Communication methods, devices, system and storage medium

Abstract

The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of communications. Disclosed are communication methods, an apparatus and a computer-readable storage medium. A communication method comprises: determining a time offset, the time offset being a time offset for a first network device to send a synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set within a first period; and on the basis of the time offset, sending the SSB burst set. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a network device sending an SSB burst set on the basis of a determined time offset for sending the SSB burst set within a first period can avoid the problem of high energy consumption of transceiving devices in a communication system caused by a plurality of network devices sending SSB burst sets at the same time-domain location.

Description

Communication methods, devices, systems and storage media Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to a communication method, device, system, and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] In mobile communication networks, before a UE can transmit data with the network, it needs to connect to the network through an initial access procedure. This initial access procedure can be implemented using a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB). Each cell (base station) sends an SSB burst set according to a predetermined period T. If multiple cells send SSB burst sets, it will consume more resources, resulting in higher power consumption of the transceiver equipment in the communication system.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a communication method, device, system, and storage medium.

[0005] A first aspect of this disclosure provides a communication method, the method being executed by a first network device, the method comprising:

[0006] Determine the time offset, which is the time offset of the first network device sending the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set within the first period;

[0007] The SSB burst set is sent based on the time offset.

[0008] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a communication method, the method being executed by a first node, the method comprising:

[0009] Send configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group;

[0010] The configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cycle.

[0011] A third aspect of this disclosure provides a communication method, the method being executed by a terminal, the method comprising:

[0012] Receive at least two synchronization signal block (SSB) burst sets, which are transmitted within a first period based on the time offset corresponding to each SSB burst set.

[0013] A fourth aspect of this disclosure provides a first network device, comprising:

[0014] The first processing module is used to determine the time offset, which is the time offset of the first network device sending the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set in the first period.

[0015] The first transceiver module is used to send the SSB burst set based on the time offset.

[0016] A fifth aspect of this disclosure provides a first node, including:

[0017] The second transceiver module is used to send configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group;

[0018] The configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cycle.

[0019] A sixth aspect of this disclosure provides a terminal, including:

[0020] The third transceiver module is used to receive at least two synchronization signal block (SSB) burst sets, which are transmitted within the first period based on the time offset corresponding to each SSB burst set.

[0021] A seventh aspect of this disclosure provides a first network device, comprising:

[0022] One or more processors;

[0023] The terminal is used to execute the optional implementation of the first aspect described above.

[0024] An eighth aspect of this disclosure provides a first node, including:

[0025] One or more processors;

[0026] The network device is used to perform an optional implementation of the second aspect described above.

[0027] A ninth aspect of this disclosure provides a terminal, including:

[0028] One or more processors;

[0029] The network device is used to perform an optional implementation of the aforementioned third aspect.

[0030] According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, comprising: a first network device and a first node, and a terminal, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the method described in an optional embodiment of the third aspect, the first network device is configured to implement the method described in an optional embodiment of the first aspect, and the first node is configured to implement the method described in an optional embodiment of the second aspect.

[0031] According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein executable instructions are stored therein, which are loaded and executed by the processor to implement the method described in the optional embodiments of the first, second, or third aspects.

[0032] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0034] Figure 1a is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0035] Figure 1b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the SSB shown in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0036] Figure 1c is a schematic diagram of the airspace beam for transmitting SSB according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0037] Figure 1d is a schematic diagram illustrating the periodic transmission of SSB according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0038] Figure 2a is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0039] Figure 2b is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0040] Figure 2c is a schematic diagram illustrating a signal transmission cycle according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0041] Figure 2d is a schematic diagram illustrating a signal transmission cycle according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0042] Figure 2e is a schematic diagram illustrating a signal transmission cycle according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0043] Figure 2f is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0044] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0045] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0046] Figure 5a is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0047] Figure 5b is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0048] Figure 6a is a schematic diagram of the structure of the terminal proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0049] Figure 6b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the network device proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0050] Figure 6c is a schematic diagram of the structure of the terminal proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0051] Figure 6d is a schematic diagram of the signal transmission cycle shown in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0052] Figure 7a is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0053] Figure 7b is a schematic diagram of the chip structure proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0054] This disclosure provides communication methods, devices, communication systems, and storage media.

[0055] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method, which is executed by a first network device, and the method includes:

[0056] Determine the time offset, which is the time offset of the first network device sending the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set within the first period;

[0057] The SSB burst set is sent based on the time offset.

[0058] In the above embodiments, the network device sends an SSB burst set based on a determined time offset of the SSB burst set it sends in the first period, which can avoid the problem of high power consumption of the transceiver equipment in the communication system caused by multiple network devices sending SSB burst sets at the same time domain location.

[0059] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the time offset of the set of synchronization signal block (SSB) bursts transmitted within the first period includes:

[0060] Receive configuration information, wherein the configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the first network device sending the SSB burst set within the first period;

[0061] Based on the configuration information, the time offset is determined.

[0062] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the configuration information includes: first configuration information or second configuration information, wherein the first configuration information includes information for indicating the time offset corresponding to the first cell; the second configuration information includes: a first time offset and / or a first cell identifier, wherein the first cell is the cell corresponding to the first network device, and the first cell identifier indicates the first cell in the first cell group.

[0063] In the above embodiments, the time offset of the network device sending the SSB burst set in the first period can be determined by directly indicating the configuration information, or the time offset of the network device sending the SSB burst set in the first period can be determined by calculation based on the information included in the configuration information, so that the network device has more options when determining the time offset of sending the SSB burst set to meet the power consumption requirements of the network device itself.

[0064] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the configuration information includes the second configuration information, and determining the time offset corresponding to the first cell based on the configuration information includes:

[0065] The time offset corresponding to the first cell is determined based on at least two of the first time point, the first time offset, and the first cell identifier, wherein the first time point is the time reference point.

[0066] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the time offset corresponding to the first cell includes:

[0067] The time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the product of the first time offset and the first cell identifier.

[0068] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the time offset corresponding to the first cell includes:

[0069] The first cell identifier is the smallest identifier in the first cell group, and the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined to be 0;

[0070] or,

[0071] If the first cell identifier is any identifier in the first cell group other than the smallest identifier, then the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the product of the difference between the first cell identifier and the preset value and the first time offset.

[0072] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first time point is a unified time reference point for all cells in the first cell group.

[0073] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the time offset corresponding to the first cell includes:

[0074] The first cell identifier is the smallest identifier in the first cell group, and the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined to be 0, wherein the first time point is the start time or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the first cell;

[0075] or,

[0076] If the first cell identifier is any identifier in the first cell group other than the smallest identifier, then the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the first time offset. The first time point is the start or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the third cell in the first cell group. The third cell is a cell in the first cell group that is adjacent to the first cell identifier and whose identifier is smaller than the first cell identifier.

[0077] In the above embodiments, network devices can determine the time offset of their SSB burst sets based on different situations, thereby better meeting power consumption requirements.

[0078] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the configuration information is sent by a first node, which is a core network device or a second network device, and the second network device is the network device corresponding to the second cell in the first cell group, wherein the second cell is any cell in at least one cell in the first cell group other than the first cell.

[0079] In the above embodiments, network devices can receive configuration information from core network devices or from network devices corresponding to other cells in their respective cell groups, so as to be more adaptable to different network scenarios.

[0080] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first cell group includes at least two adjacent cells, and all cells in the first cell group have the same period for sending SSB burst sets.

[0081] In the above embodiments, the time offset of each cell in the same cell group sending SSB burst sets in the same period can be determined, thereby avoiding the problem of high power consumption of transceiver equipment in the communication system caused by cells in the same cell group sending SSB burst sets at the same time domain position.

[0082] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0083] Send a first indication message to the terminal, the first indication message being used to indicate the time offset of the first network device in sending the SSB burst set within the first period.

[0084] In the above embodiments, after the network device determines the time offset of the SSB burst set it sends in the first period, it can notify the terminal so that the terminal can accurately know the time domain position of the SSB burst set.

[0085] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0086] The first period is determined based on the first cell group to which the first cell corresponding to the first network device belongs.

[0087] In the above embodiments, the network device can determine which period to send the SSB burst set during the offset based on the cell group to which its corresponding cell belongs, thereby achieving the purpose of energy saving.

[0088] Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure propose a communication method, which is executed by a first node, and the method includes:

[0089] Send configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group;

[0090] The configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cycle.

[0091] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the configuration information includes: first configuration information or second configuration information, wherein, for each cell, the first configuration information includes information for indicating the time offset corresponding to the cell, and the second configuration information includes: a first time offset and / or the identifier of the cell, wherein the identifier of the cell indicates a cell in a first cell group.

[0092] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the configuration information includes the first configuration information, and the method further includes:

[0093] Determine the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period.

[0094] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, determining the time offset of the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group sending the SSB burst set within the first period includes:

[0095] The time offset corresponding to each cell is determined based on at least two of the first time point, the first time offset, and the identifier of each cell, wherein the first time point is the time reference point.

[0096] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, determining the time offset corresponding to each cell includes:

[0097] For each cell, the time offset of the cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the product of the first time offset and the cell's identifier.

[0098] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, determining the time offset corresponding to each cell includes:

[0099] The time offset of the smallest cell in the first cell group relative to the first time point is determined to be 0.

[0100] For any cell in the first cell group other than the cell with the smallest identifier, the time offset of the cell relative to the first time point is determined by multiplying the difference between the cell's identifier and the preset value with the first time offset.

[0101] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first time point is a unified time reference point for all cells in the first cell group.

[0102] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, determining the time offset corresponding to each cell includes:

[0103] The time offset of the smallest cell in the first cell group relative to the first time point is determined to be 0, wherein the first time point is the start or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the smallest cell in the first cell group.

[0104] For any cell in the first cell group other than the cell with the smallest identifier, the time offset of the cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the first time offset, wherein the first time point is the start time or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the third cell in the first cell group, and the third cell is the cell in the first cell group whose identifier is adjacent to that cell and whose identifier is smaller than that of the cell.

[0105] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, sending configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group includes:

[0106] The configuration information is sent to the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group other than the cell corresponding to the first node, wherein the first node is the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group.

[0107] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first node is a core network device.

[0108] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0109] A third configuration information is sent to the terminal, the third configuration information including information for indicating the time offset corresponding to each cell in the first cell group.

[0110] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first cell group includes at least two adjacent cells, and all cells in the first cell group have the same period for sending SSB burst sets.

[0111] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure propose a communication method, which is executed by a terminal, and the method includes:

[0112] Receive at least two synchronization signal block (SSB) burst sets, which are transmitted within a first period based on the time offset corresponding to each SSB burst set.

[0113] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, some embodiments further include:

[0114] Obtain the time offset of each cell in the first cell group transmitting the SSB burst set in the first period, wherein the first cell group includes at least two cells;

[0115] The receiving of at least two synchronization signal block (SSB) burst sets includes:

[0116] The at least two SSB burst sets are received based on at least two time offsets corresponding to the at least two cells.

[0117] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, obtaining the time offset of the SSB burst set transmitted by each cell in the first cell group within the first period includes:

[0118] Receive first indication information sent by the first network device, the first indication information being used to indicate the time offset by which the first network device sends the SSB burst set within the first period;

[0119] or,

[0120] Receive third configuration information sent by the first node, the third configuration information including information for indicating the time offset corresponding to each cell in the first cell group;

[0121] The first network device is the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group.

[0122] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the first cell group includes at least two adjacent cells, and all cells in the first cell group have the same period for sending SSB burst sets.

[0123] Fourthly, a first network device is provided, comprising:

[0124] The first processing module is used to determine the time offset, which is the time offset of the first network device sending the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set in the first period.

[0125] The first transceiver module is used to send the SSB burst set based on the time offset.

[0126] Fifthly, a first node is provided, including:

[0127] The second transceiver module is used to send configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group;

[0128] The configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cycle.

[0129] Sixthly, a terminal is provided, comprising:

[0130] The third transceiver module is used to receive at least two synchronization signal block (SSB) burst sets, which are transmitted within the first period based on the time offset corresponding to each SSB burst set.

[0131] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a first network device, comprising:

[0132] One or more processors;

[0133] The terminal executes the method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect.

[0134] The eighth aspect proposes a first node, including:

[0135] One or more processors;

[0136] The network device performs the method described in the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0137] Ninthly, a terminal is provided, comprising:

[0138] One or more processors;

[0139] The network device is used to perform an optional implementation of the aforementioned third aspect.

[0140] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication system comprising: a first network device and a first node, and a terminal, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the method described in the optional embodiments of the third aspect, the first network device is configured to implement the method described in the optional embodiments of the first aspect, and the first node is configured to implement the method described in the optional embodiments of the second aspect.

[0141] Eleventhly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method as described in the optional embodiments of the first, second, or third aspects.

[0142] In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a program product that, when executed by a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the method as described in an optional implementation of the first, second, or third aspect.

[0143] In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods described in an optional implementation of the first, second, or third aspect.

[0144] In a fourteenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a chip or chip system including processing circuitry for performing the method described in an optional implementation of the first, second, or third aspect above.

[0145] Understandably, the aforementioned devices, communication equipment, communication systems, storage media, program products, and computer programs for random access are all used to execute the methods proposed in the embodiments of this disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects they can achieve can be referred to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods, and will not be repeated here. The communication equipment can be a terminal or a network device.

[0146] This disclosure provides communication methods, apparatus, devices, systems, and storage media.

[0147] In some embodiments, the terms "communication method" and "for random access" can be used interchangeably, the terms "apparatus for random access" and "communication device" can be used interchangeably, and the terms "communication system" can be used interchangeably.

[0148] This disclosure is not exhaustive, but merely illustrative of some embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the embodiments disclosed. Unless otherwise specified, each step in a particular embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a particular embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily interchanged. Furthermore, the optional implementation methods in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; moreover, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, for example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0149] In each of the disclosed embodiments, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. Technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0150] The terminology used in the embodiments of this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0151] In this embodiment of the disclosure, unless otherwise stated, elements expressed in the singular form, such as "a," "an," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "this," etc., can mean "one and only one," or "one or more," "at least one," etc. For example, when using articles such as "a," "an," "the," etc. in translation, the noun following the article can be understood as either a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0152] In the embodiments disclosed herein, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0153] In some embodiments, the terms “at least one of”, “at least one of”, “at least one of”, “one or more”, “a plurality of”, “multiple”, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0154] The descriptions in this disclosure, such as "at least one of A, B, C..." or "A and / or B and / or C...", include the case where any one of A, B, C... exists alone, as well as the case where any combination of any of A, B, C... exists alone. Each case can exist alone. For example, "at least one of A, B, C" includes the cases of A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B combination, A and C combination, B and C combination, and A and B and C combination. For example, A and / or B includes the cases of A alone, B alone, and A and B combination.

[0155] In some embodiments, the notation "in one case A, in another case B" or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B" may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: A is executed regardless of B, i.e., A is executed in some embodiments; B is executed regardless of A, i.e., B is executed in some embodiments; A and B are selectively executed, i.e., A and B are selected for execution in some embodiments; A and B are both executed, i.e., A and B are executed in some embodiments. The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0156] The prefixes "first," "second," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure are merely for distinguishing different descriptive objects and do not impose restrictions on the position, order, priority, quantity, or content of the descriptive objects. The description of the descriptive objects is found in the claims or the context of the embodiments, and the use of prefixes should not constitute unnecessary restrictions. For example, if the descriptive object is a "field," the ordinal numbers preceding "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not restrict the position or order of the "fields." "First" and "second" do not restrict whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they restrict the order of "first field" and "second field." Similarly, if the descriptive object is a "level," the ordinal numbers preceding "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not restrict the priority between "levels." Furthermore, the number of descriptive objects is not limited by ordinal numbers and can be one or more. For example, in "first device," the number of "devices" can be one or more. Furthermore, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the object being described is "device", then "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. As another example, if the object being described is "information", then "first configuration" and "second configuration" can be the same information or different information, and their content can be the same or different.

[0157] In some embodiments, “including A,” “containing A,” “for indicating A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0158] In some embodiments, the terms “in response to…”, “in response to determining…”, “in the case of…”, “when…”, “if…”, “if…”, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0159] In some embodiments, the terms “greater than,” “greater than or equal to,” “not less than,” “more than,” “more than or equal to,” “not less than,” “higher than,” “higher than or equal to,” “not lower than,” and “above” can be used interchangeably, as can the terms “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not greater than,” “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not more than,” “lower than,” “lower than or equal to,” “not higher than,” and “below”.

[0160] In some embodiments, devices, etc., can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as “device”, “equipment”, “circuit”, “network element”, “node”, “function”, “unit”, “section”, “system”, “network”, “chip”, “chip system”, “entity”, and “subject” can be used interchangeably.

[0161] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)," "radio access network device (RAN device)," "base station (BS)," "radio base station," "fixed station," "node," "access point," "transmission point (TP)," "reception point (RP)," "transmission / reception point (TRP)," "panel," "antenna panel," "antenna array," "cell," "macro cell," "small cell," "femto cell," "pico cell," "sector," "cell group," "carrier," "component carrier," and "bandwidth part (BWP)" can be used interchangeably.

[0162] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", "subscriber station", "mobile unit", "subscriber unit", "wireless unit", "remote unit", "mobile device", "wireless device", "wireless communication device", "remote device", "mobile subscriber station", "access terminal", "mobile terminal", "wireless terminal", "remote terminal", "handset", "user agent", "mobile client", and "client" can be used interchangeably.

[0163] In some embodiments, the access network device, core network device, or network device can be replaced by a terminal. For example, various embodiments of this disclosure can also be applied to structures that replace communication between the access network device, core network device, or network device and the terminal with communication between multiple terminals (e.g., also referred to as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, the terminal can also be configured to have all or part of the functions of the access network device. Furthermore, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" can be replaced with terms corresponding to communication between terminals (e.g., "side").

[0164] For example, uplink channels and downlink channels can be replaced with side channels, and uplink links and downlink links can be replaced with side links.

[0165] In some embodiments, the terms "uplink", "uplink", and "physical uplink" can be used interchangeably, as can the terms "downlink", "downlink", and "physical downlink", as well as the terms "sidelink", "sidelink", "sidelink communication", "sidelink communication", "direct connection", "direct link", "direct communication", and "direct link communication".

[0166] In some embodiments, the terms “downlink control information (DCI),” “downlink (DL) assignment,” “DL DCI,” “uplink (UL) grant,” and “UL DCI” can be used interchangeably.

[0167] In some embodiments, terms such as "physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)" and "DL data" can be used interchangeably, as can terms such as "physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)" and "UL data".

[0168] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be made by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (boolean), or by a comparison of numerical values ​​(e.g., a comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

[0169] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in a network (e.g., access network devices, core network devices, etc.).

[0170] In some embodiments, the acquisition of data, information, etc., may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the location is situated.

[0171] In some embodiments, data, information, etc., may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0172] Figure 1a is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0173] As shown in Figure 1a, the communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a network device 102.

[0174] In some embodiments, terminal 101 includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: mobile phone, wearable device, Internet of Things device, car with communication function, smart car, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, wireless terminal device in industrial control, wireless terminal device in self-driving, wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, wireless terminal device in smart grid, wireless terminal device in transportation safety, wireless terminal device in smart city, and wireless terminal device in smart home.

[0175] In some embodiments, network device 102 may include at least one of access network device and core network device.

[0176] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that connects a terminal to a wireless network. The network device may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following in a 5G communication system: evolved Node B (eNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), next-generation Node B (gNB), node B (NB), home node B (HNB), home evolved node B (HeNB), wireless backhaul device, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), base band unit (BBU), mobile switching center, base station in a 6G communication system, open RAN, cloud RAN, base station in other communication systems, and access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system.

[0177] In some embodiments, the technical solutions of this disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within network devices involved in the embodiments of this disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of Open RAN. The processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented by software or programs.

[0178] In some embodiments, the access network device may be composed of a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The CU may also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can separate the protocol layer of the network device. Some of the protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining part or all of the protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU and centrally controlled by the CU. However, this is not the only possibility.

[0179] In some embodiments, the access network device may be a single device, multiple devices, or a group of devices, including all or part of a first network element, a second network element, etc. Network elements may be virtual or physical. Network devices may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), and a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0180] In some embodiments, a core network device may be a single device comprising one or more network elements, or it may be multiple devices or a group of devices, each comprising all or part of the aforementioned one or more network elements. Network elements may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), or a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0181] It is understood that the communication system described in this disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of this disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0182] The following embodiments of this disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1a, or to some of the main bodies, but are not limited thereto. The main bodies shown in FIG1a are illustrative. The communication system may include all or some of the main bodies in FIG1a, or it may include other main bodies outside of FIG1a. The number and form of each main body are arbitrary. The connection relationship between the main bodies is illustrative. The main bodies may not be connected or may be connected. The connection can be in any way, it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection, it can be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

[0183] The embodiments disclosed herein can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), Future Radio Access (FRA), New-Radio Access Technology (RAT), New Radio (NR), New radio access (NX), Future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), and IEEE 802.20, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth (a registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) systems, utilizing other systems for random access, and next-generation systems built upon them, etc. Furthermore, multiple systems can be combined (e.g., a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0184] In mobile communication networks, a UE needs to connect to the network through an initial access procedure before transmitting data. This initial access procedure includes stages such as cell search, system information reception, and random access.

[0185] Cell search is the process by which the UE uses cell synchronization signals to perform downlink time and frequency synchronization and obtain the Physical Cell Identity (PCID). After completing downlink synchronization through cell search, the UE receives and decodes the Physical Broadcast Channel and the PDSCH carrying the minimum remaining system information to obtain the system information necessary for subsequent random access.

[0186] After acquiring system information, the UE performs uplink time synchronization through a random access procedure, transitioning from a non-RRC (Radio Resource Control) connected state (RRC_IDLE and RRC INACTIVE) to an RRC connected state (RRC_CONNECTED), preparing for uplink and downlink data transmission. The paging procedure is used to help the network page UEs that are in a non-RRC connected state.

[0187] In 5G systems, the downlink synchronization process involves the New Radio (NR) Synchronization Signal Block (SSB), which includes the Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). The PBCH contains the Demodulation Reference Symbol (DM-RS). When a UE accesses the 5G NR system, it first detects the PSS and SSS to obtain downlink time-frequency synchronization and the PCID, and then decodes the PBCH. The PBCH includes the Master Information Block (MIB) and other information related to the SSB transmission time. The MIB carries a portion of the minimum system information required for the UE to access the NR system. Several SSBs form an SSB Burst, which is transmitted periodically.

[0188] In a 5G NR system, an SS / PBCH block, also known as an SSB, is composed of three parts, as shown in Figure 1b: PSS, SSS, PBCH, and DM-RS. The SSB possesses the following characteristics in the time and frequency domains:

[0189] Time domain: The time domain occupies 4 consecutive Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, with PSS in symbol #0, SSS in symbol #2, and PBCH in symbols #1, #2, and #3, where PBCH contains DM-RS.

[0190] Frequency domain: An SSB occupies 20 consecutive Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs) in the frequency domain, and its mapping method can refer to the existing protocol specifications.

[0191] Among them, PSS and SSS are mapped on 127 subcarriers (Resource Elements, REs) centered on PRB#4 to PRB#15 (a total of 12 PRBs) within their respective OFDM symbols. The 17 REs on these 12 PRBs that are not mapped to PSS or SSS are all mapped to 0.

[0192] The mappings of PBCH and DM-RS on OFDM symbols #1 and #3 respectively occupy all 240 REs of 20 PRBs, and the mapping on OFDM symbol #2 occupies all 96 REs of the first and last 8 PRBs. Therefore, the mapping of PBCH in an SSB accounts for a total of 576 REs.

[0193] The center frequencies of PSS / SSS and PBCH are aligned, and they both use the same subcarrier spacing.

[0194] The NR SSB synchronization signal includes the primary synchronization signal PSS and the secondary synchronization signal SSS. The PSS has three sequences corresponding to three IDs. One PSS corresponds to 336 SSS sequences, and the ID of the SSS is... NR supports a total of 1008 cell identifiers (PCIDs). The ID of each cell is determined by a combination of the PSS sequence and the SSS sequence.

[0195] Regarding NR PSS: The NR PSS sequence is obtained by BPSK modulation of an m sequence of length 127, and the three PSS sequences are obtained by different cyclic shifts.

[0196] Regarding NR SSS: The NR SSS sequence is obtained by BPSK modulation of a 127-length Gold sequence, and 336 SSS sequences are obtained through different cyclic shifts. Gold sequences exhibit good autocorrelation and cross-correlation properties, and their cross-correlation properties are the same as those of m-sequences, but their autocorrelation properties are not as good. When using a generator polynomial of the same order, the number of generated Gold sequences far exceeds the number of m-sequences; therefore, Gold sequences are used for SSS.

[0197] An SSB burst set, also known as an SSB burst collection, is a method used in 5G NR systems to transmit SSBs using beamforming and beam scanning technologies. A group of multiple SSBs transmitted by a cell in one beam scan (i.e., one round-robin) is called an SSB burst set. As shown in Figures 1c and 1d, Figure 1c illustrates the spatial beam diagram for transmitting each SSB (SSB0 to SSB7); Figure 1d shows the time corresponding to the transmission of each SSB (SSB0 to SSB7) within each SSB cycle.

[0198] 5G NR systems support higher frequency bands; the higher the frequency, the shorter the transmission distance. Beamforming can increase transmission distance by concentrating energy transmission, but this reduces the coverage angle. To balance transmission distance and coverage, beam scanning is used. As frequency increases, path loss in spatial propagation also increases, requiring narrower beams to compensate. This means more beams are needed to cover the entire cell; therefore, SSB burst transmission is employed.

[0199] During the initial cell search, the protocol stipulates that the UE will default to sending SSB burst sets with a period of 20ms, which is the length of two radio frames. Therefore, for cells that support initial cell search, the actual SSB transmission period cannot exceed 20ms, and can be configured to 5ms, 10ms, or 20ms.

[0200] After completing the initial cell search, each serving cell provides the UE with the transmission period of the SSB burst set (contained in the semi-radio frame) through the configuration parameter ssb-periodicityServingCell. The period value includes 5ms, 10ms, 20ms, 40ms, 80ms, and 160ms. If the serving cell does not configure a period value, the UE will default to a transmission period of 5ms for the SSB burst set. The UE assumes that all SSB burst sets within the same cell have the same period.

[0201] To minimize the system resource overhead used for the periodic broadcast PBCH, improve the success rate of PBCH decoding during initial access, and ensure reliable reception with sufficient cell coverage and edge coverage, the basic principle of PBCH design is to minimize the PBCH payload. As shown in Table 1, the NR PBCH payload is 56 bits, of which 24 bits come from the higher-layer broadcast channel BCCH-BCH, including 23 bits of MIB; the physical layer provides the remaining 32 bits of the PBCH, including 8 bits of information related to SSB transmission time and 24 bits of CRC. Within an SSB burst set, the PBCH content of all SSBs is identical, except for the SSB index and CRC.

[0202] Table 1NR PBCH Content

[0203] The main applications of PBCH DM-RS are as follows:

[0204] (1) Channel estimation

[0205] (2) Indicating a partial or complete SSB index: The DM-RS carries a small amount of SSB index information, i.e., a maximum of 3 bits. Indicating the SSB index in the DM-RS helps reduce the number of bits carried in the PBCH, allowing the UE to directly obtain SSB timing information from the PBCH DM-RS without decoding the PBCH; however, it also increases the implementation complexity of the UE, because the UE needs to perform blind detection, which affects the performance of channel estimation and the reliability of SSB index estimation. Ultimately, a compromise of a maximum of 3 bits is adopted.

[0206] FR1, DM-RS indicates the complete SSB index, 2 bits or 3 bits.

[0207] FR2, DM-RS indicates the 3-bit LSB of the SSB index.

[0208] Regarding the generation process of PBCH DM-RS, the NR PBCH DM-RS sequence is a random sequence generated from a Gold sequence of order 31, and the desired DM-RS sequence is obtained by QPSK modulation.

[0209] The maximum number of SSBs in the SSB burst set L=4: The parameters used in the initialization formula of the scrambling sequence include cell ID, half radio frame identifier (1 bit), and SSB index (indicating the full SSB index 2 bits).

[0210] The maximum number of SSBs in the SSB burst set is L=8: The parameters used for initializing the consensus of the scrambled sequence include cell ID and SSB index (indicating the complete SSB index 3 bits).

[0211] The maximum number of SSBs in the SSB burst set is L = 64: The parameters used for initial consensus of the scrambled sequence include cell ID and SSB index (the indicator part SSB index 3 bits LSB).

[0212] Regarding the resource mapping of PBCH DM-RS:

[0213] Time domain: PBCH DM-RS is located on the last 3 OFDM symbols of an SSB.

[0214] Frequency Domain: PBCH DM-RS are uniformly mapped onto the frequency domain resources of PBCH at intervals of 4 REs, meaning that one DM-RS will appear in every 4 REs. During the mapping process, in order to randomize the mutual interference of PBCH DM-RS between cells, a quantization parameter v = cell ID mod 4 is introduced. That is, when PBCH DM-RS is mapped to RE, the RE offset is performed according to the parameter v.

[0215] In a 5G NR system, each cell (base station) transmits SSB burst sets according to a predetermined period value T, as shown in Figure 1d. If several adjacent cells transmit SSB burst sets with shorter periods (e.g., T = 5ms, 20ms), each cell will have a large amount of synchronization signals consuming significant resources. These resources can only be used for SSB transmission and cannot be used for downlink transmission or uplink reception. Furthermore, frequent SSB transmission is very power-intensive for the base station, significantly increasing its operating costs. However, energy saving has become a mainstream trend and a major research direction in future wireless communication technologies. Therefore, how to achieve energy saving on the network side and / or the terminal side, and realize the "energy saving and efficiency improvement" of the entire wireless communication system, is an urgent problem to be solved.

[0216] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this disclosure proposes a scheme for the joint and coordinated transmission of synchronization signals by multiple cells / base stations.

[0217] Based on the aforementioned wireless communication system, various embodiments of the communication method proposed in this disclosure will be described in detail below.

[0218] Figure 2a is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2a, the communication method is used in a communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0219] S20. The first network device determines the first cycle based on the first cell group to which its corresponding first cell belongs.

[0220] In some embodiments, the first cell group includes at least two cells.

[0221] In some embodiments, the first cell group includes at least two adjacent cells. Optionally, adjacent cells may include cells corresponding to at least two base stations whose SSB burst sets can be detected by the terminal. For example, this includes the cell corresponding to the terminal's serving base station and the cells corresponding to neighboring base stations of the serving base station.

[0222] In some embodiments, the period for transmitting SSB burst sets is the same for all cells in the first cell group.

[0223] In some embodiments, the first period is the period of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to all cells in the first cell group.

[0224] In some embodiments, the first cell can be any cell within a first cell group.

[0225] In some embodiments, the correspondence (also known as the mapping relationship) between a cell group and the period of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to all cells in that cell group can be pre-configured, preset, predefined, or indicated by the first node, but is not limited thereto.

[0226] In some embodiments, the period of the SSB burst set associated with the cell group may be pre-configured, preset, predefined, or indicated by the configuration of the first node, but is not limited thereto.

[0227] S21. The first node sends configuration information to the first network device.

[0228] In some embodiments, configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period.

[0229] In some embodiments, the configuration information may be first configuration information. Optionally, the first configuration information includes information indicating the time offset corresponding to the cell of the first network device.

[0230] In some embodiments, the configuration information may be second configuration information. Optionally, the second configuration information includes: a first time offset and / or the identifier of the cell, wherein the identifier of the cell indicates a cell in the first cell group.

[0231] It should be noted that the cell identifier in this embodiment is only used to identify cells within a cell group and is not a unique identifier for the cell; it does not have to be a physical cell ID. For example, if a cell group A includes 3 cells, then identifier #1 can be used to indicate the first cell in cell group A, identifier #2 can be used to indicate the second cell in cell group A, and identifier #3 can be used to indicate the third cell in cell group A, but this is not limited to this.

[0232] It is understood that, in the embodiments of this disclosure, the cell identifier may also be described as a cell number, label, index, etc., but is not limited thereto. For example, the second configuration information may include a first time offset and / or the identifier of each cell in the first cell group (or may be described as a number, label, index, etc.).

[0233] In some embodiments, the first node may be a core network device, and the first network device may be a network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group.

[0234] In some embodiments, the terminal accesses the core network through a radio access network ((R)AN), which includes user plane network elements and control plane network elements. The user plane network elements of the core network include user plane functions (UPF); the control plane network elements of the core network include at least one of the following: authentication server function (AUSF), AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function), SMF (Session Management Function), network slice selection function (NSSF), network exposure function (NEF), network function repository function (NRF), unified data management (UDM), PCF (Policy Control Function), and AF.

[0235] Optionally, user plane network elements are primarily responsible for packet forwarding, quality of service (QoS) control, and billing information statistics. Control plane network elements are primarily responsible for service process interaction, issuing packet forwarding policies and QoS control policies to the user plane, etc.

[0236] Optionally, the UPF performs user packet forwarding according to the SMF's routing rules, such as sending uplink data to the data network (DN) or other UPFs, and forwarding downlink data to other UPFs or (R)ANs.

[0237] Optionally, AUSF performs security authentication for the UE.

[0238] Optionally, the AMF is responsible for UE state maintenance, UE reachability management, forwarding of non-access-stratum (NAS) messages (mobility management, MM), and forwarding of session management (SM) N2 messages.

[0239] Optionally, the SMF allocates and releases resources for the UE's session. These resources include session quality of service (QoS), session path, forwarding rules, etc.

[0240] Optionally, NSSF selects a network slice for the UE.

[0241] Optionally, NEF can expose its network functions to third parties via a northbound application programming interface (API).

[0242] Optionally, NRF provides storage and selection functions for network function entity information for other network elements.

[0243] Optionally, UDM is used for user subscription context management.

[0244] Optionally, PCF is used to generate and manage user, session, and QoS stream processing policies.

[0245] Optionally, AF can be a functional network element that can provide various service functions, interact with the core network through NEF, and interact with the policy management framework for policy management.

[0246] In some embodiments, the core network equipment may include at least one of the user plane network elements and control plane network elements described above.

[0247] Optionally, the core network equipment has the function of coordinating the network devices corresponding to each cell in a cell group to send SSB burst sets within the same SSB burst set transmission period, so that the transmission times of the SSB burst sets of multiple cells do not conflict. Optionally, the core network equipment may also have the function of coordinating the network devices corresponding to each cell in each cell group to send SSB burst sets within the transmission period of an SSB burst set corresponding to that cell group, so that the transmission times of the SSB burst sets of multiple cells in that cell group do not conflict.

[0248] It should be noted that in the embodiments disclosed herein, "multiple" can be understood as two or more.

[0249] In some embodiments, the first node may be a network device. Optionally, the network device may be a network device corresponding to any cell within the first cell group, and the first network device may be a network device corresponding to any other cell in the first cell group other than the cell corresponding to the first node. Optionally, the network device acting as the first node has the ability to determine the time offset of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to all cells within the cell group.

[0250] S22. The first network device determines the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set to be sent in the first period based on the configuration information.

[0251] In some embodiments, the first network device receives configuration information sent by the first node.

[0252] In some embodiments, if the configuration information is first configuration information, the first network device can obtain the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the first network device in the first period based on the information indicated in the first configuration information.

[0253] In some embodiments, if the configuration information is second configuration information, the first network device determines the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the first network device in the first period by calculation based on the information included in the second configuration information.

[0254] S23. The terminal obtains the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the first network device in the first period.

[0255] In some embodiments, the terminal can obtain the time offset of its transmission of the SSB burst set from the first network device. Optionally, the terminal receives first indication information sent by the first network device. The first indication information is used to indicate the time offset of the first network device transmitting the SSB burst set.

[0256] In some embodiments, the terminal receives third configuration information sent by the first node. Since the third configuration information includes information for indicating the time offset corresponding to each cell in the first cell group, the terminal can obtain the time offset of the network device corresponding to each cell sending the SSB burst set in the first period based on the information indicated in the third configuration information.

[0257] In some embodiments, the terminal can obtain from the first node the time offset of the SSB burst set transmitted by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group. Optionally, the terminal receives third configuration information transmitted by the first node. The third configuration information also includes information for instructing the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group to transmit the SSB burst set within a first period.

[0258] In some embodiments, the terminal receives first indication information sent by a first network device. Since the first indication information is used to indicate the time offset of the first network device sending the SSB burst set, the terminal can obtain the time offset of the first network device sending the SSB burst set corresponding to the first cell based on the first indication information. Optionally, when the terminal receives first indication information sent by network devices corresponding to other cells in the first cell group, it can obtain information on the time offset of the network devices corresponding to each cell in the first cell group sending the SSB burst set within the first period.

[0259] It should be noted that step S23 above is an optional step.

[0260] S24. The first network device sends an SSB burst set to the terminal based on a determined time offset.

[0261] In some embodiments, the terminal can receive a set of SSB bursts sent by a first network device based on its corresponding time offset.

[0262] In some embodiments, if the terminal obtains the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period, the SSB burst set can be detected at the accurate time point.

[0263] In some embodiments, if the terminal does not obtain the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period, the SSB burst set can be detected by blind detection.

[0264] In the above embodiments, since the first network device is the network device corresponding to a cell in the first cell group, each network device corresponding to a cell in the first cell group has its own time offset when sending the SSB burst set in the first period. Therefore, the first network device can avoid the situation where multiple cells in the first cell group frequently send the SSB burst set based on its corresponding time offset, and solve the problem of high energy consumption caused by frequent transmission of SSB burst sets.

[0265] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc., are not limited to those described in the embodiments. Terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", and "data" can be used interchangeably.

[0266] In some embodiments, terms such as “send,” “transmit,” “report,” “distribute,” “transfer,” “bidirectional transmission,” “send and / or receive” can be used interchangeably.

[0267] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain," "preset," "default," "set," "indicated," "a certain," "any," and "first" can be used interchangeably. "Certain A," "preset A," "default A," "set A," "indicated A," "a certain A," "any A," and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-defined in a protocol or the like, or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or instruction, or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, but are not limited thereto.

[0268] In some embodiments, terms such as “in the case of,” “when,” “when,” “if,” “if,” etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0269] The method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S20 to S24. For example, steps S22 and S24 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S21, S22, and S24 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S21, S22, S23, and S24 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S20, S22, and S24 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0270] In some embodiments, step S20 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0271] In some embodiments, step S21 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0272] In some embodiments, step S23 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0273] Furthermore, the numbering of steps in the various embodiments of this disclosure is only for distinguishing different steps and is not intended to limit the order of steps. For example, S20 may occur before S21, or may occur after S21, or may occur simultaneously with S21.

[0274] Figure 2b is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2b, the communication method is used in a communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0275] S200, the first network device determines the first cycle based on the first cell group to which its corresponding first cell belongs.

[0276] The optional implementation of step S200 can be found in the optional implementation of step S20 in Figure 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0277] S201. The first node determines the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period.

[0278] In some embodiments, the first node may be a core network device. Optionally, the core network device may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the user plane network elements and control plane network elements in a 5G NR system.

[0279] In some embodiments, the first node may determine the time offset corresponding to each cell based on at least two of the first time point, the first time offset, and the identifier of each cell.

[0280] In some embodiments, the first time point can be a unified time reference point for all cells in the first cell group.

[0281] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this disclosure, the time offset is based on the first time point. That is, the time offset corresponding to a certain cell #1 in cell group A refers to the time offset that cell #1 needs to make relative to the first time point when transmitting the SSB burst set within the period T corresponding to cell group A.

[0282] Optionally, the first time point can be preset, predefined, or pre-configured, but is not limited to these.

[0283] In some embodiments, terms such as “moment,” “point in time,” “time,” and “time location” can be used interchangeably, as can terms such as “duration,” “segment,” “time window,” “window,” and “time.”

[0284] In some embodiments, the time offset of each cell in a cell group is linearly related to the cell number in the cell group, for example, a direct proportional relationship, but not limited thereto.

[0285] In some embodiments, for each cell, the first node may determine the time offset of the cell relative to a first time point based on the product of a first time offset and the cell’s identifier.

[0286] Optionally, the first time offset can be preset, predefined, or pre-configured, but is not limited to these.

[0287] For example, if cell group A includes cell #1, cell #2, and cell #3, the first time offset is Δt, and the period of the SSB burst set corresponding to cell group A is T, then: the time offset corresponding to cell #1 can be Δt*1, the time offset corresponding to cell #2 can be Δt*2, and the time offset corresponding to cell #3 can be Δt*3. Here, the time offsets corresponding to cells #1, #2, and #3 are relative to the time reference point K. As shown in Figure 2c, the starting time point of period T is taken as the first time point.

[0288] In some embodiments, the first node may determine that the time offset of the cell with the smallest identifier in the first cell group relative to the first time point is 0; and, for any cell in the first cell group other than the cell with the smallest identifier, the time offset of the cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the product of the difference between the cell's identifier and a preset value and the first time offset.

[0289] In some embodiments, the first time point can be the start time point or the end time point when the cell with the smallest identifier in the first cell group sends the SSB burst set.

[0290] In some embodiments, the preset value may be the minimum identifier in the first cell group, or an integer multiple of the minimum identifier, but is not limited thereto.

[0291] For example, if cell group A includes cell #1, cell #2, and cell #3, with a first time offset of Δt and a preset value of 1, and the period of the SSB burst set corresponding to cell group A is T, then: the time offset corresponding to cell #1 can be 0, the time offset corresponding to cell #2 can be Δt*1, and the time offset corresponding to cell #3 can be Δt*2. Here, the time offsets corresponding to cells #1, #2, and #3 are relative to the start or end time point of the SSB burst set transmission by cell #1. As shown in Figure 2d, the end time point of the SSB burst set transmission by cell #1 is taken as the first time point.

[0292] In some embodiments, each cell in the first cell group may have its own corresponding time reference point, namely: the first time point.

[0293] In some embodiments, the first node may determine that the time offset of the smallest identified cell in the first cell group relative to the first time point is 0; and, for any cell in the first cell group other than the smallest identified cell, determine the time offset of that cell relative to the first time point based on the first time offset.

[0294] In some embodiments, the first time point corresponding to the smallest identifier cell in the first cell group can be the start time point or the end time point of that cell sending the SSB burst set.

[0295] In some embodiments, the first time point corresponding to the first cell is the start or end time of the SSB burst set transmitted by the third cell in the first cell group. Optionally, the third cell is a cell in the first cell group that is adjacent to the first cell identifier and whose identifier is smaller than the first cell identifier. Optionally, the first cell can be any cell in the first cell group other than the cell with the smallest identifier.

[0296] For example, if cell group A includes cell #1, cell #2, and cell #3, the first time offset is Δt, and the period of the SSB burst set corresponding to cell group A is T, then: the time offset corresponding to cell #1 can be 0, the time offset corresponding to cell #2 can be Δt, and the time offset corresponding to cell #3 can be Δt. Here, the time offsets corresponding to cell #1 and cell #2 are relative to the start or end time of the SSB burst set transmission by cell #1. The time offset corresponding to cell #3 is relative to the start or end time of the SSB burst set transmission by cell #2. As shown in Figure 2e, the nth cell takes the end time of the SSB burst set transmission by the (n-1)th cell (which can correspond to the third cell mentioned above) as the first time point, where n takes the value of 2 or 3.

[0297] It should be noted that the above examples and corresponding figures are merely illustrative and do not constitute a limitation on the content of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0298] In some embodiments, the first node may be a network device. Optionally, the network device may be the network device corresponding to any cell within the first cell group. Optionally, the network device may have the capability to determine the time offset of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to all cells within the cell group.

[0299] In some embodiments, if the first node is a network device, the network device can be determined through negotiation by the network devices corresponding to all cells in the first cell group.

[0300] In some embodiments, if the first node is a network device, the first time point, the first time offset, and the preset value involved in the above embodiments can also be indicated by the core network device. Optionally, the network device can receive information sent by the core network including information indicating at least one of the first time point, the first time offset, and the preset value, and obtain at least one of the first time point, the first time offset, and the preset value based on the information.

[0301] S202, The first node sends the first configuration information to the first network device.

[0302] In some embodiments, after determining the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period, the first node can send configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell so that the network device can determine its corresponding time offset based on the configuration information.

[0303] In some embodiments, if the first node is a core network device, the first network device can be the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group.

[0304] In some embodiments, if the first node is a network device, the first network device can be a network device corresponding to any other cell in the first cell group other than the cell corresponding to the first node.

[0305] In some embodiments, the first network device receives first configuration information sent by the first node. Optionally, the first configuration information includes information indicating the time offset corresponding to the cell of the first network device.

[0306] S203. The first network device determines the time offset of the SSB burst set to be sent within the first period based on the first configuration information.

[0307] In some embodiments, the first network device receives first configuration information sent by the first node. Since the first configuration information includes information indicating the time offset of the cell corresponding to the first network device, the first network device can obtain the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the first network device in the first period based on the information indicated in the first configuration information.

[0308] In this embodiment, the first node can inform the corresponding network device of the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the determined first cell group within the first period through configuration or indication, so that the network device can directly use the time offset when sending the SSB burst set.

[0309] S204. The first node sends the third configuration information to the terminal.

[0310] In some embodiments, the third configuration information includes information indicating the time offset corresponding to each cell in the first cell group.

[0311] In some embodiments, the terminal receives third configuration information sent by the first node. Since the third configuration information includes information for indicating the time offset corresponding to each cell in the first cell group, the terminal can obtain the time offset of the network device corresponding to each cell sending the SSB burst set in the first period based on the information indicated in the third configuration information.

[0312] In some embodiments, the first node may also inform the terminal of the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the determined first cell group within the first period through configuration or indication, so that the terminal can detect the SSB burst set sent by the network device at the accurate time point.

[0313] In some embodiments, step S204 is an optional step.

[0314] Optionally, if the first node does not send the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period to the terminal, the terminal can perform blind detection when receiving the SSB burst set sent by the network device.

[0315] S205. The first network device sends an SSB burst set to the terminal based on a determined time offset.

[0316] In some embodiments, the terminal may receive an SSB burst set sent by the first network device based on its corresponding time offset.

[0317] In some embodiments, if the terminal obtains the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period, the SSB burst set can be detected at the accurate time point.

[0318] In some embodiments, the terminal may receive at least two SSB burst sets. Optionally, each of the at least two SSB burst sets is transmitted within the first period based on its corresponding time offset.

[0319] In some embodiments, if the terminal does not obtain the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period, the SSB burst set can be detected by blind detection.

[0320] The method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S200 to S205. For example, steps S203 and S205 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S201, S202, S203, and S205 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S200, S203, and S205 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S201 to S205 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S200, S201, S202, S203, and S205 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0321] In some embodiments, step S200 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0322] In some embodiments, steps S201 and S202 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0323] In some embodiments, step S204 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0324] Furthermore, the numbering of steps in the various embodiments of this disclosure is only for distinguishing different steps and is not intended to limit the order of steps. For example, S200 may occur before S201, or may occur after S201, or may occur simultaneously with S201.

[0325] Figure 2f is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2f, the communication method is used in a communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0326] S210. The first network device determines the first cycle based on the first cell group to which its corresponding first cell belongs.

[0327] The optional implementation of step S210 can be found in the optional implementation of step S20 in Figure 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0328] S211, The first node sends the second configuration information to the first network device.

[0329] In some embodiments, the second configuration information may include a first time offset and / or a first cell identifier.

[0330] For example, the second configuration information may include a first time offset and / or the identifier of the first cell in the first cell group to which it belongs (or may be described as number, label, index, etc.).

[0331] In some embodiments, the first network device receives second configuration information sent by the first node, and determines the time offset of the first network device sending the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set within the first period based on the information included in the second configuration information.

[0332] In some embodiments, the first node can be a core network device, and the first network device can be the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group (which can correspond to the first cell mentioned above).

[0333] In some embodiments, the first node can be a network device (which may correspond to the second network device mentioned above). Optionally, the network device can be the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group, in which case the first network device is the network device corresponding to any other cell in the first cell group other than the cell corresponding to the first node (which may correspond to the second cell mentioned above). Optionally, the network device acting as the first node has the ability to determine the time offset of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to all cells in the cell group.

[0334] S212. The first network device determines the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set to be sent within the first period based on the second configuration information.

[0335] In some embodiments, the first network device determines the time offset for transmitting the Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) burst set within a first period based on a first time point and at least two of the first time offset and / or the first cell identifier included in the second configuration information. Optionally, the first time point is a time reference point.

[0336] In some embodiments, the specific implementation scheme for the first network device to determine the time offset of its transmission of the Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) burst set in the first period can refer to the implementation scheme in Figure 2b above, where the first node determines the time offset of the transmission of the SSB burst set of the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group in the first period. The only difference is that the first node needs to determine the time offset of the transmission of the SSB burst set of the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group in the first period, while the first network device only needs to determine the time offset of its transmission of the SSB burst set of the network device in the first period based on the cell number of its own cell in the first cell group. Therefore, the optional implementation scheme of step S212 can refer to the optional implementation scheme of step S201 in Figure 2b and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0337] S213, The first network device sends the first instruction information to the terminal.

[0338] In some embodiments, the first indication information is used to indicate the time offset by which the first network device sends the SSB burst set.

[0339] In some embodiments, the terminal receives first indication information sent by the first network device. Since the first indication information is used to indicate the time offset of the first network device sending the SSB burst set, the terminal can obtain the time offset of the first network device sending the SSB burst set corresponding to the first cell based on the first indication information.

[0340] Optionally, when the terminal receives the first indication information sent by the network device corresponding to other cells in the first cell group, it can obtain the information of the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group in the first period.

[0341] S214. The first network device sends an SSB burst set to the terminal based on a determined time offset.

[0342] The optional implementation of step S214 can be found in the optional implementation of step S20 in Figure 2a, the optional implementation of step S205 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a and 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0343] The method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S210 to S214. For example, steps S212 and S214 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S211, S212 and S214 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S200, S212 and S214 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S211 to S214 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S210, S211, S212 and S214 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0344] In some embodiments, step S210 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0345] In some embodiments, step S211 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0346] In some embodiments, step S213 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0347] Furthermore, the numbering of steps in the various embodiments of this disclosure is only for distinguishing different steps and is not intended to limit the order of steps. For example, S200 may occur before S201, or may occur after S201, or may occur simultaneously with S201.

[0348] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3, the communication method can be executed by network device 102, and the method includes:

[0349] S301. Determine the time offset of the first network device sending the synchronization signal block SSB burst set in the first cycle.

[0350] The optional implementations of step S301 can be found in the optional implementations of step S22 in Figure 2a, the optional implementations of step S203 in Figure 2b, the optional implementations of step S212 in Figure 2f, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b, and 2f, which will not be repeated here.

[0351] In some embodiments, the network device may be a first network device. Optionally, the first network device may be the network device corresponding to a first cell in a first cell group. The first cell may be any cell in the first cell group.

[0352] In some embodiments, the first cell group includes at least two adjacent cells. Optionally, all cells within the first cell group transmit SSB burst sets with the same period.

[0353] In some embodiments, the method may further include: the first network device determining the first period corresponding to the first cell group based on the first cell group to which its corresponding first cell belongs.

[0354] The above-mentioned optional implementation methods can be found in the optional implementation methods of step S20 in Figure 2a, the optional implementation methods of step S200 in Figure 2b, the optional implementation methods of step S210 in Figure 2f, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b, and 2f, which will not be repeated here.

[0355] In some embodiments, there is a correspondence (also referred to as a mapping relationship or binding relationship) between cell groups and the periods of sending SSB burst sets. Optionally, this correspondence can be pre-stored, pre-configured, or indicated by configuration by core network equipment, but is not limited to these.

[0356] In some embodiments, step S301 may specifically include:

[0357] The system receives configuration information sent by the first node and determines the time offset based on this configuration information.

[0358] Optionally, the configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the first network device transmitting the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set within the first period.

[0359] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes: first configuration information. Optionally, the first configuration information includes information indicating the time offset corresponding to the first cell.

[0360] In some embodiments, the first network device can directly determine the time offset corresponding to the first cell based on the information indicated in the first configuration information sent by the first node.

[0361] It should be noted that the first node can determine the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by each cell in the cell group in the first period, and send it to the network device corresponding to the cell in the cell group.

[0362] Optionally, the alternative implementation of determining the time offset of the first node can be found in the alternative implementation of step S201 in Figure 2b and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0363] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes: second configuration information. Optionally, the second configuration information includes: a first time offset and / or a first cell identifier. The first cell identifier indicates a first cell in a first cell group.

[0364] In some embodiments, the first network device may determine the time offset corresponding to the first cell by calculation based on the information included in the second configuration information sent by the first node.

[0365] In some embodiments, the first network device determines the time offset corresponding to the first cell based on at least two of the first time point, the first time offset, and the first cell identifier.

[0366] In some embodiments, the first network device determines the time offset corresponding to the first cell based on the second configuration information using at least one of the following methods:

[0367] Method 1.1: Determine the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point based on the product of the first time offset and the first cell identifier.

[0368] Method 1.2: The first cell identifier is the smallest identifier in the first cell group, and the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined to be 0; or,

[0369] If the first cell identifier is any identifier in the first cell group other than the smallest identifier, then the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the product of the difference between the first cell identifier and the preset value and the first time offset.

[0370] Method 1.3: The first cell identifier is the smallest identifier in the first cell group, and the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined to be 0, wherein the first time point is the start or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the first cell; or,

[0371] If the first cell identifier is any identifier in the first cell group other than the smallest identifier, then the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the first time offset. The first time point is the start or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the third cell in the first cell group. The third cell is a cell in the first cell group that is adjacent to the first cell identifier and whose identifier is smaller than the first cell identifier.

[0372] It should be noted that in methods 1.1 and 1.2 above, the first time point is a unified time reference point for all cells in the first cell group. Optionally, in method 1.2, the first time point can be the start or end time of the SSB burst set corresponding to the first cell.

[0373] Optionally, in method 1.3 above, if the first cell identifier is any identifier in the first cell group other than the smallest identifier, then the first time point is the start or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the cell that is adjacent to the first cell identifier and precedes the first cell identifier.

[0374] In some embodiments, the first node is a core network device or a second network device, the second network device being the network device corresponding to the second cell in the first cell group, wherein the second cell is any cell in at least one cell in the first cell group other than the first cell.

[0375] Optionally, the first network device may receive configuration information sent by the core network device.

[0376] Optionally, the first network device may also receive configuration information sent by the second network device corresponding to other cells in the first cell group.

[0377] In some embodiments, based on the above embodiments, the method may further include: sending first instruction information to the terminal.

[0378] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate the time offset by which the first network device transmits the SSB burst set within the first period.

[0379] The above-mentioned optional implementation methods can be found in the optional implementation methods of step S213 in Figure 2f, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2f, which will not be repeated here.

[0380] In some embodiments, after determining the time offset of the SSB burst set it transmits within the first period, the first network device may notify the terminal so that the terminal can accurately know the transmission time domain position of the SSB burst set.

[0381] S302. Send the SSB burst set based on a determined time offset.

[0382] The optional implementations of step S302 can be found in the optional implementations of step S24 in Figure 2a, the optional implementations of step S205 in Figure 2b, the optional implementations of step S214 in Figure 2f, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b, and 2f, which will not be repeated here.

[0383] In some embodiments, the first network device may send an SSB burst set based on a determined time offset, so that the network devices corresponding to other cells in the first cell group send the SSB burst set at different time domain locations, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the transceiver equipment in the communication system and achieving the purpose of energy saving and efficiency improvement.

[0384] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3, the communication method can be executed by a first node, and the method includes:

[0385] S401. Send configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group.

[0386] In some embodiments, configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first period.

[0387] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes: first configuration information or second configuration information, wherein, for each cell, the first configuration information includes information for indicating the time offset corresponding to the cell, and the second configuration information includes: a first time offset and / or the identifier of the cell.

[0388] The optional implementations of step S401 can be found in the optional implementations of step S21 in Figure 2a, the optional implementations of step S202 in Figure 2b, the optional implementations of step S211 in Figure 2f, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b, and 2f, which will not be repeated here.

[0389] In some embodiments, the first cell group includes at least two adjacent cells. Optionally, all cells within the first cell group transmit SSB burst sets with the same period.

[0390] In some embodiments, if the configuration information is first configuration information, the above method further includes: determining the time offset of the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group sending the SSB burst set within the first period.

[0391] The above-mentioned optional implementation methods can be found in the optional implementation methods of step S201 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0392] In some embodiments, the first node may determine the time offset corresponding to each cell based on at least two of the first time point, the first time offset, and the identifier of each cell.

[0393] The first node can determine the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group during the first period by at least one of the following methods:

[0394] Method 2.1: For each cell, determine the time offset of the cell relative to the first time point based on the product of the first time offset and the cell's identifier.

[0395] Method 2.2: Determine that the time offset of the smallest identifier cell in the first cell group relative to the first time point is 0;

[0396] For any cell in the first cell group other than the cell with the smallest identifier, the time offset of the cell relative to the first time point is determined by multiplying the difference between the cell's identifier and the preset value with the first time offset.

[0397] Method 2.3: Determine that the time offset of the cell with the smallest identifier in the first cell group relative to the first time point is 0, wherein the first time point is the start time or end time of the SSB burst set corresponding to the cell with the smallest identifier in the first cell group.

[0398] For any cell in the first cell group other than the cell with the smallest identifier, the time offset of the cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the first time offset, wherein the first time point is the start time or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the third cell in the first cell group, and the third cell is the cell in the first cell group whose identifier is adjacent to that cell and whose identifier is smaller than that of the cell.

[0399] It should be noted that in methods 2.1 and 2.2 above, the first time point is a unified time reference point for all cells in the first cell group. Optionally, in method 2.2, the first time point can be the start or end time of the SSB burst set corresponding to the first cell.

[0400] Optionally, in method 2.3 above, for any cell in the first cell group other than the cell with the smallest identifier, the first time point is the start or end time of the SSB burst set corresponding to the cell whose identifier precedes that cell and is adjacent to the identifier of that cell.

[0401] In some embodiments, the first node may be a core network device or a network device.

[0402] In some embodiments, step S401 may specifically include: sending the configuration information to a network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group other than the cell corresponding to the first node. Optionally, the first node may be a network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group.

[0403] In some embodiments, based on the above embodiments, the method may further include: sending third configuration information to the terminal.

[0404] Optionally, the third configuration information includes information indicating the time offset corresponding to each cell in the first cell group.

[0405] The above-mentioned optional implementation methods can be found in the optional implementation methods of step S204 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0406] In some embodiments, after determining the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period, the first node may notify the terminal so that the terminal can accurately know the time domain position of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group.

[0407] Figure 5a is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5a, the method involved in this embodiment is executed by terminal 101, and the method includes:

[0408] S501. Obtain the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set transmitted by each cell in the first cell group during the first period. Optionally, the first cell group includes at least two cells.

[0409] In some embodiments, acquiring can be understood as receiving, or extracting from received information, but is not limited thereto.

[0410] The optional implementations of step S501 can be found in the optional implementations of step S23 in Figure 2a, the optional implementations of step S204 in Figure 2b, the optional implementations of step S213 in Figure 2f, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b, and 2f, which will not be repeated here.

[0411] In some embodiments, the first cell group includes at least two adjacent cells. Optionally, all cells within the first cell group transmit SSB burst sets with the same period.

[0412] In some embodiments, step S501 may specifically include: receiving first indication information sent by the first network device.

[0413] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate the time offset by which the first network device transmits the SSB burst set within the first period.

[0414] Optionally, the first network device is the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group.

[0415] In some embodiments, the terminal may receive a first indication message sent by a network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group, and based on the indication of the first indication message, obtain the time offset of the network device sending the SSB burst set in the first period.

[0416] In some embodiments, step S501 may specifically include: receiving third configuration information sent by the first node.

[0417] Optionally, the third configuration information includes information indicating the time offset corresponding to each cell in the first cell group;

[0418] Optionally, the first node can be a core network device, or it can be a network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group.

[0419] In some embodiments, the terminal may receive information indicated in the configuration information sent by the core network device to obtain the time offset of the SSB burst set corresponding to each cell in the first cell group.

[0420] In some embodiments, the terminal may receive information indicated in the configuration information sent by the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group, and obtain the time offset of the SSB burst set corresponding to each cell in the first cell group.

[0421] S502, Receive the SSB burst set based on the acquired time offset.

[0422] The optional implementations of step S502 can be found in the optional implementations of step S24 in Figure 2a, the optional implementations of step S205 in Figure 2b, the optional implementations of step S214 in Figure 2f, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b, and 2f, which will not be repeated here.

[0423] In some embodiments, the terminal may receive an SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to one or more cells in the first cell group based on one or more time offsets.

[0424] It should be understood that in the scheme of this disclosure embodiment, one cell corresponds to a time offset of a set of transmitted SSB bursts.

[0425] Figure 5b is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5b, the method involved in this embodiment is executed by terminal 101, and the method includes:

[0426] S511, Receive at least two synchronization signal block (SSB) burst sets.

[0427] Optionally, at least two SSB burst sets are sent within the first period based on the time offset corresponding to each SSB burst set.

[0428] In some embodiments, the at least two SSB burst sets received by the terminal have a time offset within the same period. That is, the terminal can receive at least two SSB burst sets at at least two different time points within the same period, wherein each SSB burst set in the at least two SSB burst sets corresponds to a time point within the corresponding period.

[0429] In some embodiments, at least two SSB burst sets may correspond to at least two cells in a first cell group. In some embodiments, the terminal receives the SSB burst sets sent by the network device corresponding to each of the at least two cells in the first cell group.

[0430] In some embodiments, prior to step 511, the following may also be included:

[0431] Obtain the time offset of the set of synchronization signal block (SSB) bursts transmitted by each cell in the first cell group during the first period. Optionally, the first cell group includes at least two cells.

[0432] Therefore, step 511 can specifically be: receiving at least two SSB burst sets based on at least two time offsets corresponding to at least two cells.

[0433] In this embodiment, the optional implementation of obtaining the time offset can be found in the optional implementation of step S23 in Figure 2a, the optional implementation of step S204 in Figure 2b, the optional implementation of step S213 in Figure 2f, step 501 in Figure 5a, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b, 2f, and 5a, which will not be repeated here.

[0434] This disclosure also provides an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the terminal in any of the above methods. Alternatively, another apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network functional node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0435] It should be understood that the division of units or modules in the above device is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Furthermore, the units or modules in the device can be implemented by a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor connected to a memory containing instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or to implement the functions of the units or modules in the above device. The processor can be, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory can be internal or external to the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits. The functions of some or all of the units or modules can be achieved through the design of the hardware circuits. The aforementioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors. For example, in one implementation, the aforementioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The functions of some or all of the aforementioned units or modules are achieved through the design of the logical relationships between the components within the circuit. As another example, in another implementation, the aforementioned hardware circuit can be implemented through a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gates. The connection relationships between the logic gates are configured through configuration files, thereby achieving the functions of some or all of the aforementioned units or modules.

[0436] All units or modules of the above devices can be implemented entirely through processor-invoked software, entirely through hardware circuits, or partially through processor-invoked software with the remainder implemented through hardware circuits. In this embodiment, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction read and execute capabilities, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationships of hardware circuits. These logical relationships are fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor may be a hardware circuit implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and configuring the hardware circuit can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be hardware circuits designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as ASICs, such as Neural Network Processing Units (NPUs), Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), and Deep Learning Processing Units (DPUs).

[0437] Figure 6a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first network device according to an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6a, the first network device includes at least one of a first transceiver module 601, a first processing module 602, etc.

[0438] In some embodiments, the first processing module 602 is used to determine a time offset, which is the time offset of the first network device transmitting the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set within a first period; the first transceiver module 601 is used to transmit the SSB burst set based on the time offset.

[0439] Optionally, the first transceiver module 601 is used to execute the steps related to sending and receiving signaling executed by the first network device in any of the above methods, such as at least one of steps S21 and S24 shown in FIG2a, steps S202 and S205 shown in FIG2b, and steps S211, S213 and S214 shown in FIG2f, which will not be described in detail here.

[0440] Optionally, the first processing module 602 is further configured to execute the steps related to the determination period executed by the first network device in any of the above methods, such as at least one of step S20 shown in FIG2a, step S200 shown in FIG2b, and step S210 shown in FIG2f, which will not be described in detail here.

[0441] Figure 6b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first node proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6b, the first node may include at least one of a second transceiver module 611, a second processing module 612, etc.

[0442] In some embodiments, the second transceiver module 611 is used to send configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group; wherein, the configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first period.

[0443] Optionally, the second transceiver module 611 is specifically used to execute the steps related to transmitting and receiving signaling executed by the first node in any of the above methods, such as at least one of step S202 shown in Figure 2b and step S211 shown in Figure 2f, which will not be described in detail here.

[0444] Optionally, the second processing module 612 is also used to execute the steps related to determining the period executed by the first node in any of the above methods, such as step S201 shown in Figure 2b, which will not be described again here.

[0445] Figure 6c is a schematic diagram of the terminal structure proposed in this embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 6c, the terminal may include at least one of a third transceiver module 621, a third processing module 622, etc.

[0446] In some embodiments, the third transceiver module 621 is used to receive at least two synchronization signal block (SSB) burst sets, which are transmitted within a first period based on the time offset corresponding to each SSB burst set.

[0447] Optionally, the third transceiver module 621 is specifically used to execute the steps related to sending and receiving signaling executed by the terminal 101 in any of the above methods, such as at least one of steps S23 and S24 shown in FIG2a, step S204 shown in FIG2b, and steps S213 and S214 shown in FIG2f, which will not be described in detail here.

[0448] This invention proposes a scheme for the joint and coordinated transmission of synchronization signals by multiple cells / base stations. By extending the period of each cell's synchronization signal transmission as quickly as possible, and by offsetting the synchronization signals transmitted between adjacent cells in the time domain, network energy saving is achieved.

[0449] In some embodiments, multiple neighboring cells use a unified period to send SSB burst sets, thereby extending the period during which each cell sends SSB burst sets.

[0450] In some embodiments, each cell sends an SSB burst set with a time offset to ensure that the SSBs sent by these cells are distributed in the time domain (i.e., do not overlap), thereby ensuring the synchronization and measurement requirements of the UE in any cell.

[0451] In some embodiments, the base stations of N adjacent cells all transmit SSB burst sets (also known as SSB burst sets) with a period of T1.

[0452] Optionally, N cells are adjacent to each other and form cell groups through coordination between base stations, where N>1.

[0453] Optionally, all cells within a cell group send SSB burst sets using the same period T1.

[0454] Optionally, the period T1 can be a positive integer, in milliseconds.

[0455] In some embodiments, the value of T1 includes, but is not limited to, {5ms, 10ms, 20ms, 40ms, 80ms, 160ms, 320ms, 640ms, 800ms, 1000ms}.

[0456] It should be noted that the scheme in this embodiment can support T1 to take a larger value, such as a period value of more than 320ms, in order to reduce the number of times a single cell sends an SSB burst set.

[0457] In some embodiments, within a period of transmitting a synchronization signal, there is a time offset ΔF between the sets of SSB bursts transmitted by each cell, which is determined relative to the time reference point K.

[0458] In some embodiments, the N cells transmit SSB burst sets with time offsets respectively.

[0459] Optionally, the time offset ΔF*1 is used for the first cell to send the SSB burst set; the time offset ΔF*2 is used for the second cell to send the SSB burst set; the time offset ΔF*3 is used for the third cell to send the SSB burst set; and so on, with the time offset ΔF*N being used for the Nth cell to send the SSB burst set.

[0460] In some embodiments, the time offset for the first cell to send the SSB burst set is 0; the time offset for the first cell to send the SSB burst set is ΔF*0; the time offset for the second cell to send the SSB burst set is ΔF*1; the time offset for the third cell to send the SSB burst set is ΔF*2; and so on, with the time offset for the Nth cell to send the SSB burst set being ΔF*(N-1).

[0461] In some embodiments, the time offset used by a cell to transmit the SSB burst set can be determined by the following transmission:

[0462] Method 1: The core network coordinates and allocates / assigns time offsets to each of the N cells.

[0463] Method 2: Direct coordination between N cells, for example, by sending coordination information through the Xn interface. Optionally, one of the N cell base stations acts as the coordinating base station, allocating / indicating the time offset of each cell to the other cells.

[0464] Example 1

[0465] As shown in Figure 6d, the upper part of the figure is an example of multiple cells transmitting SSB burst sets in existing NR technology. Each of the four cells transmits an SSB burst set at a period of 20ms. One SSB burst set contains four SSBs. Therefore, the four cells need to transmit a total of four SSB burst sets within 20ms, and 16 SSB burst sets within 80ms.

[0466] Based on the design of the scheme in this embodiment, these four cells form a cell group, and the period for each cell to send the SSB burst set is set to 80ms. At the same time, a time offset can be specified for each cell to send the SSB burst set.

[0467] From a frequency domain perspective, when one cell is transmitting an SSB burst set, the other three cells do not transmit SSBs. From a time domain perspective, the period of the SSB burst set is extended from 20ms to 80ms. Within one SSB period, the transmission of SSB burst sets by the four cells is time-division multiplexing (TDM). The UE can receive SSBs transmitted by all four cells within the coverage area of ​​any one of the four cells, which is used for time-frequency synchronization and measurement.

[0468] Therefore, the solution provided in this disclosure, from the perspective of the system / multiple cells, extends the period for transmitting SSBs, greatly reduces the frequency of SSB transmission and the resources occupied by each cell, and can also meet the needs of UE synchronization and cell access, thereby achieving the effect of energy saving and power saving of network-side equipment.

[0469] Figure 7a is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device 7100 proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. The communication device 7100 can be a network device (e.g., access network device, core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., user equipment, etc.), a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network device in implementing any of the above methods, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the terminal in implementing any of the above methods. The communication device 7100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0470] As shown in Figure 7a, the communication device 7100 includes one or more processors 7101. The processor 7101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU can be used to control communication devices (e.g., base stations, baseband chips, terminal devices, terminal device chips, DUs or CUs, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The processor 7101 is used to invoke instructions to cause the communication device 7100 to execute any of the above methods.

[0471] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more transceivers 7103. When the communication device 7100 includes one or more transceivers 7103, the transceivers 7103 perform at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above-described method (e.g., at least one of steps S21, S23, S24 shown in FIG. 2a, steps S202, S204, S205 shown in FIG. 2b, and steps S211, S213, S214 shown in FIG. 2f, but not limited thereto), and the processor 7101 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., at least one of steps S20, S22 shown in FIG. 2a, steps S200, S201, S203 shown in FIG. 2b, and steps S210, S212 shown in FIG. 2f, but not limited thereto). In optional embodiments, the transceivers may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated together. Optionally, terms such as transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, and interface can be used interchangeably; terms such as transmitter, transmitter unit, transmitter, and transmitter circuit can be used interchangeably; and terms such as receiver, receiver unit, receiver, and receiver circuit can be used interchangeably.

[0472] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more memories 7102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 7102 may also be located outside the communication device 7100.

[0473] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0474] Optionally, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more interface circuits 7104, which are connected to the memory 7102. The interface circuits 7104 can be used to receive signals from the memory 7102 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to the memory 7102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 7104 can read instructions stored in the memory 7102 and send the instructions to the processor 7101.

[0475] The communication device 7100 described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 7100 described in this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 7100 may not be limited by FIG. 7a. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: (1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or chip, or chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the IC collection may also include storage components for storing data and programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, terminal device, smart terminal device, cellular phone, wireless device, handheld device, mobile unit, vehicle device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0476] Figure 7b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 7200 proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. For cases where the communication device 7100 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the chip 7200 shown in Figure 7b, but it is not limited thereto.

[0477] Chip 7200 includes one or more processors 7201. Chip 7200 is used to perform any of the above methods.

[0478] In some embodiments, chip 7200 further includes one or more interface circuits 7202. Optionally, terms such as interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pin can be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 7200 further includes one or more memories 7203 for storing data. Optionally, all or part of the memories 7203 may be located outside of chip 7200. Optionally, interface circuit 7202 is connected to memory 7203, and interface circuit 7202 can be used to receive data from memory 7203 or other devices, and interface circuit 7202 can be used to send data to memory 7203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 7202 can read data stored in memory 7203 and send the data to processor 7201.

[0479] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 7202 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above-described method (e.g., at least one of steps S21, S23, S24 shown in FIG. 2a, steps S202, S204, S205 shown in FIG. 2b, and steps S211, S213, S214 shown in FIG. 2f, but not limited thereto). The interface circuit 7202 performing the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above-described method refers, for example, to the interface circuit 7202 performing data interaction between the processor 7201, the chip 7200, the memory 7203, or the transceiver device. In some embodiments, the processor 7201 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., at least one of steps S20, S22 shown in FIG. 2a, steps S200, S201, S203 shown in FIG. 2b, and steps S210, S212 shown in FIG. 2f, but not limited thereto).

[0480] This disclosure also provides a program product that, when executed by the communication device 7100, causes the communication device 7100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0481] This disclosure also proposes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods.

[0482] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of this disclosure can be combined arbitrarily without conflict.

[0483] Other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the following claims.

[0484] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is performed by a first network device, and the method includes: Determine the time offset, which is the time offset of the first network device sending the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set within the first period; The SSB burst set is sent based on the time offset.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The determination of the time offset of the SSB burst set transmitted within the first period includes: Receive configuration information, wherein the configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the first network device sending the SSB burst set within the first period; Based on the configuration information, the time offset is determined.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The configuration information includes either first configuration information or second configuration information, wherein the first configuration information includes information for indicating the time offset corresponding to the first cell; the second configuration information includes: a first time offset and / or a first cell identifier, wherein the first cell is the cell corresponding to the first network device, and the first cell identifier indicates the first cell in the first cell group.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The configuration information includes the second configuration information. Determining the time offset corresponding to the first cell based on the configuration information includes: The time offset corresponding to the first cell is determined based on at least two of the first time point, the first time offset, and the first cell identifier, wherein the first time point is the time reference point.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Determining the time offset corresponding to the first cell includes: The time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the product of the first time offset and the first cell identifier.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Determining the time offset corresponding to the first cell includes: The first cell identifier is the smallest identifier in the first cell group, and the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined to be 0; or, If the first cell identifier is any identifier in the first cell group other than the smallest identifier, then the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the product of the difference between the first cell identifier and the preset value and the first time offset.

7. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Determining the time offset corresponding to the first cell includes: The first cell identifier is the smallest identifier in the first cell group, and the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined to be 0, wherein the first time point is the start time or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the first cell; or, If the first cell identifier is any identifier in the first cell group other than the smallest identifier, then the time offset of the first cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the first time offset. The first time point is the start or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the third cell in the first cell group. The third cell is a cell in the first cell group that is adjacent to the first cell identifier and whose identifier is smaller than the first cell identifier.

8. The method according to any one of claims 3-7, characterized in that, The first cell group includes at least two adjacent cells, and all cells in the first cell group have the same period for sending SSB burst sets.

9. The method according to any one of claims 2-7, characterized in that, The configuration information is sent by a first node, which is either a core network device or a second network device. The second network device is the network device corresponding to the second cell in the first cell group, wherein the second cell is any cell in at least one cell in the first cell group other than the first cell.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a first indication message to the terminal, the first indication message being used to indicate the time offset of the first network device in sending the SSB burst set within the first period.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first period is determined based on the first cell group to which the first cell corresponding to the first network device belongs.

12. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is executed by the first node, and the method includes: Send configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group; The configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cycle.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The configuration information includes: first configuration information or second configuration information, wherein, for each cell, the first configuration information includes information for indicating the time offset corresponding to the cell, and the second configuration information includes: a first time offset and / or the identifier of the cell, wherein the identifier of the cell indicates a cell in the first cell group.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The configuration information includes the first configuration information, and the method further includes: Determine the time offset of the SSB burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group within the first period.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, Determining the time offset of the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group sending the SSB burst set within the first period includes: The time offset corresponding to each cell is determined based on at least two of the first time point, the first time offset, and the identifier of each cell, wherein the first time point is the time reference point.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, Determining the time offset corresponding to each cell includes: For each cell, the time offset of the cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the product of the first time offset and the cell's identifier.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, Determining the time offset corresponding to each cell includes: The time offset of the smallest cell in the first cell group relative to the first time point is determined to be 0. For any cell in the first cell group other than the cell with the smallest identifier, the time offset of the cell relative to the first time point is determined by multiplying the difference between the cell's identifier and the preset value with the first time offset.

18. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, Determining the time offset corresponding to each cell includes: The time offset of the smallest cell in the first cell group relative to the first time point is determined to be 0, wherein the first time point is the start or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the smallest cell in the first cell group. For any cell in the first cell group other than the cell with the smallest identifier, the time offset of the cell relative to the first time point is determined based on the first time offset, wherein the first time point is the start time or end time of the transmission SSB burst set corresponding to the third cell in the first cell group, and the third cell is the cell in the first cell group whose identifier is adjacent to that cell and whose identifier is smaller than that of the cell.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12-18, characterized in that, Sending configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group includes: The configuration information is sent to the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group other than the cell corresponding to the first node, wherein the first node is the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group.

20. The method according to any one of claims 12-19, characterized in that, The first node is a core network device.

21. The method according to any one of claims 12-20, characterized in that, The method further includes: A third configuration information is sent to the terminal, the third configuration information including information for indicating the time offset corresponding to each cell in the first cell group.

22. The method according to any one of claims 12-21, characterized in that, The first cell group includes at least two adjacent cells, and all cells in the first cell group have the same period for sending SSB burst sets.

23. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is executed by a terminal, and the method includes: Receive at least two synchronization signal block (SSB) burst sets, which are transmitted within a first period based on the time offset corresponding to each SSB burst set.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that, Also includes: Obtain the time offset of each cell in the first cell group transmitting the SSB burst set in the first period, wherein the first cell group includes at least two cells; The receiving of at least two synchronization signal block (SSB) burst sets includes: The at least two SSB burst sets are received based on at least two time offsets corresponding to the at least two cells.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that, The step of obtaining the time offset of the SSB burst set transmitted by each cell in the first cell group within the first period includes: Receive first indication information sent by the first network device, the first indication information being used to indicate the time offset by which the first network device sends the SSB burst set within the first period; or, Receive third configuration information sent by the first node, the third configuration information including information for indicating the time offset corresponding to each cell in the first cell group; The first network device is the network device corresponding to any cell in the first cell group.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that, The first cell group includes at least two adjacent cells, and all cells in the first cell group have the same period for sending SSB burst sets.

27. A first network device, characterized in that, include: The first processing module is used to determine the time offset, which is the time offset of the first network device sending the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set in the first period. The first transceiver module is used to send the SSB burst set based on the time offset.

28. A first node, characterized in that, include: The second transceiver module is used to send configuration information to the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cell group; The configuration information is used to determine the time offset of the synchronization signal block (SSB) burst set sent by the network device corresponding to each cell in the first cycle.

29. A terminal, characterized in that, include: The third transceiver module is used to receive at least two synchronization signal block (SSB) burst sets, which are transmitted within the first period based on the time offset corresponding to each SSB burst set.

30. A communication device, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The processor is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

31. A communication device, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The processor is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 12 to 22.

32. A communication device, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The processor is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 23 to 26.

33. A communication system, characterized in that, include: A first network device and a first node, and a terminal, wherein the terminal is used to implement the method of any one of claims 23 to 26, the first network device is used to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 11, and the first node is used to implement the method of any one of claims 12 to 22.

34. A computer storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores executable instructions that are loaded and executed by a processor to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, 12 to 22, or 23 to 26.

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