Communication method and apparatus, storage medium, program product, chip, and chip system

Abstract

Disclosed in embodiments of the present application are a communication method and apparatus, a storage medium, a program product, a chip, and a chip system. The method provided in the embodiments of the present application comprises: receiving first information in a first time unit within a first time period, wherein the first information comprises a first reference signal, the first information is used for a terminal device to determine a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal, a port index of the first reference signal is associated with a second time period, the end time of the first time period is not later than the start time of the second time period, the first filter belongs to K filters, the K filters have one-to-one correspondence to K beam sets, and K is a positive integer; and sending second information, wherein the second information comprises first channel information, wherein the first channel information is obtained on the basis of the first reference signal and the first filter. By means of the method, a satellite can acquire channel information for the next time period in advance, and thus can adjust an MCS for the next time period in advance on the basis of the channel information, thereby reducing a bit error rate and improving communication efficiency.

Description

Communication methods and devices, storage media, software products, chips and chip systems

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411562245.3, filed on November 1, 2024, entitled "Communication Method and Apparatus, Storage Medium, Program Product, Chip and Chip System", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, specifically to communication methods and devices, storage media, program products, chips, and chip systems. Background Technology

[0003] Access network equipment can employ adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) technology to achieve better throughput. AMC refers to adjusting a reference modulation and coding scheme (MCS) based on the acknowledgement (ACK) or negative acknowledgement (NACK) responses from terminal equipment. The adjusted MCS is the final MCS. The reference MCS is determined based on the channel quality indicator (CQI) reported by the terminal equipment.

[0004] In satellite systems, AMC (Adaptive Motion Control) can be employed to achieve better throughput. To ensure the satellite can serve all frequency bands within its coverage area, beam hopping (BH) technology is used. Beam hopping requires a -10dB isolation between any two co-frequency beams on the satellite side. Terminal equipment may still experience significant fluctuations in the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of the received signal during different beam hopping periods (BHP). These large SINR fluctuations can render AMC inefficient, reducing communication efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides communication methods and apparatus, storage media, program products, chips, and chip systems to improve the communication efficiency between network devices and terminal devices.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] Firstly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to a terminal-side device (also called a terminal device). The terminal device can be a terminal equipment, or it can be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a terminal equipment. For example, the terminal device can be a circuit or chip / chip system (e.g., a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, or a system-in-package (SIP) chip) or other functional module within the terminal equipment. Alternatively, the terminal device can be a logical node, logical module, or software that implements all or part of the functions of the terminal equipment. For ease of description, the following example uses a terminal equipment as the terminal device.

[0008] The method includes: receiving first information in a first time unit within a first time period, the first information including: a first reference signal, the first information being used by the terminal device to determine a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal, the port index of the first reference signal being associated with a second time period, the end time of the first time period being no later than the start time of the second time period, the first filter belonging to K filters, the K filters corresponding one-to-one with K beam sets, and K being a positive integer; and sending second information, the second information including first channel information, the first channel information being obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter.

[0009] In the above implementation scheme, the terminal device receives first information in the first time unit within the first time period. The first information includes a first filter. The terminal device obtains the first filter corresponding to the first reference signal based on the first information. The terminal device can filter the measurement result obtained using the first reference signal according to the first filter indicated by the network device. The terminal device can also report the first channel information to the network device, so that the network device can obtain the channel information of the second time period in advance, which facilitates the network device to adjust the MCS in time, reduce the bit error rate, and improve communication efficiency.

[0010] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes:

[0011] The third information is received in a second time unit within the first time period. The third information includes a second reference signal. The third information is used by the terminal device to determine a second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The port index of the second reference signal is associated with the first time period. The end time of the second time unit is not later than the start time of the first time unit.

[0012] In the above implementation scheme, in time units other than the first time unit within the first time period, the satellite still uses the second beam set to transmit reference signals or data signals to minimize the impact on the terminal equipment's services. For example, the satellite transmits a second reference signal based on the second beam set in the second time unit within the first time period. The second time unit is the time unit preceding the first time unit. In other time units within the first time period (e.g., the second time unit), the satellite still uses the second beam set to transmit data signals, thus ensuring that the satellite can still provide services to the terminal equipment within the first time period, minimizing the impact on the terminal equipment's services.

[0013] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes:

[0014] The terminal device receives fourth information in a third time unit within the first time period. The fourth information includes a second reference signal. The fourth information is used to determine a second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The port index of the second reference signal is associated with the first time period. The end time of the first time unit is not later than the start time of the third time unit.

[0015] In the above implementation scheme, in time units other than the first time unit within the first time period, the satellite still uses the second beam set to transmit reference signals or data signals to minimize the impact on the terminal equipment's services. For example, the satellite transmits a second reference signal based on the second beam set in the third time unit within the first time period. The third time unit is the time unit following the first time unit. In other time units within the first time period (e.g., the third time unit), the satellite still uses the second beam set to transmit data signals, so that the satellite can still provide services to the terminal equipment within the first time period, thus reducing the impact on the terminal equipment's services.

[0016] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the duration of the interval between the second time period and the first time period is related to the latency from the network device to the terminal device.

[0017] In the above scheme, taking the network device as an example of a satellite, the duration of the interval between the second time period and the first time period is greater than or equal to the delay from the satellite to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can receive the first reference signal as early as possible, thereby enabling the satellite to know the channel quality of the second time period as early as possible before the second time period, so that the satellite can adjust the MCS in time and reduce the bit error rate.

[0018] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first information is used to instruct the first filter.

[0019] In the above implementation scheme, the terminal device obtains the first filter from the first information, and thus the terminal device can use the first filter to filter the measurement results obtained using the first reference signal. Since the terminal device can filter according to the first filter indicated by the network device, the network device can obtain the channel information of the second time period in advance, which facilitates the network device to adjust the MCS in a timely manner, reduce the bit error rate, and improve communication efficiency.

[0020] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first information is used to indicate the port index of the first reference signal, which corresponds to the first filter.

[0021] In the above scheme, the port index of the first reference signal refers to the port index corresponding to the resource used by the network device to send the first reference signal. The network device can indicate the port index of the first reference signal through the first information, and the terminal device can obtain the port index of the first reference signal from the first information. The port index of the first reference signal corresponds to the first filter. Therefore, the terminal device can obtain the first filter according to the port index indicated by the first information, and thus the terminal device can use the first filter to filter the measurement results obtained using the first reference signal. Since the terminal device can filter according to the first filter indicated by the network device, the network device can obtain the channel information of the second time period in advance, which facilitates the network device to adjust the MCS in a timely manner, reduce the bit error rate, and improve communication efficiency.

[0022] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the second information is used to indicate at least one of the following:

[0023] The second time period;

[0024] The first beam set associated with the second time period;

[0025] The first filter corresponding to the first reference signal;

[0026] Alternatively, the port index of the first reference signal corresponds to the port index of the first filter.

[0027] In the above scheme, the second information sent by the terminal device can indicate a second time period, thereby enabling the network device to obtain the channel information for that second time period based on the second information. Alternatively, the second information sent by the terminal device can indicate a first beam set, thereby enabling the network device to associate the first beam set with the second time period and obtain the channel information for that second time period based on the second information. Another example is that the second information sent by the terminal device can indicate a first filter, thereby enabling the terminal device to determine a first beam set based on the first filter, further associate the first beam set with the second time period, and obtain the channel information for that second time period based on the second information.

[0028] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication method, which can be applied to a network-side device (also called a network device). This network device can be a satellite, or it can be a module or unit, logical node, logical module, or software that performs some or all of the functions of a satellite. For example, the network device can be a component (e.g., a circuit, chip, or chip system) within a satellite. For ease of description, the following example uses the application of this method to a satellite.

[0029] The method includes: sending first information to a terminal device based on a first time unit within a first time period using a first beam set, the first information including a first reference signal, the first information being used by the terminal device to determine a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal, the first beam set being associated with a second time period, the end time of the first time period being no later than the start time of the second time period, the first filter belonging to K filters, the first beam set belonging to K beam sets, the K beam sets corresponding one-to-one with the K filters, and K being a positive integer; receiving second information, the second information including first channel information, the first channel information being obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter; and determining a modulation and coding strategy (MCS) within the second time period based on the first channel information.

[0030] In this method, the beam set used by the network device to transmit the first reference signal in the first time period is the beam set associated with the second time period following the first time period. Correspondingly, the first channel information obtained based on the first reference signal can characterize the channel quality in the second time period. Thus, by receiving the second information, the network device can know the channel quality in the second time period in advance, thereby determining the MCS (Mean Cross Section) for the second time period based on the first channel information. This allows for timely adjustment of the MCS, reducing the bit error rate and improving communication efficiency.

[0031] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes:

[0032] The terminal device sends third information based on the second beam set in a second time unit within the first time period. The third information includes a second reference signal. The third information is used by the terminal device to determine the second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The second beam set is associated with the first time period. The end time of the second time unit is not later than the start time of the first time unit.

[0033] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes:

[0034] Based on the second beam set, a fourth information is sent to the terminal device in a third time unit within the first time period. The fourth information includes a second reference signal. The fourth information is used by the terminal device to determine a second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The second beam set is associated with the first time period, and the end time of the first time unit is not later than the start time of the third time unit.

[0035] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the duration of the interval between the second time period and the first time period is related to the latency from the network device to the terminal device.

[0036] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes:

[0037] Receive first indication information, which is used to indicate the correspondence between N time periods and K beam sets, where N and K are both positive integers, and the first beam set belongs to the K beam sets, and the first time period and the second time period belong to the N time periods.

[0038] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes:

[0039] Receive second indication information, which is used to indicate the first beam set.

[0040] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the first information is used to instruct the first filter.

[0041] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the first information is used to indicate the port index of the first reference signal, which corresponds to the first filter.

[0042] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the second information is used to indicate at least one of the following:

[0043] The second time period;

[0044] The first beam set associated with the second time period;

[0045] The first filter corresponding to the first reference signal;

[0046] Alternatively, the port index of the first reference signal corresponds to the port index of the first filter.

[0047] The beneficial effects of the second aspect and its various implementation methods can be referred to the beneficial effects of the first aspect and its various implementation methods mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0048] Thirdly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication device, specifically a terminal device, which includes:

[0049] A receiving module is configured to receive first information within a first time unit in a first time period. The first information includes: a first reference signal. The first information is used by the terminal device to determine a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal. The port index of the first reference signal is associated with a second time period. The end time of the first time period is not later than the start time of the second time period. The first filter belongs to K filters. The K filters correspond one-to-one with K beam sets. K is a positive integer.

[0050] The transmitting module is used to transmit second information, the second information including first channel information, the first channel information being obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter.

[0051] In a third aspect of this application, the constituent modules of the communication device may also perform the steps described in the first aspect and various possible implementations, as detailed in the foregoing description of the first aspect and various possible implementations.

[0052] Fourthly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication device, specifically a network device, which includes:

[0053] The transmitting module is used to transmit first information to a terminal device based on a first time unit within a first time period of a first beam set. The first information includes: a first reference signal. The first information is used by the terminal device to determine a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal. The first beam set is associated with a second time period. The end time of the first time period is not later than the start time of the second time period. The first filter belongs to K filters. The first beam set belongs to K beam sets. The K beam sets correspond one-to-one with the K filters. K is a positive integer.

[0054] A receiving module is configured to receive second information, the second information including first channel information, the first channel information being obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter;

[0055] The processing module is used to determine the modulation and coding strategy (MCS) for the second time period based on the first channel information.

[0056] In the fourth aspect of this application, the constituent modules of the communication device may also perform the steps described in the second aspect and various possible implementations, as detailed in the foregoing description of the second aspect and various possible implementations.

[0057] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method described in any one of the first to second aspects.

[0058] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method described in any one of the first to second aspects.

[0059] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which may include entities such as terminal devices, network devices, or chips. The communication device includes: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store instructions; the processor is used to execute the instructions in the memory, causing the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of the first to second aspects above.

[0060] Eighthly, this application provides a chip or chip system including a processor for supporting a communication device in implementing the functions involved in the foregoing aspects, such as transmitting or processing data and / or information involved in the foregoing methods. In one possible design, the chip system further includes a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0061] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a chip or chip system, including one or more interface circuits and one or more processors; the interface circuits are used to receive signals from the memory of an electronic device and send signals to the processors, the signals including computer instructions stored in the memory; when the processor executes the computer instructions, it causes the electronic device to perform the communication method of any one of the first to second aspects.

[0062] Tenthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication system, including:

[0063] The communication device as described in any one of the third aspects above and the communication device as described in any one of the fourth aspects above. Attached Figure Description

[0064] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a hopping beam;

[0066] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the AMC process;

[0067] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle that satellites using AMC technology lead to reduced communication efficiency;

[0068] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0069] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the satellite transmitting beams in two hopping beam cycles according to an embodiment of this application;

[0070] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0071] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the communication device provided in the embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0072] This application provides communication methods and apparatus, storage media, program products, chips, and chip systems to improve the communication efficiency between network devices and terminal devices.

[0073] The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0074] In this application embodiment, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, refers to "singular nouns or plural nouns," that is, "one or more." "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A / B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, and / or c means the following combinations: a exists alone, b exists alone, c exists alone, a and b exist simultaneously, a and c exist simultaneously, b and c exist simultaneously, or a, b, and c exist simultaneously, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0075] In the embodiments of this application, "when," "if," and "if" all refer to the device taking corresponding actions under certain objective circumstances, and are not time-limited, nor do they require the device to perform a judgment action, nor do they imply any other limitations. Unless otherwise specified, "if" and "if" can be substituted, and "when" and "in the case of" can be substituted. "When" and "if" / "if" can be substituted.

[0076] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the terms "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0077] In this application, the ordinal numbers "first," "second," "third," and "fourth" are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. For example, the first beam set and the second beam set refer to two different beam sets, and do not indicate a difference in priority or importance between the two beam sets.

[0078] The technical solutions of this application embodiment can be applied to various data processing communication systems.

[0079] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to non-terrestrial network (NTN) systems. An NTN system is a communication system formed by networking non-terrestrial network devices. Examples of non-terrestrial network devices include satellites, high altitude platform stations (HAPS), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The non-terrestrial network devices involved in this application are not limited to the examples above. The non-terrestrial network devices in this application can also be referred to as airborne network devices. In this application, satellite communication systems can be integrated with traditional mobile communication systems. Mobile communication systems can be 5G (5th generation), New Radio (NR), 4th generation, or future communication systems. For example, this applies to the following communication systems: Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA), and other systems. The term "system" can be used interchangeably with "network." CDMA systems can implement wireless technologies such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) and CDMA2000. UTRA can include Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) technology and other CDMA variants. CDMA2000 can cover Interim Standard (IS) 2000 (IS-2000), IS-95, and IS-856 standards. TDMA systems can implement wireless technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM).OFDMA systems can implement wireless technologies such as Evolved Universal Wireless Terrestrial Access (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, and Flash OFDMA. UTRA and E-UTRA are UMTS and its evolved versions, respectively. Furthermore, the technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to future communication systems. The system architecture and service scenarios described in this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in this application. Those skilled in the art will understand that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided in this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0080] As an example, please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of this application. The communication system includes satellites, terminal devices, gateways, and access network devices. Satellites can be highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellites, geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellites, medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites, and low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Furthermore, the NTN system may also include high altitude platform stations (HAPS), etc., without limitation. Gateways (also called ground stations, earth stations, signaling stations, or gateway stations) can be used to connect satellites and access network devices. One or more satellites can connect to one or more base stations through one or more gateways, without limitation. Terminal devices include, for example, mobile phones, airplanes, etc. (Figure 1 uses this as an example). The link between the satellite and the terminal device is called a service link, and the link between the satellite and the gateway is called a feeder link. Satellites, according to their operating modes, include transparent and regenerative. When the satellite operates in transparent transmission mode, it only has the function of signal forwarding, and the gateway has the function of gNB or part of gNB. In this case, the gateway can be regarded as a base station. When the satellite operates in regenerative mode, it has the ability to process digital signals and has the function of gNB or part of gNB. In this case, the satellite can be regarded as a base station.

[0081] The communication system described in this application is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and does not constitute a limitation on the communication system to which the embodiments of this application are applicable. For example, the communication system may also include other devices, such as core network devices, which are not shown in Figure 1. Those skilled in the art will understand that, with the evolution of network architecture, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems. When applying the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application to other communication systems, the devices, components, modules, etc., in the embodiments can be replaced with corresponding devices, components, modules, etc., in other communication systems, without limitation.

[0082] The communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application has been described above. To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application, the relevant technical terms and technical features involved in the embodiments of this application will be explained below.

[0083] (1) Access network equipment

[0084] In this embodiment, the access network device refers to a radio access network (R)AN device / RAN node. In this embodiment, (R)AN and RAN are interchangeable. RAN can be a cellular system related to the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), such as a 5G / new radio (NR) mobile communication system, or a future-oriented evolution system. RAN can also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a virtualized RAN (vRAN), etc. RAN can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems. RAN equipment can also be called a RAN node, RAN entity, or access node, etc.

[0085] In one possible scenario, a RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), or a base station in a future mobile communication system. RAN nodes can also be macro base stations, micro base stations, indoor stations, relay nodes, donor / host nodes, or radio controllers. RAN nodes can also be servers, wearable devices, vehicles, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, in V2X technology, the RAN node can be a roadside unit (RSU).

[0086] In another possible scenario, the RAN node can be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of the base station; or multiple RAN nodes can cooperate to assist terminal equipment in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes performing some of the functions of the base station. For example, the RAN node can be a CU, DU, or RU. The function of the CU can be implemented by a single entity or by different entities. For example, the function of the CU can be further divided, that is, the control plane and the user plane can be separated and implemented by different entities, namely the control plane CU entity (i.e., CU-control plane (CP) entity) and the user plane CU entity (i.e., CU-user plane (UP) entity). The CU-CP entity and the CU-UP entity can be coupled with the DU to jointly complete the function of the RAN node. The CU and DU can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as in the baseband unit (BBU). Any of the units among the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented by software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0087] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples.

[0088] The CU and DU can be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement: for example, the CU can be configured to implement the functions of the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer and above (such as the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer and / or the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer); the DU can be configured to implement the functions of the protocol layers below the PDCP layer (such as the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, the Media Access Control (MAC) layer, and / or the Physical (PHY) layer). For specific descriptions of the above protocol layers, please refer to the relevant 3GPP technical specifications or the technical specifications of other applicable communication protocols.

[0089] The above division of the processing functions of CU and DU according to protocol layers is merely an example; other division methods are also possible, and this application does not limit this. For example, in one design, CU or DU can be further divided into processing functions with protocol layers. In one design, some functions of the RLC layer and the functions of the protocol layer above the RLC layer are located in the CU, while the remaining functions of the RLC layer and the functions of the protocol layer below the RLC layer are located in the DU.

[0090] In another possible design, the DU and RU collaborate to implement the PHY layer functionality, or, more specifically, a portion of the PHY layer functionality of the DU can be moved to the RU. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of the DU and RU can be configured in various ways depending on the design. For example, the DU may be configured to implement baseband functions, and the RU may be configured to implement mid-RF functions. Alternatively, the DU may be configured to implement higher-level functions in the PHY layer, and the RU may be configured to implement lower-level functions in the PHY layer, or both lower-level and RF functions. Higher-level functions in the physical layer may include a portion of the physical layer's functionality closer to the MAC layer, and lower-level functions may include another portion of the physical layer's functionality closer to the mid-RF side. This application does not limit the specific functions of the DU and RU. The interface between the DU and RU can be called a fronthaul interface. In one design, the CU may not have a PDCP layer; for example, the CU may only include an RRC layer. The CU-CP may not have PDCP-C. The CU-UP may not have PDCP-U, or may not have a CU-UP. In one design, the DU may not have an RLC layer; for example, the DU may only have a MAC and a higher PHY layer.

[0091] When the RAN is O-RAN, it can also have artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. For example, O-RAN includes an intelligent controller. The intelligent controller can be a non-real-time RAN intelligent controller (RIC / non-RT RIC / NRT RIC) or a near-real-time RAN intelligent controller (RIC / near-RT RIC / nRT RIC). A non-real-time RIC can be used to implement non-real-time intelligent management of RAN functions, enabling workflows including model training and model updates, and guiding applications / functions in the nRT RIC based on policies. A near-real-time RIC can be used to implement near-real-time intelligent management of the RAN. Through data collection and related operations on the E2 interface, near-real-time control and optimization of O-RAN modules and resources are achieved.

[0092] (2) Terminal equipment

[0093] In this application embodiment, anything capable of data communication with a base station can be considered a terminal device. Terminal devices are also called terminals, terminal equipment, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, or mobile terminals, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios. For example, terminal devices can be: mobile phones, computers, mobile internet devices (MID), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, stations (STA), robotic arms, cameras, robots, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, or smart home devices (such as televisions, air conditioners, robot vacuums, speakers, set-top boxes), relays, customer premises equipment (CPE), etc.

[0094] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the terminal device can also be a terminal device in an IoT system, such as a water meter or electricity meter. IoT is an important component of future information technology development. Its main technical characteristic is connecting objects to networks through communication technology, thereby realizing an intelligent network that enables human-machine interconnection and object-to-object interconnection.

[0095] When the terminal device is applied to V2X, it can also be called a V2X device, such as a smart car, an unmanned car, a driverless car, a pilotless car, or an automobile, or a roadside unit (RSU). All the terminal devices described above, if located on a vehicle (e.g., placed / installed inside the vehicle), can be considered in-vehicle terminal devices. In-vehicle terminal devices can be built into a vehicle's on-board module, on-board unit, on-board component, on-board chip, or on-board unit as one or more components or units. The vehicle can implement the methods of this application through the built-in on-board module, on-board unit, on-board component, on-board chip, or on-board unit. In-vehicle terminal devices can be vehicle equipment, on-board modules, vehicles, on-board units (OBU), RSUs, in-vehicle infotainment systems (or on-board transmitting units) (telematics boxes, T-boxes), chips, or SoCs, etc., and the aforementioned chips or SoCs can be installed in the vehicle, OBU, RSU, or T-box.

[0096] (3) Gateway

[0097] A gateway, also known as a ground station, earth station, or gateway, is used to connect satellites to ground base stations. One or more satellites can connect to one or more ground base stations through one or more gateways.

[0098] (4) Network equipment

[0099] The network device in this application embodiment is a device capable of providing services to a terminal device. The network device is a peer device capable of interacting with the terminal device. The network device can send reference signals to the terminal device and adjust communication parameters according to the measurement results reported by the terminal device, such as adjusting the modulation and coding scheme (MCS).

[0100] For example, network equipment can be satellites. Satellites can also be called service satellites or satellite equipment. Satellites provide services to one or more terminal devices, each gateway can correspond to one or more satellites, and each satellite can correspond to one or more gateways. There are no restrictions on the orbital altitude of the satellites. Satellites can also act as DUs (Dedicated Units) of base stations, separated from CUs (Combined Units) of ground base stations, forming a CU-DU distributed architecture. In this network architecture, the service link between the terminal device and the satellite can transmit NR-Uu radio interface signals, the feeder link between the satellite and the gateway transmits satellite radio interface (SRI) signals, and on top of the SRI signals, the F1 interface signals between the DU and the CU are transmitted.

[0101] Based on processing capabilities, satellite payloads can be divided into transparent payloads and regenerative payloads. Transparent payloads operate in transparent mode, while regenerative payloads operate in regenerative mode.

[0102] In pass-through mode, the satellite acts as an analog radio frequency repeater, providing relay and forwarding capabilities. It can perform wireless frequency conversion and amplification, and can pass through or replicate signals between the base station and terminal equipment. For example, signals sent by the terminal equipment can be passed through the satellite and forwarded by the gateway to the ground base station. The gateway possesses some or all of the functions of a base station; in this case, the gateway can be considered as a base station. It can be assumed that the gateway and base station can be deployed together or separately. If the gateway and base station are deployed separately, the delay of the feeder link includes the delay from the satellite to the gateway and the delay from the gateway to the base station.

[0103] In regeneration mode, the satellite acts as a base station for wireless communication, possessing some or all of the functions of a base station. It regenerates signals received from the ground and can understand and process these signals. For example, the satellite could be a base station mounted on an artificial Earth satellite or a high-altitude spacecraft; the base station could be an evolved NB (eNB) or a 5G NB (gNB). The gateway can forward signaling between the satellite (or base station) and the core network.

[0104] (5) Beam skipping

[0105] In satellite systems, a satellite's coverage area contains a large number of beams, and the area to be covered is quite large. A beam refers to a small region that makes up the coverage area. For example, if the Earth's surface (the entire coverage area) is divided into multiple approximately hexagonal grids of the same size, each hexagonal grid can be considered a beam. The number of beams a satellite can provide simultaneously is limited, making it impossible to cover the entire area at the same time. To enable a satellite to serve all beams, it provides services using time-division multiplexing beams, a method also known as beam-hopping (BH) technology.

[0106] Beam hopping refers to a satellite illuminating different wavelengths (BHP) with a single beam at different times. In other words, the satellite uses different beam sets at different times. For example, see Figure 2, which illustrates beam hopping. Figure 2 uses an example where the satellite's service time consists of N beam hopping periods (BHP). As shown in Figure 2, within beam hopping period 1, the satellite emits the first beam set, illuminating wavelengths 1-1 to 1-3; within beam hopping period 2, the satellite emits the second beam set, illuminating wavelengths 2-1 to 2-3, and so on. Within different beam hopping periods, the wavelengths illuminated by the same beam may be the same or different. The information set consisting of the time or frequency band at which the satellite provides service to one or more wavelengths / beams is called the beam hopping pattern.

[0107] (6) Beamforming

[0108] Beam assemblies can also be called multi-beam patterns. In beam hopping technology, the satellite divides its service time into several time periods, and then uses different beam assemblies in different time periods. Each beam assembly contains multiple beams, and the direction of each beam is different. A significant feature of beam hopping technology is that the directions of the multiple beams formed on the satellite side exhibit a pattern that jumps over time. Beam hopping technology plays a very important role in satellite communication, and can better balance system performance and implementation complexity. For example, as shown in Figure 2, within the satellite's service time [0, T], assuming there are N beam hopping cycles, the ground position or terminal equipment pointed to by the multiple beams on the satellite side will change from the first beam hopping cycle to the second beam hopping cycle.

[0109] In this embodiment of the application, different beam sets can be pre-configured for different time periods.

[0110] (7) Adaptive modulation and coding (AMC)

[0111] Network devices send reference signals to terminal devices, which measure these signals to obtain channel quality and feed it back to the network side. Network devices can adaptively adjust communication parameters (e.g., channel quality control) based on the channel quality feedback from the terminal devices to ensure better communication performance. For example, to achieve better throughput, network devices can employ adaptive channel quality control (AMC) technology.

[0112] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of the AMC process, taking a satellite as an example of a network device.

[0113] AMC primarily includes inner loop link adaptation (ILLA) and outer loop link adaptation (OLLA). ILLA refers to the satellite mapping to a reference MCS based on the CQI fed back by the terminal equipment based on the reference signal. OLLA refers to the satellite correcting the reference MCS based on the ACK / NACK feedback from the terminal equipment. The basic principle of correction is: if the satellite receives a NACK, the MCS is lowered; if the satellite receives an ACK, the MCS is raised.

[0114] The MCS determined by the satellite ultimately satisfies the following relationship: MCS new =f(CQI)+Olla new ,

[0115] Among them, MCS new Olla is the final MCS determined by the satellite, f(CQI) is the reference MCS obtained based on CQI mapping during the ILLA process. new This is the adjustment value of MCS determined based on the ACK / NACK feedback from the terminal device during the OLLA process.

[0116] When the satellite receives NACK, Olla new =-Δ down .

[0117] When the satellite receives the ACK, Olla new =Δ up .

[0118] Where, Δ up >0 and Δ down >0 satisfies BLER target The target block error rate (BLER) is used.

[0119] (8) Time unit

[0120] A time unit generally refers to a unit of time. A time unit can be a radio frame, subframe, slot, mini-slot, OFDM symbol, millisecond (ms), or fractional milliseconds (e.g., 1 / 32 ms). Alternatively, a time unit can be multiple slots, multiple subframes, multiple mini-slots, multiple OFDM symbols, or several milliseconds (ms) or fractional milliseconds. A radio frame can include multiple subframes, a subframe can include one or more slots, and a slot can include at least one symbol. Alternatively, a radio frame can include multiple slots, and a slot can include at least one symbol.

[0121] (9) Filter

[0122] Filters are used by terminal equipment to filter the received channel measurement results. The channel information measured by the terminal equipment is then fed back to the satellite after filtering. The filtering mechanisms include Layer 1 filtering and Layer 3 filtering. Layer 1 filtering depends on the internal implementation of the terminal equipment, while Layer 3 filtering uses the following method: F n = (1-a)·F n-1 +a·M n

[0123] Among them, M n The latest measurement results obtained from the physical layer, F n This is the updated filtered result, F n Used to calculate reporting criteria or report measurement results, F n-1 These are the filtered results from the past. When the measurement results from the physical layer are received for the first time, F0 = M1, a = 2. -k / 4 , where a is the forgetting factor, and k is determined by the filter coefficient.

[0124] To illustrate the process of Layer 1 filtering and Layer 3 filtering, the terminal device performs Layer 1 filtering every 40ms and then calculates the average value based on the results of 5 Layer 1 filterings. The terminal device performs Layer 3 filtering every 200ms, that is, the UE inputs the average value of the results of 5 Layer 1 filterings into the Layer 3 filter every 200ms.

[0125] (8) Transmission

[0126] In the embodiments of this application, "transmission" includes "sending" and / or "receiving." "Sending" and "receiving" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "sending information to device 1" can be understood as the destination of the information being device 1, which may include direct transmission via an air interface or indirect transmission via an air interface from other units or modules. "Receiving information from device 2" can be understood as the source of the information being device 2, which may include direct reception from device 2 via an air interface or indirect reception from device 2 via an air interface from other units or modules. "Sending" can also be understood as the "output" of a chip interface, and "receiving" can also be understood as the "input" of a chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between access network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via a bus, wiring, or interface.

[0127] As mentioned above, the distance between the satellite and the ground is relatively long, and the signal delay between the satellite and the ground is relatively large. If the satellite uses AMC, it may be necessary for the satellite to adjust the reference MCS using the ACK / NACK received last time, which will lead to a decrease in communication efficiency.

[0128] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 4, which illustrates the principle behind the reduced communication efficiency caused by satellite using AMC technology. During the nth time period, the channel quality is relatively good. At time t1 within the nth time period, the satellite can receive the ACK from the terminal device, and the satellite adjusts the MCS accordingly. During the (n+1)th time period, the channel quality is poor, and the MCS can be considered too high. The terminal device will send a NACK, but due to the large time delay between the satellite and the terminal device, the satellite receives the NACK at time t2. In other words, during the (n+1)th time period, the satellite does not receive the NACK from the terminal device. In this case, the satellite assumes the terminal device is sending the ACK received at time t1 and still adjusts the MCS. Thus, the MCS becomes even higher, but because the channel quality is poor during the (n+1)th time period, the BLER of the data packets sent by the satellite on the terminal device side also increases, the number of NACKs from the terminal device increases, and the number of data packets that the satellite needs to retransmit also increases, leading to a decrease in system transmission efficiency.

[0129] Therefore, the present application provides a solution according to its embodiments. In this embodiment, the satellite employs BH technology. During a first time period, the satellite transmits a reference signal using the beam set corresponding to the second time period. Additionally, the satellite can explicitly or implicitly indicate the filter corresponding to the reference signal to the terminal device. Accordingly, the channel information obtained by the terminal device based on the reference signal and the filter is the channel information for the second time period. The second time period is a time period following the first time period. The terminal device feeds back this channel information to the satellite, allowing the satellite to know the channel information for the subsequent time period in advance, and thus determine the appropriate MCS (Mechanical Control System) based on this channel information. Compared to AMC (Automatic Channel Control), the solution provided in this embodiment can determine the appropriate MCS more promptly, thereby reducing the bit error rate and improving communication efficiency, such as increasing transmission efficiency. The specific type of reference signal is not limited in this embodiment; for example, the reference signal can be a channel status information reference signal (CSI-RS).

[0130] In this embodiment of the application, (pre)configuration refers to (pre)configuration through one or more signaling methods, such as (pre)configuration through one or more of the following signaling methods: RRC message, downlink control information (DCI), and MAC control element (CE). For example, in this embodiment of the application, the first indication information / second indication information may be carried in (or be) one or more of RRC message, DCI, and MAC CE.

[0131] The communication method provided in the embodiments of this application is described below. Taking the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application applied to the network architecture shown in Figure 1 as an example, the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application can be executed by network devices and terminal devices. The steps executed by the network device can be implemented by the satellite itself, or by components within the satellite (such as a baseband chip, or other processing units or processor modules). The steps executed by the access network device can be implemented by the RAN device itself, or by components within the RAN device (such as a baseband chip, or other processing units or processor modules), or by components that perform some or all of the functions of the RAN device (such as a CU, DU, or RU). The steps executed by the terminal device can be implemented by the terminal device itself, or by components within the terminal device (such as a baseband chip, or other processing units or processor modules).

[0132] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a flowchart illustrating the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 5 describes the method from the perspective of interaction between network devices and terminal devices. It should be understood that the communication method can also be implemented by other devices, such as a chip or communication device with communication capabilities. Furthermore, the processing performed by a single execution entity can be divided into multiple execution entities, which can be logically and / or physically separated. For example, the processing performed by the access network device can be divided into execution by at least one of CU, DU, RU, etc. As shown in Figure 5, the flow of this communication method includes the following steps.

[0133] 501. The network device sends first information to the terminal device based on the first beam set within the first time unit of the first time period. Correspondingly, 502. The terminal device receives the first information within the first time unit of the first time period.

[0134] The first information includes: a first reference signal, which is used by the terminal device to determine the first filter corresponding to the first reference signal; for the network device, the first beam set is associated with the second time period; for the terminal device, the port index of the first reference signal is associated with the second time period; the end time of the first time period is no later than the start time of the second time period; the first filter belongs to K filters; the first beam set belongs to K beam sets; the K beam sets correspond one-to-one with the K filters; and K is a positive integer.

[0135] Specifically, the first time period is a segment of the satellite's service time. Alternatively, the satellite's service time comprises multiple time periods, and the first time period is one of these multiple time periods. The lengths of the different time periods can be the same or different. This application's embodiments do not limit the length of the first time period. For example, the first time period can be a beam-hopping period.

[0136] The first time period may include multiple time units. The size of each time unit is not limited in this embodiment; for example, a time unit may include one or more time slots. Different time units within a time period may have the same or different sizes. For example, the first time period may include a first time unit, a second time unit, and a third time unit, where the first time period has T time slots, the first time unit may be one time slot, the second time unit may have Tk time slots, and the third time unit may have k-1 time slots, where T is a positive integer and k is a positive integer.

[0137] Furthermore, the embodiments of this application do not impose restrictions on the position of the first time unit within the first time period. For example, the start time of the first time unit may be the same as the start time of the first time period, or the end time of the first time unit may be the same as the end time of the first time period, or the start time of the first time unit may be later than the start time of the first time period, and the end time of the first time unit may be earlier than the end position of the first time period.

[0138] The first beam set is a collection of one or more beams, also referred to as the first beam group, the first beam pattern, or the first multi-beam pattern. In the embodiments of this application, the satellite employs beam hopping technology, meaning that at least two time periods correspond to different beam sets, or at least two time periods are associated with different beam sets, or at least two time periods are mapped to different beam sets. For ease of description, this paper uses the association of a first time period with a second beam set, and a second time period with a first beam set, as an example. The beams included in different beam sets may be partially or entirely different. For example, the first beam set includes beams 0, 2, and 3, and the second beam set includes beams 1, 4, and 5; or, the first beam set includes beams 0, 2, and 3, and the second beam set includes beams 0, 4, and 5.

[0139] In this embodiment, the satellite uses the same beam set for transmitting a reference signal in one time period as the beam set associated with another time period to obtain channel information for that time period. For example, the satellite transmits a first reference signal to a terminal device based on a first time unit within a first time period using a first beam set, where the end time of the first time period is no later than the start time of the second time period. Therefore, by transmitting the first reference signal using the first beam set in the first time period, the satellite can obtain channel information for the second time period.

[0140] In this embodiment, in addition to sending a first reference signal to the terminal device, the network device can also indicate a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can obtain the first filter indicated by the network device. For example, the network device sends first information, which includes the first reference signal. The first information is used by the terminal device to determine the first filter corresponding to the first reference signal. The specific way the first information indicates the first filter is either explicit or implicit, which is not limited here. In this embodiment, the network device can configure K filters for the terminal device, and the K beam sets correspond one-to-one with the K filters. The network device uses the first beam set to send the first reference signal. According to the one-to-one correspondence between the K beam sets and the K filters, the network device can also indicate to the terminal device that the first reference signal corresponds to the first filter, so that the terminal device can use the first filter to filter the measurement results obtained using the first reference signal. The terminal device can filter according to the first filter indicated by the network device to obtain the first channel information. The terminal device can also report the first channel information to the network device, so that the network device can obtain the channel information of the second time period in advance, which facilitates the network device to adjust the MCS in time, reduce the bit error rate, and improve communication efficiency.

[0141] In some embodiments of this application, the first information is used to indicate the first filter.

[0142] The terminal device obtains a first filter from the first information, and can then use this first filter to filter the measurement results obtained using the first reference signal. For example, the first information includes an identifier for the first filter. Because the terminal device can filter according to the first filter indicated by the network device, the network device can obtain the channel information for the second time period in advance, facilitating timely adjustment of the MCS, reducing the bit error rate, and improving communication efficiency.

[0143] In some embodiments of this application, the first information is used to indicate the port index of the first reference signal, which corresponds to the first filter.

[0144] The port index of the first reference signal refers to the port index corresponding to the resource used by the network device to send the first reference signal. The network device can indicate the port index of the first reference signal through the first information, and the terminal device can obtain the port index of the first reference signal from the first information. The port index of the first reference signal corresponds to the first filter. Therefore, the terminal device can obtain the first filter according to the port index indicated by the first information, and thus the terminal device can use the first filter to filter the measurement results obtained using the first reference signal. Since the terminal device can filter according to the first filter indicated by the network device, the network device can obtain the channel information of the second time period in advance, which facilitates the network device to adjust the MCS in a timely manner, reduce the bit error rate, and improve communication efficiency.

[0145] In some embodiments of this application, the communication method performed by the network device further includes the following steps:

[0146] A1. The network device sends third information to the terminal device based on the second beam set in the second time unit within the first time period. The third information includes: a second reference signal. The third information is used by the terminal device to determine the second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The second beam set is associated with the first time period. The end time of the second time unit is not later than the start time of the first time unit.

[0147] Accordingly, the communication method executed by the terminal device also includes the following steps:

[0148] A2. The terminal device receives third information in the second time unit within the first time period. The third information includes: a second reference signal. The third information is used by the terminal device to determine the second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The port index of the second reference signal is associated with the first time period. The end time of the second time unit is not later than the start time of the first time unit.

[0149] In other embodiments of this application, the communication method performed by the network device further includes the following steps:

[0150] B1. The network device sends fourth information to the terminal device based on the second beam set in the third time unit within the first time period. The fourth information includes: a second reference signal. The fourth information is used by the terminal device to determine the second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The second beam set is associated with the first time period. The end time of the first time unit is not later than the start time of the third time unit.

[0151] Accordingly, the communication method executed by the terminal device also includes the following steps:

[0152] B2. The terminal device receives fourth information in the third time unit within the first time period. The fourth information includes: a second reference signal. The fourth information is used by the terminal device to determine the second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The port index of the second reference signal is associated with the first time period. The end time of the first time unit is not later than the start time of the third time unit.

[0153] In the first time period, excluding the first time unit, the satellite continues to transmit reference or data signals using the second beamset to minimize the impact on terminal device services. For example, the satellite transmits a second reference signal based on the second beamset in the second time unit within the first time period, or the satellite transmits a second reference signal based on the second beamset in the third time unit within the first time period. The second time unit is the time unit before the first time unit, and the third time unit is the time unit after the first time unit. In other time units within the first time period (e.g., the second or third time unit), the satellite continues to transmit data signals using the second beamset, thus ensuring that the satellite can still provide services to terminal devices within the first time period, minimizing the impact on terminal device services.

[0154] Alternatively, in this embodiment of the application, the satellite transmits signals using at least two beam sets within a time period. These at least two beam sets include a beam set associated with that time period and beam sets associated with other time periods. For example, the satellite transmits signals using at least two beam sets within a first time period, which includes a second beam set associated with the first time period and a first beam set associated with a second time period.

[0155] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of the beam set used by the satellite in the first time period according to the embodiment of this application. Figure 6 takes the first time period as the nth hop beam cycle as an example, and the second time period as the (n+m)th time period as an example. The value of m is not limited; for example, the value of m can be 1, 2, 3, or 4. Figure 6 takes the first time period as an example where the second time unit, the first time unit, and the third time unit are sequentially included. The first time period consists of T time slots, the second time unit can be the 1st to (Tk)th time slot, the first time unit can be the (T-k+1)th time slot, and the third time unit can be the (T-k+2)th to Tth time slot. The satellite uses the second beam set to transmit the second reference signal in both the second and third time units within the first time period, and uses the first beam set to transmit the first reference signal in the first time unit.

[0156] Accordingly, the terminal device receives first information, including a first reference signal, in a first time unit within a first time period. The terminal device can also determine a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal based on the first information. The terminal device can measure the first reference signal to obtain a first measurement result, and then filter the first measurement result according to the first filter to obtain first channel information. The first channel information includes channel quality information, such as (or may be) Channel State Information (CSI) or Channel Quality Indicator (CQI). It should be understood that this channel information is obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter; therefore, this channel information is the channel information for the second time period. Essentially, the terminal device can obtain the channel information for the second time period within the first time period. Thus, the terminal device can report the first channel information to the satellite within the first time period, allowing the satellite to obtain the channel information for the second time period within the first time period. This is equivalent to the satellite knowing the channel information for the next time period in advance, thereby determining the MCS for the second time period based on this channel information, adjusting the MCS in a timely manner, reducing the bit error rate, and improving communication efficiency.

[0157] Optionally, the duration of the interval between the second time period and the first time period is related to the latency from the network device to the terminal device. For example, if the network device is a satellite, the duration of the interval between the second time period and the first time period is greater than or equal to the latency from the satellite to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can receive the first reference signal as early as possible. This allows the satellite to know the channel quality of the second time period as early as possible before the second time period, enabling the satellite to adjust the MCS in a timely manner and reduce the bit error rate. Assuming that there are multiple time periods whose intervals with the first time period are greater than or equal to the latency from the satellite to the terminal device, then the second time period can be the time period closest to the first time period among these multiple time periods, or in other words, the second time period is the time period shortest from the first time period among these multiple time periods.

[0158] The duration of the interval between the second time period and the first time period includes the duration between the start / end time of the second time period and the start / end time of the first time period. For ease of description, the following example uses the duration of the interval between the start time of the second time period and the first time period as the example.

[0159] For example, if the first time period includes 50 time slots and the time delay between the satellite and the terminal device is 10 time slots, then the first reference signal should be sent at least 10 time slots in advance. Correspondingly, the interval between the second time period and the first time period should be greater than or equal to 10 time slots. Therefore, the second time period can be the next time period after the first time period. For example, the first time period is the nth hop beam cycle, and the second time period is the (n+1)th hop beam cycle.

[0160] For example, if the first time period includes two time slots, and the time delay between the satellite and the terminal device is 10 time slots, then the first reference signal should be sent at least 10 time slots in advance. Correspondingly, the interval between the second time period and the first time period should be greater than 10 time slots. Therefore, the second time period can be the next time period after the first time period. For example, the first time period is the nth hop beam cycle, and the second time period is the (n+m)th hop beam cycle, where m can be 1, 2, 3, or 4.

[0161] Optionally, the duration of the interval between the first time unit and the second time period is related to the latency from the network device to the terminal device. For example, if the network device is a satellite, the duration of the interval between the first time unit and the second time period is greater than or equal to the latency from the satellite to the terminal device. Alternatively, the second time period and the first time unit can be determined based on the latency from the satellite to the terminal device. Based on the example shown in Figure 6, the first time unit is the (T-k+1)th time slot of the first time period, and the value of k can be determined based on the latency from the satellite to the terminal device. For example, the smaller k is, the earlier the satellite learns about the channel quality of the second time period. However, the smaller k is, the earlier the service transmission latency between the satellite and the terminal device is caused. In this embodiment, determining the reasonable position of the first time unit within the first time period based on the latency from the satellite to the terminal device can minimize the impact on normal service transmission.

[0162] In some embodiments of this application, the communication method performed by the network device further includes the following steps:

[0163] C1. The network device receives first indication information, which is used to indicate the correspondence between N time periods and K beam sets, where N and K are both positive integers, and the first beam set belongs to the K beam sets, and the first time period and the second time period belong to the N time periods.

[0164] In possible implementations, the correspondence / association / mapping relationship between each time period of the satellite and a beam set can be (pre-)configured. For example, the satellite receives the first indication information, which can be used to indicate the correspondence between N time periods and K beam sets, where N and K are both positive integers. A time period can correspond to one or more beam sets, and a beam set can correspond to one or more time periods. The N time periods can be all or part of the satellite's service time, and both the first and second time periods belong to the N time periods. It should be understood that the first beam set belongs to the K beam sets, and the second beam set belongs to the K beam sets.

[0165] It is understandable that if the satellite operates in transparent transmission mode, then the satellite receiving the first indication information actually means the satellite receives the first indication information from the ground gateway, and correspondingly, the gateway sends the first indication information back to the satellite. In this case, the gateway has some or all of the functions of a base station, and can be regarded as a base station. If the satellite operates in regenerative mode, the satellite can act as a base station, possessing some or all of the functions of a base station. The satellite receiving the first indication information is actually the satellite acquiring the first indication information.

[0166] Optionally, the correspondence between the N time periods and the K beam sets can also be determined according to a specific rule, which can be (pre)configured. For example, the specific rule is that the N time periods and the K beam sets correspond sequentially. For instance, if the N time periods are time period 1, time period 2, and time period 3, and the K beam sets are beam set 1 and beam set 2, then time period 1 corresponds to beam set 1, time period 2 corresponds to beam set 2, and time period 3 corresponds to beam set 1. In this case, the access network device does not need to send the first indication information; therefore, it is illustrated with dashed lines in Figure 5.

[0167] It should be noted that the embodiments of this application do not limit the method by which the satellite determines the correspondence between N time periods and K beam sets, as long as the satellite can know the beam set corresponding to each time period.

[0168] The satellite can determine the second beam set associated with the first time period and the first beam set associated with the second time period based on the correspondence between N time periods and K beam sets, so that the first time unit in the first time period can use the first beam set to transmit the first reference signal.

[0169] In some embodiments of this application, the communication method performed by the network device further includes the following steps:

[0170] D1. The network device receives the second indication information, which is used to indicate the first beam set.

[0171] The network device can also receive second indication information, which indicates a first beam set associated with a second time period. For example, if the network device is a satellite, the second indication information allows the satellite to clearly identify the first beam set associated with the second time period. Similar to the satellite receiving the first indication information, the satellite receiving the second indication information includes: the satellite receiving the second indication information from a ground gateway, or the satellite acquiring the second indication information.

[0172] Optionally, the second indication information also indicates a second time period to clarify that the first beam set is associated with the second time period.

[0173] The second indication information indicates the first beam set in the following ways, including but not limited to:

[0174] (1) The second indication information may include the index of the beams included in the first beam set.

[0175] The terminal device can obtain the index of the beams included in the first beam set through the second indication information. This indication method allows the terminal device to directly and easily determine the index of the beams included in the first beam set.

[0176] (2) The second indication information may indicate one of the K beam sets, which is the first beam set.

[0177] (3) The second indication information can indicate the port index of the first reference signal, and indirectly indicate the first beam set through the port index of the first reference signal.

[0178] For example, the time-domain resources corresponding to the port index of the first reference signal are associated with the second time period. The satellite can determine the second time period based on the port index of the first reference signal, and then determine the first beam set associated with the second time period based on the correspondence between N time periods and K beam sets. The association of the time-domain resources corresponding to the port index of the first reference signal with the second time period can be replaced with the statement that the time-domain resources corresponding to the port index of the first reference signal are the second time period.

[0179] It should be understood that sending the second indication information is not a mandatory step for the access network device. Optionally, the access network device may send both the first and second indication information.

[0180] 503. The terminal device sends the second information. Correspondingly, 504. The network device receives the second information.

[0181] The second information includes the first channel information, which is obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter.

[0182] The terminal device receives a first reference signal, measures the first reference signal to obtain a first measurement result, and then filters the first measurement result according to a first filter to obtain first channel information. This first channel information can be used to characterize the channel quality over a second time period; for example, it can be the reference signal receiving power (RSRP) of the first reference signal. The terminal device determines second information and can transmit this second information to the satellite. This second information includes the first channel information. The second information can be CQI (Critical Quality Index).

[0183] Understandably, the duration of the interval between the second and first time periods can be determined based on the latency between the satellite and the terminal device, ensuring that the satellite acquires the first channel information before the second time period. For example, the satellite may receive the second information within the first time period. In possible scenarios, the satellite may receive multiple channel information corresponding to multiple time periods within a single time period, potentially leading to misidentification of the channel information corresponding to each of these time periods. For instance, the satellite receives first and second channel information within the first time period, where the first channel information is associated with the second time period, and the second channel information is associated with the third time period. The satellite might mistakenly interpret the first channel information as channel information for the third time period.

[0184] To ensure the satellite clearly understands the time period corresponding to the acquired channel information, the terminal device can also report the corresponding time period when reporting the channel information to the satellite. For example, the second information can also indicate a second time period associated with the first channel information. The second information can directly or indirectly indicate the second time period.

[0185] In some embodiments of this application, the second information is used to indicate at least one of the following:

[0186] Second time period;

[0187] The first beam set associated with the second time period;

[0188] The first filter corresponding to the first reference signal;

[0189] Alternatively, the port index of the first reference signal, which corresponds to the first filter.

[0190] The second information also includes information about the second time period. For example, the second information includes the index of the second time period among N time periods, or the second information includes the start time and / or end time of the second time period.

[0191] For example, the second information includes information about the first beam set associated with the second time period. For instance, the second information includes an index of the first beam set, allowing the satellite to determine the second time period based on the correspondence between N time periods and K beam sets, as well as the first beam set.

[0192] For example, the second information includes the port index of the first reference signal. The satellite can determine the second time period based on the port index of the first reference signal. For instance, the port index of the first reference signal is associated with the second time period.

[0193] It should be noted that in some scenarios, the offset between the reception time of the channel information and the time period associated with that channel information is fixed. In this case, the satellite can determine the time period associated with the channel information based on the reception time of the channel information and the offset. For example, the satellite can determine the second time period based on the reception time of the second information / first channel information and the fixed offset. From this perspective, the second information may not necessarily indicate a second time period.

[0194] 505. The network device determines the modulation and coding strategy for the second time period based on the first channel information.

[0195] Network devices acquire first channel information and can determine the Mid-Size Corresponding (MCS) for the second time period based on this information. For example, if the first channel information indicates good channel quality in the second time period, the network device can increase the MCS; if the first channel information indicates poor channel quality in the second time period, the network device can decrease the MCS. By interacting with terminal devices in the first time period, the network device can know the channel information for the next time period (i.e., the second time period) in advance, and thus determine the MCS for that time period based on this channel information. This achieves timely adjustment of the MCS, reduces the bit error rate, and improves communication efficiency.

[0196] The methods provided in this application are described above using network devices and terminal devices as examples. In this application, each embodiment can be implemented independently or in combination based on certain inherent connections; in each embodiment, different implementation methods can be implemented in combination or independently. To achieve the functions in the methods provided in the above embodiments, the steps executed by the terminal device can be implemented by the terminal device itself, or by different functional entities constituting the terminal device. The steps executed by the network device can be implemented by the satellite itself, or by different functional entities constituting the satellite. To achieve the functions in the methods provided in the above embodiments, the terminal device, access network device, and satellite can include hardware structures and / or software modules, implementing the above functions in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules. Whether a particular function is executed in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0197] As illustrated by the foregoing examples, a network device can configure K filters for a terminal device. Each of the K beam sets corresponds one-to-one with a single filter. The network device uses a first beam set to transmit a first reference signal. Based on the one-to-one correspondence between the K beam sets and the K filters, the network device can also instruct the terminal device to use the first filter corresponding to the first reference signal. This allows the terminal device to filter the measurement results obtained using the first reference signal according to the first filter indicated by the network device, thereby obtaining the first channel information. The terminal device can also report the first channel information to the network device, enabling the network device to obtain the channel information for the second time period in advance. This facilitates timely adjustment of the MCS by the network device, reducing the bit error rate and improving communication efficiency.

[0198] The following describes the embodiments of this application using the communication system architecture shown in the foregoing examples, combined with detailed application scenarios, with satellites as network devices and UEs as terminal devices.

[0199] In one implementation scenario of this application, the communication method provided in this embodiment mainly includes:

[0200] Step S01. The satellite divides the service time into N time periods, each time period includes T slots. The satellite is configured with a total of K multibeam patterns. In each time period, the satellite uses one multibeam pattern to provide services to a portion of the ground positions or UEs. The multibeam patterns used in different time periods may be different.

[0201] Step S02. The satellite configures K types of filters for the UE, and each filter is associated with a multi-beam pattern.

[0202] Step S03. In one or more time slots of the nth time period, the satellite transmits a first CSI-RS to the UE using the first multibeam pattern of the nth time period, and indicates to the UE the correspondence between the first CSI-RS and the first filter. In another one or more time slots of the nth time period, the satellite transmits a second CSI-RS to the UE using the second multibeam pattern of the (n+m)th time period, and indicates to the UE the correspondence between the second CSI-RS and the second filter, where m can be 1, 2, 3, or 4.

[0203] Step S04. In one or more time slots of the nth time period, after the UE receives the first CSI-RS, it obtains the first measurement result and uses the first filter to obtain the first filtering result. That is, the UE sends the first measurement result obtained using the first multi-beam pattern into the first filter and reports the first filtering result and the first filter associated with the first filtering result to the satellite.

[0204] In one or more time slots during the nth time period, after the UE receives the second CSI-RS, it obtains the second measurement result. The second measurement result is then filtered using the second filter to obtain the second filtered result. In other words, the UE inputs the second measurement result obtained using the second multi-beam pattern into the second filter and reports the second filtered result, as well as the second filter associated with the second filtered result, to the satellite.

[0205] Step S05. The satellite receives the first filtering result, determines the first filter corresponding to the first filtering result, and then determines the first multi-beam pattern. The satellite receives the second filtering result, determines the second filter corresponding to the second filtering result, and then determines the second multi-beam pattern. When using the second multi-beam pattern, the satellite determines the MCS based on the second filtering result.

[0206] As illustrated above, filters are associated with multi-beam patterns. The satellite can indicate the correspondence between CSI-RS and filters to the UE, and the UE reports back the CSI-RS and the associated filters. By interacting with the UE in the first time period, the satellite can know the channel information for the next time period (i.e., the second time period) in advance. Based on this channel information, the MCS for that time period can be determined, achieving timely adjustment of the MCS, reducing the bit error rate, and improving communication efficiency.

[0207] In another implementation scenario of this application, the communication method provided in this embodiment mainly includes:

[0208] Step S11. The satellite divides the service time into N time periods, each time period includes T time slots. The satellite is configured with a total of K multibeam patterns. The satellite uses one multibeam pattern to provide services to some ground positions or UEs. The multibeam pattern used in different time periods may be different.

[0209] Step S12. The satellite configures K types of filters for the UE, and each filter is associated with a multi-beam pattern.

[0210] Step S13. The satellite configures K port indices for CSI-RS for the UE. Each CSI-RS port index is associated with a filter, and each CSI-RS is also associated with a multi-beam pattern.

[0211] Step S14. In one or more time slots of the nth time period, the satellite transmits the first CSI-RS to the UE using the first multibeam pattern of the nth time period on the port index of the first CSI-RS. In another one or more time slots of the nth time period, the satellite transmits the second CSI-RS to the UE using the second multibeam pattern of the n+mth time period on the port index of the second CSI-RS, where m can be 1, 2, 3, or 4.

[0212] Step S15. In one or more time slots of the nth time period, after receiving the first CSI-RS, the UE obtains the first measurement result, applies the first filter to the first measurement result to obtain the first filtered result, and reports the first filtered result and the port index of the first CSI-RS to the satellite. In another one or more time slots of the nth time period, the UE receives the second CSI-RS, obtains the second measurement result, applies the second filter to the second measurement result to obtain the second filtered result, and reports the second filtered result and the port index of the second CSI-RS to the satellite.

[0213] Step S16. The satellite receives the first filtering result, determines the first filter corresponding to the first filtering result, and then determines the first multi-beam pattern. The satellite receives the second filtering result, determines the second filter corresponding to the second filtering result, and then determines the second multi-beam pattern. When using the second multi-beam pattern, the satellite determines the modulation and coding scheme based on the second filtering result.

[0214] As illustrated above, filters are associated with multi-beam patterns. The satellite can indicate the correspondence between CSI-RS and filters to the UE. The UE reports and feeds back the CSI-RS, implicitly indicating the filters through the CSI-RS. By interacting with the UE in the first time period, the satellite can know the channel information for the next time period (i.e., the second time period) in advance. Based on this channel information, the MCS for that time period can be determined, achieving timely adjustment of the MCS, reducing the bit error rate, and improving communication efficiency.

[0215] Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiments, this application provides a communication device. The communication device used to implement the above method in the embodiments of this application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The content above can be used in subsequent embodiments, and repeated content will not be repeated.

[0216] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the described order of actions, as some steps may be performed in other orders or simultaneously according to this application. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to this application.

[0217] To facilitate better implementation of the above-described solutions in the embodiments of this application, related apparatus for implementing the above-described solutions is also provided below.

[0218] Please refer to Figure 7. A communication device 700 provided in this application embodiment may include: a transmitting module 701, a receiving module 702, and a processing module 703.

[0219] Optionally, the communication device can be a terminal device or a network device as shown in Figure 5. The function of the processing module 703 can be found in the method flow executed by the terminal device and the network device in Figure 5. The processing module can control the sending module to perform corresponding sending operations, control the receiving module to perform corresponding receiving operations, and determine whether the conditions for triggering a sending operation and a receiving operation are met.

[0220] Specifically, this application also provides a communication device, which is a terminal device, and the communication device includes:

[0221] A receiving module is configured to receive first information within a first time unit in a first time period. The first information includes: a first reference signal. The first information is used by the terminal device to determine a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal. The port index of the first reference signal is associated with a second time period. The end time of the first time period is not later than the start time of the second time period. The first filter belongs to K filters. The K filters correspond one-to-one with K beam sets. K is a positive integer.

[0222] The transmitting module is used to transmit second information, the second information including first channel information, the first channel information being obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter.

[0223] In other embodiments of this application, a communication device is also provided, specifically a network device, comprising:

[0224] The transmitting module is used to transmit first information to a terminal device based on a first time unit within a first time period of a first beam set. The first information includes: a first reference signal. The first information is used by the terminal device to determine a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal. The first beam set is associated with a second time period. The end time of the first time period is not later than the start time of the second time period. The first filter belongs to K filters. The first beam set belongs to K beam sets. The K beam sets correspond one-to-one with the K filters. K is a positive integer.

[0225] A receiving module is configured to receive second information, the second information including first channel information, the first channel information being obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter;

[0226] The processing module is used to determine the modulation and coding strategy (MCS) for the second time period based on the first channel information.

[0227] It should be noted that the information interaction and execution process between the modules / units of the above-mentioned device are based on the same concept as the method embodiments of this application, and the resulting technical effects are the same as those of the method embodiments of this application. The details can be found in the descriptions of the method embodiments shown above in this application, and will not be repeated here.

[0228] In this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. In the various embodiments of this application, and the various methods / designs / implementations within each embodiment, unless otherwise specified or logically conflicting, the terminology and / or descriptions between different embodiments and between the various methods / designs / implementations within each embodiment are consistent and can be mutually referenced. The technical features in different embodiments and the various methods / designs / implementations within each embodiment can be combined to form new embodiments, methods, or implementations according to their inherent logical relationships. The following descriptions of the embodiments of this application do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application. This application also provides a computer storage medium, wherein the computer storage medium stores a program that performs some or all of the steps described in the above method embodiments.

[0229] Next, another communication device provided in the embodiments of this application will be introduced. Please refer to FIG8. The communication device 800 includes:

[0230] The communication device 800 includes a receiver 801, a transmitter 802, a processor 803, and a memory 804 (the number of processors 803 in the communication device 800 can be one or more; Figure 8 shows an example of one processor). In some embodiments of this application, the receiver 801, transmitter 802, processor 803, and memory 804 can be connected via a bus or other means; Figure 8 shows an example of connection via a bus.

[0231] Memory 804 may include read-only memory and random access memory, and provides instructions and data to processor 803. A portion of memory 804 may also include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). Memory 804 stores operating systems and operating instructions, executable modules, or data structures, or subsets thereof, or extended sets thereof. The operating instructions may include various operating instructions for implementing various operations. The operating system may include various system programs for implementing various basic business functions and handling hardware-based tasks.

[0232] Processor 803 controls the operation of the communication device; processor 803 can also be called a central processing unit (CPU). Optionally, in practical applications, the various components of the communication device are coupled together through a bus system, which may include not only a data bus but also a power bus, control bus, and status signal bus, etc. However, for clarity, all buses are referred to as a bus system in the figure.

[0233] The methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be applied to or implemented by processor 803. Processor 803 can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above methods can be completed by the integrated logic circuits in the hardware of processor 803 or by instructions in software form. Processor 803 can be a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly embodied in the execution of a hardware decoding processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules can be located in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. The storage medium is located in memory 804. Processor 803 reads the information in memory 804 and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method.

[0234] The receiver 801 can be used to receive input digital or character information and generate signal inputs related to the settings and function control of the communication device. The transmitter 802 may include a display device such as a display screen and can be used to output digital or character information through an external interface.

[0235] In this embodiment, processor 803 is used to execute the method flow executed by the terminal device and network device in FIG5.

[0236] In another possible design, when the communication device is a chip within a terminal device or network device, the chip includes a processing unit and a communication unit. The processing unit may be, for example, a processor, and the communication unit may be, for example, an input / output interface, pins, or circuitry. The processing unit can execute computer-executable instructions stored in a storage unit to cause the chip within the terminal to perform the method described in either the first or second aspect above. Optionally, the storage unit may be an internal storage unit within the chip, such as a register or cache. Alternatively, the storage unit may be an external storage unit within the terminal, such as read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices capable of storing static information and instructions, such as random access memory (RAM).

[0237] The processor mentioned above can be a general-purpose central processing unit, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits used to control the execution of programs for the above communication methods.

[0238] It should also be noted that the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. In addition, in the device embodiment drawings provided in this application, the connection relationship between modules indicates that they have a communication connection, which can optionally be implemented as one or more communication buses or signal lines.

[0239] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that this application can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware, or it can be implemented by special-purpose hardware including application-specific integrated circuits, special-purpose CPUs, special-purpose memory, special-purpose components, etc. Generally, any function performed by a computer program can be easily implemented by corresponding hardware, and the hardware structure used to implement the same function can also be diverse, such as analog circuits, digital circuits, or special-purpose circuits. However, for this application, software program implementation is more often the preferred implementation method. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a readable storage medium, such as a computer floppy disk, USB flash drive, mobile hard disk, ROM, RAM, magnetic disk, or optical disk, etc., and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in the various embodiments of this application.

[0240] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product.

[0241] The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can store or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state disk (SSD)).

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applied to a terminal device, and the method includes: The terminal device receives first information in a first time unit within a first time period. The first information includes: a first reference signal. The first information is used to determine the first filter corresponding to the first reference signal. The port index of the first reference signal is associated with a second time period. The end time of the first time period is not later than the start time of the second time period. The first filter belongs to K filters. The K filters correspond one-to-one with K beam sets. K is a positive integer. Send a second message, the second message including a first channel information, the first channel information being obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The third information is received in a second time unit within the first time period. The third information includes a second reference signal. The third information is used by the terminal device to determine a second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The port index of the second reference signal is associated with the first time period. The end time of the second time unit is not later than the start time of the first time unit.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The terminal device receives fourth information in a third time unit within the first time period. The fourth information includes a second reference signal. The fourth information is used to determine a second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The port index of the second reference signal is associated with the first time period. The end time of the first time unit is not later than the start time of the third time unit.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The duration of the interval between the second time period and the first time period is related to the latency from the network device to the terminal device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the first filter.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the port index of the first reference signal, which corresponds to the first filter.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The second information is used to indicate at least one of the following: The second time period; The first beam set associated with the second time period; The first filter corresponding to the first reference signal; Alternatively, the port index of the first reference signal corresponds to the port index of the first filter.

8. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applied to a network device, and the method includes: Based on a first beam set, a first information is sent to a terminal device within a first time unit of a first time period. The first information includes: a first reference signal. The first information is used by the terminal device to determine a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal. The first beam set is associated with a second time period. The end time of the first time period is not later than the start time of the second time period. The first filter belongs to K filters. The first beam set belongs to K beam sets. The K beam sets correspond one-to-one with the K filters. K is a positive integer. Receive second information, the second information including first channel information, the first channel information being obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter; The modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the second time period is determined based on the first channel information.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: The terminal device sends third information based on the second beam set in a second time unit within the first time period. The third information includes a second reference signal. The third information is used by the terminal device to determine the second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The second beam set is associated with the first time period. The end time of the second time unit is not later than the start time of the first time unit.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the second beam set, a fourth information is sent to the terminal device in a third time unit within the first time period. The fourth information includes a second reference signal. The fourth information is used by the terminal device to determine a second filter corresponding to the second reference signal. The second beam set is associated with the first time period, and the end time of the first time unit is not later than the start time of the third time unit.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, The duration of the interval between the second time period and the first time period is related to the latency from the network device to the terminal device.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first indication information, which is used to indicate the correspondence between N time periods and K beam sets, where N and K are both positive integers, and the first beam set belongs to the K beam sets, and the first time period and the second time period belong to the N time periods.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive second indication information, which is used to indicate the first beam set.

14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the first filter.

15. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the port index of the first reference signal, which corresponds to the first filter.

16. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that, The second information is used to indicate at least one of the following: The second time period; The first beam set associated with the second time period; The first filter corresponding to the first reference signal; Alternatively, the port index of the first reference signal corresponds to the port index of the first filter.

17. A communication system, characterized in that, The communication system includes: network equipment and terminal equipment; The network device is configured to send first information to a terminal device based on a first time unit within a first time period of a first beam set. The first information includes: a first reference signal. The first information is used by the terminal device to determine a first filter corresponding to the first reference signal. The first beam set is associated with a second time period. The end time of the first time period is not later than the start time of the second time period. The first filter belongs to K filters. The first beam set belongs to K beam sets. The K beam sets correspond one-to-one with the K filters. K is a positive integer. The terminal device is used to send second information, the second information including first channel information, the first channel information being obtained based on the first reference signal and the first filter; The network device is further configured to determine the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the second time period based on the first channel information.

18. A communication device comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 16.

20. A computer program product comprising instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 16.

21. A chip or chip system, characterized in that, The device includes one or more interface circuits and one or more processors; the interface circuits are configured to receive signals from the memory of an electronic device and send the signals to the processors, the signals including computer instructions stored in the memory; when the processor executes the computer instructions, the electronic device performs the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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