Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: when the communication of an access network device in a cell may cause interference to a certain terminal device in a neighboring cell, the access network device (which may be referred to as an interfering access network device for ease of description) indicating interference-related information to the terminal device, and the terminal device performing interference suppression on the basis of the interference-related information. It can be seen that in the method, an interfering access network device directly indicates interference-related information to a terminal device, and the terminal device performs interference suppression, such that there is no need for access network devices to exchange information therebetween in real time to suppress interference, and thus there is no restriction on whether a high-speed interface is deployed between the access network devices, thereby effectively alleviating or even solving the problem of it being impossible to execute interference suppression because there is no high-speed interface deployed between adjacent access network devices.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510134128.5, filed on February 6, 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] Interference is a significant factor affecting the communication performance of terminal devices. Multiple adjacent cells can schedule terminal devices within the cells on overlapping time-frequency resources. Terminal devices located at the cell edge will experience interference from neighboring cells; this interference is known as neighbor cell interference. Taking a downlink communication process as an example: a first terminal device is scheduled to receive the first physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and a second terminal device is scheduled to receive the second PDSCH. Optionally, the serving cells of the first and second terminal devices can be considered adjacent. If the second PDSCH and the first PDSCH correspond to overlapping time-frequency resources, the second PDSCH may interfere with the first PDSCH. How to reduce or suppress this interference is a problem that urgently needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Firstly, a communication method is provided, wherein the execution subject of the method is a first device. Without loss of generality, the first device may be a terminal device, a component within the terminal device (e.g., a communication module, processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. For example, the chip in the terminal device may be 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, etc. The method includes: receiving first control information, the first control information being used to schedule a first physical downlink data channel (PDSCH); obtaining first configuration information, the first configuration information being used to configure a first control resource set; receiving second control information, the second control information being associated with the first control resource set, the second control information containing relevant information about a second PDSCH, or, alternatively, the second control information being associated with the second PDSCH, the time-frequency resources occupied by the second PDSCH overlapping with the time-frequency resources occupied by the first PDSCH; receiving the first PDSCH according to the first control information and the relevant information of the second PDSCH; or, receiving the first PDSCH according to the first control information and the second control information.

[0006] In one possible implementation, the second control information is associated with the first control resource set, including: the first control resource set is used to receive the second control information, which is carried on a second control channel; or, alternatively, the first control resource set is used to receive the second control channel, which carries the second control information.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive the second control information. Alternatively, the first indication information is used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive the second control channel. Alternatively, the first indication information is used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive information related to the second PDSCH.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the method further includes receiving second indication information, which indicates that the first Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) state is associated with the second PDSCH. Alternatively, the second indication information indicates that the first TCI state corresponds to the first control resource set. The first TCI state is an active TCI state.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the first TCI state is associated with the second PDSCH, including: the first TCI state is associated with a first reference signal, wherein the first reference signal and the reference signal carried by the second PDSCH satisfy a quasi-co-address relationship.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information includes configuration information for a second TCI state, which is associated with a second reference signal, and the second reference signal and the reference signal carried by the second control channel satisfy a quasi-co-address relationship.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the first TCI state and / or the second TCI state are associated with a first cell, the first control information is associated with a second control resource set, the second control resource set is associated with a second cell, and the first cell is different from the second cell.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the first control resource set is associated with a first portion of bandwidth (BWP), and the first PDSCH is carried on the first BWP; or, the first control resource set is associated with a second BWP, and the second PDSCH is carried on the second BWP, wherein the first BWP is different from the second BWP.

[0013] Optionally, the first BWP is associated with the second cell, and the second BWP is associated with the first cell, where the second cell and the first cell are different. It can be understood that the first BWP being associated with the second cell means that the first BWP is configured under the second cell; similarly, the second BWP being associated with the first cell means that the second BWP is configured under the first cell.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the first indication information and the first configuration information are contained in the same higher-level signaling.

[0015] In one possible implementation, when the first control resource set is associated with the second BWP, the first indication information is configuration information for configuring the second BWP.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: obtaining second configuration information, the second configuration information being used to configure a first search space, the first search space being used to receive / acquire / determine / blindly detect / search the second control channel, or the first search space being used to receive / acquire / determine / blindly detect / search the second control information.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes: the demodulation reference signal DMRS port corresponding to the interference stream, wherein the interference stream is part or all of the streams included in the second PDSCH; or, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes the DMRS port corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes: a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) port corresponding to the interfering antenna port, wherein the interfering antenna port is part or all of the antenna ports used to transmit the second PDSCH; or, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes the DMRS port corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes: the modulation scheme and / or coding rate corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes: the time-frequency resource location information corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving third indication information and / or fourth indication information, wherein the third indication information is used to indicate the time-domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the frequency-domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: obtaining third configuration information, which is used to configure the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the first control channel and the first PDSCH originate from a third device, the second control channel and the second PDSCH originate from a second device, the third device being a service device for the first device, and the second device being an interference device that interferes with the first device.

[0024] Secondly, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a second device. Without loss of generality, the second device can be an access network device (such as a second access network device or an interfering access network device), a component in the access network device (e.g., a communication module, processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logical node (e.g., CU, DU, or RU), logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the access network device. The method includes: sending second control information, the second control information containing relevant information of a second physical downlink data channel (PDSCH), or the second control information being related to the second PDSCH; the second control information being scrambled by an identifier of a first device; the time-frequency resources occupied by the second PDSCH overlapping with those occupied by the first PDSCH; the relevant information of the second PDSCH being used to receive the first PDSCH; or, the second control information being used to receive the first PDSCH; the second control information being associated with a first control resource set, the first control resource set being configured by first configuration information.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending third control information, the third control information being used to schedule the second PDSCH, the third control information being scrambled by the identifier of the fourth device; and sending the second PDSCH.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the second control information is associated with a first control resource set, including: the first control resource set is used to receive the second control information, the second control information is carried on a second control channel, or the first control resource set is used to receive the second control channel, the second control channel carries the second control information.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the method further includes sending the first configuration information.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive the second control information; or, the first indication information being used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive the second control channel; or, the first indication information being used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive relevant information of the second PDSCH.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate that the first transmission configuration indication (TCI) state is associated with the second PDSCH, or the second indication information being used to indicate that the first transmission configuration indication (TCI) state corresponds to the first control resource set, and the first TCI state is an active TCI state.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the first TCI state is associated with the second PDSCH, including: the first TCI state is associated with a first reference signal, wherein the first reference signal and the reference signal carried by the second PDSCH satisfy a quasi-co-address relationship.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information includes configuration information for a second TCI state, which is associated with a second reference signal, and the second reference signal and the reference signal carried by the second control channel satisfy a quasi-co-address relationship.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the first TCI state and / or the second TCI state are associated with the first cell.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the first control resource set is associated with a first portion of bandwidth (BWP), and the first PDSCH is carried on the first BWP; or, the first control resource set is associated with a second BWP, and the second PDSCH is carried on the second BWP, wherein the first BWP is different from the second BWP.

[0034] Optionally, the first BWP is associated with the second cell, and the second BWP is associated with the first cell, where the second cell and the first cell are different. It can be understood that the first BWP being associated with the second cell means that the first BWP is configured under the second cell, and the second BWP being associated with the first cell means that the second BWP is configured under the first cell.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the first indication information and the first configuration information are contained in the same higher-level signaling.

[0036] In one possible implementation, when the first control resource set is associated with the second BWP, the first indication information is configuration information for configuring the second BWP.

[0037] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second configuration information, the second configuration information being used to configure a first search space, the first search space being used to receive / acquire / determine / blindly detect / search the second control channel, or the first search space being used to receive / acquire / determine / blindly detect / search the second control information.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes: the demodulation reference signal DMRS port corresponding to the interference stream, wherein the interference stream is part or all of the streams included in the second PDSCH; or, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes the DMRS port corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes: a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) port corresponding to the interfering antenna port, wherein the interfering antenna port is part or all of the antenna ports used to transmit the second PDSCH; or, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes the DMRS port corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0040] In one possible implementation, the relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes: the modulation scheme and / or coding rate corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0041] In one possible implementation, the relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes: the time-frequency resource location information corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending a third indication information and / or a fourth indication information, wherein the third indication information is used to indicate the time-domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the frequency-domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0043] In one possible implementation, the method further includes sending third configuration information, which is used to configure the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0044] Thirdly, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a third device. Without loss of generality, the third device may be an access network device (such as a first access network device or a serving access network device), a component in the access network device (e.g., a communication module, processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logical node (e.g., CU, DU, or RU), logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the access network device. The method includes: sending first control information, the first control information being used to schedule a first physical downlink data channel (PDSCH); sending first configuration information, the first configuration information being used to configure a first control resource set, the first control resource set being associated with second control information, the second control information containing relevant information about a second PDSCH, or the second control information being associated with the second PDSCH, the time-frequency resources occupied by the second PDSCH overlapping with the time-frequency resources occupied by the first PDSCH; sending the first PDSCH, the relevant information of the second PDSCH being used for receiving the first PDSCH, or the second control information being used for receiving the first PDSCH.

[0045] In one possible implementation, the first control resource set is associated with the second control information, including: the first control resource set is used to receive the second control information, the second control information being carried on a second control channel; or, the first control resource set is used to receive the second control channel, the second control channel carrying the second control information.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending first indication information, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive the second control information, or, the first indication information is used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive the second control channel, or, the first indication information is used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive relevant information of the second PDSCH.

[0047] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate that the first transmission configuration indication (TCI) state is associated with the second PDSCH, or the second indication information being used to indicate that the first transmission configuration indication (TCI) state corresponds to the first control resource set, and the first TCI state is an active TCI state.

[0048] In one possible implementation, the first TCI state is associated with the second PDSCH, including: the first TCI state is associated with a first reference signal, wherein the first reference signal and the reference signal carried by the second PDSCH satisfy a quasi-co-address relationship.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information includes configuration information for a second TCI state, which is associated with a second reference signal, and the second reference signal and the reference signal carried by the second control channel satisfy a quasi-co-address relationship.

[0050] In one possible implementation, the first TCI state and / or the second TCI state are associated with a first cell, the first control information is associated with a second control resource set, the second control resource set is associated with a second cell, and the first cell is different from the second cell.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the first control resource set is associated with a first portion of bandwidth (BWP), and the first PDSCH is carried on the first BWP; or, the first control resource set is associated with a second BWP, and the second PDSCH is carried on the second BWP, wherein the first BWP is different from the second BWP.

[0052] Optionally, the first BWP is associated with the second cell, and the second BWP is associated with the first cell, where the second cell and the first cell are different. It can be understood that the first BWP being associated with the second cell means that the first BWP is configured under the second cell, and the second BWP being associated with the first cell means that the second BWP is configured under the first cell.

[0053] In one possible implementation, the first indication information and the first configuration information are contained in the same higher-level signaling.

[0054] In one possible implementation, when the first control resource set is associated with the second BWP, the first indication information is configuration information for configuring the second BWP.

[0055] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second configuration information, the second configuration information being used to configure a first search space, the first search space being used to receive / acquire / determine / blindly detect / search for a second control channel, or the first search space being used to receive / acquire / determine / blindly detect / search for the second control information.

[0056] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending a third indication information and / or a fourth indication information, wherein the third indication information is used to indicate the time-domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the frequency-domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0057] In one possible implementation, the method further includes sending third configuration information, which is used to configure the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH.

[0058] Fourthly, an apparatus is provided capable of implementing the method described in the first aspect. For example, the apparatus includes modules, units, or components that perform the method described in the first aspect. Specifically, the modules, units, or components can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0059] In one design, the device includes a unit that performs the method described in the first aspect.

[0060] In one design, the device includes a processor for implementing the method of the first aspect described above. Optionally, the device further includes a memory, with the processor coupled to the memory, the processor executing computer programs or instructions stored in the memory, such that the device implements the method of the first aspect described above.

[0061] In one design, the device includes a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other devices outside the device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other devices outside the device. The processor implements the method of the first aspect described above through logic circuits or executing code instructions.

[0062] In one design, the device may be the first device, or a module, unit, or component (e.g., a chip, chip system, circuit, or processor, etc.) that corresponds one-to-one with the first device to perform the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the first aspect, or a device that can be used in conjunction with the first device.

[0063] Fifthly, an apparatus is provided capable of implementing the methods of the second or third aspect described above. For example, the apparatus includes modules, units, or components corresponding to the methods described in the second or third aspect. The modules, units, or components may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0064] In one design, the device includes a unit that performs the methods described in the second or third aspect.

[0065] In one design, the device includes a processor for implementing the methods of the second or third aspect described above. Optionally, the device further includes a memory, with the processor coupled to the memory, the processor executing computer programs or instructions stored in the memory, causing the device to implement the methods of the second or third aspect described above.

[0066] In one design, the device includes a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other devices outside the device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other devices outside the device. The processor implements the methods of the second or third aspect described above through logic circuits or executing code instructions.

[0067] In one design, the device can be a second device, or a module, unit, or component (e.g., a chip, chip system, circuit, or processor, etc.) that corresponds one-to-one with the method / operation / step / action described in the second aspect in the second device, or a device that can be used in conjunction with the second device.

[0068] In one design, the device may be a third device, or a module, unit, or component (e.g., a chip, chip system, circuit, or processor, etc.) that corresponds one-to-one with the method / operation / step / action described in the third aspect within the third device, or a device that can be used in conjunction with the third device.

[0069] A sixth aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions, wherein any one of the methods of the first to third aspects described above is executed when the computer program or instructions are run on a computer.

[0070] A seventh aspect provides a computer program product, including a computer program or instructions, wherein when the computer program or instructions are run by a computer, any one of the methods in any one of the first to third aspects described above is executed.

[0071] Eighthly, a chip is provided, including a processor for implementing the methods of any one of the first to third aspects described above. Optionally, the chip further includes a memory, the processor being coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory, such that the chip implements any one of the methods of any one of the first to third aspects described above.

[0072] A ninth aspect provides a communication system, comprising: a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device; wherein the first communication device is configured to implement any of the methods in the first aspect; the second communication device is configured to implement any of the methods in the second aspect; and the third communication device is configured to implement any of the methods in the third aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0073] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to this application;

[0074] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an ORAN system applicable to this application;

[0075] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the network element function division and protocol layer structure of an O-RAN device applicable to this application;

[0076] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of PDCCH scheduling PDSCH;

[0077] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the control resource set;

[0078] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of PDCCH monitoring;

[0079] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the TCI state;

[0080] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of BWP;

[0081] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of interference between adjacent cells;

[0082] Figures 10, 11, and 12 are schematic flowcharts of the communication method;

[0083] Figures 13 and 14 are schematic diagrams of the device;

[0084] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the chip structure. Detailed Implementation

[0085] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The specific operating methods and functional descriptions in the method embodiments can also be applied to the device embodiments or system embodiments.

[0086] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, the number of nouns 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 there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the textual description of this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship; in the formulas of this application, the character " / " indicates that the related objects before and after are in a "division" relationship. "Including at least one of A, B, or C" or similar expressions can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B, and C, where A, B, and C can be singular or plural.

[0087] In the description of this application, the various numerical designations are used for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the process numbers does not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic. The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" used in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and do not limit the size, order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. In addition, the numbering of steps in the flowcharts of this application is only to distinguish different steps and is not used to limit the order between steps.

[0088] In the description of this application, "for indicating" can include both direct indication (or explicit indication) and indirect indication (or implicit indication). For example, when describing a certain indication information for indicating information I, it can include whether the indication information directly indicates I or indirectly indicates I, but does not necessarily mean that the indication information carries I.

[0089] In the description of this application, "when," "if," and "if" all refer to the fact that the device will take corresponding actions under certain objective circumstances, and are not limited to a specific time, nor do they require the device to perform a judgment action, nor do they imply any other limitations. Unless otherwise specified, "if" and "if" are interchangeable, "when" is interchangeable with "in the case of," and "when" can also be replaced with "when," or "after," etc., and "when" can also be replaced with "if" / "if," etc. The words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that they are examples, illustrations, or explanations. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design solutions. Specifically, the use of the words "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0090] Figure 1 illustrates a possible, non-limiting schematic diagram of a communication system. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 1000 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (110a and 110b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal device (120a-120j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 120). RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). Terminal device 120 is wirelessly connected to RAN node 110. RAN node 110 is wirelessly or wired connected to core network 200. The core network devices in core network 200 and RAN node 110 in RAN 100 can be different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device integrating core network logical functions and radio access network logical functions. Optionally, the communication system 1000 also includes an Internet 300.

[0091] RAN 100 can be a cellular system related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 4G, 5G mobile communication systems, or future-oriented communication systems (such as 6G mobile communication systems). RAN 100 can also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. RAN 100 can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0092] RAN node 110, sometimes also referred to as access network equipment, RAN entity, or access node, constitutes part of the communication system and is used to help terminal equipment achieve wireless access. Multiple RAN nodes 110 in communication system 1000 can be of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of RAN node 110 and terminal equipment 120 are relative. For example, network element 120i in Figure 1 can be a helicopter or drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminal equipment 120j accessing RAN 100 through network element 120i, network element 120i is a base station; but for base station 110a, network element 120i is a terminal equipment. RAN node 110 and terminal equipment 120 are sometimes both referred to as communication devices. For example, network elements 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be understood as communication devices with base station functions, and network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication devices with terminal equipment functions.

[0093] In one possible scenario, a RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future communication network, or an access node in a WiFi system. A RAN node can be a macro base station (as shown in Figure 1, 110a), a micro base station or indoor station (as shown in Figure 1, 110b), a relay node or donor node, a radio controller in a CRAN scenario, or a device that performs base station functions in device-to-device (D2D) and / or machine-to-machine (M2M) transmissions. Optionally, a RAN node can also be a server, wearable device, vehicle, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, the access network equipment in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be a roadside unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the RAN node in this application can also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The RAN node in this application can also be a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the RAN node functions.

[0094] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes each implementing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs), etc. CUs and DUs can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs).

[0095] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0096] Terminal devices can also be called terminals, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminal devices, etc. They can be widely used in various scenarios, such as D2D, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, intelligent transportation, and smart cities. Terminal devices can include mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, and smart home devices.

[0097] Currently, some examples of terminal devices include: mobile phones, satellite mobile terminal devices, cellular phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices (such as smartwatches, smart bracelets, pedometers, smart glasses, etc.), in-vehicle devices (such as cars, bicycles, electric vehicles, airplanes, ships, trains, high-speed trains, etc.), satellite terminal devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, smart point-of-sale (POS) machines, customer-premises equipment (CPE), wireless terminal devices in industrial control, wireless terminal devices in self-driving cars, wireless terminal devices in remote medical surgery, wireless terminal devices in smart grids, wireless terminal devices in transportation safety, wireless terminal devices in smart cities, and smart homes. Wireless terminal devices in the home (e.g., refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, electricity meters, etc.), intelligent robots, robotic arms, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, flying devices (e.g., intelligent robots, hot air balloons, drones, airplanes), terminal devices in 5G networks, or terminal devices in future evolved public land mobile networks (PLMNs), etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form of the terminal devices.

[0098] RAN node 110 and terminal device 120 can be fixed or mobile. RAN node 110 and terminal device 120 can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can be deployed in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. This application embodiment does not limit the application scenarios of RAN node 110 and terminal device 120. RAN node 110 and terminal device 120 can be deployed in the same or different scenarios. For example, RAN node 110 and terminal device 120 can be deployed simultaneously on land; or RAN node 110 can be deployed on land and terminal device 120 can be deployed on water, etc., and so on.

[0099] RAN node 110 and terminal device 120 can communicate via licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both simultaneously. For example, RAN node 110 and terminal device 120 can communicate via 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.

[0100] It is understood that RAN nodes are used to help terminal devices achieve wireless access, and they can also be referred to in other different ways, such as RAN entity, ORAN device, access node, access network device, etc. In the following description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, the node or device that helps the terminal device achieve wireless access will be described as "access network device".

[0101] It is understood that terminal equipment and access network equipment are sometimes referred to as communication devices. For example, terminal equipment can be understood as a communication device with terminal equipment functions, and access network equipment can be understood as a communication device with access network equipment functions. In the method of this application, the functions of the access network equipment can also be performed by modules, units, or components (such as chips) within the access network equipment, or by a control subsystem containing access network equipment functions. This control subsystem containing access network equipment 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 equipment can also be performed by modules, units, or components (such as chips or modems) within the terminal equipment, or by a device containing terminal equipment functions.

[0102] Figure 2 illustrates a possible, non-limiting ORAN system. As shown in Figure 2, the ORAN system includes core network equipment, access network equipment, and terminal equipment. The access network equipment communicates with the core network equipment via a backhaul link and with the terminal equipment via an air interface.

[0103] The access network equipment includes BBUs and RUs. A BBU communicates with at least one RU via a fronthaul link. The BBU and RU may or may not be co-located. Specifically, the BBU communicates with core network equipment via a backhaul link, and the RU communicates with terminal equipment via an air interface. A BBU includes at least one CU and at least one DU, which can communicate via at least one midhaul link.

[0104] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a possible, non-limiting O-RAN device's network element function division and protocol layer structure.

[0105] In this context, O-RAN equipment can be understood as access network equipment using the O-RAN architecture, used to enable wireless access for terminal devices. It is understood that communication between O-RAN equipment and terminal devices follows a specific protocol layer structure. This protocol layer structure can include a control plane protocol layer structure and a user plane protocol layer structure. For example, the control plane protocol layer structure can include the functions of protocol layers such as Radio Resource Control (RRC), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), Radio Link Control (RLC), Media Access Control (MAC), and the physical layer. Similarly, the user plane protocol layer structure can include the functions of protocol layers such as PDCP, RLC, MAC, and the physical layer. In one possible implementation, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer can be added above the PDCP layer.

[0106] As shown in Figure 3, the O-RAN equipment includes logical nodes such as CU, DU, and RU. The CU can connect to the core network via an interface, for example, the E2 interface. Optionally, the CU can have some core network functions. The CU can control at least one DU, and the CU can connect to the DU via an interface, for example, the F1 interface. Further, the control plane (CP) interface can be called F1-C, and the user plane (UP) interface can be called F1-U. The DU can control at least one RU, and the DU can connect to the RU via an interface, for example, the fronthaul interface.

[0107] 1. CU

[0108] A CU can be a logical node that carries the RRC layer, SDAP layer, PDCP layer, and other control functions. In other words, a CU can implement the functions of the RRC layer, SDAP layer, PDCP layer, and certain control functions.

[0109] Furthermore, the CU can be divided into CU-CP and CU-UP. Referring to Figure 3, CU-CP is a logical node carrying the control plane (control plane part of PDCP, PDCP-C) of the RRC and PDCP layers, used to implement the CU's control plane functions. CU-CP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement control plane functions. These network elements in the core network can be access and mobility function network elements, such as the access and mobility management function (AMF) in a 5G communication system. Continuing to refer to Figure 3, CU-UP is a logical node carrying the data plane (user plane part of PDCP, PDCP-U) of the SDAP and PDCP layers, used to implement the CU's user plane functions. CU-UP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement user plane functions, such as the user plane function (UPF) in a 5G communication system.

[0110] 2. DU

[0111] A DU can be a logical node that carries the RLC layer, MAC layer, higher physical layer (Higher PHY) layer, and other functions. For example, the higher physical layer may include some of the processing functions of the PHY layer, such as forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation, and demodulation. In other words, a DU can implement the functions of the RLC layer, MAC layer, higher physical layer, and other functions.

[0112] It is understood that the above CU and DU configurations are merely examples, and the functions of the CU and DU can be configured as needed. For instance, the CU or DU can be configured to have more protocol layer functions, or it can be configured to have only some protocol layer processing functions. For example, some functions of the RLC layer and the protocol layer functions above the RLC layer can be placed in the CU, while the remaining functions of the RLC layer and the protocol layer functions below the RLC layer can be placed in the DU. Furthermore, the functions of the CU or DU can be divided according to service type or other system requirements, such as by latency, placing functions that need to meet low latency requirements in the DU and functions that do not need to meet such latency requirements in the CU.

[0113] 3. RU

[0114] An RU can be a logical node that carries both lower physical layer (PHY) and radio frequency (RF) chain processing. For example, the lower physical layer includes some of the processing functions of the physical layer, such as fast Fourier transform (FFT), inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT), digital beamforming, and filtering. In other words, an RU can implement both physical layer and RF functions.

[0115] In one possible implementation, the RU can be a 3GPP transmission reception point (TRP), a remote radio head (RRH), or other similar entity. The RU communicates with one or more terminal devices via a wireless link.

[0116] The DU and RU can be co-located or non-co-located, without restriction. Referring to Figure 3, the O-RAN control user and synchronization (CUS-Plane) and management plane (M-Plane) can be included between the DU and RU. The O-RAN CUS plane can be simply referred to as the CUS plane, and the O-RAN management plane can be simply referred to as the management plane. Further, the CUS plane can be divided into a control plane (C-Plane) and a user plane (U-Plane). Optionally, the control plane refers to the real-time control plane between the DU and RU. The management plane refers to the non-real-time management operations between the DU and RU.

[0117] Referring to Figure 3, the DU and RU exchange control plane and user plane information via the lower-layer split CUS-Plane (LLS-CUS) interface through the fronthaul link. Furthermore, the LLS-CUS interface may include an LLS-C interface corresponding to the control plane and an LLS-U interface corresponding to the user plane. The DU and RU exchange management plane information through the LLS-M interface of the fronthaul link. Referring to Figure 3, the LLS-M interface can also connect to an external management system.

[0118] It is understandable that DUs and RUs can cooperate to implement physical layer functions. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of DUs and RUs can be configured in various ways depending on the design. For example, a DU can be configured to implement baseband functions, and an RU can be configured to implement mid-RF functions. Another example is that a DU can be configured to implement higher-level functions in the physical layer, and an RU can be configured to implement lower-level functions in the physical layer, or to implement both lower-level and RF functions. Higher-level functions in the physical layer may include a portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the MAC layer, while lower-level functions may include another portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the mid-RF side.

[0119] For ease of description, some communication terms or terminology used in this application are explained. It is understood that these explanations are for understanding the method of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0120] 1. Physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0121] One of the functions of the PDCCH is to carry uplink or downlink scheduling information sent from access network devices to terminal devices. Terminal devices can periodically monitor the PDCCH. Taking a PDCCH monitoring period of one time slot as an example, this means the terminal device monitors the PDCCH in each time slot. If the terminal device detects scheduling information in the downlink control information (DCI) on the PDCCH, for downlink scheduling information, the terminal device can receive data through the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) according to the scheduling information; for uplink scheduling information, the terminal device can send data through the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) according to the scheduling information. The PDCCH can also be used to carry control information such as uplink power control command words and time slot formats. PDCCHs carrying different control information can have different DCI formats, and different DCI formats can be scrambled using different radio network temporary identifiers (RNTIs).

[0122] 2. Downlink data transmission process.

[0123] 1) The access network device sends downlink control information (DCI) to the terminal device, which is carried in the PDCCH. The DCI contains downlink data scheduling information, telling the terminal device at which time-frequency resource location (e.g., for downlink data, the access network device will indicate K0 in the time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field to determine the time slot interval between the PDCCH and PDSCH), and with what configuration parameters (such as modulation and coding scheme (MCS), redundancy version (RV), etc.) to receive and demodulate the downlink data.

[0124] 2) The access network device sends the corresponding downlink data at the time-frequency resource location indicated in the DCI with the configuration parameters indicated in the DCI; correspondingly, the terminal device receives the downlink data at the corresponding location with the corresponding parameters, and the downlink data is carried in the PDSCH.

[0125] Referring to Figure 4, the above process can be described as follows: The access network device sends a PDCCH carrying a DCI to the terminal device. This DCI schedules the terminal device to receive the PDSCH. When the terminal device receives its own DCI: the terminal device blindly detects (BD) the PDCCHs sent to itself in the downlink control area, that is, the terminal device monitors many PDCCH candidate locations to find out if any are sent to itself. The set of PDCCH candidate locations that the terminal device needs to blindly detect constitutes a search space (SS). Depending on the configuration of the access network device, the terminal device may monitor one or more SSs to find out if any PDCCHs are sent to itself.

[0126] 3. Control resource set (CORESET)

[0127] A CORESET is a time-frequency resource set used for transmitting downlink PDCCH. A CORESET contains, in the frequency domain... Each resource block (RB) includes contiguous blocks in the time domain. The number of symbols. Of course, as standards and / or technologies evolve, the number of symbols included in CORESET in the time domain will increase. The value of can also be any other than 1, 2, and 3 mentioned above, without restriction. Furthermore, the symbols included in the CORESET in the time domain can be continuous or non-contiguous, without restriction. In the frequency domain, CORESETs are allocated according to the granularity of resource block groups (RBGs). One RBG contains 6 RBs, meaning the number of RBs included in the frequency domain resources of a CORESET is an integer multiple of 6, such as 6 RBs, 12 RBs, etc.

[0128] The resources for transmitting a PDCCH are aggregated from one or more control channel elements (CCEs). The number of CCEs included in the resources for transmitting a PDCCH is the aggregation level (AL) of that PDCCH. A CCE consists of 6 resource element groups (REGs). Each REG contains one symbol in the time domain and one RB in the frequency domain. One RB contains 12 resource elements (REs) in the frequency domain. Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the resources included in a CORESET. In Figure 5, a CORESET contains N CCEs, and each CCE contains 6 REGs.

[0129] 4. Search space (SS).

[0130] A Service Controller (SS) is used to define a set of PDCCH candidate locations, or, as can be described, an SS consists of a set of PDCCH candidate locations. PDCCH candidate locations can also be referred to as PDCCH monitoring opportunities. Access network equipment can configure at least one SS for terminal equipment, and the terminal equipment monitors the PDCCH based on the SS. For example, the terminal equipment can determine the PDCCH monitoring opportunity based on the SS configuration information, such as the PDCCH monitoring period (represented by Ks), offset (represented by Os), PDCCH monitoring pattern within the time slot (represented by a pattern), and duration (represented by Ts). As shown in Figure 6, each square represents a PDCCH monitoring opportunity. The terminal equipment periodically monitors the PDCCH according to the PDCCH monitoring period.

[0131] 5. Quasi-co-located (QCL)

[0132] Before defining QCL, let's first explain antenna port. Antenna port is a widely used logical concept in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), defined as follows: the channel characteristics experienced by a signal on a given antenna port can be derived from the channel characteristics experienced by another signal transmitted through the same antenna port. Antenna port differs from the actual physical antenna used; multiple physical antennas can correspond to the same antenna port, and one physical antenna can correspond to multiple antenna ports.

[0133] Based on the antenna ports, the QCL (Qualitative Channel Clone) is defined as follows: if the channel characteristics experienced by a signal at one antenna port can be derived from the channel characteristics experienced by a signal at another antenna port, then the two antenna ports are considered to have a QCL. Simultaneously, the reference signal (RS) transmitted on these two antenna ports also has a QCL relationship. For example, if antenna port 1 and antenna port 2 are QCL, and antenna port 1 is used to transmit a first reference signal and antenna port 2 is used to transmit a second reference signal, then the first reference signal and the second reference signal can also be considered to have a QCL relationship.

[0134] 6. Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) Status

[0135] In new radio (NR), the TCI state is used to indicate the QCL relationship between two reference signals. As shown in Figure 7, the TCI state indicates that the first reference signal and the second reference signal have a QCL relationship. Thus, the terminal device can deduce the channel characteristics of the first reference signal from the channel characteristics of the second reference signal, thereby achieving better reception of the first reference signal. For example, the second reference signal can be a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) or a synchronization signal block (SSB), etc., without restriction.

[0136] 7. Bandwidth Part (BWP)

[0137] BWP is short for Carrier Bandwidth Part. A BWP can be a group of consecutive frequency domain resources on a carrier. For example, a BWP can be a group of consecutive resource blocks (RBs) on a carrier, a group of consecutive subcarriers on a carrier, or a group of consecutive resource block groups (RBGs) on a carrier. An RBG includes at least one RB, such as 1, 2, 4, 6, or 8 RBs, and an RB can include at least one subcarrier, such as 12 subcarriers. In one possible implementation, such as the method shown in NR release 15 (Rel-15), in a cell, for a single terminal device, the network can configure a maximum of 4 BWPs for that terminal device. Under Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD), 4 BWPs can be configured for both uplink and downlink. Under Time Division Duplexing (TDD), 4 BWPs can be configured for both uplink and downlink, for example, with the center frequency bands of BWPs with the same number aligned. The network can configure system parameters, including subcarrier spacing and / or cyclic permutation (CP) length, for each BWP (Block Window). At any given time, within a cell, a terminal device can activate a BWP, and the terminal device and access network equipment transmit and receive data on the activated BWP. Existing BWPs are defined on a given carrier; that is, the resources of a BWP reside within one carrier resource. Of course, this application does not limit other definitions of BWPs or other BWP activation schemes.

[0138] As shown in Figure 8 #1, within the carrier bandwidth (BW), only one BWP can be configured for a UE. The bandwidth of the BWP can be less than or equal to the UE's bandwidth capability, which in turn can be less than or equal to the carrier bandwidth (BW). As shown in Figure 8 #2, within the carrier bandwidth, two BWPs can be configured for a UE, namely BWP1 and BWP2, and their bandwidths can overlap. As shown in Figure 8 #3, within the carrier bandwidth, two BWPs can be configured for a UE, namely BWP1 and BWP2, and their bandwidths can be non-overlapping. The system parameters of BWP1 and BWP2 can be the same or different. In practice, the configuration of BWPs (e.g., the number of BWPs, their location, and / or system parameters) can also be other configurations without restriction.

[0139] 8. Flow

[0140] A PDSCH contains one or more streams, also referred to as layers. Each stream has a corresponding DMRS port. The equivalent channel (or channel characteristics) of the DMRS transmitted by each stream and its corresponding DMRS port is the same. The terminal device can demodulate the data corresponding to each stream based on the DMRS port. For example, the terminal device can detect the DMRS transmitted by the DMRS port corresponding to a stream to determine the corresponding equivalent channel. The data corresponding to the stream is then demodulated or detected based on the equivalent channel. Data from multiple streams contained in a PDSCH are merged to demodulate the PDSCH.

[0141] Optionally, each stream has a corresponding DMRS port, which can also be interpreted as each stream having a corresponding antenna port, or each stream being transmitted through a specific antenna port. The aforementioned antenna ports have corresponding DMRS ports.

[0142] Interference is a significant factor affecting the communication performance of terminal devices. Inter-cell interference can be simply understood as follows: each cell deploys at least one access network device (such as a base station). When access network devices from different cells transmit signals on overlapping time-frequency resources, cell-edge terminal devices (which can be alternatively described as users) will experience significant interference from neighboring cell access network devices, resulting in a lower received signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) and thus affecting demodulation performance. As shown in Figure 9, cells 1, 2, and 3 are adjacent cells, and the black areas mark the edge areas of each cell. Terminal devices located in the black areas are likely to experience interference from neighboring cells. For example, terminal device A is located at the edge of cell 1 (e.g., the black area of ​​cell 1): if the access network device of cell 1 serves terminal device A on time-frequency resources overlapping with those of cell 2, terminal device A will experience interference from cell 2. It can be understood that the aforementioned overlapping time-frequency resources may include: overlapping time-domain resources (such as symbols), and / or overlapping frequency-domain resources (such as RBs, REs, or subcarriers). For example, access network equipment in cell 1 serves terminal device A on time-frequency resource 1, and access network equipment in cell 2 serves terminal device B on time-frequency resource 2. Cell 1 and cell 2 are adjacent, and time-frequency resources 1 and 2 overlap. Therefore, terminal device A will experience interference from cell 2. Specifically, terminal device A will be affected by communication interference between access network equipment in cell 2 and terminal device B. The aforementioned overlap of time-frequency resources 1 and 2 can refer to the overlap of the time domain resources of time-frequency resource 1 and the time domain resources of time-frequency resource 2, and / or the overlap of the frequency domain resources of time-frequency resource 1 and the frequency domain resources of time-frequency resource 2. Overlap can refer to complete overlap or partial overlap, etc. Similarly, if access network equipment in cell 1 serves terminal device A on time-frequency resources that overlap with those in cell 3, terminal device A will experience interference from cell 3. To solve the above problem, two methods have been developed:

[0143] The first method involves suppressing interference through resource allocation among the access network devices in different cells. For example, non-overlapping time-frequency resources are allocated to adjacent cells (such as cell 1, cell 2, and cell 3), and the access network devices in each cell serve their respective terminal devices on their allocated time-frequency resources, thereby resolving neighboring cell interference.

[0144] The second method involves inter-cell access network devices suppressing interference by exchanging dynamic information (such as scheduling information and / or time-frequency resource location information) in real time. For example, access network devices in adjacent cells exchange scheduling information and / or time-frequency resource location information in real time to avoid serving terminal devices on overlapping time-frequency resources. In this case, a high-speed interactive interface (referred to as a high-speed interface) needs to be deployed between the access network devices in adjacent cells for exchanging dynamic information. In one possible implementation, this high-speed interface is not the Xn interface between the access network devices. Optionally, the high-speed interface can be considered an interface deployed within the same baseband unit, or an interface deployed within a pooled baseband unit. For example, if two access network devices share a baseband unit, they can exchange dynamic information in real time through the shared baseband unit (such as the interface included in the baseband unit, which can be considered a high-speed interface). Alternatively, if the baseband units of two access network devices each belong to a baseband unit pool, the two access network devices can exchange dynamic information in real time through the aforementioned baseband unit pool. It is understandable that a baseband unit pool contains multiple baseband units, and different baseband units can be connected through corresponding buses or interfaces. These buses or interfaces between different baseband units can be considered high-speed interfaces. It is also understood that the name of these high-speed interfaces is not limited; they can be called by other names, and can be simply referred to as interfaces. In one possible implementation, the access network equipment of adjacent cells deploys an Xn interface, but this Xn interface is insufficient to support real-time dynamic information exchange. Therefore, in the second method, the access network equipment of adjacent cells also needs to deploy additional high-speed interfaces for real-time dynamic information exchange. However, in actual deployment, it may be difficult to deploy high-speed interfaces between all access network equipment in adjacent cells. If the access network equipment of two neighboring cells does not deploy the aforementioned high-speed interface, then the access network equipment of these two neighboring cells cannot exchange dynamic information in real time, thus resulting in the inability to suppress interference.

[0145] In view of the above, this application provides a method comprising: when the communication of an access network device in a cell may interfere with a terminal device in a neighboring cell, the access network device (which may be referred to as the interfering access network device for ease of description) may indicate the interference-related information to the terminal device, and the terminal device performs interference suppression based on the interference-related information. It can be seen that in the above method, the interfering access network device directly indicates the interference-related information to the terminal device, which then performs interference suppression. There is no need for real-time information exchange between access network devices to suppress interference. Therefore, there are no restrictions on whether high-speed interfaces are deployed between access network devices, thereby effectively alleviating or even solving the problem that adjacent access network devices cannot perform interference suppression due to the lack of high-speed interfaces.

[0146] Furthermore, a key aspect of the above method lies in how the terminal device obtains more accurate interference-related information. Therefore, in the method of this application, a dedicated first control resource set is configured for the terminal device. This first control resource set is specifically used for transmitting the aforementioned interference-related information, or, in other words, this first control resource set is dedicated to allowing the interference access network device to send second control information containing interference-related information to the terminal device. Accordingly, the terminal device receives the second control information containing the aforementioned interference-related information based on the dedicated first control resource set, which makes the interference-related information obtained by the terminal device more accurate and improves the interference suppression performance of the terminal device.

[0147] It is understood that, in the following description of the method, the executing entity can be a first device, a second device, or a third device. The first device can be a terminal device, a component within the terminal device (e.g., a communication module, processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal device's functions. For example, the first device can be a communication module within the terminal device, or a circuit, chip, or chip system responsible for communication functions within the terminal device, such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip), or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip or system-in-package (SIP) chip containing a modem core. The second device can be a second device, or a component within the second device (e.g., a communication module, processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the second device's functions. The third device can be the first device, or a component within the first device (e.g., a communication module, processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the second device's functions. The first and second devices can be access network devices, or other devices that implement the functions of access network devices. For example, in short-range wireless communication systems such as WiFi, the first or second device can be an AP node, etc. When the first or second device is an access network device, the processing performed by the access network device as the execution subject can be divided into execution by at least one of CU, DU, RU, etc. For another example, the first device can be called a first access network device, and if the first access network device is an access network device serving a terminal device, it can be called a serving access network device. The second device can be called a second access network device, and if the second access network device is an access network device that interferes with the communication of the terminal device, it can be called an interfering access network device. For ease of understanding and description, in the following description, the method provided in this application will be explained using examples where the execution subject is a terminal device, a first access network device, and a second access network device.

[0148] Furthermore, this application also relates to a "fourth device," which can be a terminal device, a component within the terminal device (e.g., a communication module, processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. In the following description, the target terminal device is used as an example.

[0149] In the description of this application, "sending information (such as first control information, first configuration information, or second control information) to (e.g., a terminal device)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal device. This can include sending information directly or indirectly to (e.g., a terminal device). "Receiving information (such as first control information, first configuration information, or second control information) from (e.g., an access network device, specifically a first access network device or a second access network device)" can be understood as the source of the information being the access network device. This can include receiving information directly or indirectly from the access network device. The information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood in a similar way, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0150] In the description of this application, "transmit" or "receive" indicates the direction of information / signals. "Transmit" or "receive" can also be understood as "input" or "output." "Transmit" or "receive" can occur between devices, such as between a terminal device and an access network device via a wireless channel. "Transmit" or "receive" can also occur within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via a bus, wiring, or interface. For example, "transmit" can also be understood as the "output" of a chip interface, and "receive" can be understood as the "input" of a chip interface.

[0151] In the description of this application, control information can be transmitted between the terminal device and the access network device (such as the first access network device or the second access network device) through a control channel. The control channel can be a PDCCH, or it may have other names depending on the evolution of technology or its application to other systems / scenarios. In this application, the control channel is described using PDCCH as an example. Similarly, data information can be transmitted between the terminal device and the access network device (such as the first access network device or the second access network device) through a data channel. The data channel can be a PDSCH, or it may have other names depending on the evolution of technology or its application to other systems / scenarios. In this application, the data channel is described using PDSCH as an example.

[0152] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the following two descriptions of control information or control channel can be considered equivalent, and the two descriptions can be substituted for each other:

[0153] Description 1: An access network device (such as a first access network device or a second access network device) sends control information (such as first control information or second control information) to a terminal device, which is carried in a PDCCH (such as a first PDCCH or a second PDCCH). Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the control information from the access network device.

[0154] Description 2: An access network device (such as a first access network device or a second access network device) sends a PDCCH (such as a first PDCCH or a second PDCCH) to a terminal device. This PDCCH carries control information (such as first control information or second control information). Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the PDCCH from the access network device.

[0155] The following two descriptions of data information or data channels can be considered equivalent and interchangeable:

[0156] Description 1: An access network device (such as a first access network device or a second access network device) sends data information (such as first data information or second data information) to a terminal device, which is carried on a PDSCH (such as a first PDSCH or a second PDSCH). Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the data information from the access network device.

[0157] Description 2: An access network device (such as a first access network device or a second access network device) sends a PDSCH (such as a first PDSCH or a second PDSCH) to a terminal device. This PDSCH carries data information (such as first data information or second data information). Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the PDSCH from the access network device.

[0158] Figure 10 provides a flowchart of a communication method, which includes:

[0159] Step 1010: The first access network device sends the first control information to the terminal device.

[0160] Accordingly, the terminal device receives the first control information from the first access network device.

[0161] The first access network device is an access network device that can provide services to terminal devices, and can be simply referred to as a serving access network device, such as a serving TRP. The first control information is used to schedule the first PDSCH, such as scheduling the terminal device to receive the first PDSCH. The first control information can be carried in the first PDCCH. The description of step 1010 can be replaced with: The first access network device sends the first PDCCH, which carries the first control information, such as DCI.

[0162] Step 1020: The terminal device receives the first configuration information, which is used to configure the first set of control resources.

[0163] The description of step 1020 can also be replaced with: The terminal device obtains the first configuration information. This could be done by the terminal device itself, by the terminal device obtaining the first configuration information according to a predefined method (such as a predefined protocol), or by the terminal device obtaining the first configuration information according to a pre-configured method, such as the terminal device obtaining the first configuration information according to the factory configuration, or by the terminal device determining the first configuration information at the factory according to a protocol. Alternatively, the terminal device can also obtain the first configuration information by receiving it.

[0164] In one possible implementation, the first access network device can configure a first set of control resources for the terminal device. As shown in step 1020a of Figure 10: the first access network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first configuration information from the first access network device.

[0165] In another possible implementation, the second access network device can configure a first set of control resources for the terminal device. As shown in step 1020b of Figure 10: the second access network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first configuration information from the second access network device. The second access network device can be an access network device in the terminal device's neighboring cell that causes interference to the terminal device; it can be simply referred to as an interfering access network device, such as an interfering TRP.

[0166] For example, the first configuration information can be carried in higher-layer signaling, such as RRC signaling or MAC CE signaling. CE stands for control element. In other words, the first access network device or the second access network device can configure the first set of control resources for the terminal device through higher-layer signaling.

[0167] It should be understood that the present invention does not limit the device for sending the first configuration information.

[0168] Optionally, in step 1030: the terminal device receives first indication information, which is used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive second control information.

[0169] For example, the first indication information can be carried in higher-layer signaling, such as the first indication information and the first configuration information being carried in the same higher-layer signaling, such as RRC signaling or MAC CE signaling. Alternatively, the first indication information can be the configuration information of a second BWP, and this first indication information or the configuration information of the second BWP can be carried in higher-layer signaling, such as RRC signaling or MAC CE signaling. For details regarding the above, please refer to the description of steps 1130a and 1130b in the method shown in Figure 11. In the description of this application, "carried in" and "included in" are interchangeable. For example, if the first indication information is carried in higher-layer signaling, it can also be replaced with: the first indication information is included in higher-layer signaling.

[0170] The second control information is carried in the second PDCCH. The description of the first indication information can also be replaced as: the first indication information is used to indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive the second PDCCH, and the second PDCCH carries the second control information.

[0171] Optionally, the second control information carries information related to the second PDSCH. In this case, the description of the first indication information can also be replaced by: the first indication information is used to indicate information related to the first control resource set for receiving the second PDSCH.

[0172] In step 1020, the first access network device or the second access network device configures a first control resource set for the terminal device. The function of the first indication information is to: notify the terminal device that the configured first control resource set is used to receive the second PDCCH; or, notify the terminal device that the configured first control resource set is used to receive second control information; or, notify the terminal device that the configured first control resource set is used to receive relevant information of the second PDSCH.

[0173] In one possible implementation, the first access network device sends first indication information to the terminal device. As shown in step 1030a of Figure 10: the first access network device sends first indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information from the first access network device.

[0174] In another possible implementation, the second access network device sends first indication information to the terminal device. As shown in step 1030b of Figure 10: the second access network device sends first indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information from the second access network device.

[0175] Optionally, in step 1040: the terminal device receives second configuration information, which is used to configure the first search space.

[0176] The description of step 1040 can also be replaced with: The terminal device obtains the second configuration information. This can be done by the terminal device itself, by the terminal device obtaining the second configuration information according to a predefined method (such as a predefined protocol), or by the terminal device obtaining the second configuration information according to a predefined configuration. Alternatively, the terminal device can also obtain the second configuration information by receiving it.

[0177] For example, the first or second access network device can also configure a first search space for the terminal device, and the second configuration information can be carried in higher-layer signaling, such as RRC signaling or MAC CE signaling. The first search space is used to receive / search / determine / acquire / blindly detect the second PDCCH. For example, the first search space may contain one or more PDCCH candidate positions. The terminal device can blindly detect whether there is a DCI or a second PDCCH sent to it at each PDCCH candidate position contained in the first search space. The DCI sent to the terminal device is scrambled using the terminal device's identifier, such as the terminal device's RNTI. Furthermore, the terminal device can receive / search / determine / acquire / blindly detect the second PDCCH in the first search space according to the first control resource set.

[0178] Furthermore, optionally, the first search space has a lower priority; for example, the index of the first search space is larger. A larger index indicates a lower priority for the search space. Thus, when the number of PDCCH candidate positions that the terminal device needs to detect exceeds its capacity, the first search space can be dropped, meaning that the second control information containing information related to the second PDSCH is not detected. In other words, when the terminal device's capacity is limited and / or its workload is heavy, the terminal device can prioritize dropping detections in the first search space, meaning the terminal device may not perform interference suppression.

[0179] It is understood that the first search space can be a dedicated search space specifically for receiving the second PDCCH, on which the control information carried includes information related to the second PDSCH. Alternatively, a dedicated search space (i.e., the first search space) may not be configured for the terminal device, and the terminal device can utilize other configured search spaces to receive the second PDCCH.

[0180] In one possible implementation, the first access network device can configure a first search space for the terminal device. As shown in step 1040a of Figure 10: the first access network device sends second configuration information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second configuration information from the first access network device.

[0181] In another possible implementation, the second access network device can configure a first search space for the terminal device. As shown in step 1040b of Figure 10: the second access network device sends second configuration information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second configuration information from the second access network device.

[0182] Step 1050: The terminal device receives the second control information.

[0183] The second control information is associated with the second PDSCH, specifically meaning that the second control information contains relevant information about the second PDSCH. The second control information is carried in the second PDCCH. The description of step 1050 can be replaced with: the terminal device receives the second PDCCH, which carries the second control information, such as DCI, or the second control information can be considered to be carried in the DCI. The second control information is associated with the first control resource set. Specifically, the first control resource set is used to receive the second control information, which is carried on the second PDCCH. Alternatively, the first control resource set is used to receive the second PDCCH, and the second PDCCH carries the second control information.

[0184] For example, the terminal device can receive the second PDCCH according to the first control resource set configured in step 1020. Further, the terminal device obtains the second control information contained in the second PDCCH. Further still, the terminal device obtains the relevant information of the second PDSCH contained in the second control information. Then, referring to step 1060, the terminal device receives the first PDSCH according to the first control information and the relevant information of the second PDSCH.

[0185] In one possible implementation, when the second access network device determines that its second PDSCH may interfere with the first PDSCH, the second access network device can send relevant information about the second PDSCH to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can suppress interference based on the relevant information about the second PDSCH. The relevant information about the second PDSCH is carried in the second control information, as shown in step 1050a of Figure 10: the second access network device sends the second control information to the terminal device, the second control information containing the relevant information about the second PDSCH. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second control information from the second access network device. For details on this implementation, please refer to the description of the method shown in Figure 11 below.

[0186] In another possible implementation, the first access network device sends information related to the second PDSCH to the terminal device. This information is carried within the second control information, as shown in step 1050b of Figure 10: the first access network device sends the second control information to the terminal device, which contains information related to the second PDSCH. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second control information from the first access network device. In one understanding, the second PDSCH is sent by the first access network device; that is, the second PDSCH sent by the first access network device may interfere with the first PDSCH it is currently sending to the terminal device. The first access network device sends information related to the second PDSCH to the current terminal device. For details on the above implementation, please refer to the description of the method shown in Figure 12 below.

[0187] Step 1060: The terminal device receives the first PDSCH based on the first control information and the relevant information of the second PDSCH.

[0188] The relevant information of the second PDSCH is carried in the second control information. The description of step 1060 can also be replaced by: the terminal device receiving the first PDSCH according to the first control information and the second control information. The first control information is used to schedule the first PDSCH. The terminal device can receive the first PDSCH according to the first control information. The terminal device suppresses interference from the second PDSCH to the first PDSCH based on the relevant information of the second PDSCH, thereby improving the demodulation performance of the first PDSCH.

[0189] In this application, the time-frequency resources occupied by the second PDSCH overlap with those occupied by the first PDSCH. This overlap can be partial or complete, thus causing interference between the second PDSCH and the first PDSCH. The terminal device can suppress the interference of the second PDSCH to the first PDSCH based on the relevant information of the second PDSCH. It is understood that if the above overlap is a partial overlap of time-frequency resources, the terminal device can perform interference suppression on the overlapping part, and for the non-overlapping part, it can be considered that there is no interference, and interference suppression can be omitted. The "receive the first PDSCH" in step 1060 can be replaced by: suppressing interference to the first PDSCH, or suppressing interference of the second PDSCH to the first PDSCH, or detecting and / or demodulating the first PDSCH, etc.

[0190] The second PDSCH may contain one or more PDSCHs. When the second PDSCH contains multiple PDSCHs, the "xxx corresponding to the second PDSCH" described in this application may refer to xxx corresponding to each PDSCH contained in the second PDSCH. It is understood that if multiple PDSCHs may interfere with the first PDSCH, the first access network device or the second access network device may send the relevant information of the multiple PDSCHs to the terminal device. The terminal device then performs interference suppression based on the relevant information of the multiple PDSCHs.

[0191] For example, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes: the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) port corresponding to the second PDSCH. Optionally, the relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes: modulation order, and / or coding rate, etc. For example, the first PDSCH carries data information X1, and the second PDSCH carries data information X2. Due to the interference of the second PDSCH on the first PDSCH, the information received by the terminal device on the physical air interface can be represented as: H1*X1 + H2*X2 + N. N represents noise, H1 represents the equivalent channel experienced by X1, and H2 represents the equivalent channel experienced by X2. For example, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes: the DMRS port, modulation order, and coding rate of the second PDSCH. The terminal device can detect channel H2 based on the DMRS port of the second PDSCH. Furthermore, the terminal device decodes the demodulated bit information according to the coding rate and low-density parity check (LDPC) decoding algorithm. Then, based on the modulation order of the second PDSCH, the constellation point of X2 can be determined, thus obtaining X2. The process of suppressing interference to the first PDSCH can be, for example, as described below: Based on the information H1*X1+H2*X2+N received by the terminal device, H2X2 is subtracted, thereby suppressing the interference of the second PDSCH on the first PDSCH. It should be understood that the above interference suppression process is an example. In practice, the data information X2 carried in the first PDSCH may not be subtracted; instead, X1 and X2 can be uniformly demodulated using the constellation point information and modulation order of X1 and X2. It should be understood that this embodiment does not limit the specific method by which the terminal device receives the first PDSCH and performs interference suppression.

[0192] In the description of this application, "equivalent channel" can also be described as: channel characteristics.

[0193] It is understood that the order of the steps in the method shown in Figure 10 is not limited. For example, step 1010 may be placed before or after steps 1020 to 1040. Furthermore, the method of this application may contain more or fewer steps than shown in the figure, and each step may be divided into multiple steps, etc.

[0194] Figure 11 below also provides a flowchart of a communication method, the design of which is as follows: The first access network device serves as the access network device for the terminal device, and can also be called the serving access network device. The second access network device interferes with the communication of the terminal device, and can also be called the interfering access network device. The cell where the first access network device is located is adjacent to the cell where the second access network device is located, that is, the two cells are adjacent cells. One or more access network devices, such as one or more TRPs, can be deployed in a cell. The method of this application is applicable to scenarios in which one or more access network devices are deployed in a cell. The first access network device can send first control information to the terminal device, the first control information being used to schedule the terminal device to receive the first PDSCH. When the second PDSCH sent by the second access network device may interfere with the first PDSCH, the second access network device can send relevant information about the second PDSCH to the terminal device. The terminal device receives the first PDSCH based on the relevant information about the second PDSCH, or in other words, suppresses the interference of the second PDSCH on the first PDSCH, thereby improving the demodulation performance of the first PDSCH.

[0195] Furthermore, to improve the accuracy of the terminal device's reception of information related to the second PDSCH, the first access network device or the second access network device can configure a first control resource set for the terminal device. For example, the first access network device or the second access network device sends first configuration information for configuring the first control resource set to the terminal device. Based on the first control resource set, the terminal device receives information related to the second PDSCH and, based on this information, receives the first PDSCH / suppresses interference from the second PDSCH on the first PDSCH.

[0196] Figure 11 provides a flowchart of a communication method, which includes:

[0197] Optionally, in step 1100: the terminal device sends an interference suppression request to the first access network device.

[0198] Correspondingly, the first access network device receives an interference suppression request from the terminal device.

[0199] For example, access network devices can broadcast reference signals, such as synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SSB) and channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS). Terminal devices determine the presence of significantly interfering access network devices in their vicinity by measuring these reference signals. For instance, if the reference signal receiving power (RSRP) of a reference signal received by a terminal device from an access network device is greater than or equal to a first threshold, then that access network device is considered to be causing significant interference to the terminal device. The terminal device can then send an interference suppression request to the serving access network device (i.e., the first access network device). The interference suppression request includes a cell identifier or a reference signal identifier. For example, the cell identifier can be a physical cell identifier (PCI), and the reference signal identifier can be an SSB identifier or a CSI-RS identifier. The first access network device can identify the interfering access network device causing significant interference to the terminal device based on the aforementioned cell identifier or the aforementioned reference signal identifier. The first access network device and the interfering access network device can exchange information via the Xn interface, as detailed in step 1110. The interfering access network device is described below as the second access network device.

[0200] Optionally, step 1110: The first access network device and the second access network device exchange information.

[0201] For example, the first access network device and the second access network device can exchange information via the Xn interface. It should be understood that, in this application, the information exchanged between the first and second access network devices can be considered static or semi-static, not real-time information. Therefore, the interface requirements are not as stringent, and exchange can be achieved through the Xn interface. In other words, the method of this application is not dependent on whether the access network devices have deployed high-speed interactive interfaces. For real-time information, such as information related to the second PDSCH, the second access network device notifies the terminal device through second control information (such as DCI).

[0202] The information exchanged between the first access network device and the second access network device includes at least one of the following:

[0203] 1. Terminal Device Identification. The terminal device identification is used to uniquely identify a terminal device. For example, the terminal device identification can be a Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI) or a Temporary Cell RNTI (TC-RNTI). Optionally, the terminal device identification can be sent from the first access network device to the second access network device to enable the second access network device to identify the terminal device. Subsequently, the second access network device sends relevant information about the second PDSCH to the terminal device.

[0204] 2. Sounding reference signal (SRS) resource location of the terminal device. Optionally, the SRS resource location of the terminal device can be sent by the first access network device to the second access network device. The purpose is to enable the second access network device to determine the channel of the terminal device and further determine which PDSCHs of the second access network device have greater interference to the terminal device, that is, to determine the second PDSCH.

[0205] 3. Information related to the time-frequency resource range for scheduling terminal devices by the first access network device. This time-frequency resource range includes both time-domain and frequency-domain resource ranges. For example, the time-domain resource range may include parameters related to connected-discontinuous reception (C-DRX), such as at least one of the following: DRX cycle, on-duration timer, or DRX inactivity timer, which is used by the second access network device to estimate the activation period of the terminal device in connected mode. The frequency-domain resource range includes at least one of the following: the location of the terminal device's BWP, RBG size, or the subband location of the terminal device scheduled by the first access network device. This time-frequency resource range is an approximate range for scheduling terminal devices by the first access network device, not a precise time-frequency location. When scheduling the PDSCH (such as the second PDSCH) of the terminal device it serves, if the second access network device finds that the time-frequency location of the second PDSCH overlaps with the aforementioned time-frequency resource range, it may send relevant information about the second PDSCH to the terminal device.

[0206] 4. A first time-domain resource configuration table, primarily used by the second access network device to indicate the time-domain resource location of the second PDSCH to the terminal device. For example, this table contains at least one row, each row including three parameters: K0, mapping type, and the start and end symbols of the PDSCH. K0 is used to determine the time slot interval between the PDCCH (e.g., the second PDCCH) and the PDSCH (e.g., the second PDSCH). In one possible implementation, the second access network device can indicate the index of a row in the above table to the terminal device (e.g., in the second control information). The terminal device determines the corresponding parameters in the first time-domain resource configuration table based on the indicated row index, such as K0, mapping type, and the start symbol of the PDSCH; the terminal device then determines the time-domain resource location of the second PDSCH based on these parameters. Optionally, this first time-domain resource configuration table can be shared by multiple access network devices; that is, multiple access network devices can use the above first time-domain resource configuration table to indicate the time-domain resource location of the PDSCH to the terminal device. Optionally, the first access network device or the second access network device may also configure the aforementioned first time domain resource configuration table to the terminal device.

[0207] 5. A first control resource set and / or a first search space, primarily used by the second access network device to send second control information containing information related to the second PDSCH to the terminal device. The first control resource set or the first search space can be a dedicated control resource set or search space, specifically used by the second access network device to send second control information containing information related to the second PDSCH to the terminal device. The first control resource set and / or the first search space can be sent by the second access network device to the first access network device, or by the first access network device to the second access network device, or determined through negotiation between the two; there is no limitation. Subsequently, the first access network device or the second access network device can configure the first control resource set and / or the first search space to the terminal device.

[0208] It should be understood that the information exchanged between the first access network device and the second access network device described above is merely an example. Optionally, the aforementioned information exchanged between the second access network device and the first access network device may also be sent from the second access network device; this application does not limit this to that.

[0209] Step 1120: The first access network device or the second access network device sends the first configuration information to the terminal device.

[0210] Accordingly, the terminal device receives first configuration information from the first access network device or the second access network device.

[0211] The first configuration information is used to configure the first control resource set. For example, the first access network device can configure the first control resource set for the terminal device. As shown in step 1120a of Figure 11: The first access network device sends the first configuration information to the terminal device. Or, as shown in step 1120b of Figure 11: The second access network device sends the first configuration information to the terminal device.

[0212] In one possible implementation, the first control resource set is associated with a first BWP, specifically, the first control resource set is configured under the first BWP. The first BWP can be a BWP of the terminal device, for example, the first BWP can be the active BWP of the terminal device; or, the first BWP can be a BWP in the serving cell of the terminal device; or, the first BWP can also be a BWP configured for the terminal device by the first access network device. Optionally, the first BWP is associated with a second cell, or in other words, the first BWP is configured under a second cell, which can be, for example, the serving cell of the terminal device (such as the cell of the first access network device).

[0213] In other words, the first set of control resources can be configured under the BWP of the terminal device (this BWP is called the first BWP). The first PDSCH can be carried on the first BWP, or the first PDSCH can be not carried on the first BWP, without restriction.

[0214] In another possible implementation, the first control resource set is associated with the second BWP, specifically, the first control resource set is configured under the second BWP. The second BWP can be a BWP configured by the second access network device, for example, the second BWP can be configured by the second access network device to serve other terminals; or, the second BWP can be a BWP in an interfering cell of the terminal device. Optionally, the second BWP is associated with a first cell, or in other words, the second BWP is configured under the first cell, which can be, for example, an interfering cell near the terminal device (such as the cell of the second access network device).

[0215] In other words, the first control resource set can be configured under the BWP of the second access network device. The second PDSCH can be carried on the second BWP, or it can be not carried on the second BWP; there is no restriction. The second BWP is different from the first BWP.

[0216] In one description: the first BWP is associated with a second cell, where the second cell is the serving cell of the terminal device. For example, the first BWP is the BWP of the serving cell of the terminal device; or, the second cell is a cell under the first access network device. For example, the first BWP could also be a BWP configured by the first access network device for the terminal device. The second BWP is associated with the first cell, where the first cell is a cell under the second access network device. For example, the second BWP could be a BWP configured by the second access network device to serve other terminals; or, the first cell is an interfering cell, and the second BWP could be a BWP in an interfering cell of the terminal device. The second cell is different from the first cell.

[0217] Optionally, the first access network device or the second access network device may further configure at least one TCI state for the first control resource set. This at least one TCI state may be referred to as a second TCI state, or it may be described as a second TCI state containing one or more TCI states. For example, the first configuration information may also include configuration information for the second TCI state. Specifically, at least one TCI state contained in the second TCI state is associated with a reference signal (e.g., a second reference signal). This association could be as follows: at least one TCI state contained in the second TCI state is associated with a second reference signal, such as an SSB, CSI-RS, or a tracking reference signal (TRS). The second reference signal and the reference signal carried by the second PDCCH satisfy a QCL relationship. For example, the DMRS carried by the second PDCCH. Specifically, a TCI state is defined as: the aforementioned second reference signal and the reference signal (DMRS) carried by the second PDCCH satisfy a QCL relationship. It is understood that the second control information in this application is carried on the second PDCCH. In this case, the second PDCCH carries at least two signals: a reference signal (DMRS) and second control information (DCI).

[0218] Optionally, the second reference signal, the reference signal (DMRS) carried by the second PDCCH, and the second control information (DCI) carried by the second PDCCH are all sent by the second access network device. The purpose of configuring the second TCI state for the first control resource set is to receive / demodulate the second control information (DCI) according to the first control resource set. Alternatively, the purpose of configuring the second TCI state for the first control resource set is to receive the second control channel according to the first control resource set. For example, one TCI state in the second TCI state is called TCI state 1. The terminal device can receive or demodulate the second control information (DCI) according to TCI state 1 and the first control resource set. Optionally, TCI state 1 can specifically be: the second reference signal and the DMRS carried in the second PDCCH satisfy a QCL relationship. Optionally, the terminal device can detect the second reference signal, determine and adjust for time / frequency offset, etc., to better detect the reference signal (DMRS) carried in the second PDCCH and determine the equivalent channel H2; based on the equivalent channel H2, it can demodulate the second control information (DCI) carried in the second PDCCH, thereby achieving accurate demodulation of the second control information DCI according to the first control resource set. It should be noted that the equivalent channel described in this application can also be replaced by various descriptions such as channel characteristics and channel parameters.

[0219] For example, a TCI state (such as TCI state 1 above) in the second TCI state can be indicated to the terminal device in the following way: For instance, 64 TCI states can be configured for the first control resource set, meaning the second TCI state contains 64 TCI states. The access network device (such as the second access network device) can activate a TCI state via a MAC CE, whereby the MAC CE contains an identifier (such as an index) of the first control resource set and an identifier (such as an index) of the activated TCI state. The terminal device uses the activated TCI state to receive second control information according to the first control resource set. It should be understood that the above configuration of 64 TCI states for the first control resource set is an example, and this application does not limit the number of configured TCI states.

[0220] Step 1130: The first access network device or the second access network device sends the first instruction information to the terminal device.

[0221] Accordingly, the terminal device receives a first indication information from the first access network device or the second access network device.

[0222] The first indication information is used to instruct the first control resource set to receive the second PDCCH, wherein the second control information carried by the second PDCCH includes relevant information about the second PDSCH. The function of the first indication information can also be alternatively described as: the first indication information is used to instruct the first control resource set to receive the second control information from the second access network device. Optionally, the function of the first indication information can also be alternatively described as: the first indication information is used to instruct the first control resource set to receive relevant information about the second PDSCH from the terminal device.

[0223] As shown in step 1130a of Figure 11: The first access network device sends first indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information from the first access network device.

[0224] Alternatively, as shown in step 1130b of Figure 11: the second access network device sends first indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information from the second access network device.

[0225] In one possible implementation, this implementation can be applied to either of the following two scenarios: the first control resource set is associated with a first BWP (e.g., the first control resource set is configured under the BWP of the terminal device, which is called the first BWP), or the first control resource set is associated with a second BWP (e.g., the first control resource set is configured under the BWP of the second access network device, which is called the second BWP). For details regarding the first BWP and the second BWP, please refer to the relevant description in step 1120; it will not be repeated here.

[0226] Optionally, the first indication information and the first configuration information can be included in the same higher-layer signaling, such as RRC signaling. In this case, the higher-layer signaling includes at least two parts: one part is the first configuration information, which is used to configure the first control resource set; the other part is the first indication information, which is used to indicate that the first control resource set configured by the first configuration information is used to receive the second PDCCH / related information for receiving the second PDSCH. The fact that the first indication information and the first configuration information are carried in the same higher-layer signaling can implicitly indicate that there is a relationship between the two, such as the first indication information indicating that the first control resource set configured by the first configuration information is used to receive the second PDCCH / related information for receiving the second PDSCH. Accordingly, the terminal device can use the first control resource set configured by the first configuration information to receive the second PDCCH / related information for receiving the second PDSCH according to the indication of the first indication information. Alternatively, the first indication information can be included in the first configuration information. For example, the first configuration information can be updated with the first indication information, or the original fields of the first configuration information can be expanded (such as the coreset Pool Index field below) to enable it to perform the corresponding indication function.

[0227] The first indication information may include field A, which implements the indication function of the first indication information. For example, field A can expand upon the control resource set pool index field included in the current control resource set configuration information. Currently, the coreset pool index field has a value of 0 or 1, indicating that the configured control resource set is used to detect DCI from the first serving access network device or the second serving access network device of the terminal device, respectively. The two access network devices provide services to the terminal device and are referred to as the first serving access network device and the second serving access network device, respectively. For example, when the coreset pool index field included in the control resource set configuration information has a value of 0, it indicates that the configured control resource set is used by the terminal device to detect DCI from the first serving access network device. Conversely, when the coreset pool index field has a value of 1, it can indicate that the configured control resource set is used by the terminal device to detect DCI from the second serving access network device. In the method of this application, the value of the coreset Pool Index field can be extended. For example, the value of the coreset Pool Index field can be extended to 2 bits, and the newly added value can be used to indicate the configured first control resource set for the terminal device to detect the second PDCCH (or second control information, such as DCI) from the interfering access network device (i.e., the second access network device). Alternatively, field A can also have other implementations. For example, field A can contain an identifier for uniquely identifying the second access network device, such as the identifier of the cell in which the second access network device is located, such as PCI.

[0228] In another possible implementation, this implementation can be applied to the following scenario: the first control resource set is associated with the second BWP (e.g., the first control resource set is configured under the BWP of the second access network device, which is called the second BWP; the relevant description of the second BWP can be referred to in step 1120, and will not be repeated here).

[0229] Optionally, the process of configuring the first control resource set under the second BWP of the second access network device is as follows: the access network device (such as the second access network device) can send configuration information of the second BWP to the terminal device, which is used to configure the second BWP to the terminal device. Then, the access network device (such as the first or second access network device) configures the first control resource set under the second BWP. In this application, the configuration information of the second BWP can implement the indication function of the first indication information; that is, the first indication information can be configuration information used to configure the second BWP. Configuring the first control resource set under the second BWP of the second access network device can implicitly or indirectly indicate that the first control resource set is used to receive the second PDCCH from the second access network device. Therefore, it is not necessary to add additional first indication information in the higher-layer signaling or the first configuration information used to configure the first control resource set.

[0230] For example, a first BWP contains frequency domain resources indexed 0 to 64, and a second BWP contains frequency domain resources indexed 65 to 129. If the first control resource set is configured to occupy one or more of the aforementioned frequency domain resources from 0 to 64, then the first control resource set is considered to be configured under the first BWP. Alternatively, if the first control resource set is configured to occupy one or more of the frequency domain resources from 65 to 129, then the first control resource set is considered to be configured under the second BWP. Of course, the frequency domain resources contained in the aforementioned first BWP and second BWP may overlap. It should be understood that the frequency domain resources contained in the aforementioned first BWP and second BWP are merely examples and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0231] Optionally, in step 1140: the first access network device or the second access network device sends the second configuration information to the terminal device.

[0232] Accordingly, the terminal device receives second configuration information from the first access network device or the second access network device.

[0233] The second configuration information is used to configure the first search space. For example, the first access network device can configure the first search space for the terminal device. As shown in step 1140a of Figure 11: The first access network device sends the second configuration information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second configuration information from the first access network device. Alternatively, the second access network device can configure the first search space for the terminal device. As shown in step 1140b of Figure 11: The second access network device sends the second configuration information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second configuration information from the second access network device.

[0234] It should be understood that the aforementioned first search space is used to receive / search / determine the second PDCCH. Specifically, the terminal device can receive the second PDCCH within the first search space, based on the first control resource set. A description of the first search space can be found in step 1040 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0235] Optionally, step 1150: The terminal device sends an SRS.

[0236] Accordingly, the first access network device or the second access network device receives the SRS.

[0237] For example, the terminal device sends an SRS based on the location of the SRS resource. The first access network device, as the serving access network device of the terminal device, can receive the SRS at the SRS resource location. Further, the first access network device can obtain the uplink channel of the terminal device based on the received SRS. According to the principle of uplink and downlink channel reciprocity in a time division duplex (TDD) system, the uplink channel of the terminal device can be used as its downlink channel. Based on the downlink channel of the terminal device, the first access network device can determine the downlink transmission parameters of the first PDSCH, such as the MCS and downlink precoding scheme. Optionally, step 1150 is mainly applied in time division duplex systems.

[0238] In step 1110, the first access network device and the second access network device exchange information about the SRS resource location of the terminal device. Therefore, the second access network device can obtain the location of the SRS resource of the terminal device. The second access network device can receive SRS at the SRS resource location and determine the downlink channel of the terminal device (hereinafter referred to as the terminal device's channel) based on the principle of channel reciprocity. Based on the terminal device's channel, the second access network device can determine one or more flows that significantly interfere with the terminal device, or one or more PDSCHs that significantly interfere with the terminal device. These one or more flows, or one or more PDSCHs, are sent by the second access network device to other terminal devices, and they interfere with the terminal device's reception of the first PDSCH.

[0239] Step 1160: The first access network device sends the first control information to the terminal device.

[0240] Accordingly, the terminal device receives the first control information from the first access network device.

[0241] The first control information is used to schedule the first PDSCH, such as scheduling the terminal device to receive the first PDSCH. For example, the first control information is DCI. The terminal device receives the first PDSCH according to the instruction of the DCI.

[0242] Step 1170: The second access network device sends the second control information to the terminal device.

[0243] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives second control information from the second access network device.

[0244] The second control information includes information related to the second PDSCH, which contains one or more PDSCHs. For example, the second control information can be a DCI. This DCI can be in the same format as the DCI of other terminal devices scheduling the services of the second access network device, or it can be a DCI of a new format. In other words, the information related to the second PDSCH can be carried in the DCI of other terminal devices scheduling the services of the second access network device, or it can be carried in a DCI of a new format. Optionally, the second control information is scrambled with the identifier of the terminal device, such as the RNTI of the terminal device.

[0245] In one possible implementation, the second access network device indicates relevant information about the interference flow to the terminal device on a flow-by-flow basis. For an explanation of the flow, please refer to the terminology description 8.

[0246] For example, the second access network device discovers that the time-frequency resources occupied by the second PDSCH overlap with the time-frequency resource range used by the first access network device to schedule terminal devices. In step 1110, through interaction between the first and second access network devices, the second access network device can obtain the time-frequency resource range used by the first access network device to schedule terminal devices. The second access network device determines that the second PDSCH is a PDSCH that may potentially interfere with the terminal devices. The second PDSCH contains one or more PDSCHs, and each PDSCH contains at least one flow. The second access network device can identify the flow with greater interference from all flows contained in the second PDSCH as the interfering flow. The number of interfering flows can be one or more. The interfering flow is some or all of the flows contained in the second PDSCH. When the second PDSCH contains multiple PDSCHs, the multiple interfering flows can belong to the same PDSCH or to multiple different PDSCHs, without restriction.

[0247] As explained earlier, the second access network device receives SRS at the SRS resource location and can determine the channel of the terminal device. Based on the terminal device's channel and the precoding vector of each stream, the second access network device can identify one or more interfering streams that pose a significant threat to the terminal device. For example, the second access network device applies the precoding vector of each stream to the terminal device's channel to determine the level of interference. When the interference of a stream exceeds a threshold, it is considered a stream with significant interference. It is understood that the number of interfering streams can be one or more, and these streams can belong to the same PDSCH or multiple different PDSCHs; there is no restriction. The second access network device sends second control information to the terminal device. This second control information contains information related to one or more interfering streams, or it can be described as containing information related to the second PDSCH, which in turn contains information related to one or more interfering streams. These one or more interfering streams are some or all of the streams contained in the second PDSCH.

[0248] It is understandable that an interfering flow is a flow that potentially causes interference, that is, a flow that may potentially interfere with the terminal device. In this application, the interfering flow is sent by the second access network device, and the first PDSCH is sent by the first access network device to the terminal device. The second access network device cannot accurately obtain the time-frequency resource location of the first PDSCH. However, the second access network device can obtain the time-frequency resource range (i.e., the time-frequency resource range of the first PDSCH) that the first access network device schedules for the terminal device through the Xn interface. Therefore, when a certain PDSCH sent by the second access network device overlaps with the time-frequency resource range that the first access network device schedules for the terminal device, the flow that causes greater interference to the terminal device in that PDSCH (i.e., the interfering flow) can be identified. Because of this, the terminal device may need to obtain the time-frequency resource location information of each interfering flow to determine the time-frequency resource locations where each interfering flow overlaps with the first PDSCH, and perform interference suppression at the overlapping time-frequency resource locations. Locations where the time-frequency resources do not overlap can be considered unaffected by the current interfering flow, and interference suppression based on the relevant information of the current interfering flow is not required.

[0249] It should be understood that the time-frequency resource location of an interfering flow can be understood as the time-frequency resource location of the PDSCH to which the interfering flow belongs, that is, the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the second PDSCH. For example, if a PDSCH contains 3 flows, and all 3 flows can be interfering flows, then the time-frequency resource locations of these 3 flows are the time-frequency resource locations of that PDSCH.

[0250] The relevant information for each interference stream includes: the DMRS port corresponding to that interference stream. Optionally, the DMRS port corresponding to the interference stream can be understood as the DMRS port corresponding to the antenna port that transmits the interference stream. Alternatively, it can be understood as the interference stream corresponding to the interference antenna port, and the aforementioned interference antenna port corresponding to the DMRS port.

[0251] Optionally, the relevant information for each interference stream also includes: the modulation order and / or coding rate corresponding to that interference stream. The multiple parameters included in the relevant information for each interference stream can be indicated jointly or individually. For example, the relevant information for each interference stream includes the following parameters (DMRS port, modulation order). For instance, there are a maximum of 24 DMRS ports; if indicated individually, indicating a specific DMRS port requires 5 bits (2^34 bits). 5 =32). For example, there are a maximum of 5 modulation orders. If indicated individually, indicating a specific modulation order requires 3 bits (2^32). 3 =8). Therefore, indicating the relevant parameters of an interference stream requires 8 bits. Alternatively, if a joint indication is used, the combination of the DMRS port and modulation order has a maximum of 24*5=120 possibilities, requiring 7 bits (2... 7 =128), which can indicate a specific combination of DMRS port and modulation order (that is, indicate the relevant parameters of an interference stream), saving 1 bit of overhead.

[0252] Optionally, in the above possible implementations, the relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes: the time-frequency resource location information corresponding to the second PDSCH. For example, the second PDSCH contains three interference streams, namely interference stream 1, interference stream 2, and interference stream 3. Among them, interference stream 1 and interference stream 2 belong to PDSCH1, and interference stream 3 belongs to PDSCH2. Then, the time-frequency resource location information corresponding to the second PDSCH specifically includes: the time-frequency resource location 1 of PDSCH1 and the time-frequency resource location information 2 of PDSCH2.

[0253] The purpose of the second access network device sending the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the second PDSCH to the terminal device is twofold: Firstly, the terminal device determines whether the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the second PDSCH overlaps with the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the first PDSCH (e.g., complete or partial overlap). If overlap exists, step 1180 is executed, such as interference suppression based on the relevant information of the second PDSCH. Otherwise, step 1180 is not executed, and the terminal device receives the first PDSCH based on the first control information. Secondly, when the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes information about multiple interference flows, the terminal device can perform interference suppression on the corresponding time-frequency resource location based on the corresponding interference flow. For example, the first PDSCH occupies 10 frequency domain resources, such as 10 RBs. There are two interference flows, namely interference flow 1 and interference flow 2. The frequency domain location of interference flow 1 overlaps with the first 5 frequency domain resource locations of the first PDSCH. Then, interference suppression is performed on the first 5 frequency domain resource locations of the first PDSCH based on the relevant information of interference flow 1. If the frequency domain location of interference stream 2 overlaps with the last 5 frequency domain resource locations of the first PDSCH, then interference suppression is performed in the last 5 frequency domain resource locations of the first PDSCH based on the relevant information of interference stream 2.

[0254] In another possible implementation, the second access network device indicates interference-related information to the terminal device in units of PDSCH.

[0255] For example, a second access network device discovers that the time-frequency resources of one or more PDSCHs overlap with the time-frequency resource range of the terminal devices scheduled by the first access network device. The second access network device can, based on the channel information of the terminal devices obtained from the SRS, determine one or more PDSCHs with greater interference from the aforementioned one or more PDSCHs; these are designated as the second PDSCH. The second PDSCH in this application may comprise one or more PDSCHs.

[0256] For example, any one of the aforementioned PDSCHs, if convenient to describe, is referred to as PDSCH X. PDSCH X contains one or more flows. Optionally, the second access network device determines whether PDSCH X is a PDSCH that causes significant interference to the terminal device based on the terminal device's channel and the coding vector of each flow contained in PDSCH X. The implementation method for determining the flow causing significant interference (i.e., the interfering flow) has been described above. For example, when the number of flows causing significant interference in PDSCH X exceeds a threshold, PDSCH X is considered an interfering PDSCH, and the second PDSCH must contain at least PDSCH X. For example, if PDSCH X contains 4 flows, and 3 of these 4 flows are flows causing significant interference, then PDSCH X is considered an interfering PDSCH, and the threshold value can be considered to be 3. It should be understood that the above method by which the second access network device determines the second PDSCH is an example, and this application does not limit it.

[0257] The relevant information for the second PDSCH includes the DMRS port corresponding to the second PDSCH. Optionally, it also includes: the modulation order corresponding to the second PDSCH, and / or the coding rate corresponding to the second PDSCH. Optionally, the antenna ports field and MCS field in the current DCI can be reused to indicate the DMRS port corresponding to the second PDSCH and the modulation order corresponding to the second PDSCH, respectively. Optionally, it can also indicate which MCS table is specifically used for the second PDSCH.

[0258] It is understandable that the second PDSCH can also be called an interfering PDSCH. An interfering PDSCH is a PDSCH that may potentially cause interference, that is, a PDSCH that may potentially interfere with the terminal device. In this application, the interfering PDSCH is sent by the second access network device, and the first PDSCH is sent by the first access network device to the terminal device. The second access network device cannot accurately obtain the time-frequency resource location of the first PDSCH. However, the second access network device can obtain the time-frequency resource range (i.e., the time-frequency resource range of the first PDSCH) that the first access network device schedules for the terminal device through the Xn interface. Therefore, when a certain PDSCH sent by the second access network device overlaps with the time-frequency resource range that the first access network device schedules for the terminal device, it can be further determined whether the PDSCH has a large interference effect on the terminal device. If it does, the PDSCH can be regarded as an interfering PDSCH. For this reason, the terminal device may need to obtain the time-frequency resource location information of each interfering PDSCH, determine the time-frequency resource location where each interfering PDSCH overlaps with the first PDSCH, and perform interference suppression at the overlapping time-frequency resource location. Since there are no overlapping positions in the time-frequency resources, they can be considered unaffected by the current interfering PDSCH, and interference suppression based on the relevant information of the current interfering PDSCH is no longer necessary.

[0259] Optionally, in the above possible implementations, the relevant information of the second PDSCH further includes: the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the second PDSCH. When the second PDSCH contains multiple PDSCHs, the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the second PDSCH specifically refers to: the time-frequency resource location of each PDSCH among the multiple PDSCHs contained in the second PDSCH. For example, the second PDSCH contains PDSCH1, PDSCH2, and PDSCH3. The relevant information of the second PDSCH specifically includes: the time-frequency resource location of PDSCH1, the time-frequency resource location of PDSCH2, and the time-frequency resource location of PDSCH3.

[0260] The terminal device can use the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the second PDSCH to determine the location where it overlaps with the time-frequency resource location of the first PDSCH; and at the overlapping location, it can use the relevant information of the corresponding PDSCH to demodulate or receive the first PDSCH. For example, the second PDSCH includes PDSCH1 and PDSCH2. If a portion of the frequency domain resources of the first PDSCH overlaps with PDSCH1, then at that location, the relevant information of PDSCH1 is used to receive or demodulate the first PDSCH. If another portion of the frequency domain resources of the second PDSCH overlaps with PDSCH2, then at that location, the relevant information of PDSCH2 is used to receive or demodulate the first PDSCH.

[0261] In the two possible implementations described above, when the first access network device or the second access network device indicates the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the second PDSCH to the terminal device: the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the second PDSCH specifically includes: the time-domain resource location of the second PDSCH and the frequency-domain resource location of the second PDSCH.

[0262] Optionally, the time-domain resource location of the second PDSCH can be indicated using the TDRA field. Furthermore, the time-domain resource configuration table referenced by the TDRA field can also be indicated. This table could be a default time-domain resource configuration table, a common time-domain resource configuration table (i.e., the first time-domain resource configuration table in step 1100 above), or a time-domain resource configuration table determined by other means. Optionally, the first access network device or the second access network device can send third indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the third indication information from the first access network device or the second access network device. The third indication information is used to indicate the time-domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH, such as the time-domain resource configuration table.

[0263] Optionally, the frequency domain resource location of the second PDSCH can be indicated using a frequency domain resource allocation (FDRA) field. Optionally, the FDRA field can be indicated based on the BWP and / or RBG of the terminal device under the first access network device. Furthermore, the type of FDRA can also be indicated, such as type 0 or type 1. For example, specifically, the first or second access network device can send fourth indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the fourth indication information from the first or second access network device, which indicates the frequency domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH, such as the frequency domain resource configuration type, such as type 0 or type 1.

[0264] Optionally, the aforementioned third and / or fourth indication information may be higher-level signaling, such as RRC signaling.

[0265] Optionally, the first or second access network device can also configure the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH for the terminal device. For example, the first or second access network device sends third configuration information to the terminal device. Accordingly, the terminal device receives the third configuration information from the first or second access network device, which is used to configure the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH. Optionally, configuring the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH can be understood as configuring the type of the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH (DMRS configuration type), the time domain location of the DMRS, etc.

[0266] The terminal device can determine the type and time-domain location of the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH based on the third configuration information. Then, combining this with the DMRS port included in the second PDSCH-related information mentioned above, it can determine the equivalent channel H2 traversed by the second PDSCH. Based on the equivalent channel H2 and the modulation order of the second PDSCH, the data information X2 carried in the second PDSCH can be determined. Finally, based on H2 and X2, it can receive the first PDSCH or suppress interference from the second PDSCH on the first PDSCH.

[0267] It should be understood that the above-described method of receiving a PDSCH / suppressing the interference of the second PDSCH on the first PDSCH is only an example, and this application does not limit the specific scheme.

[0268] Optionally, the third configuration information may be included in the second control information, or it may not be included in the second control information (e.g., included in other information besides the second control information), or it may be partially included in the second control information and partially not included in the second control information (e.g., partially included in other information besides the second control information). It is understood that the "second control information" described herein may refer to the second control information sent by the second access network device to the terminal device in step 1170 of the method shown in Figure 11, or it may refer to the second control information sent by the first access network device to the terminal device in the method shown in Figure 12.

[0269] Optionally, the second access network device can configure the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH for the terminal device, such as by sending third configuration information to the terminal device. Alternatively, the second access network device can send the DMRS configuration corresponding to the second PDSCH to the first access network device via the Xn interface. The first access network device then configures the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH for the terminal device, such as by sending third configuration information to the terminal device.

[0270] For example, the configuration information of the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH includes at least one of the following:

[0271] Time-domain related parameters: Number of CDM group(s) without data, single / double symbols, DMRS start symbol l0, additional position.

[0272] Frequency domain related parameters: DMRS type (DMRS configuration type), such as type 1 or type 2.

[0273] Sequence-related parameters: Scrambling ID.

[0274] In one possible implementation, the third configuration information includes all of the above information and is sent to the terminal device by the second access network device.

[0275] In another possible implementation, the aforementioned "bold" parameters may remain unchanged for a considerable period and remain consistent across multiple terminal devices under the second access network device. In this case, the second access network device could transmit the bolded information to the first access network device via the Xn interface, and the first access network device could then send the bolded information to the terminal devices. Information other than the bolded information can be sent to the terminal devices by the second access network device, for example, carried in the second PDCCH or in the second control information.

[0276] In another possible implementation, some parameters in the DMRS configuration of the first access network device and the second access network device can be restricted to be the same. In this case, considering that the first access network device has already configured the DMRS for the terminal device during the service process, only different parameters need to be configured or indicated when configuring the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH for the terminal device. For example, except for the scrambling code identifier and the number of code division multiplexing (CDM) groups without data, the other parameters in the DMRS configuration of the first and second access network devices are the same. Then, only the following two parameters need to be configured to the terminal device: the scrambling code identifier and the number of CDM groups without data, thereby improving the accuracy of the terminal device in detecting the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH. Optionally, in the above case, the third configuration information includes the scrambling code identifier and the number of CDM groups without data. The third configuration information can be included in DCI or higher-layer signaling, such as MAC CE or RRC. In this case, the third configuration information can be sent by either the first or the second access network device.

[0277] Optionally, the first or second access network device can configure 64 TCI states for the terminal device. At least one of these 64 TCI states is associated with the second PDSCH. Specifically, this association involves the TCI state being associated with a reference signal (e.g., a first reference signal), and the first reference signal and the reference signal (e.g., DMRS) carried by the second PDSCH satisfying a QCL relationship. Alternatively, the first or second access network device can activate the first TCI state among the configured TCI states. For example, activating the first TCI state using MAC CE, the first TCI state is associated with the second PDSCH. The first or second access network device can indicate one of the activated first TCI states (e.g., TCI state 2) to the terminal device, such as the second control information (DCI) containing an identifier for TCI state 2. TCI state 2 contains the QCI relationship between the second reference signal and the reference signal (DMRS) carried by the second PDSCH. The terminal device can determine and adjust time offset / frequency offset, etc., based on the second reference signal, so as to better detect the reference signal (DMRS) carried by the second PDSCH and obtain the equivalent channel experienced by the second PDSCH, and then receive the first PDSCH based on the equivalent channel / suppress the interference of the second PDSCH on the first PDSCH.

[0278] Furthermore, optionally, the first access network device or the second access network device may also send second indication information to the terminal device. The corresponding terminal device receives the second indication information from the first access network device or the second access network device. The second indication information is used to indicate that the first TCI state is associated with the second PDSCH, or the second indication information is used to indicate that the first TCI state corresponds to the first control resource set.

[0279] Optionally, the first TCI state is associated with the second PDSCH. This can be understood as the first TCI state being used to receive the second PDSCH, or the reference signals included in the first reference signal associated with the first TCI state and the second PDSCH satisfying the QCL relationship. It can be understood that "receiving the second PDSCH" includes: receiving the second PDSCH over the air interface, but does not include demodulating the information bits contained in the second PDSCH, nor does it include reporting the information bits in the second PDSCH to higher layers, etc.

[0280] Optionally, the first TCI state corresponds to the first control resource set, which can be understood as follows: considering that the first control resource set is associated with the second PDSCH, the first TCI state corresponds to the first control resource set, that is, the first TCI state is used to receive the second PDSCH, or the reference signal included in the first reference signal associated with the first TCI state and the second PDSCH satisfies the QCL relationship. The association of the first control resource set with the second PDSCH can be understood as the first control resource set being associated with the second control information, and the second control information being associated with the second PDSCH (e.g., the second control information contains relevant information about the second PDSCH). Furthermore, optionally, "receiving the second PDSCH" includes: receiving the second PDSCH over the air interface, but does not include demodulating the information bits contained in the second PDSCH, nor does it include reporting the information bits in the second PDSCH to higher layers, etc.

[0281] Alternatively, the second indication information can be considered as indicating that the first TCI state is used to receive the second PDSCH associated with the first control resource set. The meaning of "receive the second PDSCH" here is the same as above and will not be repeated.

[0282] It is understood that the first TCI state is an active TCI state. Optionally, the second indication information can be carried in higher-layer signaling, such as a MAC CE. For example, the MAC CE sent by the first access network device or the second access network device to activate the first TCI state can carry the aforementioned second indication information. For example, the second indication information can include field A. Regarding field A, please refer to the relevant description in step 1130, which will not be repeated here.

[0283] Optionally, the first TCI state and / or the second TCI state are associated with the first cell. For example, they can be associated with the identifier of the first cell. The first cell can be a cell of the second access network device. The cell identifier can be a physical cell ID (PCI), or other identifiers, or even a cell index, without limitation. Associating the first TCI state with the first cell identifier can be understood as: the configuration information of the first TCI state includes the first cell identifier. Associating the second TCI state with the first cell identifier can be understood as: the configuration information of the second TCI state includes the first cell identifier.

[0284] Optionally, the first control information is associated with a second control resource set, such as when the terminal device receives the first control information based on the second control resource set. The second control resource set is associated with a second cell, such as when the configuration information of the TCI status corresponding to the second control resource set includes a second cell identifier, which may be the identifier of the cell of the first access network device, and the first cell identifier is different from the second cell identifier.

[0285] It is understood that, from the perspective of the second access network device, the actions or steps performed by the second access network device may also include (or, as described in Figure 11, may also include) the following steps: The second access network device sends third control information to the target terminal device. Correspondingly, the target terminal device receives the third control information from the second access network device. The third control information is scrambled with the identifier of the target terminal device, such as the target terminal device's RNTI. The third control information schedules the second PDSCH. The second access network device sends the second PDSCH; correspondingly, the target terminal device receives the second PDSCH. It should be understood that the target terminal device is a terminal device that serves the second access network device itself. Optionally, the target terminal device may be different from the terminal device currently receiving the first control information and the first PDSCH.

[0286] Step 1180: The terminal device receives the first PDSCH based on the first control information and the relevant information of the second PDSCH.

[0287] For example, the terminal device can receive the first PDSCH based on the first control information. It should be understood that "receiving the first PDSCH" here includes demodulating the first PDSCH. For instance, based on the relevant information of the second PDSCH, the first PDSCH is demodulated to suppress interference, obtain the information bits in the first PDSCH, and report it to higher layers. The terminal device can also perform interference suppression based on the relevant information of the second PDSCH, thereby improving the demodulation performance of the first PDSCH.

[0288] Optionally, the concept of a "cooperative set" can be introduced in this application. A cooperative set can contain multiple access network devices, such as multiple TRPs, which can share a baseband BBU. Optionally, high-speed interfaces can be deployed between access network devices within the same cooperative set, allowing for real-time exchange of dynamic scheduling information to suppress interference. In the method shown in Figure 11, the first and second access network devices can be located in different cooperative sets. For example, the first access network device may be located in cooperative set 1, and the second access network device may be located in cooperative set 2, which are different from cooperative set 2. Since there are no high-speed interfaces between access network devices in different cooperative sets, real-time exchange of dynamic scheduling information is not possible. Therefore, the method shown in Figure 11 can be used to suppress interference. For example, the second access network device can directly send relevant information of the second PDSCH to the terminal device, which then performs interference suppression. Alternatively, the first and second access network devices in the method shown in Figure 11 can be located in the same cooperative set, and the two access network devices in the same cooperative set can also use the method shown in Figure 11 to suppress interference. Alternatively, the concept of a "cell" can be introduced, with one or more access network devices deployed in each cell, such as TRP. In the method shown in Figure 11, the first and second access network devices can be located in different cells, such as adjacent cells. For example, the first access network device is located in cell 1, and the second access network device is located in cell 2; cell 1 and cell 2 are adjacent cells. Alternatively, in the method shown in Figure 11, the first and second access network devices can be located in the same cell.

[0289] The order of the steps in the method shown in Figure 11 is not limited. For example, step 1160 can be placed after steps 1120 to 1150, or it can be placed before steps 1120 to 1150.

[0290] Through the above design, the first access network device, acting as the serving access network device for the terminal device, sends a first PDSCH to the terminal device. When a second PDSCH sent by the second access network device may interfere with the first PDSCH, the second access network device sends relevant information about the second PDSCH to the terminal device, which then performs interference suppression based on this information, thereby improving the demodulation performance of the first PDSCH. Furthermore, by configuring a first control resource set for the terminal device and further configuring a first search space, the accuracy of the terminal device in receiving information related to the second PDSCH can be improved.

[0291] Figure 12 below also provides a communication method flow. The method shown in Figure 12 differs from the method shown in Figure 11 above in that: In the method shown in Figure 11, the first access network device sends a first PDSCH to the current terminal device, and the second access network device sends a second PDSCH to the target terminal device. When the second PDSCH may interfere with the first PDSCH, the second access network device sends relevant information about the second PDSCH to the terminal device. The terminal device performs interference suppression based on the relevant information about the second PDSCH, thereby improving the reception performance of the first PDSCH. In the method shown in Figure 12, the first access network device sends a first PDSCH to the current terminal device. When the second PDSCH interferes with the first PDSCH, the first access network device sends relevant information about the second PDSCH to the terminal device. It can be understood that the second PDSCH may be sent by the first access network device, and the interference suppression in this case can be considered as interference suppression targeting the same access network device. Alternatively, the second PDSCH may be sent by other access network devices besides the first access network device, but the first access network device can obtain the relevant information about the second PDSCH sent by other access network devices. Optionally, the first access network device may have an interface (such as an Xn interface or a high-speed interface) with the other access network devices that send the second PDSCH, such as the first access network device and the other access network devices being located in the same cooperative set, or in the same cell, etc.

[0292] Figure 12 provides a flowchart of a communication method, which includes:

[0293] Optionally, in step 1210: the terminal device sends an interference suppression request to the first access network device.

[0294] Correspondingly, the first access network device receives an interference suppression request from the terminal device.

[0295] For example, when the first access network device receives an interference suppression request from the terminal device, it sends the relevant information of the second PDSCH to the terminal device, as can be seen in step 1270 below.

[0296] Alternatively, the first access network device may send information related to the second PDSCH to the terminal device when no interference suppression request is received. It should be understood that the second PDSCH may be sent by the first access network device, in which case the first access network device can determine the magnitude of interference from the second PDSCH to the terminal device and send relevant information about the second PDSCH to the terminal device when the interference is significant.

[0297] Optionally, the first access network device may also configure a first set of control resources for the terminal device, as described in step 1220.

[0298] Optionally, the first access network device may also configure a first search space for the terminal device, as described in step 1240 below, so that the terminal device receives second control information containing information related to the second PDSCH according to the first search space.

[0299] Optionally, in step 1220: the first access network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device.

[0300] Accordingly, the terminal device receives the first configuration information from the first access network device.

[0301] The first configuration information is used to configure the first control resource set. Optionally, the first access network device can also configure and activate TCI states for the first control resource set. For example, the first access network device can configure at least one TCI state for the first control resource set, such as 64 TCI states. The first access network device activates the TCI states through MAC CE. The terminal device receives the second PDCCH on the first control resource set according to the activated TCI states, as detailed in the description of the method shown in Figure 11.

[0302] Optionally, in step 1230: the first access network device sends the second configuration information to the terminal device.

[0303] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second configuration information from the first access network device.

[0304] The second configuration information is used to configure the first search space.

[0305] Optionally, step 1240: The terminal device sends an SRS.

[0306] Accordingly, the first access network device receives the SRS.

[0307] For example, the first access network device can determine the channel of the terminal device based on the SRS; the first access network device can determine the flow that causes greater interference to the terminal device as the interference flow, or the PDSCH that causes greater interference to the terminal device as the interference PDSCH, based on the channel of the terminal device.

[0308] Step 1250: The first access network device sends the first control information to the terminal device.

[0309] Accordingly, the terminal device receives the first control information from the first access network device.

[0310] The first control channel is used to schedule the first PDSCH.

[0311] Step 1260: The first access network device sends the second control information to the terminal device.

[0312] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives second control information from the first access network device.

[0313] The second control information includes information related to the second PDSCH, and the second PDSCH contains one or more PDSCHs.

[0314] For example, when indicating on a stream-by-stream basis, the relevant information of the second PDSCH specifically includes information about one or more interfering streams. The relevant information for each interfering stream includes: the DMRS port corresponding to the interfering stream. Optionally, it also includes: the modulation order and / or coding rate corresponding to the interfering stream. Multiple interfering streams can belong to the same PDSCH or different PDSCHs, without limitation. Optionally, the parameters included in the relevant information of each interfering stream can be indicated individually, or multiple parameters can be indicated jointly. As shown in Figure 11, the DMRS port and modulation order can be indicated jointly.

[0315] Optionally, the relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes: the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the second PDSCH. For example, the relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes the time-frequency resource location of each interfering flow. Optionally, it can be understood that the time-frequency resource location of the interfering flow is the time-frequency resource location of the PDSCH where the interfering flow is located, and the PDSCH where the interfering flow is located belongs to the aforementioned second PDSCH.

[0316] The time-frequency resource location of each interference stream specifically includes: the time-domain resource location and the frequency-domain resource location of each interference stream. Optionally, the time-domain resource location of the interference stream can be indicated by reusing the TDRA field in the prior art. Further, the time-domain resource configuration table referenced by the TDRA field can also be indicated, such as a default time-domain resource configuration table, a common time-domain resource configuration table, or other negotiated time-domain resource configuration tables. For example, the first access network device sends third information to the terminal device to indicate the time-domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH (such as the interference stream), such as a time-domain resource configuration table. Optionally, the frequency-domain resource location of the interference stream can be indicated using the frequency domain resource allocation (FDRA) field. Optionally, the FDRA field can be indicated based on the BWP and / or RBG of the terminal device under the first access network device. Further, the type of FDRA can also be indicated, such as type 0 or type 1. For example, specifically, the first access network device can send fourth indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives a fourth indication information from the first access network device. The fourth indication information is used to indicate the frequency domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH, such as the frequency domain resource configuration type, such as type 0 or type 1.

[0317] For example, indicating information on a PDSCH basis, the relevant information for the second PDSCH specifically includes information for one or more PDSCHs. It can be understood that the XX corresponding to the second PDSCH can include the XX of each PDSCH within the second PDSCH. The relevant information for the second PDSCH includes the DMRS port corresponding to the second PDSCH. Optionally, it also includes: the modulation order corresponding to the second PDSCH, and / or the coding rate corresponding to the second PDSCH. Optionally, the antenna ports field and MCS field in the current DCI can be reused to indicate the DMRS port corresponding to the second PDSCH and the modulation order corresponding to the second PDSCH, respectively. Optionally, it can also indicate which MCS table is specifically used for the second PDSCH.

[0318] Optionally, the relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes: the time-frequency resource location corresponding to the second PDSCH. For example, the relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes the time-frequency resource location of each interfering PDSCH. The time-frequency resource location of each interfering PDSCH specifically includes: the time-domain resource location and the frequency-domain resource location of each interfering PDSCH. Optionally, the time-domain resource location of the interfering PDSCH can be indicated using the TDRA field, and further, it can also indicate the time-domain resource configuration table referenced by the TDRA field; the frequency-domain resource location of the interfering PDSCH can be indicated using the FDRA field, and further, it can also indicate the frequency-domain resource configuration type referenced by the FDRA field. For specific schemes, please refer to the above (the relevant schemes when indicated by flow, i.e., the relevant description of the method shown in Figure 11), which will not be repeated here.

[0319] Optionally, the first access network device can also configure and activate TCI states for the second PDSCH. For example, the first access network device can configure 64 TCI states for the terminal device, at least one of which is associated with the second PDSCH. The first access network device can activate at least one of the 64 TCI states via MAC CE, referred to as the first TCI state. Optionally, the first access network device can send second indication information to the terminal device to indicate that the first TCI state is associated with the second PDSCH. The terminal device can receive the second PDSCH according to the first TCI state. Optionally, receiving the second PDSCH here refers to receiving the second PDSCH over the air interface, without needing to demodulate the information bits in the second PDSCH or report the information bits to higher layers.

[0320] Furthermore, optionally, the second control information and the first control information can be the same control information or different control information. It should be understood that the control information for scheduling the first PDSCH may include the aforementioned information related to the second PDSCH; in this case, the second control information and the first control information are the same control information. Alternatively, the second PDSCH-related information may be carried in control information of a different format; in this case, the second control information and the first control information are different control information.

[0321] Step 1270: The terminal device receives the first PDSCH based on the first control information and the relevant information of the second PDSCH. Alternatively, the terminal device receives the first PDSCH based on the first control information and the second control information.

[0322] The order of the steps in the method shown in Figure 12 is not limited. For example, step 1250 can be placed after steps 1220 to 1240, or it can be placed before steps 1220 to 1240.

[0323] Optionally, the method shown in Figure 12 may further include the following steps: A first access network device sends third control information to a target terminal device. Correspondingly, the target terminal device receives the third control information from the first access network device. The third control information is scrambled with the identifier of the target terminal device, such as the target terminal device's RNTI. The third control information schedules a second PDSCH. The first access network device sends the second PDSCH; correspondingly, the target terminal device receives the second PDSCH. Optionally, the target terminal device is different from the terminal device currently receiving the first control information and the first PDSCH.

[0324] With the above design, the first access network device sends the first PDSCH to the terminal device; when the second PDSCH may cause interference to the first PDSCH, the first access network device sends the relevant information of the second PDSCH to the terminal device, and the terminal device performs interference suppression based on the relevant information of the second PDSCH to improve the demodulation performance of the first PDSCH.

[0325] In the embodiments provided above, the methods provided by the embodiments of this application are described from the perspective of the interaction between the terminal device and the access network device. To implement the functions of the methods provided by the embodiments of this application, the terminal device and the access network device may include hardware structures and / or software modules, implementing the above functions in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules. Whether a particular function is executed in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules depends on the design constraints of the specific application of the technical solution.

[0326] Based on the same design concept as the above-described method embodiments, Figures 13 and 14 are schematic diagrams of possible communication devices provided in the embodiments of this application. These communication devices can realize the functions implemented by terminal devices or access network devices in the above-described method embodiments, and therefore may achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above-described method embodiments. In the embodiments of this application, the communication device may be a terminal device or access network device, or a unit, module, or component (such as a chip, chip system, circuit, processor, or others) applied in a terminal device or access network device. In the following description, the term "unit" will be used as an example. For example, in the following description, the communication device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit as an example. The processing unit in the following description can also be replaced by: processing module or processing component, etc. The transceiver unit can also be replaced by: transceiver unit or transceiver component. For example, the transceiver component may refer to a communication module.

[0327] As shown in Figure 13, the communication device 1300 includes a processing unit 1310 and a transceiver unit 1320. The communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12, or to implement the functions of the first access network device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12, or to implement the functions of the second access network device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12.

[0328] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1320 may also be referred to as an output unit, an interface unit, or a communication unit, etc. In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 includes at least one of a transmitting unit or a receiving unit. The transmitting unit and the receiving unit may be integrated together, or they may be two independent units, etc.

[0329] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12, specifically: the transceiver unit 1320 is used to receive first control information, which is used to schedule a first physical downlink data channel (PDSCH); receive first configuration information, which is used to configure a first control resource set; receive second control information, which is associated with the first control resource set and contains relevant information about a second PDSCH, wherein the time-frequency resources occupied by the second PDSCH overlap with the time-frequency resources occupied by the first PDSCH; and the processing unit 1310 is used to receive the first PDSCH according to the first control information and the relevant information of the second PDSCH.

[0330] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the first access network device (such as the serving access network device) in the method shown in Figures 10 to 12, specifically: the transceiver unit 1320 is used to send first control information, which is used to schedule the first physical downlink data channel (PDSCH); the transceiver unit 1320 is also used to send first configuration information, which is used to configure a first control resource set, the first control resource set is associated with second control information, the second control information contains relevant information about the second PDSCH, or the second control information is related to the second PDSCH, and the time-frequency resources occupied by the second PDSCH overlap with the time-frequency resources occupied by the first PDSCH; the transceiver unit 1320 is also used to send the first PDSCH, and the relevant information of the second PDSCH is used to receive the first PDSCH.

[0331] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second access network device (such as the interference access network device) in the method shown in Figures 10 to 12, specifically: the transceiver unit 1320 is used to send third control information, which is used to schedule the second physical downlink data channel (PDSCH), and the third control information is scrambled by the identifier of the fourth device; the transceiver unit 1320 is also used to send second control information, which contains relevant information of the second PDSCH, or the second control information is related to the second PDSCH, the second control information is scrambled by the identifier of the first device, the time-frequency resources occupied by the second PDSCH overlap with the time-frequency resources occupied by the first PDSCH, and the relevant information of the second PDSCH is used to receive the first PDSCH; the transceiver unit 1320 is also used to send the second PDSCH.

[0332] For details on the specific implementation of the processing unit 1310 and the transceiver unit 1320, please refer to the description of the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12 of the previous method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0333] It is understood that the division of units in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. In addition, the functional units in this application embodiment can be integrated into a physical device (e.g., in a processor), or each functional unit can be a separate physical device, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional module, etc.

[0334] As shown in Figure 14, the communication device 1400 includes a processor 1410 and an interface circuit 1420. The processor 1410 and the interface circuit 1420 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1420 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1400 may also include a memory 1430 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1410, or storing input data required by the processor 1410 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 1410 executes instructions.

[0335] When the communication device 1400 is used to implement the method shown in Figures 10 to 12, the processor 1410 is used to implement the function of the processing unit 1310, and the interface circuit 1420 is used to implement the function of the transceiver unit 1320.

[0336] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip / module applied to a terminal device, the chip / module implements the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiments. The chip / module receives information sent to the terminal device by the access network device through other modules in the terminal device; or, the chip / module sends information to other modules in the terminal device, which is information sent by the terminal device to the access network device.

[0337] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip / module applied to an access network device (such as a first access network device or a second access network device), the chip / module implements the functions of the access network device in the above method embodiments. The chip / module receives information from other modules in the access network device, which is information sent by the terminal device to the access network device; or, the chip / module sends information to other modules in the access network device, which is information sent by the access network device to the terminal device.

[0338] This application also provides a chip, which can be a chip used in a terminal device, referred to as a terminal device chip, to implement the functions of the terminal device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12. Alternatively, the chip can be a chip used in an access network device, referred to as an access network device chip, to implement the functions of the access network device (such as a first access network device or a second access network device) in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12. For example, the chip can be 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. As shown in Figure 15:

[0339] The chip includes at least one processor for implementing the functions of the terminal device or access network device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12. For example, in Figure 15, the plurality of processors are represented as processor #1 to processor #N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. For example, the processor may be a microprocessor, such as X146 or ARM, a microcontroller, DSP, FPGA, GPU, programmable logic device, state machine, gated logic, discrete hardware circuitry, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the appropriate functions.

[0340] Optionally, the chip may further include at least one memory for storing computer program instructions and / or data. The memory is coupled to the processor. The coupling in this embodiment is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. The processor and memory operate collaboratively; the processor executes the program instructions stored in the memory to implement the methods of the terminal device or access network device shown in Figures 10 to 12 in this embodiment. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

[0341] The chip may also include at least one communication interface for communicating with other devices via a transmission medium. In this embodiment, the communication interface may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface, and may be referred to as a bus interface. In this embodiment, when the communication interface is a transceiver, the transceiver may include an independent receiver, an independent transmitter, or a transceiver with integrated transceiver functions, or an interface circuit.

[0342] In this embodiment, the connection medium between the processor, memory, and communication interface is not limited. Optionally, in Figure 15, the processor, memory, and communication interface are connected via a bus. The bus may include an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus, etc. In Figure 15, only a single thick line is used, but this does not indicate that there is only one bus or one type of bus. In one possible implementation, the bus may include any number of interconnect buses and bridges, depending on the specific application of the chip and overall design constraints. The bus couples various circuits together, such as the processor, memory, and communication interface. The bus can also link various other circuits, such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further.

[0343] This application embodiment also provides a communication device, which includes a processor for implementing the functions of the terminal device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12, or the functions of the access network device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12. Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory, with the processor coupled to the memory. The processor is used to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory to implement the functions of the terminal device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12, or the functions of the access network device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12. Optionally, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system.

[0344] This application embodiment also provides a communication device, including a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other devices outside the device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other devices outside the device. The processor, through logic circuits or executing code instructions, is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12, or the functions of the access network device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12.

[0345] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which may also be referred to as computer programs, computer program code, etc. When these instructions are executed on a computer, the functions of the terminal device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12 are performed, or the functions of the access network device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12 are performed.

[0346] This application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, the functions of the terminal device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12 are executed, or the functions of the access network device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12 are executed.

[0347] This application embodiment also provides a memory that stores instructions, which may also be referred to as computer programs, computer program code, etc. These instructions are executed on a computer, and the functions of the terminal device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12 are performed, or the functions of the access network device in the methods shown in Figures 10 to 12 are performed.

[0348] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0349] The memory in the embodiments of this application may be random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), register, hard disk, portable hard disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art.

[0350] The method steps in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions executable by a processor. The software instructions can consist of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disks, portable hard disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC.

[0351] 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. This computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are performed entirely or partially. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, an access network device, a user equipment, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center integrating one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; it can also be an optical medium, such as a digital video optical disc; or it can be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or may include both types of storage media.

[0352] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features of different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a first device, including: Receive first control information, the first control information being used to schedule the first physical downlink data channel (PDSCH); Obtain first configuration information, which is used to configure a first set of control resources; Receive second control information, which is associated with the first control resource set. The second control information contains relevant information about the second PDSCH. The time-frequency resources occupied by the second PDSCH overlap with those occupied by the first PDSCH. Based on the first control information and the relevant information of the second PDSCH, the first PDSCH is received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, Also includes: Receive first indication information, which is used to instruct the first control resource set to receive the second control information.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, Also includes: Receive second indication information, which is used to indicate that the first transmission configuration indication TCI state is associated with the second PDSCH, and the first TCI state is an active TCI state.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, Also includes: Obtain second configuration information, which is used to configure the first search space, and the first search space is used to obtain the second control channel.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Also includes: Receive a third indication information and / or a fourth indication information, wherein the third indication information is used to indicate the time domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the frequency domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, Also includes: Obtain third configuration information, which is used to configure the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH.

7. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a second device, including: Send second control information, which includes information related to the second physical downlink data channel (PDSCH). The second control information is scrambled by the identifier of the first device. The time-frequency resources occupied by the second PDSCH overlap with those occupied by the first PDSCH. The information related to the second PDSCH is used to receive the first PDSCH. The second control information is associated with a first control resource set, which is configured by first configuration information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, Also includes: Send third control information, which is used to schedule the second PDSCH, and the third control information is scrambled by the identifier of the fourth device; Send the second PDSCH.

9. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein, Also includes: Send the first configuration information.

10. The method of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein, Also includes: Send a first indication message, which is used to instruct the first control resource set to receive the second control information.

11. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that, Also includes: Send a second indication message, which is used to indicate that the first transmission configuration indication TCI state is associated with the second PDSCH, and the first TCI state is an active TCI state.

12. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that, Also includes: Send second configuration information, which is used to configure the first search space, and the first search space is used to acquire the second control channel.

13. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that, Also includes: Send a third indication message and / or a fourth indication message, wherein the third indication message is used to indicate the time domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH, and the fourth indication message is used to indicate the frequency domain resource configuration information corresponding to the second PDSCH.

14. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that, Also includes: Send third configuration information, which is used to configure the DMRS corresponding to the second PDSCH.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that, The second control information is associated with the first control resource set, including: the first control resource set is used to receive the second control information, and the second control information is carried on a second control channel.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that, The first TCI state is associated with the second PDSCH, including: the first TCI state is associated with a first reference signal, and the first reference signal and the reference signal carried by the second PDSCH satisfy a quasi-co-address relationship.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that, The first configuration information includes configuration information for the second TCI state, which is associated with the second reference signal. The second reference signal and the reference signal carried by the second control channel satisfy a quasi-co-address relationship.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that, The first TCI state and / or the second TCI state are associated with a first cell, the first control information is associated with a second control resource set, the second control resource set is associated with a second cell, and the first cell is different from the second cell.

19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that, The first control resource set is associated with a first portion of bandwidth (BWP), and the first PDSCH is carried on the first BWP; or, the first control resource set is associated with a second BWP, and the second PDSCH is carried on the second BWP, wherein the first BWP and the second BWP are different.

20. The method as described in claim 19, characterized in that, The first indication information and the first configuration information are contained in the same higher-level signaling.

21. The method as described in claim 19, characterized in that, When the first control resource set is associated with the second BWP, the first indication information is configuration information for configuring the second BWP.

22. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that, The relevant information of the second PDSCH includes: the demodulation reference signal DMRS port corresponding to the interference stream, wherein the interference stream is part or all of the streams included in the second PDSCH; or, the relevant information of the second PDSCH includes the DMRS port corresponding to the second PDSCH.

23. The method as described in claim 22, characterized in that, The relevant information of the second PDSCH also includes: the time-frequency resource location information corresponding to the second PDSCH.

24. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes units for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, 15 to 23, or includes units for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 7 to 23.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a processor for executing computer programs or instructions. The communication device enables the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, 15 to 23; or, This enables the communication device to implement the method as described in any one of claims 7 to 23.

26. The communication device as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that, It also includes a memory on which the computer program or instructions are stored.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed, perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, 15 to 23, or as described in any one of claims 7 to 23.

28. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a computer program or instructions that, when the computer program or instructions are run, execute the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, 15 to 23, or execute the method as described in any one of claims 7 to 23.

Images