect; or a module for performing each step in the third aspect above or any possible implementation of the third aspect.

[0046] In the sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a module (for example, including a processing module and a communication module) for performing each step in the second aspect above or any possible implementation of the second aspect; or a module for performing each step in the fourth aspect above or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0047] In a seventh aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect; or the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect.

[0048] In an eighth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect; or the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0049] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus of the seventh aspect and / or the eighth aspect further comprises a memory, the memory storing the computer program, and the at least one processor executes the method of the corresponding aspect or any possible implementation of the corresponding aspect by executing the computer program stored in the memory, and optionally, the processor and the memory are integrated together.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the at least one processor executes the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect or the method of the corresponding aspect or any possible implementation of the corresponding aspect by logic circuit or processing circuit.

[0051] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus further comprises an interface circuit, the interface circuit being configured to perform specific signal transceiving.

[0052] In a ninth aspect, a terminal apparatus is provided, the terminal apparatus comprising the communication apparatus of the fifth aspect or the communication apparatus of the seventh aspect.

[0053] In a tenth aspect, a network apparatus is provided, the network apparatus comprising the communication apparatus of the sixth aspect or the communication apparatus of the eighth aspect.

[0054] In an eleventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product comprising a computer program or instructions, the computer program or instructions being configured to perform any of the methods of the first aspect to the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect when executed by a processor.

[0055] In a twelfth aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided, and the computer readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, when the computer program or instructions are executed, for performing any one of the methods provided in any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, or any one of the possible implementation manners of any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

[0056] In a thirteenth aspect, a chip is provided, and the chip comprises: a processor configured to invoke and run a computer program or instructions from a memory, so that a communication device in which the chip is installed performs any one of the methods provided in any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, or any one of the possible implementation manners of any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

[0057] In a fourteenth aspect, a chip or system on chip is provided, and the chip or system on chip comprises: a logic circuit configured to implement any one of the methods provided in any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, or any one of the possible implementation manners of any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect. Optionally, the chip or system on chip can further comprise an interface circuit.

[0058] In a fifteenth aspect, a communication system is provided, and the communication system comprises: a terminal device and a network device, wherein, the terminal device is configured to perform any one of the methods provided in any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, or any one of the possible implementation manners of any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect; or the network device is configured to perform any one of the methods provided in any one of the second aspect to the fourth aspect, or any one of the possible implementation manners of any one of the second aspect to the fourth aspect; or the terminal device is configured to perform any one of the methods provided in any one of the third aspect to the fifth aspect, or any one of the possible implementation manners of any one of the third aspect to the fifth aspect; or the network device is configured to perform any one of the methods provided in any one of the fourth aspect to the sixth aspect, or any one of the possible implementation manners of any one of the fourth aspect to the sixth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0059] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cell handover procedure using LTM.

[0060] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication architecture suitable for embodiments of the present application.

[0061] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an access network device structure according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0062] FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0063] FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0064] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of bit value of a second CSI according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0065] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0066] FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0067] FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0068] FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] The technical solutions in the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0070] 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 merely describes an 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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] The terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably herein.

[0073] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal or the network device 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 or a network device, or a functional module capable of calling and executing a program in the terminal or the network device.

[0074] 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.

[0075] Due to the mobility of the terminal, the network device (e.g., a base station) providing services for the terminal can change, in which case the terminal can move from an area (i.e., a cell providing communication services) covered by one base station (e.g., which can be referred to as a source base station or a source network device) to an area (cell) covered by another base station (e.g., which can be referred to as a target base station or a target network device), which can be referred to as handover or cell switch. During the handover process, the terminal needs to disconnect from the source base station and then reestablish a connection with the target base station. The handover process can cause the application layer data transmission to be affected.

[0076] In order to reduce the length of time used for the handover process, the handover process can be accelerated at the control signaling level to reduce the length of time used for the handover process.

[0077] The handover (handover) can use Layer 3 (Layer 3, L3) signaling, and the handover process takes a long time. In one possible implementation, in order to accelerate the handover process, in the L1 / L2-triggered mobility (L1 / L2-triggered mobility, LTM) handover process, Layer 2 (Layer 3, L2) or Layer 1 (Layer 3, L1) signaling can be used to complete the necessary information exchange in the handover process. The flow is accelerated to speed up the handover process.

[0078] In some possible implementations, Layer 1 includes a physical (physical, PHY) layer, Layer 2 includes a media access control (media access control, MAC) layer, a radio link control (radio link control, RLC) layer, and a packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP) layer, and Layer 3 includes an RRC layer and the like.

[0079] Optionally, Layer 3 signaling can also be referred to as RRC layer signaling or high layer signaling, Layer 2 can also be referred to as MAC layer signaling, and Layer 1 can also be referred to as physical layer signaling.

[0080] In one possible implementation, in the dual active protocol stack (dual active protocol stack, DAPS) handover process, the terminal needs to maintain a connection with the source base station while establishing a connection with the target base station, that is, the terminal maintains a connection with the source base station and the target base station at the same time for a short period of time. After the connection between the terminal and the target base station is established, the connection between the terminal and the source base station is disconnected (released).

[0081] The above solutions optimize the handover procedure at the control signaling level, but the application layer data transmission is still affected, and the transmission rate of the application layer data is very low. For example, if a user is watching a video, the video will be frozen or the video quality will be significantly reduced, that is, the user experience of the application is not continuous, thereby affecting the user experience.

[0082] The following is an example of an LTM handover procedure.

[0083] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an example of an LTM handover procedure.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal receives an RRC configuration message sent by a source base station, which includes configuration information of all candidate base stations (or also referred to as candidate cells). The terminal parses the RRC configuration message and validates the configuration therein, and then the terminal starts L1 measurement on all candidate base stations (including a future target base station finally selected) or candidate cells, and reports the measurement results (L1 measurement report) to the source base station. For example, the L1 measurement results can include: measurement reference signal receiving power (RSRP), reference signal receiving quality (RSRQ), signal-noise ratio (SNR), signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), etc. The source base station determines the target base station for handover based on the measurement results reported by the terminal, and notifies the terminal of the result through an LTM cell switch command. The terminal performs handover according to the received command and switches to the target base station.

[0085] In the handover execution, the transmission rate of the application layer data is low, but due to a series of optimizations made by the LTM handover process, the duration of the low transmission rate is short, for example, about 5 ms. After the handover is completed (for example, after a time length of 5 ms), the transmission rate of the application layer data is not immediately restored to the transmission rate before the handover. The main reason is that the data rate is affected by the MCS. In simple terms, the larger the MCS used during data transmission (that is, the larger the index of the MCS), the larger the data rate but the lower the reliability, and vice versa. The MCS is set by the target base station according to the CSI-RS measurement report reported by the terminal, and the CSI-RS measurement report is obtained by the terminal measuring the CSI-RS sent by the target base station in the target cell. Before the terminal just switches to the target base station but has not reported the CSI-RS measurement report, the target base station usually sets a small MCS, for example, uses the default MCS, because the target base station has not received the CSI-RS measurement report and takes into account that there is usually a large amount of signaling interaction in the initial stage of connection establishment. Until the target base station receives the CSI-RS measurement report reported by the terminal, the target base station can adjust a more appropriate MCS value according to the CSI-RS measurement report, and the data transmission rate of the terminal application layer can be restored. During the period before the target base station receives the CSI-RS measurement report reported by the terminal (for example, within a time period of 30 ms from the time when the handover is completed), the data transmission rate of the terminal application layer is slow, which affects the user experience.

[0086] In order to improve the transmission rate of the application layer data as much as possible, or to ensure that the data rate of the data plane recovers as soon as possible, the terminal needs to report the CSI-RS measurement report as soon as possible after switching to the target base station.

[0087] In a possible implementation, the terminal may have completed the measurement and obtained the CSI-RS measurement report relatively early, but needs uplink resources (such as the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource in FIG. 1) to send the CSI-RS measurement report to the target base station. The PUCCH resource can be periodic, that is, the terminal periodically reports the CSI-RS measurement report. After the terminal completes the CSI-RS measurement, the terminal needs to wait for the arrival of the PUCCH resource to report the result, which delays the reporting of the CSI-RS measurement report by the terminal. Setting a smaller PUCCH resource period is beneficial to reporting the CSI-RS measurement report as soon as possible, but will cause waste of air interface resources.

[0088] In a possible implementation, if the terminal is to report CSI-RS measurement report in aperiodic mode. In this case, the target base station can indicate to the terminal, through downlink control information (DCI), the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) resource used for reporting the CSI-RS measurement report. The terminal then reports the CSI-RS measurement result (i.e., the CSI-RS measurement report) on the corresponding PUSCH resource. Since the target base station does not know when the terminal completes the measurement of the CSI-RS, if the aperiodic CSI-RS measurement report reporting mechanism is used, the target base station needs to frequently schedule the terminal to report through DCI, and the more frequent the DCI, the more timely the terminal reports. However, frequent DCI also causes waste of air interface resources.

[0089] In summary, in order to improve the transmission rate of application layer data as much as possible, the terminal needs to report the CSI-RS measurement report as soon as possible after switching to the target base station. However, the current solutions cannot reduce the latency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report by the terminal and improve the efficiency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report while using less air interface resources. As a result, the transmission rate of application layer data of the terminal is affected, and the user experience is affected.

[0090] In view of this, the present application provides a communication method and a communication device. After the terminal completes the CSI-RS measurement, the target base station is informed by indication information that the CSI-RS measurement report has been completed, triggering the target base station to schedule resources in time for the terminal to transmit the CSI-RS measurement report. The terminal can then timely report the CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device on the resources. The latency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report by the terminal and the efficiency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report can be improved while using less air interface resources. The time taken by the terminal device to increase the data rate after switching is reduced, and the data rate can be restored as soon as possible. As a result, a high transmission rate of application layer data of the terminal can be ensured, and the user experience is improved.

[0091] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, a communication system suitable for the embodiments of the present application is first introduced.

[0092] For example, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example communication system 20 that can be used in embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication system 20 includes a radio access network (RAN) 200, a core network (CN) 230, and the Internet 240. The RAN 200 includes at least one RAN node (e.g., nodes 210a and 210b, collectively 210, in FIG. 2) and at least one terminal (e.g., 220a-220j, collectively 220, in FIG. 2). Other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in FIG. 2), can also be included in the RAN 200. For example, a “node” can also be referred to as a “network element,” e.g., nodes 210a and 210b can also be referred to as network elements 210a and 210b, and nodes 220a-220j can also be referred to as network elements 220a-220j.

[0093] The terminals 220 are connected to the RAN nodes 210 through wireless or wired means. Different terminals are connected to each other through wireless or wired means. The RAN nodes 210 are connected to the core network 230 through wireless or wired means. The core network devices in the core network 230 and the RAN nodes 210 in the RAN 200 can be different physical devices, or the functions of the core network devices and the logical functions of the RAN nodes 210 can be integrated into the same physical device, or a physical device can integrate the functions of some core network devices and the functions of some RAN nodes 210.

[0094] The RAN 200 can be a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP)-related cellular system, e.g., a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, an LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, an LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), a 4G, a 5G mobile communication system (including standalone and non-standalone), a New Radio (NR), a future communication network, a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or an open radio access network (O-RAN or ORAN) system, or a communication system that combines two or more of the above systems. Embodiments of the present application are not limited here.

[0095] The RAN node 210, which can also be referred to as an access network device, a radio access network device, a network device, a RAN entity, or an access node, etc., forms part of the communication system and is responsible for enabling wireless access to the communication system by terminals. The RAN nodes 210 in the communication system 200 can be of the same type or different types.

[0096] In some scenarios, the roles of the RAN node 210 and the terminal 220 are relative, for example, the network element 220i in FIG. 2 can be a helicopter or a drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For those terminals 220j accessing the RAN 200 through the network element 220i, the network element 220i is a base station; but for the base station 210a, the network element 220i is a terminal. That is, the base station 210a and the terminal 220i communicate with each other through a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, the base station 210a and the network element 220i can also communicate with each other through a base station-to-base station interface protocol. In this case, the network element 220i is also a base station relative to the base station 210a. The RAN node 210 and the terminal 220 are sometimes referred to as communication apparatuses, for example, the network elements 210a and 210b in FIG. 2 can be understood as communication apparatuses with base station functions, and the network elements 220a-220j can be understood as communication apparatuses with terminal functions.

[0097] In a possible scenario, the RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a 6th generation (2th generation, 6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, etc. The RAN node can be a macro base station (such as 210a in FIG. 2), a micro base station or an indoor station (such as 210b in FIG. 2), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, the RAN node can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted device, etc. For example, the access network device in vehicle to everything (V2X) technology can be a road side unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the RAN node in this application can also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualized functions instantiated on a platform such as a cloud platform. The RAN node in this application can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the RAN node.

[0098] In another possible scenario, a terminal is assisted by multiple RAN nodes to implement wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node 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, for example, in a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, for example, in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna processing unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0099] 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 ORAN system, the CU can also be referred to as an O-CU (open CU), the DU can also be referred to as an 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. For the convenience of description, the CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU are taken as examples for description in this application. 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.

[0100] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the terminal 220 can use the method provided in this application in the process of handover. For example, the terminal 220 uses the method provided in this application in the process of switching from the communication service provided by the node 210a to the communication service provided by the node 210b.

[0101] For example, the RAN node (or network device) and the terminal can be in a fixed position, or can be movable. The RAN node and the terminal can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can be deployed on the water surface; and can also be deployed on an airplane, a balloon, and a man-made satellite. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the RAN node and the terminal.

[0102] In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the RAN node can also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the RAN node, or by a control subsystem containing the functions of the RAN node. For example, the control subsystem containing the functions of the RAN node can be a control center in application scenarios such as smart grids, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart cities. The functions of the terminal can also be performed by a module (such as a chip or modem) in the terminal, or by a device containing the functions of the terminal.

[0103] In the embodiments of the present application, as one possible implementation manner, the network device (or RAN) can include a CU, a DU, and an RU, etc. As another possible implementation manner, the network device (or RAN) can be a CU, a DU, or an RU, etc. The embodiments of the present application are not limited here.

[0104] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an example of the structure of an access network device (network device) provided by the present application. As shown in FIG. 3, the access network device includes one or more CUs, one or more DUs, and one or more RUs. For the sake of clarity, only one CU, one DU, and one RU are shown in FIG. 3. The CU is configured to be connected to a core network and one or more DUs. Optionally, the CU can have part of the functions of the core network. The CU can include a CU-CP and a CU-UP.

[0105] The CU and the DU can be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement. For example, the CU is configured to implement the functions of the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer and the protocol layers above it, such as the RRC layer and / or the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, etc.; the DU is configured to implement the functions of the protocol layers below the PDCP layer, such as the RLC layer, the MAC layer, and / or the PHY layer, etc. For another example, the CU is configured to implement the functions of the protocol layers above the PDCP layer (such as the RRC layer and / or the SDAP layer), and the DU is configured to implement the functions of the protocol layers at and below the PDCP layer (such as the RLC layer, the MAC layer, and / or the PHY layer, etc.).

[0106] When the CU includes a CU-CP and a CU-UP, the CU-CP is configured to implement the control plane functions of the CU, and the CU-UP is configured to implement the user plane functions of the CU. For example, when the CU is configured to implement the functions of the PDCP layer, the RRC layer, and the SDAP layer, the CU-CP is configured to implement the RRC layer functions and the control plane functions of the PDCP layer, and the CU-UP is configured to implement the SDAP layer functions and the user plane functions of the PDCP layer.

[0107] The CU-CP can interact with a network element in the core network for implementing control plane functions. The network element in the core network for implementing control plane functions can be an access and mobility function network element, such as an access and mobility management function (AMF) in a 5G system. The access and mobility function network element is responsible for mobility management in the mobile network, such as location updating of a terminal, registration of the terminal to a network, handover of the terminal, and the like.

[0108] The CU-UP can interact with a network element in the core network for implementing user plane functions. The network element in the core network for implementing user plane functions, such as a user plane function (UPF) in a 5G system, is responsible for forwarding and receiving data in a terminal.

[0109] The above configuration of the CU and the DU is merely an example, and the CU and the DU can be configured to have functions as needed. For example, the CU or the DU can be configured to have functions of more protocol layers, or the CU or the DU can be configured to have partial processing functions of the protocol layers. For example, partial functions of an RLC layer and functions of protocol layers above the RLC layer are arranged in the CU, and the remaining functions of the RLC layer and functions of protocol layers below the RLC layer are arranged in the DU. For another example, the functions of the CU or the DU can be divided according to a service type or other system requirements. For example, functions that require a processing time to meet a relatively low latency requirement are arranged in the DU, and functions that do not require the processing time to meet the latency requirement are arranged in the CU.

[0110] 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 (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), etc., or a device used to provide voice or data connectivity to a user, which can also be an Internet of Things device, or an entity on the user side used to receive or transmit signals, used to send uplink signals to a network device, or receive downlink signals from a network device, or send signals to another terminal device, or receive signals from another terminal device, or receive echo signals of signals sent by itself. For example, the terminal device includes handheld devices with wireless connection functions, vehicle-mounted devices, etc. The terminal can be widely applied to various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self driving, remote medical, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc.

[0111] For example, the terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm computer, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device (for example, a smart watch, a smart bracelet, a pedometer, smart glasses, etc.), a vehicle-mounted device (for example, a car, a bicycle, an electric vehicle, an airplane, a ship, a train, a high-speed rail, etc.), a satellite terminal, a VR device, an AR device, a smart point of sale (POS) machine, a customer-premises equipment (CPE), a light UE, a reduced capability UE (REDCAP UE), a wireless terminal in industrial control, a smart home device (for example, a refrigerator, a television, an air conditioner, an electricity meter, etc.), a smart robot, a mechanical arm, a workshop device, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, or a wireless terminal in a smart home, a camera in smart transportation and a smart city, a flight device (for example, a smart robot, a hot air balloon, a drone, an airplane), etc. The terminal device can also be a vehicle device, for example, a whole vehicle device, a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle-mounted chip, an on board unit (OBU), or a telematics box (T-BOX), etc. The terminal device can also be other devices with terminal functions, for example, the terminal device can also be a device with terminal functions in D2D communication, etc. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the form of the terminal device.

[0112] It should be understood that the communication system shown in FIG. 2 is only exemplary and should not cause any limitation on the communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application. For example, more or fewer network nodes, such as terminals, network devices (access network devices), etc., can be included in the communication system shown in FIG. 2, and the network devices or terminals included in FIG. 2 can be various forms of RAN nodes or terminal devices described above. Embodiments of the present application are not shown one by one in the figure.

[0113] The communication method provided by the present application is described below in conjunction with specific examples.

[0114] It should be understood that, in the present application, the network side device and the terminal are taken as examples as the execution subject of the method, and the method is described. As an example but not limitation, the terminal in the present application can be a terminal device, can be a component (chip, chip system, or processor) supporting the terminal device to implement the method, or can also be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal device functions. The network side device in the present application can be a network device, can be a component (chip, chip system, or processor) supporting the network device to implement the method, or can also be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the network device functions, such as CU, DU, or RU, etc. The present application embodiments are not limited here. In the following examples, the network side device is taken as an example of a network device.

[0115] It should be understood that, in the present application, the CSI-RS measurement report can also be referred to as "CSI-RS measurement result", "CSI", or "CSI report". Alternatively, the CSI-RS measurement report, the CSI-RS measurement result, or the CSI report can include the CSI. If not specified, the four have the same meaning and can be replaced by each other.

[0116] The communication method provided by the present application will be described below in conjunction with FIG. 4, which is a schematic flow chart of the communication method of one embodiment of the present application. The method 400 can be applied in the communication system or communication architecture shown in FIG. 2, for example, can be applied in the scenario of cell switching. Of course, it can also be applied in other communication scenarios or communication architectures where the above problems exist, and the present application embodiments are not limited here.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 4, the method 400 shown in FIG. 4 can include S410 to S450. The steps in the method 400 will be described in detail below in conjunction with FIG. 4.

[0118] S410 can include S410a or S410b. In other words, S410a or S410b can be S410 or replace S410.

[0119] S410a, the source network device sends information to the terminal, and the information includes the to-be-measured CSI-RS information corresponding to the target network device.

[0120] Correspondingly, the terminal receives the information.

[0121] It should be understood that after the terminal completes the handover, the terminal actually disconnects the communication connection with the source network device and establishes the communication connection with the target network device. At this time, the "target network device" is the "source network device" of the next handover, or the "current network device (current station)" serving the terminal, but in order to make the described logic simpler when explaining the scheme, the "current network device (current station)" of the terminal is still called the "target network device (target station)".

[0122] Optionally, the information sent by the source network device to the terminal in S410a can also be referred to as second information.

[0123] Optionally, the source network device can also be referred to as a second communication apparatus or a source base station (source station), and if no special description is made, the meanings of the three are the same and can be replaced with each other. The target network device can also be referred to as a first communication apparatus or a target base station (target station), and if no special description is made, the meanings of the three are the same and can be replaced with each other.

[0124] It should be understood that the source network device is a network device currently or is currently providing communication services for the terminal, and the target network device is a network device that will provide communication services for the terminal. The terminal device is handed over from a cell (source cell) served by the source network device to a cell (target cell) served by the target network device.

[0125] For example, the source network device and the target network device can provide communication services for the terminal in different time periods. Optionally, the source network device and the target network device can also have a part of the time of providing communication services for the terminal overlap (for example, for a DAPS handover process).

[0126] In a possible implementation, the source network device can send a handover command to the terminal, and the handover command includes the to-be-measured CSI-RS information corresponding to the target network device.

[0127] In a possible implementation, the to-be-measured CSI-RS information corresponding to the target network device (which can also be referred to as the CSI-RS information corresponding to the target network device) can include configuration information of one or more CSI-RSs, and different CSI-RSs correspond to different identifiers (IDs). It can be understood that the one or more CSI-RSs corresponding to the target network device are all CSI-RSs transmitted by the target network device to the terminal in the target cell.

[0128] For example, the configuration information of the CSI-RS can include time-frequency resources corresponding to the CSI-RS, and the like.

[0129] In a possible implementation, S410 in method 400 can also be performed by the target network device, that is, S410 or S410a can be replaced with: S410b, the target network device sends information to the terminal, and the information includes CSI-RS information to be measured corresponding to the target network device. That is, method 400 can include S410a, S420 to S450, or method 400 can include S410b, S420 to S450.

[0130] Optionally, the information sent by the target network device to the terminal in S410b can also be referred to as second information.

[0131] For example, the terminal can receive the CSI-RS information to be measured corresponding to the target network device in a process of establishing a connection with the target network device (for example, a random access process), or can receive the CSI-RS information to be measured corresponding to the target network device after establishing a connection with the target network device.

[0132] S420, the terminal measures the CSI-RS according to the CSI-RS information to be measured corresponding to the target network device, and obtains a CSI-RS measurement report.

[0133] In a possible implementation, after the terminal receives the CSI-RS information to be measured corresponding to the target network device, the terminal immediately starts to measure the CSI-RS, and obtains a CSI-RS measurement report corresponding to the target network device.

[0134] In a possible implementation, in S410, the source network device can send, to the terminal, CSI-RS information to be measured corresponding to a plurality of candidate network devices respectively, each candidate network device can correspond to (be associated with) one or more CSI-RS configurations. After the terminal receives the CSI-RS information to be measured corresponding to the plurality of candidate network devices respectively, the terminal does not start to measure, in a case where the terminal does not know which candidate network device will be a target station (that is, the target network device) of handover. Then, the source network device can notify the terminal of which candidate network device will be the target network device of handover through a handover command, and notify the terminal of CSI-RS information (associated CSI-RS configuration) associated with the target network device. After the terminal receives the information, the terminal starts to measure the CSI-RS corresponding to (associated with) the target network device.

[0135] In a possible implementation, in S410, the source network device can send the terminal the to-be-tested CSI-RS information corresponding to each candidate network device, and each candidate network device can correspond to one or more sets of CSI-RS configuration information. After receiving the to-be-tested CSI-RS information corresponding to each candidate network device, the terminal immediately starts to perform CSI-RS measurement on the CSI-RS information corresponding to all candidate network devices, in a case where it is not yet clear which candidate network device will be the target station (i.e., the target network device) of handover. After obtaining the CSI-RS measurement reports corresponding to all candidate network devices, in a possible implementation, the source network device can inform the terminal which candidate network device will be the target network device of handover through a handover instruction, and the terminal can send the CSI-RS measurement report corresponding to the target network device to the target network device through the method provided in the present application after receiving the information of the target network device. In another possible implementation, the source network device can not only inform the terminal which candidate network device will be the target network device of handover through a handover instruction, but also inform the terminal which CSI-RS associated with the candidate network device needs to be reported through the handover instruction, and the terminal can send the CSI-RS measurement report corresponding to the target network device to the target network device through the method provided in the present application after receiving the information of the target network device.

[0136] In another possible implementation, the terminal can send the CSI-RS measurement reports corresponding to all candidate network devices to the source network device, and the source network device can send the CSI-RS measurement report corresponding to the target network device to the target network device after determining which candidate network device will be the target network device of handover, and the source network device can inform the terminal which candidate network device will be the target network device of handover through a handover instruction.

[0137] In a possible implementation, the source network device can inform the terminal which candidate network device will be the target network device of handover through a handover instruction, and the source network device can also inform the terminal the CSI-RS configuration information associated with the candidate network device through the handover instruction. The terminal performs measurement on the CSI-RS configuration information associated with the target network device according to the received information, and sends the CSI-RS measurement report corresponding to the target network device to the target network device.

[0138] In a possible implementation, the terminal can measure the CSI-RS in a process of establishing a connection with the target network device (for example, a random access process), or the terminal can measure the CSI-RS after establishing a connection with the target network device, or the terminal can measure the CSI-RS when receiving a handover command from the source station (that is, starting to perform handover). The embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard. If the target network device corresponds to configuration information of multiple CSI-RSs, the terminal can measure each CSI-RS to obtain a measurement result, that is, the terminal can determine multiple CSI-RS measurement reports or CSI-RS measurement results, and different CSI-RS measurement reports or CSI-RS measurement results correspond to different CSI-RSs, or different CSI-RS measurement reports or CSI-RS measurement results correspond to different identifiers of the CSI-RSs.

[0139] In a possible implementation, S410 (that is, S410a or S410b) in the method 400 is an optional step, that is, the method 400 can also not include S410 (that is, S410a and S410b are not included), and directly starts from S420, in which case the terminal can obtain the CSI-RS information corresponding to the target network device through other manners. For example, the CSI-RS information corresponding to the target network device can also be configured (preconfigured) to the terminal in advance. The embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard.

[0140] S430, the terminal sends indication information to the target network device, and the indication information is used to indicate that the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed or that the CSI has been generated.

[0141] Correspondingly, the target network device receives the indication information.

[0142] Optionally, in the embodiments of the present application, "the CSI has been generated" can also be expressed as "the CSI-RS measurement report has been generated", "the CSI-RS measurement result has been generated", "the CSI report has been generated", or "the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed". If not specified, the five expressions have the same meaning and can be replaced with each other.

[0143] In a possible implementation, the terminal can complete measurement of all or part of the CSI-RS, or generate all or part of the measurement report corresponding to the CSI-RS, in which case the indication information can be used to indicate that the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed or the CSI has been generated. The measurement of the CSI-RS that has been completed or the CSI that has been generated can be measurement of all or part of the CSI-RS, or measurement report (CSI) corresponding to all or part of the CSI-RS. In other words, the indication information in S430 can include first indication information, which is used to indicate that the CSI has been generated or the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed. In this way, the target network device can be informed that the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed or the CSI has been generated, and the accuracy and efficiency of scheduling of the CSI-RS measurement report upload by the target network device can be improved.

[0144] In a possible implementation, the terminal can complete measurement of part of the CSI-RS or generate measurement report corresponding to part of the CSI-RS, in which case the indication information needs to indicate which CSI-RS measurement has been completed or which CSI corresponding to the CSI-RS has been generated, in addition to indicating that the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed or the CSI has been generated. In this case, the indication information can include first indication information and second indication information. The first indication information is used to indicate that the CSI has been generated or the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed. The second indication information is used to indicate the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the CSI that has been generated, or the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the CSI-RS measurement that has been completed. In other words, the second indication information is used to indicate which CSI-RS measurement has been completed or which CSI corresponding to the CSI-RS has been generated. In this way, the target network device can be explicitly informed which CSI-RS measurement has been completed or which CSI corresponding to the CSI-RS has been generated, and since the target network device only needs to schedule upload of the measurement report corresponding to the CSI-RS measurement that has been completed or the measurement report that has been generated, the accuracy and efficiency of scheduling by the target network device can be improved.

[0145] For example, the identity of the CSI-RS can be an index of the CSI-RS, a sequence number of the CSI-RS, or the like, and the present application does not limit the specific implementation of the identity of the CSI-RS.

[0146] In a possible implementation, the terminal can complete the measurement of part of the CSI-RS or generate the measurement report corresponding to part of the CSI-RS, in this case, the indication information can be used to indicate which measurement of the CSI-RS is completed or which CSI corresponding to the CSI-RS is generated. In this case, the indication information can include: second indication information. The second indication information is used to indicate the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement. In this way, the target network device can be explicitly informed which measurement of the CSI-RS is completed or which CSI corresponding to the CSI-RS is generated, the accuracy and efficiency of the scheduling of the target network device are improved, and the overhead of the indication information can be reduced.

[0147] In a possible implementation, if the terminal completes the measurement of the CSI-RS or generates the CSI in the process of establishing a connection with the target network device (i.e., in the process of random access with the target network device), in this case, the indication information in S430 can be carried in the uplink message in the random access process, for example, in the RRC connection request (RRC Connection Request), optionally, the RRC connection request (RRC Connection Request) can also be referred to as a scheduled transmission message.

[0148] For example, the RRC connection request or the scheduled transmission message can also be referred to as the random access message 3 (Msg3).

[0149] In a possible implementation, if the terminal completes the measurement of the CSI-RS or generates the CSI after establishing a connection with the target network device, in this case, the indication information in S430 can be carried in the MAC CE and sent to the target network device.

[0150] In a possible implementation, if the terminal has completed the measurement of the CSI-RS or generated the CSI after establishing the connection with the target network device, the indication information in S430 can be carried in uplink data (PUSCH) and sent to the target network device. For example, the terminal can report its uplink data transmission requirement to the target network device through a scheduling request (SR), a buffer status report (BSR), or the like. The target network device can allocate uplink data transmission resources to the terminal, that is, the terminal has an uplink grant (UL grant). The terminal can send the indication information to the target network device on the uplink data transmission resources, or the indication information can be carried in the uplink data.

[0151] For example, the indication information can be carried in the packet header of the uplink data.

[0152] In a possible implementation, the indication information in S430 can also be carried in the SR or the BSR.

[0153] In a possible implementation, the indication information in S430 can also be carried in an RRC reconfiguration complete (RRC Reconfiguration Complete) message. For example, the target network device can directly send or send, through the source network device, an RRC reconfiguration message (RRC Reconfiguration) to the terminal. After the terminal is switched to the target network device, the terminal sends, in response to the RRC reconfiguration message, an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the target network device, and the RRC reconfiguration complete message includes the indication information.

[0154] In this way, the indication information can be carried in existing signaling, without using additional (separate) signaling to send the indication information, and signaling overhead can be reduced.

[0155] S440, the target network device sends first information to the terminal according to the indication information, and the first information is used for scheduling the terminal to send a CSI-RS measurement report.

[0156] Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first information.

[0157] In a possible implementation, if the indication information is used to indicate that the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed or the CSI has been generated. In this case, the first information can be used to schedule the terminal to upload (send) the completed CSI-RS measurement report. The completed CSI-RS measurement report includes measurement reports corresponding to all or part of the CSI-RS respectively.

[0158] For example, the first information can be used to schedule the terminal to send the full CSI-RS measurement report.

[0159] In a possible implementation, if the indication information includes the first indication information and the second indication information, the target network device can determine, according to the first indication information and the second indication information, which CSI-RS measurements have been completed by the terminal or which CSI corresponding to the CSI-RS has been generated. In this case, the first information can include the identification of the CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or the identification of the CSI-RS corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement. For example, the first information can include the identification of the first CSI-RS, and the identification of the CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or the identification of the CSI-RS corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement includes the identification of the first CSI-RS. The first CSI-RS can include one or more CSI-RS. The first information is used to schedule the uploading of the measurement report corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement or the generated measurement report. In this way, the target network device can be explicitly informed of which CSI-RS measurements have been completed or which CSI corresponding to the CSI-RS has been generated, and the target network device can schedule the uploading of the measurement report corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement or the generated measurement report, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of the target network device in scheduling the uploading of the CSI-RS measurement report.

[0160] For example, the identification of the first CSI-RS can be an index of the first CSI-RS, a sequence number of the first CSI-RS, or the like.

[0161] In a possible implementation, if the indication information includes the second indication information, the target network device can determine, according to the second indication information, which CSI-RS measurements have been completed by the terminal or which CSI corresponding to the CSI-RS has been generated. In this case, the first information can also include the identification of the CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or the identification of the CSI-RS corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement. The first information is used to schedule the uploading of the measurement report corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement or the generated measurement report. In this way, the accuracy and efficiency of the target network device in scheduling the uploading of the CSI-RS measurement report can be improved.

[0162] In a possible implementation, the first information can further include information of a first time-frequency resource, and the terminal can send the CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device on the first time-frequency resource.

[0163] For example, the information of the first time-frequency resource can include a time domain resource location and a frequency domain resource location of the first time-frequency resource, or the like.

[0164] In a possible implementation, the first information can be carried in the DCI.

[0165] At S450, the terminal sends a CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device according to the first information.

[0166] Correspondingly, the target network device receives the CSI-RS measurement report.

[0167] In a possible implementation, the terminal can send the generated CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device. The generated CSI-RS measurement report can be a partial CSI-RS measurement report or a full CSI-RS measurement report.

[0168] In a possible implementation, if the first information includes an identifier of a CSI corresponding to a generated CSI-RS or an identifier of a CSI-RS corresponding to a completed CSI-RS measurement, in this case, the terminal can send the CSI or the CSI-RS measurement report corresponding to the CSI-RS to the network device.

[0169] For example, the first information can include an identifier of a first CSI-RS, and the terminal can send the CSI or the CSI-RS measurement report corresponding to the first CSI-RS to the network device.

[0170] In a possible implementation, if the first information further includes information of a first time-frequency resource, the terminal can send the CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device on the first time-frequency resource.

[0171] In a possible implementation, if the first information does not include the information of the first time-frequency resource, in this case, the terminal can determine the information of the first time-frequency resource according to a time-frequency resource occupied (used) by the first information. For example, the terminal can determine the information of the first time-frequency resource according to a time-frequency resource corresponding to the first information and an offset value.

[0172] For example, the offset value can be predefined or pre-configured to the terminal. Alternatively, the offset value can also be carried in the first information.

[0173] After receiving the CSI-RS measurement report, the target network device can determine a suitable MCS according to the received CSI-RS measurement report, and adjust a transmission rate of application data by using the MCS.

[0174] The communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application can inform the target network device that the CSI-RS measurement report has been completed through indication information after the terminal completes the CSI-RS measurement, trigger the target network device to schedule resources in time, and the terminal can send the CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device on the transmission resource. The delay of the terminal in reporting the CSI-RS measurement report and the efficiency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report can be reduced in the case of using less air interface resources, so as to ensure a high transmission rate of the terminal application layer data and improve the user experience.

[0175] In a possible implementation, the terminal device can carry the CSI-RS measurement report corresponding to the target network device in the uplink control information (UCI), and transmit the CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device through the UCI.

[0176] In another possible implementation, the terminal device can carry the CSI-RS measurement report corresponding to the target network device in the MAC CE, and transmit the CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device through the MAC CE.

[0177] For example, if the terminal device can complete the measurement of the CSI-RS or generate the CSI measurement report before the message 3 (Msg3) in the random access process (before the time domain resource occupied by the Msg3), the CSI measurement report can be carried in the MAC CE or the UCI and sent to the target network device.

[0178] If the terminal device does not complete the measurement of the CSI-RS or generate the CSI measurement report before the message 3 (Msg3) in the random access process, the CSI measurement report (or the CSI) can also be carried in the MAC CE or the UCI and sent to the target network device, but the value of the CSI measurement report (or the value of the CSI) can be a special value (for example, 0), which indicates that the CSI measurement report (or the CSI) in the MAC CE or the UCI is an invalid CSI. In this case, the target network device can determine that the CSI reported by the terminal device is an invalid CSI according to the special value of the CSI, and after determining that the CSI reported by the terminal device is an invalid CSI, the target network device needs to schedule or configure uplink transmission resources for the terminal device for the terminal device to transmit a valid CSI later.

[0179] The invalid CSI can be understood as: the CSI does not include specific channel state information between the terminal device and the target network device, or in other words, the target network device cannot determine the specific channel state information between the terminal device and the target network device according to the invalid CSI, or in other words, the invalid CSI can indicate that the terminal device does not complete measurement on at least one CSI-RS corresponding to (associated with) the target network device.

[0180] The valid CSI can be understood as: the CSI includes specific channel state information between the terminal device and the target network device, or in other words, the target network device can determine the specific channel state information between the terminal device and the target network device according to the CSI, or in other words, the valid CSI can indicate that the terminal device completes measurement on the CSI-RS corresponding to (associated with) the target network device.

[0181] After determining that the CSI reported by the terminal device is an invalid CSI, the target network device needs to schedule or configure uplink transmission resources for the terminal device for subsequent transmission of valid CSI by the terminal device. At present, the target network device can have the following two implementation manners for scheduling uplink transmission resources for the terminal device to transmit valid CSI.

[0182] One possible implementation manner is that since the target network device does not know when the source network device sends a cell switch command (CSC) to the terminal device, the target network device does not know when the terminal device will prepare valid CSI, and the target network device can only blindly schedule valid CSI, which can cause waste of air interface resources. For example, the target network device needs to frequently schedule the terminal device to report valid CSI through DCI, and the more frequent the DCI is, the more timely the terminal device reports. However, frequent DCI can cause waste of communication resources.

[0183] Another possible implementation manner is that after the terminal device completes measurement on the CSI-RS or prepares valid CSI, the terminal device can request uplink transmission resources from the target network device through SR, and after the target network device allocates resources, the terminal device can send the target network device the valid CSI carried in the BSR. However, in this manner, the time for the terminal device to report CSI is delayed, that is, the time delay for reporting CSI is large. Moreover, the time delay or efficiency for reporting CSI still depends on the scheduling of the target network device, and the performance cannot be guaranteed.

[0184] In view of this, the application further provides a communication method. If a terminal device has not completed CSI-RS measurement or has not generated CSI before a certain uplink transmission resource (before the time domain resource occupied by the uplink transmission resource), the terminal device can still transmit a CSI (second CSI) in the uplink transmission resource. The value of the CSI can be a special value, indicating that the CSI is an invalid CSI. After determining that the CSI is an invalid CSI, the network device can determine when the terminal device can prepare a valid CSI (third CSI) or the time required for the terminal device to complete CSI-RS measurement of a cell, and thus determine when to schedule reporting or transmission of the valid CSI. On the one hand, the network device can determine the required transmission resource (for example, time domain resource) of the valid CSI, and implement timely and effective scheduling of reporting of the valid CSI. On the other hand, the network device avoids blindly scheduling the valid CSI, and reduces waste of communication resources. The application can reduce the latency of reporting of the valid CSI in the case of using fewer air interface resources, improve the efficiency of reporting of the valid CSI, reduce the time required for the terminal device to increase the data rate after cell switching, and achieve rapid recovery of the data rate, thereby ensuring a high terminal application layer data transmission rate and improving user experience.

[0185] The communication method provided by the application is described below in combination with specific examples.

[0186] It should be understood that, in the application, the CSI can also be referred to as a "CSI-RS measurement report", a "CSI-RS measurement result", or a "CSI report". Alternatively, the CSI-RS measurement report, the CSI-RS measurement result, or the CSI report can include the CSI. If not specifically stated, the four have the same meaning and can be replaced by each other.

[0187] The communication method provided by the application is described below in combination with specific examples.

[0188] As shown in FIG. 5, the method 500 shown in FIG. 5 can include S510 to S540. The steps in the method 500 are described in detail below in combination with FIG. 5.

[0189] S510, the terminal device sends, to the first network device, a second CSI on the second time-frequency resource, a value of the second CSI being a first value, the first value being used for indicating that the second CSI is invalid CSI or for indicating that the terminal device has not completed measurement on at least one CSI-RS of the first cell. The second CSI is a CSI corresponding to the first cell, and the first cell is a cell providing communication service for the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the second CSI on the second time-frequency resource.

[0190] Optionally, in the present application, the first network device can also be referred to as a first communication apparatus.

[0191] In the present embodiment, if the terminal device has completed measurement on at least one CSI-RS of the first cell before the time-domain resource occupied by the second time-frequency resource, or in other words, has prepared or generated the CSI of the first cell, the terminal device can send the measurement result (the CSI of the first cell, which is valid CSI) through the second time-frequency resource. Otherwise, the terminal device can still send the second CSI of the first cell through the second time-frequency resource.

[0192] The value of the second CSI is a special value (the first value), which is used for indicating that the second CSI is invalid CSI, or for indicating that the terminal device has not completed measurement on at least one CSI-RS of the first cell, or for indicating that the terminal device has not generated or determined the CSI of the first cell, or for indicating that the terminal device has not prepared the CSI of the first cell.

[0193] Optionally, in the present application, "invalid" can also be replaced by or expressed as "out of scope / out of range".

[0194] For example, the first network device can be a target network device of the terminal device in a cell switching process, and the first cell can be a target cell.

[0195] For another example, the first network device can be a secondary network device, a secondary network device or a secondary node (Secondary Node) providing communication service for the terminal device, i.e., the terminal device can be in a dual connectivity (DC) scenario, and the first cell can be a secondary cell (Secondary Cell, Scell).

[0196] S520, in a case where the first network device determines that the second CSI is invalid CSI, determining, according to a first time length and time domain resources occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource, a third time-frequency resource. The first time length indicates a time length required by the terminal device to generate the CSI, or indicates a time length elapsed from the time domain resources occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to scheduling of the CSI transmission, and the third time-frequency resource is used for the terminal device to report or transmit the CSI.

[0197] For example, according to the first value of the second CSI, the first network device can determine that the second CSI is invalid CSI, or that the terminal device has not completed measurement on at least one CSI-RS of the first cell, or that the terminal device has not generated or determined the CSI of the first cell, or that the terminal device has not prepared the CSI of the first cell.

[0198] In a possible implementation, in a case where the first network device determines that the second CSI is invalid CSI according to the first value of the second CSI, or determines that the terminal device has not completed measurement on at least one CSI-RS of the first cell, or determines that the terminal device has not generated or determined the CSI of the first cell, or determines that the terminal device has not prepared the CSI of the first cell, the first network device can determine the third time-frequency resource according to the first time length and the time domain resources occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource.

[0199] The first time length can indicate a time length required by the terminal device to generate the CSI (or valid CSI), or indicate a time length elapsed from a preset time point (for example, the time domain resources occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource) to scheduling of the CSI (or valid CSI) transmission, or indicate how long the terminal device expects the network device to schedule a resource that can be used for CSI (valid CSI) reporting after the preset time point, or indicate a time length required by the terminal device to prepare the CSI (valid CSI) of the cell or complete at least one CSI measurement of the cell after the preset time point (for example, the time domain resources occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource), or indicate a time length required by the terminal device to complete at least one CSI-RS measurement of the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell (for example, accessing the first cell or switching to the first cell).

[0200] That is, the first time length can reflect how long the terminal device needs to prepare the CSI (valid CSI) of the cell or complete at least one CSI measurement of the cell.

[0201] The first network device can determine, according to the first time length, a time length (i.e., the first time length) required for the terminal device to generate the valid CSI (referred to as third CSI) corresponding to the first cell, determine a time domain resource for transmission of the third CSI according to a preset time starting point (i.e., a time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource) and the first time length, and further determine a time-frequency resource (third time-frequency resource) for transmission of the third CSI, or determine a time-frequency resource (third time-frequency resource) for scheduling transmission of the third CSI. It should be understood that, since the time domain resource occupied by the third time-frequency resource is determined according to the preset time starting point and the first time length, the terminal device has generated or prepared the third CSI, or has completed at least one CSI measurement of the first cell, before the time domain resource occupied by the third time-frequency resource. That is, the first network device can determine, according to the invalid CSI (second CSI), when to schedule reporting or transmission of the valid CSI (third CSI). The third CSI is a CSI corresponding to the first cell, and the third CSI is valid.

[0202] For example, the preset time starting point (i.e., a time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource) and the first time length can be preset or protocol predefined, and the terminal device and the first network device have consistent understanding of the preset time starting point and the first time length.

[0203] S530, the first network device sends third information to the terminal device, and the third information is used for scheduling transmission of the CSI on the third time-frequency resource. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the third information.

[0204] For example, the third information can include a time domain resource position and a frequency domain resource position of the third time-frequency resource.

[0205] S540, the terminal device sends the third CSI to the first network device on the third time-frequency resource, and the third CSI is valid CSI corresponding to the first cell.

[0206] After receiving the third information, the terminal device can determine the time domain resource position and the frequency domain resource position of the third time-frequency resource according to the third information. Since the terminal device has generated or prepared the third CSI, or has completed at least one CSI measurement of the first cell, before the time domain resource occupied by the third time-frequency resource, the terminal device can send the third CSI to the first network device on the third time-frequency resource. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the third CSI.

[0207] The communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application can be used to determine how long the terminal device needs to generate or prepare a valid CSI (third CSI) or how long the terminal device needs to complete the CSI-RS measurement of the cell, and thus when to schedule the reporting or transmission of the valid CSI, i.e., to determine the resource (third time-frequency resource) for scheduling the third CSI and indicate the resource to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can transmit the valid CSI on the resource. In one aspect, the network device can determine the transmission resource of the valid CSI, and thus can schedule the reporting of the valid CSI in time and effectively. This can avoid the target network device from blindly scheduling the valid CSI, and reduce the waste of communication resources. In another aspect, the time delay of reporting the valid CSI can be reduced using less air interface resources, and the efficiency of reporting the valid CSI can be improved.

[0208] For example, in the time domain, for the cell switching scenario, the source network device (e.g., the second network device) can send a switching command to the terminal device, and then the terminal device sends the second CSI to the target network device (i.e., the first network device), then the target network device sends the third information to the terminal device, and finally the terminal device sends the third CSI to the first network device on the third time-frequency resource.

[0209] In one possible implementation, the second time-frequency resource can be any one of the following time-frequency resources:

[0210] The time-frequency resource of the first PUCCH, the time-frequency resource of the first PUSCH, the time-frequency resource of the random access message 3, the time-frequency resource of the random access message A, the time-frequency resource of the PUSCH scheduled by the random access message 2, the time-frequency resource of the uplink channel scheduled by the switching command, the time-frequency resource of the first PUSCH after the terminal device accesses the first cell, and the time-frequency resource of the first PUCCH in the process of the terminal device accessing the first cell.

[0211] For example, the time-frequency resource of the first PUSCH in the process of the terminal device accessing the first cell can be configured by a configured grant (CG) or a dynamic grant (DG) (first PUSCH transmission, either CG or DG).

[0212] For example, the random access message 2 can be a random access response (RAR) sent by the network device to the terminal device in the random access procedure, and the time-frequency resource of the PUSCH scheduled by the random access message 2 (Msg2) can also be referred to as an uplink grant scheduled by the RAR (PUSCH scheduled by RAR UL grant).

[0213] For example, the random access message A can be a message sent by the terminal device to the target network device (the first network device) in a 2-step random access (2-step RACH) procedure or a 2-step competitive-free random access (2-step CFRA) procedure. The time-frequency resource occupied by the random access message A can also be referred to as the PUSCH resource occupied by the message A (PUSCH of MsgA if 2-step CFRA).

[0214] For example, the time-frequency resource of the uplink channel scheduled by the handover command can be the time-frequency resource of the uplink channel scheduled by the MAC CE, for example, for LTM handover, the time-frequency resource of the uplink channel scheduled by the handover MAC CE can also be referred to as the uplink channel scheduled by the handover MAC CE (UL channel scheduled by LTM CSC MAC CE). Or it can also be the time-frequency resource of the uplink channel scheduled by the RRC reconfiguration message (RRC Reconfiguration), for example, for the cell handover procedure in the protocol version 15 (Release 15) or the Rel-15 hard handover.

[0215] In a possible implementation manner, the second time-frequency resource can also be the time-frequency resource on which the terminal device sends the indication information in S430 of the method 400, and the indication information is used to indicate that the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed or the CSI has been generated. For example, the terminal device can send the indication information on the time-frequency resource occupied by the random access message 3 (Msg3) or the first PUSCH, and then the terminal device reports the valid CSI (UE send“CSI is ready” information by Msg3 or first PUSCH transmission, then CSI is reported).

[0216] By determining or defining the second time-frequency resource, consistency of understanding of the second time-frequency resource by the terminal device and the first network device can be achieved, and transmission efficiency of the second CSI is ensured. It can be seen that, in the process of cell switching or adding a secondary cell, the second time-frequency resource is as early as possible in the time domain (earlier in the time domain or time), which can reduce the transmission delay of the second CSI, and realize timely and early transmission of the second CSI.

[0217] In a possible implementation, the first time length is predefined. For example, a fixed value is predefined by a protocol. In this case, in a case where the second CSI is determined to be invalid CSI, the first network device can be triggered to determine the third time-frequency resource according to the predefined first time length and time domain resources occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource.

[0218] In a possible implementation, the second CSI can include third indication information, and the third indication information is used for the first time length or an identifier corresponding to the first time length.

[0219] For example, the first time length can be indicated in the second CSI, that is, a field (third indication information) in the second CSI is used to indicate the first time length or an identifier corresponding to the first time length. The first network device can determine the first time length according to the third indication information. In this way, efficiency and accuracy of determining the first time length can be improved.

[0220] For example, the third indication information can indicate a specific value of the first time length, or can indicate an identifier (for example, an index) corresponding to a standard preset value. In other words, the protocol can define a plurality of different time lengths, different time lengths correspond to different indexes, and the third indication information can indicate a certain index.

[0221] In a possible implementation, the first value of the second CSI is further used to indicate the first time length, that is, the first network device can determine the first time length according to the first value of the second CSI. In this way, efficiency of determining the first time length can be improved, and the first time length does not need to be indicated by additional signaling, thereby reducing consumption of communication resources.

[0222] In a possible implementation, the first value of the second CSI can be included in a value set, and the value set includes a plurality of different values associated with (or corresponding to) the second CSI, and each of the different values associated with the second CSI indicates that the second CSI is invalid or indicates that the terminal device fails to perform at least one CSI-RS measurement on the cell. The different values associated with the second CSI correspond to different time lengths, or in other words, the different values associated with the second CSI are different values of the first time length, and the different time lengths indicate different time lengths required by the terminal device to generate the CSI (valid CSI), or indicate different time lengths elapsed from the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to the scheduling of the CSI (valid CSI) transmission. In other words, the different values associated with the second CSI indicate the same meaning as indicated by the first time length, but the different values associated with the second CSI represent different values of the first time length.

[0223] In a possible implementation, the first value of the second CSI can be a value converted from all bit values of the second CSI into a decimal number, or the first value of the second CSI can be a value converted from all bit values of channel quality indicator (CQI) in the second CSI into a decimal number. The first value is an integer greater than or equal to 0. The second CSI includes the CQI. For example, all bit values of the second CSI can be 32 bit values.

[0224] For example, FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of bit values of the second CSI. The diagram shown in FIG. 6 can be all bit values of the second CSI, or all bit values of the CQI in the second CSI.

[0225] As shown in a diagram a of FIG. 6, the first value of the second CSI is 0, indicating a value (for example, 2 ms) of the first time length.

[0226] As shown in a diagram b of FIG. 6, the first value of the second CSI is 1, indicating a value (for example, 5 ms) of the first time length.

[0227] As shown in a diagram c of FIG. 6, the first value of the second CSI is 2, indicating a value (for example, 10 ms) of the first time length.

[0228] As shown in a diagram d of FIG. 6, the first value of the second CSI is 3, indicating a value (for example, 15 ms) of the first time length.

[0229] For example, in combination with the example shown in FIG. 6, the value set associated with the second CSI includes: {0, 1, 2, 3}. The first value of the second CSI can be any one of the values in the value set.

[0230] It should be understood that in other implementations of the present application, the first value of the second CSI can also be other values, or in other words, the corresponding multiple different values (value set) associated with the second CSI can also include other values, which are not limited herein.

[0231] In a possible implementation, the terminal device can further send fourth information to the second network device, where the second network device can be a source network device of the terminal device in a cell switching process, or can be a primary node corresponding to a primary cell (Pcell) accessed by the terminal device. The fourth information can include a time length required by the terminal device to complete CSI-RS measurement on the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell. In other words, the terminal device can report its capability of how long it needs to complete the CSI-RS measurement on the accessed cell or the switched cell, or to prepare the CSI (valid CSI) of the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell, to the second network device through the fourth information. The second network device can forward the fourth information to the first network device, and the first network device can determine the first time length according to the fourth information. In this way, the efficiency and accuracy of determining the first time length can be improved.

[0232] Optionally, in the present application, the second network device can also be referred to as a second communication apparatus.

[0233] For example, the accessed cell or the switched cell of the terminal device can include the first cell described above.

[0234] For example, the fourth information can include the value of the first time length described above.

[0235] In a possible implementation, the time length required by the terminal device to complete the CSI-RS measurement on the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell included in the fourth information represents the capability of the terminal device, and the time length required to complete the CSI-RS measurement or to prepare the CSI (valid CSI) after the terminal device accesses any cell or switches to any cell can be the same.

[0236] In a possible implementation, the preset time starting point (i.e., the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource) can be preset or protocol-defined.

[0237] In a possible implementation, the fourth time-frequency resource can be any one of the following time-frequency resources:

[0238] The time-frequency resource of the first PUCCH in the process of the terminal device accessing the first cell, the time-frequency resource occupied by the first PUSCH, the time-frequency resource occupied by the random access message 3, the time-frequency resource occupied by the random access message A, the time-frequency resource of the PUSCH scheduled by the random access message 2, the time-frequency resource of the uplink channel scheduled by the handover command, the time-frequency resource of the first PUSCH after the access to the first cell is completed, and the time-frequency resource of the first PUCCH.

[0239] In a possible implementation, the fourth time-frequency resource can also be the time-frequency resource on which the terminal device sends the indication information in S430 of the method 400. For example, the terminal device can send the indication information on the time-frequency resource occupied by the random access message 3 (Msg3) or the first PUSCH.

[0240] In a possible implementation, the fourth time-frequency resource and the second time-frequency resource can be the same (for example, at least in the time domain). In this case, the first time length is: the time length required by the terminal device to generate the valid CSI, starting from the sending of the second CSI (starting from the sending occasion of the second CSI) or starting from the reception of the second CSI by the network device (starting from the receiving occasion of the second CSI); or the time length elapsed from the sending occasion of the second CSI or the receiving occasion of the second CSI to the scheduling of the valid CSI transmission by the network device; or the time length after the sending occasion of the second CSI or the receiving occasion of the second CSI, during which a resource that can be used for the valid CSI reporting is scheduled again; or the time length required by the terminal device to prepare the valid CSI of the cell or to complete at least one CSI measurement of the cell, starting from the sending occasion of the second CSI or the receiving occasion of the second CSI; or the time length required to complete at least one CSI-RS measurement of the accessed cell or the switched cell, starting from the sending occasion of the second CSI or the receiving occasion of the second CSI.

[0241] The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be used to transmit the measurement result (the CSI of the cell) through the second time-frequency resource if the terminal device completes the measurement of the at least one CSI-RS of the cell before the time domain resource occupied by the second time-frequency resource, or in other words, prepares or generates the CSI of the cell. Otherwise, the terminal device can still transmit the CSI (the second CSI) in the second time-frequency resource, and the value of the second CSI is the first value, which indicates that the CSI is an invalid CSI. According to the first value of the second CSI, the network device can determine how long the terminal device needs to generate or prepare the valid CSI (the third CSI) or the time required for completing the measurement of the CSI-RS of the cell, so as to determine when to schedule the reporting or transmission of the valid CSI, that is, to determine the resource (the third time-frequency resource) for scheduling the third CSI and indicate the terminal device, so that the terminal device can transmit the valid CSI in the resource. The reporting of the valid CSI can be timely and effectively scheduled. Blind scheduling of the valid CSI by the target network device is avoided, the waste of communication resources is reduced, and the efficiency of reporting the valid CSI is improved.

[0242] It should be understood that the above is only 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.

[0243] It should also be understood that the division of the modes, cases, categories and embodiments in the embodiments of the present application is only for the convenience of description, and should not constitute a special limitation. The features in various modes, categories, cases and embodiments can be combined without contradiction.

[0244] 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 used 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.

[0245] 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.

[0246] The communication method of the embodiment of the present application is described in detail above in combination with FIG. 1 to FIG. 6. Hereinafter, the communication device of the embodiment of the present application is described in detail in combination with FIG. 7 to FIG. 10.

[0247] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the terminal and the network side device (for example, the network equipment) according to the above method. For example, each function can be divided into a functional module, or two or more functions can be integrated in a 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, another division mode can be used.

[0248] 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.

[0249] The terminal and the network side device provided by the embodiment of the present application are used to execute any one of the communication methods provided by the above method embodiments, so as to achieve the same effect as the above implementation method. In the case of using an integrated unit, the terminal and the network side device 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 and the network side device. For example, it can be used to support the terminal and the network side device to execute the steps executed by the processing unit. 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 and the network side device and other devices.

[0250] It should be understood that the network side device provided by the present application can be a network equipment, or a component (chip, chip system, or processor) supporting the network equipment to implement the method, or a logic node, logic module, or software, etc. capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the network equipment.

[0251] 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 realizing the computing function, 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, or other devices interacting with other electronic devices.

[0252] Exemplarily, FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus 700 according to the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 7, the communication apparatus 700 includes a processing unit 710 and a transceiver unit 720. The transceiver unit 720 is configured to implement information transmission and reception operations under the control of the processing unit 710. The processing unit can also be referred to as a processing module, and the transceiver unit can also be referred to as a communication unit, a communication module, a communication interface, or the like.

[0253] In some embodiments, the communication apparatus 700 can correspond to the terminal described in the method 400, can be a component (chip, chip system, or processor) applied to the terminal, or can be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal functions. Each module or unit in the communication apparatus 700 is configured to perform each action or processing process performed by the terminal in the method 400.

[0254] The processing unit 710 is configured to generate indication information, the indication information being used to indicate that the measurement on the channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) has been completed or the channel state information (CSI) has been generated.

[0255] The transceiver unit 720 is configured to send the indication information to the first communication apparatus.

[0256] The transceiver unit 720 is further configured to receive first information from the first communication apparatus, the first information being used to schedule the transmission of the CSI.

[0257] The transceiver unit 720 is further configured to send the CSI to the first communication apparatus according to the first information.

[0258] The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application can inform the target network device (i.e., the first communication apparatus) that the CSI-RS measurement report has been completed through the indication information after the completion of the CSI-RS measurement, so as to trigger the target network device to timely schedule the resources. The communication apparatus can send the CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device on the transmission resources. The delay of the terminal in reporting the CSI-RS measurement report and the efficiency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report can be reduced in the case of using fewer air interface resources, so as to ensure a higher transmission rate of the terminal application layer data and improve the user experience.

[0259] In some possible implementation manners, the indication information includes first indication information and / or second indication information. The first indication information is used to indicate that the CSI has been generated or the measurement on the CSI-RS has been completed. The second indication information is used to indicate the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement. Different identities of the CSI-RS correspond to different CSIs.

[0260] In some possible implementation manners, the first information comprises an identity of the first CSI-RS, and the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement comprises the identity of the first CSI-RS; and the transceiver 720 is further configured to: transmit, to the first communication apparatus, the CSI corresponding to the identity of the first CSI-RS on the first time-frequency resource.

[0261] In some possible implementation manners, the first information further comprises information of the first time-frequency resource.

[0262] In some possible implementation manners, before the transceiver 720 transmits the indication information to the first communication apparatus, the transceiver 720 is further configured to: receive second information from the second communication apparatus, the second information comprising configuration information of CSI-RS, the configuration information of the CSI-RS comprising configuration information of at least one CSI-RS, and different CSI-RSs corresponding to different identities; and the processing unit 710 is further configured to: perform measurement on the at least one CSI-RS respectively according to the second information.

[0263] In some possible implementation manners, before the transceiver 720 transmits the indication information to the first communication apparatus, the transceiver 720 is further configured to: receive second information from the first communication apparatus, the second information comprising configuration information of CSI-RS, the configuration information of the CSI-RS comprising configuration information of at least one CSI-RS, and different CSI-RSs corresponding to different identities; and the processing unit 710 is further configured to: perform measurement on the at least one CSI-RS respectively according to the second information.

[0264] In some possible implementation manners, the indication information is carried in an RRC reconfiguration complete message, a message of a random access procedure, a MAC CE, or uplink data.

[0265] In some possible implementation manners, the first information is carried in a DCI.

[0266] In some possible implementation manners, the communication apparatus 700 can correspond to the terminal device described in the method 500, can be a component (chip, chip system, or processor) applied to the terminal device, or can be a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. In addition, each module or unit in the communication apparatus 700 is respectively configured to perform each action or processing process performed by the terminal in the method 500.

[0267] The transceiver 720 is configured to send the second CSI to the first communication device on the second time-frequency resource, and the value of the second CSI is the first value, the first value is used to indicate that the second CSI is invalid or that the terminal has not completed the measurement of the at least one CSI-RS of the first cell, and the second CSI is the CSI corresponding to the first cell.

[0268] The transceiver 720 is further configured to receive third information from the first communication device, the third information is used to schedule the transmission of the CSI on the third time-frequency resource, and the time domain resource of the third time-frequency resource is determined according to the first time length and the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource, the first time length indicates the time length required by the terminal to generate the CSI, or indicates the time length elapsed from the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to the scheduling of the CSI transmission.

[0269] The transceiver 720 is further configured to send the third CSI to the first communication device on the third time domain resource, and the third CSI is the CSI corresponding to the first cell.

[0270] The communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application can still transmit the second CSI in the second time-frequency resource if the terminal device has not completed the measurement of the CSI-RS or has not generated the CSI measurement report before the second time-frequency resource, and the value of the second CSI is the first value, and the first value indicates that the CSI is an invalid CSI. The network device can determine the resource (third time-frequency resource) for scheduling the third CSI according to the first value of the second CSI and indicate the terminal device, so that the terminal device can transmit the valid CSI on the resource. On the one hand, timely and effective scheduling of the reporting of the valid CSI can be implemented, and the waste of communication resources can be reduced. On the other hand, the time delay of the reporting of the valid CSI can be reduced and the efficiency of the reporting of the valid CSI can be improved in the case of using less air interface resources.

[0271] In some possible implementation manners, the second CSI includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the first time length or an identifier corresponding to the first time length.

[0272] In some possible implementation manners, the first time length is predefined.

[0273] In some possible implementation manners, the first value is further used to indicate the first time length, and the first value is included in a value set, the value set including a plurality of different values associated with the second CSI, the different values associated with the second CSI each being used to indicate that the second CSI is invalid CSI or to indicate that the terminal fails to perform at least one CSI-RS measurement on the first cell, and the different values associated with the second CSI correspond to different time lengths, the different time lengths indicating different time lengths required by the terminal to generate the CSI or indicating different time lengths elapsed from a time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to scheduling of the CSI transmission.

[0274] In some possible implementation manners, the first value is a value converted from all bit values of the second CSI into a decimal number or a value converted from all bit values of CQI in the second CSI into a decimal number, and the first value is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0275] In some possible implementation manners, before the second CSI is transmitted, the transceiver 720 is further configured to: transmit, to the second communication apparatus, fourth information including a time length required by the terminal to complete CSI-RS measurement on the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell, and the fourth information is used to determine the first time length.

[0276] In some possible implementation manners, the second time-frequency resource or the fourth time-frequency resource includes at least one of a time-frequency resource of a first PUCCH in a process in which the terminal accesses the first cell, a time-frequency resource occupied by a first PUSCH, a time-frequency resource occupied by a random access message 3, a time-frequency resource occupied by a random access message A, a time-frequency resource of a PUSCH scheduled by a random access message 2, a time-frequency resource of an uplink channel scheduled by a handover command, a time-frequency resource of a first PUSCH after access to the first cell is completed, or a time-frequency resource of a first PUCCH.

[0277] In some possible implementation manners, the first cell is a target cell for handover of the terminal or a secondary cell connected by the terminal.

[0278] In this embodiment, specific processes of the units in the communication apparatus 700 performing the corresponding steps are described above in the description of the terminal device related to the method 500 related embodiments, which are not repeated here for brevity.

[0279] In some embodiments, the communication apparatus 700 can correspond to the target network device described in the above method 400, can be a component (chip, chip system, or processor) applied to the target network device, or can be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the target network device. Each module or unit in the communication apparatus 700 is configured to perform each action or process described above in the method 400.

[0280] The transceiver 720 is configured to receive indication information, the indication information being used to indicate that measurement on channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) has been completed or channel state information (CSI) has been generated.

[0281] The processing unit 710 is configured to generate first information according to the indication information, the first information being used to schedule transmission of the CSI.

[0282] The transceiver 720 is further configured to transmit the first information.

[0283] The transceiver 720 is further configured to receive the CSI.

[0284] The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application can timely schedule resources for the terminal to transmit the CSI-RS measurement report when the CSI-RS measurement report has been completed, so that the terminal can timely report the CSI-RS measurement report to the target network device. The embodiments of the present application can reduce the time delay of the terminal reporting the CSI-RS measurement report and improve the efficiency of reporting the CSI-RS measurement report using less air interface resources, reduce the time for the terminal device to increase the data rate after switching, and achieve the fastest recovery of the data rate, thereby ensuring a high transmission rate of the terminal application layer data and improving the user experience.

[0285] For specific contents included in the indication information and the first information, refer to the description of the corresponding part above, which will not be repeated here for brevity.

[0286] In some possible implementation manners, the transceiver 720 is further configured to receive, on the first time-frequency resource, the CSI corresponding to the identifier of the first CSI-RS.

[0287] In some possible implementation manners, before the transceiver 720 receives the indication information, the transceiver 720 is further configured to transmit second information, the second information including configuration information of the CSI-RS, the configuration information of the CSI-RS including configuration information of at least one CSI-RS, different CSI-RSs corresponding to different identifiers.

[0288] In a possible implementation, the specific process in which the units in the communication apparatus 700 perform the corresponding steps described above can refer to the description of the target network device related to the embodiments of the method 400. For brevity, details are not repeated here.

[0289] In some embodiments, the communication apparatus 700 can correspond to the network device (for example, the first network device) described above with reference to the method 500, can be a component (chip, chip system, or processor) applied to the network device, or can be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the network device. Each module or unit in the communication apparatus 700 is configured to perform the actions or processes described above with reference to the method 500 performed by the first network device.

[0290] The transceiver 720 is configured to receive the second CSI on the second time-frequency resource, and the value of the second CSI is the first value, where the first value is used to indicate that the second CSI is an invalid CSI or is used to indicate that the terminal has not completed the measurement on the at least one CSI-RS of the first cell, and the second CSI is the CSI corresponding to the first cell. The processing unit 710 is configured to determine the third time-frequency resource according to the first time length and the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource, where the first time length indicates the time length required by the terminal to generate the CSI or indicates the time length elapsed from the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to the scheduling of the CSI transmission. The transceiver 720 is configured to send the third information, where the third information is used to schedule the transmission of the CSI on the third time-frequency resource. The transceiver 720 is further configured to receive the third CSI on the third time domain resource, and the third CSI is the CSI corresponding to the first cell.

[0291] The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application can be used to implement the following effects. If the terminal device has not completed the measurement on the CSI-RS or has not generated the CSI measurement report before the second time-frequency resource, the network device can still receive the second CSI sent by the terminal device on the second time-frequency resource, and the value of the second CSI is the first value, where the first value indicates that the CSI is an invalid CSI. The network device can determine the resource (the third time-frequency resource) for scheduling the third CSI according to the first value of the second CSI and indicate the terminal device. On the one hand, the timely and effective scheduling of the reporting of the valid CSI can be implemented, and the waste of communication resources can be reduced. On the other hand, the time delay of the reporting of the valid CSI can be reduced in the case of using fewer air interface resources, and the efficiency of reporting the valid CSI can be improved.

[0292] The specific content included in the second CSI, the first value of the second CSI, and the implementation of the second time-frequency resource or the fourth time-frequency resource can refer to the description of the corresponding part above. For brevity, details are not repeated here.

[0293] In a possible implementation, the transceiver 720 is further configured to receive fourth information, the fourth information including a length of time required by the terminal device to complete CSI-RS measurement on the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell; and the processing unit 710 is further configured to determine the first length of time according to the fourth information.

[0294] In the embodiment, the specific procedures of the units in the communication apparatus 700 performing the corresponding steps are described in the foregoing description of the first network device related to the embodiments of the method 500. For the sake of brevity, details are not described herein again.

[0295] Further, the communication apparatus 700 can further include a storage unit. The transceiver 720 can be a transceiver, an input / output interface, a pin or an interface circuit. The storage unit is configured to store instructions executed by the transceiver 720 and the processing unit 710. The transceiver 720, the processing unit 710 and the storage unit are coupled to each other. The storage unit stores instructions. The processing unit 710 is configured to execute the instructions stored in the storage unit. The transceiver 720 is configured to perform specific signal transceiving under the control of the processing unit 710.

[0296] It should be understood that the transceiver 720 can be a transceiver, an input / output interface or an interface circuit. The storage unit can be a memory. The processing unit 710 can be implemented by a processor.

[0297] As shown in FIG. 8, the communication apparatus 800 can include a processor 810. Optionally, the communication apparatus 800 can further include a memory 820 and a transceiver 830. The dashed line in FIG. 8 indicates that the unit or module is optional. The communication apparatus 800 can be configured to implement the method described in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0298] In some possible implementation, the communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7 or the communication apparatus 800 shown in FIG. 8 can implement the steps performed by the terminal device in the foregoing method 400 or the method 500. Similar descriptions can be referred to the descriptions in the corresponding method. For the sake of brevity, details are not described herein again.

[0299] In some possible implementation, the communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7 or the communication apparatus 800 shown in FIG. 8 can implement the steps performed by the target network device in the foregoing method 400 or the first network device in the method 500. Similar descriptions can be referred to the descriptions in the corresponding method. For the sake of brevity, details are not described herein again.

[0300] In some possible implementation, the communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7 or the communication apparatus 800 shown in FIG. 8 can be a terminal, or the terminal can include the communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7 or the communication apparatus 800 shown in FIG. 8.

[0301] In some possible implementation manners, the communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7 or the communication apparatus 800 shown in FIG. 8 can be a network apparatus, or the network apparatus includes the communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7 or the communication apparatus 800 shown in FIG. 8.

[0302] It should also be understood that the division of the units in the above apparatus is only a logical functional division, and 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 be implemented in the form of hardware; or some units are implemented in the form of software invoked by a processing element, and some units are 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.

[0303] 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. In 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 CPU or other processor that can invoke a program. In another example, the units can be integrated together to implement a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0304] FIG. 9 is a structural schematic diagram of a terminal device 900 provided in the present application. The communication apparatus 700 or the communication apparatus 800 can be configured in the terminal device 900. Alternatively, the communication apparatus 700 or the communication apparatus 800 itself can be the terminal device 900. Alternatively, the terminal device 900 can perform the actions performed by the terminal device in the above method 400 or the method 500. Optionally, for ease of illustration, FIG. 9 only shows the main components of the terminal. As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal device 900 includes a processor, a memory, a control circuit, an antenna, and an input / output apparatus.

[0305] The processor is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, and controlling the whole terminal device, executing software programs, processing data of the software programs, for example, for supporting the terminal device to perform the actions described in the above communication method embodiments. The memory is mainly used for storing software programs and data, for example, storing the CSI-RS measurement report, the to-be-measured CSI-RS information corresponding to the target network device, the first time length, the plurality of different values of the second CSI, the second time-frequency resource, and the like described in the above embodiments. The control circuit is mainly used for conversion between baseband signals and radio frequency signals, and processing of the radio frequency signals. The control circuit and the antenna can also be called a transceiver, and is mainly used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. For example, transmitting the indication information described in the above embodiments, receiving the first information, the third information, and the like described in the above embodiments. The input and output device, for example, a touch screen, a display screen, a keyboard, and the like, is mainly used for receiving data input by a user and outputting data to the user.

[0306] When the terminal device is powered on, the processor can read the software program in the storage unit, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted (for example, the CSI-RS measurement report, the indication information, the second CSI, and the like), and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal, and transmits the radio frequency signal in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When signaling (for example, the first information, the third information, and the like described above) is transmitted to the terminal device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0307] Those skilled in the art can understand that, for the convenience of description, FIG. 9 only shows one memory and one processor. In an actual terminal device, there can be a plurality of processors and memories. The memory can also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device, and the like, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0308] For example, the processor can include a baseband processor and a central processor, the baseband processor is mainly used for processing communication protocol and communication data, and the central processor is mainly used for controlling the whole terminal, executing a software program, and processing data of the software program. The processor in FIG. 9 integrates the functions of the baseband processor and the central processor, and the baseband processor and the central processor can also be independent processors interconnected by a bus or the like. The terminal can include multiple baseband processors to adapt to different network modes, and the terminal device can include multiple central processors to enhance the processing capability. Various components of the terminal can be connected through various buses. The baseband processor can also be referred to as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The central processor can also be referred to as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The function of processing communication protocol and communication data can be built into the processor, or stored in the storage unit in the form of a software program, and the baseband processing function is realized by executing the software program by the processor.

[0309] For example, in the embodiments of the present application, the antenna with transceiving function and the control circuit can be regarded as a transceiving unit 901 of the terminal device 900, and the processor with processing function can be regarded as a processing unit 902 of the terminal device 900. As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal device 900 includes a transceiving unit 901 and a processing unit 902. The transceiving unit can also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver, a transceiver, etc. Optionally, the device for realizing the receiving function in the transceiving unit 901 can be regarded as a receiving unit, and the device for realizing the sending function in the transceiving unit 901 can be regarded as a sending unit, that is, the transceiving unit 901 includes a receiving unit and a sending unit. For example, the receiving unit can also be referred to as a receiver, a receiver, a receiving circuit, etc., and the sending unit can be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter or a transmitting circuit, etc.

[0310] FIG. 10 is a structural schematic diagram of a network device 1000 provided by an embodiment of the present application, which can be used to realize the function of the target network device in the above method 400 or the first network device in the above method 500. The network device 1000 includes one or more radio frequency units 1001 and one or more processing units 1002. The radio frequency unit 1001 can be referred to as a transceiving unit, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, etc., which can include at least one antenna 10011 and a radio frequency unit 10012. The radio frequency unit 1001 is mainly used for the transceiving of radio frequency signals and the conversion between radio frequency signals and baseband signals, for example, for sending the first information in the above embodiments to the terminal. The processing unit 1002 is mainly used for baseband processing, controlling the network device, etc. The radio frequency unit 1001 and the processing unit 1002 can be physically arranged together or physically arranged separately, that is, a distributed network device.

[0311] The processing unit 1002 is the control center of the network device, and can also be referred to as a baseband unit, and is mainly used to complete baseband processing functions such as channel coding, multiplexing, modulation, spreading, etc. For example, the processing unit 1002 can be used to control the network device to perform the operation process of the target network device in the method 400 or the first network device in the method 500 in the above method embodiments.

[0312] In one example, the processing unit 1002 can be composed of one or more single boards, and the multiple single boards can jointly support a wireless access network of a single access mode (such as an LTE system or a 5G system), or can separately support wireless access networks of different access modes. The processing unit 1002 further includes a memory 10021 and a processor 10022. The memory 10021 is used to store necessary instructions and data. For example, the memory 10021 stores the first information, the CSI-RS measurement report, the first time length, the different values of the second CSI association, etc. in the above embodiments. The processor 10022 is used to control the network device to perform necessary actions, for example, to control the network device to perform the operation process of the target network device or the first network device in the above method embodiments. The memory 10021 and the processor 10022 can serve one or more single boards. That is, the memory and the processor can be separately arranged on each single board. Alternatively, the multiple single boards can share the same memory and processor. In addition, necessary circuits can also be arranged on each single board.

[0313] In a possible implementation, with the development of SoC technology, all or part of the functions of the 1002 part and the 1001 part can be realized by SoC technology, for example, by a network device function chip that integrates a processor, a memory, an antenna interface, etc. The program of the network device related function is stored in the memory, and the processor executes the program to realize the related function of the network device. Alternatively, the network device function chip can also read the memory outside the chip to realize the related function of the network device.

[0314] It should be understood that the structure of the network side device in the example of FIG. 10 is only one possible form, and should not constitute any limitation on the embodiments of the present application. The present application does not exclude the possibility of other forms of network side device structures that may appear in the future.

[0315] It should be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be a CPU, and the processor can also be other general-purpose processors, DSPs, ASICs, FPGAs, microprocessors (MPUs), microcontroller units (MCUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), artificial intelligence processors (AI processors), or neural network processors (Neural Processing Units, NPUs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor, etc.

[0316] It should also be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an EPROM, an electrically EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a cache, a random access memory (RAM) used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0317] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication system, which includes the terminal and the network side device described above. The network side device can include a target network device, and optionally can also include a source network device. Alternatively, the communication system includes the terminal device and the first network device described above. Optionally, it can also include a second network device.

[0318] The above-described embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, the above-described embodiments can be implemented 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.

[0319] 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 one of the communication 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.

[0320] The present application also provides a computer program product including instructions that, when executed, cause a terminal to perform operations corresponding to those of the terminal in the above-described methods, or cause a network device to perform operations corresponding to those of the target network device in the above-described methods.

[0321] 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 processing unit can execute computer instructions to cause the chip in the communication device to perform any one of the communication methods provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0322] Optionally, any one of the communication devices provided by the embodiments of the present application can include the chip.

[0323] Optionally, the computer instructions are stored in a storage unit.

[0324] Optionally, the storage unit is a storage unit within the chip, such as a register, a cache, etc. The storage unit can also be a storage unit outside the chip within the communication device, such as a ROM or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a RAM, etc. The processing unit and the storage unit can be decoupled and arranged on different physical devices, and connected through 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 also be coupled on the same device.

[0325] In the present application, various objects such as messages / information / devices / systems / apparatuses / actions / operations / processes, etc. can be named. 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, etc. The technical meaning of the technical terms in the present application should be mainly determined according to the function and technical effect embodied / implemented in the technical scheme.

[0326] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are only schematic, and the division of the units 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 shown or discussed objects can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0327] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separated, and the components shown as units can or can not be physical units, i.e. they can be located in one place or distributed on a plurality of network units. Part or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.

[0328] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and 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 within 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 communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: sending indication information to a first communication device, the indication information being used to indicate that measurement of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) has been completed or channel state information (CSI) has been generated; receiving first information from the first communication device, the first information being used to schedule transmission of the CSI; transmitting the CSI to the first communication device according to the first information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The indication information comprises first indication information and / or second indication information; The first indication information is used to indicate that the CSI has been generated or the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed; The second indication information is used to indicate an identity of a CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or an identity of a CSI-RS corresponding to the completed measurement of the CSI-RS, and different identities of CSI-RSs correspond to different CSIs.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first information comprises an identity of a first CSI-RS, and the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the completed measurement of the CSI-RS comprises the identity of the first CSI-RS; According to the first information, transmitting the CSI to the first communication device comprises: transmitting, to the first communication device, a CSI corresponding to the identity of the first CSI-RS on a first time-frequency resource.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The first information further comprises information of the first time-frequency resource.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Before the indication information is transmitted to the first communication device, the method further comprises: receiving second information from a second communication device, the second information comprising configuration information of CSI-RSs, the configuration information of the CSI-RSs comprising configuration information of at least one CSI-RS, and different CSI-RSs corresponding to different identities; respectively measuring the at least one CSI-RS according to the second information.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Before the indication information is transmitted to the first communication device, the method further comprises: receiving second information from the first communication device, the second information comprising configuration information of CSI-RSs, the configuration information of the CSI-RSs comprising configuration information of at least one CSI-RS, and different CSI-RSs corresponding to different identities; respectively measuring the at least one CSI-RS according to the second information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The indication information is carried in an RRC reconfiguration completion message, a message of a random access procedure, a medium access control element (MAC CE), or uplink data.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The first information is carried in downlink control information (DCI).

9. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: receiving indication information, the indication information being used to indicate that measurement of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) has been completed or channel state information (CSI) has been generated; in response to the indication information, transmitting first information, the first information being used to schedule transmission of the CSI; receiving the CSI.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, The indication information comprises first indication information and / or second indication information; The first indication information is used to indicate that the CSI has been generated or the measurement of the CSI-RS has been completed; The second indication information is used to indicate an identity of a CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or an identity of a CSI-RS corresponding to the completed measurement of the CSI-RS, and different identities of CSI-RSs correspond to different CSIs. The second indication information is used for indicating an identity of a CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or an identity of a CSI-RS corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement, and different identities of the CSI-RSs correspond to different CSIs.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The first information comprises an identity of a first CSI-RS, and the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the generated CSI or the identity of the CSI-RS corresponding to the completed CSI-RS measurement comprises the identity of the first CSI-RS. The receiving of the CSI comprises: The identity of the first CSI-RS corresponding CSI is received on the first time-frequency resource.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, Before the receiving of the indication information, the method further comprises: The second information is transmitted, and the second information comprises configuration information of CSI-RSs, and the configuration information of the CSI-RSs comprises configuration information of at least one CSI-RS, and different identities of different CSI-RSs are different.

13. A method of communication, comprising: The method comprises: The second CSI corresponding to the first cell is transmitted to the first communication device on a second time-frequency resource, the value of the second CSI is a first value, the first value is used for indicating that the second CSI is invalid or is used for indicating that the terminal has not completed at least one CSI-RS measurement on the first cell, and the first cell is a cell providing communication service for the first communication device; Third information from the first communication device is received, the third information is used for scheduling transmission of CSI on a third time-frequency resource, and a time domain resource of the third time-frequency resource is determined according to a first time length and a time domain resource occupied by a fourth time-frequency resource, the first time length indicates a time length required by the terminal for generating CSI or indicates a time length elapsed from the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to scheduling CSI transmission; The third CSI corresponding to the first cell is transmitted to the first communication device on the third time-frequency resource.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, Before the transmitting of the second CSI, the method further comprises: Fourth information is transmitted to a second communication device, the fourth information comprises a time length required by the terminal for completing CSI-RS measurement on an accessed cell or a switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell, and the fourth information is used for determining the first time length.

15. A method of communication, comprising: The method comprises: The second CSI corresponding to the first cell is received on a second time-frequency resource, the value of the second CSI is a first value, the first value is used for indicating that the second CSI is invalid or is used for indicating that the terminal has not completed at least one CSI-RS measurement on the first cell, and the second CSI is CSI corresponding to the first cell; The third time-frequency resource is determined according to a first time length and a time domain resource occupied by a fourth time-frequency resource, the first time length indicates a time length required by the terminal for generating CSI or indicates a time length elapsed from the time domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to scheduling CSI transmission; transmitting third information, the third information being used for scheduling CSI transmitted on the third time-frequency resource; receiving third CSI on the third time-domain resource, the third CSI being CSI corresponding to the first cell.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving fourth information, the fourth information comprising a length of time required by the terminal to complete CSI-RS measurement on the accessed cell or the switched cell after accessing the cell or switching the cell; determining the first length of time according to the fourth information.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that, The second CSI comprises third indication information, the third indication information being used for indicating the first length of time or an identifier corresponding to the first length of time.

18. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that, The first length of time is predefined.

19. The method of any one of claims 13-16, wherein, The first value is further used for indicating the first length of time, wherein the first value is included in a value set, the value set comprising a plurality of different values associated with the second CSI, the different values associated with the second CSI are all used for indicating that the second CSI is invalid or for indicating that at least one CSI-RS measurement of the terminal on the first cell is not completed, and the different values associated with the second CSI correspond to different lengths of time, the different lengths of time indicating different lengths of time required by the terminal to generate CSI or indicating different lengths of time elapsed from the time-domain resource occupied by the fourth time-frequency resource to the scheduling of CSI transmission.

20. The method of any one of claims 13-19, wherein, The first value is a value converted from all bit values of the second CSI into decimal or a value converted from all bit values of CQI in the second CSI into decimal, and the first value is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

21. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 20, characterized in that, The second time-frequency resource or the fourth time-frequency resource comprises at least one of a time-frequency resource of a first PUCCH in a process in which the terminal accesses the first cell, a time-frequency resource occupied by a first PUSCH, a time-frequency resource occupied by a random access message 3, a time-frequency resource occupied by a random access message A, a time-frequency resource of a PUSCH scheduled by a random access message 2, a time-frequency resource of an uplink channel scheduled by a handover command, a time-frequency resource of a first PUSCH after the access to the first cell is completed, or a time-frequency resource of a first PUCCH.

22. The method of any one of claims 13-21, wherein, The first cell is a target cell of handover of the terminal or a secondary cell connected by the terminal.

23. A communications device, characterized by comprise: means for performing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or means for performing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, or means for performing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 13 to 22.

24. A communications device, characterized by comprise a processor configured to cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 13 to 22, by executing a computer program or instructions stored in a memory and / or by a logic circuit.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores computer programs or instructions which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 8, or implement the method of any one of claims 9 to 12, or implement the method of any one of claims 13 to 22.

26. A computer program product, characterised in that, Comprising: Computer programs or instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 8, or the method of any one of claims 9 to 12, or the method of any one of claims 13 to 22.

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