Communication method, and apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the embodiments of the present application are a communication method, and an apparatus. The method comprises: a terminal device receiving a reference signal from a first non-terrestrial network device; and the terminal device sending a time offset difference and / or a frequency offset difference, wherein the time offset difference is a difference between a first time offset and a second time offset, and the frequency offset difference is a difference between a first frequency offset and a second frequency offset, the first time offset and the first frequency offset being obtained on the basis of the reference signal, the second time offset being determined on the basis of the location of the terminal device and the location of a second non-terrestrial network device, and the second frequency offset being determined on the basis of a Doppler shift of the terminal device relative to the second non-terrestrial network device. In the embodiments of the present application, a terminal device reports a first time offset and a first frequency offset by means of reporting a time offset difference and a frequency offset difference, which can reduces reporting overheads.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510118158.7, filed on January 23, 2025, entitled "A Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

[0004] Future satellite systems will primarily feature two characteristics: large-scale constellations and high-gain antennas. These technologies provide the prerequisites for multi-satellite joint transmission. Multi-satellite joint transmission can not only improve spectral efficiency but also increase throughput, showing promising application prospects.

[0005] In multi-satellite joint transmission technology, multiple satellites can jointly provide services to user equipment (UE). For example, multiple satellites can simultaneously transmit signals to the UE, and the UE can combine the signals transmitted by these multiple satellites. Therefore, to achieve effective multi-satellite joint transmission, these multiple satellites need to perform time and frequency compensation. For example, the multiple satellites can perform time and frequency compensation based on the time and frequency offsets reported by the UE. However, there is currently no method for UEs to report time and frequency offsets in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method and apparatus for UEs in NTN to report time offset and frequency offset.

[0007] Firstly, a first communication method is provided, which can be applied to a terminal-side device, also known as a terminal device. This terminal device may be, for example, a terminal equipment, or other equipment including terminal equipment functions, or a circuit, or a system-on-a-chip (or a chip, such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, or a system-in-package (SIP) chip) or other functional module, which can realize the functions of the terminal equipment, and which is, for example, disposed within the terminal equipment. The following description assumes that the terminal device is a terminal equipment. The method includes: a terminal device receiving a reference signal from a first non-terrestrial network device; the terminal device transmitting a time offset difference and / or a frequency offset difference, wherein the time offset difference is the difference between a first time offset and a second time offset, and the frequency offset difference is the difference between a first frequency offset and a second frequency offset, wherein the first time offset and the first frequency offset are obtained based on the reference signal, the second time offset is determined based on the position of the terminal device and the position of the second non-terrestrial network device, and the second frequency offset is determined based on the Doppler frequency shift of the terminal device relative to the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0008] In this embodiment, the terminal device can receive a reference signal from a non-terrestrial network device, obtain a first time offset and a first frequency offset, and report the difference between the first time offset and a second time offset and / or the difference between the first frequency offset and the second frequency offset, thereby reporting the first time offset and / or the first frequency offset. Furthermore, reporting the time offset difference or frequency offset difference by the terminal device incurs less overhead than reporting the time offset (i.e., the first time offset) or frequency offset (i.e., the second frequency offset) obtained from the reference signal. For example, the difference between the first time offset and the second time offset (i.e., the time offset difference) is smaller than the value of the first time offset, requiring fewer bits for quantization. Therefore, transmitting the time offset difference requires fewer resources than transmitting the first time offset; that is, reporting the time offset difference can reduce transmission resource overhead.

[0009] In one optional implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device receiving the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset.

[0010] In the above technical solution, the network device indicates a second time offset, enabling the network device to quickly determine the first time offset when it receives the time offset difference sent by the terminal device. In addition, the network device indicates a second frequency offset, enabling the network device to quickly determine the first frequency offset when it receives the frequency offset difference sent by the terminal device. This helps to improve the efficiency of the network device in performing time and frequency compensation.

[0011] In one optional implementation, the terminal device receiving the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset includes: the terminal device receiving the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset corresponding to each of a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, wherein the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices includes the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0012] In the above technical solution, the network device indicates the second time offset and / or second frequency offset corresponding to multiple non-terrestrial network devices, so that when the terminal device reports the time offset and / or frequency offset according to the reference signal of different non-terrestrial network devices, the network device does not need to indicate the second time offset and / or second frequency offset corresponding to each non-terrestrial network device multiple times, which helps to reduce signaling overhead.

[0013] In one optional implementation, the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset is carried in at least one signaling element among radio resource control (RRC), medium access control control element (MAC CE), or downlink control information (DCI). In the above technical solution, the network device carries the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset to the terminal device in RRC, MAC CE, or DCI in accordance with existing protocols.

[0014] In one alternative implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device transmitting its moving speed, the moving speed being used to determine the second frequency offset.

[0015] In the above technical solution, since the Doppler frequency shift of the terminal device relative to the second non-terrestrial network device is related to the moving speed of the terminal device relative to the second non-terrestrial network device, the terminal device can also send its moving speed to the network device for the network device to determine the Doppler frequency shift. Furthermore, sending its moving speed by the terminal device helps improve the accuracy of the Doppler frequency shift determined based on the terminal device's moving speed.

[0016] In one optional embodiment, the second non-terrestrial network device is a satellite, and the method further includes: a terminal device receiving Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) information of the terminal device and ephemeris information of the second non-terrestrial network device, wherein the GNSS information is used to determine the position of the terminal device, and the ephemeris information is used to determine the position of the second non-terrestrial network device. In another optional embodiment, the method further includes: the terminal device determining the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset based on the GNSS information and the ephemeris information.

[0017] In the above technical solution, when the second non-terrestrial network device is a satellite, the network device can also send the GNSS information of the terminal device and the ephemeris information of the second non-terrestrial network device to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can determine the location of the terminal device based on the GNSS information and the location of the second non-terrestrial network device based on the ephemeris information, thereby determining the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset.

[0018] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: a terminal device receiving ephemeris information of the second non-terrestrial network device; the ephemeris epoch information being used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device, including: the ephemeris information and the ephemeris epoch information being used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device. In the above technical solution, determining the location of the second non-terrestrial network device using its ephemeris information and ephemeris epoch information conforms to existing protocol provisions.

[0019] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: a terminal device receiving first time indication information and / or first frequency indication information; wherein the first time indication information includes a first identifier, the first identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference is positive; or the first time indication information includes a second identifier, the second identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference is negative; the first frequency indication information includes a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference is positive; or the first frequency indication information includes a fourth identifier, the fourth identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference is negative.

[0020] In the above technical solution, the network device can determine the magnitude of the first time offset and the second time offset obtained by the terminal device based on the reference signal, as well as the magnitude of the first frequency offset and the second frequency offset obtained by the terminal device based on the reference signal. Therefore, the network device can also indicate the positive and negative values ​​of the reported time offset difference and / or the positive and negative values ​​of the frequency offset difference to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can quantize the time offset difference based on the positive and negative values ​​of the time offset difference and quantize the frequency offset difference based on the positive and negative values ​​of the frequency offset difference.

[0021] In an optional implementation, when sending the time offset difference, the method further includes: the terminal device sending second time indication information, the second time indication information including a first identifier, the first identifier indicating that the time offset difference is positive; or the second time indication information including a second identifier, the second identifier indicating that the time offset difference is negative; and / or, when sending the frequency offset difference, the method further includes: the terminal device sending second frequency indication information, the second frequency indication information including a third identifier, the third identifier indicating that the frequency offset difference is positive; or the second frequency indication information including a fourth identifier, the fourth identifier indicating that the frequency offset difference is negative.

[0022] In the above technical solution, the terminal device indicates the relationship between the first time offset and the second time offset, making the first time offset determined by the network device based on the time offset difference and the second time offset more accurate, thereby helping to improve the accuracy of the network device in time compensation. Similarly, the terminal device indicates the relationship between the first frequency offset and the second frequency offset, making the first frequency offset determined by the network device based on the frequency offset difference and the second frequency offset more accurate, thereby helping to improve the accuracy of the network device in frequency compensation.

[0023] In one optional implementation, the second non-terrestrial network device is any one of a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices including the first non-terrestrial network device.

[0024] Secondly, a first communication method is provided, which can be applied to a network-side device, also referred to as a network device. This network device is, for example, a network equipment, or other equipment including network equipment functions, or a circuit, or a system-on-a-chip (or chip), or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of the network equipment, and is, for example, housed within the network equipment. This network equipment includes, for example, core network equipment and / or access network equipment. This network equipment is, for example, a satellite, or located on a satellite. This network equipment is, for example, a serving network device for a terminal device. The following description assumes that the network device is a network equipment. The method includes: a network device receiving a time offset difference and / or a frequency offset difference, wherein the time offset difference is the difference between a first time offset and a second time offset, and the frequency offset difference is the difference between a first frequency offset and a second frequency offset, wherein the first time offset and the first frequency offset are obtained based on a reference signal transmitted by a first non-terrestrial network device, the second time offset is determined based on the location of the terminal device and the location of the second non-terrestrial network device, and the second frequency offset is determined based on the Doppler frequency shift of the terminal device relative to the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0025] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: the network device sending the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset.

[0026] In one optional implementation, the network device sending the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset includes: the network device sending the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset corresponding to each of a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, wherein the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices includes the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0027] In one alternative implementation, the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset are carried in at least one of RRC, MAC CE, or DCI signaling.

[0028] In one alternative implementation, the method further includes: a network device receiving the moving speed of the terminal device, the moving speed being used to determine the second frequency offset.

[0029] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: the network device sending GNSS information of the terminal device and ephemeris information of the second non-terrestrial network device, wherein the GNSS information is used to determine the location of the terminal device and the ephemeris information is used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0030] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: the network device sending ephemeris information of the second non-terrestrial network device; the ephemeris epoch information being used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device, including: the ephemeris information and the ephemeris epoch information being used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0031] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: the network device sending first time indication information and / or first frequency indication information; wherein the first time indication information includes a first identifier, the first identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference is positive; or the first time indication information includes a second identifier, the second identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference is negative; the first frequency indication information includes a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference is positive; or the first frequency indication information includes a fourth identifier, the fourth identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference is negative.

[0032] In one optional implementation, the network device receives second time indication information and / or second frequency indication information; wherein the second time indication information includes a first identifier, the first identifier indicating that the time offset difference is positive; or the second time indication information includes a second identifier, the second identifier indicating that the time offset difference is negative; the second frequency indication information includes a third identifier, the third identifier indicating that the frequency offset difference is positive; or the second frequency indication information includes a fourth identifier, the fourth identifier indicating that the frequency offset difference is negative.

[0033] In one optional implementation, the second non-terrestrial network device is any one of a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices including the first non-terrestrial network device.

[0034] For the technical effects of the second aspect or various alternative implementation methods, please refer to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or corresponding implementation methods.

[0035] Thirdly, a communication device is provided. The communication device can be a terminal-side device as described in the first or second aspect above. The communication device possesses the functions of the aforementioned terminal-side device. For example, the communication device is capable of implementing the functions described in the first or second aspect above. For instance, the communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the operations described in the first or second aspect above. These modules, units, or means can be implemented through software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The communication device is, for example, a terminal device, or other device including terminal device functions, or a chip system (or chip or circuit) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of a terminal device. This chip system or functional module is, for example, disposed within a terminal device. In one optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module). A transceiver unit can perform both sending and receiving functions. When the transceiver unit performs the sending function, it can be called a sending unit (sometimes also called a sending module), and when it performs the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also called a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional module, which is called the transceiver unit and can perform both sending and receiving functions; or, the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a collective term for these functional modules.

[0036] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is configured to receive a reference signal from a first non-terrestrial network device; the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit) is configured to transmit a time offset difference and / or a frequency offset difference, wherein the time offset difference is the difference between a first time offset and a second time offset, and the frequency offset difference is the difference between a first frequency offset and a second frequency offset, wherein the first time offset and the first frequency offset are obtained based on the reference signal, the second time offset is determined based on the location of the terminal device and the location of the second non-terrestrial network device, and the second frequency offset is determined based on the Doppler frequency shift of the terminal device relative to the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0037] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is further configured to receive the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset.

[0038] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) receiving the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset includes: receiving the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset corresponding to each of a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, wherein the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices includes the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0039] In one alternative implementation, the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset are carried in at least one of RRC, MAC CE, or DCI signaling.

[0040] In one alternative implementation, the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit) is further configured to transmit the moving speed of the terminal device, the moving speed being used to determine the second frequency offset.

[0041] In an optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is further configured to receive GNSS information from the terminal device and ephemeris information from the second non-terrestrial network device, wherein the GNSS information is used to determine the location of the terminal device and the ephemeris information is used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0042] In one optional implementation, the processing unit is configured to determine the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset based on the GNSS information and the ephemeris information.

[0043] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is further configured to receive ephemeris information of the second non-terrestrial network device; the ephemeris epoch information is used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device, including: the ephemeris information and the ephemeris epoch information are used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0044] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is further configured to receive first time indication information and / or first frequency indication information; wherein the first time indication information includes a first identifier, the first identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference is positive; or the first time indication information includes a second identifier, the second identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference is negative; the first frequency indication information includes a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference is positive; or the first frequency indication information includes a fourth identifier, the fourth identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference is negative.

[0045] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit), when transmitting the time offset difference, is further configured to transmit second time indication information, the second time indication information including a first identifier, the first identifier indicating that the time offset difference is positive; or the second time indication information including a second identifier, the second identifier indicating that the time offset difference is negative; and / or, the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit), when transmitting the frequency offset difference, is further configured to transmit second frequency indication information, the second frequency indication information including a third identifier, the third identifier indicating that the frequency offset difference is positive; or the second frequency indication information including a fourth identifier, the fourth identifier indicating that the frequency offset difference is negative.

[0046] In one optional implementation, the second non-terrestrial network device is any one of a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices including the first non-terrestrial network device.

[0047] In an alternative embodiment, the communication device further includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module), and the processing unit is configured to couple with the storage unit and execute programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform the functions of the terminal-side device described in the first or second aspect above.

[0048] Fourthly, a communication device is provided. The communication device can be a network-side device as described in the first or second aspect above. The communication device possesses the functions of the aforementioned network-side device. For example, the communication device is capable of implementing the functions described in the first or second aspect above. For instance, the communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the operations described in the first or second aspect above. These modules, units, or means can be implemented through software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The communication device is, for example, a network device, or other device including network device functions, or a chip system (or chip or circuit) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of a network device. This chip system or functional module is, for example, disposed within a network device. The network device includes, for example, core network equipment and / or access network equipment. The network device is, for example, a satellite, or located on a satellite. The network device is, for example, a serving network device for a terminal device. In one optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module). For details on the implementation of the send / receive unit, please refer to the relevant introduction in Section 4.

[0049] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is configured to receive a time offset difference and / or a frequency offset difference, wherein the time offset difference is the difference between a first time offset and a second time offset, and the frequency offset difference is the difference between a first frequency offset and a second frequency offset, wherein the first time offset and the first frequency offset are obtained based on a reference signal transmitted by a first non-terrestrial network device, the second time offset is determined based on the location of the terminal device and the location of a second non-terrestrial network device, and the second frequency offset is determined based on the Doppler frequency shift of the terminal device relative to the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0050] In an optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit) is further configured to transmit the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset.

[0051] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit) transmitting the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset includes: transmitting the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset corresponding to each of a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, wherein the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices includes the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0052] In one alternative implementation, the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset are carried in at least one of RRC, MAC CE, or DCI signaling.

[0053] In one alternative implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is further configured to receive the moving speed of the terminal device, the moving speed being used to determine the second frequency offset.

[0054] In an optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit) is further configured to transmit GNSS information of the terminal device and ephemeris information of the second non-terrestrial network device, wherein the GNSS information is used to determine the location of the terminal device and the ephemeris information is used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0055] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the sending unit) is further configured to send ephemeris information of the second non-terrestrial network device; the ephemeris epoch information is used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device, including: the ephemeris information and the ephemeris epoch information are used to determine the location of the second non-terrestrial network device.

[0056] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit) is further configured to transmit first time indication information and / or first frequency indication information; wherein the first time indication information includes a first identifier, the first identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference is positive; or the first time indication information includes a second identifier, the second identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference is negative; the first frequency indication information includes a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference is positive; or the first frequency indication information includes a fourth identifier, the fourth identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference is negative.

[0057] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is further configured to receive second time indication information and / or second frequency indication information; wherein the second time indication information includes a first identifier, the first identifier indicating that the time offset difference is positive; or the second time indication information includes a second identifier, the second identifier indicating that the time offset difference is negative; the second frequency indication information includes a third identifier, the third identifier indicating that the frequency offset difference is positive; or the second frequency indication information includes a fourth identifier, the fourth identifier indicating that the frequency offset difference is negative.

[0058] In one optional implementation, the second non-terrestrial network device is any one of a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices including the first non-terrestrial network device.

[0059] In an alternative embodiment, the communication device further includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module), and the processing unit is configured to couple with the storage unit and execute programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform the functions of the network-side device described in the first or second aspect above.

[0060] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, the communication device comprising a memory and one or more processors. The memory is used to store part or all of a computer program or instructions necessary for implementing the functions described in the first aspect. The one or more processors are capable of executing the computer program or instructions, such that when the computer program or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the methods in any possible design or implementation of the first aspect.

[0061] In one possible design, the communication device may further include an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices or components through the interface circuit.

[0062] In one possible design, the communication device may also include the memory.

[0063] The aforementioned communication device may be a terminal, a communication module in a terminal, or a chip in a terminal that is responsible for communication functions, such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module.

[0064] A sixth aspect provides a communication device comprising a memory and one or more processors. The memory stores part or all of a computer program or instructions necessary for implementing the functions described in the second aspect above. The one or more processors are executable to carry out the computer program or instructions, such that, when executed, the communication device implements the methods in any possible design or implementation of the second aspect above.

[0065] In one possible design, the communication device may further include an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices or components through the interface circuit.

[0066] In one possible design, the communication device may also include the memory.

[0067] The aforementioned communication device may be a network device, a communication module in a network device, or a chip in a network device that is responsible for communication functions, such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip that contains a modem module.

[0068] A seventh aspect provides a communication system including a terminal-side device, wherein the terminal-side device is configured to perform the method described in the first or second aspect above. For example, the terminal-side device can be implemented using the communication device described in the third or fifth aspect.

[0069] Optionally, the communication system further includes a network-side device, wherein the network-side device is used to perform the method described in the first or second aspect above. For example, the network-side device can be implemented using the communication device described in the fourth or sixth aspect.

[0070] Eighthly, a computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, cause the methods performed by the terminal-side device or network-side device in the above aspects to be implemented.

[0071] Ninthly, a computer program product containing instructions is provided, which, when the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, causes the methods described in the above aspects to be implemented.

[0072] In a tenth aspect, a chip system is provided, including a processor and an interface, the processor being configured to call and execute instructions from the interface to enable the chip system to implement the methods described above. Attached Figure Description

[0073] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of this application;

[0074] Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of another communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0075] Figure 1C is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of another communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0076] Figure 1D is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of another communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0077] Figure 1E is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of another communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0078] Figure 1F is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of another communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0079] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0080] Figure 3 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0081] Figure 4 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0082] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0083] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0084] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0085] In this application embodiment, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, refers to "singular nouns or plural nouns," that is, "one or more." "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0086] The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. Furthermore, the numbering of steps in the various embodiments described in this application is only to distinguish different steps and is not used to limit the order in which the steps are performed.

[0087] The technical features involved in the embodiments of this application are described below.

[0088] Future satellite systems will primarily feature two characteristics: large-scale constellations and high-gain antennas. Regarding the large-scale constellations, Starlink Gen 2 is projected to launch 30,000 satellites, and currently, there are approximately 5,000+ Starlink satellites in orbit. This means that ground-based users (UEs) can simultaneously see multiple satellites; for example, in mid-to-high latitude regions, a UE can be covered by nearly 20 satellites at the same time. As for high-gain antennas, some companies offer satellites with antenna arrays up to 64 square meters. Due to the high gain of the satellite-side antennas, a carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) of up to 20 dB can be achieved.

[0089] Large-scale constellations and high-gain antennas provide the prerequisites for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), which can include joint transmission from multiple satellites. Joint transmission from multiple satellites can significantly improve the UE's transmission rate in two ways. One is improved spectral efficiency; for example, with the same transmit power, the same number of antennas, and a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), joint transmission from multiple satellites can achieve higher spectral efficiency compared to single-satellite transmission. The other is improved throughput; compared to single-satellite transmission, joint transmission from multiple satellites of the same specifications can increase throughput.

[0090] In multi-satellite joint transmission technology, multiple satellites can jointly provide services to the UE. For example, multiple satellites can simultaneously transmit signals to the UE, and the UE can combine the signals transmitted by these multiple satellites. Therefore, to achieve effective multi-satellite joint transmission, these multiple satellites need to undergo time and frequency compensation. For example, the multiple satellites can compensate based on the time and frequency offsets reported by the UE. However, there is currently no method for UE-reported time and frequency offsets in NTN.

[0091] Therefore, in this embodiment of the application, the terminal device can receive a reference signal from a non-terrestrial network device, obtain a first time offset and a first frequency offset, and report the difference between the first time offset and a second time offset and / or the difference between the first frequency offset and the second frequency offset, thereby achieving the reporting of the first time offset and / or the first frequency offset. Furthermore, the terminal device incurs less overhead in reporting the time offset difference or frequency offset difference compared to reporting the time offset (i.e., the first time offset) or frequency offset (i.e., the second frequency offset) obtained from the reference signal. For example, the difference between the first time offset and the second time offset (i.e., the time offset difference) is smaller than the value of the first time offset, requiring fewer bits for quantization. Therefore, transmitting the time offset difference requires fewer resources than transmitting the first time offset; that is, reporting the time offset difference can reduce the overhead of transmission resources.

[0092] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, or to 5G systems, such as New Radio (NR) systems, or to next-generation mobile communication systems or other similar communication systems, or to existing satellite mobile communication technology systems; no specific limitations are imposed. The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to NTN (Network-to-Network) networks, or to non-NTN (Network-to-Network) networks, such as terrestrial cellular networks. For example, these embodiments can be applied to scenarios where multiple network devices or multiple cells need to perform joint transmission. Furthermore, the technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to D2D (Data-to-Device) scenarios, such as NR-D2D scenarios, or to V2X (Video-to-Everything) scenarios, such as NR-V2X scenarios. For example, these embodiments can be used in fields such as factory manufacturing, smart homes, intelligent driving, assisted driving, intelligent connected vehicles, or indoor commercial scenarios.

[0093] Figure 1A exemplarily illustrates an architecture diagram of a communication system 1000 applicable to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1A, the communication system includes a wireless access network 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include an Internet 300. The wireless access network 100 may include at least one wireless access network device (110a and 110b in Figure 1A) and at least one terminal device (120a-120j in Figure 1A). The terminal device is wirelessly connected to the wireless access network device, and the wireless access network device is wirelessly or wiredly connected to the core network. The core network device and the wireless access network device may be independent and different physical devices, or the functions of the core network device and the logical functions of the wireless access network device may be integrated on the same physical device, or a single physical device may integrate some of the functions of the core network device and some of the functions of the wireless access network device. Terminal devices and wireless access network devices may be interconnected via wired or wireless means. Figure 1A is just a schematic diagram. The communication system may also include other network devices, such as wireless relay devices and wireless backhaul devices, which are not shown in Figure 1A.

[0094] The network devices involved in the embodiments of this application include, for example, radio access network (RAN) devices. RAN devices can be base stations, evolved NodeBs (eNodeBs), transmission reception points (TRPs), transmission points (TPs), next-generation NodeBs (gNBs) in 5G mobile communication systems, base stations in future mobile communication systems, or access nodes in WiFi systems; they can also be modules or units that perform some of the functions of a base station, for example, they can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), or radio units (RUs). The CU (Radio Control Unit) performs the functions of the radio resource control protocol and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the base station, and can also perform the functions of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP). The DU (Radio Link Control Unit) performs the functions of the radio link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer of the base station, and can also perform some or all of the physical layer functions. For specific descriptions of the above-mentioned protocol layers, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The CU and DU can be set up separately, or they can be included in the same network element, such as in the baseband unit (BBU). The RU (Radio Receiver Unit) can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as in the remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), or remote radio head (RRH). In different systems, CU, DU, or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an open radio access network (ORAN) system, a CU can also be called an open CU (open-CU, O-CU), a DU can also be called an open DU (open-DU, O-DU), and a RU can also be called an open RU (open-RU, O-RU).In this application, any of the following units—CU (or CU control plane (CU-CP), CU user plane (CU-UP), DU, and RU)—can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules. CU-CP can also be called open-CU-CP (O-CU-CP), and CU-UP can also be called open-CU-UP (O-CU-UP).

[0095] Please refer to Figure 1B, which is a schematic diagram of an O-RAN system architecture provided in an embodiment of this application. The O-RAN system in the embodiments provided in this application may include components other than those shown in Figure 1B. As shown in Figure 1B, the access network equipment (RAN, for example, may be an eNB, gNB, or next-generation access network equipment) communicates with the core network (CN) equipment via a backhaul link and with the user equipment (UE) via an air interface. For example, the baseband unit (BBU) in the access network equipment communicates with the core network via a backhaul link, and the radio unit (RU) in the access network equipment communicates with at least one UE via an air interface. The BBU communicates with at least one RU via a fronthaul link; the BBU and RU may or may not be co-located. The BBU includes at least one control unit (CU) and at least one distributed unit (DU), which can communicate via at least one midhaul link. In the embodiments of this application, the first communication device can configure information of the auxiliary communication device to the terminal device (e.g., UE), and can also send signaling to the terminal device for activating or deactivating one or more communication devices. The sending of these signaling messages can be sent to the terminal device by the CU and / or DU in the first communication device.

[0096] Please refer to Figure 1C, which is a schematic diagram of an O-RAN system architecture provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1C, O-RAN may include O-CU-CP, O-CU-UP, O-DU, and O-RU. The system architecture may also include an open cloud (O-cloud), a service management and orchestration framework, an open eNB (O-eNB), a near-real-time (RT) RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), and a non-real-time RIC. The non-RT RIC can realize the management, configuration, administration, and control of radio resources of at least one of multiple O-CU-CP, O-CU-UP, DU, or O-eNB. As shown in Figure 1C, the interfaces defined by 3GPP include, for example, E1, F1 (e.g., F1-c, F1-u), NG (e.g., NG-c, NG-u), Xn (e.g., Xn-c, Xn-u), and X2 (e.g., X2-c, X2-u). For example, the O-RAN communication system also includes interfaces such as O1, O2, E2, A1, and Open Fronthaul (FH) interfaces (e.g., Open-FH Control (M)-plane, and Open-FH Control, User and Synchronization (CUS)-plane). The names of the interfaces and the connection methods of the units shown in Figure 1C are just examples. In practical applications, the O-RAN system may include more or fewer interfaces, or more or fewer units.

[0097] Wireless access network equipment can be a macro base station (as shown in Figure 1A, 110a), a micro base station or an indoor station (as shown in Figure 1A, 110b), or a relay node or donor node, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or equipment form used in the wireless access network equipment. For ease of description, a base station is used as an example of wireless access network equipment in the following description.

[0098] Terminal devices can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminal devices, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, etc. Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, sensors, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or device forms used in the terminal devices.

[0099] The aforementioned terminal devices can establish connections with the operator's network through interfaces provided by the operator's network (such as N1), and use data and / or voice services provided by the operator's network. The terminal devices can also access the Domain Name System (DNS) through the operator's network, and use operator services deployed on the DNS, and / or services provided by third parties. These third parties can be service providers outside of the operator's network and the terminal devices, and can provide other data and / or voice services to the terminal devices. The specific form of these third parties can be determined according to the actual application scenario and is not limited here.

[0100] Terminal devices can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminal devices, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, etc. Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, roadside units (RSUs), etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or device forms used in the terminal devices.

[0101] Base stations and terminal equipment can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; or in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the base stations and terminal equipment.

[0102] The roles of base stations and terminal devices can be relative. For example, the helicopter or drone 120i in Figure 1A can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminal devices 120j that access the wireless access network 100 through 120i, terminal device 120i is a base station; however, for base station 110a, 120i is a terminal device, meaning that 110a and 120i communicate via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120i can also communicate via a base station-to-base station interface protocol. In this case, relative to 110a, 120i is also a base station. Therefore, both base stations and terminal devices can be collectively referred to as communication devices. 110a and 110b in Figure 1A can be called communication devices with base station functions, and 120a-120j in Figure 1A can be called communication devices with terminal device functions.

[0103] Communication between base stations and terminal devices, between base stations, and between terminal devices can be conducted using licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both simultaneously. Communication can be conducted using spectrum below 6 GHz, spectrum above 6 GHz, or both simultaneously. The embodiments of this application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0104] In the embodiments of this application, the functions of the base station can be executed by modules (such as chips) within the base station, or by a control subsystem that includes base station functions. This control subsystem, including base station functions, can be a control center in the aforementioned application scenarios such as smart grids, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart cities. Similarly, the functions of the terminal device can be executed by modules (such as chips or modems) within the terminal device, or by a device that includes terminal device functions.

[0105] In this application, the base station sends downlink signals or downlink information to the terminal device, with the downlink information carried on the downlink channel; the terminal device sends uplink signals or uplink information to the base station, with the uplink information carried on the uplink channel. In order to communicate with the base station, the terminal device needs to establish a radio connection with a cell controlled by the base station. The cell with which the terminal device has established a radio connection is called the serving cell of the terminal device. When the terminal device communicates with this serving cell, it is also subject to interference from signals from neighboring cells.

[0106] The core network involved in this application embodiment may include network devices that process and forward user signaling and data. For example, it includes core network devices such as access and mobility management functions (AMF), session management functions (SMF), user plane gateways, and location management devices. The user plane gateway can be a server with functions such as mobility management, routing, and forwarding of user plane data, generally located on the network side, such as a serving gateway (SGW), packet data network gateway (PGW), or user plane function (UPF). AMF and SMF are equivalent to the mobility management entity (MME) in a long-term evolution (LTE) system. AMF is mainly responsible for admission aspects, and SMF is mainly responsible for session management. Of course, the core network may also include other network elements, which are not listed here.

[0107] Figure 1A is only a schematic diagram. The wireless communication system may also include other devices, such as core network devices, wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices, which are not shown in Figure 1A.

[0108] Please refer to Figures 1D and 1E, which are schematic diagrams of network architectures for several communication systems applicable to embodiments of this application. The communication system may include satellites, network devices, and terminal devices. The communication system may also include gateways and core network devices. Figures 1D and 1E exemplarily illustrate a converged network architecture of NTN and terrestrial networks. A description follows with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0109] The satellite can be a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite, a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite, a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite, or a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite. In the embodiments of this application, the satellite's operating mode can be transparent mode, as shown in Figure 1D; alternatively, the satellite's operating mode can also be regenerative mode, as shown in Figure 1E. This application does not limit the specific mode used.

[0110] When a satellite operates in transparent relay mode, it provides transparent forwarding functionality. A gateway functions as a network device (e.g., a base station) or partially functions as one, and in this case, the gateway can be considered a network device (e.g., a base station). Alternatively, the network device (e.g., the base station) can be deployed separately from the gateway. In this case, the feeder link latency includes both the latency from the satellite to the gateway and the latency from the gateway to the gNB. The transparent relay mode discussed later assumes that the gateway and gNB are located together or close to each other. For cases where the gateway and gNB are far apart, the feeder link latency is simply the sum of the latency from the satellite to the gateway and the latency from the gateway to the gNB.

[0111] When a satellite is operating in regeneration mode, it has data processing capabilities and functions as a network device (such as a base station) or partially functions as a network device (such as a base station). In this case, the satellite can be regarded as a network device (such as a base station).

[0112] Satellites can communicate wirelessly with terminals via broadcast communication signals and navigation signals. Optionally, each satellite can provide communication, navigation, and positioning services to terminal devices through multiple beams. For example, each satellite uses multiple beams to cover the service area, and the relationship between different beams can be one or more of time-division, frequency-division, and space-division.

[0113] A gateway (also known as a ground station, earth station, or gateway) is a network device used to connect satellites and ground-based networks (such as ground base stations). One or more satellites can connect to one or more ground-based network devices (such as ground base stations) through one or more gateways; this is not a limitation. The link between a satellite and a terminal is called a service link, and the link between a satellite and a gateway is called a feeder link. Network devices can be deployed separately from gateways; therefore, the latency of the feeder link can include both the latency from the satellite to the gateway and the latency from the gateway to the network device.

[0114] The network devices in this application embodiment may include network devices deployed on satellites (such as satellite base stations), network devices deployed on gateways, or network devices deployed on the ground (such as ground base stations). For example, the network devices may be RAN nodes as shown in Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C. Related details are as described above and will not be repeated here.

[0115] Core network equipment is a device located on the ground that can communicate with NTN equipment in the NTN system. For example, the CN can be the CN involved in Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C. For relevant details, please refer to the above description and we will not repeat them here.

[0116] The terminal can be the terminal involved in Figures 1A, 1B and 1C. For relevant details, please refer to the above description and we will not repeat them here.

[0117] The embodiments of this application can also be applied to other communication system architectures, such as air-to-ground (ATG) communication systems, which include at least one network device and at least one high-altitude terminal. High-altitude terminals include, for example, high-altitude aircraft and onboard terminals. The satellites in Figures 1D and 1E can also be replaced with other relay devices, such as high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) or other NTN devices. The communication system shown in Figure 1D or 1E is an example and does not limit the communication systems to which the methods provided in the embodiments of this application are applicable. For example, please refer to Figure 1F, which is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of another communication system to which the embodiments of this application are applicable. This communication system includes at least one network device and at least one high-altitude terminal device. High-altitude terminal devices include, for example, high-altitude aircraft and onboard terminal devices.

[0118] The methods provided in the embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of this application, all steps indicated by dashed lines are optional steps. The various embodiments herein can be applied to the architectures shown in Figures 1A to 1F. For example, the terminal device described in the various embodiments herein can be the terminal device shown in Figures 1A to 1F, and the network device described in the various embodiments herein can be the serving network device of the terminal device. For example, the network device can be the serving satellite of the terminal device, or located on the serving satellite of the terminal device, or located on other devices that are communicatively connected to the serving satellite of the terminal device. The network device is, for example, the network device shown in Figures 1A to 1F.

[0119] This application provides a communication method, please refer to Figure 2, which is a flowchart of the method.

[0120] S201: The first non-terrestrial network device transmits a reference signal. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the reference signal.

[0121] Non-terrestrial network devices can be, for example, satellites, HAPS, drones, or devices on such equipment, such as circuits, chip systems, or other functional modules. In this embodiment, a satellite is used as an example of a non-terrestrial network device. The satellite can be HEO, GEO, MEO, or LEO, but this embodiment does not limit the scope of the application.

[0122] The reference signal can be, for example, a positioning reference signal (PRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a phase-tracking reference signal (PTRS), or a tracking reference signal (TRS). In this embodiment, TRS is used as an example.

[0123] The terminal device can obtain the time offset (hereinafter referred to as the first time offset) and / or frequency offset (hereinafter referred to as the first frequency offset) between the terminal device and the first satellite based on the received TRS. The method by which the terminal device obtains the first time offset and / or first frequency offset based on the TRS can refer to the methods in existing protocols, and will not be elaborated here. Optionally, the TRS has a quasi-co-located (QCL) relationship with the synchronization signal block (SSB), and the terminal device can also obtain the first time offset and / or first frequency offset based on the QCL relationship between the TRS and the SSB. The method by which the terminal device obtains the first time offset and / or first frequency offset based on the QCL relationship between the TRS and the SSB can refer to the methods in existing protocols, and will not be elaborated here.

[0124] It is understood that the information obtained by the terminal device based on the TRS can be related to the information that the terminal device needs to report. For example, if the terminal device needs to report time-related information, it can obtain a first time offset; if the terminal device needs to report frequency-related information, it can obtain a first frequency offset. Alternatively, the terminal device can also obtain the first time offset and the first frequency offset based on the TRS. That is, regardless of whether the information reported by the terminal device is time-related, the terminal device can obtain the first time offset based on the TRS. This application embodiment does not limit this. In this application embodiment, the terminal device obtaining the first time offset and the first frequency offset based on the TRS is taken as an example.

[0125] S202: The terminal device sends a time offset difference and / or a frequency offset difference to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the time offset difference and / or frequency offset difference.

[0126] The time offset difference is the difference between the first time offset and the second time offset, and the frequency offset difference is the difference between the first frequency offset and the second frequency offset. The second time offset is determined based on the position of the terminal device and the position of the second satellite, and the second frequency offset is determined based on the Doppler frequency shift of the terminal device relative to the second satellite. For example, the second frequency offset is determined based on the position of the terminal device and the position of the second satellite, and / or the moving speed of the terminal device and the moving speed of the second satellite. The second satellite can be any one of a plurality of satellites, including the first satellite; that is, the second satellite can be the first satellite, or it can be any other satellite among the plurality of satellites excluding the first satellite.

[0127] Optionally, the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset can be determined by the network device. For example, referring to Figure 3, S1 and S2 can also be executed before S202. S1 and S2 can be executed before S201, or S1 and S2 can be executed after S201, or S1 and S2 can be executed simultaneously with S201. This embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0128] S1: The network device determines a second time offset and / or a second frequency offset.

[0129] In this embodiment of the application, taking the determination of a second time offset and a second frequency offset by a network device as an example, the network device can receive GNSS information from a terminal device and determine the location of the terminal device based on the GNSS information, and determine the location of each of the multiple satellites based on the ephemeris information of the multiple satellites. The network device can determine the time offset and frequency offset between the terminal device and each of the multiple satellites based on the location of the terminal device and the location of each of the multiple satellites, thereby obtaining the second time offset and the second frequency offset corresponding to each of the multiple satellites.

[0130] S2: The network device sends a second time offset and / or a second frequency offset to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset.

[0131] The second time offset and / or second frequency offset can be carried in at least one of RRC, MAC CE, or DCI signaling, meaning the network device can send the second time offset and / or second frequency offset to the terminal device via at least one of RRC, MAC CE, or DCI signaling. The information sent by the network device to the terminal device can be related to the information the network device needs the terminal device to report. For example, if the network device needs the terminal device to report time-related information, the network device can send the second time offset; if the network device needs the terminal device to report frequency-related information, the network device can send the second frequency offset. Optionally, the second time offset can also be used to indicate the time offset difference reported by the terminal device, and the second frequency offset can also be used to indicate the frequency offset difference reported by the terminal device. Alternatively, the network device can also send the second time offset and the second frequency offset to the terminal device; this embodiment does not limit this. In this embodiment, the sending of the second time offset and the second frequency offset by the network device to the terminal device is taken as an example.

[0132] The network device may send only the second time offset and second frequency offset corresponding to the second satellite to the terminal device. That is, the network device only sends the second time offset and second frequency offset corresponding to the second satellite, and does not send the second time offset and second frequency offset corresponding to other satellites among the plurality of satellites excluding the second satellite. Therefore, optionally, the network device may also determine the second satellite before executing S2. For example, the network device may determine that the satellite with the largest corresponding second time offset or second frequency offset is the second satellite, or the network device may determine that the satellite with the smallest corresponding second time offset or second frequency offset is the second satellite, or the network device may randomly determine the second satellite. This embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0133] Optionally, the network device can also use the second time offset corresponding to the second satellite as the reference time offset for the plurality of satellites, and the second frequency offset corresponding to the second satellite as the reference frequency offset for the plurality of satellites. The reference time offset for the plurality of satellites can also be referred to as the common time offset for the plurality of satellites, and the reference frequency offset for the plurality of satellites can also be referred to as the common frequency offset for the plurality of satellites. It is understood that when the network device uses the second time offset corresponding to the second satellite as the reference time offset for the plurality of satellites, and uses the second frequency offset corresponding to the second satellite as the second frequency offset for the plurality of satellites, the second time offset and the second frequency offset sent by the network device to all terminal devices in the NTN network are the same.

[0134] Since a network device can determine only one reference time shift and one reference frequency shift for multiple satellites, the second time offset and the second frequency offset sent by the network device to the terminal device can optionally be determined by the network device based on the location of other terminal devices and the location of one of the multiple satellites. This application embodiment does not limit the method of determining the second time offset and the second frequency offset sent by the network device to the terminal device.

[0135] Alternatively, the network device can send the second time offset and second frequency offset corresponding to the multiple satellites to the terminal device. For example, please refer to Table 1, which is an example of a network device sending the second time offset and second frequency offset corresponding to multiple satellites to a terminal device. In Table 1, N satellites are used as an example.

[0136] Table 1

[0137] The satellite identification includes, for example, the satellite's identifier (ID), and / or other information that can characterize the satellite. This other information may include, for example, one or more of the following: the satellite's index, the satellite's ephemeris information, the physical cell identifier (PCI) of the cell provided by the satellite, or information indicating the satellite's resources. Table 1 uses the satellite index as an example where the satellite's identifier is the satellite's identifier. t represents time, offset represents the offset, and t_offset_i is the second time offset corresponding to satellite identified as i; f represents frequency, and f_offset_i is the second frequency offset corresponding to satellite identified as i.

[0138] Optionally, if the second frequency offset and the second time offset received by the terminal device only include the second time offset and the second frequency offset corresponding to the second satellite, the terminal device can determine the time offset difference based on the first time offset and the first frequency offset when it obtains the first time offset and the first frequency offset, and determine the frequency offset difference based on the first frequency offset and the second frequency offset.

[0139] If the second time offset and the second frequency offset received by the terminal device include the second time offset and the second frequency offset corresponding to multiple satellites, the terminal device can also determine the target time offset and the target frequency offset from the second time offset and the second frequency offset corresponding to the multiple satellites, and when obtaining the first time offset and the first frequency offset, determine the time offset difference based on the first time offset and the target time offset, and determine the frequency offset difference based on the first frequency offset and the target frequency offset.

[0140] Optionally, the terminal device can determine that the second time offset corresponding to the first satellite is the target time offset, and determine that the second frequency offset corresponding to the first satellite is the target frequency offset. Taking Table 1 as an example, if the first satellite is identified as 1, the terminal device can determine that t_offset_1 is the target time offset and f_offset_1 is the target frequency offset. In this way, even if the network device does not instruct the terminal device on the second time offset used to determine the time offset difference and the second frequency offset used to determine the frequency offset difference, the network device can accurately determine the first time offset and the first frequency offset when it receives the time offset difference and the frequency offset difference. This helps reduce the probability that the network device cannot accurately determine the first time offset and the first frequency offset when it receives the time offset difference and the frequency offset difference because it does not know the second time offset used by the terminal device to determine the time offset difference and the second frequency offset used to determine the frequency offset difference.

[0141] As mentioned earlier, the second frequency offset can be determined based on the moving speed of the terminal device and the moving speed of the second satellite. Therefore, if the second frequency offset is determined by the network device based on the moving speed of the terminal device and the moving speed of the second satellite, the terminal device can also send its moving speed to the network device.

[0142] Alternatively, the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset can also be determined by the terminal device. For example, referring to Figure 4, S3 and S4 can also be executed before S202. S3 and S4 can be executed before S201, or S3 and S4 can be executed after S201, or S3 and S4 can be executed simultaneously with S201. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0143] S3: The network device sends the GNSS information corresponding to the terminal device and the ephemeris information of the second satellite to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the GNSS information and the ephemeris information.

[0144] The GNSS information could be, for example, a GNSS index sent by the terminal device to the network device to determine the location of the terminal device. This index could be sent by the terminal device when transmitting GNSS data to the network device, or it could be information from a subframe of the GNSS data transmitted by the terminal device to the network device.

[0145] The network device may send only the ephemeris epoch information of the second satellite to the terminal device; that is, the network device only sends the ephemeris epoch information of the second satellite and not the ephemeris epoch information of the other satellites among the plurality of satellites. Therefore, optionally, the network device may also determine the second satellite before executing S3. For example, the network device may randomly select a satellite from the plurality of satellites as the second satellite, or the network device may also select the first satellite as the second satellite; this embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0146] The ephemeris information of the second satellite is used to determine its position. Optionally, the network device can also send the ephemeris information of the second satellite to the terminal device; the ephemeris information and ephemeris information of the second satellite are used to determine its position.

[0147] Alternatively, the network device can send ephemeris information of multiple satellites to the terminal device, including the second satellite. For example, please refer to Table 2 for an example of a network device sending GNSS information of the terminal device and ephemeris information of multiple satellites to the terminal device. Table 2 uses N satellites as an example.

[0148] Table 2

[0149] Optionally, the network device can also send ephemeris information of the multiple satellites to the terminal device.

[0150] S4: The terminal equipment determines the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset based on the GNSS information and the ephemeris information of the second satellite.

[0151] The terminal device can determine its GNSS based on the GNSS information (such as the GNSS index) and determine its location based on the GNSS.

[0152] Optionally, if the ephemeris information received by the terminal device only includes the ephemeris information of the second satellite, the terminal device can determine the position of the second satellite based on the ephemeris information of the second satellite. For example, the terminal device can determine the position of the second satellite based on both the ephemeris information and the ephemeris information of the second satellite. The ephemeris information of the second satellite can be stored by the terminal device, for example, it can be stored by the terminal device during a historical transmission from the network device, or the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be transmitted by the network device.

[0153] If the ephemeris information received by the terminal device includes ephemeris information for multiple satellites, the terminal device can also identify the second satellite from among these multiple satellites and determine the position of the second satellite based on its ephemeris information. For example, the terminal device can determine the position of the second satellite based on its ephemeris information and ephemeris information. The description of the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be found in the description of the ephemeris information of the second satellite described above, and will not be repeated here. Optionally, the second satellite is the first satellite.

[0154] After determining the location of the terminal device and the second satellite, the terminal device can determine a second time offset and / or a second frequency offset based on the location of the terminal device and the second satellite. In this embodiment, the terminal device determines the second time offset and the second frequency offset based on the GNSS information and the ephemeris information of the second satellite as an example.

[0155] When the terminal device obtains the first time offset and the first frequency offset, it determines the time offset difference based on the first time offset and the second time offset, and determines the frequency offset difference based on the first frequency offset and the second frequency offset.

[0156] Optionally, the network device may also send first time indication information and / or first frequency indication information to the terminal device. The first time indication information is used to indicate the positive or negative range of the time offset difference, and is, for example, t_offset_indicator. For example, the first time indication information may include a first identifier indicating that the time offset difference is positive; or the first time indication information may include a second identifier indicating that the time offset difference is negative. For example, the first identifier is +1 and the second identifier is -1; or the first identifier is 1 and the second identifier is 0; or the first identifier is 0 and the second identifier is 1, etc.

[0157] The first frequency indication information is used to indicate the positive and negative range of the frequency offset difference. This first frequency indication information is, for example, f_offset_indicator. For example, the first frequency indication information includes a third identifier, which indicates that the frequency offset difference is positive; or the first frequency indication information includes a fourth identifier, which indicates that the frequency offset difference is negative. For example, the third identifier is +1 and the fourth identifier is -1; or the third identifier is 1 and the fourth identifier is 0; or the third identifier is 0 and the fourth identifier is 1, etc.

[0158] When transmitting a time offset difference, the terminal device can quantize the time offset difference based on the first time indication information; and when transmitting a frequency offset difference, the terminal device can quantize the frequency offset difference based on the first frequency indication information. Optionally, the network device can also transmit the quantization precision of the time offset difference and / or the quantization precision of the frequency offset difference to the terminal device, and the terminal device can further quantize the time offset difference based on the quantization precision of the time offset difference, and quantize the frequency offset difference based on the quantization precision of the frequency offset difference.

[0159] Optionally, the terminal device may also send second time indication information and / or second frequency indication information to the network device. The second time indication information indicates the positive or negative range of the time offset difference, and the second frequency indication information indicates the positive or negative range of the frequency offset difference. For example, when sending the time offset difference to the network device, the terminal device may also send second time indication information, such as t_offset_indicator. For example, the second time indication information may include a first identifier indicating that the time offset difference is positive; or the second time indication information may include a second identifier indicating that the time offset difference is negative. For example, the first identifier is +1 and the second identifier is -1; or the first identifier is 1 and the second identifier is 0; or the first identifier is 0 and the second identifier is 1, etc.

[0160] When sending the frequency offset difference to the network device, the terminal device may also send a second frequency indication information, such as f_offset_indicator. For example, the second frequency indication information may include a third identifier indicating a positive frequency offset difference; or it may include a fourth identifier indicating a negative frequency offset difference. For example, the third identifier may be +1 and the fourth identifier -1; or the third identifier may be 1 and the fourth identifier 0; or the third identifier may be 0 and the fourth identifier 1, etc.

[0161] In the above technical solution, the terminal device reports the first time offset by reporting the time offset difference and the first frequency offset by reporting the frequency offset difference, which can reduce the reporting overhead.

[0162] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 500 can be a terminal device or its circuit system as shown in any of the embodiments depicted in Figures 2-4, used to implement the method corresponding to the terminal device in the above method embodiments. Alternatively, the communication device 500 can be a network device or its circuit system as shown in any of the embodiments depicted in Figures 2-4, used to implement the method corresponding to the network device in the above method embodiments. For example, one type of circuit system is a chip system.

[0163] The communication device 500 includes at least one processor 501. The processor 501 can be used for internal processing within the device to implement certain control processing functions. Optionally, the processor 501 includes instructions. Optionally, the processor 501 can store data. Optionally, different processors can be independent devices, located in different physical locations, or located on different integrated circuits. Optionally, different processors can be integrated into one or more processors, for example, integrated on one or more integrated circuits.

[0164] Optionally, the communication device 500 includes one or more memories 503 for storing instructions. Optionally, the memories 503 may also store data. The processor and the memories may be separate or integrated together.

[0165] Optionally, the communication device 500 includes a communication line 502 and at least one communication interface 504. Since the memory 503, communication line 502, and communication interface 504 are all optional, they are all represented by dashed lines in Figure 5.

[0166] Optionally, the communication device 500 may further include a transceiver and / or an antenna. The transceiver can be used to send information to or receive information from other devices. The transceiver may be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver circuit, input / output interface, etc., and is used to realize the transmission and reception functions of the communication device 500 via the antenna. Optionally, the transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. For example, the transmitter can be used to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal from a baseband signal, and the receiver can be used to convert the RF signal back into a baseband signal.

[0167] Processor 501 may include a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs according to the present application.

[0168] Communication line 502 may include a path for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

[0169] Communication interface 504 uses any transceiver-like device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, radio access network (RAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), wired access network, etc.

[0170] Memory 503 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but not limited thereto. Memory 503 may exist independently and be connected to processor 501 via communication line 502. Alternatively, memory 503 may be integrated with processor 501.

[0171] The memory 503 stores computer execution instructions for implementing the scheme of this application, and the processor 501 controls the execution of these instructions. The processor 501 executes the computer execution instructions stored in the memory 503 to implement the steps performed by the terminal device or network device in any of the embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 4.

[0172] Optionally, the computer execution instructions in the embodiments of this application may also be referred to as application code, and the embodiments of this application do not specifically limit this.

[0173] In a specific implementation, as one example, processor 501 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG5.

[0174] In a specific implementation, as one embodiment, the communication device 500 may include multiple processors, such as processor 501 and processor 505 in FIG. 5. Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. Here, a processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0175] When the device shown in Figure 5 is a chip, such as a chip for a terminal device or a chip for a network device, the chip includes a processor 501 (and may also include a processor 505), a communication line 502, and a communication interface 504. Optionally, it may include a memory 503. Specifically, the communication interface 504 may be an input interface, pins, or circuits, etc. The memory 503 may be a register, cache, etc. The processor 501 and processor 505 may be a general-purpose CPU, microprocessor, ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of a program that controls the communication method of any of the above embodiments.

[0176] This application embodiment can divide the device into functional modules according to the above method examples. For example, each function can be divided into its own functional modules, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated modules can be implemented in hardware or software functional modules. It should be noted that the module division in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, when dividing each functional module according to its own function, Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a device. This device 600 can be the terminal device or network device involved in the above method embodiments, or a chip in a terminal device or a chip in a network device. The device 600 includes a processing unit 602 and a transceiver unit 601.

[0177] It should be understood that the device 600 can be used to implement the steps performed by the terminal device or network device in the communication method of the embodiments of this application. The relevant features can be referred to the embodiments shown in any of the figures 2 to 4 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0178] Optionally, the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver unit 601 and processing unit 602 in Figure 6 can be implemented by the processor 501 in Figure 5 calling computer execution instructions stored in memory 503. Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing unit 602 in Figure 6 can be implemented by the processor 501 in Figure 5 calling computer execution instructions stored in memory 503, and the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver unit 601 in Figure 6 can be implemented by the communication interface 504 in Figure 5.

[0179] Optionally, when the device 600 is a chip or circuit, the function / implementation process of the transceiver unit 601 can also be implemented through pins or circuits. Optionally, the transceiver unit 601 may include a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit, whereby the transmitting unit implements the transmitting function and the receiving unit implements the receiving function; or, the transceiver unit 601 may be an integral module capable of implementing both transmitting and / or receiving functions. Optionally, the transceiver unit 601 can be implemented using a transceiver.

[0180] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement the methods performed by a terminal device or network device in the aforementioned method embodiments. Thus, the functions described in the above embodiments can be implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to it, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0181] This application also provides a computer program product comprising: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method executed by a terminal device or a network device in any of the foregoing method embodiments.

[0182] This application also provides a processing apparatus, including a processor and an interface; the processor is used to execute the methods performed by the terminal device or network device involved in any of the above method embodiments.

[0183] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application 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 website, computer, server, or data center 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 that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state disk (SSD)).

[0184] The various illustrative logic units and circuits described in the embodiments of this application can be implemented or operate the described functions using a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), ASIC, field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor; alternatively, it can be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor can also be implemented using a combination of computing devices, such as a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

[0185] The steps of the methods or algorithms described in the embodiments of this application can be directly embedded in hardware, software units executed by a processor, or a combination of both. The software units can be stored in RAM, flash memory, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium in the art. Exemplarily, the storage medium can be connected to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium can also be integrated into the processor. The processor and storage medium can be disposed in an ASIC, which can be disposed in the terminal device. Optionally, the processor and storage medium can also be disposed in different components of the terminal device.

[0186] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions, which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus, provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more flowcharts and / or one or more block diagrams.

[0187] The contents of the various embodiments of this application can be referenced to each other. Unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0188] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, the terminal device and / or network device may execute some or all of the steps in the embodiments of this application. These steps or operations are merely examples. In the embodiments of this application, other operations or variations of various operations may also be performed. Furthermore, the steps may be performed in different orders as presented in the embodiments of this application, and it is not necessary to perform all the operations in the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a terminal device or a chip in the terminal device, and the method comprises: receiving a reference signal from a first non-ground network device; sending a time offset difference value and / or a frequency offset difference value, the time offset difference value being a difference between a first time offset and a second time offset, the frequency offset difference value being a difference between a first frequency offset and a second frequency offset, the first time offset and the first frequency offset being obtained according to the reference signal, the second time offset being determined according to a position of the terminal device and a position of a second non-ground network device, the second frequency offset being determined according to a Doppler shift of the terminal device relative to the second non-ground network device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The receiving of the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset comprises: receiving a second time offset and / or a second frequency offset corresponding to each non-ground network device of a plurality of non-ground network devices, the plurality of non-ground network devices comprising the second non-ground network device.

4. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein, The second time offset and / or the second frequency offset are carried in at least one of a radio resource control (RRC), a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a downlink control information (DCI).

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The method further comprises: sending a moving speed of the terminal device, the moving speed being used to determine the second frequency offset.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, The second non-ground network device is a satellite, and the method further comprises: receiving global navigation satellite system (GNSS) information of the terminal device and ephemeris epoch information of the second non-ground network device, the GNSS information being used to determine the position of the terminal device, and the ephemeris epoch information being used to determine the position of the second non-ground network device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The method further comprises: determining the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset according to the GNSS information and the ephemeris epoch information.

8. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving ephemeris information of the second non-ground network device; The ephemeris epoch information is used to determine the position of the second non-ground network device, including that the ephemeris information and the ephemeris epoch information are used to determine the position of the second non-ground network device.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving first time indication information and / or first frequency indication information; wherein the first time indication information comprises a first identifier, the first identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference value is positive; or the first time indication information comprises a second identifier, the second identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference value is negative; the first frequency indication information comprises a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference value is positive; or the first frequency indication information comprises a fourth identifier, the fourth identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference value is negative.

10. The method of any one of claims 1-9, wherein, in the case of sending the time offset difference value, the method further comprises: ​ transmitting second time indication information, the second time indication information comprising a first identifier, the first identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference value is positive; or the second time indication information comprising a second identifier, the second identifier being used to indicate that the time offset difference value is negative; and / or, in a case where the frequency offset difference value is transmitted, the method further comprises: transmitting second frequency indication information, the second frequency indication information comprising a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference value is positive; or the second frequency indication information comprising a fourth identifier, the fourth identifier being used to indicate that the frequency offset difference value is negative.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The second non-terrestrial network device is any one of a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices comprising the first non-terrestrial network device.

12. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a network device or a chip in a network device, and the method comprises: receiving a time offset difference value and / or a frequency offset difference value, the time offset difference value being a difference between a first time offset and a second time offset, the frequency offset difference value being a difference between a first frequency offset and a second frequency offset, the first time offset and the first frequency offset being obtained according to a reference signal transmitted by a first non-terrestrial network device, the second time offset being determined according to a position of the terminal device and a position of a second non-terrestrial network device, and the second frequency offset being determined according to a Doppler shift of the terminal device relative to the second non-terrestrial network device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The method further comprises: transmitting the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, Transmitting the second time offset and / or the second frequency offset comprises: transmitting a second time offset and / or a second frequency offset corresponding to each non-terrestrial network device in a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices comprising the second non-terrestrial network device.

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein, The second time offset and / or the second frequency offset are carried in at least one of radio resource control (RRC), medium access control control element (MAC CE), or downlink control information (DCI) signaling.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving a moving speed of the terminal device, the moving speed being used to determine the second frequency offset.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein, The method further comprises: transmitting GNSS information of the terminal device and ephemeris epoch information of the second non-terrestrial network device, the GNSS information being used to determine a position of the terminal device, and the ephemeris epoch information being used to determine a position of the second non-terrestrial network device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, The method further comprises: transmitting ephemeris information of the second non-terrestrial network device; The ephemeris epoch information is used to determine the position of the second non-terrestrial network device, comprising that the ephemeris information and the ephemeris epoch information are used to determine the position of the second non-terrestrial network device.

19. The method of any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein, The method further comprises: transmitting first time indication information and / or first frequency indication information; wherein, The first time indication information comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the time offset difference value is positive; or the first time indication information comprises a second identifier, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the time offset difference value is negative. The first frequency indication information comprises a third identifier, and the third identifier is used to indicate that the frequency offset difference value is positive; or the first frequency indication information comprises a fourth identifier, and the fourth identifier is used to indicate that the frequency offset difference value is negative.

20. The method of any one of claims 12-19, wherein, receiving second time indication information and / or second frequency indication information; wherein, The second time indication information comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the time offset difference value is positive; or the second time indication information comprises a second identifier, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the time offset difference value is negative. The second frequency indication information comprises a third identifier, and the third identifier is used to indicate that the frequency offset difference value is positive; or the second frequency indication information comprises a fourth identifier, and the fourth identifier is used to indicate that the frequency offset difference value is negative.

21. The method of any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein, The second non-terrestrial network device is any one of a plurality of non-terrestrial network devices, and the plurality of non-terrestrial network devices comprises the first non-terrestrial network device.

22. A communications device, characterized by comprises a processor and a memory, the memory and the processor are coupled, and the processor is used to invoke computer instructions in the memory to execute the method of any one of claims 1-11, or execute the method of any one of claims 12-21.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, comprises a computer program, when the computer program is run on a computer, the computer program causes the computer to execute the method of any one of claims 1-11, or causes the computer to execute the method of any one of claims 12-21.

24. A computer program product, characterised in that, when it is run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method of any one of claims 1-11, or causes the computer to execute the method of any one of claims 12-21.

25. A chip system, characterized by comprises: a processor, used to invoke and run a computer program from a memory, so that the method of any one of claims 1-11 is implemented, or the method of any one of claims 12-21 is implemented.

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