Communication method, apparatus, program product and medium

Abstract

A communication method, an apparatus, a program product and a medium. In the method, a terminal apparatus sends a first message, the first message comprising a first demodulation reference signal, an index of the first demodulation reference signal being determined on the basis of the identifier of the terminal apparatus. As the information of the first demodulation reference signal is determined on the basis of the identifier of the terminal apparatus, the probability of different terminal apparatuses selecting different demodulation reference signals is greater, such that the probability of conflicts of demodulation reference signals of different terminal apparatuses is reduced, thus helping to improve the reliability of sending the first message, and improve the success rate of decoding the first message by a network apparatus.

Description

A communication method, apparatus, program product, and medium

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411617495.2, filed on November 12, 2024, entitled "A Communication Method, Apparatus, Program Product and Medium", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, apparatus, program product and medium. Background Technology

[0004] Terminal devices can access the network through network devices (such as base stations), and after accessing the network, the network can provide services to the terminal devices.

[0005] When a terminal device communicates with a network device, if multiple terminal devices send messages containing the same demodulation reference signal (DMRS) on the same resource to the network device, the network device may not be able to distinguish between the messages from different terminal devices. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, program product, and medium for reducing the probability that different terminal devices use the same DMRS.

[0007] Firstly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method. This method can be applied to a terminal device. The terminal device can be the terminal device itself (or terminal or terminal equipment), a module within the terminal device, or a logic module or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of the terminal device. Modules within the terminal device include, for example, a processor, a communication module, or a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions. Chips include, for example, modem chips, system-on-chip (SoC) chips containing modem cores, or system-in-package (SIP) chips. For ease of description, the following description uses the execution of this method by a terminal device as an example. The method includes: sending a first message in a first resource, the first message including a first DMRS, the information of the first DMRS being determined based on the identifier of the terminal device. Alternatively, the method can also be described as: determining the information of the first DMRS based on the identifier of the terminal device, and sending a first message in a first resource, the first message including the first DMRS.

[0008] The first message can be, for example, a message in a random access (RA) procedure, such as message 3 (Msg3) or message A (MsgA), etc., without specific limitations. The first DMRS can be used to demodulate the data in the first message. The information of the first DMRS can be used to determine which DMRS or sequence or DMRS port the terminal device uses. For example, the information of the first DMRS can indicate the first sequence, such as its identifier or index. Similarly, the information of the first DMRS can indicate the first DMRS port, such as its port number or index.

[0009] The information in the first DMRS is determined based on the identifier of the terminal device. For example, the first DMRS information may be obtained by performing calculations on some or all of the information in the identifier of the terminal device, or by performing calculations on some or all of the bits in the bit sequence corresponding to the identifier of the terminal device. The bit sequence of the terminal device identifier may refer to the binary sequence corresponding to the identifier of the terminal device. The method by which the terminal device performs calculations on the identifier or the bit sequence may be pre-configured in the terminal device, predefined by a protocol, negotiated between the terminal device and the network device, or configured by the network device for the terminal device.

[0010] This application provides a method for determining DMRS information based on the identifier of a terminal device. Different terminal devices can determine DMRS information based on their respective identifiers. This is beneficial for different terminal devices to select different DMRS, reducing the probability of different terminal devices selecting the same DMRS. This reduces the situation where messages from different terminal devices include the same DMRS, and helps network devices distinguish messages from different terminal devices.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the information of the first demodulation reference signal is determined based on the identifier of the terminal device, including: the information of the first demodulation reference signal and the identifier of the terminal device satisfy the following relationship: Y = C1*(X mod S) + U1, where Y represents the port of the first demodulation reference signal, the index of the port of the first demodulation reference signal, or the index of the first sequence, C1 is a constant, X represents the identifier of the terminal device, mod represents the modulo operation, S represents the maximum number of quadrature demodulation reference signals supported by the communication network, and U1 represents a first value. The port or first sequence of the first demodulation reference signal is indicated by the information of the first demodulation reference signal, and the first sequence is used to determine the first demodulation reference signal. The communication network refers to a network including terminal devices and network devices. The maximum number of supported quadrature DMRS can be replaced or understood as the number of quadrature ports supported by the DMRS. The number of orthogonal ports supported by DMRS can be understood as the number of orthogonal transport streams that can be supported under a specific DMRS configuration. For example, under type 1 DMRS, the network supports a maximum of four orthogonal DMRS signals per symbol (such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM). The maximum number of supported orthogonal DMRS can be configured by the network device to the terminal device, pre-configured in the terminal device, or predefined by the protocol. The first value can be configured by the network device to the terminal device, pre-configured in the terminal device, or pre-defined by the protocol. Alternatively, the first value can be related to parameters associated with the first resource, such as the index of the first resource, or related to the frequency domain resource for sending the first message. For example, the first value can be the index of the carrier for sending the first message (or simply the carrier index).

[0012] Thus, there is a greater likelihood that the remainders of different terminal device identifiers divided by the maximum number of supported orthogonal DMRSs will differ, reducing the probability of DMRS selection conflicts between different terminal devices and thereby increasing the likelihood that the first message will be accurately distinguished and demodulated by the network device. Furthermore, the determination of the first DMRS information by the terminal device involves a relatively simple modulo operation, which simplifies the method of determining the first DMRS information and improves the efficiency of determining the first DMRS information.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the first resource is a resource in a first subset of resources; the method further includes: repeatedly sending a first message to a second resource included in the first subset of resources; or, sending a second message to the second resource included in the first subset of resources, wherein the first message is further used to indicate a second resource or a first mode, the first mode indicating the relative positional relationship between the first resource and the second resource. The second message may include some information from the first message, such as both the first message and the second message including a first DMRS.

[0014] Repeating the first message can improve its coverage. If a second message is sent, the first message can indicate the resource for the second message (i.e., the second resource), ensuring that the network device can receive the second message based on the first message.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: detecting a third message within a second resource subset, the third message being used in response to a second message, or the third message being used in response to a first message, wherein a first resource unit of the second resource subset is associated with a second resource unit of the first resource subset. For example, both the first and second resource subsets are time windows, and the association between the first resource unit of the second resource subset and the second resource unit of the first resource subset includes: the starting resource unit of the second resource subset and the ending resource unit of the first resource subset being time-separated by a first duration.

[0016] Both the second resource subset and the second resource subset include at least one resource, whereby one resource may include time-domain resources and / or frequency-domain resources. Resources may consist of resource units, and a resource may include one or more resource units. For example, a first resource may include one or more resource units, and a second resource may include one or more resource units. Different resources may include the same or different numbers of resource units. A first resource unit may be, for example, the starting resource unit, the ending resource unit, or other resource units in the second resource subset. A second resource unit may be, for example, the starting resource unit, the ending resource unit, or other resource units in the first resource subset.

[0017] In this way, the terminal device can identify the first resource unit of the second resource subset based on the second resource unit of the first resource subset, so that the terminal device can detect the third message in a timely manner.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the first resource subset is a subset of a first resource set among multiple resource sets, and the first resource set is associated with the identifier of the terminal device. The multiple resource sets can be predefined or configured by the network device. Multiple resource sets are equivalent to further grouping multiple resource subsets, allowing different terminal devices to select different resource sets, which helps reduce resource collisions.

[0019] Different terminal devices can choose different resource sets from multiple resource sets, reducing resource conflicts between different terminal devices. Furthermore, the network device no longer needs to individually instruct the terminal device which resource set to choose, which helps to reduce signaling overhead.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the first resource set is associated with the identifier of the terminal device, including: the first resource set and the identifier of the terminal device satisfy the following relationship: G = C2 * (X mod K) + U2, where G represents the index of the first resource set, C2 represents a constant, X represents the identifier of the terminal device, * represents multiplication, mod represents modulo operation, and K represents a second value. For example, the second value can be 2, 4, or 8, etc., and its value is not limited. The second value can be pre-configured in the terminal device, or it can be pre-defined by the protocol, or it can be negotiated between the terminal device and the network device, or it can be configured by the network device, and there is no limitation in this regard. U2 represents a third value, such as 0, 1, etc. The third value can be configured by the network device to the terminal device, or it can be pre-configured in the terminal device, or it can be pre-defined by the protocol, or the third value can also be related to parameters related to the first resource, such as the index of the first resource, or it can be related to the frequency domain resources for sending the first message, for example, the third value can be the carrier index for sending the first message. The third value and the first value can be the same or different, and there is no limitation in this regard.

[0021] In this way, there is a greater chance that the remainders of the identifiers of different terminal devices divided by the first value will be different, which greatly reduces the possibility of conflict between the resource sets selected by different terminal devices, thereby improving the reliability of sending the first message.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the first message further includes M bits, M bits and N bits for indicating the identifier of the terminal device, where M and N are both positive integers, wherein: N bits are associated with the index of the first demodulation reference signal; or, P bits of the N bits are associated with the index of the first demodulation reference signal, and the remaining bits of the N bits other than the P bits are associated with the first resource set, the first resource set including the first resource, where P is a positive integer.

[0023] Thus, the first message carries a portion of all bits in the identifier used to indicate the terminal device, ensuring that the network device can obtain the identifier of the terminal device. Compared with the scheme where the first message carries the complete identifier used to indicate the terminal device, the implementation method provided in this application can minimize the transmission overhead of the first message.

[0024] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method. This method can be applied to a network device. The network device can be the network device itself (also referred to as a network-side device or network equipment, etc.), a module within the network device, or a logic module or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of the network device. The network device is, for example, an access network device (such as a base station) or a core network device. Modules within the network device are, for example, processors, communication modules, or circuits or chips responsible for communication functions. Modules within the network device are, for example, processors, communication modules, or circuits, chips, or central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), etc., responsible for communication functions. Chips are, for example, modem chips, or SoC chips or SIP chips containing modem cores. For ease of description, the following description uses a network device executing this method as an example. The method further includes: receiving a first message in a first resource, the first message including a first demodulation reference signal, the information of which is related to the identifier of a first terminal device.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the information of the first demodulation reference signal indicates: the port of the first demodulation reference signal; or, the first demodulation reference signal sequence, which is used to determine the first demodulation reference signal.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the first message is Msg3 or msgA during the random access process.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the information of the first demodulation reference signal is determined based on the identifier of the terminal device, including: the information of the first demodulation reference signal and the identifier of the terminal device satisfy the following relationship: Y = C1*(X mod S) + U1, where Y represents the port of the first demodulation reference signal, the index of the port of the first demodulation reference signal, or the index of the first sequence, C1 is a constant, X represents the identifier of the terminal device, mod represents the modulo operation, S represents the maximum number of supported quadrature demodulation reference signals, U1 is a first value, the port of the first demodulation reference signal or the first sequence is indicated by the information of the first demodulation reference signal, and the first sequence is used to determine the first demodulation reference signal.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the first resource is a resource in a first subset of resources; the method further includes: receiving a first message from a second resource included in the first subset of resources; receiving a second message from the second resource included in the first subset of resources, wherein the first message is also used to indicate the second resource or a first mode, the first mode indicating the relative positional relationship between the first resource and the second resource.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending a third message within a second resource subset, the third message being used in response to the second message, or the third message being used in response to the first message, wherein the first resource unit of the second resource subset is associated with the second resource unit of the first resource subset.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the first resource subset is a resource subset of a first resource set of a plurality of resource sets, and the first resource set is associated with the identifier of the first terminal device.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the first resource set is associated with the identifier of the first terminal device, including: the first resource set and the identifier of the first terminal device satisfy the following relationship: G = C2 * (X mod K) + U2, where G represents the index of the first resource set, C2 represents a constant, * represents multiplication, X represents the identifier of the terminal device, mod represents the modulo operation, K represents the second value, and U2 represents the third value.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the first resource set is one of a plurality of resource sets, the number of which is the maximum number of supported quadrature demodulation reference signals.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a fourth message on a second resource, the fourth message including a second demodulation reference signal, the information of the second demodulation reference signal being related to an identifier of a second terminal device; and decoding the fourth message based on the second message and the second demodulation reference signal.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the first message further includes M bits, where M is a positive integer; the method further includes: determining N bits based on information from the first demodulation reference signal, and determining an identifier of the first terminal device based on the M bits and N bits, where N is a positive integer; or, determining P bits based on information from the first demodulation reference signal, and determining Q bits based on a first resource set, and determining an identifier of the first terminal device based on the M bits, P bits, and Q bits; wherein the first resource set includes first resources, P and Q are both positive integers, and the sum of P and Q is N.

[0035] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device. This communication device can be a terminal device as described in the first aspect above, or a module (e.g., a chip system) configured in a terminal device, or a larger device including the terminal device, or a device capable of implementing the functions of a terminal device. The communication device includes corresponding means or modules for performing the first aspect above or any optional implementation.

[0036] For example, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a communication unit (sometimes also called a communication module). The communication unit is used to perform transmit and receive operations, such as functions related to sending and receiving; the communication unit may be called a transceiver unit; optionally, the communication unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The processing unit is used to perform processing operations. Alternatively, the communication unit may be a transmitter and a receiver, or a transmitter and a receiver. Optionally, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module).

[0037] For example, the communication unit is used to send a first message.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the communication device may also implement any of the possible implementations in the first aspect, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0039] Optionally, the communication device includes a storage unit, and the processing unit is coupled to the storage unit and executes programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform the functions of the aforementioned terminal device.

[0040] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device. This communication device can be a network device as described in the second aspect above, or a module (e.g., a chip system) configured within a network device, or a larger device including the network device, or a device capable of implementing the functions of a network device. The communication device includes corresponding means or modules for performing the second aspect above or any optional implementation.

[0041] For example, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a communication unit (sometimes also called a communication module). The communication unit is used to perform transmit and receive operations, such as functions related to sending and receiving; the communication unit may be called a transceiver unit; optionally, the communication unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The processing unit is used to perform processing operations. Alternatively, the communication unit may be a transmitter and a receiver, or a transmitter and a receiver. Optionally, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module).

[0042] For example, the communication unit is used to receive the first message.

[0043] In one possible implementation, the communication device may also implement any of the possible implementations in the second aspect, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0044] Optionally, the communication device includes a storage unit, and the processing unit is coupled to the storage unit and executes programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform the functions of the aforementioned network device.

[0045] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device. The communication device includes one or more processors that execute computer programs or instructions stored in memory to implement any of the methods described in the first or second aspect.

[0046] In one possible design, the communication device also includes a memory. Optionally, the memory may be coupled to one or more processors.

[0047] In one possible design, the communication device further includes an interface circuit. This interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices besides the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices besides the communication device.

[0048] In the specific implementation process, the communication device can be a chip, and the processor can be a transistor, gate circuit, flip-flop, and various logic circuits, etc. The specific implementation method of the processor is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0049] In one implementation, the communication device can be a wireless communication device, i.e., a computer device that supports wireless communication functionality. Specifically, the wireless communication device can be a terminal device such as a smartphone, or a network device such as a wireless access network device (e.g., a base station).

[0050] In another implementation, the communication device can be a component of a wireless communication device, such as an integrated circuit product like a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or communication chip. A SoC can be a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or simply a SoC chip. The communication chip may include a baseband processing chip and a radio frequency (RF) processing chip. The baseband processing chip is sometimes called a modem or baseband chip. The RF processing chip is sometimes called a transceiver or RF chip. In physical implementation, some or all of the communication chips can be integrated within the SoC chip. For example, the baseband processing chip may be integrated into the SoC chip, while the RF processing chip may not be integrated. The interface circuit can be the RF processing chip in the wireless communication device, and the processor can be the baseband processing chip in the wireless communication device. The interface circuit can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip or chip system. The processor can also be a processing circuit or logic circuit.

[0051] In another implementation, the communication device can be a chip system, which may consist of chips or include chips and other discrete devices. Chip systems may include, for example, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), system-on-chips (SoCs), CPUs, network processors (NPs), DSPs, microcontroller units (MCUs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other integrated chips.

[0052] Optionally, the communication device may also include other components, such as antennas, input / output modules, interfaces (such as communication interfaces), etc. These components may be hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0053] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication system. The communication system includes a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device, for example, can implement the functions of any of the communication devices described in the third aspect, and the network device can implement the functions of any of the communication devices described in the fourth aspect.

[0054] Optionally, the terminal device is used to implement the functions of any of the methods described in the first aspect, and the network device is used to implement the functions of any of the methods described in the second aspect.

[0055] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a chip system. The chip system includes a processor. Optionally, the chip system may further include an interface (such as a communication interface). The processor can be used to implement any of the methods described in the first or second aspect. Optionally, the chip system also includes a memory. The memory is used to store a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions). The processor is used to call and run the computer program from the memory, causing a device equipped with the chip system to perform any of the methods described in the first or second aspect. Implementation methods of the chip system can be referred to the preceding descriptions of chip systems, and will not be listed here.

[0056] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium. This computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement any of the methods described in the first or second aspect.

[0057] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product. When run on a computer, it implements any of the methods described in the first or second aspect.

[0058] In one possible implementation, the computer program product includes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the methods described in the first or second aspect.

[0059] In another possible implementation, the computer program product includes instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the methods described in the first aspect and any possible implementation or the second aspect and any possible implementation.

[0060] Regarding the beneficial effects of any of the technical solutions in the second to ninth aspects mentioned above, refer to the discussion of the beneficial effects of the corresponding technical solutions in the first aspect; repeated examples will not be listed here. Attached Figure Description

[0061] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0062] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the integrated system of satellite system and fifth-generation communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0063] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of multiple user equipment (UE) sending Msg3 to the base station;

[0064] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of various modes provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0066] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of multiple resource subsets provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0067] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the transmission message provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the first resource subset and the second resource subset provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0069] Figures 9 to 11 are schematic diagrams of several communication devices provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0070] The following describes the communication network (or communication system, network, or system, etc.) to which the embodiments of this application are applicable.

[0071] The solutions provided in this application can be applied to various communication networks, such as 4th generation (4G) mobile communication networks (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks), 5th generation (5G) mobile communication networks (e.g., New Radio (NR) networks), future mobile communication networks, NTNs, converged networks of one or more of the above communication networks, or other communication networks. An NTN is, for example, a satellite communication network. A converged network can be, for example, a converged network of satellite communication networks and other communication networks.

[0072] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication network applicable to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication network 1000 includes an access network 100. Optionally, the communication system may also include a core network 200 and an Internet 300. The access network 100 or the core network 200 may include at least one network device (or network equipment, or network-side equipment), as shown in Figure 1 as 110a and 110b. 110a is a base station, and 110b is a micro-station. The communication system 1000 may also include at least one terminal device (or terminal equipment), as shown in Figure 1 as 120a to 120j. 120a, 120e, 120f, and 120j are mobile phones, 120b is a car, 120c is a gas pump, 120d is a home access point (HAP) deployed indoors or outdoors, 120g is a laptop computer, 120h is a printer, and 120i is a drone. The same terminal device or the same network device can provide different functions in different application scenarios. For example, the mobile phones in Figure 1 are 120a, 120e, 120f and 120j. Mobile phone 120a can access base station 110a, connect to car 120b, communicate directly with mobile phone 120e and access HAP. Car 120b can access HAP and communicate directly with mobile phone 120a. Mobile phone 120f can access micro-station 110b, connect to laptop 120g and printer 120h. Mobile phone 120j can control drone 120i.

[0073] A terminal device is a user-side device with wireless transceiver capabilities. It can also be called a terminal equipment, terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, and smart cities. Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. When applied to IoT scenarios, the terminal device can be called an IoT device; for example, when applied to the ambient internet of things (A-IoT or AIoT), the terminal device can be called an AIoT device. Terminal devices typically contain communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform the corresponding communication functions. The terminal device is also configured with program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions.

[0074] In various embodiments of this application, the device used to implement the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or it can be any device capable of supporting the terminal device in implementing those functions, such as a chip system or a combination of devices or components capable of implementing the functions of the terminal device. This device can be installed in the terminal device. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the terminal device.

[0075] In this embodiment of the application, the functions of the terminal device can also be performed by modules (such as chips or modems) in the terminal device, or by a device that includes the functions of the terminal device.

[0076] A network device is a network-side device with wireless transceiver capabilities. A network device can be a device, equipment, or module located on the network side of a communication system and possessing corresponding communication functions. A network device typically contains communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform the corresponding communication functions. It also contains program instructions for performing these functions, as well as corresponding program instructions. A network device can be a device in a radio access network (RAN) that provides wireless communication functions to terminal devices, referred to as RAN equipment or access network equipment (also called access network element, access network equipment, or access network entity, etc.), or it can be a core network device in the core network that provides services to terminal devices (also called core network element, core network entity, or core network equipment, etc.). The RAN can be an access network in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 4G, 5G, or future-oriented communication networks. The RAN can also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a communication network combining two or more of these networks.

[0077] RAN equipment can also be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc.

[0078] RAN equipment can also be modules or units that perform some of the functions of a base station. For example, it can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). Here, the CU performs the functions of the base station's Radio Resource Control Protocol (RRC) and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), and can also perform the functions of the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP). The DU performs the functions of the base station's Radio Link Control (RAN) and Medium Access Control (MAC) layers, and can also perform some or all of the physical layer functions. For specific descriptions of the above protocol layers, please refer to the relevant 3GPP technical specifications. The CU and DU can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as in the baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH). In different systems, CU, DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meanings. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, and RU can also be called O-RU. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules. RAN equipment can be a macro base station (as shown in Figure 1, 110a), a micro base station or an indoor station (as shown in Figure 1, 110b), or a relay node or donor node, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or specific equipment form used in the network device.

[0079] In embodiments of this application, the functions of the network device can also be executed by modules (such as chips) within the network device, or by a device or control subsystem that includes network device functions. Here, the control subsystem that includes network device functions can be a control center in the aforementioned application scenarios such as smart grids, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart cities.

[0080] Network devices and terminal devices can be fixed in location or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can be deployed in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the network devices and terminal devices.

[0081] The roles of network devices and terminal devices can be relative. For example, the helicopter or drone 120i in Figure 1 can be configured as a mobile network device. For terminal devices 120j that access the wireless access network 100 via 120i, terminal device 120i is a network device; however, for network device 110a, 120i is a terminal device. That is, 110a and 120i communicate via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120i can also communicate via a network device-to-network device interface protocol. In this case, relative to 110a, 120i is also a network device. Therefore, both network devices and terminal devices can be collectively referred to as communication devices. 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be called communication devices with network device functions, and 120a-120j in Figure 1 can be called communication devices with terminal device functions.

[0082] Network devices and terminal devices, network devices and network devices, and terminal devices and terminal devices can communicate through licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both licensed and unlicensed spectrum simultaneously, without limitation.

[0083] Figure 2 illustrates a converged network of satellite and terrestrial networks applicable to embodiments of this application. Figure 2 uses a 5G mobile communication network as an example. Terminal devices access the network via a 5G New Radio interface. 5G base stations can be deployed on satellites and connected to the terrestrial core network via wireless links. Simultaneously, wireless links exist between satellites to facilitate signaling interaction and user data transmission between 5G base stations. For example, the link between the satellite and the terminal device can be called a service link, and the link between the satellite and the ground station can be called a feeder link. The details of each component shown in Figure 2 will be described below.

[0084] The content of the terminal device can be referred to the terminal device content discussed in Figure 1 above. For example, the terminal device is a mobile device such as a mobile phone, tablet, or IoT device. It can access the satellite network via the air interface and initiate calls, as well as provide services such as internet access.

[0085] 5G base stations primarily provide wireless access services, allocating wireless resources to access terminals and providing reliable wireless transmission protocols and data encryption protocols. 5G base stations and terminal devices can communicate via the 5G New Radio (NR) interface. 5G base stations can also communicate with each other via the Xn interface.

[0086] The 5G core network is responsible for user access control, mobility management, session management, user security authentication, and billing services. It comprises multiple network elements (or functional units). These elements can be divided into 5G control plane elements and 5G user plane (or 5G data plane) elements. The 5G control plane includes, for example, the access and mobility management function (AMF) and the session management function (SMF). The AMF is responsible for user access management, security authentication, and mobility management. The 5G user plane elements include the user plane function (UPF), which manages user plane data transmission and performs traffic statistics. The 5G core network and 5G base stations can communicate via the NG interface.

[0087] The satellite can be a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite, a geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite (or geostationary orbit), a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite, or a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite. The embodiments of this application do not limit the type of satellite.

[0088] The satellite can operate in either transparent or regenerative mode. This application does not limit the satellite's operating mode.

[0089] When a satellite operates in regenerative mode, it possesses data processing capabilities and functions as a network device (such as a base station), or partially functions as a network device (such as a base station). In this case, the satellite can be considered as a network device (such as a base station). Figure 2 illustrates an example of a 5G base station deployed on a satellite, with the satellite operating in regenerative mode.

[0090] When a satellite operates in transparent relay mode, it provides transparent forwarding functionality. A gateway possesses the functions of a network device (such as a base station) or some of the functions of a network device (such as a base station); in this case, the gateway can be considered a network device (such as a base station). Alternatively, the network device (such as a base station) can be deployed separately from the gateway.

[0091] For example, a satellite provides communication services to a terminal device. For instance, the satellite transmits data to the terminal device, the data is encoded using channel coding, and the channel-coded data is then modulated by constellation before being transmitted to the terminal device. Similarly, when a terminal transmits data to a satellite, the uplink data can also be encoded using channel coding, and the encoded data is then modulated by constellation before being transmitted to the satellite.

[0092] Optionally, each satellite can provide communication, navigation, and positioning services to terminal devices through multiple beams. For example, each satellite can use multiple beams to cover the service area, and the relationship between different beams can be one or more of time-division, frequency-division, and space-division.

[0093] The network devices in this application embodiment may include network devices deployed on satellites (such as satellite base stations) or network devices deployed on the ground (such as ground base stations).

[0094] The embodiments of this application can also be applied to other communication system architectures, such as air-to-ground (ATG) communication systems, which include at least one network device and at least one high-altitude terminal device. High-altitude terminal devices include, for example, high-altitude aircraft and onboard terminal devices. The satellite in Figure 2 above can also be replaced with other relay equipment, such as high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) or other NTN equipment.

[0095] Before a terminal device can utilize network devices to provide services, it must first access a communication network, such as the communication network shown in Figure 1 or the converged network shown in Figure 2. The terminal device can access the communication network based on a random access mechanism.

[0096] One type of random access is four-step random access. In this method, a terminal device (such as an IoT device) sends message 1 (Msg1) to the network device. Message 1 carries a preamble, and Msg1 requests random access. The network device responds to Msg1 by sending message 2 (Msg2) to the terminal device. Msg2 is used in response to Msg1. Optionally, Msg2 can indicate the DMRS resources in Msg3. Based on the resources indicated in Msg2, the terminal device sends Msg3, which can carry DMRS and data. After receiving Msg3, the network device can send message 4 (Msg4), which indicates conflict resolution, signifying successful access for the terminal device.

[0097] To reduce random access latency and overhead, in this embodiment, the terminal device can directly send Msg3 to the network device. Msg3 may include DMRS and data to directly initiate random access. In this way, the terminal device does not need to send Msg1, and the network device does not need to send Msg2, thus reducing random access latency and overhead.

[0098] However, in this approach, the network device cannot schedule DMRS resources via Msg2. Different terminal devices may randomly select resources from pre-allocated resources by the network device, such as a pre-allocated resource set or resource pool (or multiple resources), to send DMRS. Therefore, different terminal devices may choose the same DMRS resource. Furthermore, since different terminal devices randomly select sequences from the same sequence set when sending DMRS, they may also choose the same sequence. If different terminal devices choose the same DMRS resource and the same sequence, the network device may be unable to distinguish between DMRS messages from different terminal devices or messages containing that DMRS (such as Msg3).

[0099] The following explanation uses Figure 3 as an example to illustrate how multiple UEs send Msg3 to a base station. The UEs involved in Figure 3 are, for example, the terminal devices shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, and the base station involved in Figure 3 is, for example, the network device shown in Figure 1 or the 5G base station shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 illustrates how multiple UEs send multiple Msg3s to improve transmission performance.

[0100] As shown in Figure 3, UE1 and UE2 both send Msg3 to the base station on resource 1. UE2 and UE3 both send Msg3 to the base station on resource 2. UE3 sends Msg3 to the base station on resource 3. UE4, UE5, and UE6 all send Msg3 to the base station on resource 4. UE4 and UE5 both send Msg3 to the base station on resource 5. UE1 and UE6 both send Msg3 to the base station on resource 6. The resources involved in Figure 3 include time-domain resources and frequency-domain resources.

[0101] Since the resource on resource 3 from which UE3 sends Msg3 to the base station does not overlap with the resource of other Msg3, the base station can decode and obtain the Msg3 sent by UE3.

[0102] If the DMRS of Msg3 sent by UE2 on resource 2 is different from that of Msg3 sent by UE3 on resource 2, then the base station can decode the Msg3 sent by UE2 based on the previously decoded Msg3 sent by UE3.

[0103] If the DMRS of Msg3 sent by UE2 on resource 1 is different from the DMRS of Msg3 sent by UE1 on resource 1, then the base station can decode the Msg3 sent by UE1 based on the previously decoded Msg3 sent by UE2.

[0104] If the DMRS of Msg3 sent by UE1 on resource 6 is different from the DMRS of Msg3 sent by UE6 on resource 6, then the base station can decode the Msg3 sent by UE6 based on the previously decoded Msg3 sent by UE1.

[0105] If the DMRS of Msg3 transmitted by UE4 on resource 4 is the same as the DMRS of Msg3 transmitted by UE5 on resource 4, and the DMRS of Msg3 transmitted by UE4 on resource 5 is the same as the DMRS of Msg3 transmitted by UE5 on resource 5, then the base station will not be able to correctly decode and obtain the Msg3 transmitted by UE4 and UE5.

[0106] Besides the potential DMRS conflict when sending Msg3, in two-step random access, multiple UEs may also use the same DMRS to send message A (message A, MsgA), which can also cause the base station to be unable to correctly decode MsgA.

[0107] To facilitate network devices in distinguishing messages from different terminal devices, embodiments of this application provide a communication method in which the DMRS information of the message sent by the terminal device is determined by the identifier of the terminal device. Different terminal devices determine the selected DMRS based on their respective identifiers, reducing the probability of different terminal devices selecting the same DMRS. This is beneficial for network devices to distinguish messages from different terminal devices.

[0108] The following describes some of the terms and nouns used in the embodiments of this application.

[0109] DMRS is a type of reference signal used for data demodulation. The DMRS involved in the embodiments of this application includes, for example, a DMRS for demodulating the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a DMRS for demodulating the physical uplink share channel (PUSCH), a DMRS for demodulating the narrowband physical uplink share channel (NPUSCH), or a DMRS for demodulating the narrowband physical uplink control channel (NPUCCH). Optionally, the DMRS involved in the various embodiments of this application can also be replaced with other reference signals, such as a sounding reference signal (SRS), etc., and this is not limited.

[0110] As standards continue to evolve, the name of the demodulation reference signal may change, and more demodulation reference signals may emerge; no specific limitations are made regarding this.

[0111] Synchronization signals include at least one of the following: synchronization signal (SS), synchronization signal block (SSB), or synchronization signal block and physical broadcast channel block (or, SS / PBCH block, SSB).

[0112] In the various embodiments of this application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, refers to "singular nouns or plural nouns," that is, "one or more." "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of singular or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0113] In the various embodiments of this application, the words "exemplarily," "for example," "e.g.," etc., are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as an "example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the word "example" is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner. In the embodiments of this application, "of," "corresponding / relevant," and "corresponding" may sometimes be used interchangeably, and it should be noted that their intended meanings are consistent unless their distinction is emphasized.

[0114] In various embodiments of this application, "instruction" can include direct instruction, indirect instruction, explicit instruction, or implicit instruction. When describing a certain instruction information for instructing A, it can be understood that the instruction information carries A, directly instructs A, or indirectly instructs A. In this application, the information indicated by the instruction information is called the information to be instructed. In specific implementation, there are many ways to instruct the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly instructing the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly instruct the information to be instructed by instructing other information, where there is an association between the other information and the information to be instructed. It can also instruct only a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-defined) arrangement order of various information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to some extent. Furthermore, the information to be instructed can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information to be sent separately, and the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different.

[0115] In various embodiments of this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which may include direct transmission via the air interface or indirect transmission by other units or modules via the air interface. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which may include direct reception from YY via the air interface or indirect reception from YY by other units or modules via the air interface. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of a chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of a chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via a bus, wiring, or interface.

[0116] In the various embodiments of this application, all steps indicated by dashed lines are optional steps. Furthermore, the network devices in the various embodiments of this application include, for example, any of the network devices involved in FIG1, the 5G base station and / or ground station involved in FIG2, the first terminal device is, for example, one of the terminal devices involved in FIG1 or FIG2, and the second terminal device is, for example, another terminal device involved in FIG1 or FIG2. As standards continue to evolve, these devices may have other names or implementations, etc., which are not limited thereto.

[0117] The communication method provided in this application embodiment will be described below with reference to a schematic diagram of a communication method shown in Figure 4. The various steps involved in Figure 4 will be described below.

[0118] S401, the first terminal device sends a first message to the network device via the first resource. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first message from the first terminal device via the first resource.

[0119] For example, the first terminal device can directly send the first message to the network device on the first resource. Alternatively, if the terminal device is an IoT device, it can send the first message to the network device on the first resource through an auxiliary access device (such as a mobile phone), without specific limitations. The first terminal device can send the first message on the first resource. The first resource is used to transmit the first message and includes time-domain resources and / or frequency-domain resources.

[0120] The first message in this embodiment includes a first DMRS, the content of which can refer to the content of the DMRS discussed above. For example, the first DMRS may be a DMRS for demodulating PUCCH, a DMRS for demodulating PUSCH, a DMRS for demodulating NPUSCH, or a DMRS for demodulating NPUCCH; there is no limitation on this.

[0121] The information in the first DMRS is related to (or connected to) the identification (ID) of the first terminal device. This can be understood or described as the first terminal device determining the information in the first DMRS based on its identification. The identification of the first terminal device and the information in the first DMRS will be introduced separately below.

[0122] The identifier of the first terminal device is used to identify the first terminal device, and may be, for example, a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI), a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), a globally unique temporary identifier (GUTI), a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI), a serving temporary mobile subscriber identity (S-TMSI), an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), or a subscriber identity module (SIM), etc. The identifier of the first terminal device can be pre-configured in the first terminal device or predetermined by the protocol. Alternatively, the identifier of the first terminal device can be assigned to the first terminal device by the network side (such as an access network device or a core network device), for example, an identifier assigned to the first terminal device by the network after it previously accessed the network, such as an RNTI assigned to the first terminal device.

[0123] The information in the first DMRS refers to information related to the first DMRS. The information in the first DMRS is used to determine at least one of the following: which DMRS, which sequence, or which DMRS port the first terminal device uses; or, in other words, the information in the first DMRS indicates at least one of the following: the DMRS, the sequence, or the DMRS port used by the first terminal device. The sequence can be a DMRS sequence or a root sequence (or base sequence) used to generate the DMRS sequence.

[0124] For example, the information in the first DMRS indicates the first sequence. For instance, the information in the first DMRS indicating the first sequence includes: the information in the first DMRS includes the index (or identifier) ​​of the first sequence. Or, for instance, the information in the first DMRS indicating the first sequence includes: the information in the first DMRS includes parameters used to generate the first sequence; for example, if the first sequence is a sequence of DMRS, then the parameters of the first sequence may include, for example, cyclic shifts, and a root sequence that can be used to generate the first sequence.

[0125] The information in the first DMRS indicates the port of the first DMRS. For example, the information in the first DMRS includes the port number of the first DMRS port and / or the index of the first DMRS port. For example, the information in the first DMRS includes the port number of the first DMRS port, which is 1001.

[0126] For example, the information of the first DMRS indicates the port of the first DMRS. The first sequence is used to generate (or determine) the first DMRS. The first sequence may be, for example, a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence, or a ZC sequence that has been cyclically shifted.

[0127] The following describes, in conjunction with method A1 or method A2, the method by which the first terminal device determines the information of the first DMRS based on the identifier of the first terminal device.

[0128] Method A1: The first terminal device performs calculations on part or all of its identifier to obtain the information of the first DMRS. Part of the identifier of the first terminal device may be, for example, the first W bits, the last W bits, or the W1 to W2 bits of the identifier, where W, W1, and W2 are all positive integers, and W2 is a positive integer greater than or equal to W1. For example, if the identifier of the first terminal device is 1340569, then the entire identifier of the first terminal device is 1340569. Part of the identifier of the first terminal device may be, for example, 569.

[0129] The method by which the first terminal device performs some or all of the operations on the identifier of the first terminal device can be pre-configured in the first terminal device, or predefined by the protocol, or determined through negotiation between the first terminal device and the network device, or indicated or broadcast to the first terminal device by the network device, such as broadcast by the network device through system information (SI) or synchronization signals, without limitation.

[0130] In one possible design, the information of the first DMRS is related to the remainder when part or all of the identifier of the first terminal device is divided by the maximum number of supported orthogonal DMRSs. The maximum number of supported orthogonal DMRSs can also be described as the maximum number of orthogonal DMRS ports, or the maximum number of supported overlay users, or the maximum number of orthogonal ports supported by the DMRS, or the maximum number of orthogonal ports supported under the DMRS type to which the first DMRS belongs. The maximum number of orthogonal DMRSs is a positive integer, such as 8, 12, 16, 32, or 64.

[0131] The maximum number of supported orthogonal DMRS can be pre-configured in the first terminal device, or predefined by the protocol, or determined through negotiation between the first terminal device and the network device, or indicated or broadcast to the first terminal device by the network device, such as broadcast by the network device through system information or synchronization signals, and there is no limitation on this.

[0132] For example, the information of the first DMRS is determined based on the identifier of the terminal device, including: the information of the first DMRS and the identifier of the first terminal device satisfy the following relationship (1). Y=C1*(X mod S)+U1 (1)

[0133] Where Y represents the port number of the first DMRS port, the index of the first DMRS port, or the index of the first sequence; C1 is a constant, such as 0.5, 1, or 2, and its value is not limited; X represents the identifier of the first terminal device; mod represents the modulo operation; S represents the maximum number of supported orthogonal DMRSs; and U1 is the first value, which can be 0, 1, or 0.5, etc. The first value can be configured by the network device to the terminal device, or pre-configured in the terminal device, or it can be predefined by the protocol, or it can be related to parameters related to the first resource, or related to the frequency domain resources for sending the first message. For example, the first value is the carrier index for sending the first message.

[0134] The value of the information of the first DMRS can be a bit representation of the information of the first DMRS, or an index of the sequence indicated by the information of the first DMRS, or a port number indicated by the information of the first DMRS, or an index of the port number indicated by the information of the first DMRS, etc.

[0135] For example, if C1 is 1, the maximum number of supported orthogonal DMRS is 8, and the identifier of the first terminal device is represented by the UE ID, taking the information of the first DMRS indicating the port index of the first DMRS as an example, then the port index of the first DMRS = X mod 8. mod represents the remainder when divided by 8. For example, if C1 is 1, the maximum number of supported orthogonal DMRS is 8, then the port index of the first DMRS = the first W bits of X mod 8. For example, if C1 is 1, the maximum number of supported orthogonal DMRS is 64, then the port index of the first DMRS = X mod 64.

[0136] In another possible design, the remainder when the identifier of the first terminal device is divided by a third value is the information of the first DMRS. The third value can be pre-configured in the first terminal device, or predefined by the protocol, or determined through negotiation between the first terminal device and the network device, or indicated or broadcast to the first terminal device by the network device, such as broadcast by the network device through system information or synchronization signals. There is no limitation on this. The third value is, for example, 12 or 16, and its specific value is not limited.

[0137] Method A2: The first terminal device performs operations on some or all of the bits in the bit sequence identifying the first terminal device to obtain the information of the first DMRS. For simplicity, the bit sequence identifying the first terminal device will be referred to as the first bit sequence below. Some bits in the bit sequence may be, for example, the first R bits, the last R bits, or bits R1 to R2 in the first bit sequence, where R, R1, and R2 are all positive integers, and R2 is a positive integer greater than or equal to R1.

[0138] For example, the first terminal device can convert its identifier into a bit representation to obtain a first bit sequence. Alternatively, the first terminal device can configure or obtain the first bit sequence from the network side. The first terminal device performs operations on some or all of the bits in the first bit sequence to obtain information about the first DMRS. The method by which the first terminal device performs operations on some or all of the bits in the first bit sequence can be pre-configured in the first terminal device, predefined by the protocol, or determined through negotiation between the first terminal device and the network device, or it can be instructed or broadcast to the first terminal device by the network device, such as broadcasting by the network device through system information or synchronization signals; there is no limitation on this.

[0139] For example, the first terminal device can use the remainder after dividing some or all of the bits in the first bit sequence by the maximum number of orthogonal DMRS configured or supported by the network device as the information of the first DMRS. Alternatively, the first terminal device can use the remainder after dividing some or all of the bits in the first bit sequence by a fourth value as the information of the first DMRS. The fourth value can be pre-configured in the first terminal device, predefined by the protocol, or determined through negotiation between the first terminal device and the network device, or indicated or broadcast to the first terminal device by the network device, such as broadcast by the network device through system information or synchronization signals; there is no limitation on this. The fourth value can be, for example, 10 or 11, and its value is not specifically limited.

[0140] Methods A1 and A2 described above are examples of methods for determining the information of the first DMRS based on the identifier of the first terminal device. In fact, there are many ways to determine the information of the first DMRS based on the identifier of the first terminal device, and no limitation is imposed on this one.

[0141] The first terminal device determines the information of the first DMRS, thus identifying the first DMRS. The first terminal device may carry or transmit the first DMRS in the first message. Optionally, in addition to including the first DMRS, the first message may also include at least one of the following B1 to B6.

[0142] B1, PUSCH or NPUSCH. PUSCH or NPUSCH carries data.

[0143] B2, PUCCH or NPUCCH. PUCCH or NPUCCH carries control information.

[0144] B3, M bits. M bits and N bits are used to indicate the identifier of the first terminal device, where M and N are both positive integers.

[0145] Thus, the first message does not need to indicate all the bits of the identifier of the first terminal device, but only a portion of the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first terminal device, thereby reducing the number of bits occupied by the first message.

[0146] In one possible design, the N bits can be determined based on the information of the first DMRS, or described as N bits being related to the information of the first DMRS, so that the network device can determine the identifier of the first terminal device based on the information of the first DMRS and M bits.

[0147] For example, N bits can be the N low-order bits of the bit sequence identifying the first terminal device, and M bits can be the M high-order bits of the bit sequence identifying the first terminal device. Optionally, the value of N can be equal to the maximum number of orthogonal DMRS configured or supported by the network device.

[0148] In another possible design, P bits out of the N bits can be determined based on information from the first DMRS, while Q bits can be determined based on a first resource subset, for example, based on the index of the first resource subset. This can be described as P bits being associated with information from the first DMRS, and Q bits being associated with the first resource subset. Thus, the network device can determine the identifier of the first terminal device based on information from the first DMRS, the first resource subset, and M bits. N equals the sum of P and Q, meaning the Q bits are all the bits in the N bits except for the P bits, where P and Q are both positive integers. The first resource subset includes the first resource, and the first resource set includes the first resource subset.

[0149] The first resource subset may include at least one resource. This at least one resource may be continuous or discontinuous in the time and / or frequency domains, without limitation. The first resource subset may be, for example, a time-domain resource (e.g., a time window), or for example, a frame. Alternatively, the first resource subset may be a portion of frequency-domain resources (e.g., a frequency band). The first resource set includes at least one resource subset, and any resource subset in the first resource set is used for message transmission. The first resource set may be pre-configured in the first terminal device, predefined by the protocol, or indicated or broadcast by the network device, without limitation.

[0150] A resource set includes at least one resource subset. This resource subset may be continuous or discontinuous in the time and / or frequency domains, without limitation. The terms "resource set" and "resource subset" simply indicate that the resource set is at a higher level than the resource subset. However, in practice, resource sets and resource subsets can have various names. For example, a resource subset can also be called a resource range, a resource set can also be called a group of resource ranges, or a resource subset can be called a resource set, and a resource set can be called a resource range, etc.

[0151] B4. Information on the second resource.

[0152] The second resource is used to send a second message or to resend the first message. The second message includes some of the information included in the first message; that is, the content of the second message is a part of the content of the first message. For example, both the first and second messages include the first DMRS and the first PUCCH, but the first message also includes information from the second resource.

[0153] For example, the information of the second resource includes at least two of the following: the location of the starting resource unit for sending the second message, the resource length, or the location of the ending resource unit. A resource can be composed of resource units; for instance, a resource may include one or more resource units. For example, if the resource is a time-domain resource, then the resource units may be frames, time slots, symbols, or micro-time slots. Or, if the resource is a frequency-domain resource, then the resource units may be resource blocks (RBs), resource elements (REs), or subcarriers. Or, if the resource is both a frequency-domain and a time-domain resource, then the resource units may be the number of RBs occupied in a particular time slot. Furthermore, different resources may include the same or different numbers of resource units.

[0154] Alternatively, the first information indicates the relative position of the second resource to the first resource, which is equivalent to the first information including information about the second resource. For example, if both the first and second resources are time-domain resources, and a time window has U time slots, where U is a positive number, then by taking the start or end time of the time window of the first message as the reference position, the first terminal device can use log2(U) bits in the first message to indicate the relative position of the first and second resources.

[0155] B5. Information of the First Mode. The first mode indicates the relative positional relationship between the first resource and the second resource. In another possible description, the information of the first mode can also serve as a specific implementation of the information of the second resource.

[0156] The first pattern can also take the form of a drawing, pattern, or table, etc., and its form is not limited. The information of the first pattern may be, for example, an identifier or index of the first pattern. The first pattern can be one of multiple patterns. In this case, optionally, the information of the first pattern is used to determine the first pattern among multiple patterns.

[0157] For example, the first terminal device can randomly select one of several modes as the first mode, or the first terminal device can select one of several modes as the first mode according to its own business needs. Any of the multiple modes is used to indicate the relative positional relationship between the resources of the multiple messages. These multiple modes can be pre-configured in the first terminal device, obtained from system information or synchronization signals broadcast by the network device, or indicated by the network device; there is no specific limitation on this. In this way, the first terminal device is equivalent to indicating the location of the second resource of the second message, making it easier for the network device to clearly obtain the location of the second message and improving the success rate of receiving the second message.

[0158] Please refer to Figure 5, which illustrates one of the various modes provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 5 uses multiple modes, including Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3, as examples for illustration.

[0159] As shown in Figure 5, the resources for multiple messages in Mode 1 are located at positions 1, 3, 4, and 6, respectively. The resources for multiple messages in Mode 2 are located at positions 2, 7, 9, and 10, respectively. The resources for multiple messages in Mode 3 are located at positions 6, 8, 11, and 12, respectively. For example, if the first mode is Mode 1, and the first resource is located at position 4, the network device can determine the second resource as position 6 based on the information of the first mode included in the first message, and thus receive the second message at position 6.

[0160] B6. Preamble. For example, the first message also includes a preamble used to initiate random access.

[0161] Regardless of the information included in the first message, it can be Msg3, MsgA, other messages, or messages in future evolved communication systems; there is no limitation in this regard. The name of the first message may also vary; there is no limitation in this regard. For example, Msg3 could be Msg3 in a four-step random access procedure. For example, MsgA could be MsgA in a two-step random access procedure.

[0162] In one possible design, if the first message is Msg3, the terminal device can either not send Msg1 and the network device can not send Msg2, and the first terminal device can directly send Msg3 to initiate random access. In this case, optionally, the first terminal device can be an IoT device, and the network device can be a network device in an NTN (such as a satellite communication network), such as a satellite base station, satellite, ground station, or high-altitude platform in a satellite communication network.

[0163] S402, the first terminal device sends a second message to the network device via the second resource. Correspondingly, the network device receives the second message from the first terminal device via the second resource.

[0164] The content of the second message and the content of the second resource can be referred to in S401, respectively. S402 is equivalent to the first terminal device repeatedly sending a portion of the first message, thereby improving the success rate of the network device in successfully decoding the portion of the first message.

[0165] To facilitate decoding by the network device, optionally, the first terminal device can send the first message and the second message within the first resource subset. In this way, the network device can receive partial information from the first message multiple times within the first resource subset, improving decoding reliability. In this case, both the first resource and the second resource are resources within the first resource subset.

[0166] When the first resource subset is a time-domain resource (such as a time window), it is equivalent to the first terminal device sending the first message and the second message within a time window. When the first resource subset can be a portion of frequency-domain resources (such as a frequency band), it is equivalent to the first terminal device sending the first message and the second message within a frequency-domain resource. Other contents of the first resource subset can refer to the contents of the first resource subset mentioned in S401 above, and repeated parts will not be listed again.

[0167] In one possible implementation, the first terminal device can determine a first resource set from multiple resource sets, and then determine a first resource subset from the first resource set. This is equivalent to grouping the resource subsets, which allows different first terminal devices to select different resource sets, thereby reducing the probability of resource conflicts when different first terminal devices transmit messages.

[0168] Any of the multiple resource sets includes at least one resource subset, and the resources in any of the multiple resource sets are used for message transmission. The multiple resource sets may be pre-configured in the first terminal device, predefined by the protocol, determined through negotiation between the first terminal device and the network device, or configured by the network device, such as by the network device instructing or broadcasting to the first terminal device, or by the network device broadcasting through system information or synchronization signals; there is no limitation on this. The number of multiple resource sets is, for example, the maximum number of orthogonal DMRS configured or supported by the network device.

[0169] Optionally, the first terminal device may determine the first resource set from multiple resource sets based on the identifier of the first terminal device.

[0170] For example, the index of the first resource set is related to the remainder when the identifier of the first terminal device is divided by the second value. The index of the first resource set is used to identify the first resource set among multiple resource sets. The second value may be pre-configured in the first terminal device, predefined by the protocol, or determined through negotiation between the first terminal device and the network device, or indicated or broadcast to the first terminal device by the network device, such as broadcast by the network device through system information or synchronization signals. There are no limitations on the second value. For example, the second value may be 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8, and its value is not limited.

[0171] For example, the index of the first resource set and the identifier of the first terminal device satisfy the following relationship (2). G=C2*(X mod K)+U2 (2)

[0172] Where G represents the index of the first resource set, C2 represents a constant, * represents multiplication, X represents the identifier of the first terminal device, mod represents the modulo operation, K represents the second value, and U2 is the third value. The value of C2 can be, for example, 1, 2, etc., and its value is not limited. The value of U2 can be, for example, 0, 1, or 2. The third value can be configured by the network device to the terminal device, pre-configured in the terminal device, or predefined by the protocol. Alternatively, the third value can be related to parameters associated with the first resource, or related to the frequency domain resources for sending the first message; for example, the third value can be the carrier index for sending the first message.

[0173] For example, taking a second value of 2, C2 of 1, and the identifier of the first terminal device as UE ID as an example. If UE ID mod 2 = 0, then the first resource set is determined to be the first resource set; if UE ID mod 2 = 1, then the first resource set is determined to be the second resource set.

[0174] Optionally, when the resource subset is a time window, the first terminal device divides every two time windows into a resource set, and a resource set includes two resource subsets, with each resource subset constituting a time window. The length of any time window is equal to the length of a frame (or a wireless frame), for example, any time window is one frame.

[0175] After determining the first resource set, the first terminal device may randomly select a subset of resources from the first resource set as the first resource subset. Alternatively, the first terminal device may select an idle subset of resources from the first resource set as the first resource subset.

[0176] For example, please refer to Figure 6, which illustrates the content of multiple resource subsets provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 uses the example of multiple resource sets including two resource sets, and any resource subset included in the two resource sets as a time window.

[0177] As shown in Figure 6, resource subset 1 (time period t1 to t2) and resource subset 3 (time period t5 to t6) belong to the same resource set (e.g., resource set 0), and resource subset 2 (time period t3 to t4) and resource subset 4 (time period t7 to t8) belong to the same resource group (e.g., resource set 1). Assuming the identifier of the first terminal device divided by the first value is 0, it can be determined that both the first message and the second message are sent within a resource subset of resource set 0. For example, the first terminal device determines to send the first message and the second message respectively on resource subset 1.

[0178] The first terminal device may also choose not to send the second message, i.e., step S402 does not need to be executed. In another possible implementation, the first terminal device may repeatedly send the first message using the second resource. In this case, the repeatedly sent first message can be referred to as a copy of the first message, and step S402 does not need to be executed. That is, S402 is an optional step, which is shown as a dashed line in Figure 4. Alternatively, in yet another possible implementation, the first terminal device neither repeats the first message nor sends the second message.

[0179] In one possible implementation, other terminal devices besides the first terminal device (such as the second terminal device) can also send a fourth message to the network device on the second resource. The content of the fourth message can refer to the content of the first message mentioned above, and will not be listed here one by one. For example, the fourth message includes the second DMRS. Optionally, the fourth message may also include PUCCH (or NPUCCH), PUSCH (or NPUSCH), preamble, and other information, which are not specifically limited.

[0180] Optionally, the index of the second DMRS can be determined based on the identifier of the second terminal device. Since the identifier of the second terminal device is different from the identifier of the first terminal device, the probability that the index of the second DMRS is different from the index of the first DMRS is relatively high. In this embodiment, the example is that the index of the second DMRS is different from the index of the first DMRS.

[0181] The content of the index of the second DMRS, the content of the identifier of the second terminal device, and the method of determining the index of the second DMRS based on the identifier of the second terminal device can be referred to the content of the index of the first DMRS, the content of the identifier of the first terminal device, and the content of determining the index of the first DMRS based on the identifier of the first terminal device discussed above, respectively, and will not be listed here.

[0182] S403, the network device sends a third message to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the third message from the network device.

[0183] The third message is used in response to either the first or second message. Alternatively, it can be described as a third message used in response to some or all of the information in the first message, or in response to some or all of the information in the second message.

[0184] Case D1: The case where N bits are associated with the first DMRS.

[0185] The network device can determine N bits based on the first DMRS in the first message, and then determine the identifier of the first terminal device based on the N bits and the M bits in the first message. Alternatively, the network device can determine N bits based on the first DMRS in the second message, and then determine the identifier of the first terminal device based on the N bits and the M bits in the second message.

[0186] For example, the network device determines N low-order bits, such as 3 low-order bits, based on the first DMRS. The first terminal device determines the first bit sequence based on the 3 high-order bits and 3 low-order bits in the first message, and thus determines the identifier of the first terminal device.

[0187] Case D2: N bits are associated with the first DMRS and the first resource subset (or the first resource set).

[0188] The network device can determine P bits based on the first DMRS in the first message and Q bits based on the index of the first resource set to which the first resource subset belongs, and then determine the identifier of the first terminal device based on the P bits, Q bits, and M bits in the first message. Alternatively, the network device can determine P bits based on the first DMRS in the second message and Q bits based on the index of the first resource set, and then determine the identifier of the first terminal device based on the P bits, Q bits, and M bits in the second message.

[0189] For example, the network device determines Q bits based on the first resource set, such as the last bit in the bit sequence identifying the first terminal device, and determines P bits based on the first DMRS, such as the second to fourth to last bits in the bit sequence identifying the first terminal device. Therefore, the network device can determine the identifier of the first terminal device based on the P bits, Q bits, and M bits in the second message, and thus the first bit sequence.

[0190] After decoding the first message, even if the second message overlaps in resources with messages from other first terminal devices (both in the time and frequency domains), the network device can still decode the messages from other first terminal devices based on the first message. Similarly, after decoding the second message, even if the first message overlaps in resources with messages from other first terminal devices, the network device can still decode the messages from other first terminal devices based on the second message.

[0191] For example, if the resources of the second and fourth messages overlap, the network device can decode the first terminal device's identifier and the content of the first message based on the first message. The network device then decodes the second message based on the content of the first message, removes any interference (such as channel interference) the second message may cause to the fourth message, and decodes the information in the fourth message based on the second DMRS.

[0192] For example, please refer to Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of a message transmission provided in an embodiment of this application. A first terminal device sends a first message on a first resource, a second message on a second resource, and a fourth message on a third resource. Thus, the network device can decode the first message, decode the second message based on the first message, remove the interference of the second message on the fourth message, and thereby decode and obtain the fourth message.

[0193] After decoding the first or second message, the network device can send a third message to the first terminal device in response to the first or second message. If the first message is Msg3, the third message can be Msg4. If the first message is MsgA, the third message can be MsgB, etc. The third message can have various implementations and names, and no specific limitations are imposed.

[0194] When the first terminal device sends the first message and the second message within the first resource subset, or when the first message is sent on the first resource and retransmitted on the second resource, the network device can decode the first message and the second message based on the first resource subset. In this way, the first terminal device can send messages in a relatively concentrated manner, and the network device can use resource subsets as units for message reception and decoding, which helps improve the efficiency and success rate of the network device's decoding.

[0195] Optionally, the first terminal device may detect (or monitor) a third message from the network device within a second subset of resources. That is, if the network device successfully decodes the first or second message, the network device may send the third message within one or more resources in the second subset of resources. The second subset of resources may include at least one resource. This at least one resource may be continuous in the time domain and / or continuous in the frequency domain.

[0196] The second resource subset is related to (or related to) the first resource subset. For example, a first resource unit in the second resource subset is related to, or satisfies a first relationship with, a second resource unit in the first resource subset. The first resource unit is any resource unit in the second resource subset, such as the starting or ending resource unit (or terminating resource unit) in the second resource subset. The second resource unit is, for example, the starting or ending resource unit in the first resource subset. For instance, the first resource unit is the starting resource unit in the second resource subset, and the second resource unit is the ending resource unit in the first resource subset.

[0197] For example, taking the first resource unit as the starting resource unit in the second resource subset, the second resource unit as the ending resource unit in the first resource subset, and both the first and second resource subsets being time-domain resources (or time windows), the starting resource unit of the second resource subset and the ending resource unit of the first resource subset are separated by a first duration in time. This first duration can be pre-configured in the first terminal device, predefined by the protocol, or broadcast from the network device, such as through system information or synchronization signals, or indicated by the network device; no specific limitation is made in this regard.

[0198] For example, the first resource unit is the starting resource unit in the second resource subset, the second resource unit is the ending resource unit in the first resource subset, and both the first and second resource subsets are frequency domain resources. The starting resource unit of the second resource subset and the ending resource unit of the first resource subset are separated by a first frequency in the frequency domain. The first frequency may be pre-configured in the first terminal device, predefined by the protocol, or broadcast by the network device, such as broadcast by the network device through system information or synchronization signals, or indicated by the network device; no specific limitation is made in this regard.

[0199] For example, please refer to Figure 8, which is a schematic diagram of the first resource subset and the second resource subset provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 8 is an example of a first resource subset including a first resource subset and a second resource subset, the first resource subset including multiple first resource subsets, and the second resource subset including multiple second resource subsets, and any first resource subset and any second resource subset being a time window.

[0200] As shown in Figure 8, there is a first time interval between the end resource unit of the first first resource subset and the start resource unit of the first second resource subset. If the terminal device sends a first message and a second message on the first first resource subset, then the terminal device can determine that it is monitoring a third message within the first second resource subset. There is also a first time interval between the end resource unit of the second first resource subset and the start resource unit of the second second resource subset. If the terminal device sends a first message and a second message on the second first resource subset, then the terminal device can determine that it is monitoring a third message within the second second resource subset. Similarly, there is a first time interval between the end resource unit of the third first resource subset and the start resource unit of the third second resource subset. If the terminal device sends a first message and a second message on the third first resource subset, then the terminal device can determine that it is monitoring a third message within the third second resource subset. Finally, there is a first time interval between the end resource unit of the fourth first resource subset and the start resource unit of the fourth second resource subset. If the terminal device sends a first message and a second message on the fourth first resource subset, then the terminal device can determine that it is monitoring a third message within the fourth second resource subset.

[0201] Since the second resource subset is related to the first resource subset, the first terminal device can determine the second resource subset based on the first resource subset. Thus, the network device does not need to separately instruct the transmission of the second resource subset, reducing signaling overhead.

[0202] The network device may also choose not to send a third message, i.e., it does not need to execute step S403. In other words, S403 is an optional step, which is shown as a dashed line in Figure 4.

[0203] Based on the same inventive concept, this application provides a communication device. The following describes any of the communication devices illustrated in Figures 9 to 11. This communication device may be, for example, a terminal device or network device discussed above, such as any of the terminal devices or network devices involved in Figure 1 or Figure 2, or it may be a module within these devices, or it may be capable of implementing the functions of these devices, etc., without specific limitations.

[0204] As shown in Figure 9, the communication device 900 may include modules or units for implementing the methods described in the embodiments above. In one possible design, the communication device 900 includes a processing unit 910 and a communication unit 920. The communication unit 920 is used to perform transmit and receive operations, such as functions related to sending and receiving; the communication unit 920 may be referred to as a transceiver unit; optionally, the communication unit 920 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The processing unit 910 is used to perform processing operations. Alternatively, the communication unit 920 may be a transmitter and a receiver, or a transmitter and a receiver. Optionally, the communication device 900 may also include a storage unit 930. The storage unit 930 is used to store the device's program code or data. The storage unit 930 is indicated by a dashed box in Figure 9 as an optional unit.

[0205] In the first embodiment, the communication device 900 can be a terminal device (such as a first terminal device or a second terminal device) involved in FIG4 above, a communication module in the terminal device, or a circuit or chip in the terminal device responsible for communication functions, or implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4.

[0206] In the above embodiment, the processing unit 910 is used to execute the step of sending the first message involved in S401.

[0207] The communication device 900 can also perform other steps executed by the first terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 4 above, which will not be listed here one by one.

[0208] In the second embodiment, the communication device 900 can be the network device involved in Figure 4 above, the communication module in the network device, or the circuit or chip in the network device responsible for communication functions, etc.

[0209] In the above embodiment, the communication unit 920 is used to perform the step of receiving the first message involved in S401.

[0210] The communication device 900 can also perform other steps executed by the network device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 4 above, which will not be listed here one by one.

[0211] In one possible design, when the communication device 900 is a terminal device, a communication module within a terminal device, an access network device, or a communication module within an access network device, the function of the processing unit 910 can be implemented by one or more processors. Specifically, the processor may include a modem chip, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip or a SIP chip containing a modem core. The function of the communication unit 920 can be implemented by transceiver circuitry.

[0212] In one possible design, when the communication device 900 is a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions in a terminal device, or a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions in an access network device, such as a modem chip or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip or SIP chip containing a modem core, the function of the processing unit 910 can be implemented by a circuit system including one or more processors or processor cores in the aforementioned chip. The function of the communication unit 920 can be implemented by the interface circuit or data transceiver circuit on the aforementioned chip.

[0213] It is understood that the division of units in the above-described device is merely a logical functional division. Each function can correspond to a functional unit, or two or more functions can be integrated into one functional unit. In actual implementation, all or some units can be integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be distributed across different physical entities. Furthermore, the aforementioned functional units can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. Whether a function is executed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0214] In one example, the functional unit in any of the above devices may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as: one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more microcontroller units (MCUs), one or more DSPs, or one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms.

[0215] In one example, storage unit 930 may include random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory or electrically erasable programmable memory and / or registers, etc.

[0216] The communication device shown in Figure 10 will be described below. As shown in Figure 10, the communication device 1080 includes a processor 1010. Optionally, the communication device 1080 also includes an interface circuit 1020 and a memory 1030. The processor 1010 and the interface circuit 1020 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1020 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. The memory 1030 is used to store instructions executed by the processor 1010, or to store input data required by the processor 1010 to run instructions, or to store data generated after the processor 1010 runs instructions. The interface circuit 1020 and the memory 1030 are optional modules and are shown in Figure 10 with dashed boxes. In addition, Figure 10 shows one processor 1010 and one memory 1030 as an example, but the number of processors 1010 and memory 1030 is not actually limited.

[0217] The communication device 1080 is used to implement the method embodiment shown in FIG4. Optionally, the processor 1010 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 910, and the interface circuit 1020 is used to implement the functions of the communication unit 920.

[0218] For example, the communication device 1080 can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device (such as the first terminal device or the second terminal device) or network device involved in the method embodiment shown in FIG4.

[0219] When the communication device 1080 described above is a chip applied to a device (such as the terminal device or network device mentioned above), the device chip implements the functions of the device in the above method embodiments. The device chip receives information from other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the device, the information being sent to the device by other devices; or, the device chip sends information to other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the device, the information being sent to other devices by the device. Here, the communication device 1080 can be a baseband chip of a device, or a DU or other modules. The DU here can be a DU under an open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture.

[0220] The processor 1010 can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. Furthermore, the memory involved in the various embodiments of this application can include volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM). The memory can also include non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, hard disk drives (HDDs), or solid-state drives (SSDs).

[0221] The communication device shown in Figure 11 will be described below. As shown in Figure 11, the communication device 1100 includes a processor 1111 and a transceiver 1130. The processor 1111 can also be called a processing unit, processing board, processing module, processing device, etc. The implementation of the processor 1111 can be referred to the content of the processor 1010 in Figure 10 above. The transceiver 1130 can also be called a transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver device, etc. The transceiver 1130 includes a transmitter 1131, a receiver 1132, and an antenna 1133. Optionally, the transceiver 1130 may also include radio frequency circuits and input / output devices, etc., which are not specifically limited.

[0222] Optionally, the device in transceiver 1130 used to implement the receiving function is considered a receiving module, and the device in transceiver 1130 used to implement the transmitting function is considered a transmitting module. That is, transceiver 1130 includes a receiver and a transmitter. A transceiver may also be called a transceiver unit, transceiver module, or transceiver circuit, etc. A receiver may also be called a receiver unit, receiving module, or receiving circuit, etc. A transmitter may also be called a transmitter, transmitting module, or transmitting circuit, etc.

[0223] Optionally, the communication device 1100 may also include a memory 1120, which may store computer program code and / or data.

[0224] The processor 1111 is mainly used for processing communication protocols and data, controlling the communication device 1100, executing software programs, and processing software program data. The memory 1120 is mainly used for storing software programs and data. The radio frequency (RF) circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signals to RF signals and processing RF signals. The antenna 1133 is mainly used for transmitting and receiving RF signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output devices, such as touchscreens, displays, and keyboards, are mainly used for receiving user input data and outputting data to the user.

[0225] When data needs to be transmitted, the processor 1111 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs a baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit then processes the baseband signal and transmits it outward as an electromagnetic wave through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device 1100, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts it into a baseband signal, and outputs it to the processor. The processor 1111 converts the baseband signal back into data and processes it. For ease of explanation, Figure 11 only shows one memory 1120, processor 1111, and transceiver 1130. In actual terminal products, there may be one or more processors 1111 and one or more memories 1120. The memory 1120 may also be referred to as a storage medium or storage device. The memory 1120 may be set up independently of the processor 1111 or integrated with the processor 1111; there is no limitation on this.

[0226] In this embodiment, the antenna and radio frequency circuit with transceiver functions are considered as communication units of the communication device 1100, and the processor with processing functions is considered as processing units of the communication device 1100. The processor 1111 is used to execute the processing actions of the first terminal device or network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4, and the transceiver 1130 is used to execute the transceiver actions of the first terminal device or network device in the above embodiment.

[0227] When the communication device 1100 is a chip, the chip includes a processor and a transceiver. The transceiver can be an input / output circuit or a communication interface; the processor can be a processing module integrated on the chip, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit. Optionally, the chip may also include a memory. In the above method embodiments, the transmitting operation of the terminal device or network device can be understood as the output of the chip, and the receiving operation of the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments can be understood as the input of the chip.

[0228] Based on the same inventive concept, embodiments of this application provide a communication system. The communication system includes a first terminal device and a network device. Optionally, the system further includes a second terminal device.

[0229] The terminal device can implement the functions of the first terminal device shown in the method embodiment of FIG4. The network device can implement the functions of the network device shown in the method embodiment of FIG4. The second terminal device can implement the functions of the second terminal device shown in the method embodiment of FIG4.

[0230] Based on the same inventive concept, this application provides a chip system comprising a processor and an interface. The processor is used to call and execute instructions from the interface, and when the processor executes the instructions, it implements the method embodiment shown in Figure 4 above.

[0231] Based on the same inventive concept, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium for storing computer programs or instructions that, when run, implement the method embodiment shown in FIG4.

[0232] Based on the same inventive concept, embodiments of this application provide a program product that, when executed, enables a processor to implement the method embodiment shown in FIG4. This program product is, for example, a computer program product, specifically, a computer program and / or instructions. The processor is, for example, a processor running in a computer.

[0233] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are performed entirely or partially. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; it can also be an optical medium, such as a digital video optical disc; or it can be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or may include both types of storage media.

[0234] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features of different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0235] The various numerical designations used in the embodiments of this application are merely for descriptive convenience and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the process numbers described above does not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be based on its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method includes: A first message is sent from the first resource, the first message including a first demodulation reference signal, the information of the first demodulation reference signal being determined based on the identifier of the terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The information of the first demodulation reference signal indicates the port of the first demodulation reference signal; or, The information of the first demodulation reference signal indicates a first sequence, which is used to determine the first demodulation reference signal.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first message is message 3 or message A in the random access process.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The information of the first demodulation reference signal is determined based on the identifier of the terminal device, including: the information of the first demodulation reference signal and the identifier of the terminal device satisfy the following relationship: Y=C1*(X mod S)+U1 Wherein, Y represents the port of the first demodulation reference signal, the index of the port of the first demodulation reference signal, or the index of the first sequence, C1 is a constant, X represents the identifier of the terminal device, mod represents the modulo operation, S represents the maximum number of supported quadrature demodulation reference signals, U1 represents the first value, the port of the first demodulation reference signal or the first sequence is the information indication of the first demodulation reference signal, and the first sequence is used to determine the first demodulation reference signal.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The first resource is a resource in a first subset of resources; the method further includes: The first message is repeatedly sent to the second resource included in the first resource subset; or, A second message is sent to the second resource included in the first resource subset, wherein the first message is further used to indicate the second resource or a first mode, the first mode indicating the relative positional relationship between the first resource and the second resource.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: A third message is detected within a second resource subset, the third message being used in response to the second message or the first message, wherein a first resource unit within the second resource subset is related to a second resource unit within the first resource subset.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first resource unit is the starting resource unit of the second resource subset, and the second resource unit is the ending resource unit of the first resource subset.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5-7, characterized in that, The first resource subset is a resource subset of a first resource set of multiple resource sets, and the first resource set is associated with the identifier of the terminal device.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first resource set is associated with the identifier of the terminal device, including: the first resource set and the identifier of the terminal device satisfy the following relationship: G = C²*(X mod K) + U² Wherein, G represents the index of the first resource set, C2 represents a constant, * represents multiplication, X represents the identifier of the terminal device, mod represents the modulo operation, K represents the second value, and U2 represents the third value.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The first message also includes M bits, and the M bits and N bits are used to indicate the identifier of the terminal device, where M and N are both positive integers, wherein: The N bits are related to the index of the first demodulated reference signal; or, P bits out of the N bits are associated with the index of the first demodulation reference signal, and the remaining bits out of the N bits (excluding the P bits) are associated with the first resource set, which includes the first resource, where P is a positive integer.

11. A communication method, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first resource receives a first message, the first message including a first demodulation reference signal, the information of the first demodulation reference signal being related to the identifier of the first terminal device.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The information of the first demodulation reference signal indicates the port of the first demodulation reference signal; or, The information of the first demodulation reference signal indicates a first sequence, which is used to determine the first demodulation reference signal.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The first message is message 3Msg3 or message AmsgA during the random access process.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, The information of the first demodulation reference signal is related to the identifier of the first terminal device, including: the information of the first demodulation reference signal and the identifier of the first terminal device satisfy the following relationship: Y=C1*(X mod S)+U1 Wherein, Y represents the port of the first demodulation reference signal, the index of the port of the first demodulation reference signal, or the index of the first sequence; C1 is a constant; * represents multiplication; X represents the identifier of the first terminal device; mod represents the modulo operation; S represents the maximum number of supported quadrature demodulation reference signals; U1 represents the first value; the port of the first demodulation reference signal or the first sequence is the information indication of the first demodulation reference signal; and the first sequence is used to determine the first demodulation reference signal.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11-14, characterized in that, The first resource is a resource in a first subset of resources; the method further includes: The first message is received in the second resource included in the first resource subset; The second resource included in the first resource subset receives a second message, wherein the first message is further used to indicate the second resource or a first mode, the first mode indicating the relative positional relationship between the first resource and the second resource.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The method further includes: A third message is sent within a second resource subset, the third message being used in response to the second message, or the third message being used in response to the first message, wherein the first resource unit of the second resource subset is related to the second resource unit of the first resource subset.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that, The first resource unit is the starting resource unit of the second resource subset, and the second resource unit is the ending resource unit of the first resource subset.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15-17, characterized in that, The first resource subset is a resource subset of a first resource set of multiple resource sets, and the first resource set is associated with the identifier of the first terminal device.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The first resource set is associated with the identifier of the first terminal device, including: the first resource set and the identifier of the first terminal device satisfy the following relationship: G = C²*(X mod K) + U² Wherein, G represents the index of the first resource set, C2 represents a constant, * represents multiplication, X represents the identifier of the first terminal device, mod represents the modulo operation, K represents the second value, and U2 represents the third value.

20. The method according to any one of claims 15-19, characterized in that, The method further includes: The second resource receives a fourth message, the fourth message including a second demodulation reference signal, the information of the second demodulation reference signal being related to the identifier of the second terminal device; Based on the second message and the second demodulation reference signal, the fourth message is decoded.

21. The method according to any one of claims 11-20, characterized in that, The first message further includes M bits, where M is a positive integer; the method further includes: Based on the information from the first demodulated reference signal, N bits are determined, and based on the M bits and the N bits, the identifier of the first terminal device is determined, where N is a positive integer; or, Based on the information from the first demodulation reference signal, P bits are determined, and based on the first resource set, Q bits are determined. Based on the M bits, the P bits, and the Q bits, the identifier of the first terminal device is determined, wherein the first resource set includes the first resource, and P and Q are both positive integers.

22. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A module or unit for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-10; or, A module or unit for performing the method as described in any one of claims 11-21.

23. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes one or more processors, which are configured to execute computer programs or instructions in memory, such that the communication device implements the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, or implements the method as claimed in any one of claims 11-21.

24. A computer program product, characterized in that, When the computer program product is executed, it causes the processor to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, or to implement the method as claimed in any one of claims 11-21.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-10, or the method as described in any one of claims 11-21.

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