Communication processing method and communication apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of communications, and disclose a communication processing method and a communication apparatus. The method may comprise: receiving first information, wherein the first information is used for determining a first propagation delay, and the first propagation delay is a propagation delay between a terminal device and a non-terrestrial network (NTN) device; and receiving second information, wherein the second information is used for determining a second propagation delay, the second propagation delay is a propagation delay between a synchronization reference point and the NTN device, and the synchronization reference point is one position on a feeder link between the NTN device and a network device; the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay are used for determining a first timing advance; and the first timing advance is used for performing time synchronization on uplink transmission.

Description

Communication processing methods and communication devices

[0001] Cross-referencing related applications

[0002] This disclosure is based on and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2025100728159, filed on January 16, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication processing method and a communication device. Background Technology

[0004] Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) have a longer propagation delay than terrestrial networks (TNs), but their signal coverage is much greater. To fully leverage the respective communication performance advantages of NTNs and TNs, they can employ cooperative transmission methods for data transmission. For example, uplink and downlink data transmission at terminal devices can use TN and NTN respectively. Compared to using NTNs for both uplink and downlink data transmission, this can reduce propagation delay by nearly half, and it also allows for a reduction in the transmit power of terminal devices compared to using NTNs for uplink data transmission. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This disclosure provides a communication processing method and a communication device, including the following aspects:

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication processing method, which is applied to a terminal device, or a processor, chip, or chip module in the terminal device, or a device or unit matched with the terminal device. The method may include: receiving first information; the first information being used to determine a first propagation delay, the first propagation delay being the propagation delay between the terminal device and a non-terrestrial network (NTN) device; receiving second information; the second information being used to determine a second propagation delay, the second propagation delay being the propagation delay between a synchronization reference point and the NTN device, the synchronization reference point being one of the locations on the power supply link between the NTN device and the network device; the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay being used to determine a first timing advance; the first timing advance being used for time synchronization of uplink transmission.

[0007] In this method, the terminal device receives first information and second information from the network device, and can determine a first propagation delay based on the first information, determine a second propagation delay based on the second information, and determine a first timing advance based on the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay.

[0008] Optionally, the first information is also used to determine the Doppler frequency shift between the terminal device and the NTN device; this Doppler frequency shift is used for frequency compensation of uplink transmission. Therefore, in this method, the terminal device can utilize this Doppler frequency shift to perform frequency compensation for the satellite-to-ground separated uplink and downlink communication system.

[0009] Optionally, uplink transmission may be carried by a terrestrial network TN link. For example, downlink transmission may be carried by an NTN link, and uplink transmission by a TN link.

[0010] Optionally, the method may further include: receiving uplink transmission scheduling information; the uplink transmission scheduling information is used to determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission includes a TN link or an NTN link.

[0011] Optionally, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes an uplink transmission link type indication field, which indicates the link type carrying the uplink transmission; and / or, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes uplink transmission beam indication information, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission is determined based on the uplink transmission beam indication information; and / or, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource indication field, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission is determined based on the SRS resource indication field. Therefore, in this method, the network device can explicitly indicate the uplink transmission link type through the uplink transmission scheduling information, and / or, the terminal device can implicitly determine the uplink transmission link type based on the uplink transmission scheduling information.

[0012] Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure provide another communication processing method, which is applied to a terminal device, or a processor, chip, or chip module in the terminal device, or a device or unit matched with the terminal device. The method may include: receiving a first additional scheduling delay value, wherein the first additional scheduling delay value is an additional scheduling delay value for uplink transmission carried by an NTN link, and the first additional scheduling delay value is used to determine a second additional scheduling delay value; or, receiving a second additional scheduling delay value; wherein the second additional scheduling delay value is an additional scheduling delay value for uplink transmission carried by a TN link; the second additional scheduling delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resources.

[0013] In this method, the terminal device can determine at least one of the following based on a second additional scheduling delay value: the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resources; wherein the second additional scheduling delay value can be determined based on a first additional scheduling delay value from the network device, or configured by the network device.

[0014] Optionally, the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of uplink data by downlink control information (DCI), the scheduling delay of uplink data by random access response (RAR) grant, the scheduling delay of hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) information carried on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), the scheduling delay of channel state information (CSI) reference resources, and the scheduling delay of aperiodic sounding reference signal (SRS); the effective delay of uplink transmission commands includes: the effective delay of timing advance adjustment command (TAcommand); the effective delay of uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the effective delay of pre-configured resources of pre-configured resource type 2, and the effective delay of physical random access channel (PRACH) triggered by physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) command order.

[0015] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure provide another communication processing method, which is applied to a terminal device, or a processor, chip, or chip module in the terminal device, or a device or unit matched with the terminal device. The method may include: receiving a first downlink media access layer control unit (DL MAC CE) activation delay value, wherein the first DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine the activation time of the first DL MAC CE, the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE is carried by an NTN link, and a second DL MAC CE activation delay value is determined based on the first DL MAC CE activation delay value; or, receiving a second DL MAC CE activation delay value; wherein the second DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of a first receiving time window, and the start position of a second receiving time window; the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE is carried by a TN link, the first receiving time window is used to receive a random access response message, and the second receiving time window is used to receive a downlink response message.

[0016] In this method, the terminal device can determine at least one of the following based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value: the effective time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first receiving time window, and the start position of the second receiving time window; wherein, the second DL MAC CE effective delay value can be determined based on the first DL MAC CE effective delay value from the network device or configured by the network device.

[0017] Optionally, the starting position of the first reception time window is at least separated from the last symbol position of the PRACH resource carrying the random access request message by a first delay value. The first delay value is determined based on a first timing advance value and a second DL MAC CE effective delay value. The random access response message is carried by the NTN link, and the random access request message is carried by the TN link. The first timing advance is used for time synchronization of uplink transmission.

[0018] Optionally, the downlink response message is carried by the NTN link, and the uplink transmission corresponding to the downlink response message is carried by the TN link; the start position of the second reception time window and the end position of the uplink transmission resource carrying the uplink transmission are at least separated by a second delay value, which is determined based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value. Therefore, in this method, the terminal device can determine the start position of the first reception time window of the satellite-ground separated downlink communication system (downlink transmission carried by the NTN link, and uplink transmission carried by the TN link) based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value.

[0019] Optionally, the method may further include: receiving configuration information of a first uplink transmission resource; and / or, receiving configuration information of a second uplink transmission resource; wherein, in response to the uplink transmission being carried by the first uplink transmission resource, the corresponding downlink transmission is carried by a TN link; and / or, in response to the uplink transmission being carried by the second uplink resource, the corresponding downlink transmission is carried by an NTN link. It can be seen that in this method, the network device configures two types of uplink transmission resources for the terminal device, and the network device can determine the link type of the downlink transmission corresponding to the uplink transmission based on the type of uplink transmission resource used by the terminal device for uplink transmission.

[0020] Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide another communication processing method, which is applied to a network device, or a processor, chip, or chip module in the network device, or a device or unit matched with the network device. The method may include: sending first information; the first information is used by the terminal device to determine a first propagation delay, the first propagation delay being the propagation delay between the terminal device and the NTN device; sending second information; the second information is used by the terminal device to determine a second propagation delay, the second propagation delay being the propagation delay between a synchronization reference point and the NTN device, the synchronization reference point being one of the locations on the power supply link between the NTN device and the network device; the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay are used by the terminal device to determine a first timing advance; the first timing advance is used by the terminal device to perform time synchronization for uplink transmission.

[0021] In this method, the network device sends first information and second information to the terminal device; the terminal device receives the first information and second information from the network device, and can determine a first propagation delay based on the first information, determine a second propagation delay based on the second information, and determine a first timing advance based on the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay.

[0022] Optionally, the first information is further used by the terminal device to determine the Doppler frequency shift between the terminal device and the NTN device; this Doppler frequency shift is used by the terminal device to perform frequency compensation for uplink transmission. Therefore, in this method, the terminal device can utilize this Doppler frequency shift to perform frequency compensation for the satellite-to-ground separated uplink and downlink communication system.

[0023] Optionally, uplink transmission may be carried by a TN link. For example, downlink transmission may be carried by an NTN link, while uplink transmission may be carried by a TN link.

[0024] Optionally, the method may further include: sending uplink transmission scheduling information, which is used by the terminal device to determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission, including a TN link or an NTN link.

[0025] Optionally, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes an uplink transmission link type indication field, which indicates the link type carrying the uplink transmission; and / or, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes uplink transmission beam indication information, where the link type carrying the uplink transmission is determined by the terminal device based on the uplink transmission beam indication information; and / or, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource indication field, where the link type carrying the uplink transmission is determined by the terminal device based on the SRS resource indication field. Therefore, in this method, the network device can explicitly indicate the uplink transmission link type through the uplink transmission scheduling information, and / or the terminal device can implicitly determine the uplink transmission link type based on the uplink transmission scheduling information. This is beneficial for the terminal device to specifically determine the timing advance and / or other transmission information (e.g., but not limited to, the timing relationship of data transmission) that is compatible with the uplink transmission link type, thereby effectively realizing uplink transmission carried by various link types and improving communication performance.

[0026] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide another communication processing method, which is applied to a network device, or a processor, chip, or chip module in the network device, or a device or unit matched with the network device. The method may include: sending a first additional scheduling delay value; the first additional scheduling delay value is an additional scheduling delay value for uplink transmission carried by an NTN link, and the first additional scheduling delay value is used to determine a second additional scheduling delay value; or, sending a second additional scheduling delay value; wherein the second additional scheduling delay value is an additional scheduling delay value for uplink transmission carried by a TN link; the second additional scheduling delay value is used by the terminal device to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resources.

[0027] In this method, the network device may send a first additional scheduling delay value to the terminal device so that the terminal device can determine a second additional scheduling delay value based on the first additional scheduling delay value, or the network device may configure a second additional scheduling delay value for the terminal device; the terminal device may determine at least one of the following based on the second additional scheduling delay value: the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of uplink transmission resources.

[0028] Optionally, the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the delay of DCI scheduling uplink data, the delay of RAR grant scheduling uplink data, the scheduling delay of HARQ-ACK carried on PUCCH, the scheduling delay of CSI reference resources, and the scheduling delay of aperiodic SRS; the effective delay of the command corresponding to the uplink transmission includes: the effective delay of TA command; the effective delay of uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the effective delay of pre-configured resources of pre-configured resource type Type 2, and the effective delay of PRACH triggered by PDCCH order.

[0029] Sixthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide another communication processing method, which is applied to a network device, or a processor, chip, or chip module in the network device, or a device or unit matched with the network device. The method may include: sending a first DL MAC CE activation delay value, wherein the first DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine the activation time of the first DL MAC CE, the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE is carried by an NTN link, and a second DL MAC CE activation delay value is determined by a terminal device based on the first DL MAC CE activation delay value; or, sending a second DL MAC CE activation delay value; wherein the second DL MAC CE activation delay value is used by the terminal device to determine at least one of the following: the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of a first receiving time window, and the start position of a second receiving time window; the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE is carried by a TN link, the first receiving time window is used by the terminal device to receive a random access response message, and the second receiving time window is used by the terminal device to receive a downlink response message.

[0030] In this method, the network device may send a first DL MAC CE activation delay value to the terminal device so that the terminal device can determine a second DL MAC CE activation delay value based on the first DL MAC CE activation delay value, or the network device may configure a second DL MAC CE activation delay value for the terminal device; the terminal device may determine at least one of the following based on the second DL MAC CE activation delay value: the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first receiving time window, and the start position of the second receiving time window.

[0031] Optionally, the starting position of the first reception time window is at least separated from the last symbol position of the PRACH resource carrying the random access request message by a first delay value. This first delay value is determined by the terminal device based on a first timing advance value and a second DL MAC CE effective delay value. The random access response message is carried by the NTN link, and the random access request message is carried by the TN link. The first timing advance is used by the terminal device for time synchronization of uplink transmissions. Therefore, in this method, the terminal device can determine the DL MAC CE effective time of the satellite-ground separated uplink and downlink communication system (downlink transmission carried by the NTN link, and uplink transmission carried by the TN link) based on the first timing advance value and the second DL MAC CE effective delay value.

[0032] Optionally, the downlink response message is carried by the NTN link, and the uplink transmission corresponding to the downlink response message is carried by the TN link; the start position of the second reception time window and the end position of the uplink transmission resource carrying the uplink transmission are at least separated by a second delay value, which is determined by the terminal device based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value. Therefore, in this method, the terminal device can determine the start position of the first reception time window of the satellite-ground separated downlink communication system (downlink transmission carried by the NTN link, and uplink transmission carried by the TN link) based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value.

[0033] Optionally, the method may further include: sending configuration information for a first uplink transmission resource; and / or sending configuration information for a second uplink transmission resource; wherein, in response to the uplink transmission being carried by the first uplink transmission resource, the corresponding downlink transmission is carried by a TN link; and / or, in response to the uplink transmission being carried by the second uplink resource, the corresponding downlink transmission is carried by an NTN link. It can be seen that in this method, the network device configures two types of uplink transmission resources for the terminal device, and the network device can determine the link type of the downlink transmission corresponding to the uplink transmission based on the type of uplink transmission resource used by the terminal device for uplink transmission.

[0034] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device, the communication device comprising:

[0035] A communication unit is used to receive first information; the first information is used to determine a first propagation delay, which is the propagation delay between the terminal device and the non-terrestrial network (NTN) device.

[0036] The communication unit is also used to receive second information; the second information is used to determine a second propagation delay, which is the propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device, and the synchronization reference point is one of the locations on the power supply link between the NTN device and the network device; the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay are used to determine a first timing advance; the first timing advance is used to synchronize the uplink transmission.

[0037] Alternatively, the communication device may include:

[0038] A communication unit is configured to receive a first additional scheduling delay value, which is an additional scheduling delay value of uplink transmission carried by the NTN link, and the first additional scheduling delay value is used to determine a second additional scheduling delay value; or,

[0039] A communication unit for receiving a second additional scheduling delay value;

[0040] The second additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the TN link; the second additional scheduling delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resource, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resource.

[0041] Alternatively, the communication device may include:

[0042] The communication unit is configured to receive the activation delay value of the first downlink media access layer control unit (DL MAC CE), wherein the activation delay value of the first DL MAC CE is used to determine the activation time of the first DL MAC CE, the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE is carried by the NTN link, and the activation delay value of the second DL MAC CE is determined based on the activation delay value of the first DL MAC CE; or,

[0043] A communication unit for receiving the second DL MAC CE activation delay value;

[0044] The effective delay value of the second DL MAC CE is used to determine at least one of the following: the effective time of the second DL MAC CE, the starting position of the first receiving time window, and the starting position of the second receiving time window; the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE is carried by the TN link, the first receiving time window is used to receive the random access response message, and the second receiving time window is used to receive the downlink response message.

[0045] Alternatively, the communication device may include:

[0046] The communication unit is used to send first information; the first information is used by the terminal device to determine a first propagation delay, the first propagation delay being the propagation delay between the terminal device and the NTN device;

[0047] The communication unit is also used to send second information; the second information is used by the terminal device to determine a second propagation delay, the second propagation delay being the propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device, the synchronization reference point being one of the locations on the power supply link between the NTN device and the network device; the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay are used by the terminal device to determine a first timing advance; the first timing advance is used by the terminal device to perform time synchronization for uplink transmission.

[0048] Alternatively, the communication device may include:

[0049] A communication unit is used to transmit a first additional scheduling delay value; the first additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the NTN link, and the first additional scheduling delay value is used to determine a second additional scheduling delay value; or,

[0050] The communication unit is used to send a second additional scheduling delay value;

[0051] The second additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the TN link; the second additional scheduling delay value is used by the terminal equipment to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resources.

[0052] Alternatively, the communication device may include:

[0053] The communication unit is used to send a first DL MAC CE activation delay value, which is used to determine the activation time of the first DL MAC CE. The HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE is carried by the NTN link. The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is determined by the terminal device based on the first DL MAC CE activation delay value; or,

[0054] The communication unit is used to send the second DL MAC CE effective delay value;

[0055] The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is used by the terminal device to determine at least one of the following: the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first receiving time window, and the start position of the second receiving time window; the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE is carried by the TN link, the first receiving time window is used for the terminal device to receive the random access response message, and the second receiving time window is used for the terminal device to receive the downlink response message.

[0056] Eighthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device including a processor, a memory, and a computer program or instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor executes the computer program or instructions to implement the steps of the methods involved in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth aspects described above.

[0057] Ninthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a chip including at least one processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions to perform steps of the method involved in the first aspect, or to perform steps of the method involved in the second aspect, or to perform steps of the method involved in the third aspect, or to perform steps of the method involved in the fourth aspect, or to perform steps of the method involved in the fifth aspect, or to perform steps of the method involved in the sixth aspect.

[0058] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a chip module, including a communication interface and a chip, the chip including at least one processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions to perform the steps of the method involved in the first aspect, or to perform the steps of the method involved in the second aspect, or to perform the steps of the method involved in the third aspect, or to perform the steps of the method involved in the fourth aspect, or to perform the steps of the method involved in the fifth aspect, or to perform the steps of the method involved in the sixth aspect.

[0059] Eleventhly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement the steps of the method involved in the first aspect, or implement the steps of the method involved in the second aspect, or execute the steps of the method involved in the third aspect, or execute the steps of the method involved in the fourth aspect, or execute the steps of the method involved in the fifth aspect, or execute the steps of the method involved in the sixth aspect.

[0060] In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer program product, including a computer program or instructions, wherein when the computer program or instructions are executed, they implement the steps of the method involved in the first aspect, or implement the steps of the method involved in the second aspect, or execute the steps of the method involved in the third aspect, or execute the steps of the method involved in the fourth aspect, or execute the steps of the method involved in the fifth aspect, or execute the steps of the method involved in the sixth aspect.

[0061] In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication system that may include a terminal device performing the method described in the first aspect and a network device performing the method described in the fourth aspect; or, the communication system may include a terminal device performing the method described in the second aspect and a network device performing the method described in the fifth aspect; or, the communication system may include a terminal device performing the method described in the third aspect and a network device performing the method described in the sixth aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0062] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture applying an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0063] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another system architecture applying an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0064] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a synchronization reference point located on an NTN device according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0065] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a synchronization reference point located on a network device according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0066] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a network device determining a synchronization reference point according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0067] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an uplink data scheduling timing provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0068] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the temporal positional relationship between PDCCH and PUSCH provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0069] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a communication processing method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0070] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the uplink and downlink timing relationship between a terminal device and a network device in one of the scenarios provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0071] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the uplink and downlink timing relationship between the terminal device and the network device in a scenario 2 provided by an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0072] Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating another communication processing method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0073] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating another communication processing method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0074] Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating another communication processing method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0075] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating another communication processing method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0076] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0077] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0078] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip module provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0079] In the specification, claims, and drawings of this disclosure, terms such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to distinguish similar objects without necessarily describing a specific order, sequence, and / or quantity. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this disclosure described herein can be implemented in orders and / or quantities other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0080] Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, software, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the steps or units listed, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0081] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this disclosure. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0082] In this disclosure, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "multiple" refers to two or more. In this disclosure, "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c, where each of a, b, and c can be an element itself or a set containing one or more elements.

[0083] It should be noted that the term "equal to" in the embodiments of this disclosure can be used with "greater than" to apply to technical solutions adopted when "greater than", and can also be used with "less than" to apply to technical solutions adopted when "less than". It should be pointed out that when "equal to" and "greater than" are used together, "less than" is not used; conversely, when "equal to" and "less than" are used together, "greater than" is not used. In the embodiments of this disclosure, "of", "corresponding (relevant)", and "corresponding" can sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when their distinction is not emphasized, their intended meanings are consistent.

[0084] In this disclosure, the terms “system” and “network” are often used interchangeably, but their meanings will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0085] Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are a general term for any communication network involving non-terrestrial flying objects, including but not limited to satellite communication networks, high altitude platform systems (HAPS), and air-to-ground networks. Satellite communication networks include low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and / or geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) satellites. HAPSs are aerial platforms including aircraft, drones, balloons, and airships. Air-to-ground networks aim to provide in-flight connectivity for aircraft and other flying objects using ground stations, where the ground stations act as base stations within the ground mobile network.

[0086] In this embodiment of the disclosure, NTN device can refer to non-ground flying objects in NTN, such as, but not limited to, satellites, airplanes, drones, balloons, airships, etc., and there is no limitation thereto.

[0087] In some possible implementations, the satellite can be a spacecraft carrying a bent pipe payload or a regenerative payload signal transmitter, typically operating in a low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 300 to 1500 km, a medium Earth orbit (MEO) at an altitude of 7000 to 25000 km, a geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) at an altitude of 35786 km, or a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) at an altitude of 400 to 50000 km. In other words, the satellite can be, but is not limited to, a LEO satellite, a MEO satellite, a GEO satellite, or a HEO satellite, depending on its orbital altitude.

[0088] In some possible implementations, an NTN device may include means for wireless communication functionality, such as a chip system, a chip, or a chip module. For example, the chip system may include a chip, and may also include other discrete devices.

[0089] In other possible implementations, the NTN device can be a chip, chip module, apparatus, unit, etc., and there is no limitation thereto. The embodiments of this disclosure also do not limit the specific technology or device form employed in the NTN device.

[0090] Terrestrial networks (TN), also known as land-based communication networks, refer to communication networks formed by interconnecting network equipment with users. Network nodes in a TN may include, but are not limited to, network equipment (e.g., access network equipment such as base stations), user equipment (UE), and core network equipment.

[0091] In the TN, network equipment can be deployed on land, such as, but not limited to, indoor or outdoor; or on water, such as, but not limited to, on ships; or in the air, such as, but not limited to, on satellites. There are no restrictions on the deployment location of network equipment in the TN.

[0092] In NTN communication systems, because non-ground-based flying objects are farther from the ground, the signal propagation delay of NTN is greater than that of TN. For example, the signal propagation delay for communication between a terminal device and a non-ground-based flying object is greater than the signal propagation delay for communication between a terminal device and network equipment. Also, because non-ground-based flying objects are farther from the ground, the signal coverage area of ​​NTN is much greater than that of TN.

[0093] To fully leverage the respective communication performance advantages of NTN and TN, NTN and TN can adopt a cooperative transmission method for data transmission. For example, TN and NTN can be used for uplink and downlink data transmission in terminal equipment, respectively. Compared to using NTN for both uplink and downlink data transmission, this can reduce propagation delay by nearly half. Furthermore, compared to using NTN for uplink data transmission, it can reduce the transmit power of terminal equipment.

[0094] First, the system architecture involved in this disclosure will be described.

[0095] The embodiments disclosed herein can be applied, but are not limited to, the system architecture shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2.

[0096] The system architecture shown in Figure 1 may include, but is not limited to, terminal device 101 (e.g., mobile phone), NTN device 102 (e.g., satellite), and network device 103 (e.g., base station).

[0097] Optionally, the system architecture shown in Figure 1 may also include a core network and a data network, indicated by 104.

[0098] Optionally, the system architecture shown in Figure 1 may also include gateway station 105.

[0099] The system architecture shown in Figure 2 may include, but is not limited to, terminal device 101 (e.g., mobile phone), NTN device 102 (e.g., satellite), network device 103 (e.g., base station), and network device 106 (e.g., base station).

[0100] Optionally, the system architecture described in Figure 2 may also include a core network and a data network corresponding to network device 103, indicated by 104.

[0101] Optionally, the system architecture described in Figure 2 may also include a core network and a data network corresponding to network device 106, indicated by 107.

[0102] Optionally, the system architecture shown in Figure 2 may also include gateway station 105.

[0103] In the system architecture shown in Figure 1, the network devices in NTN and TN are the same network devices. Such a system architecture can be called a co-location system architecture for NTN and TN base stations.

[0104] In the system architecture shown in Figure 2, the network device in NTN is network device 103, and the network device in TN is network device 106. In other words, the network device in NTN and the network device in TN are different network devices. Such a system architecture can be called a system architecture in which NTN and TN base stations do not co-locate.

[0105] For system architectures where NTN and TN base stations do not co-locate, network devices in NTN and TN can exchange scheduling information, such as, but not limited to, exchanging Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) retransmission indication information.

[0106] For a system architecture where NTN and TN base stations are co-located, it is easier to perform resource scheduling and coordination between uplink and downlink using the same network equipment.

[0107] It should be noted that in the system architecture shown in Figures 1 and 2, the gateway station 105 and the network device 103 can be integrated into the same device or they can be separate devices; there is no restriction on this.

[0108] The number and configuration of devices in Figures 1 and 2 are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this disclosure. For example, Figure 1 uses one terminal device, one network device, one NTN device, one gateway station, one core network, and one data network as an example. In practical applications, more terminal devices, more network devices, more NTN devices, more gateway stations, and / or more core networks and data networks may be included. Similarly, Figure 2 uses one terminal device, two network devices, one NTN device, one gateway station, two core networks, and one data network as an example. In practical applications, more terminal devices, more network devices, more NTN devices, more gateway stations, and / or more core networks and data networks may be included.

[0109] A terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, and can be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal device, IoT terminal device, vehicle-mounted terminal device, industrial control terminal device, UE unit, UE station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal device, mobile device, wireless communication device, UE agent, or UE device, etc. Terminal devices can be fixed or mobile. It should be noted that terminal devices can support at least one wireless communication technology, such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), NR, 6G, or next-generation wireless communication technologies. For example, terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, in-vehicle terminals, virtual reality (VR) terminal devices, augmented reality (AR) terminal devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, 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 a wireless modem, wearable devices, terminal devices in future mobile communication networks, or terminal devices in future evolved PLMNs, etc.

[0110] In some possible implementations, the terminal device may include means for wireless communication functionality, such as a chip system, a chip, or a chip module. For example, the chip system may include a chip, and may also include other discrete devices.

[0111] In other possible implementations, the terminal device may be a chip, chip module, apparatus, unit, etc., and there is no limitation thereto. The embodiments of this disclosure do not limit the specific technology or device form employed by the terminal device.

[0112] A network device is a device that provides wireless communication functions for terminal devices. Network devices can include, but are not limited to, radio access network (RAN) equipment. These network devices can support at least one wireless communication technology, such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), NR, and 6G. Examples of network devices include, but are not limited to, next-generation node B (gNB), evolved node B (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (e.g., home evolved node B, or home node B (HNB)), baseband unit (BBU), transmission and reception point (TRP), transmitting point (TP), and mobile switching center. Network devices can also be radio controllers, centralized units (CUs) and / or distributed units (DUs) in cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenarios, or network devices can be relay stations, access points, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, and access network devices in future mobile communications or in future evolved Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs).

[0113] In some possible implementations, the network device may include means for wireless communication functionality, such as a chip system, a chip, or a chip module. For example, the chip system may include a chip, and may also include other discrete devices.

[0114] In other possible implementations, the network device may be a chip, chip module, apparatus, unit, etc., and there is no limitation thereto. The embodiments of this disclosure do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the network device.

[0115] Gateway 105, also known as NTN gateway, refers to the data center node of NTN, which is responsible for the distribution and collection of NTN communication service data, and can complete the exchange of data within the NTN communication network and the routing of data to the external network.

[0116] The gateway station in this embodiment can be an earth station or gateway located on the Earth's surface, capable of providing sufficient radio frequency (RF) power and RF sensitivity to connect to satellites. Additionally, the gateway station can be a transport network layer (TNL) node.

[0117] In some possible implementations, the gateway station may include devices with wireless communication capabilities, such as a chip system, a chip, or a chip module. For example, the chip system may include a chip, and may also include other discrete devices.

[0118] In other possible implementations, the gateway station can be a chip, chip module, device, unit, etc., and there is no limitation on this. The embodiments of this disclosure do not limit the specific technology or specific equipment form used in the gateway station.

[0119] The core network is used for the entire call signaling control and bearer establishment, and is responsible for information exchange, routing, user data management, security, and information exchange and transmission with other communication systems within the system.

[0120] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the core network can be a 5G core network. Network elements in the 5G core network include, but are not limited to: Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), User Plane Function (UPF), Session Management Function (SMF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Network Repository Function (NFR), etc.

[0121] The network infrastructure (AMF) is responsible for managing mobile device access and mobility, including security authentication, authorization, and session management. The user process utility (UPF) handles data forwarding and routing, including data fragmentation and reassembly, flow control, quality of service (QoS) assurance, and network optimization. The service management network (SMF) manages mobile device sessions and services, including network slicing management, QoS management, security management, and user data management. The network policy and QoS management system (PCF) manages network policies and QoS, including flow control, bandwidth allocation, network optimization, and fault management. The network resource and service configuration management system (NRF) manages service registration, querying, and allocation.

[0122] In some possible implementations, network elements in the core network may include devices with wireless communication capabilities, such as chip systems, chips, or chip modules. For example, the chip system may include chips, and may also include other discrete devices.

[0123] In other possible implementations, network elements in the core network can be chips, chip modules, devices, units, etc., and there is no limitation on this. The embodiments of this disclosure do not limit the specific technologies or equipment forms used in the network elements of the core network.

[0124] A data network is a network that enables data communication by transmitting, exchanging, and storing data. Optionally, a data network can be an Internet Protocol (IP) network, such as, but not limited to, the Internet, a private IP network, or other data networks.

[0125] The embodiments disclosed herein do not limit the specific technologies or equipment forms used in the data network.

[0126] For an introduction to NTN devices, please refer to the previous description, which will not be repeated here.

[0127] Secondly, to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this disclosure, the relevant concepts involved in the embodiments of this disclosure will be explained.

[0128] 1. Common Timing Advance (TA) Value

[0129] The common TA value refers to the round-trip time (RTT) between the synchronization reference point and the satellite. The synchronization reference point will be described in detail below and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0130] The common reference time (RTT) value is generally indicated to the terminal device by the network device through system messages. Since the RTT between the satellite and the geostationary reference point changes as the satellite moves, the network device, when indicating the common TA value to the terminal device, can indicate a set of related parameters for the common TA value. This set of parameters includes the initial value of the common TA, the rate of change of the common TA value, and the second-order rate of change of the common TA value. Therefore, the terminal device can determine the magnitude of the common TA value in real time based on the aforementioned set of related parameters indicated by the network device. Please refer to Table 1, which is a table showing the values ​​of each parameter in the set of related parameters for the common TA value provided in this embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in Table 1, the value range, granularity, and required number of bits for each parameter in the set of related parameters for the common TA value are illustrated.

[0131] Table 1. Values ​​of each parameter in the relevant parameter set for the common TA value.

[0132] As shown in Table 1, the initial value of the common TA ranges from 0 to 270.73 milliseconds (ms); the granularity is 4.07e-3us; and the number of bits required for the network device to indicate the initial value of the common TA is 23 bits.

[0133] The rate of change of the common TA value ranges from -53.33us / s to 53.33us / s, and the common TA value changes from -53.33us to +53.33us within 1 second; the granularity is 0.2e-3us / s; the number of bits required for the network device to indicate the rate of change of this common TA value is 19 bits.

[0134] The second rate of change of the common TA value ranges from 0 to 0.60 μS / s. 2 The rate of change of the common TA value is 0 to 0.60 μS / s. 2 Particle size is 0.2e-4us / s 2 The number of bits required for a network device to indicate the second-order rate of change of the common TA value is 19 bits.

[0135] 2. Activation delay value of the first downlink media access control element (DL MAC CE)

[0136] The first DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine the activation time of the first DL MAC CE. The HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE is carried by the NTN link. The magnitude of the first DL MAC CE activation delay value can be equal to the RTT between the synchronization reference point and the network device. The synchronization reference point will be described in the following text and will not be elaborated here.

[0137] Optionally, the first DL MAC CE activation delay value can be represented by K_mac or first K_mac.

[0138] For example, in an NTN network, if a terminal device sends a HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE in time slot n, the terminal device will experience a delay according to the resource scheduling method of terrestrial communication systems. The configuration information carried by the first DL MAC CE is applied, wherein, This indicates the number of time slots contained in each subframe corresponding to the PUCCH subcarrier configuration μ, i.e., the number of time slots that the terminal device determines based on the delay value. The time slot in which the first DL MAC CE takes effect can be determined is... In NTN communication systems, due to timing misalignment between uplink and downlink transmissions on the network side (i.e., a timing difference of K_mac between uplink and downlink transmissions), the terminal device... And the first K_mac, determining the effective latency of the final first DL MAC CE is Furthermore, the terminal device can utilize this activation delay to determine the time slot in which the first DL MAC CE takes effect.

[0139] 3. Synchronous Reference Point

[0140] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the synchronization reference point refers to the synchronization reference point in the NTN. NTN communication includes NTN device communication. In NTN communication, the uplink timing synchronization mechanism is related to the location of the synchronization reference point. The following describes the possible locations of the synchronization reference point.

[0141] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of a synchronization reference point located on an NTN device according to an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 3, the transmission link between the terminal device 101 and the NTN device 102 can be called a service link, and the transmission link between the network device 103 and the NTN device 102 can be called a power supply link. Figure 3 shows the case where the network device 103 and the gateway station are integrated into the same device; however, they can also be separate devices.

[0142] Service link RTT T1 refers to the RTT between the terminal device and the NTN device; K_mac refers to the RTT value between the synchronization reference point and the network device. As shown in Figure 3, since the synchronization reference point is located on the NTN device, the RTT between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device is 0, that is, the common TA value is 0. In this case, the network device does not need to indicate the common TA value to the terminal device, thus saving signaling overhead on the network device to a certain extent.

[0143] In this embodiment, the TA compensation value specific to the terminal device refers to the RTT between the terminal device and the NTN device, also known as the RTT of the service link, which is determined by the terminal device based on its location information and the ephemeris information of the NTN device indicated by the network device. The location information of the terminal device is determined by the terminal device based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

[0144] In this implementation, since the uplink transmission is carried by the NTN link, the terminal device only compensates for the RTT of the serving link, while the RTT between the network device and the synchronization reference point (NTN device) needs to be determined by the network device itself. Therefore, this implementation increases the timing complexity of the network device on the one hand, and on the other hand, there is a possibility of uplink and downlink timing misalignment on the network device side.

[0145] Alternatively, the synchronization reference point is located on the network device.

[0146] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of a synchronization reference point located on a network device according to an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 4, the transmission link between terminal device 101 and NTN device 102 can be called a service link, and the transmission link between network device 103 and NTN device 102 can be called a power supply link. Figure 4 shows the case where network device 103 and gateway station are integrated into the same device; however, they can also be separate devices.

[0147] Service link RTT T1 refers to the RTT between the terminal device and the NTN device; common TA value T2 refers to the RTT between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device.

[0148] As shown in Figure 4, since the synchronization reference point is located on the network device, the RTT between the synchronization reference point and the network device is 0, meaning the first DL MAC CE effective delay value K_mac is 0. In this case, the terminal device's uplink timing synchronization needs to compensate for the RTT between the synchronization reference point (i.e., the network device) and the NTN device, i.e., the common TA value. At this time, the network device needs to indicate the common TA value to the terminal device.

[0149] In this implementation, in response to the uplink transmission being carried by the NTN link, the uplink timing compensation value of the terminal device includes the RTT of the serving link and the TA value of the power supply link (i.e., full TA compensation). Therefore, by adopting this implementation, not only can the uplink and downlink timing of the network device be synchronized, but the timing complexity of the network device can also be reduced.

[0150] In another approach, the location of the synchronization reference point is determined by the network device.

[0151] In this embodiment, since the location of the synchronization reference point is determined by the network device, the synchronization reference point can be located at any position on the transmission link from the terminal device to the network device.

[0152] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a schematic diagram of a network device determining a synchronization reference point according to an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 5, the transmission link between terminal device 101 and NTN device 102 can be called a service link, and the transmission link between network device 103 and NTN device 102 can be called a power supply link. Figure 5 shows the case where network device 103 and gateway station are integrated into the same device; they can also be separate devices.

[0153] Service link RTT T1 refers to the RTT between the terminal device and the NTN device; common TA value T2 refers to the RTT between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device; K_mac refers to the RTT between the synchronization reference point and the network device. As shown in Figure 5, the synchronization reference point is located on the power supply link.

[0154] In this implementation, the uplink timing synchronization of the terminal device requires compensation for the RTT (Round-Trip Time) between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device, i.e., the common TA value. At this time, the network device needs to indicate the common TA value to the terminal device. Specifically, if the synchronization reference point determined by the network device is located on the power supply link between the network device and the NTN device, the common TA value can be positive; if the synchronization reference point determined by the network device is located on the service link between the terminal device and the NTN device, the common TA value can be negative.

[0155] In this implementation, since the location of the synchronization reference point is determined by the network device, the uplink and downlink timings of the network device can be aligned or unaligned. Specifically, the uplink and downlink timings of the network device are aligned when the synchronization reference point is located on the network device; and unaligned when the synchronization reference point is not located on the network device. In this case, in response to the uplink transmission being carried by the NTN link, the terminal device needs to determine the value of K_mac before calculating the RTT of the entire transmission link (i.e., the serving link and the feeder link). Optionally, the value of K_mac can be indicated to the terminal device by the network through system information.

[0156] For both the method where the synchronization reference point is located on the network device and the method where the location of the synchronization reference point is determined by the network device, the terminal device needs to include the common TA value (T2) when calculating the uplink transmission time advance. This common TA value can be notified to the terminal device by the network device through system information. However, as the NTN device moves, the common TA value will also change continuously. Therefore, the network device also determines the effective time length of this common TA value.

[0157] When a network device indicates a common transfer time (TA) value to a terminal device, it can include the following three parameters: a reference time point, the validity period of the TA value, and the TA value corresponding to the reference time point. Therefore, the terminal device can first ensure that the uplink transmission time parameter is valid (i.e., the uplink transmission time is within the reference time point) based on these three parameters, and then determine the TA value corresponding to the uplink transmission time. If the uplink transmission time is no longer valid (i.e., the uplink transmission time is outside the reference time point), the terminal device can reacquire the above three parameters, obtain the closed-loop TA adjustment value through random access, and then resume uplink data transmission.

[0158] The relevant explanation of the closed-loop TA adjustment value will be introduced later, and will not be discussed here.

[0159] 4. First additional scheduling delay value

[0160] In NTN communication systems, due to significant timing offsets between uplink and downlink frames on terminal devices, or in other words, a large timing advance is required when sending uplink data, the scheduling delay in terrestrial communication systems cannot meet the timing advance requirements of terminal devices in NTN communication scenarios. Therefore, to further increase the scheduling delay, a first additional scheduling delay value is added to the scheduling delay in terrestrial communication systems.

[0161] It can be understood that the first additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the NTN link. In other words, the first additional scheduling delay value K_offset is an additional delay value added on the basis of the scheduling delay in the terrestrial communication system, which is used to enhance the timing of uplink and downlink transmission in the NTN communication scenario.

[0162] Optionally, the first additional scheduling delay value can be represented by K_offset or first K_offset.

[0163] Since the timing of downlink data reception (such as the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)) is independently referenced to the downlink timing and is not affected by the timing misalignment of uplink and downlink frames on the terminal device, it is not necessary to add a first additional scheduling delay value to the PDSCH reception timing. Other timing relationships involving uplink and downlink interaction (i.e., timing relationships) can be based on the uplink and downlink interaction transmission timing (such as the uplink and downlink transmission timing in a terrestrial communication system) by adding a first additional scheduling delay value.

[0164] Taking DCI-scheduled uplink data transmission as an example, when the terminal device receives the DCI in time slot n, according to the resource scheduling method of the terrestrial communication system, the DCI will indicate an uplink data scheduling delay value K2. Based on the scheduling delay value K2, the terminal device can determine that the time slot for uplink data transmission is n+K2. In the NTN communication system, due to the misalignment of uplink and downlink transmission timing on the network side, the terminal device can determine the final uplink data scheduling delay as K2+the first K_offset based on the scheduling delay K2 indicated in the DCI and the first K_offset. Therefore, the terminal device can use the uplink data scheduling delay to determine that the time slot for uplink data transmission is n+K2+the first K_offset. The actual time slot for the terminal device to send uplink data needs to be advanced according to the determined timing advance.

[0165] For example, please refer to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of uplink data scheduling timing provided by an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6, the terminal device receives the DCI in time slot n; based on the scheduling delay K2 indicated by the DCI and the first K_offset, the scheduling delay of uplink data (such as the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)) can be determined to be K2 + the first K_offset. Therefore, the terminal device can determine the starting position of the time domain resources for uplink data transmission as n + K2 + the first K_offset. In other words, in the NTN communication system, the scheduling delay of uplink data scheduling by the DCI is enhanced to n + K2 + the first K_offset, thus, as shown in Figure 7, a sufficiently large time interval can be guaranteed between the DCI reception time and the uplink data transmission time for the terminal device to transmit in advance.

[0166] Optionally, in scenarios where uplink data transmission is scheduled using DCI, the time slot for determining the final uplink data transmission can also be... Where, μ PUSCH and μ PDSCH The subcarrier spacing for PUSCH and PDCCH are respectively. This indicates the floor function.

[0167] In addition, the first K_offset can be configured to the terminal device through system information or dedicated Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, but not limited to.

[0168] 5. Pre-configured resource transmission

[0169] Since terminal devices in idle or inactive states need to enter the connected state through a random access procedure before they can send data, and the data transmission mechanism in idle or inactive states will increase RRC signaling overhead, terminal device power consumption, and transmission latency, in order to ensure that terminal devices can send data in idle state, periodic pre-configured resources can be configured for the terminal devices in advance.

[0170] Preconfigured resource transmission can include periodic preconfigure uplink resource (PUR) transmission and periodic preconfigure downlink resource (PUR) transmission. Preconfigured resource transmission can also be referred to as scheduling-free data transmission.

[0171] In RRC connection mode, pre-configured uplink resource transmission is also called configured grant uplink transmission, which has two types: configured grant type 1 and configured grant type 2.

[0172] Among them, configuration authorization type 1 can also be called pre-configured resource type 1, and configuration authorization type 2 can also be called pre-configured resource type 2.

[0173] For configured grant type 1, when the terminal device receives the higher-level configuration of configured grant type 1, it can determine the time-frequency location of the pre-configured uplink resources based on the higher-level configuration and use the pre-configured uplink resources to send uplink data.

[0174] For configured grant type 2, after receiving the higher-level configuration of configured grant type 2, the terminal device needs to receive the DCI sent by the network device and determine whether the configured grant type 2 of the higher-level configuration is available based on the DCI.

[0175] 6. Random Access Procedure

[0176] The random access procedure refers to the process by which a terminal device sends a random access preamble (RA preamble) to attempt to access the network and establish a basic signaling connection with the network.

[0177] Random access procedures may include, but are not limited to, contention-based random access procedures and non-contention-based random access procedures.

[0178] The contention-based random access procedure includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0179] Step 1-1: The terminal device sends a random access request message to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the random access request message from the terminal device.

[0180] The random access request message carries the RA preamble, which is used to request access from the network device. This allows the network device to estimate the transmission delay between itself and the terminal device based on the RA preamble and use it to calibrate the uplink timing. The network device then instructs the terminal device to respond to the request via a subsequent random access response (RAR) message.

[0181] Random access request messages can be carried through the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH).

[0182] Optionally, the random access request message can be referred to as message 1 (Msg1), and the RAR message can be referred to as message 2 (Msg2).

[0183] In steps 1-2, the network device sends a RAR message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the RAR message from the network device.

[0184] RAR messages can be carried via PDSCH.

[0185] In steps 1-3, the terminal device sends message 3 (Msg3) to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives Msg3 from the terminal device.

[0186] Msg3 can be carried through the physical uplink share channel (PUSCH).

[0187] Optionally, Msg3 may contain a unique identifier for the terminal device, which can be used for conflict resolution in step four.

[0188] In steps 1-4, the network device sends message 4 (Msg4) to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives Msg4 from the network device.

[0189] For example, in the conflict resolution mechanism, the network device can carry the identifier used to uniquely identify the terminal device in Msg4 to indicate the winning terminal device, while other terminal devices that do not win in the conflict resolution will re-initiate random access.

[0190] A non-contentionable random access procedure includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0191] Step 2-0: The network device sends a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the RRC message from the network device.

[0192] The RRC message may contain uplink grant (UL grant) information, such as the time and frequency domain information of the random access request message payload in transmission step 2-1, and the modulation and coding scheme used for the random access request message payload.

[0193] Step 2-1: The terminal device sends a random access request message to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the random access request message from the terminal device.

[0194] This random access request message can also be referred to as message A (MsgA).

[0195] MsgA may include the MsgA signal and the MsgA payload. The MsgA signal may include at least one of the following signals: preamble, demodulation reference signal (DMRS). The MsgA payload may include at least one of the following data types: user plane data and RRC messages, and media access control element (MAC CE).

[0196] In response to a terminal device being in a connected state and having user plane data to be sent, message A payload may include user plane data. For a non-contention-based random access procedure, the preamble may identify the terminal; in this case, it may not carry RRC messages and MAC CE, or in other words, it may not carry contention resolution information. Furthermore, MsgA may include both user plane data and RRC messages, or both user plane data and MAC CE, depending on the event that triggered the random access.

[0197] According to the UL grant information indicated in the RRC message in 2-0, the terminal transmits data (MsgA payload) through the physical layer channel in the corresponding uplink transmission resource. The physical layer channel can be a PUSCH channel or a contention-based physical layer channel that is different from PUSCH, and there is no restriction on this.

[0198] Step 2-2: The network device sends a random access response message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the random access response message from the network device.

[0199] This random access response message can also be referred to as message B (MsgB).

[0200] After receiving the MsgA sent by the terminal, the network device sends a corresponding RAR to the terminal device. Optionally, it may also send an RRC message. The RAR and the RRC message may contain at least one of the following parameters: preamble identifier, timing advance (TA) information, UL grant information, and may also carry the terminal's identification information. Among them, the timing advance information may include the TA adjustment value.

[0201] Optionally, if the MsgB contains a preamble identifier, after receiving the MsgB, the terminal device determines whether the preamble identifier in the MsgB is the same as the preamble sent in S2-1. If the preamble identifier in the MsgB is different from the preamble sent in S2-1, the MsgB is considered to have been successfully received; otherwise, the MsgB is considered to have been received unsuccessfully, and the terminal device can initiate a non-contention-based random access procedure.

[0202] In addition, in contention-free random access procedures, there is a fallback RAR. The fallback RAR is used to provide UL grant information after MsgA transmission fails, enabling retransmission of MsgA. In contention-free random access procedures, MsgA transmission may fail for various reasons, such as successful preamble detection but PUSCH transmission failure, or no response to MsgB being received at all. In these cases, the network device sends a fallback RAR in response, instructing the UE to retransmit.

[0203] 7. Ephemeral Information

[0204] Ephemeris information can be the position information and / or trajectory table of non-ground flying objects over time.

[0205] For example, satellite ephemeris information may include, but is not limited to, expressions used to describe satellite position and velocity.

[0206] As mentioned earlier, to fully leverage the respective communication performance advantages of NTN and TN, data transmission between NTN and TN can be achieved through cooperative transmission. For example, uplink and downlink data transmission in terminal equipment can use TN and NTN respectively. However, how to achieve cooperative transmission between NTN and TN still requires further research.

[0207] In view of this, this disclosure proposes a communication processing method, which includes: receiving first information; the first information is used to determine a first propagation delay, the first propagation delay being the propagation delay between a terminal device and an NTN device; receiving second information; the second information is used to determine a second propagation delay, the second propagation delay being the propagation delay between a synchronization reference point and the NTN device, the synchronization reference point being one of the locations on the power supply link between the NTN device and the network device; the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay are used to determine a first timing advance; the first timing advance is used to perform time synchronization for uplink transmission, so that the terminal device can use the first timing advance to achieve uplink synchronization of satellite-ground-uplink separation, and based on the first timing advance, cooperative transmission between NTN and TN can be effectively realized, improving the communication performance of the satellite-ground-uplink separation communication system.

[0208] The execution entity in this disclosure may include a terminal device and / or a network device. And / or the execution entity in this disclosure may include devices such as processors, chips, or chip modules in the terminal device, and / or devices such as processors, chips, or chip modules in the network device. And / or the execution entity in this disclosure may include devices or units matched with the terminal device, and / or devices or units matched with the network device. This disclosure does not limit the execution entity. The following description uses the interaction process between a terminal device and a network device as an example.

[0209] Please refer to Figure 8, which is a flowchart illustrating a communication processing method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. This method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0210] 1001, the network device sends first information to the terminal device. The first information is used to determine a first propagation delay, which is the propagation delay between the terminal device and the NTN device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first information from the network device.

[0211] Optionally, downlink transmission between network devices and terminal devices can be carried by an NTN link.

[0212] Optionally, the first information may include, but is not limited to, the location information of the NTN device.

[0213] For example, the first information may include ephemeris information of an NTN device located on an NTN link between a network device and an end device.

[0214] Optionally, the first information can be indicated by system information. For example, a new system information block (SIB) i can be defined to carry the first information, where i can be an integer greater than or greater than 0; alternatively, the first information can be carried by a reserved indication field in existing system information, or by other means, without restriction.

[0215] 1002, the network device sends second information to the terminal device. The second information is used to determine the second propagation delay. The second propagation delay is the propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device. The synchronization reference point is one of the locations on the power supply link between the NTN device and the network device. The first propagation delay and the second propagation delay are used to determine the first timing advance. The first timing advance is used to synchronize the uplink transmission.

[0216] Optionally, the second information may include the common TA value and / or a set of parameters related to the common TA value, wherein the set of parameters may include, but is not limited to, the initial value of the common TA, the rate of change of the common TA value, and the second-order rate of change of the common TA value.

[0217] Optionally, the second information may also include the validity period of the common TA value, which can be used to determine whether the common TA value and / or the related parameter set of the common TA value included in the second information are valid.

[0218] Optionally, the network device can also indicate a reference time point to the terminal device. The terminal device can determine the common TA value and / or the related parameter set of the common TA value based on the reference time point and the effective duration of the common TA value. For details, please refer to the description of the common TA value in the aforementioned related concepts, which will not be repeated here.

[0219] Optionally, the network device can transmit the second information to the terminal device via system information.

[0220] The first and second information can be carried by the same system information, for example, by SIB i. Alternatively, the first and second information can be carried by different system information, for example, the first information can be carried by SIB i and the second information by SIB j, where i ≠ j and j is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0221] Therefore, it can be understood that steps 1001 and 1002 can be executed simultaneously, or steps 1001 can be executed before steps 1002, or steps 1001 can be executed after steps 1002. In this embodiment of the disclosure, there is no restriction on the execution order between steps 1001 and 1002.

[0222] The terminal device can determine a first propagation delay based on the first information, determine a second propagation delay based on the second information, and determine a first timing advance based on the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay.

[0223] When a terminal device is performing uplink transmission, it can advance the uplink transmission time by a first timing advance, for example, but not limited to, sending uplink data a first timing advance.

[0224] The timing advance for time synchronization of uplink transmissions carried by TN links can be determined differently from the timing advance for time synchronization of uplink transmissions carried by NTN links. Therefore, the terminal device can determine the link type used to carry the uplink transmission before determining the first timing advance based on the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay.

[0225] In one possible implementation, the terminal device may receive uplink transmission scheduling information before determining the first timing advance. This uplink transmission scheduling information is used to determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission, which may include a TN link or an NTN link.

[0226] The terminal device may determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission based on the uplink transmission scheduling information in at least one of the following two methods:

[0227] In method 1-1, the terminal device determines the type of link carrying the uplink transmission based on the uplink transmission scheduling information explicitly indicated.

[0228] Optionally, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes an uplink transmission link type indication field, which is used to indicate the link type carrying the uplink transmission.

[0229] For example, the DCI used for scheduling uplink transmissions has a 1-bit uplink link type indicator field. A value of 0 indicates that the uplink link type is a TN link, and a value of 1 indicates that the uplink link type is an NTN link. 0 and 1 can also be used interchangeably.

[0230] In methods 1-2, the terminal device implicitly determines the link type carrying the uplink transmission based on the uplink transmission scheduling information.

[0231] Optionally, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes uplink transmission beam indication information, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission can be determined by the terminal device based on the uplink transmission beam indication information.

[0232] The uplink transmission beam indication information can be used to indicate the beam used for uplink transmission.

[0233] For example, the DCI used for scheduling uplink transmission includes uplink transmission beam indication information, which indicates beam 1 to indicate that the uplink transmission link type is TN link, and uplink transmission beam indication information indicates beam 2 to indicate that the uplink transmission link type is NTN link.

[0234] Optionally, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resource indication field, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission can be determined by the terminal device based on the SRS resource indication field.

[0235] The SRS resource indication field is used to indicate the resources that carry the SRS.

[0236] For example, the DCI used for scheduling uplink transmissions includes an SRS resource indication field, which indicates resource 1, representing an uplink transmission link type of TN link, and an SRS resource indication field that indicates resource 2, representing an uplink transmission link type of NTN link.

[0237] It is understandable that the terminal device can determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission based on the explicit indication of the uplink transmission scheduling information, or it can determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission implicitly based on the uplink transmission scheduling information. This is beneficial for the terminal device to determine the timing advance and / or other transmission information (such as, but not limited to, the timing relationship of data transmission) that are suitable for the uplink transmission link type, thereby effectively realizing uplink transmission carried by various link types and improving communication performance.

[0238] It should be noted that the link type used to carry uplink transmission can also be determined in other ways, and there are no restrictions on this.

[0239] After determining the link type that carries the uplink transmission, the terminal device can determine the first timing advance based on the determination method corresponding to the link type used to carry the uplink transmission.

[0240] In one possible implementation, the terminal device can determine a first timing advance based on the TA adjustment value, the first propagation delay, the second propagation delay, and the TA offset value, wherein the uplink transmission can be carried by a TN link or an NTN link.

[0241] For uplink transmission carried by a TN link, the first timing advance can be determined using the following formula (1-1).

[0242] In formula (1-1), T TA This indicates the first timing advance, T. S N represents the smallest unit of time in the 5th-generation (5G) communication system. TA Adjust the value for TA, N TA,UE-specific N represents a specific TA value for a terminal device. TA,UE-specific This can be equal to the round-trip propagation delay on the service link between the terminal device and the NTN device, where N... TA,common N represents the common TA value. TA,offset This indicates the offset value of the timing advance.

[0243] Optionally, in formula (1-1), This can be considered as the first propagation delay. This can be considered as a second propagation delay.

[0244] Alternatively, for the case where uplink transmission is carried by a TN link, the first timing advance can be determined using the following formula (1-2). TA =(N TA +(M TA,UE-specific +M TA,common )+N TA,offset )×T s (1-2)

[0245] In formula (1-2), T TA This indicates the first timing advance, T. S N represents the smallest unit of time in a 5G communication system. TA Adjust the value for TA, M TA,UE-specific M represents the one-way propagation delay between the terminal device and the NTN device. TA,common N represents the one-way propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device. TA,offset This indicates the offset value of the timing advance.

[0246] Optionally, in formula (1-2), M TA,UE-specific This can be considered as the first propagation delay, M TA,common This can be considered as a second propagation delay.

[0247] Therefore, it can be understood that when the uplink transmission is carried by the TN link, the value of the first propagation delay can be equal to the value of the one-way propagation delay between the terminal device and the NTN device, and the value of the second propagation delay can be equal to the value of the one-way propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device.

[0248] The methods for determining the parameters in formulas (1-1) and (1-2) can be found in the description below, which will not be elaborated here.

[0249] For uplink transmission carried by an NTN link, the first timing advance can be determined using the following formula (2). TA =(N TA +N TA,UE-specific +N TA,common +N TA,offset )×T s (2)

[0250] In formula (2), T TA This indicates the first timing advance, T. S N represents the smallest unit of time in a 5G communication system. TA Adjust the value for TA, N TA,UE-specific N represents a specific TA value for a terminal device. TA,UE-specific This can be equal to the round-trip propagation delay on the service link between the terminal device and the NTN device, where N... TA,common N represents the common TA value. TA,offset This indicates the offset value of the timing advance.

[0251] Therefore, it can be understood that when the uplink transmission is carried by the NTN link, the value of the first propagation delay can be equal to the value of the round-trip propagation delay between the terminal device and the NTN device, and the value of the second propagation delay can be equal to the value of the round-trip propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device.

[0252] In this implementation, the TA adjustment value in formulas (1-1), (1-2), and (2) can be the TA adjustment value indicated by a timing advance adjustment command (TA command). This TA command can be carried by the RAR during the random access procedure or by the MAC CE. Before determining the first timing advance, the terminal device can either receive the RAR from the network device in a disconnected state and obtain the TA command from the RAR, or it can receive the MAC CE from the network device in a connected state and obtain the TA command from the MAC CE.

[0253] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this disclosure, the time when the terminal device receives the RAR or MAC CE carrying the TAcommand may be the same as or different from the time when it receives the first information and the time when it receives the second information. The timing of the terminal device receiving this information is not limited, and correspondingly, the timing of the network device sending this information is not limited.

[0254] When a terminal device receives a MAC CE carrying a TA command, the terminal device can determine the TA adjustment value using the following formula (3). TA =N TAold +(T A -31)·16·64 / 2 μ (3)

[0255] In formula (3), T A It is the TA adjustment value indicated by the TA command carried by the network device via the MAC CE; N TAold This indicates the current uplink timing advance; μ indicates the subcarrier digital scheme, which can take values ​​such as, but is not limited to, 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.

[0256] When a terminal device receives a RAR (e.g., Msg2 or MsgB) carrying a TA command, the terminal device can determine the TA adjustment value using the following formula (4). TA =T A ·16·64 / 2 μ (4)

[0257] In formula (4), T A It is the TA adjustment value indicated by the network device through the RAR message; μ indicates the subcarrier digital scheme, which can take values ​​such as, but is not limited to, 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.

[0258] In this implementation, the specific TA value N of the terminal device in formulas (1-1) and (2) TA,UE-specific Equal to the round-trip propagation delay on the service link between the terminal device and the NTN device, N TA,UE-specific It can be calculated by the terminal device based on the location information of the NTN device and the location information of the terminal device.

[0259] In formula (1-2), M TA,UE-specific M represents the one-way propagation delay between the terminal device and the NTN device. TA,UE-specific It can be calculated by the terminal device based on the location information of the NTN device and the location information of the terminal device.

[0260] As mentioned above, the first information received by the terminal device includes the location of the NTN device, for example, it includes the ephemeris information of the NTN device, which includes the NTN device's position information in the (x, y, z) coordinates, that is, its position information in the x, y, and z directions. Therefore, the terminal device can determine the NTN device based on the first information and the terminal device's location information. TA,UE-specific and / or M TA,UE-specific .

[0261] Optionally, the location information of the terminal device can be determined based on GNSS or obtained through other means, without restriction.

[0262] In this implementation, the common TA value N in formulas (1-1) and (2) TA,common It can be the round-trip propagation delay between the NTN device and the synchronization reference point. In formula (1-2), M... TA,common This represents the one-way propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device.

[0263] If the second information includes a common TA value, the terminal device can directly determine the common TA value N. TA,common .

[0264] When the second information includes a common TA value, the terminal device can determine M based on the common TA value. TA,common For example, half of the common TA value is defined as M. TA,common .

[0265] When the second information includes a set of relevant parameters for the common TA value (i.e., including the initial value of the common TA, the rate of change of the common TA value, and the second-order rate of change of the common TA value), the terminal device can determine the common TA value and / or M based on the set of relevant parameters for the common TA value and a reference time point. TA,common .

[0266] The reference time point is used to determine whether the relevant parameter set of the public TA value is valid. For details, please refer to the explanation of the relevant concepts above, which will not be repeated here.

[0267] Optionally, the terminal device can determine the common TA value N based on the relevant parameter set of the common TA value. TA,common and / or M TA,common .

[0268] Terminal equipment can determine the one-way common propagation delay (Delay) between the NTN device and the synchronization reference point. common (t).

[0269] Optionally, the terminal device may use the following formula (5) to determine the Delay. common (t).

[0270] In formula (5), Delay common (t) can also be understood as the distance between the satellite and the synchronous reference point divided by the speed of light; TACommon represents the initial value of the common TA; TACommonDrift represents the rate of change of the common TA value; TACommonDriftVariation represents the second-order rate of change of the common TA value; t epoch t represents the reference time point; t represents the current time.

[0271] M can be understood TA,common =Delay common (t), determine the Delay common (t) determines M TA,common .

[0272] Optionally, the terminal device, according to the Delay common (t) When determining the common TA value, the following formula (6) can be used. N TA,common =2Delay common (t) (6)

[0273] In formula (6), N TA,common This represents the public TA value.

[0274] Alternatively, after determining the common TA value according to formula (6), half of the common TA value can be determined as M. TA,common .

[0275] In this implementation, N in formulas (1-1), (1-2), and (2) TA,offset It can be preset, for example, as specified by the communication protocol.

[0276] Optionally, the system architecture shown in Figure 2, where NTN and TN base stations are not co-located, adds at least one transmission link between network device 103 corresponding to NTN device 102 and network device 106 corresponding to terminal device 101 compared to the system architecture shown in Figure 1 where NTN and TN base stations are co-located. This increases the propagation delay of this transmission link. Therefore, in formulas (1-1) and (1-2), N in the system architecture where NTN and TN base stations are not co-located... TA,offset Greater than or equal to N in the system architecture used for co-location of NTN and TN base stations TA,offset Alternatively, N in formulas (1-1) and (1-2) TA,offsetThis is used in system architectures where NTN and TN base stations co-located. For system architectures where NTN and TN base stations do not co-locate, an additional timing advance offset value will be added to the right side of the equal sign in formulas (1-1) and (1-2) to compensate for the propagation delay of the transmission link between the network device corresponding to the NTN device and the network device corresponding to the terminal device.

[0277] Formula (1-1), on the service link and the power supply link It requires the terminal device to update itself to obtain it, therefore it can be and This can be understood as an open-loop TA adjustment mechanism.

[0278] In formula (1-2), M on the service link TA,UE-specific and M on the power supply link TA,Common It requires the terminal device to update itself to obtain it, therefore M can be... TA,UE-specific and M TA,Common This can be understood as an open-loop TA adjustment mechanism.

[0279] In formula (2), the TA (i.e., N) on the service link TA,UE-specific ) and the common TA value (i.e., N) on the feeder link TA,Common ) needs to be obtained through self-update by the terminal device, therefore N can be... TA,UE-specific and N TA,Common This can be understood as an open-loop TA adjustment mechanism.

[0280] The TA adjustment value (i.e., N) indicated by TACommon in formulas (1-1), (1-2), and (2) TA The signal is estimated by the network device based on the uplink signal transmitted by the terminal device, and then sent to the terminal device. Therefore, N can be... TA This can be understood as a closed-loop timing advance (TA) adjustment mechanism. It is evident that the determination and updating of the first timing advance employs both open-loop and closed-loop TA adjustment mechanisms.

[0281] However, based on the first information, the second information, and the location information of the terminal device, the terminal device autonomously determines the open-loop TA adjustment value (i.e., and And / or, M TA,UE-specific and M TA,Common , and / or, N TA,UE-specific and N TA,Common Over time, the open-loop TA adjustment value calculated by the terminal device may develop a certain residual error. This residual error will be addressed by the network device through the closed-loop TA adjustment value (i.e., N) indicated by TACommon. TACompensation is performed. However, in response to updates to the first information, the second information, and the location information of the terminal device, the residual error may be compensated again, potentially leading to a secondary compensation issue for the TA adjustment error. In other words, when the terminal device simultaneously employs both open-loop and closed-loop TA adjustment mechanisms to determine the timing advance (TA) value for uplink transmission, a secondary compensation problem may arise.

[0282] Optionally, the terminal device can address the secondary compensation issue that arises when determining the timing advance (TA) value for uplink transmission by satisfying the uplink timing synchronization requirement. Here, the requirement is predefined, for example, as defined in the communication protocol.

[0283] It is understandable that for a satellite-ground separated uplink and downlink communication system where downlink transmission is carried by NTN links and uplink transmission is carried by TN links, considering that the propagation path length of its uplink transmission is shorter than that of the NTN communication system (where both uplink and downlink transmissions are carried by NTN links), when calculating the first timing advance, the propagation delay between the terminal device and the NTN device, as well as the propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device, is reduced by half compared to the NTN communication system. This allows the terminal device and the network device to effectively utilize the first timing advance for uplink time synchronization, thereby effectively realizing the uplink transmission of the satellite-ground separated uplink and downlink communication system.

[0284] In one possible implementation, in addition to determining a first timing advance for time synchronization of uplink transmission based on a first propagation delay and a second propagation delay, the terminal device may also determine a frequency shift value for frequency compensation of uplink transmission.

[0285] The frequency shift value used for frequency compensation of uplink transmissions carried by TN links can be different from the frequency shift value used for frequency compensation of uplink transmissions carried by NTN links. Therefore, the frequency shift used for uplink frequency compensation can be determined after the link type carrying the uplink transmission is determined. The method for determining the link type used for carrying the uplink transmission has been described above and will not be repeated here.

[0286] Optionally, the first information can also be used to determine the Doppler frequency shift between the terminal device and the NTN device, which can be used for frequency compensation of the uplink transmission.

[0287] For example, the terminal device can determine the Doppler shift on the service link between the terminal device and the NTN device based on the ephemeris information of the NTN device and the location information of the terminal device included in the first information.

[0288] For example, the ephemeris information of an NTN device includes the NTN device's position information in the (x, y, z) coordinates and its velocity information in the x, y, and z directions.

[0289] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the location information of the terminal device can be determined based on GNSS or obtained through other means, without any restrictions.

[0290] Therefore, the terminal device can use formula (7) to determine the Doppler frequency shift between the terminal device and the NTN device.

[0291] In formula (7) f d f represents the Doppler frequency shift between the terminal device and the NTN device. c Indicates the carrier frequency used by the terminal device; c represents the speed of light; X s Y s Z s These represent the positions of the NTN device in the x, y, and z directions, respectively; X u Y u Z u These represent the positions of the terminal device in the x, y, and z directions, respectively; VX s VY s VZ s ΔX, ΔY, and ΔZ represent the velocities of the NTN device in the x, y, and z directions, respectively; ΔX, ΔY, and ΔZ represent the distances between the NTN device and the terminal device in the x, y, and z directions, respectively; ΔVX, ΔVY, and ΔVZ represent the velocity differences between the NTN device and the terminal device in the x, y, and z directions, respectively. When the NTN device's speed is much greater than the terminal device's speed, VX can be used. s VY s VZ s The numerical values ​​of ΔVX, ΔVY, and ΔVZ are used to calculate f. d That is, the calculation can be performed using the rightmost expression in formula (7).

[0292] Optionally, the Doppler frequency shift f between the terminal device and the NTN device is determined based on formula (7). d Subsequently, in the case where uplink transmission is carried by a TN link, the terminal equipment can compensate for the uplink transmission by 1 times the Doppler frequency shift f. d .

[0293] Optionally, for cases where uplink transmission is carried by an NTN link, the terminal device can compensate for uplink transmission by twice the Doppler frequency shift f. d .

[0294] It is understandable that for satellite-ground separated uplink and downlink communication systems where downlink transmission is carried by NTN links and uplink transmission is carried by TN links, considering that the propagation path length of its uplink transmission is less than that of the NTN communication system (where both uplink and downlink transmissions are carried by NTN links), the compensation frequency is reduced by half compared to the NTN communication system, thus effectively realizing the uplink transmission of satellite-ground separated uplink and downlink communication systems.

[0295] In addition, the downlink transmission between the terminal device and the network device is carried by the NTN link, and the uplink transmission is carried by the TN link, which may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following two situations:

[0296] Scenario 1: In the same serving cell, downlink transmission between terminal equipment and network equipment is carried by NTN link, while uplink transmission is carried by TN link.

[0297] Optionally, in case 1, the downlink transmission may include, but is not limited to, the transmission of downlink reference signals, the transmission of downlink control signaling, and / or the transmission of downlink data, etc., without limitation.

[0298] For scenario 1, the uplink and downlink timing relationship between the terminal device and the network device can be shown in Figure 9. In scenario 1, the downlink reference signal is carried by the NTN link, and the terminal can only obtain downlink synchronization (including time synchronization and frequency synchronization) of the NTN link through the downlink reference signal. Therefore, when the terminal device performs uplink transmission on the TN link, it needs to determine the uplink transmission timing advance and uplink frequency compensation based on the downlink timing and frequency synchronization of the NTN link. Specifically, when the terminal device performs uplink transmission on the TN link, it needs to compensate for the timing advance corresponding to the one-way propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the terminal device, as well as the Doppler shift on the NTN link.

[0299] Therefore, for case 1, the method of determining the first timing advance described above can be used to synchronize the uplink transmission time using the first timing advance; and / or the method of determining the Doppler frequency shift between the terminal device and the NTN device described above can be used to compensate for the frequency offset of the uplink transmission using the Doppler frequency shift.

[0300] Scenario 2: Satellite-to-ground separation is achieved through carrier aggregation. In this scenario, DCI is carried by NTN carriers, and uplink transmissions scheduled by DCI are carried by TN carriers. NTN and TN carriers belong to different serving cells.

[0301] Case 2 can also be seen as achieving satellite-to-ground uplink / downlink separation through cross-carrier scheduling.

[0302] For scenario 2, the uplink and downlink timing relationship between the terminal device and the network device can be shown in Figure 10. In scenario 2, the terminal device maintains its downlink synchronization using the downlink reference signals of the NTN serving cell and the TN serving cell, respectively. Therefore, when the terminal device performs uplink transmission in the TN serving cell, it can refer to the downlink timing synchronization and frequency synchronization of the TN serving cell for uplink transmission, thus enabling uplink time-frequency synchronization to be based on the time-frequency synchronization method used in terrestrial communication systems.

[0303] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal device receives first information and second information from the network device, determines a first propagation delay based on the first information, determines a second propagation delay based on the second information, and determines a first timing advance based on the first and second propagation delays. Thus, the terminal device can use the first timing advance to achieve uplink synchronization of satellite-ground-uplink separation. Uplink transmission based on the first timing advance can effectively realize cooperative transmission between NTN and TN, improving the communication performance of the satellite-ground-uplink-downlink separation communication system.

[0304] The preceding text introduced a communication processing method that can be used to achieve uplink synchronization with separation of satellite and ground uplink, thereby effectively realizing cooperative transmission between NTN and TN.

[0305] This disclosure also proposes another communication processing method, which includes: receiving a first additional scheduling delay value, wherein the first additional scheduling delay value is an additional scheduling delay value of uplink transmission carried by the NTN link, and the first additional scheduling delay value is used to determine a second additional scheduling delay value; wherein the second additional scheduling delay value is an additional scheduling delay value of uplink transmission carried by the TN link; the second additional scheduling delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of uplink transmission resources, thereby determining the timing relationship related to the data transmission of satellite-ground-uplink separation, effectively realizing cooperative transmission between NTN and TN, and improving the communication performance of satellite-ground-uplink-separated communication system.

[0306] The second additional scheduling delay value in the above description can be used to determine the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to uplink transmission, the effective delay of uplink transmission resources, the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources and the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to uplink transmission, the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources and the effective delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to uplink transmission and the effective delay of uplink transmission resources, and the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to uplink transmission and the effective delay of uplink transmission resources, etc.

[0307] The execution entity in this disclosure may include a terminal device and / or a network device. And / or the execution entity in this disclosure may include devices such as processors, chips, or chip modules in the terminal device, and / or devices such as processors, chips, or chip modules in the network device. And / or the execution entity in this disclosure may include devices or units matched with the terminal device, and / or devices or units matched with the network device. This disclosure does not limit the execution entity. The following description uses the interaction process between a terminal device and a network device as an example.

[0308] Please refer to Figure 11, which is a flowchart illustrating another communication processing method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. This method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0309] 2001, the network device sends a first additional scheduling delay value to the terminal device. The first additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the NTN link. The first additional scheduling delay value is used to determine a second additional scheduling delay value. The second additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the TN link.

[0310] The scheduling delay of terrestrial communication systems cannot meet the timing advance requirements of terminal equipment in satellite-to-ground separated uplink / downlink communication systems (downlink transmission is carried by NTN links, and uplink transmission is carried by TN links). To further increase the scheduling delay, satellite-to-ground separated uplink / downlink communication systems add a second, additional scheduling delay value on top of the scheduling delay in terrestrial communication systems.

[0311] Optionally, the second additional scheduling delay value may be less than the first additional scheduling delay value. For example, the second additional scheduling delay value may be half of the first additional scheduling delay value.

[0312] It is understandable that for a satellite-to-ground separated uplink and downlink communication system where downlink transmission is carried by an NTN link and uplink transmission is carried by a TN link, considering that the propagation path length of its uplink transmission is shorter than that of the NTN communication system (where both uplink and downlink transmissions are carried by NTN links), the additional scheduling delay value for its uplink transmission (i.e., the second additional scheduling delay value) is less than the additional scheduling delay value for uplink transmission in the NTN communication system (i.e., the first additional scheduling delay value). This allows the use of the second additional scheduling delay value to determine the timing relationship related to data transmission, effectively adapting to the satellite-to-ground separated uplink and downlink communication scenario and improving communication performance. Optionally, the first additional scheduling delay value can be represented by a first K_offset, and the second additional scheduling delay value can be represented by a second K_offset.

[0313] Optionally, the first additional scheduling delay value can be configured by higher-layer signaling, such as, but not limited to, by RRC signaling or MAC CE.

[0314] Optionally, the first additional scheduling delay value can also be preset, for example, as specified by the protocol.

[0315] In one possible implementation, the second additional scheduling delay value is used to determine at least one of the following:

[0316] (1) Scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources.

[0317] (2) The effective delay of the command corresponding to the uplink transmission.

[0318] (3) The effective delay of uplink transmission resources.

[0319] Optionally, when these three delays are determined using the second additional scheduling delay value, the scheduling time determined using the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective time determined using the effective delay of the corresponding instruction of uplink transmission, and the effective time determined using the effective delay of uplink transmission resources can be advanced. The amount of advance can be a timing advance for time synchronization of uplink transmission, such as, but not limited to, the first timing advance determined according to the method embodiment shown in Figure 8.

[0320] Optionally, before determining at least one of the three delays mentioned above based on the second additional scheduling delay value, the terminal device may determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission.

[0321] In response to determining that the link type carrying uplink transmission is a TN link, at least one of the above three delays is determined based on a second additional scheduling delay value; or, in response to determining that the link type carrying uplink transmission is an NTN link, at least one of the above three delays is determined based on a first additional scheduling delay value.

[0322] The method for determining the link type carrying uplink transmission can be found in the description of the method embodiment shown in Figure 8, and will not be repeated here.

[0323] To determine the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the terminal device can add a second additional scheduling delay value to the first scheduling delay value to obtain the scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resources. The first scheduling delay value can be the delay value used in the terrestrial communication system to compensate for timing advance when scheduling uplink transmission resources.

[0324] Optionally, the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following:

[0325] (1-1) Delay of DCI scheduling uplink data.

[0326] (1-2) The delay of RAR grant scheduling of uplink data.

[0327] (1-3) Scheduling delay of HARQ acknowledgment (ACK) carried on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

[0328] (1-4) Channel state information (CSI) reference resource scheduling delay.

[0329] (1-5) Scheduling delay of the non-periodic sounding reference signal (SRS).

[0330] Optionally, the DCI scheduling uplink data may include the scheduling latency of the CSI carried on the PUSCH.

[0331] Optionally, in (1-1), the uplink data scheduled by DCI may be, but is not limited to, the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0332] Optionally, in (1-2), RAR may include, but is not limited to, RAR and fallbackRAR, and uplink data may include, but is not limited to, PUSCH.

[0333] Taking DCI-scheduled uplink data transmission as an example, when the terminal device receives the DCI in time slot n, according to the resource scheduling method of the terrestrial communication system, the DCI will indicate an uplink data scheduling delay value K2. Based on the scheduling delay value K2, the terminal device can determine that the time slot where the uplink data transmission occurs is n+K2. In the satellite-to-ground separated uplink / downlink scenario, since the downlink is carried by the NTN link and the uplink is carried by the TN link, the uplink transmission timing is not aligned with the downlink transmission timing on the terminal side. Therefore, in the satellite-to-ground separated uplink / downlink communication system, the terminal device can determine the final DCI-scheduled uplink data delay as K2+the second K_offset based on the scheduling delay K2 indicated in the DCI and the second K_offset. Furthermore, the terminal device can use this delay to determine that the time slot where the start position of the uplink data transmission time domain resource is located is n+K2+the second K_offset. The actual time domain position of the uplink data sent by the terminal device needs to be advanced according to the determined timing advance (such as the first timing advance determined according to the method embodiment shown in Figure 8).

[0334] Optionally, taking DCI-scheduled uplink data transmission as an example, the time slot for determining the uplink data transmission location can also be... Where, μ PUSCH and μPDSCH The subcarrier spacing for PUSCH and PDCCH are respectively. This indicates the floor function.

[0335] Compared to DCI scheduling of uplink data, RAR grant scheduling of uplink data requires more time for RAR decoding. Therefore, in the scenario of RAR grant scheduling of uplink data, the delay of RAR grant scheduling of uplink data is K2 + Δ + the second K_offset, where Δ can be determined based on the subcarrier spacing μ of PUSCH. PUSCH Determined. For example, μ PUSCH μ is 0, Δ is 2; PUSCH μ is 1, Δ is 3; PUSCH =2, Δ = 4; μ PUSCH The value can be 3, Δ can be 6, etc., without restriction. Furthermore, the terminal device can use this delay to determine the time slot containing the starting position of the time domain resources for the uplink data transmission scheduled by the RAR grant as n + K2 + Δ + the second K_offset. Here, n can refer to the time slot in which the terminal device receives the RAR grant or the time slot in which it receives the DCI.

[0336] Taking HARQ-ACK scheduled on PUCCH as an example, when time slot n is the end slot of the PDSCH time domain resource scheduled by DCI, according to the resource scheduling method of terrestrial communication systems, DCI will indicate a scheduling delay value K1 for uplink data (i.e., HARQ-ACK). Based on the scheduling delay value K1, the terminal device can determine that the starting position of the time domain resource corresponding to the HARQ-ACK transmission of the PDSCH scheduled by DCI is n+K1. In the satellite-ground-uplink separation scenario, since downlink is carried by the NTN link and uplink by the TN link, the uplink transmission timing is not aligned with the downlink transmission timing on the terminal side. Therefore, in a satellite-ground-uplink separation communication system, the terminal device can determine the final uplink data (i.e., HARQ-ACK) scheduling delay as K1+the second K_offset based on the scheduling delay K1 indicated in DCI and the second K_offset. Furthermore, the terminal device can utilize the uplink data scheduling delay to determine the starting position of the time domain resource where the HARQ-ACK transmission corresponding to the PDSCH transmission scheduled by DCI is located as n+K1+second K_offset.

[0337] Taking the scheduling of aperiodic SRS as an example, when the terminal device receives the DCI in time slot n, according to the resource scheduling method of the terrestrial communication system, the DCI will indicate a scheduling delay value k for SRS transmission. Based on the scheduling delay value k, the terminal device can determine that the time slot where the SRS transmission is located is n+k. In the satellite-ground-uplink separation scenario, since the downlink is carried by the NTN link and the uplink is carried by the TN link, the uplink transmission timing is not aligned with the downlink transmission timing on the terminal side. Therefore, in the satellite-ground-uplink separation communication system, the terminal device can determine the final scheduling delay of the DCI aperiodic SRS as k+second K_offset based on the scheduling delay k indicated in the DCI and the second K_offset. Furthermore, the terminal device can use this scheduling delay to determine that the time slot where the starting position of the time domain resource for transmitting the aperiodic SRS is located is n+k+second K_offset. The actual time domain position of the terminal device transmitting the aperiodic SRS needs to be advanced according to the determined timing advance (such as the first timing advance determined according to the method embodiment shown in Figure 8).

[0338] Optionally, taking the scheduling of aperiodic SRS as an example, the time slot where the start position of the time-domain resource for sending aperiodic SRS is located can also be determined as follows: Where, μ SRS and μ PDCCH The subcarrier spacing for SRS and PDCCH are respectively. This indicates the floor function.

[0339] To determine the effective delay of the uplink transmission command, the terminal device can add a second additional scheduling delay value to the second scheduling delay value to obtain the effective delay of the uplink transmission command. The second scheduling delay value can be a delay value used in the terrestrial communication system to compensate for timing advance when activating or making the uplink transmission command effective.

[0340] The instructions corresponding to uplink transmission refer to instructions related to uplink transmission, such as, but not limited to, instructions for scheduling uplink transmission, instructions for activating uplink transmission resources, instructions for determining the timing advance of uplink transmission, and instructions for determining uplink frequency compensation for uplink transmission, etc. There are no restrictions on these.

[0341] Optionally, the effective delay of the command corresponding to the uplink transmission may include, but is not limited to:

[0342] (2-1) TAcommand's effective delay.

[0343] Taking the terminal device receiving a MAC CE carrying a TA command as an example, when time slot n is the end slot of the time domain resource carrying the MAC CE carrying the TA command, the terrestrial communication system protocol specifies an effective delay value k for the TA command. Based on the effective delay value k, the terminal device can determine that the effective time slot of the TA command is n+k. In a satellite-to-ground separated uplink / downlink scenario, since downlink is carried by the NTN link and uplink by the TN link, the uplink transmission timing is not aligned with the downlink transmission timing on the terminal side. Therefore, in a satellite-to-ground separated uplink / downlink communication system, the terminal device can determine the final effective delay of the TA command as k+2K_offset based on the effective delay value k and the second K_offset. Furthermore, the terminal device can use this effective delay to determine the starting time slot of the TA command's effective time as n+k+2K_offset. The actual effective time of the TA command determined by the terminal device needs to be advanced according to the determined timing advance (such as the first timing advance determined according to the method embodiment shown in Figure 8).

[0344] After the TA command takes effect, the terminal device can use the TA adjustment value carried in the TA command to determine the timing advance for time synchronization of uplink transmission, such as the first timing advance in the method embodiment shown in Figure 8.

[0345] To determine the effective delay of uplink transmission resources, the terminal device can add a second additional scheduling delay value to the third scheduling delay value to obtain the effective delay of the uplink transmission resources. The third scheduling delay value can be a delay value used in the terrestrial communication system to compensate for timing advance when activating or making uplink transmission resources effective.

[0346] Optionally, the effective delay of uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following:

[0347] (3-1) The effective delay of pre-configured resources of type 2.

[0348] (3-2) The effective delay of PRACH triggered by the PDCCH command (order).

[0349] Optionally, the effective delay of uplink transmission resources mentioned above includes the effective delay of pre-configured resources of type 2, the effective delay of PRACH triggered by PDCCH command, and the effective delay of PRACH triggered by PDCCH command. Determining the effective delay of pre-configured resources of type 2 can also be referred to as configuration grant timing enhancement.

[0350] Taking the determination of the activation delay of pre-configured resources of pre-configured resource type 2 (i.e., uplink pre-configured resources triggered by DCI) as an example, when the terminal device receives a DCI for activating pre-configured resources of pre-configured resource type 2 in time slot n, according to the resource scheduling method of terrestrial communication systems, the DCI will indicate an activation delay value (also known as an activation delay value) k. Based on this activation delay value, the terminal device can determine that the first activated pre-configured resource of pre-configured resource type 2 is the first pre-configured resource of pre-configured resource type 2 after time slot n+k. In the satellite-ground-uplink separation scenario, since the downlink is carried by the NTN link and the uplink is carried by the TN link, the uplink transmission timing is not aligned with the downlink transmission timing on the terminal side. Therefore, in the satellite-ground-uplink separation communication system, the terminal device can determine the final activation delay of the pre-configured resource of pre-configured resource type 2 as k + the second K_offset based on the activation delay k and the second K_offset. Furthermore, the terminal device can utilize this activation delay to determine that the first activated pre-configured resource of type 2 is the first pre-configured resource of type 2 after n+k+2K_offset.

[0351] Optionally, after the uplink pre-configured resources are activated, the activated uplink pre-configured resources can be used to carry uplink transmission.

[0352] Optionally, the PDCCH order in (3-2) can be the Machine Type Communication Physical Downlink Control Channel (MPDCCH) order, and there are no restrictions on this.

[0353] Taking the determination of the effective delay of PRACH triggered by a PDCCH order as an example, when the terminal device receives the PDCCH order in time slot n, according to the resource scheduling method of the terrestrial communication system, the PDCCH order will indicate an effective delay value k. Based on the effective delay value k, the terminal device can determine that the available RACH Occasion (RO) is the effective RO after time slot n+k. In the satellite-to-ground uplink / downlink separation scenario, since the downlink is carried by the NTN link and the uplink is carried by the TN link, the uplink transmission timing is not aligned with the downlink transmission timing on the terminal side. Therefore, in the satellite-to-ground uplink / downlink separation communication system, the terminal device can determine the effective delay of the PRACH transmission triggered by the PDCCH order as k+the second K_offset based on the effective delay value k and the second K_offset. Furthermore, the terminal device can use this effective delay to determine that the available RO is the effective RO after n+k+the second K_offset.

[0354] Furthermore, since the second K_offset is determined based on the first K_offset, the method embodiment shown in Figure 11 can be applied to case 1, but not to case 2.

[0355] For details on cases 1 and 2, please refer to the description of the method embodiment shown in Figure 8, which will not be repeated here.

[0356] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal device receives a first additional scheduling delay value from the network device. The first additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the NTN link. The first additional scheduling delay value is used to determine a second additional scheduling delay value. The second additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the TN link. The second additional scheduling delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resource, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resource. Thus, the terminal device can effectively determine the timing relationship related to the uplink transmission with satellite-ground separation using the second additional scheduling delay value. Based on these timing relationships, cooperative transmission between NTN and TN can be effectively realized, improving the communication performance of the satellite-ground separation communication system.

[0357] Please refer to Figure 12, which is a schematic flowchart of another communication processing method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0358] 3001, the network device sends a second additional scheduling delay value to the terminal device. This second additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value for uplink transmission carried by the TN link. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second additional scheduling delay value from the network device.

[0359] The scheduling delay of terrestrial communication systems cannot meet the timing advance requirements of terminal equipment in satellite-to-ground separated uplink / downlink communication systems (downlink transmission is carried by NTN links, and uplink transmission is carried by TN links). To further increase the scheduling delay, satellite-to-ground separated uplink / downlink communication systems add a second, additional scheduling delay value on top of the scheduling delay in terrestrial communication systems.

[0360] It is understood that in this embodiment of the disclosure, the second additional scheduling delay value is configured by the network device.

[0361] Optionally, the second additional scheduling delay value is less than the first additional scheduling delay value, where the first additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the NTN link. For example, the second additional scheduling delay value can be half of the first additional scheduling delay value.

[0362] Optionally, the second additional scheduling delay value can be configured by higher-layer signaling, such as, but not limited to, by RRC signaling or MAC CE.

[0363] Optionally, the second additional scheduling delay value can also be preset, for example, as specified by the communication protocol.

[0364] The second additional scheduling delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to uplink transmission, and the effective delay of uplink transmission resources.

[0365] In one possible implementation, the network device may also send a first additional scheduling delay value to the terminal device. Accordingly, the terminal device may receive the first additional scheduling delay value from the network device.

[0366] Optionally, the first additional scheduling delay value and the second additional scheduling delay value can be configured using the same higher-layer signaling; or, they can be configured using different higher-layer signaling, without restriction. The transmission timing of the first additional scheduling delay value and the second additional scheduling delay value is also not restricted.

[0367] Optionally, before determining at least one of the three delays mentioned above based on the second additional scheduling delay value, the terminal device may determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission.

[0368] For an introduction to the first additional scheduling delay value, the second additional scheduling delay value, the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to uplink transmission, the effective delay of uplink transmission resources, the determination of these three delays using the second additional scheduling delay value, and the determination of the link type carrying uplink transmission, please refer to the description of the method embodiments shown in Figures 8 and 11, and will not be repeated here.

[0369] Furthermore, since the determination of the second K_offset does not depend on the first K_offset, the method embodiment shown in Figure 12 can be applied to case 1 and / or case 2.

[0370] For details on cases 1 and 2, please refer to the description of the method embodiment shown in Figure 8, which will not be repeated here.

[0371] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal device receives a second additional scheduling delay value from the network device. The second additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the TN link. The second additional scheduling delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resource, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resource. Thus, the terminal device can effectively determine the timing relationship related to the uplink transmission with satellite-ground separation using the second additional scheduling delay value. Based on these timing relationships, cooperative transmission between NTN and TN can be effectively realized, improving the communication performance of the satellite-ground separation communication system.

[0372] Please refer to Figure 13, which is a flowchart illustrating another communication processing method provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure. This method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0373] 4001. The network device sends a first DL MAC CE activation delay value to the terminal device. This first DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine the activation time of the first DL MAC CE. The HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE is carried by the NTN link. The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is determined based on the first DL MAC CE activation delay value. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first DL MAC CE activation delay value from the network device.

[0374] Optionally, the second DL MAC CE activation delay value is less than the first DL MAC CE activation delay value. For example, the second DL MAC CE activation delay value can be half of the first DL MAC CE activation delay value.

[0375] It is understandable that for satellite-to-ground separated uplink and downlink communication systems where downlink transmission is carried by NTN links and uplink transmission is carried by TN links, considering that the propagation path length of its uplink transmission is shorter than that of the NTN communication system (where both uplink and downlink transmissions are carried by NTN links), its DL MAC CE effective delay value (i.e., the second DL MAC CE effective delay value) is smaller than that of the DL MAC CE effective delay value in the NTN communication system (i.e., the first DL MAC CE effective delay value). This allows the use of the second DL MAC CE effective delay value to determine the timing relationship related to data transmission, effectively adapting to the satellite-to-ground separated uplink and downlink communication scenario and improving communication performance.

[0376] Optionally, the first DL MAC CE activation delay value can be represented by K_mac or the first K_mac, and the second DL MAC CE can be represented by the second K_mac.

[0377] Optionally, the first DL MAC CE effective delay value can be carried by system information.

[0378] Optionally, the first DL MAC CE activation delay value can also be preset, for example, as specified by the protocol.

[0379] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the second DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine at least one of the following:

[0380] (1) The effective time of the second DL MAC CE.

[0381] (2) The starting position of the first receiving time window.

[0382] (3) The starting position of the second receiving time window.

[0383] The above description includes the effective time of the second DL MAC CE, the starting position of the first reception time window, the starting position of the second reception time window, the effective time of the second DL MAC CE, the starting position of the first reception time window, the starting position of the first reception time window, and the starting position of the second reception time window. The HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE is carried by the TN link. The first reception time window is used to receive random access response messages, and the second reception time window is used to receive downlink response messages.

[0384] For example, the terminal device can be in a receiving state at the time domain position corresponding to the first receiving time window in order to receive the random access response message.

[0385] For example, the terminal device can be in a receiving state at the time domain position corresponding to the second receiving time window in order to receive downlink response messages.

[0386] In this embodiment of the disclosure, downlink transmission can be carried by an NTN link.

[0387] Optionally, before determining the effective time of the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the DL MAC CE, the terminal device can determine the link type used to carry uplink transmission.

[0388] For example, in response to determining that the link type used to carry uplink transmission is a TN link, the terminal device determines the effective time of the second DL MAC CE based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value; or, in response to determining that the link type used to carry uplink transmission is an NTN link, the terminal device determines the effective time of the first DL MAC CE based on the first DL MAC CE effective delay value.

[0389] In one possible implementation, the terminal device may use the following formula (8) to determine the effective time of the second DL MAC CE.

[0390] In formula (8), n represents the time slot in which the terminal device sends the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE. This indicates the number of time slots contained in each subframe corresponding to the PUCCH subcarrier configuration μ. This indicates the delay value for the second DL MAC CE to take effect.

[0391] It is understandable that when the terminal device sends the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE in time slot n, according to the resource scheduling method of the terrestrial communication system, the terminal device will experience a delay. The configuration information carried by the second DL MAC CE is applied, wherein, This indicates the number of time slots contained in each subframe corresponding to the PUCCH subcarrier configuration μ, i.e., the number of time slots that the terminal device determines based on the delay value. The time slot in which the second DL MAC CE takes effect can be determined is... In satellite-to-ground separated uplink and downlink communication systems, because downlink is carried by the NTN link and uplink by the TN link, the uplink transmission timing is not synchronized with the downlink transmission timing on the terminal side. The terminal equipment then... And the second K_mac (i.e. The effective delay of the final second DL MAC CE is determined to be... Furthermore, the terminal device can use this activation delay to determine the time slot in which the second DL MAC CE takes effect.

[0392] For an explanation of how the terminal device determines the effective time of the first DL MAC CE based on the first DL MAC CE effective delay value, please refer to the aforementioned explanation of related concepts, which will not be repeated here.

[0393] In one possible implementation, for the case where the uplink transmission is carried by a TN link and the downlink transmission is carried by an NTN link, the starting position of the first reception time window is at least spaced between the last symbol position of the PRACH resource carrying the random access request message and the starting position of the first reception time window. The first delay value is determined based on a first timing advance value and a second DL MAC CE effective delay value.

[0394] For example, the terminal device may use the following formula (9) to determine the first delay value.

[0395] In formula (9), TA represents the timing advance used for time synchronization of uplink transmission. This indicates the delay value for the second DL MAC CE to take effect.

[0396] In formula (9), TA can be the first timing advance determined according to the method embodiment shown in Figure 8, or it can be determined in other ways without limitation. The time unit of the first delay value can be milliseconds (ms), or it can be other time units without limitation.

[0397] Optionally, the terminal device may determine the first reception time window based on the starting position of the first reception time window and the length of the first reception time window.

[0398] The terminal device can determine the length of the first receiving time window itself. For example, the terminal device can determine the length of the first receiving time window based on its own communication processing capabilities; or the network device can configure or indicate the length of the first receiving time window; or the length of the first receiving time window can be preset, for example, the communication protocol specifies the length of the first receiving time window; or other methods can be used to determine the length of the first receiving time window, without any restrictions.

[0399] It should be noted that the terminal device may also use other methods to determine the first receiving time window, and the embodiments of this disclosure do not limit the method of determining the first receiving time window.

[0400] Optionally, for cases where the start position of the first receiving time window is determined based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value, the random access response message used to receive the first receiving time window may be Msg2, and the corresponding random access request message may be Msg1; or, the random access response message used to receive the first receiving time window may be MsgB, and the corresponding random access request message may be MsgA.

[0401] For an introduction to Msg2, Msg1, MsgB, and MsgA, please refer to the explanation of the relevant concepts above, which will not be repeated here.

[0402] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the downlink response message is sent by the network device in response to the uplink transmission performed by the terminal device, and the uplink transmission here is referred to as the uplink transmission corresponding to the downlink response message.

[0403] Optionally, the uplink transmission corresponding to the downlink response message can be a scheduling-free uplink data transmission. In other words, the uplink transmission resources carrying this uplink transmission can be pre-configured uplink transmission resources, such as, but not limited to, uplink transmission resources of pre-configured resource type 1 and uplink transmission resources of pre-configured resource type 2.

[0404] For an introduction to pre-configured resource type 1 and pre-configured resource type 2, please refer to the explanation of the relevant concepts above, which will not be repeated here.

[0405] In one possible implementation, the downlink response message is carried by the NTN link, and the uplink transmission corresponding to the downlink response message is carried by the TN link; the start position of the second reception time window is at least separated from the end position of the uplink transmission resource carrying the uplink transmission by a second delay value, the second delay value being determined based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value.

[0406] Among them, the uplink transmission resources that carry uplink transmission can be PUSCH resources.

[0407] For example, the terminal device uses the following formula (10) to determine the second delay value.

[0408] In formula (10), X represents the delay value for the second DL MAC CE to take effect; X represents the time offset value for transmitting the downlink response message. Optional, X can be preset, for example, but not limited to, as specified by the communication protocol, and there is no restriction on this.

[0409] Optionally, the time unit for the second delay value can be milliseconds (ms), or other time units, without restriction.

[0410] Optionally, the terminal device may determine the second reception time window based on the start position of the second reception time window and the length of the second reception time window.

[0411] The terminal device can determine the length of the second receiving time window itself. For example, the terminal device can determine the length of the second receiving time window based on its own communication processing capabilities; or the network device can configure or indicate the length of the second receiving time window; or the length of the second receiving time window can be preset, for example, the communication protocol specifies the length of the second receiving time window; or other methods can be used to determine the length of the second receiving time window, without any restrictions.

[0412] It should be noted that the terminal device may also use other methods to determine the second receiving time window, and the embodiments of this disclosure do not limit the method of determining the second receiving time window.

[0413] In one possible implementation, before the terminal device determines the start position of the first reception time window and / or the start position of the second reception time window based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value, the terminal device may determine the link type carrying uplink transmission and / or the network device may determine the link type carrying downlink transmission.

[0414] The method for determining the link type used to carry uplink transmission can be found in the description of the method embodiment shown in Figure 8, and will not be repeated here.

[0415] Optionally, the network device can determine the link type used to carry downlink transmission based on the link type used to carry uplink transmission.

[0416] Before the terminal device performs uplink transmission, the network device may send configuration information of the first uplink transmission resource to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device may receive the configuration information of the first uplink transmission resource from the network device.

[0417] And / or, before the terminal device performs uplink transmission, the network device may send configuration information of the second uplink transmission resource to the terminal device. Accordingly, the terminal device may receive the configuration information of the second uplink transmission resource from the network device.

[0418] In other words, network devices can configure one type of uplink transmission resource for each uplink transmission link of terminal devices, wherein the first transmission resource can correspond to the TN link used for downlink transmission, and the second transmission resource can correspond to the NTN link used for downlink transmission.

[0419] Therefore, in response to uplink transmission being carried by the first uplink transmission resource, the corresponding downlink transmission is carried by the TN link; and / or, in response to uplink transmission being carried by the second uplink transmission resource, the corresponding downlink transmission is carried by the NTN link.

[0420] For example, a network device configures two types of PRACH resources for a terminal device, including a first PRACH resource and a second PRACH resource. The network device can send configuration information for these two types of PRACH resources to the terminal device. Based on this configuration information, the terminal device determines the PRACH resource used to transmit a random access request message and uses that PRACH resource to send the random access request message. After receiving the random access request message, the network device determines the link type carrying the random access response message based on the type of PRACH resource carrying the random access request message. Specifically, in response to the random access request message being carried by the first PRACH resource, the network device determines that the random access response message is carried by a TN link; or, in response to the random access request message being carried by the second PRACH resource, the network device determines that the random access response message is carried by an NTN link.

[0421] For another example, a network device configures two types of PUSCH resources for a terminal device, including a first PUSCH resource and a second PUSCH resource. The network device can send configuration information for the two types of PUSCH resources to the terminal device. Based on this configuration information, the terminal device determines the PUSCH resource used for uplink transmission. Based on the type of PUSCH resource used by the terminal device for uplink transmission, the network device determines the link type for carrying downlink response messages. Specifically, in response to uplink transmission being carried by the first PUSCH resource, the network device determines that the downlink response message is carried by a TN link; or, in response to uplink transmission being carried by the second PUSCH resource, the network device determines that the downlink response message is carried by an NTN link.

[0422] It should be noted that the configuration information of the first uplink transmission resource and the configuration information of the second uplink transmission resource can be carried by the same information bearer, for example, by the same DCI or the same higher-layer signaling; or by different information bearers, without restriction. Therefore, the configuration information of the first uplink transmission resource and the configuration information of the second uplink transmission resource can be received by the terminal device simultaneously; or, the configuration information of the first uplink transmission resource can be received by the terminal device before the configuration information of the second uplink transmission resource; or, the configuration information of the first uplink transmission resource can be received by the terminal device after the configuration information of the second uplink transmission resource, without restriction on the transmission timing of the two types of configuration information.

[0423] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal device receives a first DL MAC CE activation delay value from the network device, and determines a second DL MAC CE activation delay value based on the first DL MAC CE activation delay value. The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first receiving time window, and the start position of the second receiving time window. Thus, the terminal device can effectively determine the timing relationship related to the downlink transmission of satellite-ground separation using the second DL MAC CE activation delay value. Based on these timing relationships, cooperative transmission between NTN and TN can be effectively realized, improving the communication performance of the satellite-ground separation communication system.

[0424] Please refer to Figure 14, which is a schematic flowchart of another communication processing method provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure. The method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0425] 5001. The network device sends a second DL MAC CE activation delay value to the terminal device. The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first reception time window, and the start position of the second reception time window. Accordingly, the terminal device receives the second DL MAC CE activation delay value from the network device.

[0426] Among them, the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE is carried by the TN link, the first receiving time window is used to receive the random access response message, and the second receiving time window is used to receive the downlink response message.

[0427] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the second DL MAC CE activation delay value is configured by the network device.

[0428] Optionally, the second DL MAC CE activation delay value is less than the first DL MAC CE activation delay value. For example, the second DL MAC CE activation delay value can be half of the first DL MAC CE activation delay value.

[0429] Optionally, the second DL MAC CE activation delay value can be carried out via system information.

[0430] Optionally, the second DL MAC CE activation delay value can also be preset, for example, as specified by the protocol.

[0431] In one possible implementation, the network device may also send a first DL MAC CE activation delay value to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device may receive the first DL MAC CE activation delay value from the network device.

[0432] Optionally, the first DL MAC CE activation delay value and the second DL MAC CE activation delay value can be carried by the same information carrier, such as by the same system information carrier; or they can be carried by different information carriers, without restriction. The transmission timing of the first DL MAC CE activation delay value and the second DL MAC CE activation delay value is also not restricted.

[0433] Optionally, before determining at least one of the effective time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first reception time window, and the start position of the second reception time window based on the effective delay value of the second DL MAC CE, the terminal device may determine the link type carrying uplink transmission and / or the link type carrying downlink transmission.

[0434] For an introduction to the first DL MAC CE activation delay value, the second DL MAC CE activation delay value, the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first reception time window, the start position of the second reception time window, the determination of these three times using the second DL MAC CE activation delay value, the determination of the link type used to carry uplink transmission, and the determination of the link type used to carry downlink transmission, please refer to the introduction of the method embodiments shown in Figures 8 and 13 and the explanation of the aforementioned related concepts, which will not be repeated here.

[0435] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal device receives a second DL MAC CE activation delay value from the network device. The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first receiving time window, and the start position of the second receiving time window. Thus, the timing relationship related to the downlink transmission of satellite-ground separation can be effectively determined using the second DL MAC CE activation delay value. Based on these timing relationships, cooperative transmission between NTN and TN can be effectively realized, improving the communication performance of the satellite-ground separation communication system.

[0436] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that this disclosure is not limited to the described order of actions, because according to this disclosure, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to this disclosure.

[0437] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have their own emphasis, and any multiple embodiments can be used in combination. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0438] The foregoing primarily describes the solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure from a methodological perspective. It is understood that, in order to achieve the aforementioned functions, terminal devices and network devices include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for executing each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, this disclosure can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a particular function is executed in a hardware or computer software-driven hardware manner 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 disclosure.

[0439] This disclosure embodiment can divide terminal devices and network devices into functional units according to the above method examples. For example, each function can be divided into a separate functional unit, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software program module. It should be noted that the unit division in this disclosure embodiment is illustrative and only represents a logical functional division, while other division methods may be used in actual implementation.

[0440] Please refer to Figure 15, which is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The communication device 150 may be a terminal device, including components such as a processor, chip, or chip module within the terminal device, or a device or unit compatible with the terminal device. Alternatively, the communication device 150 may also be a network device, including components such as a processor, chip, or chip module within the network device, or a device or unit compatible with the network device.

[0441] As shown in Figure 15, the communication device 150 includes a communication unit 1501. The communication unit 1501 can be a module unit for processing signals, data, information, etc., and there are no specific limitations on this.

[0442] The communication device 150 may further include a storage unit for storing computer program code or instructions executed by the communication device 150. The storage unit may be a memory.

[0443] Additionally, it should be noted that the communication device 150 can be a chip or a chip module.

[0444] The communication unit 1501 can be integrated into the processing unit. The processing unit can be a processor or controller, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), 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 can implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure herein. The processing unit can also be a combination that implements computational functions, such as including one or more microprocessor combinations, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, etc.

[0445] In specific implementation, the communication unit 1501 is used to perform any step executed by the terminal device or by the network device as described in the above method embodiments. A detailed description follows.

[0446] For the case where the communication unit 1501 is used to perform any step executed by the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in FIG8:

[0447] The communication unit 1501 is used to receive first information; the first information is used to determine a first propagation delay, which is the propagation delay between the terminal device and the non-terrestrial network (NTN) device.

[0448] The communication unit 1501 is also used to receive second information; the second information is used to determine a second propagation delay, which is the propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device, and the synchronization reference point is one of the locations on the power supply link between the NTN device and the network device; the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay are used to determine a first timing advance; the first timing advance is used to synchronize the uplink transmission.

[0449] Optionally, the first information is also used to determine the Doppler frequency shift between the terminal device and the NTN device; the Doppler frequency shift is used for frequency compensation of the uplink transmission.

[0450] Optionally, uplink transmission is carried by a terrestrial network TN link.

[0451] Optionally, the communication unit 1501 is also used to receive uplink transmission scheduling information; the uplink transmission scheduling information is used to determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission includes a TN link or an NTN link.

[0452] Optionally, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes an uplink transmission link type indication field, which indicates the link type carrying the uplink transmission; and / or, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes uplink transmission beam indication information, which determines the link type carrying the uplink transmission based on the uplink transmission beam indication information; and / or, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource indication field, which determines the link type carrying the uplink transmission based on the SRS resource indication field.

[0453] For the case where the communication unit 1501 is used to perform any step executed by the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in FIG11 and / or FIG12:

[0454] The communication unit 1501 is configured to receive a first additional scheduling delay value, wherein the first additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the NTN link, and the first additional scheduling delay value is used to determine a second additional scheduling delay value; or, to receive the second additional scheduling delay value.

[0455] The second additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the TN link; the second additional scheduling delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resource, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resource.

[0456] Optionally, the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of uplink data by downlink control information (DCI), the scheduling delay of uplink data by random access response (RAR) grant, the scheduling delay of hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) carried on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), the scheduling delay of channel state information (CSI) reference resources, and the scheduling delay of aperiodic sounding reference signal (SRS).

[0457] The uplink transmission resource scheduling delay mentioned above includes the scheduling delay of uplink data by DCI, the scheduling delay of uplink data by RAR grant, the scheduling delay of HARQ-ACK carried on PUCCH, the scheduling delay of CSI reference resources, the scheduling delay of aperiodic SRS, the scheduling delay of uplink data by DCI, the scheduling delay of uplink data by RAR grant, the scheduling delay of uplink data by RAR grant and HARQ-ACK carried on PUCCH, the scheduling delay of CSI reference resources and aperiodic SRS, the scheduling delay of uplink data by DCI and HARQ-ACK carried on PUCCH, the scheduling delay of uplink data by DCI, the scheduling delay of uplink data by RAR grant, the scheduling delay of HARQ-ACK carried on PUCCH, the scheduling delay of CSI reference resources and aperiodic SRS, etc.

[0458] The effective delay of the uplink transmission command includes: the effective delay of the timing advance adjustment command TAcommand;

[0459] The effective delay of uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the effective delay of pre-configured resources of type 2, and the effective delay of physical random access channel PRACH triggered by the physical downlink control channel PDCCH command order.

[0460] For the case where the communication unit 1501 is used to perform any step executed by the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in FIG13 and / or FIG14:

[0461] Communication unit 1501 is used to receive the first downlink media access layer control unit (DL MAC CE) activation delay value. The first DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine the activation time of the first DL MAC CE. The HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE is carried by the NTN link. The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is determined based on the first DL MAC CE activation delay value; or,

[0462] Receive the second DL MAC CE effective delay value;

[0463] The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first receiving time window, and the start position of the second receiving time window;

[0464] Among them, the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE is carried by the TN link, the first receiving time window is used to receive the random access response message, and the second receiving time window is used to receive the downlink response message.

[0465] Optionally, the starting position of the first reception time window is at least separated from the last symbol position of the PRACH resource carrying the random access request message by a first delay value. The first delay value is determined based on a first timing advance value and a second DL MAC CE effective delay value. The random access response message is carried by the NTN link, and the random access request message is carried by the TN link. The first timing advance is used for time synchronization of uplink transmission.

[0466] Optionally, the downlink response message is carried by the NTN link, and the uplink transmission corresponding to the downlink response message is carried by the TN link; the start position of the second reception time window and the end position of the uplink transmission resource carrying the uplink transmission are at least separated by a second delay value, and the second delay value is determined based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value.

[0467] Optionally, the communication unit 1501 is further configured to receive configuration information of the first uplink transmission resource; and / or,

[0468] Receive configuration information for the second uplink transmission resource;

[0469] Wherein, in response to uplink transmission being carried by the first uplink transmission resource, the downlink transmission corresponding to the uplink transmission is carried by the TN link; and / or, in response to uplink transmission being carried by the second uplink transmission resource, the downlink transmission corresponding to the uplink transmission is carried by the NTN link.

[0470] For the case where communication unit 1501 is used to perform any step executed by the network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG8:

[0471] The communication unit 1501 is used to send first information; the first information is used by the terminal device to determine a first propagation delay, the first propagation delay being the propagation delay between the terminal device and the NTN device;

[0472] The communication unit 1501 is also used to send second information; the second information is used by the terminal device to determine a second propagation delay, the second propagation delay being the propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device, the synchronization reference point being one of the locations on the power supply link between the NTN device and the network device; the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay are used by the terminal device to determine a first timing advance; the first timing advance is used by the terminal device to perform time synchronization for uplink transmission.

[0473] Optionally, the first information is also used by the terminal device to determine the Doppler frequency shift between the terminal device and the NTN device; the Doppler frequency shift is used by the terminal device to perform frequency compensation for uplink transmission.

[0474] Optionally, uplink transmission is carried by a TN link.

[0475] Optionally, the communication unit 1501 is also used to send uplink transmission scheduling information. The uplink transmission scheduling information is used by the terminal device to determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission. The link type carrying the uplink transmission includes a TN link or an NTN link.

[0476] Optionally, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes an uplink transmission link type indication field, which indicates the link type carrying the uplink transmission; and / or, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes uplink transmission beam indication information, which is determined by the terminal device based on the uplink transmission beam indication information; and / or, the uplink transmission scheduling information includes a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource indication field, which is determined by the terminal device based on the SRS resource indication field.

[0477] For the case where communication unit 1501 is used to perform any step performed by the network device in the method embodiments shown in FIG11 and / or FIG12:

[0478] Communication unit 1501 is used to send a first additional scheduling delay value; the first additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the NTN link, and the first additional scheduling delay value is used to determine a second additional scheduling delay value; or,

[0479] Send a second additional scheduling delay value;

[0480] The second additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the TN link; the second additional scheduling delay value is used by the terminal equipment to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resources.

[0481] Optionally, the scheduling delay of uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of uplink data by DCI, the scheduling delay of uplink data by RAR grant, the scheduling delay of HARQ-ACK carried on PUCCH, the scheduling delay of CSI reference resources, and the scheduling delay of aperiodic SRS.

[0482] The effective delay of the command corresponding to the uplink transmission includes: the effective delay of TAcommand;

[0483] The effective delay of uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the effective delay of pre-configured resources of pre-configured resource type 2, and the effective delay of PRACH triggered by PDCCH order.

[0484] For the case where communication unit 1501 is used to perform any step performed by the network device in the method embodiments shown in FIG13 and / or FIG14:

[0485] Communication unit 1501 is used to send a first DL MAC CE activation delay value, which is used to determine the activation time of the first DL MAC CE. The HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE is carried by the NTN link. The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is determined by the terminal device based on the first DL MAC CE activation delay value; or,

[0486] Send the second DL MAC CE effective delay value;

[0487] The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is used by the terminal device to determine at least one of the following: the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first receiving time window, and the start position of the second receiving time window; the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE is carried by the TN link, the first receiving time window is used for the terminal device to receive the random access response message, and the second receiving time window is used for the terminal device to receive the downlink response message.

[0488] Optionally, the starting position of the first receiving time window is at least separated from the last symbol position of the PRACH resource carrying the random access request message by a first delay value. The first delay value is determined by the terminal device based on the first timing advance value and the second DL MAC CE effective delay value. The random access response message is carried by the NTN link, and the random access request message is carried by the TN link. The first timing advance is used by the terminal device to perform time synchronization for uplink transmission.

[0489] Optionally, the downlink response message is carried by the NTN link, and the uplink transmission corresponding to the downlink response message is carried by the TN link; the start position of the second reception time window and the end position of the uplink transmission resource carrying the uplink transmission are at least separated by a second delay value, which is determined by the terminal device based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value.

[0490] Optionally, the communication unit 1501 is further configured to transmit configuration information for the first uplink transmission resource; and / or,

[0491] Send configuration information for the second uplink transmission resource;

[0492] Wherein, in response to uplink transmission being carried by the first uplink transmission resource, the downlink transmission corresponding to the uplink transmission is carried by the TN link; and / or, in response to uplink transmission being carried by the second uplink transmission resource, the downlink transmission corresponding to the uplink transmission is carried by the NTN link.

[0493] The relevant details of this implementation method can be found in the description of the above method embodiments. Further details will not be provided here. This disclosure and the above method embodiments are based on the same concept and achieve the same technical effects. For specific principles, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments; they will not be repeated here.

[0494] Please refer to Figure 16, which is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The communication device 160 may be a terminal device, including a processor, chip, or chip module, or a device or unit compatible with the terminal device. Alternatively, the communication device 160 may also be a network device, including a processor, chip, or chip module, or a device or unit compatible with the network device.

[0495] The communication device 160 may include a processor 1601. Optionally, the communication device 160 may also include a memory 1602 and a computer program or instructions (not shown in FIG. 16) stored in the memory 1602. The processor 1601 and the memory 1602 are interconnected. Optionally, the communication device 160 may also include a transceiver 1603. The processor 1601, memory 1602, and transceiver 1603 may be connected via a bus 1604 or other means. The bus is represented by a thick line in FIG. 16. The connection methods between other components are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Buses can be classified as address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used in FIG. 16, but this does not indicate that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0496] The coupling in this disclosure is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. This disclosure does not limit the specific connection medium between the processor 1601, memory 1602, and transceiver 1603.

[0497] Memory 1602 may include read-only memory and random access memory, and provides instructions and data to processor 1601. A portion of memory 1602 may also include non-volatile random access memory.

[0498] Processor 1601 can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), but it can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor; optionally, processor 1601 can also be any conventional processor.

[0499] The transceiver 1603 is used to receive or send data.

[0500] In one implementation, memory 1602 is used to store computer programs or instructions; processor 1601 is used to call the computer programs or instructions stored in memory 1602 to execute the steps performed by the terminal device and / or network device in any of the method embodiments shown in FIG8, FIG11-FIG14.

[0501] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the methods provided in the embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented by running a computer program (including program code or instructions) capable of performing the steps involved in the above-described methods on a general-purpose computing device, such as a computer, which includes processing elements and storage elements such as a CPU, random access memory (RAM), and read-only memory (ROM). The computer program or instructions can be recorded on, for example, a computer-readable recording medium, loaded into the aforementioned computing device through the computer-readable recording medium, and executed therein.

[0502] Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effects of the communication device 160 provided in the embodiments of this disclosure in solving the problem are similar to those in the embodiments shown in any of Figures 8, 11-14 of this disclosure. For reference, please refer to the principle and beneficial effects of the implementation of the method. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0503] The aforementioned communication device may be, for example, a chip or a chip module.

[0504] This disclosure also provides a chip including at least one processor, which can execute program instructions to perform the relevant steps of the terminal device or network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The specific implementation of the terminal device or network device can be found in the description of the relevant content in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0505] In some possible implementations, the chip further includes at least one first memory and at least one second memory; the at least one first memory and the processor are interconnected via a circuit, and the first memory stores instructions; the at least one second memory and the processor are interconnected via a circuit, and the second memory stores data that needs to be stored in the above method embodiments.

[0506] Please refer to Figure 17, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip module provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The chip module 170 can perform the relevant steps of the terminal device or network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The chip module 170 includes: a communication interface 1701 and a chip 1702.

[0507] The communication interface 1701 is used for internal communication within the chip module or for communication between the chip module and external devices. The communication interface 1701 can also be described as a communication module. The chip 1702 includes at least one processor (not shown in Figure 17). The chip 1702 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device or network device in the embodiments of this disclosure; that is, the processor of the chip 1702 is used to execute program instructions to perform the relevant steps of the terminal device or network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The specific implementation of the terminal device or network device can be found in the description of the relevant content in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0508] Optionally, the chip 1702 may further include a memory (not shown in FIG. 17) and a computer program or instructions (not shown in FIG. 17) stored in the memory. The processor executes the computer program or instructions to implement the relevant steps performed by the terminal device or network device as described in the above method embodiments. The specific implementation of the terminal device or the network device can be referred to the description of the relevant content in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0509] Optionally, the chip 1702 is interconnected with the communication interface 1701 via a line; through the communication interface 1701, the chip module 170 can exchange data with other chip modules, other terminals, servers, and other modules or devices.

[0510] Optionally, the chip module 170 may also include a storage module 1703 and a power module 1704. The storage module 1703 is used to store data and instructions. The power module 1704 is used to provide power to the chip module.

[0511] For various devices and products applied to or integrated into chip modules, each of the included modules can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. Different modules can be located in the same component (e.g., chip, circuit module, etc.) or different components of the chip module. Alternatively, at least some modules can be implemented using software programs that run on the processor integrated inside the chip module, while the remaining (in some cases) modules can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits.

[0512] This disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed, for example, when executed by a processor or computer, the method flow of the method embodiment executed by the aforementioned terminal device or network device will be implemented. Specific implementations of the terminal device or network device can be found in the descriptions of the relevant content in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here. It is understood that the computer storage medium here may include the built-in storage medium in the terminal device or network device, or it may include extended storage media supported by the terminal device or network device. The computer storage medium provides storage space that stores the operating system of the terminal device or network device. Furthermore, the storage space also stores one or more instructions suitable for loading and execution by a processor. These instructions may be one or more computer programs (including program code). It should be noted that the computer storage medium here may be a high-speed RAM memory, or a non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, or Flash memory; optionally, it may also be at least one computer storage medium located remotely from the aforementioned processor. The specific implementation of the terminal device or the network device can be found in the description of the relevant content in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0513] This disclosure also provides a computer program product, including a computer program or instructions, which, in response to the execution of the computer program or instructions, such as when the computer program or instructions are executed by a processor or computer, causes the processor or computer to execute the method flow of the method embodiment executed by the terminal device or the network device.

[0514] This disclosure provides a communication system that may include a terminal device that performs the methods described in the above method embodiments, and a network device that performs the methods described in the above method embodiments.

[0515] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the above embodiments are all described as a series of actions. Those skilled in the art should understand that this disclosure is not limited to the described order of actions, as some steps in the embodiments of this disclosure can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions, steps, modules, or units involved are not necessarily essential to the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0516] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0517] The steps of the methods or algorithms described in this disclosure can be implemented in hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can consist of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in RAM, flash memory, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), registers, hard disks, portable hard disks, read-only optical discs (CD-ROMs), or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and storage medium can reside in an ASIC. Furthermore, the ASIC can reside in a second device or a first device. Alternatively, the processor and storage medium can exist as discrete components in the second device or the first device.

[0518] Those skilled in the art will recognize that, in one or more of the examples above, the functions described in the embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented, in whole or in part, by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product. This computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When these computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this disclosure are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., digital video discs (DVDs)), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks (SSDs)).

[0519] Regarding the modules / units included in the various devices and products described in the above embodiments, they can be software modules / units, hardware modules / units, or a combination of both. For example, for various devices and products applied to or integrated into a chip, all of their modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits, or at least some modules / units can be implemented using software programs that run on a processor integrated within the chip, while the remaining (in some cases) modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits; for various devices and products applied to or integrated into a chip module, all of their modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits, and different modules / units can be located in the same component (e.g., chip, circuit module, etc.) or different components of the chip module, or at least some modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. The implementation can be achieved using software programs that run on a processor integrated within the chip module. The remaining modules / units (in some cases) can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. For various devices and products applied to or integrated into the terminal, each of its modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. Different modules / units can be located in the same component (e.g., chip, circuit module, etc.) or different components within the terminal. Alternatively, at least some modules / units can be implemented using software programs that run on a processor integrated within the terminal, while the remaining modules / units (in some cases) can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits.

[0520] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the embodiments of this disclosure. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the embodiments of this disclosure and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the embodiments of this disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made on the basis of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure should be included within the protection scope of the embodiments of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A communication processing method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive first information; the first information is used to determine a first propagation delay, the first propagation delay being the propagation delay between the terminal device and the non-terrestrial network (NTN) device; Receive second information; the second information is used to determine a second propagation delay, the second propagation delay being the propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device, the synchronization reference point being one of the locations on the power supply link between the NTN device and the network device; the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay are used to determine a first timing advance; the first timing advance is used for time synchronization of uplink transmission.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first information is also used to determine the Doppler frequency shift between the terminal device and the NTN device; the Doppler frequency shift is used to perform frequency compensation for the uplink transmission.

3. The method as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The uplink transmission is carried by the TN terrestrial network link.

4. The method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive uplink transmission scheduling information; the uplink transmission scheduling information is used to determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission includes a TN link or an NTN link.

5. The method as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The uplink transmission scheduling information includes an uplink transmission link type indication field, which indicates the type of the link carrying the uplink transmission; and / or, The uplink transmission scheduling information includes uplink transmission beam indication information, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission is determined based on the uplink transmission beam indication information; and / or, The uplink transmission scheduling information includes a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resource indication field, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission is determined based on the SRS resource indication field.

6. A communication processing method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive a first additional scheduling delay value, which is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the NTN link, and use the first additional scheduling delay value to determine a second additional scheduling delay value; or, Receive a second additional scheduling delay value; Wherein, the second additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the TN link; the second additional scheduling delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resource, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resource.

7. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of uplink data by downlink control information (DCI), the scheduling delay of uplink data by random access response (RAR) grant, the scheduling delay of hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment information (HARQ-ACK) carried on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), the scheduling delay of channel state information (CSI) reference resources, and the scheduling delay of aperiodic sounding reference signal (SRS). The effective delay of the command corresponding to the uplink transmission includes: the effective delay of the timing advance adjustment command TAcommand; The effective delay of the uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the effective delay of pre-configured resources of type 2, and the effective delay of physical random access channel PRACH triggered by the physical downlink control channel PDCCH command order.

8. A communication processing method, characterized in that, The method includes: The system receives the activation delay value of the first downlink media access layer control unit (DL MAC CE), whereby the first DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine the activation time of the first DL MAC CE. The HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE is carried by the NTN link. The activation delay value of the second DL MAC CE is determined based on the activation delay value of the first DL MAC CE; or, Receive the second DL MAC CE effective delay value; The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is used to determine at least one of the following: the activation time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first reception time window, and the start position of the second reception time window; the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE is carried by the TN link, the first reception time window is used to receive the random access response message, and the second reception time window is used to receive the downlink response message.

9. The method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The starting position of the first receiving time window is at least separated from the last symbol position of the PRACH resource carrying the random access request message by a first delay value. The first delay value is determined based on a first timing advance value and a second DL MAC CE effective delay value. The random access response message is carried by an NTN link, and the random access request message is carried by a TN link. The first timing advance is used for time synchronization of uplink transmission.

10. The method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The downlink response message is carried by the NTN link, and the uplink transmission corresponding to the downlink response message is carried by the TN link; the start position of the second receiving time window and the end position of the uplink transmission resource carrying the uplink transmission are at least separated by a second delay value, and the second delay value is determined based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value.

11. The method as described in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive configuration information for the first uplink transmission resource; and / or, Receive configuration information for the second uplink transmission resource; Wherein, in response to the uplink transmission being carried by a first uplink transmission resource, the downlink transmission corresponding to the uplink transmission is carried by a TN link; and / or, in response to the uplink transmission being carried by a second uplink transmission resource, the downlink transmission corresponding to the uplink transmission is carried by an NTN link.

12. A communication processing method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send first information; the first information is used by the terminal device to determine the first propagation delay, the first propagation delay being the propagation delay between the terminal device and the NTN device; Sending second information; the second information is used by the terminal device to determine a second propagation delay, the second propagation delay being the propagation delay between the synchronization reference point and the NTN device, the synchronization reference point being one of the locations on the power supply link between the NTN device and the network device; the first propagation delay and the second propagation delay are used by the terminal device to determine a first timing advance; the first timing advance is used by the terminal device to perform time synchronization for uplink transmission.

13. The method as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The first information is also used by the terminal device to determine the Doppler frequency shift between the terminal device and the NTN device; the Doppler frequency shift is used by the terminal device to perform frequency compensation for the uplink transmission.

14. The method as described in claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The uplink transmission is carried by a TN link.

15. The method as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The method further includes: The uplink transmission scheduling information is sent, which is used by the terminal device to determine the link type carrying the uplink transmission. The link type carrying the uplink transmission includes a TN link or an NTN link.

16. The method as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The uplink transmission scheduling information includes an uplink transmission link type indication field, which indicates the type of the link carrying the uplink transmission; and / or, The uplink transmission scheduling information includes uplink transmission beam indication information, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission is determined by the terminal device based on the uplink transmission beam indication information; and / or, The uplink transmission scheduling information includes a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resource indication field, and the link type carrying the uplink transmission is determined by the terminal device based on the SRS resource indication field.

17. A communication processing method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send a first additional scheduling delay value; the first additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the NTN link, and the first additional scheduling delay value is used to determine the second additional scheduling delay value; or, Send a second additional scheduling delay value; Wherein, the second additional scheduling delay value is the additional scheduling delay value of the uplink transmission carried by the TN link; the second additional scheduling delay value is used by the terminal device to determine at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resources, the effective delay of the instruction corresponding to the uplink transmission, and the effective delay of the uplink transmission resources.

18. The method as described in claim 17, characterized in that, The scheduling delay of the uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the scheduling delay of uplink data by DCI, the scheduling delay of uplink data by RAR grant, the scheduling delay of HARQ-ACK carried on PUCCH, the scheduling delay of CSI reference resources, and the scheduling delay of aperiodic SRS. The effective delay of the command corresponding to the uplink transmission includes: the effective delay of the TA command; The effective delay of the uplink transmission resources includes at least one of the following: the effective delay of pre-configured resources of type 2, and the effective delay of PRACH triggered by PDCCH order.

19. A communication processing method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send a first DL MAC CE activation delay value, which is used to determine the activation time of the first DL MAC CE. The HARQ-ACK corresponding to the first DL MAC CE is carried by the NTN link. The second DL MAC CE activation delay value is determined by the terminal device based on the first DL MAC CE activation delay value; or, Send the second DL MAC CE effective delay value; Wherein, the second DL MAC CE effective delay value is used by the terminal device to determine at least one of the following: the effective time of the second DL MAC CE, the start position of the first receiving time window, and the start position of the second receiving time window; the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the second DL MAC CE is carried by the TN link, the first receiving time window is used for the terminal device to receive the random access response message, and the second receiving time window is used for the terminal device to receive the downlink response message.

20. The method as described in claim 19, characterized in that, The starting position of the first receiving time window is at least separated from the last symbol position of the PRACH resource carrying the random access request message by a first delay value. The first delay value is determined by the terminal device based on a first timing advance value and a second DL MAC CE effective delay value. The random access response message is carried by the NTN link, and the random access request message is carried by the TN link. The first timing advance is used by the terminal device to perform time synchronization for uplink transmission.

21. The method as described in claim 19, characterized in that, The downlink response message is carried by the NTN link, and the uplink transmission corresponding to the downlink response message is carried by the TN link; the start position of the second receiving time window and the end position of the uplink transmission resource carrying the uplink transmission are at least separated by a second delay value, and the second delay value is determined by the terminal device based on the second DL MAC CE effective delay value.

22. The method as described in claim 20 or 21, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send configuration information for the first uplink transmission resource; and / or, Send configuration information for the second uplink transmission resource; Wherein, in response to the uplink transmission being carried by a first uplink transmission resource, the downlink transmission corresponding to the uplink transmission is carried by a TN link; and / or, in response to the uplink transmission being carried by a second uplink transmission resource, the downlink transmission corresponding to the uplink transmission is carried by an NTN link.

23. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes units for implementing the method of any one of claims 1-5, or units for implementing the method of claim 6 or 7, or units for implementing the method of any one of claims 8-11, or units for implementing the method of any one of claims 12-16, or units for implementing the method of any one of claims 17 or 18, or units for implementing the method of any one of claims 19-22.

24. A communication device, characterized in that, The method includes a processor, a memory, and a computer program or instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor executes the computer program or instructions to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1-5; or, to implement the steps of the method according to claim 6 or 7; or, to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 8-11; or, to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 12-16; or, to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 17 or 18; or, to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 19-22.

25. A chip comprising at least one processor, characterized in that, The processor is configured to execute program instructions to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1-5, or the steps of the method according to claim 6 or 7, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 8-11, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 12-16, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 17 or 18, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 19-22.

26. A chip module, comprising a communication interface and a chip, characterized in that, The chip includes at least one processor, the processor being configured to execute program instructions to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1-5, or the steps of the method according to claim 6 or 7, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 8-11, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 12-16, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 17 or 18, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 19-22.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, It stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1-5, or the steps of the method according to claim 6 or 7, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 8-11, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 12-16, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 17 or 18, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 19-22.

28. A computer program product, characterized in that, It includes a computer program or instructions, wherein when executed, the computer program or instructions implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1-5, or the steps of the method according to claim 6 or 7, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 8-11, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 12-16, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 17 or 18, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 19-22.

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