Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and a communication apparatus, the communication method comprising: a first communication device receiving first information indicating a first frequency domain unit of a first bandwidth, and determining first channel information on the basis of the first information, the first channel information being used for determining channel information of the first bandwidth, wherein the first frequency domain unit refers to some frequency domain units in the first bandwidth; the first communication device performs channel measurement on the basis of said frequency domain units, so that the first channel information for determining the channel information of the first bandwidth can be obtained, thus indicating that the first communication device can perform channel measurement at some frequency domain positions of the first bandwidth, without the need to perform channel measurement on the entire first bandwidth; and a result obtained after channel measurement is performed at said frequency domain positions of the first bandwidth can be used for determining the channel information of the entire first bandwidth, thereby implementing sparse measurement. Therefore, full-band channel measurement can be implemented while channel measurement resource overheads are reduced.

Description

Communication methods and communication devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411847775.2, filed on December 16, 2024, entitled "Communication Method and Communication Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communications, and more specifically, to a communication method and a communication device. Background Technology

[0003] With the development of communication technology, the size of antenna arrays on the base station side is constantly increasing, and the communication bandwidth is also expanding, making it difficult to guarantee the accuracy of channel measurements under limited measurement overhead. Specifically, bandwidth expansion comes at the cost of increasing the communication frequency, which in turn leads to more significant Doppler effects and path losses, resulting in more severe channel aging problems and low signal-to-noise ratios in the measured channel. For channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) measurement and channel feedback, the increased channel dimension leads to greater difficulty in channel compression and significant quantization loss.

[0004] One method for multi-antenna port channel measurement involves instructing multiple resource sets to achieve multi-port channel measurement. One resource set can support channel measurement for up to 32 antenna ports, and multiple resource sets can be added to support channel measurement for larger arrays. However, this method does not solve the problem of high channel measurement resource overhead and channel feedback overhead. Therefore, how to achieve full-band channel measurement with limited channel measurement resource overhead has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method to achieve full-band channel measurement with limited channel measurement resource overhead.

[0006] Firstly, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a first communication device. Unless otherwise specified, the "first communication device" in this application can refer to the first communication device itself (e.g., a terminal device), or a component of the first communication device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system, such as a circuit or chip in a terminal device responsible for communication functions (e.g., a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, or a system-in-package (SIP) chip), or an artificial intelligence (AI) entity in the first communication device (e.g., the AI ​​entity in the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or an AI entity serving the terminal device, such as a server, such as an over-the-top (OTT) server or a cloud server), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the first communication device. For ease of description, the following explanation uses execution by the first communication device as an example.

[0007] The communication method includes: receiving first information, the first information being used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of a first bandwidth; and determining first channel information based on the first information, the first channel information being used to determine channel information of the first bandwidth.

[0008] Based on the above technical solution, the first communication device can receive first information from the second communication device indicating a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, and the first communication device can determine first channel information based on the first information. Here, the first frequency domain unit is a portion of the first bandwidth. The first communication device performs channel measurements based on this portion of the frequency domain unit, obtaining first channel information used to determine the channel information of the first bandwidth. This indicates that the first communication device can perform channel measurements at a portion of the first bandwidth's frequency domain, without needing to perform channel measurements across the entire first bandwidth. Furthermore, the results of channel measurements at a portion of the first bandwidth's frequency domain can be used to determine the channel information of the entire first bandwidth, achieving sparse measurement. Thus, full-bandwidth channel measurement can be achieved while reducing channel measurement resource overhead.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: transmitting part or all of the channel information of the first channel information.

[0010] Based on the above technical solution, after the first communication device determines the first channel information, it can choose to send part or all of the first channel information. In the case of sending part of the first channel information, the overhead of the first communication device in feeding back the channel information can be reduced to a certain extent.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving second information, the second information being used to indicate a second frequency domain unit; and, based on the second information, transmitting part or all of the channel information of the first channel information.

[0012] Based on the above technical solution, the second communication device can also instruct the first communication device to feed back channel information at which frequency domain locations through second information. The second communication device constrains the content fed back by the first communication device so that the channel information fed back by the first communication device is the channel information required by the second communication device, thereby improving the performance of the second communication device in the subsequent channel information recovery process of the first bandwidth.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the second information is used to indicate the second frequency domain unit, including: the second information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of the second frequency domain unit in the first frequency domain unit.

[0014] Based on the above technical solution, the second communication device indicates that the second frequency domain unit is part or all of the first frequency domain unit through the second information. Thus, the second information can indicate the frequency domain position of the second frequency domain unit in the first frequency domain unit. Since the frequency domain position of the first frequency domain unit in the first bandwidth can be known through the first information, the first communication device can clearly know the frequency domain position of the second frequency domain unit based on the first information and the second information.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the first information is used to indicate M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, the first frequency domain unit is composed of the M sub-frequency domain units, and M is a positive integer.

[0016] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the first information is used to indicate N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, the first frequency domain unit is composed of the N sub-bands, and N is a positive integer.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the first information is used to indicate N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, and to indicate at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each of the N sub-bands, wherein the first frequency domain unit is composed of at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-band, and N is a positive integer.

[0018] Based on the above technical solution, the first frequency domain unit can be composed of M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, or N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, or at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each of the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, etc. That is, the frequency domain granularity of the first frequency domain unit can be a sub-frequency domain unit, a sub-band, or a sub-frequency domain unit in a sub-band. The second communication device can indicate the first frequency domain unit through the first information in various ways. It is sufficient to indicate a portion of the frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, thereby improving the flexibility of the solution.

[0019] In conjunction with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first information is used to indicate the M sub-frequency domain units, including: the first information is used to indicate a first sparsity and a first bias value, wherein the first sparsity indicates taking X sub-frequency domain units in the sub-frequency domain unit group, the sub-frequency domain unit group includes P sub-frequency domain units, where P is an integer greater than 1 and X is a positive integer less than P, the first bias value indicates that the X sub-frequency domain units are the Q-th to Q+(X-1)-th sub-frequency domain units in the P sub-frequency domain units, where Q is a positive integer, and the M sub-frequency domain units are composed of X sub-frequency domain units in each of the multiple sub-frequency domain unit groups.

[0020] Based on the above technical solution, the first information indicating the M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth can be: indicating that the M sub-frequency domain units are composed of X sub-frequency domain units in each sub-frequency domain unit group (where each sub-frequency domain unit group includes P sub-frequency domain units), and indicating the frequency domain position of the X sub-frequency domain units in the sub-frequency domain unit group. Indicating the M sub-frequency domain units by indicating sparsity and offset values ​​reduces the signaling overhead of the indication information compared to directly indicating the frequency domain position of each sub-frequency domain unit in the M sub-frequency domain units.

[0021] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first information is used to indicate the N sub-bands, including: the first information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of each of the N sub-bands.

[0022] Based on the above technical solution, the first information indicating N sub-bands in the first bandwidth can be an indication of the frequency domain position of each of the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth. The first information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of each of the N sub-bands, including but not limited to:

[0023] The first information is used to indicate the index of each sub-band among the N sub-bands; or, the first information is used to indicate the number of sub-frequency domain units and the frequency domain start position of each sub-band among the N sub-bands; or, the first information is used to indicate the number of sub-frequency domain units and the frequency domain end position of each sub-band among the N sub-bands; or, the first information is used to indicate the frequency domain start position and frequency domain end position of each sub-band among the N sub-bands, etc. The first information can indicate the frequency domain position of each sub-band among the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth in different ways, which can improve the flexibility of the scheme.

[0024] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving third information, the third information being used to indicate a third frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth; and determining second channel information based on the third information, the second channel information and the information of the first channel being used to determine the channel information of the first bandwidth.

[0025] Based on the above technical solution, the second communication device can indicate the third frequency domain unit in the first bandwidth through the third information, so that the first communication device can determine the second channel information based on the third information. Furthermore, the second channel information and the aforementioned first channel information can be used together to determine the channel information of the first bandwidth. This can be understood as: recovering the channel information of the first bandwidth through multiple channel measurements, without needing to perform channel measurements across the entire first bandwidth, thus achieving full-bandwidth channel measurement while reducing channel measurement resource overhead.

[0026] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit are frequency domain positions corresponding to two adjacent channel information measurements in a periodic channel information measurement. The method further includes: receiving fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate a first time domain interval and a first duration, the first time domain interval being the time domain interval between the two adjacent channel information measurements, and the first duration being the duration of the periodic channel information measurement.

[0027] Based on the above technical solution, if the first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit are the frequency domain positions corresponding to two adjacent channel information measurements in the periodic channel information measurement, the second communication device can also indicate the measurement period and duration of the periodic channel information measurement through the fourth information, so as to realize the indication of the periodic channel information measurement. For repeated frequency domain positions in the periodic channel information measurement, there is no need to repeat the indication, thereby reducing the overhead of the indication signaling.

[0028] For example, the periodic channel information measurement period is 20 milliseconds (ms), and the duration is 80 ms. This can be understood as measuring for 20 ms in the first frequency domain unit, then switching to the third frequency domain unit; measuring for 20 ms in the third frequency domain unit, then switching to the first frequency domain unit; measuring for 20 ms in the first frequency domain unit, then switching to the third frequency domain unit; and measuring for 20 ms in the third frequency domain unit to complete the periodic channel information measurement. Although the periodic channel information measurement involves continuous switching between the first and third frequency domain units, it is sufficient to indicate the first and third frequency domain units in the first bandwidth once. Repeated frequency domain positions in the periodic channel information measurement do not need to be repeatedly indicated, reducing the indication overhead.

[0029] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the receiving beams corresponding to the first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit are the same.

[0030] Based on the above technical solution, the receiving beam (or receiving weight, or spatial filter) used by the first communication device when performing channel information measurements multiple times is the same, so as to ensure that the channel information obtained from multiple channel information measurements belongs to the same feature domain, and to support the joint processing of channel information from multiple feedbacks.

[0031] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: performing joint processing on the first channel information and the second channel information based on the first AI model to obtain jointly processed channel information; and sending the jointly processed channel information.

[0032] Based on the above technical solution, the first communication device can jointly process the determined first channel information and second channel information based on the first AI model. The introduction of AI can improve the performance of information processing.

[0033] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first information is associated with the configuration information of the first reference signal, and the first reference signal is any one of the reference signals.

[0034] Based on the above technical solution, the first information can be associated with the configuration information of any reference signal. Specifically, associating the first information with the configuration information of the first reference signal can mean that the first information and the first reference signal correspond to the same spatial beam.

[0035] Secondly, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a second communication device. Unless otherwise specified, the "second communication device" in this application can refer to the second communication device itself (e.g., a network device), or a component of the second communication device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system, such as a circuit or chip in a network device responsible for communication functions (e.g., a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), or an AI entity in the second communication device (e.g., the AI ​​entity in the network device can be the network device itself, or an AI entity serving the network device, such as a server, such as an OTT server or a cloud server), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the second communication device. For ease of description, the following description uses the execution by the second communication device as an example.

[0036] The communication method includes: determining first information, wherein the first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of a first bandwidth, and first channel information corresponding to the first frequency domain unit is used to determine the channel information of the first bandwidth; and sending the first information.

[0037] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: receiving part or all of the channel information of the first channel information, and determining the channel information of the first bandwidth based on part or all of the channel information of the first channel information.

[0038] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending second information, the second information being used to indicate a second frequency domain unit; receiving part or all of the channel information of the first channel information; and determining the channel information of the first bandwidth based on part or all of the channel information of the first channel information.

[0039] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the second information is used to indicate the second frequency domain unit, including: the second information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of the second frequency domain unit in the first frequency domain unit.

[0040] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the first information is used to indicate M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, the first frequency domain unit is composed of the M sub-frequency domain units, and M is a positive integer.

[0041] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the first information is used to indicate N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, the first frequency domain unit is composed of the N sub-bands, and N is a positive integer.

[0042] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the first information is used to indicate N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, and to indicate at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each of the N sub-bands, wherein the first frequency domain unit is composed of at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-band, and N is a positive integer.

[0043] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first information is used to indicate the M sub-frequency domain units, including: the first information is used to indicate a first sparsity and a first bias value, wherein the first sparsity indicates taking X sub-frequency domain units in the sub-frequency domain unit group, the sub-frequency domain unit group includes P sub-frequency domain units, where P is an integer greater than 1 and X is a positive integer less than P, the first bias value indicates that the X sub-frequency domain units are the Q-th to Q+(X-1)-th sub-frequency domain units in the P sub-frequency domain units, where Q is a positive integer, and the M sub-frequency domain units are composed of X sub-frequency domain units in each of the multiple sub-frequency domain unit groups.

[0044] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first information is used to indicate the N sub-bands, including: the first information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of each of the N sub-bands.

[0045] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending third information, the third information being used to indicate a third frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, wherein the first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit are frequency domain positions corresponding to two adjacent channel information measurements in a periodic channel information measurement;

[0046] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate a first time-domain interval and a first duration, the first time-domain interval being the time-domain interval between two adjacent channel information measurements, and the first duration being the duration of the periodic channel information measurement.

[0047] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the receiving beams corresponding to the first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit are the same.

[0048] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: receiving jointly processed channel information, wherein the jointly processed channel information is information jointly processed by the first channel information and the second channel information; and decompressing the jointly processed channel information based on a second artificial intelligence (AI) model to obtain channel information of the first bandwidth.

[0049] The technical effects of the methods shown in the second aspect above can be referenced in the first aspect and its possible designs.

[0050] Thirdly, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a first communication device. Unless otherwise specified, the "first communication device" in this application can refer to the first communication device itself (e.g., a terminal device), or a component of the first communication device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system, such as a circuit or chip in the terminal device responsible for communication functions (e.g., a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP containing a modem core), or an AI entity in the first communication device (e.g., the AI ​​entity in the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or an AI entity serving the terminal device, such as a server, such as an OTT server or a cloud server), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the first communication device. For ease of description, the following description uses the execution of the first communication device as an example.

[0051] The communication method includes: receiving second information, the second information being used to indicate a second frequency domain unit of a first bandwidth; and transmitting third channel information according to the second information, wherein the third channel information is a portion of the channel information of the first bandwidth.

[0052] Based on the above technical solution, the first communication device can receive second information from the second communication device indicating a second frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, and the first communication device can determine and feed back third channel information based on the second information. This third channel information is a portion of the channel information of the first bandwidth. Specifically, the second frequency domain unit is a partial frequency domain unit within the first bandwidth; that is, the second communication device can instruct the first communication device to feed back channel information for a partial frequency domain unit within the first bandwidth through the second information, without needing to feed back the channel information of the entire first bandwidth. The second communication device can recover the channel information of the first bandwidth based on the channel information at a partial frequency domain location, thereby reducing the signaling overhead of the first communication device feeding back channel information.

[0053] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: determining the third channel information based on the second information, wherein the third channel information is the channel information of the second frequency domain unit.

[0054] Based on the above technical solution, after receiving the second information, the first communication device can determine the second frequency domain unit indicated by the second communication device based on the second information, and perform channel information measurement on the second frequency domain unit. Therefore, it can determine the third channel information based on the channel information measurement result and feed back the third channel information. This can be understood as the first communication device, based on the second information, not performing channel information measurement on the entire first bandwidth, but instead performing channel information measurement on the second frequency domain unit. This reduces the signaling overhead of the first communication device in feeding back channel information, thereby reducing the channel information measurement overhead of the first communication device.

[0055] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: determining channel information of the first bandwidth; and determining the third channel information from the channel information of the first bandwidth based on the second information.

[0056] Based on the above technical solution, the first communication device can determine the channel information of the entire first bandwidth, and select the third channel information that needs to be fed back from the channel information of the first bandwidth based on the received second information.

[0057] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the second information is used to indicate a second frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the second information is used to indicate M1 sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, the second frequency domain unit is composed of the M1 sub-frequency domain units, and M1 is a positive integer.

[0058] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the second information is used to indicate a second frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the second information is used to indicate N1 sub-bands in the first bandwidth, the second frequency domain unit is composed of the N1 sub-bands, and N1 is a positive integer.

[0059] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the second information is used to indicate a second frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the second information is used to indicate N1 sub-bands in the first bandwidth, and to indicate at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each of the N sub-bands, wherein the first frequency domain unit is composed of at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-band, and N1 is a positive integer.

[0060] Based on the above technical solution, the second frequency domain unit can be composed of M1 sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, or N1 sub-bands in the first bandwidth, or at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each of the N1 sub-bands in the first bandwidth, etc. That is, the frequency domain granularity of the second frequency domain unit can be a sub-frequency domain unit, a sub-band, or a sub-frequency domain unit in a sub-band. The second communication device can indicate the second frequency domain unit through the second information in various ways. It is sufficient to indicate a portion of the frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, thereby improving the flexibility of the solution.

[0061] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the second information is used to indicate the M1 sub-frequency domain units, including: the second information is used to indicate a second sparsity and a second bias value, wherein the second sparsity indicates taking X1 sub-frequency domain units in the sub-frequency domain unit group, the sub-frequency domain unit group includes P1 sub-frequency domain units, P1 is an integer greater than 1, and X1 is a positive integer less than P1; the second bias value indicates that the X1 sub-frequency domain units are the Q1th to Q1+(X1-1)th sub-frequency domain units in the P1 sub-frequency domain units, Q1 is a positive integer; and the M1 sub-frequency domain units are composed of X1 sub-frequency domain units in each of the multiple sub-frequency domain unit groups.

[0062] Based on the above technical solution, the second information indicating the M1 sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth can be: indicating that the M1 sub-frequency domain units are composed of X1 sub-frequency domain units in each sub-frequency domain unit group (where each sub-frequency domain unit group includes P1 sub-frequency domain units), and indicating the frequency domain position of the X1 sub-frequency domain units in the sub-frequency domain unit group. By indicating sparsity and offset values, the method of indicating the M1 sub-frequency domain units reduces the signaling overhead of the indication information compared to directly indicating the frequency domain position of each sub-frequency domain unit in the M1 sub-frequency domain units.

[0063] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the second information is used to indicate the N1 sub-bands, including: the second information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of each of the N1 sub-bands.

[0064] Based on the above technical solution, the second information indicating the N1 sub-bands in the first bandwidth can be an indication of the frequency domain position of each of the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth. The second information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of each of the N1 sub-bands, including but not limited to:

[0065] The second information is used to indicate the index of each sub-band among the N1 sub-bands; or, the second information is used to indicate the number of sub-frequency domain units and the frequency domain start position of each sub-band among the N1 sub-bands; or, the second information is used to indicate the number of sub-frequency domain units and the frequency domain end position of each sub-band among the N1 sub-bands; or, the second information is used to indicate the frequency domain start position and frequency domain end position of each sub-band among the N1 sub-bands, etc. The second information can indicate the frequency domain position of each sub-band among the N1 sub-bands in the first bandwidth in different ways, which can improve the flexibility of the scheme.

[0066] Fourthly, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a second communication device. Unless otherwise specified, the "second communication device" in this application can refer to the second communication device itself (e.g., a network device), or a component of the second communication device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system, such as a circuit or chip in a network device responsible for communication functions (e.g., a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), or an AI entity in the second communication device (e.g., the AI ​​entity in the network device can be the network device itself, or an AI entity serving the network device, such as a server, such as an OTT server or a cloud server), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the second communication device. For ease of description, the following description uses the execution by the second communication device as an example.

[0067] The communication method includes: sending second information, the second information being used to indicate a second frequency domain unit of a first bandwidth; and receiving third channel information, the third channel information being a portion of the channel information of the first bandwidth.

[0068] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the third channel information is the channel information of the second frequency domain unit.

[0069] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the second information is used to indicate a second frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the second information is used to indicate M1 sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, the second frequency domain unit is composed of the M1 sub-frequency domain units, and M1 is a positive integer.

[0070] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the second information is used to indicate a second frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the second information is used to indicate N1 sub-bands in the first bandwidth, the second frequency domain unit is composed of the N1 sub-bands, and N1 is a positive integer.

[0071] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the second information is used to indicate a second frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the second information is used to indicate N1 sub-bands in the first bandwidth, and to indicate at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each of the N sub-bands, wherein the first frequency domain unit is composed of at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-band, and N1 is a positive integer.

[0072] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the second information is used to indicate the M1 sub-frequency domain units, including: the second information is used to indicate a second sparsity and a second bias value, wherein the second sparsity indicates taking X1 sub-frequency domain units in the sub-frequency domain unit group, the sub-frequency domain unit group includes P1 sub-frequency domain units, P1 is an integer greater than 1, and X1 is a positive integer less than P1; the second bias value indicates that the X1 sub-frequency domain units are the Q1th to Q1+(X1-1)th sub-frequency domain units in the P1 sub-frequency domain units, Q1 is a positive integer; and the M1 sub-frequency domain units are composed of X1 sub-frequency domain units in each of the multiple sub-frequency domain unit groups.

[0073] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the second information is used to indicate the N1 sub-bands, including: the second information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of each of the N1 sub-bands.

[0074] The technical effects of the methods shown in the fourth aspect above can be referenced in the third aspect and its possible designs.

[0075] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, which may be a first communication device, or a device or module for performing the functions of the first communication device.

[0076] One possible implementation is that the communication device may include modules or units corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the first or third aspect. These modules or units may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software.

[0077] In one design, the device may include a processing module and a communication module. The communication module is used to perform the sending and receiving actions performed by the first communication device in the methods described in the first or third aspect above, while the processing module is used to perform processing-related actions performed by the first communication device in the methods described in the first or third aspect above.

[0078] In one design, the device can be a terminal device, or a device, module, circuit, or chip configured in the terminal device, or a device that can be used in conjunction with the terminal device, such as an OTT host or cloud server.

[0079] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a second communication device, or a device or module for performing the functions of a second communication device.

[0080] One possible implementation is that the communication device may include modules or units corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in either the second or fourth aspect. These modules or units may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software.

[0081] In one design, the device may include a processing module and a communication module. The communication module is used to perform the sending and receiving actions performed by the second communication device in the methods described in the second or fourth aspects above, while the processing module is used to perform processing-related actions performed by the second device in the methods described in the second or fourth aspects above.

[0082] In one design, the device can be a network device, or a device, module, circuit, or chip configured in the network device, or a device that can be used in conjunction with the network device, such as a smart network element with RIC deployed.

[0083] A seventh aspect provides a communication apparatus, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor for executing a computer program or instructions to perform the method in any of the possible implementations of the first to fourth aspects described above. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a memory for storing the computer program or instructions. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a communication interface through which the processor reads the computer program or instructions.

[0084] In one implementation, the device is a communication device (such as a terminal device or a network device).

[0085] In another implementation, the device is a chip, chip system, or circuit for communication equipment (such as terminal equipment or network equipment).

[0086] Eighthly, a processor is provided for performing the methods provided in the first to fourth aspects described above.

[0087] Unless otherwise specified, or if it does not contradict its actual function or internal logic in the relevant description, the transmission and acquisition / reception operations involved in the processor can be understood as processor output and reception, input and other operations, or as transmission and reception operations performed by radio frequency circuits and antennas. This application does not limit them in this regard.

[0088] Optionally, the device further includes: a memory for storing a program; correspondingly, at least one processor for executing the computer program or instructions in the memory.

[0089] Optionally, the device also includes a communication interface. The communication interface is coupled to the processor and can be used to input information to the processor or output information from the processor.

[0090] A ninth aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium storing program code for execution by a device, the program code including methods for performing any of the possible implementations of the first to fourth aspects described above.

[0091] In a tenth aspect, a computer program product containing instructions is provided, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method in any of the possible implementations of the first to fourth aspects described above.

[0092] Eleventhly, a chip is provided, the chip including a processing circuit and a communication interface, the processing circuit reads instructions from a memory through the communication interface and executes the method provided by any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0093] Optionally, the processing circuit is one or more processors, or all or part of the control or processing circuitry included in one or more processors.

[0094] Optionally, as one implementation, the chip also includes a memory storing computer programs or instructions, and a processor for executing the computer programs or instructions in the memory. When the computer programs or instructions are executed, the processor is used to execute the method provided by any one of the first to fourth aspects described above.

[0095] In a twelfth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first communication device and / or a second communication device. The first communication device is used to implement the method provided in any possible implementation of the first or third aspect. The second communication device is used to implement the method provided in any possible implementation of the second or fourth aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0096] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a possible application framework in a communication system.

[0097] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a possible application framework in a communication system.

[0098] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to the communication method of this application embodiment.

[0099] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to the communication method of this application embodiment.

[0100] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the neuron structure.

[0101] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of an AI model based on auto-encoders (AE).

[0102] Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0103] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a sparse CSI-RS pattern.

[0104] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of another sparse CSI-RS pattern.

[0105] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another sparse CSI-RS pattern.

[0106] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of another sparse CSI-RS pattern.

[0107] Figure 12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0108] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0109] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of a chip system provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0110] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the following points will be explained first.

[0111] First, in this application, "for indicating" can include both direct and indirect indication. When describing an indication message as indicating A, it can include whether the indication message directly indicates A or indirectly indicates A, but does not necessarily mean that the indication message carries A.

[0112] The information indicated by the instruction 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 be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where there is a relationship between the other information and the information to be instructed. It can also indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-defined) arrangement of various pieces of information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to some extent. At the same time, common parts of various pieces of information can be identified and indicated uniformly to reduce the instruction overhead caused by individually indicating the same information.

[0113] Second, in this application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "more than one" refers to two or more (including two). Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, "first," "second," and various numerical designations (e.g., "#1," "#2," etc.) are merely for descriptive convenience and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The sequence numbers of the processes below do not imply an order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application. It should be understood that the objects described in this way can be interchanged where appropriate to describe solutions other than those in the embodiments of this application. Moreover, in the embodiments of this application, terms such as "S510" are merely identifiers for descriptive convenience and do not limit the order of execution steps.

[0114] Third, in the embodiments of this application, the words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that they are examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design options. Specifically, the use of the words "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0115] Fourth, the term "storage" in the embodiments of this application can refer to storage in one or more memories. These memories can be separate installations or integrated into an encoder, decoder, processor, or communication device. Alternatively, some memories can be separately installed, while others can be integrated into the decoder, processor, or communication device. The type of memory can be any form of storage medium, and this application does not limit this.

[0116] Fifth, in the implementation of this application, "protocol" may refer to standard protocols in the field of communications, such as the NR protocol and related protocols applied in future communication systems, and this application does not limit it.

[0117] Sixth, in the embodiments of this application, the terms "of", "corresponding (relevant)", "corresponding", and "associate" can sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when their differences are not emphasized, their intended meanings are consistent.

[0118] Seventh, in the embodiments of this application, "under the circumstances", "when", and "if" can sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when the distinction is not emphasized, their intended meanings are consistent.

[0119] Eighth, the term "and / or" in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0120] Ninth, the terms "message", "information", or "information element (IE)" can be used interchangeably in this article. There are no restrictions on the names of messages, information, or frames, as long as they can achieve the corresponding functions.

[0121] Tenth, in 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, and "send information" can include direct transmission or indirect transmission through other units or modules. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, and "receive information" can include direct reception from YY or indirect reception from YY through other units or modules. Besides air interface transmission or reception signals implemented at the whole-machine level such as network devices or terminal devices, "send" can also be understood as the "output" of a chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of a chip interface. For example, a modem or system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip or system-in-package (SIP) chip transmits or receives signals. "Send" or "receive" can also be performed through device components, for example, by using buses, traces, or interfaces to transmit or receive signals through several parts, modules, or chips of a device.

[0122] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0123] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: 5th generation (5G) or new radio (NR) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, wireless local area network (WLAN) systems, satellite communication systems, future communication systems, or integrated systems of multiple systems. The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), and Internet of Things (IoT) communication systems or other communication systems.

[0124] In a communication system, a device can send signals to or receive signals from another device. These signals can include information, signaling, or data. The term "device" can also be replaced by an entity, network entity, communication device, mobile device, network element, communication module, node, communication node, communication apparatus, etc. This disclosure uses "device" as an example. For instance, a communication system can include at least one terminal device and at least one network device. The network device can send downlink signals to the terminal device, and / or the terminal device can send uplink signals to the network device.

[0125] In the embodiments of this application, the terminal device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user apparatus.

[0126] Terminal devices can be devices that provide voice / data, such as handheld devices with wireless connectivity, in-vehicle devices, etc. Currently, examples of terminals include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving vehicles, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks, or future public land mobile communication networks. Terminal devices in a network (PLMN), etc., are not limited to this in the embodiments of this application.

[0127] By way of example and not limitation, in this embodiment, the terminal device can also be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for devices that utilize wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Wearable devices are portable devices that are worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not merely hardware devices, but also achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable smart devices include those that are feature-rich, large in size, and can achieve complete or partial functions without relying on a smartphone, such as smartwatches or smart glasses, as well as those that focus on a specific type of application function and require the use of other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0128] In this embodiment, the device for implementing the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or it can be any device capable of supporting the terminal device in implementing those functions, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in or used in conjunction with the terminal device. In this embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete components. This embodiment only uses the terminal device as an example to illustrate the device for implementing the functions of the terminal device, and does not constitute a limitation on the solution of this embodiment.

[0129] The network device in this application embodiment may include a device for communicating with a terminal device. For example, the network device may include an access network device or a wireless access network device, such as a base station (BS). The wireless access network device in this application embodiment may refer to a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects the terminal device to the wireless network. A base station can broadly encompass, or be replaced by, various names including: NodeB, evolved NodeB (eNB), next-generation NodeB (gNB), relay station, access point, transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmitting point (TP), master station, auxiliary station, motor slide retainer (MSR) node, home base station, network controller, access node, wireless node, access point (AP), transmission node, transceiver node, baseband unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), radio unit (RU), positioning node, etc. A base station can be a macro base station, micro base station, relay node, donor node, or similar entities, or combinations thereof. A base station can also refer to a communication module, modem, or chip installed within the aforementioned equipment or apparatus. A base station can also be a mobile switching center, a device that performs base station functions in D2D, V2X, and M2M communications, or a device that performs base station functions in future communication systems. A base station can support networks using the same or different access technologies. 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). The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or equipment forms used in the network equipment.

[0130] Base stations can be fixed or mobile. For example, a helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a mobile base station, and one or more cells can move depending on the location of the mobile base station. In other examples, a helicopter or drone can be configured as a device to communicate with another base station.

[0131] In some deployments, the network devices mentioned in the embodiments of this application may be devices including CU, DU, or CU and DU, or devices with control plane CU nodes (central unit-control plane (CU-CP)) and user plane CU nodes (central unit-user plane (CU-UP)) and DU nodes. For example, the network devices may include gNB-CU-CP, gNB-CU-UP, and gNB-DU.

[0132] In some deployments, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes each implementing some of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be CUs, DUs, CU-CPs, CU-UPs, or RUs. CUs and DUs can be configured separately or included in the same network element, such as a BBU. RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as RRUs, AAUs, or RRHs.

[0133] RAN nodes can support one or more types of fronthaul interfaces, each corresponding to a DU and RU with different functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and RU is a common public radio interface (CPRI), the DU is configured to implement one or more baseband functions, and the RU is configured to implement one or more radio frequency functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and RU is another type of interface, relative to CPRI, some downlink and / or uplink baseband functions, such as, for downlink, precoding, digital beamforming (BF), or one or more of inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) / cyclic prefix addition (CP), are moved from the DU to the RU; and for uplink, digital beamforming (BF), or one or more of fast Fourier transform (FFT) / cyclic prefix removal (CP), are moved from the DU to the RU. In one possible implementation, the interface can be an enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI). Under the eCPRI architecture, the segmentation between DU and RU differs, corresponding to different categories (Cat) of eCPRI, such as eCPRI Cat A, B, C, D, E, F.

[0134] Taking eCPRI Cat A as an example, for downlink transmission, the DU is configured to implement one or more functions before and after layer mapping (i.e., coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, and layer mapping), while other functions after layer mapping (e.g., RE mapping, digital beamforming (BF), or one or more functions of inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) / adding cyclic prefix (CP)) are moved to the RU. For uplink transmission, the DU is configured to implement one or more functions before and after de-RE mapping (i.e., decoding, de-rate matching, descrambling, demodulation, inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT), channel equalization, and de-RE mapping), while other functions after de-RE mapping (e.g., digital BF or one or more functions of fast Fourier transform (FFT) / removing CP) are moved to the RU. It is understandable that the functional descriptions of the DU and RU corresponding to various types of eCPRI can be found in the eCPRI protocol, and will not be elaborated here.

[0135] In one possible design, the processing unit in the BBU used to implement baseband functions is called the baseband high (BBH) unit, and the processing unit in the RRU / AAU / RRH used to implement baseband functions is called the baseband low (BBL) unit.

[0136] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an open RAN (ORAN) system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0137] In this embodiment, the apparatus for implementing the functions of a network device can be a network device itself; it can also be an apparatus capable of supporting the network device in implementing those functions, such as a chip system, hardware circuit, software module, or a hardware circuit plus a software module. This apparatus can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device. In this embodiment, the example of a network device being used to implement the functions of a network device is provided only and does not constitute a limitation on the solutions described in this embodiment.

[0138] Network devices and / or terminal devices can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can also be deployed in the air on airplanes, balloons, and satellites. This application does not limit the scenario in which the network devices and terminal devices are located. Furthermore, terminal devices and network devices can be hardware devices, or software functions running on dedicated hardware or general-purpose hardware, such as virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform), or entities that include dedicated or general-purpose hardware devices and software functions. This application does not limit the specific form of the terminal devices and network devices.

[0139] In wireless communication networks, such as mobile communication networks, the services supported by the networks are becoming increasingly diverse, leading to increasingly diverse requirements. For example, networks need to support ultra-high speeds, ultra-low latency, and / or massive connectivity. This characteristic makes network planning, network configuration, and / or resource scheduling increasingly complex. Furthermore, as network functions become more powerful, such as supporting higher spectrum levels, supporting higher-order multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technologies, supporting beamforming, and / or supporting beam management, network energy efficiency has become a hot research topic. These new requirements, new scenarios, and new characteristics bring unprecedented challenges to network planning, operation, and efficient operation. To meet these challenges, artificial intelligence technology can be introduced into wireless communication networks to achieve network intelligence.

[0140] To support artificial intelligence (AI) technology in wireless networks, AI nodes may also be introduced into the network.

[0141] Optionally, the AI ​​node can be deployed in one or more of the following locations within the communication system: access network equipment, terminal equipment, or core network equipment, etc. Alternatively, the AI ​​node can be deployed independently, for example, in a location other than any of the aforementioned devices, such as in the host or cloud server of an over-the-top (OTT) system. The AI ​​node can communicate with other devices in the communication system, which can be, for example, one or more of the following: wireless access network equipment, terminal equipment, or core network elements, etc.

[0142] It is understood that this application does not limit the number of AI nodes. For example, when there are multiple AI nodes, they can be divided based on function, such as different AI nodes being responsible for different functions.

[0143] It can also be understood that AI nodes can be independent devices, or they can be integrated into the same device to achieve different functions. Alternatively, they can be network elements in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). This application does not limit the specific form of the aforementioned AI nodes.

[0144] AI nodes can be AI network elements or AI modules.

[0145] Figure 1 illustrates a possible application framework in a communication system. As shown in Figure 1, network elements in the communication system are connected via interfaces (e.g., next-generation (NG) interfaces, Xn interfaces) or air interfaces. These network element nodes, such as core network equipment, access network nodes or equipment (RAN nodes or equipment), terminals, or one or more devices in operation administration and maintenance (OAM), are equipped with one or more AI modules (only one is shown in Figure 1 for clarity). The access network node can be a single RAN node or can include multiple RAN nodes, for example, including CU and DU. The CU and / or DU can also be equipped with one or more AI modules. Optionally, the CU can also be split into CU-CP and CU-UP. One or more AI models are configured in CU-CP and / or CU-UP.

[0146] The AI ​​module is used to implement corresponding AI functions. AI modules deployed in different network elements can be the same or different. Depending on the parameter configuration, the AI ​​module can implement different functions. The AI ​​module model can be configured based on one or more of the following parameters: structural parameters (e.g., at least one of the following: number of neural network layers, neural network width, inter-layer connections, neuron weights, neuron activation function, or bias in the activation function), input parameters (e.g., type and / or dimension of input parameters), or output parameters (e.g., type and / or dimension of output parameters). The bias in the activation function can also be referred to as the neural network bias.

[0147] An AI module can have one or more models. A model can infer an output, which includes one or more parameters. The learning, training, or inference processes of different models can be deployed on different nodes or devices, or they can be deployed on the same node or device.

[0148] Figure 2 illustrates a possible application framework in a communication system. As shown in Figure 2, the communication system includes a RAN intelligent controller (RIC). For example, the RIC can be the AI ​​module shown in Figure 1, used to implement AI-related functions. The RIC includes near-real-time RICs (near-RT RICs) and non-real-time RICs (non-RT RICs). Non-real-time RICs primarily process non-real-time information, such as data that is not sensitive to latency, with latency in the order of seconds. Real-time RICs primarily process near-real-time information, such as data that is relatively sensitive to latency, with latency in the order of tens of milliseconds.

[0149] The near real-time RIC is used for model training and inference. For example, it is used to train an AI model and then use that AI model for inference. The near real-time RIC can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and / or RU) and / or terminals. This information can be used as training data or inference data. Optionally, the near real-time RIC can deliver the inference results to the RAN nodes and / or terminals. Optionally, inference results can be exchanged between CU and DU, and / or between DU and RU. For example, the near real-time RIC delivers the inference results to the DU, and the DU then sends the inference results to the RU.

[0150] The non-real-time RIC is also used for model training and inference. For example, it can be used to train an AI model and then use that model for inference. The non-real-time RIC can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and / or RU) and / or terminals. This information can be used as training data or inference data, and the inference results can be delivered to RAN nodes and / or terminals. Optionally, inference results can be exchanged between CU and DU, and / or between DU and RU. For example, the non-real-time RIC delivers the inference results to the DU, and the DU then sends the inference results to the RU.

[0151] The near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can also be set up as separate network elements. Optionally, the near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can also be part of other devices. For example, the near real-time RIC can be set in the RAN node (e.g., in CU, DU), while the non-real-time RIC can be set in the OAM, cloud server, core network device, or other network device.

[0152] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to the communication method of this application embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the communication system 100 may include at least one network device, such as network device 110 shown in Figure 3; the communication system 100 may also include at least one terminal device, such as terminal device 120 and terminal device 130 shown in Figure 3. Network device 110 and terminal devices (such as terminal device 120 and terminal device 130) can communicate via a wireless link. The communication devices in this communication system, for example, network device 110 and terminal device 120, can communicate via multi-antenna technology.

[0153] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to the communication method of this application embodiment. Compared with the communication system 100 shown in Figure 3, the communication system 200 shown in Figure 4 further includes an AI network element 140. The AI ​​network element 140 is used to perform AI-related operations, such as building a training dataset or training an AI model.

[0154] In one possible implementation, network device 110 can send data related to the training of the AI ​​model to AI network element 140, which then constructs a training dataset and trains the AI ​​model. For example, the data related to the training of the AI ​​model may include data reported by the terminal device. AI network element 140 can send the results of operations related to the AI ​​model to network device 110, which then forwards them to the terminal device. For example, the results of operations related to the AI ​​model may include at least one of the following: a trained AI model, model evaluation results, or test results. Exemplarily, a portion of the trained AI model may be deployed on network device 110, and another portion on the terminal device. Alternatively, the trained AI model may be deployed on network device 110. Or, the trained AI model may be deployed on the terminal device.

[0155] It should be understood that Figure 4 is only used as an example of the AI ​​network element 140 being directly connected to the network device 110. In other scenarios, the AI ​​network element 140 can also be connected to a terminal device. Alternatively, the AI ​​network element 140 can be connected to both the network device 110 and a terminal device simultaneously. Alternatively, the AI ​​network element 140 can also be connected to the network device 110 through a third-party network element. This application embodiment does not limit the connection relationship between the AI ​​network element and other network elements.

[0156] AI element 140 can also be set as a module in network devices and / or terminal devices, for example, in network device 110 or terminal device 120 shown in Figure 3.

[0157] It should be noted that Figures 3 and 4 are simplified schematic diagrams for ease of understanding. For example, the communication system may also include other devices, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices, which are not shown in Figures 3 and 4. In practical applications, the communication system may include multiple network devices or multiple terminal devices. The embodiments of this application do not limit the number of network devices and terminal devices included in the communication system.

[0158] To facilitate understanding of the solutions in the embodiments of this application, the terms that may be involved in the embodiments of this application are explained below.

[0159] 1. Artificial Intelligence (AI): This refers to enabling machines to learn, accumulate experience, and solve problems that humans can solve through experience, such as natural language understanding, image recognition, and chess. AI can be understood as the intelligence exhibited by machines created by humans. Generally, AI refers to the technology of using computer programs to represent human intelligence. The goals of AI include understanding intelligence by constructing computer programs that demonstrate symbolic reasoning or reasoning.

[0160] 2. Machine Learning (ML): This is an implementation method of artificial intelligence. Machine learning is a method that endows machines with the ability to perform functions that cannot be done directly by programming. In practical terms, machine learning is a method of training a model using data and then using the model to make predictions. There are many methods of machine learning, such as neural networks (NN), decision trees, and support vector machines. Machine learning theory mainly involves designing and analyzing algorithms that enable computers to learn automatically. Machine learning algorithms are a class of algorithms that automatically analyze data to obtain patterns and use these patterns to predict unknown data.

[0161] 3. Neural Networks: Neural networks are a specific manifestation of machine learning methods. A neural network is a mathematical model that mimics the behavioral characteristics of animal neural networks to process information. As shown in Figure 5, a neural network can be composed of three types of computational layers: input layer, hidden layer, and output layer. Each layer has one or more logical decision units, called neurons. Common neural network structures include feedforward neural networks (FNN), convolutional neural networks (CNN), and recurrent neural networks (RNN), all of which are based on neurons. Each neuron performs a weighted summation operation on its input values ​​and outputs the result through a nonlinear function. The weights of the neuron's weighted summation operation and the nonlinear function are called the parameters of the neural network. The connections between neurons in the neural network are called the structure of the neural network, and the parameters of all neurons constitute the parameters of the neural network.

[0162] 4. Deep neural network: A neural network with multiple hidden layers.

[0163] 5. Deep learning: Machine learning that utilizes deep neural networks.

[0164] 6. AI Model: An AI model is an algorithm or computer program that enables AI functionality. It represents the mapping relationship between the model's input and output; in other words, it's a function model that maps a certain dimension of input to a certain dimension of output. The parameters of this function model can be obtained through machine learning training. For example, f(x) = ax 2+b is a quadratic function model, which can be viewed as an AI model. a and b are the parameters of this AI model, and a and b can be obtained through machine learning training. For example, the AI ​​model mentioned in the following embodiments of this application is not limited to neural networks, linear regression models, decision tree models, support vector machines (SVM), Bayesian networks, Q-learning models, or other machine learning (ML) models.

[0165] The implementation of an AI model can be a hardware circuit, software, or a combination of both; there are no restrictions. Non-restrictive examples of software include: program code, program, subroutine, instruction, instruction set, code, code segment, software module, application program, or software application, etc.

[0166] 7. Reference signal: also known as pilot signal. The reference signal involved in this application includes, but is not limited to, the following reference signals:

[0167] Demodulation reference signals (DMRS), channel state information-reference signals (CSI-RS), tracking reference signals (TRS), sounding reference signals (SRS), phase tracking reference signals (PT-RS), positioning reference signals (PRS), and sensing reference signals (SeRS), etc.

[0168] The reference signal in this application may also be a reference signal other than those listed above, which will not be listed here.

[0169] 8. CSI-RS Measurement: In LTE and NR communication systems, the base station needs to acquire the downlink CSI to determine the resources, modulation and coding scheme (MCS), precoding, and other configurations for scheduling the downlink data channel of the UE. In TDD systems, due to the reciprocity of uplink and downlink channels, the base station can acquire the uplink CSI by measuring the uplink reference signal and then infer a more accurate downlink CSI, for example, using the uplink CSI as the downlink CSI. In FDD systems, uplink and downlink reciprocity cannot be guaranteed, and the downlink CSI is acquired by the UE by measuring the downlink reference signal, such as the channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) or the synchronizing signal / physical broadcast channel block (SSB), and then feeding the CSI report back to the base station so that it can acquire the downlink CSI.

[0170] For next-generation communication systems, the size of base station antenna arrays is constantly increasing (e.g., the number of antenna ports increases to 256T), and communication bandwidth is also expanding (e.g., bandwidth increases to 100MHz), making it difficult to guarantee channel measurement accuracy under limited measurement overhead. Specifically, bandwidth expansion comes at the cost of increasing the communication frequency, which leads to more significant Doppler effects and path losses, resulting in more severe channel aging problems and low signal-to-noise ratios in the measured channel. For CSI-RS measurements and channel feedback, the increased channel dimension makes channel compression more difficult and results in significant quantization losses. Therefore, how to perform channel measurements with large arrays and large bandwidths has become a key challenge in the design of next-generation communication systems.

[0171] 9. AI-based Channel State Information (CSI) Feedback (AI-CSI Feedback): With the development of AI research, the application of neural network models in communication systems is constantly expanding. For example, neural network models can be used for compressed feedback of channel information. The UE obtains downlink channel information based on a reference signal, and then uses this downlink channel information as input to the UE-side neural network to obtain the compressed amount of channel information. The UE feeds back the channel information feedback to the base station, which can then input the feedback into the neural network to recover the downlink channel information. By leveraging the nonlinear feature extraction capability of neural networks, the accuracy of channel measurement can be improved. Therefore, using neural networks to solve the channel measurement problem under large arrays and large bandwidths can be considered.

[0172] For example, an auto-encoder (AE) model consists of two sub-models: an encoder and a decoder. AE can generally refer to a network structure composed of these two sub-models. AE models can also be called bilateral models, dual-end models, or collaborative models. The encoder and decoder of an AE are usually trained together and can be used in a coordinated manner. As shown in Figure 6, AI-CSI feedback can be implemented based on the AI ​​model of the AE. For instance, the UE side compresses and quantizes CSI using the encoder, while the base station recovers CSI using the decoder. For the base station, the input to the AI ​​model is the CSI fed back by the UE, and the output is the recovered CSI. During the training of the AI ​​model on the base station side, the CSI measured on the UE side can serve as the ground truth label for the recovered CSI.

[0173] 10. Antenna Port: An antenna port is a logical concept. One antenna port can correspond to one physical transmit antenna or multiple physical transmit antennas. In both cases, the terminal's receiver will not decompose signals from the same antenna port. From the terminal's perspective, regardless of whether the channel is formed by a single physical transmit antenna or by combining multiple physical transmit antennas, the reference signal corresponding to this antenna port defines it. For example, the antenna port corresponding to the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) is the DMRS port, and the terminal can obtain the channel estimate for this antenna port based on this reference signal. Each antenna port corresponds to a time / frequency resource grid and has its own independent reference signal. One antenna port is one channel, and the terminal performs channel estimation and data demodulation based on the reference signal corresponding to this antenna port.

[0174] 11. Channel measurement with multiple antenna ports: Network devices instruct multiple resource sets to achieve channel measurement with multiple ports. Currently, one resource set supports channel measurement with up to 32 antenna ports. Channel measurement with larger arrays can be supported by adding multiple resource sets.

[0175] The foregoing briefly introduced the scenarios in which the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application can be applied, as well as the basic concepts that may be involved in the embodiments of this application. Among the basic concepts, a channel measurement method with multiple antenna ports is introduced. The channel measurement scheme with multiple antenna ports has a large frequency domain measurement overhead for full-band CSI-RS measurement.

[0176] This application provides a communication method to achieve full-band channel measurement with limited channel measurement resource overhead. The communication method provided in this application can be applied to systems that communicate using multi-antenna technology, such as the communication systems shown in Figures 3 and 4. This communication system may include at least one network device and at least one terminal device.

[0177] The embodiments shown below do not specifically limit the structure of the execution entity of the method provided in the embodiments of this application. As long as communication can be performed according to the method provided in the embodiments of this application by running a program that records the code of the method provided in the embodiments of this application. For example, the method provided in the embodiments of this application can be executed by a first communication device. Unless otherwise specified, the "first communication device" in this application can refer to the first communication device itself (e.g., a terminal device), or a component of the first communication device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system, such as a circuit or chip in a terminal device that is responsible for communication functions (e.g., a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), or an AI entity in the first communication device (e.g., the AI ​​entity in the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or an AI entity serving the terminal device, such as a server, such as an OTT server or a cloud server), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first communication device.

[0178] For example, the method provided in the embodiments of this application can be executed by a second communication device. Unless otherwise specified, the "second communication device" in this application can refer to the second communication device itself (e.g., a network device), or a component of the second communication device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system, such as a circuit or chip in a network device that is responsible for communication functions (e.g., a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), or an AI entity in the second communication device (e.g., an AI entity in a network device can be the network device itself, or an AI entity that serves the network device, such as a server, such as an OTT server or a cloud server), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the second communication device.

[0179] Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, including the following steps:

[0180] S710, the first communication device receives first information from the second communication device, and correspondingly, the second communication device sends the first information to the first communication device.

[0181] The first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of a first bandwidth. This first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth can be used to receive a reference signal. For example, the first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of a first bandwidth, which is used to receive a first reference signal, and the first communication device can obtain first channel information based on the first reference signal. This first channel information is used to determine the channel information corresponding to the aforementioned first bandwidth.

[0182] For example, the first information can be resource configuration information or reference signal resource configuration information (RS resource configuration). For instance, the first information could be a CSI-RS pattern indication, which the second communication device uses to instruct the first communication device on which frequency domain locations to perform channel information measurements each time. Since the frequency domain locations indicated by the first information are partial frequency domain locations of the first bandwidth, this first information can be called sparse CSI-RS pattern indication information.

[0183] It should be understood that the name of the first information is not limited in this application, as long as it can realize the function of indicating the first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth.

[0184] Furthermore, the first bandwidth in this application can be understood as a segment of frequency domain resources, such as the full bandwidth or a sub-band within the full bandwidth. This application does not impose any specific limitation on the range of frequency domain resources indicated by the first bandwidth; it only needs to be able to characterize a segment of frequency domain resources corresponding to a particular channel information measurement performed by the terminal.

[0185] The first frequency domain unit of the aforementioned first bandwidth can be understood as a portion of the frequency domain units within the first bandwidth. Specifically, the second communication device can use the first information to instruct the first communication device to measure the channel information at which frequency domain location within the first bandwidth. The first frequency domain unit may include one or more frequency domain units.

[0186] For example, the first frequency domain unit may be composed of multiple frequency domain units, such as the first frequency domain unit including first frequency domain unit #1, first frequency domain unit #2 and first frequency domain unit #3. For ease of description, the set of first frequency domain unit #1, first frequency domain unit #2 and first frequency domain unit #3 may be referred to as the first frequency domain unit.

[0187] For example, the first frequency domain unit can be a frequency domain unit, such as the first frequency domain unit #1.

[0188] To facilitate understanding, the following section explains how the first information indicates the first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, using a specific implementation method:

[0189] Method 1: The first information is used to indicate the first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the first information is used to indicate M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, the first frequency domain unit is composed of the M sub-frequency domain units, and M is a positive integer.

[0190] Method 1 is suitable for measuring the frequency domain resource indication of periodic, aperiodic, or semi-periodic reference signals (e.g., CSI-RS). In this application, the reference signal can be CSI-RS or other reference signals that can be used for channel information measurement, such as SRS, TRS, and other reference signals, which will not be listed here.

[0191] Optionally, a sub-frequency domain unit can be an RB, an RE, or other frequency domain resource granularity. This application does not impose any limitations on this. In the case shown in Embodiment 1, the smallest granularity of the frequency domain units included in the first frequency domain unit is a sub-frequency domain unit.

[0192] As one possible implementation, in the case shown in Method 1, the first bandwidth is a full-band bandwidth, which includes multiple sub-frequency domain units, and the first frequency domain unit is a frequency domain unit composed of M sub-frequency domain units in the full-band.

[0193] For example, the first bandwidth is the total bandwidth supported by the second communication device. This total bandwidth includes multiple sub-frequency domain units (e.g., sub-frequency domain unit #1, sub-frequency domain unit #2, sub-frequency domain unit #3, ..., sub-frequency domain unit #n). The first frequency domain unit can be composed of M sub-frequency domain units among these multiple sub-frequency domain units. For example, the first frequency domain unit is composed of sub-frequency domain unit #1, sub-frequency domain unit #2, and sub-frequency domain unit #3.

[0194] As another possible implementation, in the case shown in Method 1, the first bandwidth is a sub-band in the full band, which includes multiple sub-frequency domain units, and the first frequency domain unit is a frequency domain unit composed of M sub-frequency domain units in the sub-band.

[0195] For example, the first bandwidth is a subband in the total bandwidth supported by the second communication device. This subband includes multiple sub-frequency domain units (e.g., sub-frequency domain unit #1, sub-frequency domain unit #2, sub-frequency domain unit #3, ..., sub-frequency domain unit #n). The first frequency domain unit can be composed of M sub-frequency domain units among these multiple sub-frequency domain units. For example, the first frequency domain unit is composed of sub-frequency domain unit #1, sub-frequency domain unit #2, and sub-frequency domain unit #3.

[0196] In the case shown in Method 1, the first information indicating the M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth can be implemented in the following way:

[0197] Method 1.1: The first information indicates the frequency domain position of the M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth by indicating the index of each sub-frequency domain unit in the M sub-frequency domain units.

[0198] For example, the first bandwidth includes sub-frequency domain unit #1, sub-frequency domain unit #2, sub-frequency domain unit #3, ..., sub-frequency domain unit #n. The index (or number) of the sub-frequency domain unit starts from 0. When the first frequency domain unit is composed of sub-frequency domain unit #1, sub-frequency domain unit #2, and sub-frequency domain unit #3, the first information can indicate that the M sub-frequency domain units are the three sub-frequency domain resources with indices 0, 1, and 2.

[0199] Method 1.2: The first information indicates the frequency domain position of each of the M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth by indicating sparsity and bias value.

[0200] For example, the first bandwidth can be divided into multiple sub-frequency domain unit groups. First information is used to indicate a first sparsity and a first bias value. The first sparsity indicates that X sub-frequency domain units are selected from the sub-frequency domain unit group, and the sub-frequency domain unit group includes P sub-frequency domain units, where P is an integer greater than 1 and X is a positive integer less than P. The first bias value indicates that the X sub-frequency domain units are the Q-th to Q+(X-1)-th sub-frequency domain units among the P sub-frequency domain units, where Q is a positive integer. The M sub-frequency domain units are composed of X sub-frequency domain units from each of the multiple sub-frequency domain unit groups. Here, Q represents the first bias value, which can be predefined, indicated by the first information, or determined through negotiation between the transceiver.

[0201] It should be noted that the first information can indicate the first sparsity by specifying the values ​​of P and X, and the first information can also indicate the first bias value by specifying the value of Q. That is, the first information includes at least one of P, X, and Q. Variables among P, X, and Q not reflected in the first information can be predefined values, default values, or random values, etc. For example, the first information indicates P and X, and Q can have a default value of 1.

[0202] For example, the first bandwidth is divided into three sub-frequency domain unit groups (e.g., sub-frequency domain unit group #1, sub-frequency domain unit group #2, and sub-frequency domain unit group #3), and each sub-frequency domain unit group includes eight sub-frequency domain units (e.g., sub-frequency domain unit #1, sub-frequency domain unit #2, sub-frequency domain unit #3, sub-frequency domain unit #4, sub-frequency domain unit #5, sub-frequency domain unit #6, sub-frequency domain unit #7, and sub-frequency domain unit #8). The first information indicates the first sparsity as... The first sparsity indicates that the first frequency domain unit includes one sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-frequency domain unit group, and the first bias value is 1. The first bias value indicates that a sub-frequency domain unit is the first of eight sub-frequency domain units, so that the first information indicates that the first sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-frequency domain unit group constitutes the first frequency domain unit.

[0203] Wherein, the first sparsity is represented as P represents the size of the sub-frequency domain unit group, and is merely an example to indicate a possible representation of the first sparsity. It does not constitute any limitation on the scope of protection of this application. For example, the first sparsity can also be represented as P, indicating that one sub-frequency domain unit is selected from every P sub-frequency domain units as a component of the first frequency domain unit; or, if the sub-frequency domain unit groups have already been divided, the first sparsity can also be represented as X, indicating that X sub-frequency domain units are selected from each sub-frequency domain unit group as a component of the first frequency domain unit, etc. Any method that can indicate X sub-frequency domain units in a sub-frequency domain unit group will suffice, and will not be illustrated further here.

[0204] It should be understood that the methods 1.1 and 1.2 above, which indicate the M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, are merely examples and do not constitute any limitation on the scope of protection of this application. Other methods that can be used to indicate the M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth are also within the scope of protection of this application. For example, if the M sub-frequency domain units are M consecutive sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, the first information indicating the M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth can be an index indicating the first sub-frequency domain unit among the M sub-frequency domain units, and the number M of the sub-frequency domain units. As another example, if the M sub-frequency domain units are M consecutive sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, and the first sub-frequency domain unit among the M sub-frequency domain units is the first sub-frequency domain unit in the first bandwidth, the first information indicating the M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth can be an index indicating the number M of the sub-frequency domain units, etc., and will not be illustrated further here.

[0205] Method 2: The first information is used to indicate the first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the first information is used to indicate N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, the first frequency domain unit is composed of N sub-bands, and N is a positive integer.

[0206] Optionally, a subband may include multiple sub-frequency domain units. In the case shown in Method 2, the smallest granularity of the frequency domain units included in the first frequency domain unit is a subband.

[0207] In the case shown in Method 2, the first bandwidth is the full bandwidth, which includes multiple sub-bands. The first frequency domain unit is a frequency domain unit composed of N sub-bands in the full bandwidth. The first information indicates the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, which may indicate the frequency domain position of the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth.

[0208] For example, the first bandwidth is the total bandwidth supported by the second communication device, which includes multiple subbands (e.g., subband #1, subband #2, subband #3, ..., subband #n). The first frequency domain unit can be composed of N subbands from these multiple subfrequency domain units, such as the first frequency domain unit being composed of subband #1, subband #2, and subband #3.

[0209] In the case shown in Method 2, the first information indicating N sub-bands in the first bandwidth can be achieved in the following way:

[0210] Method 2.1: The first information indicates the frequency domain position of the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth by indicating the index of each sub-band among the N sub-bands.

[0211] For example, the first bandwidth includes sub-band #1, sub-band #2, sub-band #3, ..., sub-band #n. The sub-band index (or number) starts from 0. When the first frequency domain unit consists of sub-band #1, sub-band #2, and sub-band #3, the first information can indicate that the N sub-bands are the three sub-bands with indices 0, 1, and 2.

[0212] Method 2.2: The first information indicates the frequency domain position of each of the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth by indicating at least one of the frequency domain start position, frequency domain end position, or frequency domain size.

[0213] For example, the first information is used to indicate the frequency domain location of each of the N sub-bands, including but not limited to:

[0214] The first information is used to indicate the index of each sub-band among the N sub-bands; or, the first information is used to indicate the number of sub-frequency domain units and the frequency domain start position of each sub-band among the N sub-bands; or, the first information is used to indicate the number of sub-frequency domain units and the frequency domain end position of each sub-band among the N sub-bands; or, the first information is used to indicate the frequency domain start position and frequency domain end position of each sub-band among the N sub-bands, etc.

[0215] Method 2.3: The first information indicates each of the N sub-bands through a bit map.

[0216] For example, the first bandwidth can be divided into multiple sub-bands, and the first information can indicate which N sub-bands are among the multiple sub-bands through a bit map. For instance, each sub-band corresponds to one bit, where a value of 1 indicates that the first frequency domain unit includes the sub-frequency domain units in that sub-band, and a value of 0 indicates that the first frequency domain unit does not include the sub-frequency domain units in that sub-band. Another example is that the value of the bit map indicates which sub-frequency domain units are included in the first frequency domain unit. For instance, if the first bandwidth is divided into sub-band #1, sub-band #2, and sub-band #3, the first information could be 11 to indicate that the first frequency domain unit includes the sub-frequency domain units in sub-band #1 and sub-band #2, or 10 to indicate that the first frequency domain unit includes the sub-frequency domain units in sub-band #1 and sub-band #3, and so on. Further examples are not provided here.

[0217] It should be understood that the methods 2.1 to 2.3 above, which indicate N subbands in the first bandwidth, are merely examples and do not constitute any limitation on the scope of protection of this application. Other methods that can be used to indicate N subbands in the first bandwidth are also within the scope of protection of this application. For example, if the N subbands are N consecutive subbands in the first bandwidth, the first information indicating N subbands in the first bandwidth can be an index indicating the first subband among the N subbands, and the number of subbands N. For another example, if the N subbands are N consecutive subbands in the first bandwidth, and the first subband among the N subbands is the first subband in the first bandwidth, the first information indicating N subbands in the first bandwidth can be an index indicating the number of subbands N, etc., and will not be illustrated further here.

[0218] Method 3: The first information is used to indicate the first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: the first information is used to indicate N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, and to indicate at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each of the N sub-bands, wherein the first frequency domain unit is composed of at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-band, and N is a positive integer.

[0219] For example, the first information may indicate a sub-frequency domain unit in one of the N sub-bands. For instance, the N sub-bands include sub-band #1 and sub-band #2, and the first information may indicate at least one sub-frequency domain unit in sub-band #1 and at least one sub-frequency domain unit in sub-band #2, wherein the first frequency domain unit is composed of at least one sub-frequency domain unit in sub-band #1 and at least one sub-frequency domain unit in sub-band #2.

[0220] The first information, which can indicate the frequency domain position of a sub-band and the frequency domain position of a sub-frequency domain unit within the sub-band, can be: first information sub-information #1 and sub-information #2. Sub-information #1 is used to indicate the frequency domain position of N sub-bands, and sub-information #2 is used to indicate the frequency domain position of at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-band. In this case, sub-information #1 and sub-information #2 can be sent simultaneously or at different times. For example, when the second communication device sends the first information, it includes: the second communication device sending sub-information #1 and sub-information #2 respectively.

[0221] For example, the first information that can indicate the frequency domain position of the sub-band and the frequency domain position of the sub-frequency domain unit in the sub-band can be: the first information is a piece of information that can indicate both the frequency domain position of the sub-band and the frequency domain position of the sub-frequency domain unit in the sub-band.

[0222] For ease of description, let's take the example of the first information indicating M² sub-frequency domain units of a certain sub-band among N sub-bands. For instance, it indicates M² sub-frequency domain units in the first sub-band.

[0223] For example, the first sub-band can be divided into multiple sub-frequency domain unit groups. The first information is used to indicate the third sparsity and the third bias value. The third sparsity indicates that X2 sub-frequency domain units are taken in the sub-frequency domain unit group. The sub-frequency domain unit group includes P2 sub-frequency domain units, where P2 is an integer greater than 1 and X2 is a positive integer less than P2. The third bias value indicates that the X2 sub-frequency domain units are the Q2th to Q2+(X2-1)th sub-frequency domain units in the P2 sub-frequency domain units, where Q2 is a positive integer. The M2 sub-frequency domain units are composed of X2 sub-frequency domain units in each of the multiple sub-frequency domain unit groups.

[0224] Q2 represents the third bias value, which can be predefined, indicated by the first information, or determined through negotiation between the transmitting and receiving ends.

[0225] It should be noted that the first information can indicate the values ​​of P2 and X2, indicating the third sparsity, and the first information can indicate the value of Q, indicating the third bias value. That is, the first information includes at least one of P2, X2, and Q2. Variables among P2, X2, and Q2 not reflected in the first information can be predefined values, default values, or random values, etc. For example, the first information indicates P2 and X2, and Q2 can have a default value of 1.

[0226] For example, the first sub-band is divided into three sub-frequency domain unit groups (e.g., sub-frequency domain unit group #1, sub-frequency domain unit group #2, and sub-frequency domain unit group #3), and each sub-frequency domain unit group includes eight sub-frequency domain units (e.g., sub-frequency domain unit #1, sub-frequency domain unit #2, sub-frequency domain unit #3, sub-frequency domain unit #4, sub-frequency domain unit #5, sub-frequency domain unit #6, sub-frequency domain unit #7, and sub-frequency domain unit #8). The first information indicates the first sparsity. The first sparsity indicates that the first frequency domain unit includes one sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-frequency domain unit group, and the first bias value is 1, which indicates that a sub-frequency domain unit is the first of eight sub-frequency domain units, thereby the first information indicates that the first frequency domain unit includes the first sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-frequency domain unit group in the first sub-band.

[0227] In the case shown in Method 3, the first information indicating the sub-frequency domain units in different sub-bands of the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth included by the first frequency domain unit can be implemented in the following way:

[0228] The first information indicates the frequency domain position of each of the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, and the frequency domain position of the sub-frequency domain units that make up the first frequency domain unit in the corresponding sub-band.

[0229] For example, the first information indicating the frequency domain position of each of the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth can refer to the method described in Method 2 above, where the first information indicates the frequency domain position of the N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, which will not be repeated here.

[0230] The difference between Method 3 and Method 2 is that, in addition to indicating the frequency domain positions of the N sub-bands, the first information also needs to indicate the frequency domain positions of the sub-frequency domain units that make up the first frequency domain unit in each sub-band within the corresponding sub-band. For example, the method for indicating the frequency domain positions of the sub-frequency domain units that make up the first frequency domain unit in each sub-band within the corresponding sub-band can refer to the method for indicating the M2 sub-frequency domain units in the first sub-band described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0231] To facilitate understanding, the following examples illustrate how the first information indicates the first frequency domain unit.

[0232] Example 1: The first frequency domain unit includes a portion of the frequency domain units in each of the multiple sub-bands in the first bandwidth. The first information indicates the frequency domain start and end positions of each sub-band, and indicates the portion of the frequency domain units in the sub-band.

[0233] For example, the first information indicates two frequency domain positions corresponding to two sub-bands (e.g., sub-band #1 and sub-band #2). Specifically, the first information indicates the frequency domain position of sub-band #1, and a portion of the frequency domain units within sub-band #1; the first information also indicates the frequency domain position of sub-band #2, and a portion of the frequency domain units within sub-band #2. The first frequency domain unit includes a portion of the frequency domain units in sub-band #1 and a portion of the frequency domain units in sub-band #2.

[0234] For example, the frequency domain position of the first information indicating sub-band #1 can be the frequency domain start position #1 and frequency domain end position #1 of sub-band #1; the partial frequency domain position of the first information indicating sub-band #1 can be the first sparsity #1 and the first bias value #1. The frequency domain position of the first information indicating sub-band #2 can be the frequency domain start position #2 and frequency domain end position #2 of sub-band #2; the partial frequency domain position of the first information indicating sub-band #2 can be the first sparsity #2 and the first bias value #2.

[0235] Optionally, the first sparsity #1 and the first sparsity #2 can be the same, and the first bias value #1 and the first bias value #2 can be the same. For example, the information indicated by the first information includes the information shown in Table 1:

[0236] Table 1

[0237] As shown in Table 1 above, the unit for the first information indicating the frequency domain location can be RB.

[0238] Table 1 shows the starting position as 0, the ending position as 68, and the sparsity. Offset 1 indicates that the first information indicates that the frequency domain start position #1 of subband #1 is the 0th RB, and the frequency domain end position #1 is the 68th RB. The first sparsity #1 indicated by the first information is... This indicates that the channel of 1 RB is measured out of every 8 RBs. The first bias value #1 is 1, which means that the first RB out of every 8 RBs is taken as part of the first frequency domain unit. That is, a part of the frequency domain unit in sub-band #1 corresponds to the first RB out of every 8 RBs in sub-band #1.

[0239] Table 1 shows the starting position as 136, the ending position as 204, and the sparsity. Offset 1 indicates that the first information indicates that the frequency domain start position #2 of subband #2 is the 136th RB, and the frequency domain end position #2 is the 204th RB. The first sparsity #2 indicated by the first information is... This indicates that the channel of 1 RB is measured out of every 8 RBs. The first bias value #2 is 1, which means that the first RB out of every 8 RBs is taken as part of the first frequency domain unit. That is, part of the frequency domain units in sub-band #2 corresponds to the first RB out of every 8 RBs in sub-band #2.

[0240] It should be understood that the RBs in each of the above 8 RBs are numbered sequentially starting from 0. RBs can also be numbered sequentially starting from 1 or other values, which will not be explained here.

[0241] To facilitate understanding, the sparse CSI-RS pattern indicated by the first information shown in Table 1 above will be briefly introduced with reference to Figure 8.

[0242] As shown in Figure 8, the sparse CSI-RS pattern indicated by the first information includes indicating subband #1 and subband #2 in the full bandwidth, and indicating partial frequency domain positions in subband #1 and partial frequency domain positions in subband #2.

[0243] Optionally, the first sparsity #1 and the first sparsity #2 can be different, and / or, the first bias value #1 and the first bias value #2 can be different. For example, the information indicated by the first information includes the information shown in Table 2:

[0244] Table 2

[0245] As shown in Table 2 above, the unit for the first information indicating the frequency domain location can be RB.

[0246] Table 2 shows the starting position as 0, the ending position as 68, and the sparsity. Offset 1 indicates that the first information indicates that the frequency domain start position #1 of subband #1 is the 0th RB, and the frequency domain end position #1 is the 68th RB. The first sparsity #1 indicated by the first information is... This indicates that the channel of 1 RB is measured out of every 8 RBs. The first bias value #1 is 1, which means that the first RB out of every 8 RBs is taken as part of the first frequency domain unit. That is, a part of the frequency domain unit in sub-band #1 corresponds to the first RB out of every 8 RBs in sub-band #1.

[0247] Table 2 shows the starting position as 136, the ending position as 204, and the sparsity. Offset 1 indicates that the first information indicates that the frequency domain start position #2 of subband #2 is the 136th RB, and the frequency domain end position #2 is the 204th RB. The first sparsity #2 of the first information indicates is... This indicates that the channel of 1 RB is measured out of every 16 RBs. The first bias value #2 is 1, which means that the first RB out of every 8 RBs is taken as part of the first frequency domain unit. That is, part of the frequency domain units in sub-band #2 corresponds to the first RB out of every 16 RBs in sub-band #2.

[0248] It should be understood that the RBs in every 8 or 16 RBs mentioned above are numbered sequentially starting from 0. RBs can also be numbered sequentially starting from 1 or other values, which will not be explained in detail here.

[0249] To facilitate understanding, the sparse CSI-RS pattern indicated by the first information shown in Table 2 above will be briefly introduced with reference to Figure 9.

[0250] As shown in Figure 9, the sparse CSI-RS pattern indicated by the first information includes indicating subband #1 and subband #2 in the full bandwidth, and indicating partial frequency domain positions in subband #1 and partial frequency domain positions in subband #2.

[0251] Example 2: The first frequency domain unit includes a portion of the frequency domain units in each of the multiple sub-bands in the first bandwidth. The first information indicates the index of the sub-band and the portion of the frequency domain units within the sub-band.

[0252] In this implementation, the first information can be understood as indicating at least one sparse CSI-RS pattern among a variety of predefined sparse CSI-RS patterns.

[0253] For example, the first information indicates a sparse CSI-RS pattern with an index of 0, which indicates two sub-bands (e.g., sub-band #1 and sub-band #2), and the two frequency domain positions corresponding to the two sub-bands are indicated by the sparse CSI-RS pattern with an index of 0.

[0254] For example, the information indicated by the first piece of information includes the information shown in Table 3:

[0255] Table 3

[0256] Optionally, the predefined sparse CSI-RS patterns include four CSI-RS patterns with indices 0, 1, 2, and 3 as shown in Figure 10, as shown in Table 3 above. Index_0 indicates the selection of the pattern with index 0 in Figure 10, containing the position of two sub-bands. The sparsity within each sub-band is... That is, the channel of 1 RB out of 8 RBs is measured, with an offset of 1, which means that the first RB out of every 8 RBs (counting from 0) is taken as the first frequency domain unit.

[0257] Example 3: The first frequency domain unit includes a portion of the frequency domain units in each of the multiple sub-bands in the first bandwidth. The first information indicates each sub-band and indicates the portion of the frequency domain units in the sub-band.

[0258] For example, the first information indicates the size of the first bandwidth sub-band, the sub-bands included in the first frequency domain unit, and some frequency domain units within the sub-bands. The information indicated by the first information includes the information shown in Table 4:

[0259] Table 4

[0260] As shown in Table 4 above, the subband size indicates the granularity at which the first bandwidth is divided into subbands, with each subband comprising 8 sub-frequency domain units. Sparsity This indicates that one subband feeds back one piece of channel information, and an offset of 1 indicates that the first RB out of 8 RBs is used as the first frequency domain unit. If Table 4 does not include an indication of a subband size of 8, the subband size can be assumed to be 8 based on sparsity; or, if Table 4 does not include an indication of sparsity... The instruction can also be based on the subband size, by default feeding back 1 copy of channel information in each subband.

[0261] Therefore, assuming there are N RBs for channel measurement, grouping them into subbandsize RBs, there are a total of N / subbandsize groups. Furthermore, the subband bitmap can be used to indicate which groups of channel information are reported. In the example shown in Table 4, the first bandwidth is 272 RBs, with 8 RBs per group, resulting in 34 subbands. In the bitmap, 1 indicates that the first frequency domain unit includes a portion of the subband's frequency domain units, and 0 indicates that the first frequency domain unit does not include a portion of the subband's frequency domain units.

[0262] Furthermore, a certain sub-band can be further divided into multiple sub-frequency domain unit groups, as shown in Table 5 below:

[0263] Table 5

[0264] As shown in Table 5 above, the subband size indicates the granularity at which the first bandwidth is divided into subbands, with each subband comprising 8 sub-frequency domain units. Sparsity This means that each sub-band is sampled with a sparsity of 4, that is, each sub-frequency domain unit group includes 4 RBs, that is, the 8 RBs in 1 sub-band are divided into 2 groups, and each group selects RBs with an offset of 1.

[0265] It should be understood that the examples one to three above are merely illustrative of how the first information indicates the first frequency domain unit, and do not constitute any limitation on the scope of protection of this application. The first information may also indicate the first frequency domain unit in other ways, which will not be illustrated here.

[0266] Optionally, if the first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth indicated by the first information is understood as the frequency domain position corresponding to a certain channel information measurement of the first communication device, the second communication device can also indicate the frequency domain position corresponding to another channel information measurement through other information. Optionally, the method flow shown in Figure 7 may further include:

[0267] S720, the second communication device sends third information to the first communication device, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the third information from the second communication device.

[0268] This third information is used to indicate the third frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth. The relationship between the third frequency domain unit and the first bandwidth can be referred to the description of the relationship between the first frequency domain unit and the first bandwidth above, and will not be repeated here. For example, the first frequency domain unit in the above description can be replaced with the third frequency domain resource.

[0269] Optionally, the method by which the third information indicates the third frequency domain unit can refer to the description of the first information indicating the first frequency domain unit above, and will not be repeated here.

[0270] As an example and not a limitation, the first and third frequency domain units are the frequency domain positions corresponding to two adjacent channel information measurements in a periodic channel information measurement for a first bandwidth. The second communication device can also indicate the parameters of the periodic channel information measurement through fourth information. For example, the fourth information is used to indicate a first time domain interval and a first duration, where the first time domain interval is the time domain interval between two adjacent channel information measurements, and the first duration is the duration of the periodic channel information measurement. Exemplarily, the start and end times of the periodic channel information measurement can be triggered by signaling.

[0271] For example, a periodic CSI-RS measurement pattern is defined, which includes multiple CSI-RS measurements. The frequency domain position of each CSI-RS measurement is defined. Optionally, the first and third information mentioned above can be transmitted through the same or different messages.

[0272] For example, the first and third information are carried in the same message to indicate multiple measurements. For instance, the first and third information could indicate the frequency domain location of each measurement. The fourth information could indicate the time interval or measurement period between multiple measurements, as well as the duration.

[0273] For example, the fourth information indicates the period and duration of the periodic sparse CSI-RS pattern. The information indicated by the fourth information includes the information shown in Table 6:

[0274] Table 6

[0275] Optionally, a predefined periodic sparse CSI-RS pattern, as shown in Figure 11, includes four CSI-RS measurements with a time interval of 20ms between the four measurements. The measurement pattern is switched continuously at a period of 20ms and lasts for 80ms to complete one cycle of measurement.

[0276] Furthermore, after receiving the first information, the first communication device can determine the first channel information based on the first information. Therefore, the method flow shown in Figure 7 can also include:

[0277] S730, the first communication device determines the first channel information based on the first information.

[0278] The first channel information is used to determine the channel information of the first bandwidth. Specifically, the first communication device can receive a reference signal in the first frequency domain unit and perform channel measurement to obtain the channel measurement result. This channel measurement result can be used as the aforementioned first channel information, or it can be obtained by processing the channel measurement result. For example, the first communication device can compress the channel measurement result based on an AI model and feed back the compressed first channel information.

[0279] In this application, the first channel information may be a channel matrix, or a channel feature vector obtained by singular value decomposition (SVD) of the channel matrix, or channel feature information obtained by encoder of the channel matrix. This application does not limit the specific content of the channel information.

[0280] Optionally, as described above, the first communication device can also determine the third frequency domain unit corresponding to another channel measurement in the first bandwidth based on the third information, and perform channel information measurement on the third frequency domain resources to obtain the second channel information. For example, the method flow shown in Figure 7 can also include:

[0281] S740, the first communication device determines the second channel information based on the third information.

[0282] The second channel information is used to determine the first bandwidth. Specifically, the first communication device can receive a reference signal in the third frequency domain unit and perform channel measurements to obtain the channel measurement results. These channel measurement results can be used as the aforementioned second channel information, or they can be obtained by processing the channel measurement results. For example, the first communication device can compress the channel measurement results based on an AI model and feed back the compressed second channel information.

[0283] In this application, the second channel information may be a channel matrix, a channel feature vector obtained by SVD of the channel matrix, or channel feature information obtained by encoder of the channel matrix. This application does not impose any limitations on the specific content of the channel information.

[0284] Optionally, the second channel information and the first channel information are used to determine the channel information for the first bandwidth. For example, each time the first communication device performs downlink channel measurement, it performs channel measurement at a partial frequency domain location and compresses the feedback; different frequency domain locations are selected for downlink channel measurements at different times. On the second communication device side, the full-band channel information is recovered by jointly inputting the channel information from multiple feedbacks into the decoder.

[0285] For example, a first channel information is determined based on first information during a first time period; and a second channel information is determined based on third information during a second time period, wherein the first time period and the second time period may be the same or different.

[0286] If the first time period and the second time period are the same, the first channel information and the second channel information can be jointly processed based on the AI ​​model.

[0287] To ensure that the channel information fed back by the first communication device multiple times can be jointly processed, it is required that the receiving beam (or receiving weight or spatial filter, etc.) used by the first communication device in multiple measurements is the same. For example, the receiving beams corresponding to the first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit are the same. This can be understood as follows: using the same receiving beam for multiple CSI-RS measurements ensures that the channels acquired by multiple CSI-RS measurements belong to the same characteristic domain.

[0288] As one possible implementation, the receiving beams corresponding to the first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit are constrained to be the same in a predefined manner. For example, when the first communication device periodically measures channel information, it is constrained to maintain the same beam (spatial filter, etc.) for measurement.

[0289] As another possible implementation, the second communication device can indicate that the receiving beams corresponding to the first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit are the same through indication information. For example, the second communication device can instruct the first communication device to use the same beam (spatial filter, etc.) as the reference signal to perform channel information measurement through the first indication information.

[0290] As another possible implementation, the beam corresponding to the channel measurement of the first frequency domain unit is constrained to be associated with the beam corresponding to a certain channel measurement through a predefined method or by indication information (e.g., quasi-co-located (QCL) association). This certain channel measurement may not be the channel measurement on the third frequency domain unit mentioned above; it may be a previous CSI-RS measurement, SRS measurement, or other reference signal measurement, etc. This application does not impose any limitations on this. For example, the configuration information of the first information and the first reference signal are associated, where the first reference signal is any reference signal. The association of the configuration information of the first information and the first reference signal can be that the spatial beams corresponding to the first information and the first reference signal are the same.

[0291] For example, after the first communication device determines the channel information, it can send the channel information back to the second communication device. Therefore, the method flow shown in Figure 7 further includes:

[0292] S750, the first communication device sends part or all of the first channel information to the second communication device, and correspondingly, the second communication device receives part or all of the first channel information from the first communication device.

[0293] In this application, the first communication device can determine the first channel information based on the received first information, but the channel information actually fed back by the first communication device to the second communication device can be part or all of the first channel information.

[0294] For example, the second communication device instructs the first communication device to measure the first frequency domain unit #1, the first frequency domain unit #2, and the first frequency domain unit #3 in the first bandwidth via first information. After receiving reference signals on the first frequency domain units #1, #2, and #3 and performing channel information measurements based on the first information, the channel information fed back by the first communication device to the second communication device may include the channel information of the first frequency domain units #1, #2, and #3, i.e., all of the first channel information; or, the channel information fed back by the first communication device to the second communication device may include the channel information of the first frequency domain units #2 and #3, i.e., a portion of the first channel information.

[0295] In addition, the second communication device can also indicate the second frequency domain unit through the second information, indicating that the first communication device can report the channel information of the second frequency domain unit.

[0296] For example, the second information may be report configuration information or reference signal report configuration information, etc. This application does not impose any limitations on the name of the information, as long as it can achieve the corresponding function.

[0297] Furthermore, the second communication device can use the second information to instruct the first communication device which part of the channel information in the frequency domain to be fed back. For example, the second information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of the second frequency domain unit in the first frequency domain unit. If the second frequency domain unit and the first frequency domain unit are the same, the first communication device can feed back all of the first channel information; if the second frequency domain unit is a part of the first frequency domain unit, the first communication device can feed back part of the first channel information.

[0298] For example, the second communication device instructs the first communication device to measure the first frequency domain unit #1, the first frequency domain unit #2, and the first frequency domain unit #3 in the first bandwidth via first information. Further, the second communication device instructs the first communication device to feed back the channel information of the first frequency domain unit #2 and the first frequency domain unit #3 via second information. Then, after receiving reference signals on the first frequency domain units #1, #2, and #3 based on the first information and performing channel information measurements, the channel information fed back by the first communication device to the second communication device includes the channel information of the first frequency domain units #2 and #3, i.e., the portion of the first channel information fed back.

[0299] For example, the second information is used to indicate the second frequency domain unit, including: the second information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of the second frequency domain unit in the first frequency domain unit.

[0300] For example, the first frequency domain unit includes first frequency domain unit #1, first frequency domain unit #2, and first frequency domain unit #3, and the second information indicates that the second frequency domain unit includes first frequency domain unit #2 and first frequency domain unit #3. For example, the second information indicates the index of first frequency domain unit #2 and first frequency domain unit #3; or, for example, the second information indicates first frequency domain unit #2 and first frequency domain unit #3 in the form of a bit map. For example, if the second information is 011, the first bit corresponds to first frequency domain unit #1 and has a value of 0, indicating that channel information of first frequency domain unit #1 does not need to be fed back; the second bit corresponds to first frequency domain unit #2 and has a value of 1, indicating that channel information of first frequency domain unit #2 needs to be fed back; and the third bit corresponds to first frequency domain unit #3 and has a value of 1, indicating that channel information of first frequency domain unit #3 needs to be fed back.

[0301] For example, the starting frequency domain position of the first frequency domain unit is RB#1, the ending frequency domain position is RB#10, and the second information indicates that the starting frequency domain position of the second frequency domain unit is RB#1 and the ending frequency domain position is RB#5.

[0302] It should be noted that the second communication device may indicate which frequency domain positions the channel information reported by the first communication device is not based on the first frequency domain unit indicated by the first information. For example, the second information may indicate the second frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth. The first communication device sends third channel information according to the second information, wherein the third channel information is a part of the channel information of the first bandwidth.

[0303] As one possible implementation, the first communication device can measure and feed back the channel information of the second frequency domain unit based on the second information.

[0304] As another possible implementation, the first communication device can measure the channel information of the first bandwidth and feed back the channel information of the second frequency domain unit in the channel information of the first bandwidth based on the second information.

[0305] Specifically, the method by which the second information indicates the second frequency domain unit in the first bandwidth can be referred to the description of the first information indicating the first frequency domain unit above, and will not be repeated here.

[0306] Furthermore, after receiving feedback from the first communication device, the second communication device can recover the channel information of the first bandwidth based on part or all of the channel information of the first channel information. Therefore, the method flow shown in Figure 7 may further include:

[0307] S760, the second communication device restores the channel information of the first bandwidth.

[0308] For example, the second communication device can recover the channel information of the first bandwidth based on an AI model. For instance, some or all of the channel information of the first bandwidth is input into a decoder to recover the channel information of the first bandwidth. It should be understood that this application does not limit the specific recovery method; reference can be made to the design of AI models or decoders in current related technologies, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0309] Optionally, the second communication device can also recover the full-band channel information by jointly inputting the channel information from multiple feedbacks into the decoder. For example, the second communication device can recover the channel information of the first bandwidth based on the first channel information and the second channel information described above.

[0310] In the communication method shown in Figure 7, the first communication device can receive first information from the second communication device indicating a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, and the first communication device can determine first channel information based on the first information. Here, the first frequency domain unit is a portion of the first bandwidth. The first communication device performs channel measurement based on this portion of the frequency domain unit, obtaining first channel information used to determine the channel information of the first bandwidth. This indicates that the first communication device can perform channel measurement at a partial frequency domain location within the first bandwidth, without needing to perform channel measurement over the entire first bandwidth. Furthermore, the result of channel measurement at a partial frequency domain location within the first bandwidth can be used to determine the channel information of the entire first bandwidth, achieving sparse measurement. Thus, full-band channel measurement can be achieved while reducing channel measurement resource overhead.

[0311] It should be understood that the sequence number of each process does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0312] It should also be understood that, in the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0313] It should also be understood that in some of the above embodiments, the examples are mainly based on devices in existing network architectures (such as the first communication device and the second communication device, etc.). It should be understood that the specific form of the device is not limited in the embodiments of this application. For example, any device that can achieve the same function in the future is applicable to the embodiments of this application.

[0314] It is understood that in the above-described method embodiments, the methods and operations implemented by devices (such as the first communication device and the second communication device) can also be implemented by components of the devices (such as chips or circuits).

[0315] The communication method provided in the embodiments of this application has been described in detail above with reference to Figure 7. The above communication method is mainly described from the perspective of the interaction between the first communication device and the second communication device. It can be understood that, in order to realize the above functions, the first communication device and the second communication device include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function.

[0316] Those skilled in the art will recognize that, based on the units and algorithm steps described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, this application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0317] The communication device provided in this application is described in detail below with reference to Figures 12 to 14. It should be understood that the description of the device embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments. Therefore, for details not described in detail, please refer to the method embodiments above; for brevity, some details will not be repeated.

[0318] This application embodiment can divide the transmitting or receiving device into functional modules according to the above method examples. For example, each function can be divided into its own functional modules, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional module. It should be noted that the module division in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. The following description uses the division of functional modules according to each function as an example.

[0319] Figure 12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 10 provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 10 includes a transceiver module 11 and a processing module 12. The transceiver module 11 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the processing module 12 is used for data processing. In other words, the transceiver module 11 is used to perform operations related to receiving and sending, while the processing module 12 is used to perform other operations besides receiving and sending. The transceiver module 11 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit.

[0320] In one possible implementation, the device 10 may further include a storage module 13, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing module 12 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage module to enable the device to perform the actions of the device in the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0321] In one design, the device 10 may correspond to the first communication device in the above method embodiments, or to a component of the first communication device (such as a chip).

[0322] The device 10 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the first communication device in the above method embodiments. The transceiver module 11 can be used to perform the transceiver-related operations of the first communication device in the above method embodiments, and the processing module 12 can be used to perform the processing-related operations of the first communication device in the above method embodiments.

[0323] In one possible implementation, transceiver module 11 is configured to receive first information, the first information being used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of a first bandwidth; and processing module 12 is configured to determine first channel information based on the first information, the first channel information being used to determine channel information of the first bandwidth.

[0324] When the device 10 is used to execute the method in FIG7, the transceiver module 11 can be used to execute the steps of sending and receiving information in the method, such as steps S710, S720 and S750; the processing module 12 can be used to execute the processing steps in the method, such as steps S730 and S740.

[0325] It should be understood that the specific process of each unit performing the above-mentioned corresponding steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0326] In another design, the device 10 may correspond to the second communication device in the above method embodiment, or to a component of the second communication device (such as a chip).

[0327] The device 10 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the second communication device in the above method embodiments. The transceiver module 11 can be used to perform transceiver-related operations of the second communication device in the above method embodiments, and the processing module 12 can be used to perform processing-related operations of the second communication device in the above method embodiments.

[0328] In one possible implementation, processing module 12 is used to determine first information, the first information being used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of a first bandwidth; transceiver module 11 is used to send the first information.

[0329] When the device 10 is used to execute the method in FIG7, the transceiver module 11 can be used to execute the steps of sending and receiving information in the method, such as steps S710, S720 and S750; the processing module 12 can be used to execute the processing steps in the method, such as step S760.

[0330] It should be understood that the specific process of each unit performing the above-mentioned corresponding steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0331] It should also be understood that the device 10 here is embodied in the form of a functional module. The term "module" here can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), electronic circuitry, a processor (e.g., a shared processor, a proprietary processor, or a group processor, etc.) and memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuitry, and / or other suitable components supporting the described functions. In an alternative example, those skilled in the art will understand that device 10 may specifically be a first communication device in the above embodiments, used to execute the various processes and / or steps corresponding to the first communication device in the above method embodiments; or, device 10 may specifically be a second communication device in the above embodiments, used to execute the various processes and / or steps corresponding to the second communication device in the above method embodiments. To avoid repetition, further details are omitted here.

[0332] The apparatus 10 of each of the above-described schemes has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the devices (such as the first communication device, the second communication device, etc.) in the above-described methods. This function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described functions; for example, the transceiver module can be replaced by a transceiver (for example, the transmitting unit in the transceiver module can be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit in the transceiver module can be replaced by a receiver), and other units, such as processing modules, can be replaced by processors, which respectively execute the transceiver operations and related processing operations in each method embodiment.

[0333] In addition, the transceiver module 11 can also be a transceiver circuit (for example, it may include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing module can be a processing circuit.

[0334] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of another communication device 20 provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 20 includes a processor 21, which is used to execute computer programs or instructions stored in a memory 22, or to read data / signaling stored in the memory 22, to perform the methods in the above-described method embodiments. In one possible implementation, the processor 21 may be one or more.

[0335] As shown in Figure 13, one possible implementation of the device 20 includes a memory 22 for storing computer programs or instructions and / or data. The memory 22 may be integrated with the processor 21 or it may be separate. In another possible implementation, there may be one or more memories 22.

[0336] As shown in Figure 13, one possible implementation of the device 20 includes a transceiver 23 for receiving and / or transmitting signals. For example, a processor 21 controls the transceiver 23 to receive and / or transmit signals.

[0337] As one approach, the device 20 is used to implement the operations performed by the first communication device and the second communication device in the various method embodiments described above.

[0338] It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0339] It should also be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory and / or non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM). For example, RAM can be used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, RAM includes the following forms: static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0340] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated into the processor.

[0341] It should also be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0342] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of a chip system 30 provided in an embodiment of this application. The chip system 30 (or may also be called a processing system) includes logic circuitry 31 and an input / output interface 32.

[0343] The logic circuit 31 can be a processing circuit in the chip system 30. The logic circuit 31 can be coupled to a memory unit, calling instructions from the memory unit, enabling the chip system 30 to implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application. The input / output interface 32 can be an input / output circuit in the chip system 30, outputting processed information from the chip system 30, or inputting data or signaling information to be processed into the chip system 30 for processing.

[0344] As one approach, the chip system 30 is used to implement the operations performed by the first communication device and the second communication device in the various method embodiments described above.

[0345] For example, logic circuit 31 is used to implement the processing-related operations performed by the first communication device and the second communication device in the above method embodiment; input / output interface 32 is used to implement the sending and / or receiving-related operations performed by the first communication device and the second communication device in the above method embodiment.

[0346] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for implementing the methods executed by the first communication device and the second communication device in the above-described method embodiments.

[0347] For example, when the computer program is executed by the computer, it enables the computer to implement the methods executed by the first communication device and the second communication device in the various embodiments of the above methods.

[0348] This application also provides a computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, implement the methods performed by the first communication device and the second communication device in the above-described method embodiments.

[0349] This application also provides a communication system, including the aforementioned first communication device and second communication device.

[0350] The explanations and beneficial effects of the relevant contents in any of the devices provided above can be found in the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0351] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0352] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0353] 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 through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0354] 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.

[0355] 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.

[0356] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0357] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: include: Receive first information, the first information being used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of a first bandwidth; Based on the first information, first channel information is determined, and the first channel information is used to determine the channel information of the first bandwidth.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further includes: Send part or all of the channel information of the first channel information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive second information, which is used to instruct the second frequency domain unit; Based on the second information, send part or all of the channel information of the first channel information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The second information is used to indicate the second frequency domain unit, including: The second information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of the second frequency domain unit in the first frequency domain unit.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: The first information is used to indicate M sub-frequency domain units in the first bandwidth, wherein the first frequency domain unit is composed of the M sub-frequency domain units, and M is a positive integer.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: The first information is used to indicate N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, and the first frequency domain unit is composed of the N sub-bands, where N is a positive integer.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate a first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, including: The first information is used to indicate N sub-bands in the first bandwidth, and to indicate at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each of the N sub-bands, wherein the first frequency domain unit is composed of at least one sub-frequency domain unit in each sub-band, and N is a positive integer.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein, The first information is used to indicate the M sub-frequency domain units, including: The first information is used to indicate the first sparsity and the first bias value. Wherein, the first sparsity indicates X sub-frequency domain units in the sub-frequency domain unit group, the sub-frequency domain unit group includes P sub-frequency domain units, where P is an integer greater than 1, and X is a positive integer less than P. The first bias value indicates that the X sub-frequency domain units are the Q-th to Q+(X-1)-th sub-frequency domain units in the P sub-frequency domain units, where Q is a positive integer. The M sub-frequency domain units are composed of X sub-frequency domain units in each of the multiple sub-frequency domain unit groups.

9. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the N sub-bands, including: The first information is used to indicate the frequency domain position of each of the N sub-bands.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive third information, the third information being used to indicate a third frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth; Based on the third information, second channel information is determined, and the second channel information and the information of the first channel are used to determine the channel information of the first bandwidth.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit are the frequency domain positions corresponding to two adjacent channel information measurements in a periodic channel information measurement. The method further includes: Receive fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate a first time-domain interval and a first duration, the first time-domain interval being the time-domain interval between two adjacent channel information measurements, and the first duration being the duration of the periodic channel information measurement.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit correspond to the same receiving beam.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first channel information and the second channel information are jointly processed based on the first artificial intelligence (AI) model to obtain the jointly processed channel information. The channel information after joint processing is sent.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The first information is associated with the configuration information of the first reference signal, and the first reference signal is any reference signal.

15. A method of communication, comprising: The method includes: First information is determined, the first information is used to indicate the first frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, and the first channel information corresponding to the first frequency domain unit is used to determine the channel information of the first bandwidth; Send the first message.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The method further includes: Receive part or all of the channel information of the first channel information; The channel information of the first bandwidth is determined based on part or all of the channel information of the first channel information.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a second message, which is used to instruct a second frequency domain unit; Receive part or all of the channel information of the first channel information; The channel information of the first bandwidth is determined based on part or all of the channel information of the first channel information.

18. The method of any one of claims 15-17, wherein, The method further includes: Send a third message, the third message being used to indicate a third frequency domain unit of the first bandwidth, wherein the first frequency domain unit and the third frequency domain unit are frequency domain positions corresponding to two adjacent channel information measurements in a periodic channel information measurement; Send a fourth message, which indicates a first time interval and a first duration, wherein the first time interval is the time interval between two adjacent channel information measurements, and the first duration is the duration of the periodic channel information measurement.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, The method further includes: Receive the channel information after joint processing, wherein the channel information after joint processing is the information jointly processed by the first channel information and the second channel information; The channel information after joint processing is decompressed based on the second artificial intelligence (AI) model to obtain the channel information of the first bandwidth.

20. A communications device, characterized by Includes modules or units for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 14.

21. A communications device, characterized by Includes modules or units for performing the method as described in any one of claims 15 to 19.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium is included in the communication device, and the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions that, when executed, cause the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 19 to be implemented.

23. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a communication device, characterized in that When the computer program product is run, the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 19 is implemented.

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