Communication method and apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

Provided is a communication method, which is applied to a terminal. The method comprises: receiving a first system message, wherein the first system message comprises SSB configuration information associated with each of multiple radio access technologies, or scheduling information of a second system message.

Description

Communication methods, devices and storage media

[0001] This disclosure claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202510068562.8, filed on January 15, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

[0003] With the evolution of communication technologies, various communication technologies may coexist for a long time to come. In the case of coexistence of different communication standards, traditional resource allocation methods often lead to resource fragmentation and low utilization efficiency.

[0004] For terminals that support multiple communication standards, there is currently no solution on how to efficiently allocate and utilize communication resources. Summary of the Invention

[0005] On the one hand, a communication method is provided for use in a terminal, the method comprising:

[0006] Receive a first system message, which includes SSB configuration information associated with each of the various wireless access standards or scheduling information from a second system message.

[0007] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the SSB configuration information includes at least one of the following: SSB period information and SSB frequency domain information.

[0008] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the scheduling information of the second system message includes the period information of the second system message, the time offset information of the second system message, and the frequency domain information of the second system message.

[0009] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0010] If there are multiple candidate cells that meet the access conditions, and among the candidate cells there is a target cell that supports the multiple wireless access standards, select the target cell for camping or access.

[0011] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the SSB or SIB1 of the candidate cell carries radio access standard indication information, which is used to indicate the radio access standard supported by the candidate cell.

[0012] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the terminal establishes a connection with the core network and determines the wireless access standard used for communication with the wireless access network based on configuration information.

[0013] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a first system message is received from a second wireless access node or a second cell, the various wireless access standard types supported by the second wireless access node or the second cell are determined, and the information on the various supported wireless access standard types is sent to a first wireless access node or a first cell.

[0014] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0015] Receive network access configuration information, which is used to configure the network access node to use a first wireless access standard, wherein the first wireless access standard is one of the multiple wireless access standards.

[0016] Based on the network access configuration information, the first wireless access standard is used to communicate with the network access node.

[0017] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0018] Before receiving network access configuration information, the second wireless access standard is used to communicate with the network access node; the second wireless access technology is one of the multiple wireless access standards.

[0019] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the network access configuration information includes at least one of the following: configuration information of a random access resource set, an indication of the first wireless access standard, a configuration of the first wireless access standard, and a configuration of a scheduling request.

[0020] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first system message further includes configuration information of random access resource sets associated with each of the various wireless access standards.

[0021] In one embodiment of this disclosure, when the network access configuration information includes configuration information of a random access resource set, the wireless access standard to be used subsequently is determined based on the first system message.

[0022] In one embodiment of this disclosure, when the network access configuration information includes an indication of the first wireless access standard, the first wireless access standard is subsequently used to communicate with the network access node.

[0023] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the configuration of the first wireless access standard includes wireless bearer configuration information.

[0024] In one embodiment of this disclosure, when the network access configuration information includes a scheduling request configuration, a scheduling request is sent according to the scheduling request configuration. After receiving the scheduling authorization information, the network access node is communicated using the first wireless access standard.

[0025] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0026] Receive configuration information for each of the various wireless access standards;

[0027] Receive activation information for the target wireless access standard;

[0028] Based on the configuration information of the target access standard, the target wireless access standard is used to access the network access node.

[0029] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes receiving activation information of a target radio access standard through at least one of the following methods: downlink control information, MAC CE, RRC message.

[0030] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0031] Receive configuration information for each of the various wireless access standards;

[0032] Based on the configuration information of each of the various wireless access standards, communication is conducted with the network access node using the various wireless access standards.

[0033] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the configuration information of each wireless access standard includes at least one of the following:

[0034] Indication of the association between frequency domain resources and wireless access standards;

[0035] Indication of the association between community information and wireless access standard;

[0036] Indicator of the association between resource block sets and wireless access standards;

[0037] Indication of the association between wireless bearer information and wireless access standard;

[0038] Indication of the association between logical channels and wireless access standards;

[0039] Indication of the association between logical channel groups and wireless access standards;

[0040] Indication of the association between Quality of Service (QoS) flow and wireless access standard;

[0041] Session layer protocol data unit (PDU) session association indication with wireless access standard.

[0042] In one embodiment of this disclosure, after obtaining uplink scheduling resources, the radio access standard is determined based on the scheduling resources, and the associated radio bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session is determined based on the configuration information of each radio access standard. Data related to the associated radio bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session is selected for transmission.

[0043] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes transmitting capability information, the capability information being used to indicate that the terminal supports a combination of frequency bands for transmitting or receiving using the multiple wireless access standards simultaneously.

[0044] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the frequency band combination includes a list containing multiple elements, the elements including at least a first frequency band identifier of a first standard and a second frequency band identifier of a second standard.

[0045] On another front, a communication method for use in network access nodes is provided, the method comprising:

[0046] Send a first system message, which includes SSB configuration information associated with each of the various wireless access standards or scheduling information from a second system message.

[0047] On another front, a communication device for use in a terminal is provided, the device comprising:

[0048] The receiving module is used to receive a first system message, which includes SSB configuration information associated with various wireless access standards or scheduling information of a second system message.

[0049] In another aspect, a communication device for use in a network access node is provided, the device comprising:

[0050] The sending module is used to send a first system message, which includes SSB configuration information associated with various wireless access standards or scheduling information of a second system message.

[0051] In another aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a memory and a processor; the memory and the processor are coupled; the memory is used to store computer program instructions executable by the processor; and the processor implements the communication method of any of the above embodiments when executing the computer program instructions.

[0052] In another aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, on which computer program instructions are stored, which, when executed on a computer (e.g., a communication device or a signal transmission device), implement the communication method of any of the above embodiments. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0053] In another aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes computer program instructions that, when executed, implement the communication method of any of the above embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0054] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication network including a dual-mode RU / DU according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0055] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] Figure 3 is another flowchart of a communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] Figure 4 is another flowchart of a communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a communication method applied to a network access node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] Figure 6 is a block diagram of a communication device applied to a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0060] Figure 7 is a block diagram of a communication device applied to a network access node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0061] Figure 8 is a block diagram of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0062] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this disclosure, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0063] In this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, " / " means "or," for example, A / B can mean A or B. The "and / or" in this document 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 alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. Furthermore, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. The terms "first," "second," etc., do not limit the quantity or order of execution, and "first," "second," etc., do not necessarily imply differences.

[0064] It should be noted that in this disclosure, the words "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplarily" or "for example" in this disclosure should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the words "exemplarily" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0065] First, the technical terms involved in the embodiments of this disclosure will be introduced.

[0066] Radio access technology (RAT), also known as wireless access standard, refers to the basic physical connection method used in radio-based communication networks. RAT is responsible for providing wireless signal coverage and data transmission services, enabling mobile devices to communicate with base stations and transmit data via wireless links.

[0067] The radio unit (RU) is a key component in a communication system, primarily responsible for converting baseband signals into radio frequency signals and transmitting them wirelessly via an antenna. Its main functions include modulation, amplification, and filtering of the radio frequency signals to ensure the communication system's coverage, signal quality, and data transmission efficiency.

[0068] A centralized unit (CU) is a functional entity within a network access node, and can also be understood as a logical network element. It is responsible for handling centralized control and management functions, including control plane and user plane management. CUs are typically centrally located in the core network to simplify network management and improve scalability.

[0069] The synchronization signal block (PBCH block, SSB) includes synchronization signals and broadcast signals. The synchronization signal consists of the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and the secondary synchronization signal (SSS), while the broadcast signal includes data from the physical broadcast channel (PBCH) and the demodulation reference signal (DMRS). Its main functions are as follows: 1. Cell search. The SSB is the foundation for cell search. By detecting the SSB, the terminal can obtain the physical cell identifier and achieve downlink synchronization in both the time and frequency domains. 2. Timing and frequency synchronization. The SSB helps the terminal maintain synchronization with the radio access node, ensuring the stability and accuracy of communication.

[0070] System information block 1 (SIB1) carries the basic information required for the terminal to access the wireless cell, random access parameters, and scheduling information of other SIBs.

[0071] In situations where different wireless access standards coexist, traditional dedicated spectrum allocation methods often lead to spectrum fragmentation and low utilization efficiency. Spectrum sharing between different wireless access standards enables more flexible and efficient spectrum management. Take spectrum sharing between 5G and 6G technologies as an example. In the initial stages of network deployment, some frequency bands can be prioritized for 5G use. As 6G services are gradually introduced, the spectrum allocation ratio can be gradually adjusted through a dynamic sharing mechanism. This gradual evolution strategy not only ensures the stable operation of existing 5G services but also reserves sufficient spectrum resources for the deployment of 6G systems. Simultaneously, the spectrum sharing mechanism supports dynamic adjustments based on service needs, allowing for flexible adjustments to the spectrum allocation of the two systems according to actual traffic demands in different time periods and regions. This dynamic adjustment capability greatly enhances the system's adaptability, enabling the network to better respond to changes in service demands across different scenarios.

[0072] From a resource efficiency perspective, spectrum sharing can significantly improve the overall system's resource utilization. Through intelligent resource scheduling and interference management, communication systems of multiple wireless access standards can achieve efficient collaboration on the same frequency band. For example, when the load on a 5G system is low in certain time periods or areas, idle spectrum resources can be dynamically allocated to a 6G system, and vice versa. This dynamic reuse mechanism not only improves spectrum utilization efficiency but also enhances the system's load balancing capabilities. With the support of edge computing and artificial intelligence technologies, the decision-making process for spectrum sharing can be more intelligent and precise. The system can automatically optimize spectrum allocation strategies based on real-time service demands, network status, and interference conditions. Furthermore, spectrum sharing supports differentiated quality of service (QoS) guarantees. More spectrum resources can be allocated to high-priority services to ensure the QoS of critical services. This dynamic spectrum allocation mechanism based on QoS enables the system to better meet the needs of different types of services and improve overall service quality. At the same time, spectrum sharing also provides greater flexibility for supporting new business scenarios. For example, in vertical industry applications, the spectrum configuration of 5G and 6G systems can be dynamically adjusted according to specific needs.

[0073] From the perspective of deployment costs and operational efficiency, spectrum sharing provides operators with a more economical network evolution solution. Traditional network upgrades often require significant investment in spectrum resources, while through spectrum sharing, operators can gradually introduce new wireless access standards, such as 6G, based on existing spectrum resources, thereby greatly reducing initial investment costs. This evolution approach not only reduces the financial pressure of spectrum acquisition but also lowers the complexity of network construction and maintenance. During network operation, spectrum sharing also provides better resource utilization efficiency and reduces capacity bottlenecks caused by insufficient spectrum resources. Through intelligent spectrum management platforms, operators can achieve more refined resource management and improve network operational efficiency. In the long run, spectrum sharing will become an important feature of future mobile communication systems. It will not only improve the efficiency of spectrum resource utilization but also promote the coordinated development of different generations of systems, creating greater commercial value for operators. At the same time, this sharing mechanism also provides valuable experience for the development and utilization of higher frequency bands in the future, laying the foundation for the continuous evolution of mobile communication technology. With the continuous development and maturation of new technologies, spectrum sharing will play an increasingly important role in future communication systems, driving the entire industry towards a more efficient and intelligent direction.

[0074] To save system migration costs and reduce transition difficulties, this disclosure proposes a RU sharing scheme for different wireless access standards, as well as a communication method based on RU sharing.

[0075] First, we will introduce the beneficial effects of the RU sharing scheme.

[0076] Traditional dedicated RU solutions require deploying separate radio frequency units for different wireless access standards, increasing hardware costs and introducing issues such as site resource consumption and power management. However, by using a shared RU design that supports multiple wireless access standards, signals from different standards can be processed within a single radio frequency unit. For example, it can handle both 5G and 6G signals. This integrated design, through novel radio frequency architectures such as wideband RF front-ends and reconfigurable antenna arrays, enables flexible processing of signals from different wireless access standards. For instance, using software-defined radio frequency technology, the RU can dynamically adjust its operating mode according to real-time needs, supporting 5G and 6G signal transmission and reception at different times.

[0077] From a network performance perspective, shared RUs bring multifaceted performance improvements to the system. Through a unified RF processing platform, the system can achieve better signal coordination and interference management. Shared RUs also support dynamic resource allocation and load balancing, allowing the system to flexibly adjust the resource ratio between the two standards based on real-time service needs, improving overall network efficiency. In edge scenarios, the shared RU design also supports more flexible coverage optimization. Through intelligent beam management algorithms, coverage range and signal strength can be dynamically adjusted for the service requirements of different wireless access standards. Furthermore, RU sharing provides greater flexibility for network evolution. For example, when introducing new air interface features, functionality can be expanded through software upgrades without replacing hardware. This hardware-software decoupling design not only improves system scalability but also reduces the complexity and cost of network upgrades. In fronthaul networks, the shared RU design also supports more efficient data transmission and processing mechanisms, dynamically adjusting the bandwidth and latency characteristics of the fronthaul interface according to the needs of different standards.

[0078] From the perspective of deployment costs and operational efficiency, shared RUs offer operators a more economical and efficient network construction solution. Compared to traditional independent deployment methods, shared RUs can significantly reduce hardware investment and installation costs. By supporting different wireless access standards through a single radio frequency system, not only are equipment procurement expenditures reduced, but also investments in site leasing, power supply, and other supporting facilities are lowered. In terms of network operation and maintenance, the design of shared RUs simplifies daily maintenance work and reduces the need for spare parts reserves and technical training. Through a unified operation and maintenance platform, centralized management and monitoring of different wireless access standard services can be achieved, improving operational efficiency.

[0079] In the long run, RU sharing will become an important development direction for future mobile communication systems. It will not only improve the economics of network deployment but also promote the coordinated development of different generations of systems. As new technologies mature, the performance of shared RUs will be further enhanced, creating greater commercial value for operators. Simultaneously, this sharing mechanism provides valuable practical experience for future applications in higher frequency bands and more complex scenarios, driving the entire industry towards greater efficiency and intelligence. In terms of energy efficiency, shared RUs, through intelligent power management and resource scheduling, can significantly reduce system energy consumption, which is of great significance for building green and low-carbon communication networks.

[0080] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a single-mode RU is upgraded to a multi-mode RU, and a single-mode DU is upgraded to a multi-mode DU. Here, a single-mode RU refers to an RU that supports only one wireless access standard, and a multi-mode RU refers to an RU that supports multiple wireless access standards. A single-mode DU refers to a DU that supports only one wireless access standard, and a multi-mode DU refers to a DU that supports multiple wireless access standards.

[0081] For example, referring to Figure 1, 5G / 6G RU represents an RU that supports both 5G and 6G, and 5G / 6G DU represents a DU that supports both 5G and 6G. 5G user equipment (UE) and 6G UE will then share resources. How these resources will be coordinated for different radio access standards is described below.

[0082] Since 6G shares the spectrum with 5G, 6G signal transmission must not affect 5G UEs. Existing New Radio (NR) signals need to continue being transmitted. NR SSBs are transmitted periodically, but NR reference signals are flexibly configured. Therefore, the network side can coordinate resources as needed; resources used for transmitting 5G SSBs cannot be used for transmitting 6G signaling and data. SIB1 resources, on the other hand, are indicated by SSBs and can also be flexibly configured.

[0083] Referring to Figure 2, a flowchart of a communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, applied to a terminal, includes:

[0084] S101: The terminal receives a first system message, which includes SSB configuration information associated with each of the various wireless access standards or scheduling information from a second system message.

[0085] In one embodiment of this disclosure, an independent SSB is designed for each wireless access standard, with the resources occupied staggered in the time or frequency domain. In this case, the first system message includes SSB configuration information associated with each of the multiple wireless access standards.

[0086] Specifically, the first system message sent by the network-side device carries the SSB configuration information associated with each of the various wireless access standards. As a result, the terminal currently using a specific wireless access standard can obtain the resource configuration information of the SSB of that specific wireless access standard from the first system message, and then only receive the corresponding SSB signal.

[0087] Here, the SSB configuration information includes at least one of the following: SSB period information and SSB frequency domain information.

[0088] For ease of understanding, we will use supported wireless access standards, including 5G and 6G, as examples for explanation.

[0089] For example, the network-side equipment transmits 5G SSB in the first frequency band and 6G SSB in the second frequency band. Alternatively, it transmits 5G SSB in the first time domain set and 6G SSB in the second time domain set.

[0090] To prevent terminals currently using the 6G standard from receiving unnecessary 5G SSBs, network-side devices can send SSB configuration information for 5G SSBs and / or 6G SSBs via system message blocks.

[0091] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first system message may be an SIB1 message, and the second system message may be a system message other than an SIB1 message.

[0092] For the terminal, the following steps are performed during the process of receiving a specific SSB:

[0093] Step 11: Obtain the SIB1 message, which carries SSB configuration information for various wireless access standards.

[0094] Step 12: After receiving the SSB and SSB configuration information, the terminal receives subsequent SSBs based on the configuration information.

[0095] For example, after receiving a 6G SSB, a 6G terminal (i.e., a terminal currently using the 6G wireless access standard) further receives an SIB1. Based on the 6G RAT's SSB configuration information indicated in the SIB1, and combined with the time and period information of the previously received 6G RAT's SSBs, the terminal determines the time information of the subsequent 6G RAT's SSBs, and then continues to receive the subsequent 6G RAT's SSBs.

[0096] Similarly, after receiving the 5G SSB, the 5G terminal (i.e., the terminal currently using the 5G wireless access standard) further receives the SIB1. Based on the 5G RAT's SSB configuration information indicated in the SIB1, and combined with the time and period information of the previously received 5G RAT's SSBs, the terminal determines the time information of the subsequent 5G RAT's SSBs, and then continues to receive the subsequent 5G RAT's SSBs.

[0097] In one embodiment of this disclosure, different radio access standards all use a common SSB. That is, regardless of the radio access standard currently used by the terminal, they all receive the same SSB. In this case, the first system message includes scheduling information of the second system messages associated with each of the multiple radio access standards.

[0098] Specifically, network-side devices send a common SSB, but SIB1 carries scheduling information for other SIBs associated with different radio access standards. These other SIBs may include SIB2, SIB3, ..., SIBx, etc.

[0099] Here, the scheduling information of the second system message includes the period information of the second system message, the time offset information of the second system message, and the frequency domain information of the second system message.

[0100] For ease of understanding, we will use supported wireless access standards, including 5G and 6G, as examples for explanation.

[0101] For the terminal, the following steps are performed during the process of receiving a specific SSB:

[0102] Step 21: Receive the common SSB. Based on the content carried by the common SSB, further obtain the SIB1 message. The SIB1 message carries the scheduling information of other SIBs for various radio access standards.

[0103] Step 22: The terminal determines the resource location for receiving other SIBs based on the scheduling information of other SIBs in the above-mentioned multiple wireless access standards, and then receives other SIBs.

[0104] For example, for a 5G terminal, after receiving SIB1, it obtains the scheduling information of other SIBs in the 5G RAT, and then receives other SIBs in the 5G RAT according to the scheduling information. For a 6G terminal, after receiving SIB1, it obtains the scheduling information of other SIBs in the 6G RAT, and then receives other SIBs in the 6G RAT according to the scheduling information.

[0105] In some embodiments of this disclosure, if the terminal supports different RATs simultaneously, the SSBs and related SIBs of multiple RATs can be detected at the same time, and the terminal needs to decide which RAT to access.

[0106] In one embodiment of this disclosure, if there are multiple candidate cells that meet the access conditions, and among the candidate cells there is a target cell that supports multiple wireless access standards, the target cell is selected for camping or access.

[0107] For example, if a terminal supports both 5G RAT and 6G RAT, it will prioritize selecting a cell that supports both 5G RAT and 6G RAT when performing cell reselection.

[0108] Before this, the terminal needs to determine whether the cell is a multi-mode cell that supports different RATs, and which RAT it supports.

[0109] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the SSB or SIB1 of the candidate cell carries radio access standard indication information, which is used to indicate the radio access standard supported by the candidate cell.

[0110] If the SSB carries Radio Access Standard Indication (RAS) information, the terminal can determine the RAT supported by the cell associated with that SSB after obtaining the SSB. For example, the RAS information may indicate that the cell only supports 5G RAT, only supports 6G RAT, or supports both 5G RAT and 6G RAT.

[0111] If the SIB1 carries Radio Access Standard Indication (RAS) information, the terminal can determine the RAT supported by the cell associated with the SSB by further obtaining the SIB1 based on the received SSB. For example, the RAS indication information may indicate that the cell only supports 5G RAT, only supports 6G RAT, or supports both 5G RAT and 6G RAT.

[0112] Alternatively, in another embodiment, the radio access standard indication information is indirect. That is, whether a cell is a multi-mode cell is implicitly indicated by whether the system message carries configuration information related to multiple radio access standards. The aforementioned configuration information is not limited to cell configuration information, scheduling information from other system messages, etc.

[0113] For example, if SIB1 provides cell configuration information for multiple RATs, the terminal can directly determine that the cell is a multi-mode cell. Alternatively, if SIB1 provides scheduling information for other SIBs with multiple RATs, the terminal can directly determine that the cell is a multi-mode cell.

[0114] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the terminal receives a first system message from a second wireless access node or a second cell, determines the multiple wireless access standard types supported by the second wireless access node or the second cell, and sends the information on the multiple supported wireless access standard types to the first wireless access node or the first cell.

[0115] Specifically, when the terminal accesses the first radio access node or the first cell and is in a connected state, it can continue to perform neighbor cell measurements, receive neighbor cell system messages, obtain the RAT types supported by the neighbor cells, and report them.

[0116] For example, when a terminal receives SIB1 from a second radio access node or a second cell, it can determine the RAT supported by the second radio access node or the second cell based on SIB1 and report it to the first radio access node or the first cell currently connected.

[0117] Those skilled in the art will understand that the terminal can also report measurement reports for other cells.

[0118] After the first radio access node or the first cell learns about the RATs supported by the second radio access node or the second cell, as well as the measurement report, it decides whether to initiate a handover procedure for the terminal. If it decides to initiate a handover procedure, it can prioritize selecting cells or access nodes that support multiple RATs.

[0119] As an example, the measurement report shows that the wireless communication quality of neighboring cell a and neighboring cell b meets the requirements for cell handover. Neighboring cell a only supports one RAT, while neighboring cell b supports multiple RATs. Therefore, the current serving cell can preferentially select neighboring cell b as the target cell.

[0120] As an example, the first wireless access node obtains the RAT type supported by the second wireless access node or the second cell through the interface between access nodes.

[0121] As an example, the first radio access node obtains the RAT types supported by the second radio access node or the second cell through core network elements. To achieve this, the first or second radio access node needs to report its supported RAT type information to the core network elements.

[0122] In some embodiments of this disclosure, for terminals supporting multiple RATs, only one connection is established with the core network, but the communication method with the radio access network (RAN) node can be flexibly selected using the RAT, depending on the configuration information. Here, the radio access network node can also be understood as a network access node.

[0123] Here, network access nodes can use various configuration options to configure the RAT of the terminal. Specifically, these include:

[0124] Configuration scenario 1: The network access node configures a RAT for the terminal.

[0125] Configuration scenario 2: The network access node configures two or more RATs for the terminal, but only one RAT is active at a time.

[0126] Configuration scenario 3: The network access node configures two or more RATs for the terminal, and the two or more RATs are active simultaneously.

[0127] First, let's introduce configuration scenario 1.

[0128] In one embodiment of this disclosure, after establishing a communication connection with a network access node, the terminal receives network access configuration information. The network access configuration information is used to configure access to the network access node using a first wireless access standard, which is one of several wireless access standards. Based on the network access configuration information, the terminal communicates with the network access node using the first wireless access standard.

[0129] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a second wireless access standard is used to communicate with the network access node before receiving network access configuration information; the second wireless access standard is one of a variety of wireless access standards.

[0130] Here, the second wireless access standard can be understood as the RAT on which the terminal establishes a communication connection with the network access node before making a RAT change.

[0131] Specifically, the terminal can first establish a connection with the network access node using any RAT, for example, establishing a radio resource control (RRC) connection. Subsequently, the network access node reconfigures the terminal's access RAT.

[0132] Here, the network access node can decide whether to reconfigure the RAT for the terminal based on the following factors: the terminal's reported capability report, QoS requirements, traffic pattern, measurement reports, and load balancing across different RATs. As an example, the measurement report includes the signal reception quality currently measured by the terminal on each channel.

[0133] When a network access node decides to change the RAT for a terminal based on one or more of the above factors, it can initiate a RAT change that does not require cell modification. This involves sending the aforementioned network access configuration information to the terminal.

[0134] As an example, network access configuration information can be carried in an RRC reconfiguration message.

[0135] Here, the network access configuration information includes at least one of the following: configuration information of the random access resource set, indication of the first wireless access standard, configuration of the first wireless access standard, and configuration of the scheduling request.

[0136] The random access resource set can be understood as the set of random access channel (RACH) resource indications.

[0137] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first system message may further include configuration information of random access resource sets associated with each of the various radio access standards. For example, SIB1 carries configuration information of random access resource sets associated with 5G RAT and 6G RAT.

[0138] In one embodiment of this disclosure, when the first system message carries configuration information of random access resource sets associated with each of the multiple wireless access standards, the network access node may not need to send the configuration information of the random access resource sets.

[0139] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the indication of the first wireless access standard (RAT) may be identification information of the first RAT. For example, each RAT corresponds to a unique identification information, and the terminal can determine the RAT indicated by the network access node by recognizing the identification information. Subsequently, the first RAT is used to communicate with the network access node.

[0140] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the configuration of the first wireless access standard includes wireless bearer configuration information. When a terminal communicates with a network access node using the first wireless access standard, it can determine the wireless bearer to be used based on the wireless bearer configuration information.

[0141] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the network access configuration information includes a scheduling request (SR) configuration. When the terminal needs to send uplink data, it sends the SR based on the SR configuration. When the terminal receives the scheduling grant information, it is equivalent to a successful change of the RAT, and subsequently uses the first radio access standard to communicate with the network access node. Here, the scheduling grant information can be uplink grant (UL GRANT) information.

[0142] The following section describes configuration scenario 2.

[0143] Referring to Figure 3, another flowchart of a communication method provided according to an embodiment of this disclosure includes the following steps:

[0144] S201: Receives configuration information for various wireless access standards.

[0145] S202: Receive activation information for the target wireless access standard.

[0146] S203: Based on the configuration information of the target access standard, access the network access node using the target wireless access standard.

[0147] Specifically, the terminal first establishes a connection with the network access node using any RAT, for example, by establishing an RRC connection. The network access node then reconfigures the RAT for the terminal.

[0148] The difference from configuration scenario 1 is that the network access node configures two or more RATs for the terminal, but only one RAT is activated.

[0149] Here, when the network access node decides whether to reconfigure the RAT for the terminal, the factors it considers are the same as those in configuration scenario 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0150] When a network access node decides to reconfigure the RAT for a terminal, it can send configuration information for two or more RATs and send activation information to indicate which RAT the terminal should use.

[0151] Specifically, the terminal can receive activation information of the target radio access standard through at least one of the following methods: downlink control information, media access control control element (MAC CE), or RRC message. Here, MAC CE is a signaling message that exchanges control information between the terminal and the network access node, specifically control information about the MAC layer.

[0152] For example, the network access node sends configuration information for both 5G RAT and 6G RAT to the terminal, along with activation information instructing the terminal to use 6G RAT. The terminal then accesses the network access node based on the 6G RAT configuration information. If subsequent activation information for 5G RAT is received, the terminal switches to 5G RAT, i.e., accesses the network access node based on the 5G RAT configuration information.

[0153] The following section describes configuration scenario 3.

[0154] Referring to Figure 4, which is a flowchart of another communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes the following steps:

[0155] S301: Receives configuration information for various wireless access standards.

[0156] S302: Based on the configuration information of various wireless access standards, it communicates with network access nodes using various wireless access standards.

[0157] The terminal first establishes a connection with the network access node using any RAT, for example, by establishing an RRC connection. The network access node then reconfigures the RAT for the terminal.

[0158] Here, when the network access node decides whether to reconfigure the RAT for the terminal, the factors it considers are the same as those considered in configuration scenarios 1 and 2, and will not be repeated here.

[0159] The difference from configuration scenario 2 is that the network access node configures two or more RATs for the terminal, and the two or more RATs are effective simultaneously.

[0160] In one embodiment of this disclosure, before the network access node decides to configure and enable two or more RATs for the terminal, the network access node needs to ensure that the terminal has the corresponding capabilities.

[0161] As an example, network access nodes determine whether a terminal has the ability to simultaneously activate two or more RATs based on the capability information reported by the terminal.

[0162] Correspondingly, the terminal sends capability information, which indicates that the terminal supports a combination of frequency bands for transmitting or receiving using multiple wireless access standards simultaneously.

[0163] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the frequency band combination includes a list containing multiple elements, the elements including at least a first frequency band identifier of a first standard and a second frequency band identifier of a second standard.

[0164] Specifically, if a terminal needs to support two or more wireless access standards simultaneously, one approach is to establish a mapping relationship between the wireless access standards and frequency domain resources, thereby ensuring that data transmission between different wireless access standards does not interfere with each other.

[0165] This means that there is a mapping relationship between wireless access standards and frequency domain resources, and this mapping relationship can be configured by network-side devices. The capability information reported by the terminal needs to specify the frequency band information supported by each wireless access standard when the terminal uses multiple wireless access standards for transmission or reception simultaneously.

[0166] For example, the capability information includes element 1, which is: the identifier of frequency band 1 supported by RAT1, the identifier of frequency band 2 supported by RAT2, and the identifier of frequency band 3 supported by RAT3. This capability information indicates that the terminal has the capability to use RAT1, RAT2, and RAT3 simultaneously, and when RAT1, RAT2, and RAT3 are all active, RAT1 supports frequency band 1, RAT2 supports frequency band 2, and RAT3 supports frequency band 3.

[0167] It should be noted that element 1 above is only an example of a combination included in the frequency band combination. The capability information reported by the terminal may contain a list containing multiple elements.

[0168] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the configuration information for each wireless access standard includes at least one of the following:

[0169] Indication of the association between frequency domain resources and wireless access standards;

[0170] Indication of the association between community information and wireless access standard;

[0171] Indicator of the association between resource block sets and wireless access standards;

[0172] Indication of the association between wireless bearer information and wireless access standard;

[0173] Indication of the association between logical channels and wireless access standards;

[0174] Indication of the association between logical channel groups and wireless access standards;

[0175] The association between Quality of Service (QoS) flow and wireless access standard;

[0176] Session protocol data unit (PDU) is an indication of the association between a session and the wireless access standard.

[0177] Specifically, since the terminal uses two or more RATs simultaneously, in order to avoid conflicts between the radio resources occupied by different RATs, or to use RATs that do not support certain types of services (such as sensing or intelligent services) to transmit service data that require such services, and to simplify the overall system design, the mapping relationship between the radio access standard and the radio resources can be pre-set.

[0178] Specifically, the configuration information for each wireless access standard needs to include corresponding indication information to indicate the mapping relationship between the wireless access standard and specific wireless resources.

[0179] Here, the above-mentioned frequency domain resource and wireless access standard association indication is used to indicate the mapping relationship between the bandwidth part (BWP) and the wireless access standard.

[0180] The aforementioned association indication between cell information and radio access standard is used to indicate the mapping relationship between cells and radio access standards. Those skilled in the art will understand that when a network access node contains multiple cells, different frequency domain resources are allocated to different cells. Therefore, setting the mapping between cells and radio access standards can also be understood as setting the mapping between frequency domain resources and radio access standards.

[0181] The aforementioned association indication between resource block sets and radio access standards is used to indicate the mapping relationship between resource block sets and radio access standards. A resource block set refers to a group of continuous or distributed resource blocks (RBs) arranged continuously or distributed in the frequency domain to carry specific data transmission. Therefore, setting the mapping relationship between resource block sets and radio access standards can also be understood as setting the mapping relationship between frequency domain resources and radio access standards.

[0182] The aforementioned association indication between wireless bearer information and wireless access standard is used to indicate the mapping relationship between wireless bearer and wireless access standard.

[0183] The above-mentioned association indication between logical channels / logical channel groups and wireless access standards is used to indicate the mapping relationship between logical channels or logical channel groups and wireless access standards.

[0184] Here, the aforementioned radio bearers, logical channels / logical channel groups, and terminal-transmitted buffer status reports (BSRs) and scheduling requests (SRs) are closely related. For ease of understanding, the relevant technologies are introduced below.

[0185] BSR (Browser Response System) is used to report the buffer status of the terminal, that is, to notify the network access node of the data to be sent in the terminal's current buffer. The network access node can allocate uplink resources to the terminal based on the amount of data in the terminal's buffer reported by the BSR.

[0186] Specifically, when a terminal needs to send uplink data, it first attempts to request uplink resources via BSR. If there are no resources to send a BSR, or the BSR request fails, the terminal will then request uplink resources from the network side via SR. SR can be transmitted through the PUCCH control channel and allocated to the terminal by the network side.

[0187] In this embodiment, since different radio bearers and logical channels / logical channel groups are equipped for different wireless access standards, when a terminal needs to transmit uplink data, if the data packet to be transmitted in the buffer is associated with two or more logical channels of two or more RATs, the terminal can arbitrarily select one of the RATs to report the BSR based on the currently available resources. If there are no resources, the BSR is reported according to the configured SR. As an example, each terminal corresponds to one primary RAT, and the network-side device only needs to configure the SR corresponding to the primary RAT for the terminal.

[0188] The above association indication between QoS flow and wireless access standard is used to indicate the mapping relationship between QoS flow and wireless access standard.

[0189] Furthermore, at the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, QoS flows need to be mapped to data radio bearers. Since the mapping relationship between QoS flows and RATs is pre-configured, the network side can further configure the mapping between QoS flows and data radio bearers by mapping QoS flows to different RATs to different data radio bearers. This avoids carrying data from different RATs on the same data radio bearer.

[0190] The above association between PDU sessions and wireless access standards is used to indicate the mapping relationship between PDU sessions and wireless access standards.

[0191] Furthermore, the network side can further configure constraints for mapping between PUD sessions and DRBs.

[0192] As an example, the network side is configured such that the QoS flow of different PDU sessions will not be mapped to the same DRB, that is, the QoS flow of different PDU sessions needs to be mapped to different DRBs.

[0193] As another example, the network side is configured such that the QoS flow of PDU sessions mapped to different RATs will not be mapped to the same DRB. In other words, the QoS flow of PDU sessions mapped to different RATs needs to be mapped to different DRBs.

[0194] Based on the above settings, it is possible to further avoid carrying data from different RATs in the same data radio bearer, and to avoid conflicts between radio resources occupied by different RATs.

[0195] In one embodiment of this disclosure, after obtaining uplink scheduling resources, the terminal determines the radio access standard based on the scheduling resources, determines the associated radio bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session based on the configuration information of each radio access standard, and selects data related to the associated radio bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session for transmission.

[0196] Since each wireless access standard has its own configuration information containing the associated wireless bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session, when a terminal is using two or more wireless access standards simultaneously, it can select the data related to the associated wireless bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session for transmission.

[0197] For example, for RAT1 that is active on the terminal, the terminal selects data related to the radio bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session associated with RAT1 for transmission. For RAT2 that is active on the terminal, the terminal selects data related to the radio bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session associated with RAT2 for transmission.

[0198] This separates the wireless resources occupied by different wireless access standards, thus avoiding interference between different wireless access standards.

[0199] Referring to Figure 5, which is a flowchart of a communication method applied to a network access node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Figure 5, the method includes:

[0200] S401: Send a first system message, which includes SSB configuration information associated with each of the various wireless access standards or scheduling information from a second system message.

[0201] In some embodiments, the SSB configuration information includes at least one of the following: SSB period information and SSB frequency domain information.

[0202] In some embodiments, the scheduling information of the second system message includes the period information of the second system message, the time offset information of the second system message, and the frequency domain information of the second system message.

[0203] In some embodiments, the SSB or SIB1 of the candidate cell carries radio access standard indication information, which is used to indicate the radio access standard supported by the candidate cell.

[0204] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0205] Send network access configuration information, which is used to configure the network access node to use a first wireless access standard, wherein the first wireless access standard is one of the multiple wireless access standards.

[0206] In some embodiments, the method further includes: the network access configuration information includes at least one of the following: configuration information of a random access resource set, an indication of the first wireless access standard, a configuration of the first wireless access standard, and a configuration of a scheduling request.

[0207] In some embodiments, the first system message may also include configuration information for the random access resource sets associated with each of the various radio access standards.

[0208] In some embodiments, the configuration of the first wireless access standard includes wireless bearer configuration information.

[0209] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0210] The system sends configuration information for each of the various wireless access standards and activation information for the target wireless access standard, so that the terminal can access the network access node using the target wireless access standard based on the configuration information of the target access standard.

[0211] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0212] Activation information for the target wireless access standard can be sent in at least one of the following ways: downlink control information, MAC CE, or RRC message.

[0213] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0214] The configuration information of each of the multiple wireless access standards is sent so that the terminal can communicate with the network access node using the multiple wireless access standards based on the configuration information of each of the multiple wireless access standards.

[0215] In some embodiments, the configuration information for each of the wireless access standards includes at least one of the following:

[0216] Indication of the association between frequency domain resources and wireless access standards;

[0217] Indication of the association between community information and wireless access standard;

[0218] Indicator of the association between resource block sets and wireless access standards;

[0219] Indication of the association between wireless bearer information and wireless access standard;

[0220] Indication of the association between logical channels and wireless access standards;

[0221] Indication of the association between logical channel groups and wireless access standards;

[0222] Indication of the association between Quality of Service (QoS) flow and wireless access standard;

[0223] Session layer protocol data unit (PDU) session association indication with wireless access standard.

[0224] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0225] The capability information is used to indicate that the terminal supports a combination of frequency bands for transmitting or receiving using the multiple wireless access standards simultaneously.

[0226] In some embodiments, the frequency band combination includes a list containing multiple elements, the elements including at least a first frequency band identifier of a first standard and a second frequency band identifier of a second standard.

[0227] Referring to Figure 6, a communication device for a terminal provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The device 600 includes a receiving module 601.

[0228] The receiving module 601 is used to receive a first system message, which includes SSB configuration information associated with various wireless access standards or scheduling information of a second system message.

[0229] In some embodiments, the SSB configuration information includes at least one of the following: SSB period information and SSB frequency domain information.

[0230] In some embodiments, the scheduling information of the second system message includes the period information of the second system message, the time offset information of the second system message, and the frequency domain information of the second system message.

[0231] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes:

[0232] The selection module is used to select a target cell for camping or access if there are multiple candidate cells that meet the access conditions, and among the candidate cells there is a target cell that supports the multiple wireless access standards.

[0233] In some embodiments, the SSB or SIB1 of the candidate cell carries radio access standard indication information, which is used to indicate the radio access standard supported by the candidate cell.

[0234] In some embodiments, the terminal establishes a connection with the core network and determines the wireless access standard used for communication with the wireless access network based on configuration information.

[0235] In some embodiments, the receiving module is further configured to: receive a first system message from a second radio access node or a second cell, determine the multiple radio access standard types supported by the second radio access node or the second cell, and send the information on the multiple supported radio access standard types to the first radio access node or the first cell.

[0236] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes:

[0237] A configuration information receiving module is used to receive network access configuration information, which is used to configure the network access node to use a first wireless access standard, wherein the first wireless access standard is one of the multiple wireless access standards.

[0238] Based on the network access configuration information, the first wireless access standard is used to communicate with the network access node.

[0239] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes:

[0240] The communication module is used to communicate with the network access node using a second wireless access standard before receiving network access configuration information; the second wireless access technology is one of the multiple wireless access standards.

[0241] In some embodiments, the network access configuration information includes at least one of the following: configuration information of a random access resource set, an indication of the first wireless access standard, a configuration of the first wireless access standard, and a configuration of a scheduling request.

[0242] In some embodiments, the first system message may also include configuration information of random access resource sets associated with each of the various radio access standards.

[0243] In some embodiments, when the network access configuration information includes configuration information for a random access resource set, the wireless access standard to be used subsequently is determined based on the first system message.

[0244] In some embodiments, when the network access configuration information includes an indication of the first wireless access standard, the first wireless access standard is subsequently used to communicate with the network access node.

[0245] In some embodiments, the configuration of the first wireless access standard includes wireless bearer configuration information.

[0246] In some embodiments, when the network access configuration information includes the configuration of a scheduling request, a scheduling request is sent according to the configuration of the scheduling request, and after receiving the scheduling authorization information, the first wireless access standard is used to communicate with the network access node.

[0247] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes:

[0248] The configuration information receiving module is used to receive the configuration information of each of the various wireless access standards; receive the activation information of the target wireless access standard; and, based on the configuration information of the target access standard, access the network access node using the target wireless access standard.

[0249] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes an activation information receiving module, configured to receive activation information of a target radio access standard in at least one of the following ways: downlink control information, MAC CE, RRC message.

[0250] In some embodiments, the configuration information receiving module is further configured to receive configuration information for each of the various wireless access standards;

[0251] Based on the configuration information of each of the various wireless access standards, communication is conducted with the network access node using the various wireless access standards.

[0252] In some embodiments, the configuration information for each of the wireless access standards includes at least one of the following:

[0253] Indication of the association between frequency domain resources and wireless access standards;

[0254] Indication of the association between community information and wireless access standard;

[0255] Indicator of the association between resource block sets and wireless access standards;

[0256] Indication of the association between wireless bearer information and wireless access standard;

[0257] Indication of the association between logical channels and wireless access standards;

[0258] Indication of the association between logical channel groups and wireless access standards;

[0259] Indication of the association between Quality of Service (QoS) flow and wireless access standard;

[0260] Session layer protocol data unit (PDU) session association indication with wireless access standard.

[0261] In some embodiments, after obtaining uplink scheduling resources, the radio access standard is determined based on the scheduling resources, and the associated radio bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session is determined based on the configuration information of each radio access standard. Data related to the associated radio bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session is selected for transmission.

[0262] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes:

[0263] The transmitting module is used to transmit capability information, which indicates that the terminal supports a combination of frequency bands for transmitting or receiving using the multiple wireless access standards simultaneously.

[0264] In some embodiments, the frequency band combination includes a list containing multiple elements, the elements including at least a first frequency band identifier of a first standard and a second frequency band identifier of a second standard.

[0265] Referring to Figure 7, a communication device 700 for use in a network access node is provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The device 700 includes a transmitting module 701.

[0266] The sending module 701 is used to send a first system message, which includes SSB configuration information associated with various wireless access standards or scheduling information of a second system message.

[0267] In the case of implementing the functions of the integrated modules described above in hardware, this disclosure also provides a possible structure for a communication device used to execute the methods provided in this disclosure. As shown in FIG8, the communication device 100 includes: a communication interface 103, a processor 102, and a bus 104. Optionally, the communication device may further include a memory 101.

[0268] Processor 102 may implement or execute various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with embodiments of this disclosure. Processor 102 may be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. It may implement or execute various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with embodiments of this disclosure. Processor 102 may also be a combination of computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a microprocessor, etc.

[0269] Communication interface 103 is used to connect with other devices via a communication network. This communication network can be Ethernet, wireless access network, wireless local area network (WLAN), etc.

[0270] The memory 101 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto.

[0271] As one possible implementation, the memory 101 can exist independently of the processor 102. The memory 101 can be connected to the processor 102 via a bus 104 and is used to store instructions or program code. When the processor 102 calls and executes the instructions or program code stored in the memory 101, it can implement the methods provided in the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0272] In another possible implementation, the memory 101 can also be integrated with the processor 102.

[0273] Bus 104 can be an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. Bus 104 can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used to represent it in Figure 8, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0274] Some embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) storing computer program instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described in any of the above embodiments.

[0275] In one exemplary embodiment, the computer may be the aforementioned communication device, and this disclosure does not limit the specific form of the computer.

[0276] In some examples, the aforementioned computer-readable storage media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, or magnetic tapes), optical discs (e.g., compact disks (CDs), digital versatile disks (DVDs), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMs), cards, sticks, or key drives, etc.). The various computer-readable storage media described in this disclosure may represent one or more devices and / or other machine-readable storage media for storing information. The term "machine-readable storage media" may include, but is not limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and / or carrying instructions and / or data.

[0277] This disclosure provides a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described in any of the above embodiments.

[0278] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this disclosure, but the scope of protection of this disclosure is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, wherein, Applied to a terminal, the method includes: Receive a first system message, which includes SSB configuration information associated with each of the various wireless access standards or scheduling information from a second system message.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The SSB configuration information includes at least one of the following: SSB period information and SSB frequency domain information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The scheduling information of the second system message includes the period information of the second system message, the time offset information of the second system message, and the frequency domain information of the second system message.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The method further includes: If there are multiple candidate cells that meet the access conditions, and among the candidate cells there is a target cell that supports the multiple wireless access standards, select the target cell for camping or access.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, The candidate cell carries radio access standard indication information in its SSB or SIB1, which is used to indicate the radio access standard supported by the candidate cell.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The method further includes: the terminal establishing a connection with the core network and determining the wireless access standard used for communication with the wireless access network based on configuration information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The method further includes: The system receives a first system message from a second wireless access node or a second cell, determines the multiple wireless access standard types supported by the second wireless access node or the second cell, and sends the information on the multiple supported wireless access standard types to the first wireless access node or the first cell.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7, wherein, The method further includes: Receive network access configuration information, which is used to configure the network access node to use a first wireless access standard, wherein the first wireless access standard is one of the multiple wireless access standards. Based on the network access configuration information, the first wireless access standard is used to communicate with the network access node.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The method further includes: Before receiving network access configuration information, the second wireless access standard is used to communicate with the network access node; the second wireless access standard is one of the multiple wireless access standards.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The network access configuration information includes at least one of the following: configuration information of the random access resource set, indication of the first wireless access standard, configuration of the first wireless access standard, and configuration of the scheduling request.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7, wherein, The first system message also includes configuration information for the random access resource sets associated with each of the various wireless access standards.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, When the network access configuration information includes the configuration information of the random access resource set, the wireless access standard to be used subsequently is determined based on the first system message.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein, When the network access configuration information includes an indication of the first wireless access standard, the first wireless access standard is subsequently used to communicate with the network access node.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein, The configuration of the first wireless access standard includes wireless bearer configuration information.

15. The method according to claim 10 or 14, wherein, When the network access configuration information includes the configuration of the scheduling request, a scheduling request is sent according to the configuration of the scheduling request. After receiving the scheduling authorization information, the first wireless access standard is used to communicate with the network access node.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7, wherein, The method further includes: Receive configuration information for each of the various wireless access standards; Receive activation information for the target wireless access standard; Based on the configuration information of the target wireless access standard, the target wireless access standard is used to access the network access node.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, The method further includes receiving activation information of the target wireless access standard through at least one of the following methods: downlink control information, MAC CE, RRC message.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7, wherein, The method further includes: Receive configuration information for each of the various wireless access standards; Based on the configuration information of each of the various wireless access standards, communication is carried out with the network access node using the various wireless access standards.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, The configuration information for each wireless access standard includes at least one of the following: Indication of the association between frequency domain resources and wireless access standards; Indication of the association between community information and wireless access standard; Indicator of the association between resource block sets and wireless access standards; Indication of the association between wireless bearer information and wireless access standard; Indication of the association between logical channels and wireless access standards; Indication of the association between logical channel groups and wireless access standards; Indication of the association between Quality of Service (QoS) flow and wireless access standard; Session layer protocol data unit (PDU) session association indication with wireless access standard.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, After obtaining uplink scheduling resources, the radio access standard is determined based on the scheduling resources. The associated radio bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session is determined based on the configuration information of each radio access standard. Data related to the associated radio bearer, logical channel, QoS flow, or PDU session is selected for transmission.

21. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein, The method further includes: Send capability information, which indicates that the terminal supports a combination of frequency bands for transmitting or receiving using the multiple wireless access standards simultaneously.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein, The frequency band combination includes a list containing multiple elements, the elements including at least a first frequency band identifier of a first standard and a second frequency band identifier of a second standard.

23. A communication method, wherein, Applied to network access nodes, the method includes: Send a first system message, which includes SSB configuration information associated with each of the various wireless access standards or scheduling information from a second system message.

24. A communication device, wherein, include: A processor and a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor; When the processor is configured to execute the instructions, the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 1-22 or 23.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer program instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-22 or 23, wherein the computer-readable storage medium includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

26. A computer program product, wherein, Includes computer-readable program medium code stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-22 or 23.

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