Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure are a communication method and apparatus. In the method, a network apparatus sends first information, wherein the first information is configured to indicate that channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges is predicted on the basis of reference signal measurement results corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, each second frequency range being different from each first frequency range; and a terminal apparatus sends second information on the basis of the first information, wherein the second information is configured to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges among the one or more second frequency ranges, or is configured to indicate M second frequency ranges among the one or more second frequency ranges, N and M being less than or equal to the total number of the one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M being positive integers. The method can predict, on the basis of the reference signal measurement results corresponding to the first frequency ranges, the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency ranges different from the first frequency ranges.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] This disclosure claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310547318.0, filed on May 15, 2023, entitled “A Communication Method and Apparatus”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0003] In communication systems, channel state information (CSI) helps the transmitter determine the data transmission method to improve data transmission quality. In one approach, the transmitter sends a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS), and the receiver measures the received CSI-RS to obtain the CSI and feeds it back to the transmitter. It is evident that this process incurs CSI-RS overhead in order to obtain the CSI. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a communication method and apparatus that can predict channel state information corresponding to other frequency ranges that are different from the frequency range of the resources transmitting the reference signal by using measurement results obtained from measuring the reference signal, thereby reducing CSI-RS overhead.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method. The method includes: a terminal device receiving first information, the first information indicating channel state information predicted based on reference signal measurement results corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges. Based on the first information, the terminal device sends second information, the second information indicating channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges within the one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information indicating M second frequency ranges within the one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of the one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0006] As can be seen, this method can predict the channel state information corresponding to a second frequency range, which is different from the first frequency range, based on the measurement results of the reference signal transmitted on the resources of the first frequency range. Compared with the method of measuring the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range based on the reference signal transmitted on the resources of the second frequency range, this method can reduce the overhead of transmitting the reference signal on the resources of the second frequency range. Furthermore, this method also helps to select the frequency range to be switched for data transmission based on the predicted channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range, which is beneficial to improving communication quality.

[0007] In one optional implementation, the first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within a first frequency band, where the first frequency band is the frequency range of the first cell.

[0008] It is evident that the first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within the same cell's frequency range. Based on the above scheme, it is possible to predict channel state information corresponding to different frequency ranges belonging to the same cell as the first frequency range based on the measurement results of the reference signal transmitted on the resources of the first frequency range, thereby reducing reference signal overhead.

[0009] In one optional implementation, the first frequency range is located within a first frequency band, and the second frequency range is located within a second frequency band; the first frequency band is the frequency range of a first cell, the second frequency band is the frequency range of a second cell, and the first cell and the second cell are different cells.

[0010] It is evident that the first frequency range and the second frequency range lie within the frequency ranges of different cells. Based on the above scheme, it is possible to predict channel state information corresponding to frequency ranges belonging to different cells from the first frequency range based on the measurement results of reference signals transmitted on resources within the first frequency range, thereby reducing reference signal overhead.

[0011] In one alternative implementation, the first information includes identifiers of one or more second frequency ranges. This implementation facilitates the terminal device in determining the predicted one or more second frequency ranges.

[0012] In one optional implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device receiving third information, the third information being used to indicate the reporting granularity of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges, the reporting granularity being wideband or subband.

[0013] Based on the above scheme, in the case where the second information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges, the terminal device can determine the granularity of the channel state information corresponding to the N second frequency ranges in the second information according to the reporting granularity indicated by the third information. Specifically, if the reporting granularity is wideband, the granularity of the channel state information corresponding to the N second frequency ranges in the second information is wideband, which saves the overhead of the second information. If the reporting granularity is subband, the granularity of the channel state information corresponding to the N second frequency ranges in the second information is subband, which improves the accuracy of the reported channel state information corresponding to the second frequency ranges.

[0014] In one optional implementation, the second frequency range includes one or more sub-bands; the method further includes: the terminal device receiving fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate one or more sub-bands used for reporting channel state information.

[0015] In one optional implementation, the first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, including: the first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information of one or more second frequency ranges in one or more time units based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges.

[0016] Based on the above scheme, it is possible to predict the channel state information corresponding to a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range based on the measurement results of the reference signal transmitted on the resources of the first frequency range. The predicted channel state information includes the channel state information of the second frequency range in one or more time units, which can reduce the overhead of transmitting the reference signal on the resources of the second frequency range for one or more time units.

[0017] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device receiving fifth information, which further includes one or more of the following: the time interval between a reference time unit and the earliest time unit among one or more time units, the number of one or more time units, or the time interval between adjacent time units among multiple time units. The reference time unit is the time unit in which the terminal device sends the second information, or the reference time unit is the time unit in which the terminal device receives the last reference signal. This approach helps the terminal device determine in which time units the predicted second frequency range falls within the channel state information. This, in turn, aligns the time-domain understanding of the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range reported by the terminal device and the network device. Furthermore, based on the above scheme, channel state information in time units other than those indicated by the fifth information within the second frequency range can be omitted from prediction, reducing computational complexity.

[0018] In one alternative implementation, the second information further indicates a first parameter, which is used for selecting M second frequency ranges; wherein the second information indicates M second frequency ranges.

[0019] Based on the above scheme, it is beneficial for the network device to determine the selection criteria of the M second frequency ranges indicated by the second information, and it helps the network device to select the frequency range to be switched for data transmission based on the first parameter and the M second frequency ranges indicated by the second information, thereby improving communication quality.

[0020] In one optional implementation, the terminal device sends second information, including: the terminal device sends second information based on the priority of sixth information. Wherein, the sixth information is the second information; or, the sixth information includes the second information and a seventh information, the seventh information being used to indicate channel state information corresponding to X first frequency ranges in one or more first frequency ranges, where X is a positive integer, and X is less than or equal to the total number of one or more first frequency ranges.

[0021] In one optional implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device determining the priority of the sixth information based on the index of the first cell and / or the index of the second cell, wherein the first cell is a cell corresponding to a first frequency range and the second cell is a cell corresponding to a second frequency range.

[0022] Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method. The method includes: a network device sending first information; the first information indicating channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges predicted based on measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges. The network device receiving second information, the second information indicating channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges among the one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information indicating M second frequency ranges among the one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of the one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0023] In one optional implementation, the first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within a first frequency band, where the first frequency band is the frequency range of the first cell.

[0024] In one optional implementation, the first frequency range is located within a first frequency band, and the second frequency range is located within a second frequency band; the first frequency band is the frequency range of a first cell, the second frequency band is the frequency range of a second cell, and the first cell and the second cell are different cells.

[0025] In one alternative implementation, the first information includes identifiers of one or more second frequency ranges.

[0026] In one optional implementation, the method further includes: the network device sending third information, the third information being used to indicate the reporting granularity of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges, the reporting granularity being wideband or subband.

[0027] In one alternative implementation, the second frequency range includes one or more sub-bands; the method further includes: the network device transmitting fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate one or more sub-bands for reporting channel state information.

[0028] In one optional implementation, the first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, including: the first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information of one or more second frequency ranges in one or more time units based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges.

[0029] In one optional implementation, the method further includes: the network device sending fifth information, the fifth information further including one or more of the following: the time interval between a reference time unit and the earliest time unit among one or more time units, the number of one or more time units, or the time interval between adjacent time units among multiple time units. The reference time unit is the time unit in which the terminal device sends the second information, or the reference time unit is the time unit in which the terminal device receives the last reference signal.

[0030] In one alternative implementation, the second information further indicates a first parameter, which is used for selecting M second frequency ranges; wherein the second information indicates M second frequency ranges.

[0031] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device, the communication device comprising:

[0032] A communication unit is used to receive first information, which is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, wherein the second frequency ranges are different from the first frequency ranges.

[0033] The communication unit is also configured to send second information based on the first information. The second information is used to indicate channel status information corresponding to N second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0034] In addition, other alternative implementations of the communication device in this regard can be found in the relevant content of the first aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0035] Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device, the communication device comprising:

[0036] A communication unit is used to transmit first information; the first information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges.

[0037] The communication unit is also used to receive second information, which indicates channel status information corresponding to N second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information indicates M second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0038] In addition, other alternative implementations of the communication device in this regard can be found in the relevant content of the second aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0039] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device, which includes a memory and a processor; optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface.

[0040] Memory, used to store computer programs;

[0041] A communication interface used to receive or send data;

[0042] A processor is used to call program instructions stored in memory.

[0043] In one alternative implementation, the processor invokes a computer program to perform the following operations:

[0044] Receive first information, which indicates the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on reference signal measurement results corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, wherein the second frequency ranges are different from the first frequency ranges. Based on the first information, send second information, which indicates the channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, or indicates M second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0045] In addition, other optional implementations of the communication device in this manner can be found in the relevant content of the first aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0046] In another alternative implementation, the processor invokes a computer program to perform the following operations:

[0047] Send first information; the first information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges. Receive second information, the second information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0048] In addition, other optional implementations of the communication device in this manner can be found in the relevant content of the second aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0049] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a chip, the chip including a processor and a communication interface, the communication interface being used to receive or transmit data.

[0050] In one alternative implementation, the processor is configured to cause the chip to perform:

[0051] Receive first information, which indicates the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on reference signal measurement results corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, wherein the second frequency ranges are different from the first frequency ranges. Based on the first information, send second information, which indicates the channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, or indicates M second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0052] In addition, other optional implementation methods of the chip in this approach can be found in the relevant content of the first aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0053] In another alternative implementation, the processor is configured to cause the chip to perform:

[0054] Send first information; the first information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges. Receive second information, the second information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0055] In addition, other optional implementation methods of the chip in this approach can be found in the relevant content of the second aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0056] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a module device, the module device including a communication module, a power module, a storage module, and a chip, wherein:

[0057] The power module is used to provide electrical energy to the module device;

[0058] The storage module is used to store data and instructions;

[0059] The communication module is used for internal communication within the module device, or for communication between the module device and external devices.

[0060] The chip is used to perform the method described in the first or second aspect above.

[0061] Eighthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium for storing computer software instructions used by the aforementioned terminal, including a program for executing the methods described in the first or second aspect.

[0062] In a ninth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a computer program product, which, when run on a processor, enables the implementation of the method flow described in the first or second aspect above.

[0063] The beneficial effects of any of the second to ninth aspects can be referenced from the beneficial effects of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

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

[0065] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0066] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of adjacent time units in multiple time units provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0067] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0068] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0069] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a module device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0070] The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0071] In this disclosure, the terms "first" and "second," etc., are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. "First" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of some embodiments of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0072] Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the steps or units listed, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0073] It should be understood that in this disclosure, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0074] In this disclosure, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this disclosure should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of terms such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner to facilitate understanding.

[0075] First, the system architecture involved in the embodiments of this disclosure will be introduced:

[0076] This disclosure is applicable to 5th generation mobile communication (5G) systems, as well as 4th generation mobile communication (4G) systems, 3rd generation mobile communication (3G) systems, and various future new communication systems, such as 6th generation (6G) mobile communication and 7th generation (7G) mobile communication, etc., and the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0077] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The solution in this disclosure is applicable to this communication system, which may include, but is not limited to, a network device and a terminal device. The number and configuration of devices shown in Figure 1 are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this disclosure. In practical applications, it may include more than one network device and more than one terminal device. The communication system shown in Figure 1 is illustrated using one network device and one terminal device as an example. In the embodiments of this disclosure, the communication system may also include other devices that communicate with the network device or the terminal device, and this disclosure does not impose any limitations.

[0078] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the network device may be a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, or a chip, module / unit, or modular device that can be disposed in the device. For example, the network device may be a base station (BS), also known as a base station device, which is a device deployed in a wireless access network (RAN) to provide wireless communication capabilities. For example, in second-generation mobile communication (2G) networks, devices providing base station capabilities include base transceiver stations (BTS). In 3G networks, devices providing base station capabilities include NodeBs (NodeBs). In 4G networks, devices providing base station capabilities include evolved NodeBs (eNBs). In wireless local area networks (WLANs), devices providing base station capabilities are access points (APs). The 5G new radio (NR) system includes a gNB (ggle node) providing base station functionality and an evolved Node B (ng-eNB). The gNB communicates with terminal devices using NR technology, while the ng-eNB communicates with terminals using evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) technology. Both the gNB and ng-eNB can connect to the 5G core network. The base station in this embodiment also includes equipment providing base station functionality in future new communication systems, such as a base station in a 6G mobile communication system.

[0079] Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablet personal computers, laptop computers (also known as notebook computers), personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, netbooks, ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs), mobile internet devices (MIDs), augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) devices, robots, wearable devices, vehicle user equipment (VUEs), pedestrian user equipment (PUEs), smart home devices (home appliances with wireless communication capabilities, such as refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, or furniture), game consoles, personal computers (PCs), ATMs, or self-service machines, etc. Wearable devices include: smartwatches, smart bracelets, smart headphones, smart glasses, smart jewelry (smart bracelets, smart chains, smart rings, smart necklaces, smart anklets, smart anklets, etc.), smart wristbands, smart clothing, etc. It should be noted that the specific type of terminal is not limited in the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0080] The relevant concepts involved in the embodiments of this disclosure will be explained below.

[0081] 1. Channel State Information (CSI)

[0082] In wireless communication technology, the transmitting end can use detected wireless channel information to assist data transmission, and it can also use information such as interference experienced by the receiving end to assist data transmission. For example, wireless channel information can be path loss information. Furthermore, wireless channel information includes accurate channel amplitude and phase information in the time, frequency, and spatial domains.

[0083] Channel Indicator (CSI) can characterize the channel state of a wireless channel, including information about the wireless channel and / or interference experienced by the receiver. CSI can be used by the transmitter to determine the data transmission method. For example, after obtaining the CSI, the transmitter can determine the rank, precoding matrix, modulation and coding scheme (MCS), etc., for data transmission to achieve adaptive transmission matched to the channel and obtain the performance gain brought by precoding. Therefore, CSI can affect data transmission performance.

[0084] For example, the sending end can be a network device, and the receiving end can be a terminal device.

[0085] In one approach, for downlink transmission, the network device transmits channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) on predefined resources. The terminal device measures the precoded channel matrix and interference information based on the received CSI-RS and the corresponding interference measurement resources, and calculates the optimal rank and MCS. For example, the optimal rank is the largest rank that can be used while satisfying a certain bit error rate (e.g., 10%). The optimal MCS is expressed as the largest modulation order that can be used while satisfying a certain bit error rate (e.g., 10%).

[0086] The terminal device sends a CSI to the network device. The CSI may carry a rank indication (RI) for indicating rank information, a pre-coding matrix indication (PMI) for indicating rank information, and a channel quality indicator (CQI) for indicating the channel saturation control (MCS). The network device can sense the downlink channel quality based on the CSI reported by the terminal device and then dynamically adjust the downlink scheduling to assist downlink transmission.

[0087] 2. CSI Framework

[0088] The network device is based on the CSI framework and is configured with resources for transmitting CSI-RS and for CSI reporting. The CSI framework includes resource settings and reporting settings. Resource settings are used to configure the reference signals for calculating CSI, and reporting settings are used to configure the behavior for reporting CSI.

[0089] In the CSI framework, report configuration is primarily accomplished through the CSI report configuration (CSI-ReportConfig) information element (IE) within the radio resource control (RRC) signaling. Resource configuration is mainly achieved through the CSI resource configuration (CSI-ResourceConfig) information element (CSI-ResourceConfig IE) within the RRC signaling.

[0090] A CSI-ReportConfig contains / is associated with one or more CSI-ResourceConfigs. The CSI reporting behavior configured in the CSI-ReportConfig applies to: CSI reporting obtained from channel measurements and / or interference measurements based on the resource configuration for channel measurements and / or interference measurements indicated by the CSI-ResourceConfig contained / associated with the CSI-ReportConfig.

[0091] In addition, CSI-ReportConfig includes one or more of the following: codebook configuration, time-domain behavior, CQI and PMI reporting granularity, measurement constraint configuration, and CSI-related indications reported by the terminal device. Codebook configuration includes: Type I codebook, Type II codebook or enhanced Type II codebook, and a subset of codebook constraints. Time-domain behavior includes: Periodic, semi-persistentOnPUCCH based on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), semi-persistentOnPUSCH based on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), and aperiodic. CQI and PMI reporting granularity includes: wideband and subband. Measurement constraint configuration includes constraints on channel measurements and constraints on interference measurements. The CSI-related indications reported by the terminal device include: CQI, PMI, CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI), SS / PBCH block resource indicator (SSBRI), layer indicator (LI), RI, layer-1 reference signal receiving power (L1-RSRP), or layer-1 signal to interference plus noise ratio (L1-SINR), and other related configuration parameters. Among these, the SS / PBCH block is the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block.

[0092] CSI-ResourceConfig includes resource set configuration (csi-RS-ResourceSetList), bandwidth part (BWP) configuration (including BWP ID), resource type, etc.

[0093] If one CSI-ResourceConfig is configured, then the CSI-ResourceConfig is used for channel measurements in L1-RSRP calculation, or for channel and interference measurements in L1-SINR calculation, as indicated by the following higher-level parameter "resourcesForChannelMeasurement".

[0094] If two CSI-ResourceConfigs are configured, one CSI-ResourceConfig is used for channel measurements, indicated by the higher-layer parameter resourcesForChannelMeasurement. The other CSI-ResourceConfig is used for interference measurements based on CSI interference measurement (CSI-IM), indicated by the higher-layer parameter "CSI Interference Measurement Resources (csi-IM-ResourcesForInterference)"; or, the other CSI-ResourceConfig is used for interference measurements based on non-zero-power (NZP) CSI-RS, indicated by the higher-layer parameter "NZP-CSI-RS Interference Resources (nzp-CSI-RS-ResourcesForInterference)".

[0095] If three CSI-ResourceConfigs are configured, one resource configuration is used for channel measurements, indicated by the higher-layer parameter resourcesForChannelMeasurement. Another resource configuration is used for CSI-IM-based interference measurements, indicated by the higher-layer parameter csi-IM-ResourcesForInterference. A third resource configuration is used for NZP-CSI-RS-based interference measurements, indicated by the higher-layer parameter nzp-CSI-RS-ResourcesForInterference.

[0096] This disclosure provides a communication method capable of predicting channel state information corresponding to frequencies different from the frequencies at which channel state information is measured via a reference signal.

[0097] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0098] Please refer to Figure 2, which is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. This communication method uses a network device and a terminal device as examples to illustrate the corresponding method, but this disclosure does not limit the executing entity of the method. For example, the device in the method can also be a chip or software that supports the implementation of the corresponding method. The communication method includes the following steps.

[0099] S101, the network device sends first information; correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first information. The first information is used to instruct the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on reference signal measurement results corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, wherein the second frequency ranges are different from the first frequency ranges.

[0100] The second frequency range is different from the first frequency range, which can be understood as: the second frequency range is partially or completely different from the first frequency range.

[0101] Furthermore, the reference signal measurement result corresponding to the first frequency range can be understood as: the measurement result obtained by measuring the reference signal transmitted on the resources of the first frequency range. The reference signal measurement result corresponding to the first frequency range can also be used to determine the channel state information corresponding to the first frequency range, which can characterize the channel state on the resources of the first frequency range. In this embodiment of the disclosure, the reference signal may be CSI-RS, but this embodiment of the disclosure does not limit the type of reference signal.

[0102] The channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range can be understood as: information that can characterize the channel state on the resources of the second frequency range.

[0103] S102. The terminal device sends the second information based on the first information; correspondingly, the network device receives the second information.

[0104] The second information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0105] Optionally, the terminal device sends the second information based on the first information. This can be understood as follows: after receiving the first information, the terminal device obtains channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges and sends the second information.

[0106] For example, the terminal device predicts the channel state corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, and obtains channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges.

[0107] For example, another device other than the terminal device and the network device (e.g., a server) predicts the channel state corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, obtains channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges, and sends the channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges to the terminal device.

[0108] Additionally, for example, consider the prediction of channel states corresponding to a second frequency range by a terminal device. The terminal device can directly predict the channel states corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges. Alternatively, the terminal device can determine channel state information corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges based on measurement results of reference signals in one or more first frequency ranges, and predict the channel states corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the channel state information of the one or more first frequency ranges. Furthermore, the prediction of channel states corresponding to a second frequency range by other devices is similar and will not be described further.

[0109] The optional implementation methods of the communication method provided in this disclosure are described below.

[0110] In one optional implementation, the first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within a first frequency band, which is the frequency range of the first cell. Therefore, the first frequency range and the second frequency range can be located within the same cell's frequency range. Additionally, the first cell can be, for example, the serving cell of the terminal device.

[0111] Optionally, the first frequency range and the second frequency range are different BWPs, which are BWPs configured for the first cell. For example, the first frequency range can be a BWP that is active in the first cell, and the second frequency range can be other BWPs in the first cell besides the active BWP.

[0112] Assuming the first cell is cell #1, the BWPs configured for cell #1 include BWP#1, BWP#2, BWP#3 and BWP#4.

[0113] For example, the first frequency range #1 is BWP#1, and the second frequency range #1 is BWP#3. The first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to BWP#3 predicted based on the measurement results of the reference signal corresponding to BWP#1.

[0114] For example, the first frequency range #1 is BWP#1, the second frequency range #1 is BWP#3, and the second frequency range #2 is BWP#4. The first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to BWP#3 and the channel state information corresponding to BWP#4 predicted based on the measurement results of the reference signal corresponding to BWP#1.

[0115] For example, the first frequency range #1 is BWP#1, the second frequency range #1 is BWP#2, and the third frequency range #1 is BWP#3. The first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to BWP#3 predicted based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1 and BWP#2.

[0116] For example, let the first frequency range #1 be BWP#1, the second frequency range #1 be BWP#2, the third frequency range #1 be BWP#3, and the fourth frequency range #2 be BWP#4. The first information is used to indicate the prediction of the channel state information corresponding to BWP#3 based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1 and BWP#2, and the prediction of the channel state information corresponding to BWP#4 based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1 and BWP#2.

[0117] In one optional implementation, the first frequency range is located within a first frequency band, and the second frequency range is located within a second frequency band; the first frequency band is the frequency range of a first cell, and the second frequency band is the frequency range of a second cell, wherein the first cell and the second cell are different cells. It is evident that the first frequency range and the second frequency range can be located within the frequency ranges of different cells. Furthermore, for example, the first cell can be the serving cell of the terminal device. The second cell can be a neighboring cell of the serving cell of the terminal device, or the second cell can be the cell that the terminal device is preparing to hand over.

[0118] Optionally, some or all of the multiple first frequency ranges may be located within the same first frequency band, or different first frequency ranges may be located within different first frequency bands. It is understood that some or all of the multiple first frequency ranges may be located within the frequency range of the same cell, or different first frequency ranges may be located within the frequency range of different cells.

[0119] Optionally, some or all of the multiple second frequency ranges may be located within the same second frequency band, or different second frequency ranges may be located within different second frequency bands. Understandably, some or all of the multiple second frequency ranges may be located within the frequency range of the same cell, or different second frequency ranges may be located within the frequency range of different cells.

[0120] Optionally, the first frequency range is a BWP configured for a first cell, and the second frequency range is a BWP configured for a second cell. For example, the first frequency range is the BWP active in the first cell. Even more for example, the second frequency range is the initial BWP, an active BWP, or the default BWP in the second cell.

[0121] For example, the first frequency range #1 is BWP#1 configured for cell #1, and the second frequency range #1 is BWP#2 configured for cell #2, where cell #1 and cell #2 are different cells. The first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to BWP#2 predicted based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1.

[0122] For example, the first frequency range #1 is BWP#1 configured for cell #1, the second frequency range #1 is BWP#2 configured for cell #2, and the second frequency range #2 is BWP#3 configured for cell #3. Cells #1, #2, and #3 are different cells. The first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to BWP#2 and BWP#3 predicted based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1.

[0123] For example, the first frequency range #1 is BWP#1 configured for cell #1, the second frequency range #1 is BWP#2 configured for cell #2, and the second frequency range #2 is BWP#3 configured for cell #2. Cell #1 and cell #2 are different cells. The first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to BWP#2 and the channel state information corresponding to BWP#3 predicted based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1.

[0124] For example, the first frequency range #1 is BWP#1 configured for cell #1, the first frequency range #2 is BWP#2 configured for cell #2, and the second frequency range #1 is BWP#3 configured for cell #3. Cell #1, cell #2, and cell #3 are different cells. The first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to BWP#3 predicted based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1 and BWP#2.

[0125] For example, the first frequency range #1 is BWP#1 configured for cell #1, the first frequency range #2 is BWP#2 configured for cell #1, and the second frequency range #1 is BWP#3 configured for cell #2. Cell #1 and cell #2 are different cells. The first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to BWP#3 predicted based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1 and BWP#2.

[0126] For example, the first frequency range #1 is BWP#1 configured for cell #1, the first frequency range #2 is BWP#2 configured for cell #2, the second frequency range #1 is BWP#3 configured for cell #3, and the second frequency range #2 is BWP#4 configured for cell #4. Cells #1, #2, #3, and #4 are different cells. The first information is used to indicate the prediction of the channel state information corresponding to BWP#3 based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1 and BWP#2, and the prediction of the channel state information corresponding to BWP#4 based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1 and BWP#2.

[0127] For example, the first frequency range #1 is BWP#1 configured for cell #1, the first frequency range #2 is BWP#2 configured for cell #1, the second frequency range #1 is BWP#3 configured for cell #2, and the second frequency range #2 is BWP#4 configured for cell #2. Cell #1 and cell #2 are different cells. The first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to BWP#3 predicted based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1 and BWP#2, and the channel state information corresponding to BWP#4 predicted based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to BWP#1 and BWP#2.

[0128] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the disclosure, for the same cell, one or more carriers can be used between the network device and the terminal device to transmit information and / or data and / or signals. Optionally, the cell includes multiple sectors, and for the same sector, one or more carriers can be used between the network device and the terminal device to transmit information and / or data and / or signals.

[0129] In one alternative implementation, the first information further indicates one or more second frequency ranges so that the terminal device can determine the frequency range to which the predicted channel state information is targeted. Furthermore, the phrase "the first information indicates one or more second frequency ranges" can be implemented using the following alternative implementation 1.1 or implementation 1.2.

[0130] In implementation 1.1, the first information includes one or more identity documents (IDs) for the second frequency range. For example, the identity document for the second frequency range may be carried in the reporting configuration or other configurations in the first information. Furthermore, this disclosure does not limit the specific form of the identity document for the second frequency range; the following is an exemplary description.

[0131] Scenario 1: The first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within the same cell's frequency range. For example, in the following scenario: the first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within a first frequency band, where the first frequency band is the frequency range of the first cell. The specific method by which the first information includes identifiers of one or more second frequency ranges can be as described in the following optional methods 1.1.1a, 1.1.1b, and 1.1.1c.

[0132] Method 1.1.1a: Identifier for the second frequency range, represented as: a pre-configured identifier for BWP. This method can be applied to scenarios where the second frequency range is BWP.

[0133] For example, the BWPs configured for cell #1 include BWP#1, BWP#2, BWP#3 and BWP#4, and the identifiers pre-configured for BWP#1, BWP#2, BWP#3 and BWP#4 are BWP ID#1, BWP ID#2, BWP ID#3 and BWP ID#4, respectively.

[0134] Suppose that the first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to a second frequency range #1 based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, where the second frequency range #1 is BWP #2. Then, the first information includes BWP ID #2.

[0135] Furthermore, suppose the first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #1 and the second frequency range #2, predicted based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, where the second frequency range #1 is BWP #2 and the second frequency range #2 is BWP #3. Then, the first information includes BWP ID #2 and BWP ID #3.

[0136] Method 1.1.1b: The identifier for the second frequency range is represented as: the identifier for BWP reconfiguration. This method can be applied to scenarios where both the first and second frequency ranges are BWPs. For example, the identifier for BWP reconfiguration can be understood as: the identifier for reconfiguring other BWPs besides the first frequency range among the multiple BWPs configured for the first cell.

[0137] For example, the BWPs configured for cell #1 include BWP#1, BWP#2, BWP#3, and BWP#4. The identifiers pre-configured for BWP#1, BWP#2, BWP#3, and BWP#4 are BWP ID#1, BWP ID#2, BWP ID#3, and BWP ID#4, respectively. The first frequency range #1 is BWP#1. The other four BWPs (excluding BWP#1) – BWP#2, BWP#3, and BWP#4 – are reordered, and their identifiers are reconfigured as BWP ID#1, BWP ID#2, and BWP ID#3, respectively.

[0138] Suppose the first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to a second frequency range #1 based on the measurement results of the reference signal corresponding to a first frequency range #1, where the second frequency range #1 is a frequency in BWP #2. Then, the first information includes: the BWP ID #1 reconfigured for BWP #2.

[0139] Furthermore, suppose the first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #1 and the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #2 based on the measurement results of the reference signal corresponding to the first frequency range #1, where the second frequency range #1 is BWP #2 and the second frequency range #2 is BWP #3. Then, the first information includes: BWP ID #1 reconfigured for BWP #2 and BWP ID #2 reconfigured for BWP #3.

[0140] Method 1.1.1c: The first information uses a bitmap to indicate one or more second frequency ranges.

[0141] Assume that the BWP configured for cell #1 includes BWP#1, BWP#2, BWP#3, and BWP#4. The first frequency range #1 is BWP#2. The first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #1 and the second frequency range #2 based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to the first frequency range #1. The second frequency range #1 is BWP#1, and the second frequency range #2 is BWP#3.

[0142] For example, the bitmap includes 4 bits, each corresponding one-to-one with a BWP. The first bit corresponds to BWP#1, the second to BWP#2, the third to BWP#3, and the fourth to BWP#4. The first information includes the bitmap "1110", indicating that the reference signal transmitted on the resource of BWP#2 is measured, and the channel state information corresponding to BWP#1 and BWP#3 is predicted based on the measurement results of the reference signal corresponding to BWP#2.

[0143] For example, the bitmap includes 3 bits, which correspond one-to-one with the other 3 of the 4 BWPs (excluding BWP#2). The first bit corresponds to BWP#1, the second bit to BWP#3, and the third bit to BWP#4. The first information includes the bitmap "110", indicating that the channel state information corresponding to BWP#1 and the channel state information corresponding to BWP#3 are predicted based on the measurement results of the reference signal corresponding to BWP#2.

[0144] Scenario 2: The first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within the frequency ranges of different cells. For example, in the following scenario: the first frequency range is located within a first frequency band, the second frequency range is located within a second frequency band, the first frequency band is the frequency range of the first cell, the second frequency band is the frequency range of the second cell, and the first and second cells are different cells. The specific method by which the first information includes one or more identifiers of the second frequency range can be as described in the following optional methods 1.1.2a, 1.1.2b, and 1.1.2c.

[0145] Method 1.1.2a: The identifier for the second frequency range is represented as: an identifier pre-configured for the second cell.

[0146] For example, in a carrier aggregation scenario, the network device configures a cell group (which includes multiple cells) for the terminal device, including configuring the identifiers of the cells in the cell group. Assume that the cell group #1 configured by the network device for the terminal device includes cell #1, cell #2, cell #3, and cell #4, and the identifiers of cell #1, cell #2, cell #3, and cell #4 are, respectively: cell ID#1, cell ID#2, cell ID#3, and cell ID#4. A first frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #1.

[0147] Assuming that the second frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #2, the first information includes cell ID #2. The first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to the frequency range of cell #2 based on the measurement results of the reference signal corresponding to the frequency range of cell #1.

[0148] Assuming that the second frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #2 and the second frequency range #2 is located within the frequency range of cell #3, the first information includes cell ID #2 and cell ID #3. The first information is used to indicate the predicted channel state information corresponding to the frequency range of cell #2 and the channel state information corresponding to the frequency range of cell #3 based on the measurement results of the reference signal corresponding to the frequency range of cell #1.

[0149] As can be seen, in a carrier aggregation scenario, the network device can use the first information to instruct the terminal device to predict the channel state information corresponding to the frequency range of other cells in the same cell group as the cell to which the frequency range of the transmitted reference signal belongs, based on the measurement results obtained from the measurement of the reference signal.

[0150] For example, in non-carrier aggregation scenarios, the second cell can be the cell that the terminal device is about to hand over to. That is to say, in scenarios other than carrier aggregation, the second cell can be the cell that the terminal device is about to hand over to.

[0151] Suppose that the first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #1 based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, and the second frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #1, then the first information includes the identifier of cell #1.

[0152] Furthermore, assuming that the first information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #1 and the second frequency range #2 based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, where the second frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #1 and the second frequency range #2 is located within the frequency range of cell #2, then the first information includes the identifier of cell #1 and the identifier of cell #2.

[0153] Method 1.1.2b: The identifier for the second frequency range is represented as: the identifier for reconfiguration of the second cell. For example, the identifier for reconfiguration of the second cell can be understood as: the identifier for reconfiguration of the second cell among multiple cells other than the first cell.

[0154] For example, the identifiers pre-configured for cells #1, #2, #3, and #4 are cell ID#1, cell ID#2, cell ID#3, and cell ID#4, respectively. The first information is used to indicate the predicted channel state information for the second frequency range #1 and the channel state information for the second frequency range #2 based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to the first frequency range #1. Here, the first frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #1, the second frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #2, and the second frequency range #2 is located within the frequency range of cell #3.

[0155] Cells #2, #3, and #4 (excluding cell #1) are reordered so that their identifiers are reconfigured as cell ID#1, cell ID#2, and cell ID#3, respectively. Therefore, the first piece of information includes: the reconfigured cell ID#1 for cell #2 and the reconfigured cell ID#2 for cell #3.

[0156] Method 1.1.2c: The first information uses a bitmap to indicate the second cell.

[0157] Assume there are cells #1, #2, #3, and #4. The first information is used to indicate the predicted channel state information for the second frequency range #1 and the second frequency range #2 based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to the first frequency range #1. Specifically, the first frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #2, the second frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #1, and the second frequency range #2 is located within the frequency range of cell #3.

[0158] For example, the bit map includes 4 bits, which correspond one-to-one with 4 cells. The first bit corresponds to cell #1, the second bit to cell #2, the third bit to cell #3, and the fourth bit to cell #4. The first information includes the bit map "1110".

[0159] For example, the bit map includes 3 bits, which correspond one-to-one with the 3 out of 4 BWPs except BWP#2. The first bit corresponds to cell #1, the second bit to cell #3, and the third bit to cell #4. The first information includes the bit map "110".

[0160] In implementation 1.2, one or more second frequency ranges are frequency ranges other than one or more first frequency ranges among a pre-configured plurality of frequency ranges. After receiving the first information, the terminal device predicts the channel state information corresponding to the frequency ranges other than one or more first frequency ranges among the pre-configured plurality of frequency ranges. In this implementation 1.2, the first information may not carry the identifiers of one or more second frequency ranges, reducing signaling overhead. Specifically, it can be described in the following optional methods 1.2.1 and 1.2.2.

[0161] Method 1.2.1 addresses the situation where the first frequency range and the second frequency range are within the same cell's frequency range. For example, consider the following scenario: the first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within a first frequency band, which is the frequency range of the first cell.

[0162] The first information includes a first instruction, which instructs the activation of a first prediction function. This first prediction function predicts channel state information for frequency ranges other than one or more of the multiple frequency ranges included in the first frequency band. Therefore, one or more second frequency ranges refer to the frequency ranges other than one or more of the multiple frequency ranges included in the first frequency band. In this mode, after receiving the first instruction, the terminal device can predict the channel state information corresponding to the frequency ranges other than one or more of the multiple frequency ranges included in the first frequency band. The multiple frequencies included in the first frequency band can be pre-configured or configured by the network device, without limitation.

[0163] For example, the BWP configured for cell #1 includes BWP#1, BWP#2, BWP#3, and BWP#4. The first frequency range is BWP#1. The first information includes a first indication. After receiving the first indication, the terminal device predicts the channel state information corresponding to BWP#2, BWP#3, and BWP#4, excluding BWP#1.

[0164] Method 1.2.1 addresses the situation where the first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within the frequency ranges of different cells. For example, consider the following scenario: the first frequency range is located within the first frequency band, the second frequency range is located within the second frequency band, the first frequency band is the frequency range of the first cell, the second frequency band is the frequency range of the second cell, and the first cell and the second cell are different cells.

[0165] The first information includes a second instruction, which instructs the activation of a second prediction function. This second prediction function predicts the channel state information corresponding to the frequency ranges of multiple cells, excluding the first cell. The multiple cells include the first cell and the second cell. Therefore, one or more second frequency ranges refer to the frequency ranges of the multiple cells excluding the first cell. In this mode, after receiving the second instruction, the terminal device can predict the channel state information corresponding to the frequency ranges of the multiple cells excluding the first cell. The multiple cells can be pre-configured or configured by the network device, without limitation.

[0166] For example, multiple cells are designated as cell #1, cell #2, cell #3, and cell #4. A first frequency range is located within the frequency range of cell #1. First information includes a second indication; after receiving the second indication, the terminal device predicts the channel state information corresponding to the frequency ranges of cells #2, #3, and #4 (excluding cell #1).

[0167] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: the network device sending third information, the third information indicating the reporting granularity of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges; and correspondingly, the terminal device receiving the third information. It is evident that the network device can configure the reporting granularity of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges through the third information.

[0168] Optionally, in the case where the second information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, the terminal device may determine the granularity of the channel state information corresponding to the N second frequency ranges in the second information according to the reporting granularity indicated by the third information.

[0169] Optionally, the granularity of channel state information reporting can be bandwidth or subband. However, this disclosure does not limit the granularity of channel state information reporting; with technological advancements, the granularity of channel state information reporting may also include other granularities besides bandwidth and subband. Furthermore, in the embodiments of this disclosure, subband can also be understood as narrowband.

[0170] Optionally, the third information is specifically used to indicate the reporting granularity of CQI corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges, and / or the reporting granularity of PMI corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges.

[0171] Taking CQI as an example. For instance, the third information indicates that the reporting granularity of CQI corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges is broadband. The terminal device reports broadband CQI corresponding to N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges. For example, for some or all of the second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges, the terminal device directly predicts the broadband CQI corresponding to the second frequency range and reports the predicted broadband CQI. As another example, for some or all of the second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges, the terminal device predicts the CQI corresponding to one or more sub-bands included in the second frequency range, integrates the predicted CQI corresponding to the one or more sub-bands into a single broadband CQI, and reports the integrated broadband CQI.

[0172] For example, the third information indicates that the reporting granularity of CQI corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges is a sub-band, and the terminal device reports the sub-band CQI corresponding to N second frequency ranges among the one or more second frequency ranges. For instance, for any second frequency range among the N second frequency ranges, the terminal device predicts the CQI corresponding to one or more sub-bands included in the second frequency range, and reports the CQI obtained by predicting the sub-bands.

[0173] In another optional implementation, the network device and the terminal device default to reporting channel state information at a granularity of broadband for one or more second frequency ranges.

[0174] Optionally, in the case where the second information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges, the terminal device can determine the granularity of the channel state information corresponding to the N second frequency ranges in the second information according to the default reporting granularity. In this method, the network device may not send the third information, reducing signaling overhead. For details regarding the third information, please refer to the foregoing explanation, which will not be repeated here.

[0175] Optionally, the network device and the terminal device default to broadband reporting granularity for CQI corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges, and / or default to broadband reporting granularity for PMI corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges.

[0176] In one alternative implementation, the second frequency range includes one or more sub-bands. For example, each of the plurality of second frequency ranges includes multiple sub-bands, or each of the plurality of second frequency ranges includes one sub-band, or a portion of the plurality of second frequency ranges includes one sub-band and the remaining portion of the plurality of second frequency ranges includes multiple sub-bands.

[0177] Optionally, the method further includes: the network device sending fourth information, the fourth information indicating one or more sub-bands for reporting channel state information; and correspondingly, the terminal device receiving the fourth information. Thus, based on this implementation, the network equipment can configure the terminal device to predict the frequency range / granularity of channel state information, so that the terminal device can determine the sub-bands within one or more sub-bands included in the second frequency range that need to report channel state information.

[0178] In one alternative approach, for different second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges, the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information are located in the same position within the second frequency range. For example, for one or more second frequency ranges, the fourth information can uniformly indicate the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information.

[0179] For example, the second frequency range #1 includes sub-bands #1 to #5 in descending order of frequency, and the second frequency range #2 includes sub-bands #6 to #10 in descending order of frequency. The fourth information indicates that the two highest-frequency sub-bands in the second frequency range are used to report channel state information. Therefore, for the second frequency range #1, the sub-bands used to report channel state information are sub-band #1 and sub-band #2. For the second frequency range #2, the sub-bands used to report channel state information are sub-band #6 and sub-band #7.

[0180] In an alternative approach, the sub-band used for reporting channel state information is positioned differently within different second frequency ranges. For example, the fourth information may indicate the sub-band used for reporting channel state information for each of the multiple second frequency ranges.

[0181] For example, the second frequency range #1 includes sub-bands #1 to #5 in descending order of frequency, and the second frequency range #2 includes sub-bands #6 to #10 in descending order of frequency. The fourth information is used to indicate that the two highest-frequency sub-bands in the second frequency range #1 are used for reporting channel state information, and to indicate that the two lowest-frequency sub-bands in the second frequency range #2 are used for reporting channel state information. Therefore, for the second frequency range #1, the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information are sub-band #1 and sub-band #2. For the second frequency range #2, the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information are sub-band #9 and sub-band #10.

[0182] In another optional approach, for a portion of the multiple second frequency ranges, the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information are located in the same position within the second frequency range; and for the remaining portions of the multiple second frequency ranges, the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information are located in different positions within the second frequency range. For example, the fourth information may uniformly indicate the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information for the portion of the second frequency range where the sub-bands are located in the same position within the second frequency range. Furthermore, the fourth information may also separately indicate the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information within the second frequency range where the sub-bands are located in different positions within the second frequency range.

[0183] For example, the second frequency range #1 includes sub-bands #1 to #5 in descending order of frequency; the second frequency range #2 includes sub-bands #6 to #10 in descending order of frequency; and the second frequency range #3 includes sub-bands #11 to #15 in descending order of frequency. The fourth information is used to indicate that the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information in the second frequency ranges #1 and #2 are the two sub-bands with the highest frequencies, and also to indicate that the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information in the second frequency range #3 are the two sub-bands with the lowest frequencies. Therefore, for the second frequency range #1, the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information are sub-bands #1 and #2. For the second frequency range #2, the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information are sub-bands #6 and #7. For the second frequency range #3, the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information are sub-bands #14 and #15.

[0184] Furthermore, in the above example, the fourth information uses the frequency conditions satisfied by the sub-band as an example to indicate the sub-band used for reporting channel state information in the second frequency range. However, the implementation of the fourth information indicating the sub-band used for reporting channel state information is not limited in this embodiment. For example, the fourth information can also carry the identifier of the sub-band to indicate the sub-band used for reporting channel state information, and so on.

[0185] Optionally, for a second frequency range that meets the following conditions: including multiple sub-bands but the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information are only a portion of the multiple sub-bands, the terminal device may predict and report the channel state information corresponding to the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information; or, the terminal device may predict the channel state information corresponding to all multiple sub-bands, but report the channel state information corresponding to the portion of the sub-bands indicated by the fourth information.

[0186] For example, the second frequency range #1 includes sub-bands #1 to #5, and the fourth information indicates that the sub-bands used for reporting channel state information in the second frequency range #1 are sub-band #1 and sub-band #2. The terminal device predicts and reports the channel state information corresponding to sub-bands #1 and #2. Alternatively, the terminal device predicts the channel state information corresponding to all sub-bands #1 to #5, and reports the channel state information corresponding to sub-bands #1 and #2.

[0187] In another alternative implementation, the network device may also not be configured with a subband for reporting channel state information.

[0188] The second information sent by the terminal device is described below by example, as described in the following optional implementation methods 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3.

[0189] In implementation 2.1, the second information includes channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges. This is described in optional embodiments 2.1a and 2.1b below.

[0190] Method 2.1a: The N second frequency ranges in the second information are arranged in a predetermined order. Thus, after receiving the second information, the network device can determine the second frequency range corresponding to the channel state information included in the second information based on the predetermined order. The predetermined order can be configured by the network device to the terminal device, or it can be pre-configured in both the network device and the terminal device; there are no restrictions on this.

[0191] Example 1: N equals the total number of one or more second frequency ranges. Assume N equals 3, and the three second frequency ranges are arranged in a pre-defined order as: Second Frequency Range #1, Second Frequency Range #2, and Second Frequency Range #3. The channel state information corresponding to the three second frequency ranges in the second information, arranged in the pre-defined order, is: Channel State Information #1 corresponding to Second Frequency Range #1, Channel State Information #2 corresponding to Second Frequency Range #2, and Channel State Information #3 corresponding to Second Frequency Range #3. After receiving the second information, the network device can determine, according to the pre-defined order, that Channel State Information #1 corresponds to Second Frequency Range #1, Channel State Information #2 corresponds to Second Frequency Range #2, and Channel State Information #3 corresponds to Second Frequency Range #3.

[0192] Example 2: The second information also includes a bitmap, in which each bit corresponds one-to-one with one or more second frequency ranges. The order of the bits in the bitmap follows a pre-defined order for one or more second frequency ranges. The value of each bit is related to whether the second information carries channel state information for the corresponding second frequency range. The second information carries channel state information for N second frequency ranges in a pre-defined order.

[0193] This disclosure does not limit the correspondence between the value of a bit and whether the second information carries channel state information for the corresponding second frequency range. For example, a bit value of "1" indicates that the second information does not carry channel state information for the corresponding second frequency range, and a bit value of "0" indicates that the second information carries channel state information for the corresponding second frequency range. As another example, a bit value of "0" indicates that the second information does not carry channel state information for the corresponding second frequency range, and a bit value of "1" indicates that the second information carries channel state information for the corresponding second frequency range. This will be used as an example in the following explanation.

[0194] Assuming the total number of one or more second frequency ranges is equal to 3, the three second frequency ranges are arranged in a predetermined order as follows: second frequency range #1, second frequency range #2, and second frequency range #3. The second information includes a bitmap consisting of 3 bits, arranged in the following order: the bit corresponding to second frequency range #1, the bit corresponding to second frequency range #2, and the bit corresponding to second frequency range #3. The second information includes the bitmap "011", and channel state information #2 corresponding to second frequency range #2 and channel state information #3 corresponding to second frequency range #3, arranged in the predetermined order. After receiving the second information, the network device, based on the predetermined order and the bitmap "011" in the second information, can determine that channel state information #2 in the second information corresponds to second frequency range #2, and that channel state information #3 in the second information corresponds to second frequency range #3.

[0195] Method 2.1b: In addition to including channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges, the second information also includes an identifier of the second frequency range corresponding to the channel state information. Thus, after receiving the second information, the network device can determine the second frequency range corresponding to the channel state information based on the correspondence between the channel state information and the identifier of the second frequency range.

[0196] For example, if N equals 3, then the N second frequency ranges are second frequency range #1, second frequency range #2, and second frequency range #3. The second information includes: channel state information #2 and the identifier of the second frequency range #2 corresponding to channel state information #2, channel state information #1 and the identifier of the second frequency range #1 corresponding to channel state information #1, and channel state information #3 and the identifier of the second frequency range #3 corresponding to channel state information #3.

[0197] Alternatively, based on implementation method 2.1, for cases where the reporting granularity of channel state information is wideband, the second information includes wideband channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges. For example, the wideband channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range may include one or more of the following: wideband RI, wideband PMI, wideband CQI, wideband LI, etc., corresponding to the second frequency range. For example, the second information may use 4 bits to carry a wideband CQI corresponding to a second frequency range.

[0198] Optionally, based on implementation method 2.1, when the reporting granularity of channel state information is sub-band, the second information includes sub-band channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges. For example, for any second frequency range among the N second frequency ranges, the second information includes channel state information corresponding to one or more sub-bands within that second frequency range. For instance, the sub-band corresponding channel state information may include one or more of the following: RI, PMI, CQI, LI, etc., corresponding to the sub-band. For example, the second information may use 4 bits to carry the CQI corresponding to one sub-band.

[0199] In implementation 2.2, the second information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges, including: the second information is used to indicate the difference or difference range between the channel state information corresponding to the N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges and reference channel state information. The reference channel state information can be, for example, channel state information corresponding to any one of the one or more first frequency ranges, or it can be determined based on the channel state information corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges; there is no limitation on this. This is described in optional embodiments 2.2a and 2.2b below.

[0200] Method 2.2a addresses the case where the channel state information reporting granularity is wideband. The second information includes a third indication, which indicates the difference or range of difference between the wideband channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges and the reference channel state information. The reference channel state information can be, for example, the wideband channel state information corresponding to any one of the first frequency ranges, or it can be determined based on the bandwidth channel state information corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, or it can be other channel state information; there are no restrictions on this.

[0201] For example, the third indication is used to indicate the difference or range of difference between the broadband CQI corresponding to N second frequency ranges and the reference CQI. For example, the value of the reference CQI is A, and the value of the broadband CQI corresponding to the second frequency range #1 is B; the third indication indicates the value obtained by subtracting A from B for the second frequency range #1, or indicates the range to which the value obtained by subtracting A from B belongs.

[0202] For example, the value included in the third indication is related to the offset level between the broadband CQI corresponding to the second frequency range and the reference CQI. This offset level is equal to the broadband CQI corresponding to the second frequency range minus the reference CQI. The correspondence between the value included in the third indication and the offset level can be shown in Table 1 below, for example.

[0203] Table 1

[0204] For example, the offset level between the broadband CQI and the reference CQI in the second frequency range #1 is equal to 1, and the offset level between the broadband CQI and the reference CQI in the second frequency range #2 is ≤ -1. The third indication includes fields #1 and #2. Field #1 indicates the offset level between the broadband CQI and the reference CQI in the second frequency range #1, and field #2 indicates the offset level between the broadband CQI and the reference CQI in the second frequency range #2. The value of field #1 is 1, and the value of field #2 is 3.

[0205] It should be noted that the values ​​and corresponding offset levels included in the third indication in Table 1 above are merely examples, and the embodiments disclosed herein do not limit the values ​​and corresponding offset levels included in the third indication.

[0206] Method 2.2b addresses the case where the channel state information reporting granularity is sub-band. The second information includes a fourth indication, which indicates the difference or range of difference between the sub-band channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges and the reference channel state information. The reference channel state information can be, for example, wideband channel state information corresponding to any first frequency range within one or more first frequency ranges, or sub-band channel state information corresponding to any first frequency range within one or more first frequency ranges, or wideband channel state information corresponding to any second frequency range within one or more second frequency ranges, or other channel state information; there are no restrictions on this.

[0207] For example, the fourth indication is used to indicate the difference or difference range between the sub-band CQIs corresponding to N second frequency ranges and a reference CQI. For example, the second frequency range #1 includes sub-band #1, sub-band #2, and sub-band #3. The fourth indication is used to indicate: the difference or difference range between the CQI corresponding to sub-band #1 and the reference CQI, the difference or difference range between the CQI corresponding to sub-band #2 and the reference CQI, and the difference or difference range between the CQI corresponding to sub-band #3 and the reference CQI. The reference CQI can be a broadband CQI corresponding to the first frequency range #1, or a sub-band CQI corresponding to the first frequency range #1, or a broadband CQI corresponding to the second frequency range #1.

[0208] For example, the fourth indication includes a value related to the offset level between the sub-band CQI corresponding to the second frequency range and the reference CQI. This offset level is equal to the sub-band CQI corresponding to the second frequency range minus the reference CQI. The correspondence between the value of the fourth indication and the offset level can be shown in Table 2 below, for example.

[0209] Table 2

[0210] For example, the second frequency range #1 includes sub-band #1 and sub-band #2. The offset level between the CQI of sub-band #1 and the reference CQI is equal to 1, and the offset level between the CQI of sub-band #2 and the reference CQI is ≤-1. The second frequency range #2 includes sub-band #3, and the offset level between the CQI of sub-band #3 and the reference CQI is equal to 0. The fourth indication includes fields #1, #2, and #3. Field #1 is used to indicate the offset level between the CQI of sub-band #1 and the reference CQI in the second frequency range #1; field #2 is used to indicate the offset level between the CQI of sub-band #2 and the reference CQI in the second frequency range #1; and field #3 is used to indicate the offset level between the CQI of sub-band #3 and the reference CQI in the second frequency range #2. The value of field #1 is 1, the value of field #2 is 3, and the value of field #3 is 0.

[0211] It should be noted that the values ​​and corresponding offset levels included in the fourth indication in Table 2 above are merely examples, and the embodiments disclosed herein do not limit the values ​​and corresponding offset levels included in the fourth indication.

[0212] Alternatively, in the case where the reporting granularity of channel state information is wideband, mode 2.1a or mode 2.2a can be configured by the network device or switched by instruction from the network device. Similarly, in the case where the reporting granularity of channel state information is subband, mode 2.1b or mode 2.2b can be configured by the network device or switched by instruction from the network device.

[0213] Alternatively, in implementation 2.1 or implementation 2.2, the terminal device may determine the second information according to the reporting granularity configured by the network device or the default reporting granularity of the terminal device, and / or the sub-band configured by the network device for reporting channel state information. For details regarding the network device's configured reporting granularity, the terminal device's default reporting granularity, and the network device's configured sub-band for reporting channel state information, please refer to the foregoing descriptions; further elaboration is omitted here.

[0214] In implementation 2.3, the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, where M is a positive integer. This is described in optional embodiments 2.3a and 2.3b below.

[0215] Method 2.3a: The second information includes identifiers for M second frequency ranges. For example, M equals 3, and the M second frequency ranges are second frequency range #1, second frequency range #2, and second frequency range #3. The second information includes identifiers for second frequency range #1, second frequency range #2, and second frequency range #3.

[0216] Method 2.3b: The second information includes a bitmap, in which bits correspond one-to-one with one or more second frequency ranges, and the order of the bits in the bitmap conforms to the conventional order of the one or more second frequency ranges. The value of a bit is related to whether the second information indicates the second frequency range corresponding to that bit.

[0217] This disclosure does not limit the correspondence between the value of a bit and whether the second information indicates the second frequency range corresponding to that bit. For example, a bit value of "1" indicates that the second information does not carry channel state information for the second frequency range corresponding to that bit, and a bit value of "0" indicates that the second information carries channel state information for the second frequency range corresponding to that bit. As another example, a bit value of "0" indicates that the second information does not carry channel state information for the second frequency range corresponding to that bit, and a bit value of "1" indicates that the second information carries channel state information for the second frequency range corresponding to that bit; this will be used as an example in the following explanation.

[0218] For example, the total number of one or more second frequency ranges is equal to 3, and M equals 2. The second information includes a bitmap consisting of 3 bits arranged in a predetermined order: the bit corresponding to second frequency range #1, the bit corresponding to second frequency range #2, and the bit corresponding to second frequency range #3. The second information indicates second frequency range #2 and second frequency range #3, and includes the bitmap "011". After receiving the second information, the network device can determine that the second information indicates second frequency range #2 and second frequency range #3 based on the predetermined order and the bitmap "011" in the second information.

[0219] Optionally, in implementation 2.3, the M second frequency ranges are the M second frequency ranges with the best channel state information among one or more second frequency ranges. Then, the network device can determine the M second frequency ranges with the best channel state information among one or more second frequency ranges through the second information, providing a reference for subsequent frequency range switching by the network device. This facilitates the network device switching to the second frequency range with better channel state information for data transmission, ensuring communication quality. Furthermore, it should be noted that when performing subsequent frequency range switching, the network device can consider other factors besides the channel state information corresponding to the frequency range, such as load balancing, when selecting the frequency range to switch to, without limitation.

[0220] Optionally, for implementation 2.3, M second frequency ranges are determined from one or more second frequency ranges using a first parameter. It is understood that the first parameter is used for selecting the M second frequency ranges, or the first parameter is a parameter used for frequency range selection. Furthermore, the parameter value of the first parameter corresponding to the second frequency range is used to characterize the channel conditions of the second frequency range.

[0221] For example, M equals 1, the first parameter is CQI, and the second frequency range with the largest CQI among one or more second frequency ranges is the second frequency range with the optimal channel state information.

[0222] For example, if the first parameter is CQI, multiple second frequency ranges are sorted from largest to smallest according to CQI, and the first M second frequency ranges are the M second frequency ranges with the best channel state information.

[0223] For example, the first parameter is CQI, and the M second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges whose CQI is greater than or equal to a threshold are the M second frequency ranges with optimal channel state information. This threshold can be predefined and is not restricted.

[0224] For example, M equals 1, the first parameter is MCS, and the second frequency range with the largest MCS among one or more second frequency ranges is the second frequency range with the optimal channel state information.

[0225] For example, if the first parameter is MCS, multiple second frequency ranges are sorted from largest to smallest according to MCS. The first M second frequency ranges are the M second frequency ranges with the best channel state information.

[0226] For example, the first parameter is MCS, and among one or more second frequency ranges, M second frequency ranges with MCS greater than or equal to a threshold are the M second frequency ranges with optimal channel state information. This threshold can be predefined and is not restricted.

[0227] Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein do not limit the type of the first parameter. In addition to CQI and MCS already mentioned, other parameters can be used to determine M second frequency ranges from one or more second frequency ranges.

[0228] Optionally, for implementation 2.3, the second information also indicates the first parameter.

[0229] For example, the first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #1, the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #2, and the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #3 based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to the first frequency range #1. The first frequency range #1 is BWP#1, the second frequency range #1 is BWP#2, the second frequency range #2 is BWP#3, and the second frequency range #3 is BWP#4.

[0230] When M equals 1, the terminal device selects a second frequency range from three possible second frequency ranges using CQI (Critical Quality Identifier), where the first parameter is CQI. Specifically, the terminal device predicts that the CQI corresponding to BWP#2 is greater than the predicted CQI corresponding to BWP#3, and the predicted CQI corresponding to BWP#3 is greater than the predicted CQI corresponding to BWP#4. The second information includes the identifier of BWP#2 and the first parameter, which is CQI; that is, the first parameter also indicates the CQI. In this case, the network device can determine, based on the second information, that BWP#2 is the second frequency range with the highest CQI among the three possible second frequency ranges, providing a reference for subsequent BWP handover.

[0231] For example, the first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #1, the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #2, and the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range #3 based on the reference signal measurement results corresponding to the first frequency range #1. The first frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #1, the second frequency range #1 is located within the frequency range of cell #2, the second frequency range #2 is located within the frequency range of cell #3, and the second frequency range #3 is located within the frequency range of cell #4.

[0232] When M equals 1, the terminal device selects a second frequency range from three possible second frequency ranges using the CQI (Critical Quality Identifier). Specifically, the terminal device predicts that the CQI for second frequency range #1 is greater than the CQI for second frequency range #2, and the predicted CQI for second frequency range #2 is greater than the CQI for second frequency range #3. The second information includes the identifier of cell #2 and the first parameter, which is the CQI; that is, the first parameter also indicates the CQI. In this case, based on the second information, the network device can determine that the second frequency range in cell #2 is the one with the highest CQI among the three possible second frequency ranges, providing a reference for subsequent cell handover or carrier aggregation.

[0233] In one optional implementation, the first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, including: the first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information for one or more second frequency ranges in one or more time units based on measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges. Correspondingly, the second information is used to indicate the channel state information for one or more second frequency ranges in one or more time units.

[0234] The embodiments disclosed herein do not limit the unit of time unit. For example, the unit of time unit can be a time slot, symbol, microsecond, millisecond, etc.

[0235] Optionally, the first information is further used to instruct the terminal device to predict channel state information for one or more first frequency ranges in one or more time units based on measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges. Optionally, the second information is further used to indicate the channel state information for one or more first frequency ranges in one or more time units.

[0236] It is evident that, in addition to instructing the terminal device to predict channel state information in frequency ranges different from the frequency range used to measure channel state information, the network device can also instruct channel state information prediction in the time domain, which helps to achieve channel state information prediction for future time units.

[0237] In one optional approach, the method further includes: the network device sending fifth information; and correspondingly, the terminal device receiving the fifth information. The fifth information further includes one or more of the following: the time interval between a reference time unit and the earliest time unit among one or more time units, the number of one or more time units, or the time interval between adjacent time units among multiple time units. The reference time unit may, for example, be the time unit in which the terminal device sends the second information, or it may be the time unit in which the terminal device receives the last reference signal; there is no limitation on this.

[0238] For example, referring to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of adjacent time units in multiple time units provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The multiple time units include time unit #1, time unit #2, time unit #3, and time unit #4. In Figure 3, among the four time units, time unit #1 and time unit #2 are adjacent time units, time unit #2 and time unit #3 are adjacent time units, and time unit #3 and time unit #4 are adjacent time units.

[0239] In an alternative approach, the network device and the terminal device establish a default prediction capability through prior interaction. For example, the default prediction capability may include one or more of the following: the time interval between a reference time unit and the earliest of one or more time units, the number of one or more time units, or the time interval between adjacent time units among multiple time units. The reference time unit may be, for example, the time unit in which the terminal device sends the second information, or it may be the time unit in which the terminal device receives the last reference signal; there is no limitation on this. In this approach, the network device may not send the fifth information, reducing signaling overhead.

[0240] In one optional implementation, the terminal device sends second information, including: the terminal device sends second information based on the priority of sixth information. Wherein, the sixth information is the second information. Alternatively, the sixth information includes second information and seventh information, where the seventh information indicates channel state information corresponding to X first frequency ranges within one or more first frequency ranges, where X is a positive integer, and X is less than or equal to the total number of one or more first frequency ranges. Optionally, the channel state information corresponding to the X first frequency ranges is determined based on reference signal measurement results corresponding to the X first frequency ranges.

[0241] Optionally, the method further includes: the terminal device determining the priority of the sixth information based on the index of the first cell and / or the index of the second cell, wherein the first cell is the cell corresponding to the first frequency range, and the second cell is the cell corresponding to the second frequency range. Understandably, the first frequency range is located within the frequency range of the first cell, and the second frequency range is located within the frequency range of the second cell.

[0242] In this context, the first cell and the second cell may be the same cell or different cells. For example, if the first frequency range and the second frequency range are within the same cell's frequency range, then the first cell and the second cell are the same cell. Alternatively, if the first frequency range and the second frequency range are within the frequency ranges of different cells, then the first cell and the second cell are different cells.

[0243] For example, the priority of a CSI report (Pri) iCSI (y,k,c,s) can be calculated based on the following formula (1). iCSI (y,k,c,s)=2·N cells ·M s ·y+N cells ·M s ·k+M s ·c+s (1)

[0244] Where y=0 corresponds to carrying an aperiodic CSI report on the PUSCH. y=1 corresponds to carrying a semi-persistent CSI report on the PUSCH. y=2 corresponds to carrying a semi-persistent CSI report on the PUCCH. y=3 corresponds to carrying a periodic CSI report on the PUCCH.

[0245] k=0 corresponds to the CSI report carrying either L1-RSRP or L1-SINR. k=1 indicates that the CSI report carries other content.

[0246] N cells This represents the maximum number of serving cells, which is configured by the higher-level parameter "Maximum number of serving cells (maxNrofServingCells)".

[0247] 's' represents the report ID, which is configured by the higher-level parameter 'reportConfigID'.

[0248] M s This indicates the maximum number of CSI-ReportConfigurations, which is configured by the higher-level parameter "Maximum number of CSI report configurations (maxNrofCSI-ReportConfiguration)".

[0249] c represents the serving cell index of the terminal device.

[0250] In the case where the second frequency range and the first frequency range are located within the same cell frequency range, the priority of the sixth information can be determined according to the above formula (1).

[0251] In the case where the second frequency range and the first frequency range are in different cell frequency ranges, the priority of the sixth information can be determined by any one of the following methods A, B and C.

[0252] Method A: The priority of the sixth information can be determined according to the above formula (1). That is, when determining the priority of the sixth information, c in the above formula (1) is the index of the current serving cell of the terminal device, that is, the index of the cell where the CSI-RS actually measured by the terminal device is located.

[0253] Method B: In determining the priority of the sixth information, the terminal device replaces 'c' in the above formula (1) with the sum of the indices of the first cell and the second cell. It can be seen that replacing 'c' in the above formula (1) with 'c1', where 'c1' represents the sum of the index of the measured cell and the index of the predicted cell, yields the following formula (2). The terminal device uses formula (2) to determine the priority of the sixth information.iCSI (y,k,c,s)=2·N cells ·M s ·y+N cells ·M s ·k+M s ·c1+s(2)

[0254] N in formula (2) cells M s The meanings of y, k, and s can be found in the relevant explanation of the aforementioned formula (1), and will not be repeated here.

[0255] Method C: In determining the priority of the sixth information, the terminal device adds the sum of the indices of the second cell to the above formula (1). It can be seen that adding c2 to the above formula (1), where c2 represents the sum of the indices of the predicted cell, as shown in the following formula (3), allows the terminal device to determine the priority of the sixth information using formula (3). iCSI (y,k,c,s)=2·N cells ·M s ·y+N cells ·M s ·k+M s ·c+c²+s (3)

[0256] N in formula (3) cells M s The meanings of y, k, c, and s can be found in the relevant explanation of the aforementioned formula (1), and will not be repeated here.

[0257] In methods B and C, the measured cell can be understood as the cell targeted by the terminal device based on the reference signal to measure channel state information, i.e., the cell corresponding to the first frequency range. The predicted cell can be understood as the cell targeted by the terminal device to predict channel state information, i.e., the cell corresponding to the second frequency range.

[0258] Optionally, if two CSI reports overlap in the time domain, the terminal device discards the lower-priority CSI report based on the respective priorities of the two CSI reports. In this embodiment, if there is also an eighth piece of information, which is a channel state information report whose transmission time overlaps with that of the sixth piece of information, in some cases, the terminal device will send the second piece of information, i.e., execute step S102; however, in other cases, the terminal device may not send the second piece of information, i.e., not execute step S102. This is specifically described in optional implementation methods 3.1 or 3.2 below. For a detailed explanation of the sixth piece of information, please refer to the foregoing related descriptions, which will not be repeated here.

[0259] In implementation method 3.1, the terminal device sends the information with higher priority between the sixth and eighth information, discarding the information with lower priority. The priority of the sixth information is as described above and will not be repeated here. The priority of the eighth information can be determined using the aforementioned formula (1).

[0260] For example, if the priority of the sixth information is higher than that of the eighth information, the terminal device sends the sixth information and discards the eighth information; thus, the terminal device will send the second information. If the priority of the eighth information is higher than that of the sixth information, the terminal device sends the eighth information and discards the sixth information; thus, the terminal device will not send the second information.

[0261] In implementation method 3.2, the sixth information includes the second and seventh information. The seventh information is described above and will not be repeated here. Since the priority of the sixth information is lower than that of the eighth information, the terminal device determines the priority of the seventh information based on the index of the first cell.

[0262] If the seventh message has a higher priority than the eighth message, the terminal device sends the seventh message but does not send the second message. Alternatively, if the seventh message has a lower priority than the eighth message, the terminal device discards both the seventh and second messages; therefore, the terminal device does not send the second message.

[0263] The priority of the eighth piece of information can be determined using the aforementioned formula (1). This implementation method 3.2 can be applied to scenarios where the priority of the sixth piece of information is determined based on the aforementioned method B or method C.

[0264] For example, in response to the fact that the priority of the sixth information is lower than the priority of the eighth information, the terminal device determines the priority of the seventh information based on the index of the first cell. This can be understood as: if the priority of the sixth information is lower than the priority of the eighth information, the terminal device determines the priority of the seventh information based on the index of the first cell; or, it can also be understood as: when the priority of the sixth information is lower than the priority of the eighth information, the terminal device determines the priority of the seventh information based on the index of the first cell. For example, if the priority of the sixth information is L1 and the priority of the eighth information is L2, and L1 is less than L2, the terminal device determines the priority of the seventh information based on the index of the first cell.

[0265] The terminal device sends the seventh information in response to the seventh information having a higher priority than the eighth information. This can be understood as: if the priority of the seventh information is higher than the priority of the eighth information, the terminal device sends the seventh information; or, it can also be understood as: the terminal device sends the seventh information when the priority of the seventh information is higher than the priority of the eighth information. For example, if the priority of the seventh information is L3 and the priority of the eighth information is L2, and L3 is greater than L2, the terminal device sends the seventh information.

[0266] In response to the fact that the priority of the seventh information is lower than that of the eighth information, the terminal device discards the seventh and second information. This can be understood as: if the priority of the seventh information is lower than that of the eighth information, the terminal device discards both the seventh and second information; or, it can also be understood as: if the priority of the seventh information is lower than that of the eighth information, the terminal device discards both the seventh and second information. For example, if the priority of the seventh information is L3 and the priority of the eighth information is L2, and L3 is less than L2, the terminal device discards both the seventh and second information.

[0267] In summary, in this method, the network device sends first information; the first information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges predicted based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges. The terminal device, based on the first information, sends second information, the second information being used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information being used to indicate M second frequency ranges within one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0268] It is evident that this method enables the terminal device to predict the channel state information corresponding to a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range based on the measurement results of the reference signal transmitted on the resources of the first frequency range. Compared with the method of measuring the channel state information corresponding to the second frequency range based on the reference signal transmitted on the resources of the second frequency range, this method can reduce the overhead of transmitting the reference signal on the second frequency range.

[0269] Furthermore, this method predicts the channel state information corresponding to other unmeasured frequency ranges by measuring the reference signal transmitted on the resources of the current frequency range. This also helps to select the frequency range to be switched for data transmission based on the predicted channel state information of the frequency range, which is beneficial to improving communication quality.

[0270] Referring to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device 400 can be a terminal device or a component of a terminal device (e.g., an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.); or, the communication device 400 can be a network device or a component of a network device (e.g., an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.). The communication device 400 may include a processing unit 401. Optionally, the communication device 400 may further include a communication unit 402, and the processing unit 401 can be used to control the communication unit 402 to perform data / signaling transmission and reception. Optionally, the communication device 400 may further include a storage unit.

[0271] In one implementation, the communication device 400 is used to perform the functions of the terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiments:

[0272] The communication unit 402 is used to receive first information, which is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges 40.

[0273] The communication unit 402 is further configured to send second information based on the first information. The second information is used to indicate channel status information corresponding to N second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0274] In another implementation, the communication device 400 is used to perform the functions of the network device in the aforementioned method embodiments:

[0275] The communication unit 402 is used to transmit first information; the first information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges.

[0276] The communication unit 402 is also used to receive second information, which is used to indicate channel status information corresponding to N second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0277] The embodiments disclosed herein and the above-described method embodiments are based on the same concept and have the same technical effects. For specific principles, please refer to the description of the above-described method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0278] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. This communication device 500 can be used to perform related operations of the aforementioned network device or terminal device. The communication device 500 may include a memory 501 and a processor 502. Optionally, it may also include a communication interface 503. The memory 501, processor 502, and communication interface 503 are connected via one or more communication buses. The communication interface 503 is controlled by the processor 502 for sending and receiving information.

[0279] Memory 501 may include read-only memory and random access memory, and provides instructions and data to processor 502. A portion of memory 501 may also include non-volatile random access memory.

[0280] Communication interface 503 is used to receive or send data.

[0281] Processor 502 can be a central processing unit (CPU), but it can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor; optionally, processor 502 can also be any conventional processor. Wherein:

[0282] Memory 501 is used to store program instructions.

[0283] Processor 502 is used to call program instructions stored in memory 501.

[0284] In one optional implementation, when the processor 502 invokes the computer program, it is used to perform the functions of the terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiments:

[0285] Receive first information, which indicates the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on reference signal measurement results corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, wherein the second frequency ranges are different from the first frequency ranges. Based on the first information, send second information, which indicates the channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, or indicates M second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0286] In another optional implementation, when the processor 502 invokes the computer program, it performs the functions of the network device in the foregoing method embodiments:

[0287] Send first information; the first information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges. Receive second information, the second information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0288] The embodiments disclosed herein and the above-described method embodiments are based on the same concept and have the same technical effects. For specific principles, please refer to the description of the above-described method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0289] This disclosure also provides a chip that can perform the relevant steps of the terminal device or network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The chip includes a processor and a communication interface, the communication interface being used to receive or transmit data.

[0290] In one embodiment, the chip performs the relevant steps of the terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiments:

[0291] The processor is configured to cause the chip to perform the following operations: receiving first information, which indicates the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on reference signal measurement results corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges; and based on the first information, transmitting second information, which indicates channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges among the one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information indicates M second frequency ranges among the one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0292] In another approach, the chip performs the relevant steps of the network device in the aforementioned method embodiments:

[0293] The processor is configured to cause the chip to perform the following operations: Sending first information; the first information indicating channel state information for one or more second frequency ranges, different from the first frequency ranges, based on measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges; Receiving second information, the second information indicating channel state information for N second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information indicating M second frequency ranges among one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0294] The embodiments disclosed herein and the above-described method embodiments are based on the same concept and have the same technical effects. For specific principles, please refer to the description of the above-described method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0295] For each device or product applied to or integrated into a chip, each of its modules can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits, or at least some modules can be implemented using software programs that run on a processor integrated inside the chip, while the remaining (if any) modules can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits.

[0296] As shown in Figure 6, Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a module device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The module device 600 can perform the relevant steps of the terminal device or network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The module device 600 includes: a communication module 601, a power module 602, a storage module 603, and a chip 604.

[0297] The power module 602 is used to provide power to the module device; the storage module 603 is used to store data and instructions; and the communication module 601 is used for internal communication within the module device or for communication between the module device and external devices.

[0298] In one embodiment, chip 604 is used to perform the method executed by the terminal device in the above method embodiment: receiving first information, the first information being used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on reference signal measurement results corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges. Based on the first information, sending second information, the second information being used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information being used to indicate M second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0299] In another embodiment, chip 604 is used to perform the method executed by the network device in the above method embodiment: sending first information; the first information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges. Receiving second information, the second information is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges in one or more second frequency ranges, where N and M are less than or equal to the total number of one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

[0300] The implementation method of this module device can be found in the relevant content of the above method embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0301] The embodiments disclosed herein and the above-described method embodiments are based on the same concept and have the same technical effects. For specific principles, please refer to the description of the above-described method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0302] This disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a processor, enable the implementation of the method flow described in the above method embodiments.

[0303] This disclosure also provides a computer program product, which, when run on a processor, enables the implementation of the method flow described in the above method embodiments.

[0304] Regarding the modules / units included in the various devices and products described in the above embodiments, they can be software modules / units, hardware modules / units, or a combination of both. For example, for various devices and products applied to or integrated into a chip, all of their modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits, or at least some modules / units can be implemented using software programs that run on the chip's integrated processor, while the remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. For various devices and products applied to or integrated into a chip module, all of their modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. Different modules / units can be located in the same part (e.g., chip, circuit module, etc.) or different components of the chip module, or at least some modules / units... It can be implemented using software programs that run on the processor integrated within the chip module. The remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. For various devices and products applied to or integrated into the terminal, the modules / units they contain can all be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. Different modules / units can be located in the same component (e.g., chip, circuit module, etc.) or in different components within the terminal. Alternatively, at least some modules / units can be implemented using software programs that run on the processor integrated within the terminal, while the remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits.

[0305] 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 disclosure is not limited to the described order of actions, because according to this disclosure, some operations can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. 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 disclosure.

[0306] All embodiments of this disclosure can be executed individually or in combination with other embodiments, and are all considered to be within the scope of protection claimed by this disclosure.

[0307] The descriptions of the various embodiments provided in this disclosure can be referenced mutually. Each embodiment has its own emphasis, and parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment can be referred to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. For the sake of convenience and brevity, for example, the functions and operations of the various devices and equipment provided in the embodiments of this disclosure can be referred to the relevant descriptions of the method embodiments of this disclosure. The method embodiments and the device embodiments can also be referenced, combined or cited mutually.

[0308] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure, and are not intended to limit them. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive first information, the first information being used to instruct the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on reference signal measurement results corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, the second frequency ranges being different from the first frequency ranges; Based on the first information, second information is sent; the second information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges in the one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges in the one or more second frequency ranges, wherein N and M are less than or equal to the total number of the one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within a first frequency band, which is the frequency range of the first cell.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first frequency range is located within a first frequency band, and the second frequency range is located within a second frequency band; The first frequency band is the frequency range of the first cell, and the second frequency band is the frequency range of the second cell. The first cell and the second cell are different cells.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first information includes the identifier of the one or more second frequency ranges.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive third information, the third information being used to indicate the reporting granularity of channel state information corresponding to the one or more second frequency ranges, the reporting granularity being wideband or subband.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The second frequency range includes one or more sub-bands; the method further includes: Receive fourth information, which is used to indicate the sub-band among the one or more sub-bands used for reporting channel state information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, including: The first information is used to indicate the channel state information of the one or more second frequency ranges in one or more time units based on the measurement results of the reference signals corresponding to the one or more first frequency ranges.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: The fifth information is received, which further includes one or more of the following: the time interval between the reference time unit and the earliest time unit among the one or more time units, the number of the one or more time units, or the time interval between adjacent time units among the multiple time units; The reference time unit is the time unit in which the terminal device sends the second information, or the reference time unit is the time unit in which the terminal device receives the last reference signal.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The second information also indicates a first parameter, which is used for selecting the M second frequency ranges; wherein the second information indicates the M second frequency ranges.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The sending of the second information includes: Based on the priority of the sixth information, the second information is sent; Wherein, the sixth information is the second information; or, the sixth information includes the second information and the seventh information, wherein the seventh information is used to indicate the channel state information corresponding to X first frequency ranges in the one or more first frequency ranges, wherein X is a positive integer, and X is less than or equal to the total number of the one or more first frequency ranges.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The method further includes: The priority of the sixth information is determined based on the index of the first cell and / or the index of the second cell, wherein the first cell is the cell corresponding to the first frequency range and the second cell is the cell corresponding to the second frequency range.

12. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send the first message; The first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, wherein the second frequency ranges are different from the first frequency ranges; Receive second information, which is used to indicate channel state information corresponding to N second frequency ranges in the one or more second frequency ranges, or the second information is used to indicate M second frequency ranges in the one or more second frequency ranges, wherein N and M are less than or equal to the total number of the one or more second frequency ranges, and N and M are positive integers.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first frequency range and the second frequency range are located within a first frequency band, which is the frequency range of the first cell.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first frequency range is located within a first frequency band, and the second frequency range is located within a second frequency band; The first frequency band is the frequency range of the first cell, and the second frequency band is the frequency range of the second cell. The first cell and the second cell are different cells.

15. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first information includes the identifier of the one or more second frequency ranges.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a third message, which is used to indicate the reporting granularity of channel state information corresponding to the one or more second frequency ranges, wherein the reporting granularity is wideband or subband.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that, The second frequency range includes one or more sub-bands; the method further includes: Send a fourth message, which is used to indicate the sub-band among the one or more sub-bands used for reporting channel state information.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the prediction of channel state information corresponding to one or more second frequency ranges based on the measurement results of reference signals corresponding to one or more first frequency ranges, including: The first information is used to indicate the channel state information of the one or more second frequency ranges in one or more time units based on the measurement results of the reference signals corresponding to the one or more first frequency ranges.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a fifth message, which may include one or more of the following: the time interval between the reference time unit and the earliest time unit among the one or more time units, the number of the one or more time units, or the time interval between adjacent time units among the multiple time units; The reference time unit is the time unit in which the terminal device sends the second information, or the reference time unit is the time unit in which the terminal device receives the last reference signal.

20. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that, The second information also indicates a first parameter, which is used for selecting the M second frequency ranges; wherein the second information indicates the M second frequency ranges.

21. A communication device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes modules or units for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or includes modules or units for implementing the method according to any one of claims 12 to 20.

22. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor and a memory interconnected thereto, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, and the processor is configured to invoke the program instructions to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, or to perform the method as described in any one of claims 12 to 20.

23. A chip, characterized in that, The device includes a processor and a communication interface, the processor being configured to cause the chip to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, or to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 20.

24. A module device, characterized in that, The module device includes a communication module, a power module, a storage module, and a chip, wherein: The power module is used to provide electrical energy to the module device; The storage module is used to store data and instructions; The communication module is used for internal communication within the module device, or for communication between the module device and external devices; The chip is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, or to perform the method as described in any one of claims 12 to 20.

25. A non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The non-volatile computer-readable storage medium stores computer-readable instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 12 to 20.

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