Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of communications. Provided are a communication method and apparatus. The communication method comprises: a terminal device receiving a synchronization signal block that comprises first information and second information, wherein the first information is used for indicating that a first cell is in an energy-saving state, and the second information is used for indicating a search resource used for searching for a first frequency point of a cell other than the first cell; on the basis of the first information, sending a first signal, wherein the first signal is used for waking up the first cell; and when a first condition whereby the first signal is not received is met, searching for the first frequency point on the basis of the second information. A synchronization signal block received by a terminal device carries first information for indicating that a first cell is in an energy-saving state and second information for indicating a search resource used for searching for a first frequency point, such that the terminal device can be assisted with purposefully searching for the first frequency point when the first cell is in the energy-saving state and refuses to be woken up, thereby improving the search efficiency, reducing a delay of the terminal device, and reducing power consumption and resource occupation.

Description

Communication methods and devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411434551.9, filed on October 14, 2024, entitled "Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to communication methods and apparatus. Background Technology

[0003] With the rapid rise in global energy consumption and the exacerbation of environmental pollution, the telecommunications industry, as a major energy consumer, faces an urgent need to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Simultaneously, the rapid development of network technology and the increase in the number of devices have also driven the research and application of energy-saving technologies. Furthermore, to enhance user experience and corporate competitiveness, as well as to respond to government policies and regulations, network-side energy-saving technologies have emerged, aiming to reduce energy consumption, improve equipment efficiency, and promote green and sustainable development.

[0004] Network-side energy-saving technologies refer to various methods and techniques used in wireless networks to reduce the energy consumption of network equipment, achieving effective energy management and conservation. These technologies may include sleep modes, intelligent scheduling, data compression, and energy management strategies. However, when network equipment (such as base stations) enters energy-saving mode, they may adjust their operating parameters to reduce energy consumption. This usually means that during the energy-saving period, access requests from terminal devices in energy-saving cells may be restricted or impossible. Specifically, cells in energy-saving mode may not provide normal communication services, or may only provide limited, degraded communication services. Therefore, terminal devices may encounter access failures or delays when attempting to access these cells.

[0005] When a cell is in energy-saving mode, terminal devices cannot connect, and they cannot determine whether the cell is in energy-saving mode. This causes terminal devices to blindly search for other frequency points, resulting in wasted resources and access delays. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method and apparatus for reducing resource consumption when a terminal device searches for frequency points.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] Firstly, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a terminal device. The execution subject of the method can be the terminal device, a component or device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system) applied to the terminal device, or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The communication method includes: receiving a synchronization signal block including first information and second information, wherein the first information indicates that a first cell is in an energy-saving state, and the second information indicates a search resource for a first frequency point in cells other than the first cell; transmitting a first signal according to the first information, the first signal being used to wake up the first cell; and, if a first condition is met that the first signal is not received, searching for the first frequency point according to the second information.

[0009] In the first aspect, the synchronization signal block received by the terminal device carries first information indicating that the first cell is in a power-saving state and second information indicating search resources for a frequency point (i.e., the first frequency point) used to search for cells other than the first cell. This can assist the terminal device in purposefully searching for the first frequency point when the first cell is in a power-saving state and refuses to be woken up, thereby improving search efficiency, reducing latency of the terminal device, and reducing power consumption and resource occupation.

[0010] In one possible design, the second information includes: a first parameter for increasing the search interval for the first frequency point, and / or, search priority information for the first frequency point.

[0011] In this design, based on the first parameter, the terminal device waits longer between searches to reduce frequent and meaningless searches of the same or the same set of frequencies, and expands the search range to more frequencies. This strategy not only reduces the burden on the terminal device in processing search results and lowers search complexity, but also allows the terminal device to adjust its search strategy more flexibly, dynamically selecting search targets, times, and priorities based on factors such as network conditions, battery power, and user behavior. Simultaneously, stretching the search interval effectively reduces the number of search operations, lowers power consumption, extends the terminal device's usage time, and reduces additional energy consumption, aligning with the goals of energy-saving mode. Importantly, this does not mean abandoning searching or reducing search quality; on the contrary, by optimizing the strategy and improving efficiency, the terminal device can find other potentially available network access points more quickly when it is clear that a cell is in energy-saving mode and cannot be accessed. Based on the search priority information of the first frequency, the terminal device can prioritize searching for cell frequencies in non-energy-saving states, thereby improving search efficiency, reducing power consumption and resource usage, extending the terminal device's battery life, and enhancing the user experience. At the same time, it also promotes network energy-saving management, providing flexibility and scalability for future network optimization and expansion.

[0012] In one possible design, the first information includes: the relative time-frequency position relationship between system information block 1 and synchronization signal block, and / or, time-frequency resources for transmitting the first signal.

[0013] In this design, the first information includes the aforementioned information for waking up the first cell's first signal, and the terminal device can send the first signal based on this first information.

[0014] In one possible design, the first condition includes: no third information indicating the receipt of the first signal is received within a preset first time range.

[0015] In this design, there is a first condition for determining that the first signal is not received. Based on the first condition, the terminal device can promptly determine whether to search for the first frequency point.

[0016] Secondly, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a network device. The execution subject of the method can be the network device, a component or device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system) applied to the network device, or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the network device. The communication method includes: sending a synchronization signal block, the synchronization signal block including first information and second information, wherein the first information is used to indicate that a first cell is in an energy-saving state, and the second information is used to indicate a search resource for searching a first frequency point, the first frequency point being a frequency point of a cell other than the first cell.

[0017] In one possible design, the second information includes: a first parameter, and / or, search priority information for a first frequency point, wherein the first parameter is used to determine the search interval for searching the first frequency point.

[0018] In this design, based on the first parameter, the terminal device waits longer between searches to reduce frequent and meaningless searches of the same or the same set of frequencies, and expands the search range to more frequencies. This strategy not only reduces the burden on the terminal device in processing search results and lowers search complexity, but also allows the terminal device to adjust its search strategy more flexibly, dynamically selecting search targets, times, and priorities based on factors such as network conditions, battery power, and user behavior. Simultaneously, stretching the search interval effectively reduces the number of search operations, lowers power consumption, extends the terminal device's usage time, and reduces additional energy consumption, aligning with the goals of energy-saving mode. Importantly, this does not mean abandoning searching or reducing search quality; on the contrary, by optimizing the strategy and improving efficiency, the terminal device can find other potentially available network access points more quickly when it is clear that a cell is in energy-saving mode and cannot be accessed. Based on the search priority information of the first frequency, the terminal device can prioritize searching for cell frequencies in non-energy-saving states, thereby improving search efficiency, reducing power consumption and resource usage, extending the terminal device's battery life, and enhancing the user experience. At the same time, it also promotes network energy-saving management, providing flexibility and scalability for future network optimization and expansion.

[0019] In one possible design, the first information includes: the relative time-frequency position relationship between system information block 1 and synchronization signal block, and / or, time-frequency resources for transmitting the first signal.

[0020] In this design, the first information includes the aforementioned information for waking up the first cell's first signal, and the terminal device can send the first signal based on this first information.

[0021] In one possible design, the method further includes: receiving a first signal for waking up a first cell; and sending third information, wherein the third information is used to indicate that the first signal has been received.

[0022] In this design, the aforementioned third information is included. Based on whether the third information is received, the terminal device can promptly determine whether to search for the first frequency point.

[0023] Thirdly, a communication device is provided for implementing the method described in any of the first or second aspects. For example, the communication device may be a terminal device as described in the first aspect, or a device included in a terminal device, such as a chip or chip system; or, the communication device may be a network device as described in the second aspect, or a device included in a network device, such as a chip or chip system. When the device is a chip system, it may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete components.

[0024] The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the implementation method. These modules, units, or means can be implemented in hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

[0025] In some possible designs, the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module can be used to implement the processing functions in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations. The transceiver module, also called a transceiver unit, is used to implement the sending and / or receiving functions in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations. The transceiver module may consist of transceiver circuitry, a transceiver, a transceiver unit, or a communication interface.

[0026] In some possible designs, the transceiver module includes a sending module and / or a receiving module, which are used to implement the sending or receiving functions in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations.

[0027] Fourthly, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a communication interface; the communication interface being used to communicate with a module outside the communication device; the processor being used to execute computer programs or instructions to cause the communication device to perform the methods described in any of the aspects. For example, the communication device may be a terminal device as described in the first aspect, or a device included in a terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system; or, the communication device may be a network device as described in the second aspect, or a device included in a network device, such as a chip or a chip system. When the device is a chip system, it may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0028] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, comprising: at least one processor; the processor being configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in a memory to cause the communication device to perform the method described in any of the aspects. The memory may be coupled to the processor, or the memory may exist independently of the processor; for example, the memory and the processor are two separate modules. The memory may be located outside or within the communication device.

[0029] The communication device is used to implement the method described in any of the first or second aspects. For example, the communication device can be a terminal device as described in the first aspect, or a device included in a terminal device, such as a chip or chip system; or, the communication device can be a network device as described in the second aspect, or a device included in a network device, such as a chip or chip system. When the device is a chip system, it can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete components.

[0030] In a sixth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided that stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a communication device, enable the communication device to perform the methods described in either aspect.

[0031] In a seventh aspect, a computer program product containing instructions is provided, which, when run on a communication device, enables the communication device to perform the method described in either aspect.

[0032] Eighthly, a communication device is provided, configured to cause the communication device to perform the method described in any one of the aspects.

[0033] It is understandable that when the communication device provided by any of the third to fifth aspects is a chip, the sending action / function of the communication device can be understood as outputting information, and the receiving action / function of the communication device can be understood as inputting information.

[0034] In a ninth aspect, a chip is provided, the chip including a processor for supporting the chip in performing the methods described in any aspect.

[0035] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes the terminal equipment and network equipment described in the preceding aspects.

[0036] The technical effects of any of the design methods in aspects three through ten can be found in the technical effects of different design methods in aspects one through two, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

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

[0041] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0045] Before introducing the embodiments of this application, some terms involved in the embodiments of this application will be explained.

[0046] The parameter Kssb in the master information block (MIB):

[0047] KSSB is an operator used to quantize the F-domain size between the bottom size of the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SSB) and the starting point of the nearest common resource block (CRB). It plays an important role in cell search, synchronization, beam management, and measurement and reporting.

[0048] Existing terminal devices determine whether the current cell will schedule the Type 0 physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for broadcast messages based on the range of Kssb parameters indicated in the MIB. If the terminal device determines that the current cell will not schedule Type 0 PDCCH (i.e., the terminal device cannot directly access the network through the current cell), it will further determine the frequency range to be searched based on the specific value of Kssb. The terminal device can determine the frequency range to be searched by querying the parameters in Tables 1 and 2 below.

[0049] Table 1

[0050] Table 2

[0051] The specific determination method is as follows:

[0052] For frequency range (FR) 1 band, if the Kssb value is between 24 and 29; or for FR 2 band, if the Kssb value is between 12 and 13, the terminal device will determine that the current cell will not schedule Type 0-PDCCH. The terminal device can then determine the nearest neighboring frequency index list as follows: For FR1 and FR2-1 frequencies For the FR2-2 frequency point

[0053] It is determined by looking up Table 1 or Table 2. Table 1 is for the FR1 frequency band, and Table 2 is for the FR2 frequency band. The two parameters, controlResourceSetZero and searchSpaceZero, are originally used to indicate the search space for Type 0-PDCCH. However, since the Kssb index indicates that the cell at the current frequency does not schedule Type 0-PDCCH, these two parameters are used to reinterpret and determine other frequency points where Type 0-PDCCH can exist.

[0054] If the value of Kssb is 31 (for the FR1 band) or 15 (for the FR2 band), then the terminal device can determine the frequency index. There is no search space for Type0-PDCCH within the range. and It is determined by controlResourceSetZero and searchSpaceZero respectively.

[0055] If the range of the global synchronization channel number (GSCN) is It is then assumed that the terminal device has not obtained information from any other frequency points.

[0056] It is understood that the above explanation is based on currently available information and general understanding, and may vary depending on different network configurations, frequency bands, implementation methods, or standard versions. In practical applications, the latest standard documents or relevant network configuration information can be consulted to obtain accurate parameter definitions and configurations, without limitation.

[0057] The above parameters: and This relates to GSCN. GSCN is an important parameter used to identify and calculate the center frequency of an SSB. These parameters collectively determine the center frequency of the SSB, thus helping terminal equipment locate the SSB in the frequency domain. Through GSCN, terminal equipment can indirectly calculate the center frequency of the SSB and perform cell search and synchronization accordingly. Detailed explanations of these parameters can be found in relevant technical documents and will not be repeated here.

[0058] With the rapid development of information technology, the demand for efficient, mobile, and diverse communication is becoming increasingly urgent. Against this backdrop, satellite communication has demonstrated irreplaceable importance in key fields such as space, aviation, and the military. Compared to terrestrial mobile communication networks, satellite communication, through the deployment of high, medium, and low Earth orbit satellites, achieves widespread global coverage, providing seamless communication services to users worldwide. In the future, the deep integration of satellite communication and 5G technology will complement each other's advantages, jointly constructing a seamless, integrated communication network covering land, sea, air, and space, meeting diverse user service needs, and becoming a significant development trend in the communications field.

[0059] This convergence is not only reflected in economically reliable network services in remote areas, aircraft, and ocean-going vessels—places where terrestrial networks are difficult to reach—but also significantly enhances the continuous network connectivity of mobile carriers such as IoT devices and vehicles. In particular, through the synergy between satellite and 5G, the service efficiency of 5G systems in these scenarios is greatly improved. Furthermore, the broadcast / multicast advantages of satellite communication also provide efficient data distribution services for network edge and user terminal devices.

[0060] Currently, the development of satellite mobile communication is moving towards the miniaturization of mobile terminal devices and the broadbandization of communication services. It not only supports a variety of handheld devices, but also provides a wealth of services, including high-speed data services and Internet multimedia communication, further promoting the innovation and development of communication technology.

[0061] Despite the numerous advantages demonstrated by satellite communication, technical bottlenecks remain in its practical deployment and integration with 5G networks. One prominent issue is the access problem for terminal devices in energy-saving scenarios on the network side. Specifically, when network equipment such as base stations enter energy-saving mode, it may restrict or reject access requests from terminal devices, leading to a decline or interruption in service quality. Since terminal devices cannot determine whether a cell is in energy-saving mode, they may blindly search for other frequency points, which not only wastes resources but also increases access latency. This problem is particularly pronounced in scenarios with unstable network coverage, such as non-terrestrial network (NTN) satellite communication, or where terminal devices have high mobility.

[0062] In more detail, because terminal devices cannot determine whether a cell is energy-efficient, they may blindly search for cells on other frequencies, wasting significant search time and resources. This not only reduces the search efficiency of the terminal devices but may also impact user experience. When terminal devices mistakenly believe that the current cell is unaccessible, they will attempt to connect to other cells. This can lead to access delays, especially in situations with poor network coverage or where the terminal devices are moving quickly, potentially requiring longer to find a suitable cell for connection. Since terminal devices cannot accurately determine which cells are energy-efficient, they may concentrate their search on and connect to non-energy-efficient cells, resulting in uneven network load on these cells. This not only degrades overall network performance but may also affect the communication quality for other users.

[0063] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a communication method in which a network device carries in a synchronization signal block first information indicating that a first cell is in a power-saving state and second information indicating search resources for a frequency point (referred to as a first frequency point) used to search for cells other than the first cell. This method can assist a terminal device in purposefully searching for the first frequency point when the first cell is in a power-saving state and refuses to be woken up, thereby improving search efficiency, reducing latency of the terminal device, and reducing power consumption and resource consumption.

[0064] The methods provided in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0065] The communication method provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, 5G mobile communication systems, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) systems, future communication systems, or systems integrating multiple communication systems. This application does not limit the application to these systems. 5G can also be referred to as NR.

[0066] The communication method provided in this application can be applied to various communication scenarios, such as one or more of the following communication scenarios: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC), machine type communication (MTC), massive machine type communications (mMTC), device to device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X), vehicle to vehicle (V2V), and Internet of Things (IoT).

[0067] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the application scenario used in this application will be described using the communication system architecture shown in Figure 1 as an example. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a possible, non-limiting system. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 3000 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. The RAN 100 includes at least one network device (101a and 101b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 101) and at least one terminal device (102a-102j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 102). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). The terminal device 102 is wirelessly connected to the network device 101. The network device 101 is connected to the core network 200 wirelessly or via a wired connection. The core network equipment in core network 200 and the network equipment 101 in RAN 100 can be different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device that integrates core network logical functions and radio access network logical functions.

[0068] RAN 100 can be a cellular system related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 4G, 5G mobile communication systems, or evolution systems beyond 5G. RAN 100 can also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a WiFi system. RAN 100 can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0069] The apparatus provided in this application embodiment can be applied to network device 101 or terminal device 102. It is understood that Figure 1 only illustrates one possible communication system architecture that can be applied to this application embodiment; in other possible scenarios, the communication system architecture may also include other devices.

[0070] Network device 101 is a node in the RAN, also known as an access network device or RAN node (or device). Network device 101 assists terminal devices in achieving wireless access. Multiple network devices 101 in the communication system 3000 can be nodes of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of network device 101 and terminal device 102 are relative. For example, network element 102i in Figure 1 can be a helicopter or drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminal devices 102j accessing RAN 100 through network element 102i, network element 102i is a base station; but for base station 101a, network element 102i is a terminal device. Network device 101 and terminal device 102 are sometimes referred to as communication devices. For example, network elements 101a and 101b in Figure 1 can be understood as communication devices with base station functions, and network elements 102a-102j can be understood as communication devices with terminal device functions.

[0071] In one possible scenario, network equipment can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future mobile communication system, a satellite, or an access point (AP) in a WiFi system, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, or a network device in a mobile switching center non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system, meaning it can be deployed on high-altitude platforms or satellites. Network equipment can be a macro base station (as shown in Figure 1, 101a), a micro base station or indoor station (as shown in Figure 1, 101b), a relay node or donor node, or a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. Network equipment can also function as a base station in device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, drone communication, and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. Alternatively, network equipment can also be servers, wearable devices, vehicles, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, the access network equipment in V2X technology can be a roadside unit (RSU).

[0072] In another possible scenario, multiple network devices collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, with each network device performing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, network devices can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs). CUs and DUs can be separate entities or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs). It is understood that network devices can be CU nodes, DU nodes, or devices comprising both CU and DU nodes. Furthermore, CUs can be classified as network devices in the access network (RAN) or the core network (CN), without limitation.

[0073] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an open-radio access network (O-RAN) system, CU can also be called an O-RAN central unit (O-CU) (open CU), DU can also be called an O-RAN distributed unit (O-DU), CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called an O-RAN radio unit (O-RU). For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0074] In this embodiment, the form of the network device is not limited. The device used to implement the function of the network device can be the network device itself, or it can be a device that supports the network device in implementing the function, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device.

[0075] Terminal equipment 102, also known as user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal equipment (MT), or other similar devices, is used to provide voice or data connectivity to users, and can also be an Internet of Things (IoT) device. For example, terminal equipment includes handheld devices with wireless connectivity, vehicle-mounted devices, etc. Currently, terminal devices can include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices (such as smartwatches, smart bracelets, pedometers, smart glasses, etc.), in-vehicle equipment (such as cars, bicycles, electric vehicles, airplanes, ships, trains, high-speed trains, etc.), satellite terminal equipment, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, smart point-of-sale (POS) machines, customer-premises equipment (CPE), light user equipment (UE), reduced capability UE (REDCAP UE), wireless terminal equipment in industrial control, smart home devices (such as refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, electricity meters, etc.), smart robots, robotic arms, workshop equipment, wireless terminal equipment in autonomous driving, wireless terminal equipment in telemedicine, and smart grids. Wireless terminal devices can be used in various contexts, including those related to grids, transportation security, smart cities, smart homes, and flying devices (e.g., intelligent robots, hot air balloons, drones, airplanes). Terminal devices can also be vehicle-mounted devices, such as complete vehicle units, vehicle-mounted modules, vehicle-mounted chips, on-board units (OBUs), or telematics boxes (T-BOXs). Furthermore, terminal devices can be other devices with terminal device functions; for example, a terminal device can function as a terminal device in D2D communication.

[0076] The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form of the terminal device. The device used to implement the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or it can be a device that supports the terminal device in implementing the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal device or used in conjunction with the terminal device. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. All or part of the functions of the terminal device in this application can also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0077] The preceding text has introduced the communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application from a macro-architectural perspective. To help deepen the understanding of this system in a practical application environment, the following will provide a more specific explanation of the communication system through several examples. It should be noted that the communication system examples listed below are for illustrative purposes and are intended to provide an intuitive understanding. The actual application scope of this application is far greater than this, and it is also compatible and adaptable to other types of communication systems, and is not limited thereto.

[0078] For example, the communication system in this application embodiment can be an NTN communication system, which is unique in that the ground mobile terminal device accesses the network using 5G new radio (NR) technology, while the 5G base station is innovatively deployed on satellites and seamlessly connected to the ground core network through a wireless link. This architecture also includes inter-satellite wireless links to support signaling interaction between base stations and efficient transmission of user data.

[0079] As shown in Figure 2, the communication system includes:

[0080] Terminal devices, see the description above.

[0081] Base station (satellite): As a wireless access service provider, it is responsible for allocating wireless resources to access terminal devices and ensuring the reliability and security of data transmission by implementing advanced wireless transmission protocols and data encryption mechanisms.

[0082] Core Network: The integrated control and management center, encompassing functions such as user access control, mobility management, session management, security authentication, and billing. Internally, it is divided into control plane and data plane, each composed of multiple functional units. For example, the access and mobility management function (AMF) is responsible for user access, security authentication, and mobility management; the user plane function (UPF) focuses on user data transmission and traffic statistics, connecting to the data network; and the service management function (SMF) is primarily responsible for session management, quality of service (QoS) control, access network (AN) selection, and billing.

[0083] Ground station: As a bridge between satellite base stations and the ground core network, it is responsible for forwarding signaling and service data between the two to ensure smooth information flow.

[0084] The interface is described below:

[0085] NR: Defined as the wireless interface between terminal equipment and base station (satellite), carrying user data and signaling interaction.

[0086] Xn interface: Dedicated to communication between base stations (satellites), especially during handover operations, it is responsible for signaling exchange between base stations.

[0087] NG interface: The interface connecting the base station (satellite) and the core network, mainly used for transmitting core network control signaling (such as non-access stratum signaling) and user service data.

[0088] In conjunction with the above-described communication system, this application provides a communication method in which, when the first information sent by the network device based on the first configuration cannot be received by the terminal device (this situation can be determined by the network device based on the first condition), the network device then sends the first information based on the second configuration, which can increase the likelihood of the terminal device receiving the first information, thereby improving the continuity and reliability of communication.

[0089] It should be noted that in the following embodiments of this application, the message names, parameter names, or information names between network elements are just examples. Other names may also be used in other embodiments. The communication method provided in this application does not specifically limit these names.

[0090] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, each network element may execute some or all of the steps in the embodiments of this application. These steps or operations are merely examples, and the embodiments of this application may also execute other operations or variations thereof. Furthermore, the steps may be executed in different orders as presented in the embodiments of this application, and it is not necessary to execute all the operations in the embodiments of this application.

[0091] It is understood that this application uses terminal devices and network devices as examples to illustrate the execution of the interaction, but this application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction. For example, the method executed by the terminal device in this application can also be executed by a module applied to the terminal device (e.g., a chip, chip system, or processor), or by a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device; similarly, the method executed by the network device in this application can also be executed by a module applied to the network device (e.g., a chip, chip system, or processor), or by a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the network device. This application does not specifically limit this aspect.

[0092] Figure 3 shows a flowchart of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 3, the method may include the following steps:

[0093] S310, the network device sends a synchronization signal block to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the synchronization signal block from the network device accordingly.

[0094] The first cell can be the cell corresponding to the downlink synchronization signal searched by the terminal device. If the first cell is in a power-saving state (either the first cell is in a power-saving state alone, or the network device to which the first cell belongs is in a power-saving state), the network device can indicate that the first cell is in a power-saving state through the first information in the synchronization signal block, and indicate the search resources for the frequency point (called the first frequency point) used to search for cells other than the first cell through the second information in the synchronization signal block, so as to assist the terminal device in searching for the first frequency point when the first cell is in a power-saving state.

[0095] For example, when a cell is in energy-saving mode, the corresponding Kssb value range for the FR1 band is 24≤Kssb≤29; and the corresponding Kssb value range for the FR2 band is 12≤Kssb≤13.

[0096] In one implementation, the first information may include at least one of the following: the relative time-frequency position relationship between system information block 1 and synchronization signal block, or time-frequency resources for sending a first signal to wake up the first cell.

[0097] For example, the relative time-frequency position relationship between system information block 1 and synchronization signal block can be how much the time delay of system information block 1 is relative to the synchronization signal block, and / or how much the frequency domain offset of system information block 1 is relative to the synchronization signal block.

[0098] Optionally, the time-frequency resources used to wake up the first signal of the first cell can be configured with a relative time-frequency position relationship with the synchronization signal block or system information block 1. This relative time-frequency position relationship can be included in the first information. Based on this relative time-frequency position relationship and the time-frequency position of the synchronization signal block or system information block 1, the terminal device can determine the time-frequency resources used to wake up the first signal of the first cell. Alternatively, the relative time-frequency position relationship can be agreed upon by a protocol, so that the terminal device can determine the time-frequency resources used to wake up the first signal of the first cell based on the protocol and the time-frequency position of the synchronization signal block or system information block 1.

[0099] In one embodiment, the second information may include at least one of the following: a first parameter for increasing the search interval for the first frequency point, or search priority information for the first frequency point.

[0100] Considering that when the SSB period is large, the terminal device will face significant delays when searching for neighboring cell frequencies because the SSB signal occurs at a low frequency in the time domain, causing the terminal device to wait longer to acquire and resolve these signals. To alleviate this problem, embodiments of this application set a first parameter for increasing the search interval for the first frequency. This first parameter is used to widen the interval at which the terminal device searches for the first frequency; therefore, the first parameter can also be called a search stretching factor. For example, the first parameter can be a coefficient K. Assume the original search interval used by the terminal device is expressed as: The search interval, determined by the first parameter, is then expressed as: In another example, the first parameter can also be the difference Kp between search intervals, assuming the original search interval used by the terminal device is expressed as: The search interval, determined by the first parameter, is then expressed as:

[0101] Based on the first parameter, the terminal device will wait a longer time between searches to reduce frequent and meaningless searches on the same or the same set of frequency points, and expand the search range to more frequency points. This strategy not only reduces the burden on the terminal device in processing search results and lowers search complexity, but also allows the terminal device to adjust its search strategy more flexibly, dynamically selecting search targets, time, and priorities based on factors such as network conditions, its own battery level, and user behavior. At the same time, stretching the search interval effectively reduces the number of search operations, lowers power consumption, extends the terminal device's usage time, and reduces additional energy consumption, aligning with the goals of energy-saving mode. Importantly, this does not mean abandoning searching or reducing search quality; on the contrary, by optimizing the strategy and improving efficiency, the terminal device can find other potentially available network access points more quickly when it is clear that the cell is in energy-saving mode and cannot be accessed.

[0102] Furthermore, considering that neighboring cells may also be in energy-saving mode, it would be meaningless for the terminal device to search for the first frequency points corresponding to these cells. Therefore, the second information in this application embodiment may also include search priority information for the first frequency points. For example, this search priority information may be the frequency points of cells in energy-saving mode. After receiving the search priority information, the terminal device can clearly identify which frequency points are the frequency points of cells in energy-saving mode, and then, when it cannot access the first cell or does not need to initiate a wake-up signal, it can prioritize searching for the frequency points of cells that are not in energy-saving mode.

[0103] Based on the search priority information of the first frequency point, terminal devices can prioritize searching for cell frequencies that are not in energy-saving mode, thereby improving search efficiency, reducing power consumption and resource usage, extending the battery life of terminal devices, and enhancing user experience. At the same time, it also promotes network energy-saving management, providing flexibility and scalability for future network optimization and expansion.

[0104] Optionally, the network device may use the reserved bits and / or invalid bits of the main information block in the synchronization signal block to indicate the first information and / or the second information.

[0105] Reserved bits are bits in the main information block that have not yet been used or assigned specific functions. Invalid bits, on the other hand, are information that is meaningless to the terminal device when the first cell is an energy-saving cell. Examples include the 6 bits of the system frame number (SFN) and the 1 bit of cellBarred. More specifically, when a cell is in energy-saving mode, information such as the system frame number and cellBarred may become less important or inapplicable. The system frame number is typically used to identify time frames in the network, but in energy-saving mode, this information may become irrelevant due to reduced network activity. CellBarred information indicates whether access to the cell is blocked, but in energy-saving mode, if the cell itself reduces activity to conserve energy, this information may also become inapplicable.

[0106] Therefore, reserved bits or invalid bits (or combinations thereof) in the main information block can be flexibly used to indicate the first information and / or the second information. The specific reserved bits or invalid bits selected to indicate which specific information content can be flexibly configured according to actual needs, and there are no fixed restrictions. For example, using reserved bits to represent the first information, a reserved bit of 1 indicates that the first cell is an energy-saving cell. Alternatively, a reserved bit of 0 indicates that the first cell is an energy-saving cell.

[0107] Other bits that still have an effect in the main information block will continue to perform their original functions. For example, the following types of bits: 1) SSB index; 2) Kssb; 3) controlResourceSetZero; 4) searchSpaceZero will remain unchanged.

[0108] S320: The terminal device sends a first signal to the network device to wake up the first cell based on the first information. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first signal from the terminal device.

[0109] As described above regarding the first information, the first information may include at least one of the following: the relative time-frequency positional relationship between system information block 1 and synchronization signal block, or time-frequency resources used to send a first signal for waking up the first cell. The terminal device can then send a first signal for waking up the first cell based on the first information.

[0110] In more detail, System Information Block 1 is typically broadcast immediately following the synchronization signal block, or at a known time-frequency location after the synchronization signal block. Therefore, the relative time-frequency location of the synchronization signal block and System Information Block 1 helps the terminal device accurately locate the time domain of System Information Block 1 after receiving the synchronization signal block. The terminal device needs to first synchronize with the cell via the synchronization signal block before it can correctly decode the information in System Information Block 1. System Information Block 1 may contain specific indications or parameters that can serve as conditions for triggering the terminal device to send a wake-up signal. For example, if System Information Block 1 indicates that the cell is currently in energy-saving mode and provides relevant information about the wake-up mechanism (such as the format of the wake-up signal, the timing of transmission, etc.), the terminal device can decide whether and when to send a wake-up signal based on this information. Based on this, the terminal device can send a first signal to wake up the first cell based on the first information.

[0111] S330, if the first condition is met, the terminal device searches for the first frequency point based on the second information.

[0112] The first condition is that the first signal is not received. For example, the first condition may include the absence of third information indicating the receipt of the first signal within a preset first time range. This preset first time range can be flexibly set by the terminal device or agreed upon by a protocol, without limitation. For instance, the preset first time range may be the duration of a detection window.

[0113] For example, the first condition could also include the terminal device being unable to actively search for information about the first cell.

[0114] At this point, it indicates that the network device has rejected the terminal device's wake-up call, and the terminal device can then search for the first frequency point based on the second information. The explanation of the second information can be found in step S310 above. The second information may include at least one of the following: a first parameter used to increase the search interval for the first frequency point, or search priority information for the first frequency point. That is, the terminal device can begin searching for the first information based on the first parameter and / or search priority information. The specific principle of searching for the first frequency point based on the second information can be found in the explanation of the second information in step S310 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0115] Optionally, if the first condition is not met, for example, if the terminal device receives the aforementioned third information within a preset first time range, then, as shown in Figure 4, after step S320, the communication method may optionally include: S340, the network device sends the aforementioned third information to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the third information from the network device. In this scenario, it is considered that the network device has defaulted to granting the terminal device's wake-up request. The frequency search in step S330 is no longer required. Subsequently, the first cell will exit energy-saving mode and resume normal communication. At this time, the terminal device can execute the following steps: S350, access the network device within the first cell. For specific access procedures, please refer to relevant technical documents or standards; details will not be elaborated here.

[0116] In the communication method provided in this application embodiment, the network device carries in the synchronization signal block first information indicating that the first cell is in a power-saving state and second information indicating search resources for a frequency point (referred to as the first frequency point) used to search for cells other than the first cell. This can assist the terminal device in purposefully searching for the first frequency point when the first cell is in a power-saving state and refuses to be woken up, thereby improving search efficiency, reducing the latency of the terminal device, and reducing power consumption and resource occupation.

[0117] It is understood that the communication method provided in this application embodiment does not limit the applicable communication system. For example, the communication method provided in this application embodiment can be applied to an O-RAN communication system. Based on the functional design of O-DU / O-CU / O-RU in the O-RAN communication system, the steps executed by the network device in the communication method provided in this application embodiment can be flexibly implemented by one or more of O-DU / O-CU / O-RU, without limitation.

[0118] In another embodiment, the communication method proposed in this application is also applicable to a chip system. Specifically, the chip system on the network side and / or the terminal side is provided with a memory unit for storing the corresponding information (e.g., first information and / or second information) for implementing the communication method of this application. Based on the corresponding information, the processor, in conjunction with a radio frequency / antenna module with transceiver functions, interacts with the other side to implement the communication method of this application.

[0119] The foregoing mainly describes the solution provided by the embodiments of this application from the perspective of the execution logic of each step. It is understood that each node, such as a network device, includes corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules to execute each function in order to achieve the above-mentioned functions. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, in conjunction with the algorithm steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the method of the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in a hardware or computer software-driven hardware manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0120] This application embodiment can divide the network device into functional modules according to the above method example. For example, each function can be divided into its own functional module, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional module. It should be noted that the module division in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0121] In specific implementations, the network elements shown in this application, such as terminal devices, can adopt the composition structure shown in Figure 5 or include the components shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. When the communication device has the function of the terminal device described in the embodiment of this application, the communication device can be a terminal device or a chip or system-on-a-chip in the terminal device. When the communication device has the function of the network device described in the embodiment of this application, the communication device can be a network device or a chip or system-on-a-chip in the network device. When the communication device has the function of the server described in the embodiment of this application, the communication device can be a server or a chip or system-on-a-chip in the server.

[0122] For example, Figure 5 illustrates a possible structural schematic of a communication device. It is understood that the communication device 500 includes means of the necessary form, such as modules, units, elements, circuits, or interfaces, to be appropriately configured together to execute this solution. The communication device 500 can be a terminal device or network device as described in the above method embodiments, or it can be a component (e.g., a chip) in these devices used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. The communication device 500 includes one or more processors 501. The processor 501 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device, execute software programs, and process data from the software programs.

[0123] Optionally, in one design, the processor 501 may include a program 503 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions), which can be executed on the processor 501 to cause the communication device 500 to perform the methods described in the above embodiments. In yet another possible design, the communication device 500 includes circuitry (not shown in FIG5) for implementing the signal processing functions in the above embodiments.

[0124] Optionally, the communication device 500 may include one or more memories 502 storing a program 504 (sometimes referred to as code or instructions), which can be run on the processor 501 to cause the communication device 500 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments.

[0125] Optionally, the processor 501 and / or memory 502 may include AI modules 507 and 508, which are used to implement AI-related functions. The AI ​​modules can be implemented through software, hardware, or a combination of both. For example, the AI ​​module may include a RIC module. For example, the AI ​​module may be a near real-time RIC or a non-real-time RIC.

[0126] Optionally, the processor 501 and / or memory 502 may also store data. The processor and memory may be configured separately or integrated together.

[0127] Optionally, the communication device 500 may further include a transceiver 505 and / or an antenna 506. The processor 501, sometimes referred to as a processing unit, controls the communication device. The transceiver 505, sometimes referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, or transceiver, is used to realize the transmission and reception functions of the communication device through the antenna 506.

[0128] Figure 6 shows a structural diagram of a communication device 60, which is applied to a terminal device. Each module in the device shown in Figure 6 has the function of implementing the corresponding steps in the above method embodiments and can achieve its corresponding technical effect. The beneficial effects of each module performing the steps can be referred to the description of the corresponding steps in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here. The functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. The communication device 60 can be a terminal device or a chip or system-on-a-chip in the terminal device. For example, the communication device 60 includes:

[0129] The transceiver module 601 is used to receive a synchronization signal block including first information and second information. The first information is used to indicate that the first cell is in an energy-saving state, and the second information is used to indicate the search resources for a first frequency point of cells other than the first cell. The processing module 602 is used to send a first signal through the transceiver module 601 according to the first information. The first signal is used to wake up the first cell. The processing module 602 is used to search for the first frequency point according to the second information through the transceiver module 601 when the first condition of the first signal not being received is met.

[0130] In one embodiment, the second information includes: a first parameter for increasing the search interval for the first frequency point, and / or, search priority information for the first frequency point.

[0131] In this design, based on the first parameter, the terminal device waits longer between searches to reduce frequent and meaningless searches of the same or the same set of frequencies, and expands the search range to more frequencies. This strategy not only reduces the burden on the terminal device in processing search results and lowers search complexity, but also allows the terminal device to adjust its search strategy more flexibly, dynamically selecting search targets, times, and priorities based on factors such as network conditions, battery power, and user behavior. Simultaneously, stretching the search interval effectively reduces the number of search operations, lowers power consumption, extends the terminal device's usage time, and reduces additional energy consumption, aligning with the goals of energy-saving mode. Importantly, this does not mean abandoning searching or reducing search quality; on the contrary, by optimizing the strategy and improving efficiency, the terminal device can find other potentially available network access points more quickly when it is clear that a cell is in energy-saving mode and cannot be accessed. Based on the search priority information of the first frequency, the terminal device can prioritize searching for cell frequencies in non-energy-saving states, thereby improving search efficiency, reducing power consumption and resource usage, extending the terminal device's battery life, and enhancing the user experience. At the same time, it also promotes network energy-saving management, providing flexibility and scalability for future network optimization and expansion.

[0132] In one embodiment, the first information includes: the relative time-frequency position relationship between system information block 1 and synchronization signal block, and / or, time-frequency resources for transmitting the first signal.

[0133] In this design, the first information includes the aforementioned information for waking up the first cell's first signal, and the terminal device can send the first signal based on this first information.

[0134] In one embodiment, the first condition includes: no third information indicating the receipt of the first signal is received within a preset first time range.

[0135] In this design, there is a first condition for determining that the first signal is not received. Based on the first condition, the terminal device can promptly determine whether to search for the first frequency point.

[0136] Figure 7 shows a structural diagram of a communication device 70, which is applied to a network device. Each module in the device shown in Figure 7 has the function of implementing the corresponding steps in the above method embodiments and can achieve its corresponding technical effect. The beneficial effects of each module performing the steps can be referred to the description of the corresponding steps in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here. The functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. The communication device 70 can be a network device or a chip or system-on-a-chip in a network device. For example, the communication device 70 includes:

[0137] The transceiver module 701 is used to send a synchronization signal block. The synchronization signal block includes first information and second information. The first information is used to indicate that the first cell is in an energy-saving state, and the second information is used to indicate the search resources for searching a first frequency point. The first frequency point is the frequency point of a cell other than the first cell.

[0138] Optionally, the transceiver module 701 is also used to receive a first signal, which is used to wake up the first cell; and to send third information, wherein the third information is used to indicate that the first signal has been received.

[0139] This application embodiment also provides a communication system corresponding to a cell search scenario. The communication system may include a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device may have the functions of the aforementioned communication device 60, and the network device may have the functions of the aforementioned communication device 70.

[0140] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. This program can be stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the above method embodiments. The computer-readable storage medium can be a terminal device device of any of the foregoing embodiments, such as an internal storage unit including a data sending end and / or a data receiving end, such as a hard disk or memory of the terminal device device. The computer-readable storage medium can also be an external storage device of the terminal device device, such as a plug-in hard disk, smart media card (SMC), secure digital (SD) card, flash card, etc., equipped on the terminal device device. Further, the computer-readable storage medium can include both internal storage units and external storage devices of the terminal device device. The computer-readable storage medium is used to store the computer program and other programs and data required by the terminal device device. The computer-readable storage medium can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or will be output.

[0141] This application also provides computer instructions. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be executed by computer instructions to instruct related hardware (such as computers, processors, network devices, and terminal devices). The program can be stored in the aforementioned computer-readable storage medium.

[0142] This application also provides a computer program product that, when run on a computer, causes the above-described method embodiments to be executed.

[0143] This application also provides a chip system. The chip system may consist of chips or include chips and other discrete devices, without limitation. The chip system includes a processor and a transceiver. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be completed by this chip system, such as the chip system being used to implement the functions performed by the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments.

[0144] In one possible design, the chip system further includes a memory for storing program instructions and / or data. When the chip system is running, the processor executes the program instructions stored in the memory to enable the chip system to perform the functions performed by the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments.

[0145] In the embodiments of this application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components, capable of implementing or executing the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.

[0146] In the embodiments of this application, the memory can be non-volatile memory, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), or it can be volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM). Memory is any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures, and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory in the embodiments of this application can also be a circuit or any other device capable of implementing storage functions, used to store instructions and / or data.

[0147] It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0148] It should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more, "more than one" refers to two or more, "at least two (items)" refers to two or three or more, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. It should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A. For example, B can be determined based on A. It should also be understood that determining B based on A does not mean determining B solely based on A; B can also be determined based on A and / or other information. Furthermore, the term "connection" in the embodiments of this application refers to various connection methods, such as direct or indirect connections, to achieve communication between devices; the embodiments of this application do not impose any limitations on this.

[0149] Unless otherwise specified, the term "transmission" in the embodiments of this application refers to bidirectional transmission, encompassing the actions of sending and / or receiving. Specifically, "transmission" in the embodiments of this application includes sending data, receiving data, or both sending and receiving data. In other words, data transmission here includes uplink and / or downlink data transmission. Data may include channels and / or signals; uplink data transmission refers to uplink channel and / or uplink signal transmission, and downlink data transmission refers to downlink channel and / or downlink signal transmission. The terms "network" and "system" in the embodiments of this application refer to the same concept; a communication system is a communication network.

[0150] Through the above description of the implementation methods, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, only the division of the above functional modules is used as an example. In practical applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0151] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another device, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0152] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. A component shown as a unit can be one or more physical units; that is, it can be located in one place or distributed in multiple different locations. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0153] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit. If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiments of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a device, such as a microcontroller, chip, or processor, to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0154] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: include: A synchronization signal block is received, the synchronization signal block including first information and second information, wherein the first information is used to indicate that the first cell is in an energy-saving state, and the second information is used to indicate the search resources for searching a first frequency point, the first frequency point being the frequency point of a cell other than the first cell; The first signal is sent according to the first information, and the first signal is used to wake up the first cell; If the first condition is met, the first frequency point is searched according to the second information, where the first condition is that the first signal is not received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The second information includes: The first parameter, and / or the search priority information of the first frequency point, wherein the first parameter is used to increase the search interval for searching the first frequency point.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first information includes: The relative time-frequency position relationship between system information block 1 and the synchronization signal block, and / or the time-frequency resources used to transmit the first signal.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first condition includes: No third information is received within a preset first time range, wherein the third information is used to indicate that the first signal has been received.

5. A communication method characterized by comprising: include: A synchronization signal block is sent, the synchronization signal block including first information and second information, wherein the first information is used to indicate that the first cell is in an energy-saving state, and the second information is used to indicate the search resources for searching a first frequency point, the first frequency point being the frequency point of a cell other than the first cell.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The second information includes: The first parameter, and / or the search priority information of the first frequency point, wherein the first parameter is used to increase the search interval for searching the first frequency point.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The first information includes: The relative time-frequency position relationship between system information block 1 and the synchronization signal block, and / or the time-frequency resources used to transmit the first signal.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5-7, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive a first signal, which is used to wake up the first cell; Send a third message, wherein the third message is used to indicate that the first signal has been received.

9. A communications device, characterized by It includes a module that performs the method as described in any one of claims 1-4; or, it includes a module that performs the method as described in any one of claims 5-8.

10. A communications device, characterized by The communication device includes a processor for supporting the communication device in performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-8.

11. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions that, when executed, cause the method described in any one of claims 1-8 to be performed.

12. A computer program product, characterised in that, When it is run on a computer, it causes the method described in any one of claims 1-8 to be performed.

13. A chip, characterized by The chip includes a processor for supporting the chip in performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-8.

14. A communication system, characterized by It includes means for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, and means for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 5-8.

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