Communication method and related apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and a related apparatus. In the method, after a first communication apparatus receives second information that indicates deactivation of a first cell, dormancy of the first cell, or dormancy of a BWP of the first cell, the first communication apparatus may not send (or determine not to send), on the basis of the second information, a first measurement report corresponding to a reference signal set of the first cell. In this way, the first communication apparatus does not need to report a measurement report for a deactivated cell, a dormant cell, or a cell corresponding to a dormant BWP, thereby avoiding transmission of unnecessary measurement reports and reducing resource waste, and thus improving the communication performance. In addition, the first communication apparatus does not send the first measurement report on the basis of the second information, such that a network device can be prevented from receiving the first measurement report by means of a first uplink resource of a second cell, thereby avoiding the situation where the communication performance is degraded due to the network device sending an erroneous scheduling instruction (e.g., a handover instruction) on the basis of the first measurement report.

Description

A communication method and related apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411752095.2, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on November 30, 2024, entitled “A Communication Method and Related Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

[0003] Wireless communication can be a transmission communication between two or more communication nodes that does not propagate through conductors or cables or via an air interface. For example, these communication nodes include network devices and terminal devices. Generally, terminal devices can access network devices and receive scheduling and instruction information from the network devices to achieve wireless communication.

[0004] Currently, terminal devices can measure reference signals on one resource based on instructions from network devices, and send a corresponding measurement report on another resource. Generally, these two resources correspond to the same cell; that is, the resource for measuring the reference signal and the resource for reporting the measurement report can correspond to the same cell.

[0005] However, in communication networks, to improve uplink coverage, terminal devices may access multiple cells, and the measurement resources for reference signals and the reporting resources for measurement reports may correspond to different cells. In this case, the terminal device may send unnecessary measurement reports, leading to wasted resources and affecting communication performance. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method and related apparatus for avoiding unnecessary transmission of measurement reports, reducing resource waste, and improving communication performance.

[0007] The first aspect of this application provides a communication method applied to a first communication device. For example, the first communication device may be a communication equipment (such as a terminal device), or it may be a component of the communication equipment (e.g., a processor, circuit, chip, or chip system responsible for communication functions, including but not limited to a modem chip, a baseband chip, a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, or a system-in-package (SIP) chip, etc.). Alternatively, the first communication device may also be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the communication equipment. The following description uses a first communication device as an example.

[0008] In this method, a first communication device receives first information for configuring a reference signal set of a first cell; the first communication device receives second information for instructing the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to hibernate, or the first cell to hibernate a portion of its bandwidth (BWP); the first communication device, based on the second information, does not send (or determines not to send) a first measurement report, the first measurement report being an event-triggered measurement report; wherein the first measurement report includes measurement results of the reference signal set of the first cell, and the first measurement report is associated with a first uplink resource of a second cell.

[0009] Based on the above scheme, after receiving second information indicating that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell is in sleep mode, the first communication device can, based on the second information, not send (or determine not to send) the first measurement report corresponding to the reference signal set of the first cell. In this way, the first communication device can avoid reporting measurement reports of deactivated cells, insulated cells, or cells corresponding to insulated BWPs without having to report them, thus avoiding unnecessary transmission of measurement reports, reducing resource waste, and improving communication performance.

[0010] Furthermore, after the first cell is deactivated, put into sleep mode, or its BWP (Browser Window Tool) is put into sleep mode, the network device may be unable to obtain the measurement report corresponding to the reference signal set of the first cell through the uplink resources of the first cell, and will not perform scheduling (e.g., handover) based on the measurement report. During the aforementioned process, the first measurement report corresponding to the reference signal set of the first cell is associated with the first uplink resources of the second cell; that is, the measurement resources for the reference signals and the reporting resources for the measurement report correspond to different cells. In this case, the implementation method of the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information can prevent the network device from receiving the first measurement report through the first uplink resources of the second cell, thereby avoiding the situation where the network device issues incorrect scheduling instructions (e.g., handover instructions) based on the first measurement report, leading to a decrease in communication performance.

[0011] In this application, the reference signal set can be understood as one or more reference signals. Correspondingly, the reference signal set can also be replaced by other descriptions, such as reference signal, at least one reference signal, or one or more reference signals, etc.

[0012] Optionally, the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information can be understood as the first communication device not sending the first measurement report if it determines, based on the second information, that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell is in sleep mode. Correspondingly, the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information can also be replaced with other descriptions, such as the first communication device determining not to send the first measurement report based on the second information, the first communication device canceling the generation or transmission of the first measurement report based on the second information, or the first communication device determining, based on the second information, to cancel the generation or transmission of the first measurement report.

[0013] Optionally, the first measurement report is an event-triggered measurement report. This can be understood as follows: during the event-triggered process, the first communication device detects an event while in an event evaluation state. This first measurement report is generated when the first communication device detects or confirms that one or more events are met within a certain period. For example, after one or more events are met, the first communication device can enter an event reporting state. This event-triggered process can be replaced with other descriptions, such as UE-initiated / event-driven beam management (UEIBM), an event evaluation phase, or an event triggering determination phase.

[0014] Optionally, in the case of UEIBM as the event-triggered procedure, the aforementioned first measurement report may be referred to as a UE-initiated / event-driven beam report (UEIBR).

[0015] As an example, the first information can be used to trigger the start of the above-mentioned event triggering process. For example, the first communication device can start the event triggering process after receiving the first information (or after the first communication device obtains the configuration of the first reference signal set through the first information).

[0016] As another example, the initiation of the above event triggering process can be based on network device configuration or pre-configuration.

[0017] Optionally, the first measurement report is associated with the first uplink resource of the second cell. This can be understood as the first measurement report being sent through the first uplink resource of the second cell, or the network device using the first uplink resource configured in the second cell to transmit or carry the first measurement report, or the uplink resource corresponding to the first measurement report configured in the network device being the first uplink resource of the second cell.

[0018] Optionally, the uplink resources involved in this application (e.g., the first uplink resource, the second uplink resource mentioned below, etc.) can be physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) resources, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources, or other uplink resources defined by the future network. For example, the first uplink resource can be a PUSCH resource, and the second uplink resource can be a PUCCH resource. Alternatively, the first uplink resource can be a PUSCH resource indicated by control information (e.g., DCI). Or, the first uplink resource can be a PUSCH resource with a configured grant (CG).

[0019] It should be noted that the first cell is different from the second cell. For example, the first cell may be a secondary cell (SCell), and the second cell may be a primary cell (PCell). Alternatively, the first cell may be an SCell, and the second cell may be a physical uplink control channel secondary cell (PUCCH SCell).

[0020] Optionally, the second information used to instruct the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to go into sleep, or the BWP of the first cell to go into sleep can be implemented in various ways, including but not limited to radio resource control (RRC) messages, medium access control control element (MAC CE), downlink control information (DCI), or other information / messages / signaling defined by the future network.

[0021] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first communication device does not send the first measurement report based on the second information, including: the first communication device stops or resets the timer triggered by the event based on the second information.

[0022] Alternatively, "reset" can be understood as resetting, returning to zero, or setting to zero.

[0023] Based on the above scheme, after the first communication device determines that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in hibernation, or the BWP of the first cell is in hibernation through the second information, the first communication device can stop or reset the event-triggered timer based on the second information, which can avoid generating or sending the first measurement report corresponding to the reference signal set of the first cell through event triggering within the time period corresponding to the timer.

[0024] Optionally, if the first condition is met, the first communication device stops or resets the timer triggered by the event based on the second information; the first condition includes any one of the following: the first communication device is in an event evaluation state, or the first communication device is in an event evaluation state at the time of receiving the second information.

[0025] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first communication device does not send the first measurement report based on the second information, and further includes: the first communication device resetting the event-triggered counter based on the second information.

[0026] Based on the above scheme, after the first communication device determines the first cell to be deactivated, the first cell to be in hibernation, or the first cell to be in hibernation via the second information, the first communication device can also reset the event trigger counter based on the second information. This can prevent the generation or transmission of the first measurement report corresponding to the reference signal set of the first cell from occurring when the number of event triggers within the time period corresponding to the timer meets the counter, thereby avoiding the generation or transmission of the first measurement report.

[0027] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information includes: the first communication device canceling the sending status of third information based on the second information, the third information being used to indicate the sending of the first measurement report or to request the uplink resource.

[0028] Based on the above scheme, after the first communication device determines that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in hibernation, or the BWP of the first cell is in hibernation through the second information, the first communication device can cancel the transmission state of the third information based on the second information. This can prevent the first communication device from sending the third information once or multiple times in the transmission state of the third information, and / or prevent the first communication device from processing the first measurement report in the transmission state of the third information (for example, in mode B, the first communication device can prepare to send or start sending the first measurement report after sending the third information), thereby avoiding the transmission of the first measurement report.

[0029] Optionally, if the second condition is met, the first communication device cancels the sending state of the third information based on the second information; the second condition includes any one of the following: the first communication device is in an event reporting state, or the first communication device is in an event reporting state at the time of receiving the second information, or the first communication device is in an event reporting state before the time of receiving the second information.

[0030] Optionally, the third information may be the first PUCCH resource configuration - UEIBR, the scheduling request (SR), the first PUCCH, or other information / messages / signaling defined by the network in the future.

[0031] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first communication device stopping or resetting the disable timer of the third information, and / or the first communication device resetting the counter of the third information, the counter of the third information being used to determine the number of times the third information is sent.

[0032] Based on the above scheme, if the first communication device can cancel the transmission status of the third information based on the second information, the first communication device can also stop or reset the prohibition timer for the third information, and / or, the first communication device can also reset the counter for the third information. In this way, the transmission or retransmission of the third information can be avoided, thereby reducing unnecessary overhead.

[0033] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information includes: the first communication device canceling the sending of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource based on the second information.

[0034] Based on the above scheme, after the first communication device determines that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in hibernation, or the BWP of the first cell is in hibernation through the second information, the first communication device can cancel the transmission of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource based on the second information, thereby avoiding the transmission of the first measurement report.

[0035] Optionally, if the third condition is met, the first communication device cancels the transmission of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource based on the second information. The third condition includes any one of the following: the first communication device receives control information corresponding to the third information (e.g., the third information corresponds to mode A), which is used to schedule or instruct the first uplink resource; or, the first communication device has transmitted the third information (e.g., the third information corresponds to mode B).

[0036] Optionally, the control information mentioned above can be DCI, or other messages / information / signaling defined in the future network.

[0037] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: if the first uplink resource is only capable of carrying the first measurement report, the first communication device ignores the first uplink resource.

[0038] Based on the above scheme, when the first uplink resource can only carry the first measurement report, since the first communication device has determined not to send the first measurement report through the second information, the first communication device can ignore the first uplink resource to reduce processing overhead and transmission overhead.

[0039] Optionally, if the first uplink resource can carry other uplink data and / or other uplink signaling in addition to the first measurement report, the first communication device does not send the first measurement report on the first uplink resource. Instead, the first communication device can send the other uplink data and / or other uplink signaling on the first uplink resource, thereby maximizing the use of the first uplink resource for transmission and improving resource utilization.

[0040] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: when the second uplink resource of the second cell is dedicated to the first cell, the first communication device suspends or clears the second uplink resource; wherein the second uplink resource is used to transmit third information, the third information being used to instruct the transmission of the first measurement report or to request the uplink resource.

[0041] For example, suspending a second uplink resource by a first communication device can be understood as the first communication device caching the configuration information of the second uplink resource, but temporarily not using (or activating) the second uplink resource. Similarly, clearing a second uplink resource by a first communication device can be understood as the first communication device clearing the configuration information of the second uplink resource, and may subsequently no longer use (or activate) the second uplink resource.

[0042] Alternatively, "dedicated to" can be understood as "used only," "specified for," or "specifically for," etc.

[0043] Based on the above scheme, when the second uplink resource is dedicated to the first cell, since the first communication device has already determined through the second information whether the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in hibernation, or the BWP of the first cell is in hibernation, the first communication device can determine that it will not transmit the third information associated with the first cell through the second uplink resource. Accordingly, the first communication device can suspend or clear the second uplink resource, which can avoid unnecessary processing overhead and buffering overhead.

[0044] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: when the first uplink resource is dedicated to the first cell, the first communication device suspends or clears the first uplink resource.

[0045] Based on the above scheme, when the first uplink resource is dedicated to the first cell, since the first communication device has determined through the second information that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is dormant, or the BWP of the first cell is dormant, the first communication device can determine that it will not transmit measurement reports associated with the first cell through the second uplink resource. Accordingly, the first communication device can suspend or clear the first uplink resource, which can avoid unnecessary processing overhead and buffering overhead.

[0046] A second aspect of this application provides a communication device that implements the functions described in the first aspect. For example, the communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the operations involved in the first aspect. These modules, units, or means can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of both. For instance, the device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit receives first information for configuring a reference signal set of a first cell. The transceiver unit also receives second information for instructing the first cell to deactivate, hibernate, or hibernate its BWP. The processing unit is configured not to send a first measurement report based on the second information. The first measurement report is an event-triggered measurement report. The first measurement report includes measurement results of the reference signal set of the first cell and is associated with a first uplink resource of a second cell.

[0047] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the processing unit is configured not to send the first measurement report based on the second information, including: the processing unit stops or resets the timer triggered by the event based on the second information.

[0048] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the processing unit is configured not to send the first measurement report based on the second information, and further includes: the processing unit resetting the event-triggered counter based on the second information.

[0049] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the processing unit is configured not to send the first measurement report based on the second information, including: the processing unit cancels the sending status of third information based on the second information, the third information being used to indicate the sending of the first measurement report or to request the uplink resource.

[0050] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the processing unit is further configured to stop or reset the disable timer for the third information, and / or the processing unit is further configured to reset the counter for the third information, the counter for the third information being used to determine the number of times the third information is sent.

[0051] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the processing unit is configured not to send the first measurement report based on the second information, comprising: the processing unit canceling the sending of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource based on the second information.

[0052] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the processing unit ignores the first uplink resource if the first uplink resource is only capable of carrying the first measurement report.

[0053] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, when the second uplink resource of the second cell is dedicated to the first cell, the processing unit suspends or clears the second uplink resource; wherein the second uplink resource is used to transmit third information, the third information being used to instruct the transmission of the first measurement report or to request the uplink resource.

[0054] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, if the first uplink resource is dedicated to the first cell, the processing unit suspends or clears the first uplink resource.

[0055] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the first uplink resource is indicated by control information, or the first uplink resource is pre-configured.

[0056] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the first cell is a secondary cell SCell, and the second cell is a primary cell PCell or a physical uplink control channel secondary cell PUCCH SCell.

[0057] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the first information is used to trigger the initiation of the event.

[0058] A third aspect of this application provides a communication device including at least one processor for executing computer programs or instructions to enable the device to implement the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0059] Optionally, the at least one processor is coupled to a memory for storing computer programs or instructions.

[0060] Optionally, the communication device includes the memory. Optionally, the memory is integrated with at least one processor.

[0061] A fourth aspect of this application provides a communication device including at least one logic circuit and an input / output interface; the logic circuit is used to perform the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0062] In one possible implementation, the communication device is a chip or chip system.

[0063] A fifth aspect of this application provides a communication system that includes the first communication device described above. Optionally, the communication system further includes a network device.

[0064] A sixth aspect of this application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, perform the method described in the first aspect above and any possible implementation thereof.

[0065] The seventh aspect of this application provides a computer program product (or computer program) in which, when the computer program in the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0066] The eighth aspect of this application provides a chip or chip system including at least one processor for supporting a communication device in implementing the method described in the first aspect and any of its possible implementations. For example, the chip may be a baseband chip, a modem chip, a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, a system-in-package (SIP) chip, or a communication module, etc.

[0067] In one possible design, the chip or chip system may further include a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices. Optionally, the chip system may also include interface circuitry that provides program instructions and / or data to the at least one processor.

[0068] The technical effects of any of the design methods in aspects two through eight can be found in the technical effects of the different design methods in aspect one above, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0069] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the communication system provided in this application;

[0070] Figure 2a is a schematic diagram of a carrier aggregation communication scenario involved in this application;

[0071] Figures 2b and 2c are schematic diagrams of the reference signal measurement involved in this application;

[0072] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the communication method provided in this application;

[0073] Figures 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams illustrating the application of the communication method provided in this application;

[0074] Figures 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams of the communication device provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0075] First, some terms used in the embodiments of this application will be explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0076] (1) The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of this application can be used interchangeably. "Multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, "at least one of A, B and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC. And, unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the order, sequence, priority or importance of multiple objects.

[0077] (2) In the 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 sending directly through the air interface or sending indirectly through the air interface by other units or modules. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which may include receiving directly from YY through the air interface or receiving indirectly from YY through the air interface by other units or modules. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface.

[0078] 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 buses, wiring, or interfaces.

[0079] It is understandable that information may undergo necessary processing, such as encoding and modulation, between the source and destination, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar statements in this application can be interpreted in a similar way and will not be elaborated further.

[0080] (3) In the embodiments of this application, "instruction" may include direct instruction and indirect instruction, as well as explicit instruction and implicit instruction. The information indicated by a certain piece of information (as described below, the instruction information) is called the information to be instructed. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly indicate the information to be instructed by indicating other information, where there is an association between the other information and the information to be instructed; or it can only indicate a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts of the information to be instructed are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction can be implemented by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol predefined) arrangement of various information, thereby reducing the instruction overhead to a certain extent. This application does not limit the specific method of instruction. It is understood that for the sender of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to indicate the information to be instructed, and for the receiver of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to determine the information to be instructed.

[0081] (4) Configuration and Pre-configuration: In this application, both configuration and pre-configuration are used. Configuration refers to the network device / server sending configuration information or parameter values ​​to the terminal device via messages or signaling, so that the terminal device can determine the communication parameters or resources for transmission based on these values ​​or information. Pre-configuration is similar to configuration; it can be parameter information or parameter values ​​pre-negotiated between the network device / server and the terminal device, parameter information or parameter values ​​specified by standard protocols for use by the base station / network device or terminal device, or parameter information or parameter values ​​pre-stored in the base station / server or terminal device. This application does not limit this.

[0082] In this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. In the various embodiments of this application, and the various methods / designs / implementations within each embodiment, unless otherwise specified or logically conflicting, the terminology and / or descriptions between different embodiments and between the various methods / designs / implementations within each embodiment are consistent and can be mutually referenced. The technical features in different embodiments and the various methods / designs / implementations within each embodiment can be combined to form new embodiments, methods, or implementations based on their inherent logical relationships. The following descriptions of the embodiments of this application do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

[0083] This application can be applied to long-term evolution (LTE) systems, new radio (NR) systems, or future communication systems. These communication systems include at least one network device and / or at least one terminal device.

[0084] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system 1000 used in the embodiments of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include an Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (110a and 110b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 110), and may also include at least one terminal device (120a-120j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). The terminal device 120 is wirelessly connected to the RAN node 110, and the RAN node 110 is wirelessly or wiredly connected to the core network 200. The core network device in the core network 200 and the RAN node 110 in the RAN 100 can be independent and different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device integrating the logical functions of the core network device and the logical functions of the RAN node. Terminal devices and RAN nodes can be interconnected via wired or wireless means.

[0085] RAN100 can be an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) system, a new radio (NR) system, or a future radio access system as defined in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). RAN100 can also include two or more of the above-mentioned different radio access systems. RAN100 can also be an open RAN (O-RAN).

[0086] RAN nodes, also known as radio access network devices, RAN entities, radio access equipment, or access nodes, are used to help terminal devices access the communication system wirelessly. Furthermore, multiple RAN nodes 110 can be of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of RAN nodes 110 and terminal devices 120 are relative. For example, network element 120i in Figure 1 can be a helicopter or drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminal devices 120j accessing RAN 100 through network element 120i, network element 120i is a base station; but for base station 110a, network element 120i is a terminal device. RAN nodes 110 and terminal devices 120 are sometimes referred to as communication devices. For example, network elements 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be understood as communication devices with base station functions, and network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication devices with terminal device functions.

[0087] In one possible scenario, a RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), or a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. A RAN node can be a macro base station (as shown in Figure 1, 110a), a micro base station or indoor station (as shown in Figure 1, 110b), a relay node or donor node, or a radio controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, a RAN node can also be a server, wearable device, vehicle, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, the access network equipment in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be a roadside unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the RAN node in this application can also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The RAN node in this application can also be a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the RAN node functions.

[0088] In another application scenario, multiple RAN nodes can collaborate to help terminal devices achieve wireless access, with different RAN nodes implementing different functions of the base station. For example, a RAN node can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). The CU performs the functions of the base station's radio resource control (RRC) protocol 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 layer and MAC layer, and can also perform some or all of the physical layer functions. For specific descriptions of these protocol layers, refer to the relevant 3GPP technical specifications. The RU can be used to implement radio frequency signal transmission and reception. The CU and DU can be two independent RAN nodes or integrated into the same RAN node, such as within a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in radio frequency equipment, such as in a remote radio unit (RRU) or an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU can be further divided into two types of RAN nodes: CU-control plane and CU-user plane.

[0089] In different systems, RAN nodes may have different names. For example, in an O-RAN system, a CU can be called an open CU (O-CU), a DU can be called an open DU (O-DU), and an RU can be called an open RU (O-RU). The RAN nodes in the embodiments of this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules. For example, a RAN node can be a server loaded with the corresponding software modules. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the RAN nodes. For ease of description, a base station is used as an example of a RAN node in the following description.

[0090] A terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, capable of sending signals to or receiving signals from a base station. Terminal devices can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminal devices, etc. They can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), the 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, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or device forms used in the terminal devices.

[0091] Base stations and terminal equipment can be fixed 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 on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the base stations and terminal equipment.

[0092] Communication between base stations and terminal devices, between base stations, and between terminal devices can be conducted using licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both simultaneously. Communication can be conducted using spectrum below 6 GHz, spectrum above 6 GHz, or both simultaneously. The embodiments of this application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0093] In the embodiments of this application, the functions of the base station can be executed by modules (such as chips) within the base station, or by a control subsystem that includes base station functions. This control subsystem, including base station functions, can be a control center in the aforementioned application scenarios such as smart grids, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart cities. Similarly, the functions of the terminal device can be executed by modules (such as chips or modems) within the terminal device, or by a device that includes terminal device functions.

[0094] In wireless communication systems (such as the communication system shown in Figure 1), with the continuous development of communication technology, multimedia services with high real-time requirements and large data capacity demands are gradually being incorporated into these systems. These include applications such as video transmission, cloud gaming (CG), and extended reality (XR). Consequently, the demand for wireless data traffic is rapidly increasing. To meet the growing demand for wireless transmission, the network capacity and transmission rate of the wireless communication system can be improved by deploying massive MIMO antennas and transceiver modules that support high-frequency signals. Correspondingly, the power consumption of terminal devices and / or network devices with these transceiver modules will increase.

[0095] Another way to improve the network capacity and transmission rate of wireless communication systems is by further exploiting the frequency resources of wireless communication. Generally speaking, from the perspective of frequency resource exploitation, a larger transmission bandwidth can provide greater network capacity and higher transmission rates. However, due to limitations in the actual deployed spectrum bandwidth resources and the processing capabilities of terminals, large-bandwidth continuous spectrum resources are very scarce; that is, the bandwidth of a single carrier is limited. Therefore, carrier aggregation (CA) technology is a key technology for solving the problem of limited single-carrier bandwidth. It aggregates two or more carriers (CCs) together to serve terminal devices, thereby supporting a larger transmission bandwidth.

[0096] Optionally, taking network equipment as a base station as an example, carrier aggregation can be divided into intra-base station cell aggregation and inter-base station cell aggregation based on the cell's location. Intra-base station cell aggregation means that for a UE, all aggregated serving cells belong to the same base station, supporting aggregation between cells within the same base station. Since it is controlled by only one base station, it is relatively simple. Furthermore, inter-base station cell aggregation can be called dual connectivity (DC), which supports carrier aggregation of multiple cells under two base stations, thereby providing a better user experience. For a UE, one is the master cell group (MCG), and the others are secondary cell groups (SCGs). Generally, the base station where the PCell is located is the master base station, which undertakes more control functions and is usually a macro base station.

[0097] Figure 2a shows an example of CA implementation. In the CA scenario shown in Figure 2a, one or more network devices (only one network device is shown as an example in the figure) can provide n carriers (n is an integer greater than 1), and each carrier can provide services for one cell. That is, there can be n carriers providing services to the terminal device, which means the terminal device has n serving cells. Among them, the n serving cells of the terminal device can include one PCell and one or more SCells.

[0098] The following will describe the processes that CA may involve.

[0099] Deactivated SCells can be secondary cells that enter an inactive state in CA or dual connectivity (DC) technology scenarios, temporarily not participating in user data transmission to save power and optimize network resources, and can be quickly activated when there is a sudden surge in data demand.

[0100] Dormant secondary cells and / or dormant portion of the bandwidth (BWP) can exist in carrier aggregation or dual connectivity scenarios, where the secondary cell and / or portion of the bandwidth are in a dormant state and do not participate in current data transmission. However, unlike deactivated cells, they are in a standby state and can be quickly awakened and resume data transmission. For example, compared to deactivated secondary cells, dormant secondary cells and / or portion of the bandwidth may also require beam failure detection and beam failure recovery, or one or more of these processes.

[0101] A PUCCH SCell, or SCell configured with PUCCH, can be used in carrier aggregation or dual-connectivity scenarios, allowing a terminal device to communicate simultaneously with multiple cells (e.g., PCells and one or more SCells). Typically, PUCCH is configured on a PCell, as it handles the primary control channel and signaling. For more flexible and efficient management of the uplink control channel, the network can choose to configure PUCCH on secondary cells; this is called a PUCCH SCell. Generally, when a SCell with PUCCH configured is deactivated, the network ensures that other SCells associated with its PUCCH are not activated. A SCell with PUCCH configured cannot enter a dormant state.

[0102] In wireless communication systems (such as the communication system shown in Figure 1), mobility management is a crucial component of wireless mobile communication, determining the smooth handover and stable connection of terminal devices between different cells and beams. Taking the UE as an example, in the UE idle and deactivated states, mobility management mainly involves cell selection and reselection processes; in the UE connected state, mobility management mainly refers to handover and beam management (BM). These operations are essential for ensuring communication continuity and efficient utilization of network resources.

[0103] Furthermore, beam management is a crucial technology in mobility management, especially in massive MIMO scenarios, used for beam generation, selection, handover, and optimization. Unlike traditional cell handover, beam management primarily focuses on beam-level resource management, which is particularly important in high-frequency communications such as millimeter wave and FR2 bands, as beamforming can improve link quality and coverage in these bands. To support beam generation, selection, handover, and optimization, the protocol introduces Layer 1 (L1) beam reporting technology. During beam management, the network issues a measurement configuration, the UE receives a reference signal based on this configuration, measures the received reference signal, and triggers the reporting of a measurement report when certain conditions are met. In other words, the measurement configuration received by the UE can include two resources: one resource for transmitting the reference signal and the other resource for transmitting the measurement report.

[0104] Currently, L1 beam reporting mechanisms can include three types: periodic reporting, semi-persistent reporting, and aperiodic reporting. Taking a network device as a base station as an example, the base station reads L1 measurement results, makes a handover decision based on these results, and sends the decision to the UE via L1 Handover Command. The L1 beam management mechanism introduces a new UEIBM method to reduce unnecessary reporting times and reduce reporting overhead. In the UEIBM process, the network issues measurement configurations, the UE performs measurements according to the configurations, determines whether a measurement report needs to be triggered, and if so, reports the measurement report to the network. The network then uses this report to make beam handover decisions or manage carriers, etc.

[0105] Taking the terminal device as UE and the network device as base station as an example, in the beam reporting process based on UEIBM, after the UE triggers the event reporting, the process of transmitting the beam report to the base station can be divided into two modes: Mode A and Mode B.

[0106] Figure 2b illustrates one implementation example of Mode A. Upon event triggering, a third message is first sent on the PUCCH. This third message indicates that the UE is about to report a measurement report or requests to report one. Subsequently, upon receiving this third message, the base station can send a DCI to the UE. This DCI indicates the uplink grant resources used by the UE when sending the measurement report carried in subsequent uplink control information (UCI). For example, this UCI is sent on the PUSCH, and the measurement report carried by the UCI includes, but is not limited to, layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP). Exemplarily, Mode A represents the UE's basic capability.

[0107] Figure 2c illustrates one implementation example of Mode B. Upon event triggering, a third message is first sent to the base station on the PUCCH. This indication message signals that the UE is about to report a measurement report. In this case, the UE uses pre-configured uplink grant resources to send beam reporting information via UCI. Optionally, this UCI can be sent on either the PUSCH or the PUCCH. Similarly, the measurement report carried by this UCI includes, but is not limited to, L1-RSRP.

[0108] Optionally, the aforementioned third information may be the first PUCCH resource configuration (UEIBR), a scheduling request (SR), the first PUCCH, or other information / messages / signaling defined by the network in the future. During the event triggering process, the UE may trigger the transmission of the SR if the timer and counter meet certain conditions. For example, before a configurable timer expires, if the number of event triggers for at least one identical new beam reaches or exceeds the configured counter, the UE will send the third information. This timer and counter may be pre-configured in the UE to ensure that the measurement report is sent only after the event triggering results have stabilized.

[0109] For example, the transmission of third-party information may involve a third-party information counter and a third-party information prohibition timer. When the UE sends a third-party information request to request uplink resources, the UE's built-in counter is incremented by 1 (its initial value is 0). When the UE sends a third-party information request to request uplink resources, the prohibition timer is activated. When this timer times out, the UE is allowed to send a second scheduling request to request uplink resources.

[0110] As described above, the terminal device can measure the reference signal on one resource based on the instructions of the network device, and send a corresponding measurement report on another resource. Generally, these two resources correspond to the same cell; that is, the resource for measuring the reference signal and the resource for reporting the measurement report can correspond to the same cell.

[0111] However, in CA scenarios, to improve uplink coverage, terminal devices may access multiple cells, and the measurement resources for reference signals and the reporting resources for measurement reports may correspond to different cells. In this case, the terminal device may send unnecessary measurement reports, leading to resource waste and affecting communication performance.

[0112] For example, in a CA scenario, the network device can configure resources for cell 1 (CC#1) for reporting measurement results and resources for cell 2 (CC#2) for measuring reference signals. CC#1 can be the PCell or PUCCH SCell of the terminal device, and CC#2 can be the SCell of the terminal device (or, CC#1 can be the PCell of the terminal device, and CC#2 can be the SCell or PUCCH SCell of the terminal device). For instance, during UEIBM, CC#1 is used for event reporting, and CC#2 is used for event measurement and evaluation. If CC#2 is deactivated or enters a dormant state, the terminal device continuing UEIBM on CC#2 will trigger unnecessary beam reports, resulting in wasted uplink resources. Furthermore, the network device may issue incorrect handover commands based on these beam reports, thus affecting network performance.

[0113] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a communication method and related apparatus, which will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0114] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the communication method provided in this application. The method includes the following steps.

[0115] It should be noted that in Figures 3 and 5 and related implementation examples below, the method is illustrated using a first communication device and other communication devices (such as a second communication device) as the execution subjects of this interaction illustration. However, this application does not limit the execution subjects of this interaction illustration. For example, the first communication device can be a terminal device, or a chip, baseband chip, modem chip, system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, system-in-package (SIP) chip, communication module, chip system, processor, logic module, or software in the terminal device.

[0116] S301. The second communication device sends first information, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first information. The first information is used to configure the reference signal set of the first cell.

[0117] S302. The second communication device sends second information, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the second information. The second information is used to instruct the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to go into sleep mode, or the first cell's BWP to go into sleep mode.

[0118] S303. The first communication device does not send (or determines not to send) the first measurement report based on the second information, the first measurement report being an event-triggered measurement report; wherein the first measurement report includes the measurement results of the reference signal set of the first cell, and the first measurement report is associated with the first uplink resource of the second cell.

[0119] In this application, the reference signal set can be understood as one or more reference signals. Correspondingly, the reference signal set can also be replaced by other descriptions, such as reference signal, at least one reference signal, or one or more reference signals, etc.

[0120] Optionally, in step S303, the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information can be understood as the first communication device not sending the first measurement report if it determines, based on the second information, that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell is in sleep mode. Correspondingly, the statement "the first communication device does not send the first measurement report based on the second information" can also be replaced with other descriptions, such as: the first communication device determines, based on the second information, not to send the first measurement report; the first communication device cancels the generation or transmission of the first measurement report based on the second information; or, the first communication device determines, based on the second information, to cancel the generation or transmission of the first measurement report.

[0121] Optionally, the first measurement report is an event-triggered measurement report. This can be understood as follows: during the event-triggered process, the first communication device detects an event while in an event evaluation state. This first measurement report is generated when the first communication device detects or confirms that one or more events are met within a certain period. For example, after the one or more events are met, the first communication device can enter an event reporting state. This event-triggered process can be replaced with other descriptions, such as UEIBM, event evaluation phase, or event triggering determination phase.

[0122] As an example, after receiving first information, the first communication device can receive one or more reference signals from the reference signal set of the first cell based on the first information (e.g., due to interference or transmission errors, the first communication device may not receive all the reference signals in the reference signal set). Subsequently, in an event-triggered procedure, the first communication device can measure the received one or more reference signals and detect events. If, within a certain period, the first communication device detects or confirms that one or more events are met, it generates a first measurement report. This first measurement report contains the measurement results of the reference signal set of the first cell, which can be understood as the measurement results of the one or more reference signals received by the first communication device.

[0123] Optionally, in addition to the measurement results of the reference signal set of the first cell, the first measurement report may also include other information, such as RRC layer measurement results (or layer 3 (L3) measurement reporting results), or measurement results of other reference signals that are different from the reference signal types in the aforementioned reference signal set (for example, one reference signal type is a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SSB or S-SS / PSBCH block), and the other reference signal type is a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS)).

[0124] Alternatively, the measurement report can be replaced with other descriptions, such as beam report, beam measurement report, measurement results, or beam measurement results, etc.

[0125] As an example, the first information can be used to trigger the start of the above-mentioned event triggering process. For example, the first communication device can start the event triggering process after receiving the first information (or after the first communication device obtains the configuration of the first reference signal set through the first information).

[0126] As another example, the initiation of the above event triggering process can be based on network device configuration or pre-configuration of protocols or standards.

[0127] Optionally, the first measurement report is associated with the first uplink resource of the second cell. This can be understood as the first measurement report being sent through the first uplink resource of the second cell, or the network device using the first uplink resource configured in the second cell to transmit or carry the first measurement report, or the uplink resource corresponding to the first measurement report configured in the network device being the first uplink resource of the second cell.

[0128] Optionally, the uplink resources involved in this application (e.g., the first uplink resource, the second uplink resource mentioned below, etc.) can be physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) resources, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources, or other uplink resources defined by the future network. For example, the first uplink resource can be a PUSCH resource, and the second uplink resource can be a PUCCH resource. Alternatively, the first uplink resource can be a PUSCH resource indicated by control information (e.g., DCI). Or, the first uplink resource can be a PUSCH resource with a configured grant (CG).

[0129] It should be noted that the first cell is different from the second cell. For example, the first cell may be a secondary cell (SCell), and the second cell may be a primary cell (PCell). Alternatively, the first cell may be an SCell, and the second cell may be a physical uplink control channel secondary cell (PUCCH SCell).

[0130] Optionally, the second information used to instruct the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to go into sleep, or the BWP of the first cell to go into sleep can be implemented in various ways, including but not limited to radio resource control (RRC) messages, medium access control control element (MAC CE), downlink control information (DCI), or other information / messages / signaling defined by the future network.

[0131] Based on the scheme shown in Figure 3, after receiving second information in step S302 indicating that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell is in sleep mode, the first communication device can, in step S303, not send (or determine not to send) the first measurement report corresponding to the reference signal set of the first cell based on the second information. In this way, the first communication device can avoid reporting measurement reports for deactivated cells, insulated cells, or cells corresponding to insulated BWPs, thus avoiding unnecessary transmission of measurement reports, reducing resource waste, and improving communication performance.

[0132] Furthermore, after the first cell is deactivated, put into sleep mode, or its BWP (Browser Window Tool) is put into sleep mode, the network device may not be able to obtain the measurement report corresponding to the reference signal set of the first cell through the uplink resources of the first cell, nor will it use the measurement report for scheduling (e.g., handover). During the aforementioned process, the first measurement report corresponding to the reference signal set of the first cell is associated with the first uplink resources of the second cell; that is, the measurement resources for the reference signals and the reporting resources for the measurement report correspond to different cells. In this case, the implementation method of the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information can prevent the network device from receiving the first measurement report through the first uplink resources of the second cell, thereby avoiding the situation where the network device issues incorrect scheduling instructions (e.g., handover instructions) based on the first measurement report, leading to a decrease in communication performance.

[0133] It should be noted that in step S303, the process of the first communication device not sending the first measurement report in the second information can be implemented in a variety of ways, which will be described below with reference to some implementation examples.

[0134] Example 1: The process of the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information includes: the first communication device stopping or resetting the timer triggered by the event based on the second information.

[0135] Alternatively, "reset" can be understood as resetting, returning to zero, or setting to zero.

[0136] In Example 1, after the first communication device determines that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in hibernation, or the BWP of the first cell is in hibernation through the second information, the first communication device can stop or reset the event-triggered timer based on the second information, which can avoid generating or sending the first measurement report corresponding to the reference signal set of the first cell through event triggering within the time period corresponding to the timer.

[0137] Optionally, in Implementation Example 1, the process of the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information further includes: the first communication device resetting the event-triggered counter based on the second information. In other words, after the first communication device determines that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell is in sleep mode through the second information, the first communication device can also reset the event-triggered counter based on the second information. This can prevent the generation or transmission of the first measurement report corresponding to the reference signal set of the first cell when the counter is satisfied by the number of event triggers within the time period corresponding to the timer, thereby avoiding the generation or transmission of the first measurement report.

[0138] Optionally, if the first condition is met, the first communication device stops or resets the timer triggered by the event based on the second information; the first condition includes any one of the following: the first communication device is in an event evaluation state (for example, in the event triggering process, the first communication device can detect the event while in the event evaluation state), or the first communication device is in the event evaluation state at the time of receiving the second information.

[0139] As an example, as shown in Figure 4, the solution implementing Example 1 can be applied to Mode A. The situation satisfying the first condition can be understood as follows: before the event corresponding to "①" in the figure is triggered, the first communication device receives second information instructing the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to go into sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell to go into sleep mode. Accordingly, the first communication device can stop (or reset) the timer related to the event trigger (optionally, it also includes resetting the counter related to the event trigger).

[0140] As another example, as shown in Figure 5, the solution implementing Example 1 can be applied to Mode B. The situation satisfying the first condition can be understood as follows: before the event corresponding to "①" in the figure is triggered, the first communication device receives second information instructing the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to go into sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell to go into sleep mode. Accordingly, the first communication device can stop (or reset) the timer associated with the event trigger (optionally, also include resetting the counter associated with the event trigger).

[0141] Example 2: The process of the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information includes: the first communication device canceling the sending status of the third information based on the second information, wherein the third information is used to indicate the sending of the first measurement report or to request the uplink resource.

[0142] In Example 2, after the first communication device determines that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in hibernation, or the BWP of the first cell is in hibernation through the second information, the first communication device can cancel the transmission state of the third information based on the second information. This can prevent the first communication device from sending the third information once or multiple times in the transmission state of the third information, and / or prevent the first communication device from processing the first measurement report in the transmission state of the third information (for example, in mode B, the first communication device can prepare to send or start sending the first measurement report after sending the third information), thereby preventing the transmission of the first measurement report.

[0143] Optionally, the third information may be the first PUCCH resource configuration - UEIBR, the scheduling request (SR), the first PUCCH, or other information / messages / signaling defined by the network in the future.

[0144] Optionally, if the second condition is met, the first communication device cancels the sending state of the third information based on the second information; the second condition includes any one of the following: the first communication device is in an event reporting state (for example, in an event triggering process, the first communication device can enter the event reporting state after one or more measured events are met), or the first communication device is in the event reporting state at the time of receiving the second information, or the first communication device is in the event reporting state before the time of receiving the second information.

[0145] As an example, as shown in Figure 4, the solution implementing Example 2 can be applied to Mode A. The situation satisfying the second condition can be understood as follows: after the event corresponding to "② or ③" in the figure is triggered but before receiving the DCI, the first communication device receives second information instructing the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to go into sleep mode, or the first cell's BWP to go into sleep mode. For example, at the time corresponding to ②, the first communication device has determined that the event has been triggered but has not yet sent the third information; at the time corresponding to ③, the first communication device has already sent the third information. In this case, the first communication device can cancel the transmission of the third information to avoid the subsequent transmission of the first measurement report (e.g., the first uplink resource in the figure).

[0146] As another example, as shown in Figure 5, the solution implementing Example 2 can be applied to Mode B. The situation satisfying the second condition can be understood as follows: after the event corresponding to "②" in the figure is triggered but before the first measurement report (e.g., the first uplink resource in the figure) is sent, the first communication device receives second information instructing the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to go into sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell to go into sleep mode. For example, at the time corresponding to ②, the first communication device has determined that the event has been triggered but has not yet sent the third information. In this case, the first communication device can cancel the transmission of the third information to avoid the subsequent transmission of the first measurement report (e.g., the first uplink resource in the figure).

[0147] In one possible implementation of Example 2, the method further includes: the first communication device stopping or resetting the disable timer for the third information, and / or, the first communication device resetting the counter for the third information, the counter being used to determine the number of times the third information has been sent. Thus, if the first communication device can cancel the transmission of the third information based on the second information, the first communication device can also stop or reset the disable timer for the third information, and / or, the first communication device can also reset the counter for the third information. In this way, the transmission or retransmission of the third information can be avoided, reducing unnecessary overhead.

[0148] For example, when the third information is SR, the timer for disabling the third information can be SR_ProhibitTimer, and the counter for the third information can be SR_COUNTER. Alternatively, when the third information is firstPUCCHResourceConfig-UEIBR, the timer for disabling the third information can be firstPUCCHResourceConfig-UEIBR_ProhibitTimer, and the counter for the third information can be firstPUCCHResourceConfig-UEIBR_COUNTER.

[0149] Example 3: The process of the first communication device not sending the first measurement report based on the second information includes: the first communication device canceling the sending of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource based on the second information.

[0150] In Example 3, after the first communication device determines that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is in hibernation, or the BWP of the first cell is in hibernation through the second information, the first communication device can cancel the transmission of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource based on the second information, thereby avoiding the transmission of the first measurement report.

[0151] Optionally, if the third condition is met, the first communication device cancels the transmission of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource based on the second information. The third condition includes any one of the following: the first communication device receives control information corresponding to the third information (e.g., the third information corresponds to mode A), which is used to schedule or instruct the first uplink resource; or, the first communication device has transmitted the third information (e.g., the third information corresponds to mode B).

[0152] Optionally, the control information mentioned above can be DCI, or other messages / information / signaling defined in the future network.

[0153] As an example, as shown in Figure 4, the solution implementing Example 3 can be applied to Mode A. The situation satisfying the third condition can be understood as follows: after receiving the DCI corresponding to "④" in the figure, the first communication device receives second information instructing the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to go into sleep mode, or the first cell's BWP to go into sleep mode. In this case, the first communication device cancels the transmission of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource to avoid the transmission of subsequent first measurement reports (e.g., the first uplink resource in the figure).

[0154] Optionally, in the scenario shown in Figure 5, if the first communication device receives a second message after sending the third message, instructing the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to go into hibernation, or the first cell's BWP to go into hibernation, and the first communication device has already received DCI corresponding to "④" in the figure, the first communication device can send a first measurement report (e.g., the first uplink resource in the figure) at the resource location corresponding to the current third message. At this time, the reported first measurement result can be used for other purposes (e.g., sensing, or beam management after the first cell is reactivated or exits hibernation).

[0155] As another example, as shown in Figure 5, the solution implementing Example 3 can be applied to Mode B. The situation satisfying the third condition can be understood as follows: after sending the third information corresponding to "③" in the figure, the first communication device receives a second message instructing the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to go into sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell to go into sleep mode. In this case, the first communication device cancels the transmission of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource to avoid the transmission of subsequent first measurement reports (e.g., the first uplink resource in the figure).

[0156] In one possible implementation of Example 3, the method shown in Figure 3 further includes: when the first uplink resource is only capable of carrying the first measurement report, the first communication device ignores the first uplink resource. Specifically, when the first uplink resource is only capable of carrying the first measurement report, since the first communication device has already determined through the second information not to send the first measurement report, the first communication device can ignore the first uplink resource to reduce processing overhead and transmission overhead.

[0157] Optionally, if the first uplink resource can carry other uplink data and / or other uplink signaling (e.g., other uplink signaling carried by UCI) in addition to the first measurement report, the first communication device does not send the first measurement report on the first uplink resource. Instead, the first communication device can send the other uplink data and / or other uplink signaling on the first uplink resource, thereby maximizing the use of the first uplink resource for transmission and improving resource utilization.

[0158] In one possible implementation, the method shown in Figure 3 further includes: when the second uplink resource of the second cell is dedicated to the first cell, the first communication device suspends or clears the second uplink resource; wherein the second uplink resource is used to transmit third information, which is used to instruct the transmission of the first measurement report or to request the uplink resource. Therefore, when the second uplink resource is dedicated to the first cell, since the first communication device has already determined through the second information that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is dormant, or the BWP of the first cell is dormant, the first communication device can determine that it will not transmit the third information associated with the first cell through the second uplink resource. Accordingly, the first communication device can suspend or clear the second uplink resource, thus avoiding unnecessary processing and buffering overhead.

[0159] For example, suspending a second uplink resource by a first communication device can be understood as the first communication device caching the configuration information of the second uplink resource, but temporarily not using (or activating) the second uplink resource. Similarly, clearing a second uplink resource by a first communication device can be understood as the first communication device clearing the configuration information of the second uplink resource, and may subsequently no longer use (or activate) the second uplink resource.

[0160] Alternatively, "dedicated to" can be understood as "used only," "specified for," or "specifically for," etc.

[0161] In one possible implementation, the method shown in Figure 3 further includes: when the first uplink resource is dedicated to the first cell, the first communication device suspends or clears the first uplink resource. Thus, when the first uplink resource is dedicated to the first cell, since the first communication device has already determined through the second information that the first cell is deactivated, the first cell is dormant, or the BWP of the first cell is dormant, the first communication device can determine that it will not transmit measurement reports associated with the first cell through the second uplink resource. Accordingly, the first communication device can suspend or clear the first uplink resource, avoiding unnecessary processing and buffering overhead.

[0162] Referring to Figure 6, this application embodiment provides a communication device 600. This communication device 600 can implement the functions of the communication device (which is a terminal device) in the above method embodiments, and therefore also achieves the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments. In this application embodiment, the communication device 600 can be a communication device, or it can be an integrated circuit or component inside the communication device, such as a chip. The following embodiments use the communication device 600 as an example for description.

[0163] In one possible implementation, when the device 600 is used to execute the method performed by the first communication device in any of the foregoing embodiments, the device 600 includes a processing unit 601 and a transceiver unit 602; the transceiver unit 602 is used to receive first information, which is used to configure the reference signal set of the first cell; the transceiver unit 602 is also used to receive second information, which is used to instruct the first cell to be deactivated, the first cell to be put into sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell to be put into sleep mode; the processing unit 601 is used to not send the first measurement report based on the second information, the first measurement report being an event-triggered measurement report; wherein, the first measurement report includes the measurement results of the reference signal set of the first cell, and the first measurement report is associated with the first uplink resource of the second cell.

[0164] It should be noted that the information execution process of the unit of the above-mentioned communication device 600 can be specifically described in the method embodiments shown above in this application, and will not be repeated here.

[0165] Please refer to Figure 7, which is another schematic structural diagram of the communication device 700 provided in this application. The communication device 700 includes a logic circuit 701 and an input / output interface 702. The communication device 700 can be a chip or an integrated circuit. The transceiver unit 602 shown in Figure 6 can be a communication interface, which can be the input / output interface 702 in Figure 7, and the input / output interface 702 can include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the communication interface can also be a transceiver circuit, which can include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit.

[0166] Optionally, the input / output interface 702 is used to receive first information, which is used to configure the reference signal set of the first cell; the input / output interface 702 is also used to receive second information, which is used to instruct the first cell to be deactivated, the first cell to be put into sleep mode, or the BWP of the first cell to be put into sleep mode; the logic circuit 701 is used to not send the first measurement report based on the second information, the first measurement report being an event-triggered measurement report; wherein, the first measurement report includes the measurement results of the reference signal set of the first cell, and the first measurement report is associated with the first uplink resource of the second cell.

[0167] The logic circuit 701 and the input / output interface 702 can also perform other steps executed by the terminal device or network device in any embodiment and achieve corresponding beneficial effects, which will not be elaborated here.

[0168] In one possible implementation, the processing unit 601 shown in FIG6 can be the logic circuit 701 in FIG7.

[0169] Optionally, the logic circuit 701 can be a processing device, the functions of which can be partially or entirely implemented in software.

[0170] Optionally, the processing apparatus may include a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor reads and executes the computer program stored in the memory to perform the corresponding processing and / or steps in any of the method embodiments.

[0171] Optionally, the processing device may consist of only a processor. A memory for storing computer programs is located outside the processing device, and the processor is connected to the memory via circuitry / wires to read and execute the computer programs stored in the memory. The memory and processor may be integrated together or physically independent of each other.

[0172] Optionally, the processing device may be one or more chips, or one or more processors.

[0173] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), network processors (NPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0174] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor performs the method described in the possible implementations of the terminal device or network device in the foregoing embodiments.

[0175] This application also provides a computer program product (or computer program) that, when executed by a processor, executes the method described above for possible implementation of a terminal device or network device.

[0176] This application also provides a chip system including at least one processor for supporting a communication device in implementing the functions involved in the possible implementations of the communication device described above. Optionally, the chip system further includes an interface circuit that provides program instructions and / or data to the at least one processor. In one possible design, the chip system may further include a memory for storing the program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices, wherein the communication device may specifically be a terminal device or a network device as described in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0177] This application also provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device and a first network device as described in any of the above embodiments; or, the communication system includes a terminal device and a second network device as described in any of the above embodiments; or, the communication system includes a terminal device, a first network device, and a second network device as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0178] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be an indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units through some interfaces, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0179] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0180] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0181] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip applied to a terminal, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal in the above method embodiments. The terminal chip receives information from the base station, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules in the terminal (such as an RF module or antenna), and then sent to the terminal chip by these modules. The terminal chip sends information to the base station, which can be understood as the information being first sent to other modules in the terminal (such as an RF module or antenna), and then sent to the base station by these modules.

[0182] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip applied to a base station, the base station chip implements the functions of the base station in the above method embodiments. The base station chip receives information from the terminal, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules in the base station (such as an RF module or antenna), and then sent to the base station chip by these modules. The base station chip sends information to the terminal, which can be understood as the information being sent down to other modules in the base station (such as an RF module or antenna), and then sent to the terminal by these modules.

[0183] The method steps in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions executable by a processor. The software instructions can consist of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disks, portable hard disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and storage medium can reside in an ASIC. Alternatively, the ASIC can reside in a base station or terminal. The processor and storage medium can also exist as discrete components in a base station or terminal.

[0184] 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.

[0185] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. Technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0186] It is understood that 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 determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Receive first information, the first information being used to configure the reference signal set of the first cell; Receive second information, the second information being used to instruct the first cell to deactivate, the first cell to hibernate, or, a portion of the first cell's bandwidth BWP to hibernate; The first measurement report is not sent based on the second information. The first measurement report is an event-triggered measurement report. The first measurement report includes the measurement results of the reference signal set of the first cell and is associated with the first uplink resource of the second cell.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of not sending the first measurement report based on the second information includes: Based on the second information, stop or reset the timer triggered by the event.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of not sending the first measurement report based on the second information further includes: The counter triggered by the event is reset based on the second information.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of not sending the first measurement report based on the second information includes: The sending status of the third information is cancelled based on the second information, wherein the third information is used to indicate the sending of the first measurement report or to request the uplink resources.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The method further includes: Stop or reset the disable timer for the third information, and / or reset the counter for the third information, which is used to determine the number of times the third information is sent.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of not sending the first measurement report based on the second information includes: Based on the second information, the transmission of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource is cancelled.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the first uplink resource is only capable of carrying the first measurement report, then the first uplink resource is ignored.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the second uplink resource of the second cell is dedicated to the first cell, the second uplink resource is suspended or cleared; wherein the second uplink resource is used to transmit third information, the third information being used to instruct the transmission of the first measurement report or to request the uplink resource.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the first uplink resource is dedicated to the first cell, the first uplink resource is suspended or cleared.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The first uplink resource is indicated by control information, or the first uplink resource is pre-configured.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The first cell is a secondary cell SCell, and the second cell is a primary cell PCell or a physical uplink control channel secondary cell PUCCH SCell.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, The first information is used to trigger the initiation of the event.

13. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit; The transceiver unit is used to receive first information, which is used to configure the reference signal set of the first cell; The transceiver unit is also configured to receive second information, which is used to instruct the first cell to be deactivated, the first cell to be put into sleep mode, or the first cell to be put into sleep mode with a portion of its bandwidth BWP. The processing unit is configured to not send the first measurement report based on the second information, wherein the first measurement report is an event-triggered measurement report; wherein the first measurement report includes the measurement results of the reference signal set of the first cell, and the first measurement report is associated with the first uplink resource of the second cell.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, The processing unit is configured to not send the first measurement report based on the second information, including: The processing unit stops or resets the timer triggered by the event based on the second information.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that, The processing unit is configured not to send the first measurement report based on the second information, and further includes: The processing unit resets the event-triggered counter based on the second information.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, The processing unit is configured to not send the first measurement report based on the second information, including: The processing unit cancels the sending status of the third information based on the second information. The third information is used to indicate the sending of the first measurement report or to request the uplink resources.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that, The processing unit is also configured to stop or reset the disable timer for the third information, and / or the processing unit is also configured to reset the counter for the third information, the counter for the third information being used to determine the number of times the third information is sent.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, The processing unit is configured to not send the first measurement report based on the second information, including: The processing unit cancels the transmission of the first measurement report on the first uplink resource based on the second information.

19. The apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that, If the first uplink resource is only capable of carrying the first measurement report, the processing unit ignores the first uplink resource.

20. The apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that, When the second uplink resource of the second cell is dedicated to the first cell, the processing unit suspends or clears the second uplink resource; wherein the second uplink resource is used to transmit third information, the third information being used to indicate the sending of the first measurement report or to request the uplink resource.

21. The apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 20, characterized in that, When the first uplink resource is dedicated to the first cell, the processing unit suspends or clears the first uplink resource.

22. The apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 21, characterized in that, The first uplink resource is indicated by control information, or the first uplink resource is pre-configured.

23. The apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 22, characterized in that, The first cell is a secondary cell SCell, and the second cell is a primary cell PCell or a physical uplink control channel secondary cell PUCCH SCell.

24. The apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 23, characterized in that, The first information is used to trigger the initiation of the event.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

26. 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 to 12.

27. A computer program product, characterized in that, It includes a computer program or instructions that, when executed by a computer, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

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