Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus, which can be applied to an NTN, for example, a satellite communication system. The method comprises: receiving reference downlink control information (DCI), the reference DCI being carried on a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a second PDCCH, and the first PDCCH being associated with the second PDCCH; and receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) on the basis of the reference DCI. In the present application, the reference DCI is associated with one of repeatedly transmitted PDCCHs, so that a terminal can flexibly receive a PDSCH, thereby improving the accuracy of PDSCH reception.

Description

Communication methods and communication devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510143906.7, filed on February 8, 2025, entitled "Communication Method and Communication Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

[0003] In non-terrestrial network (NTN) scenarios, limited satellite transmission power restricts communication coverage, necessitating enhancement of coverage performance during the initial access process to ensure terminals can receive and detect downlink control information (DCI) carried by the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). Currently, PDCCH repetition can improve channel coverage. However, in current PDCCH repetition mechanisms, terminals may become confused about the specific location of the physical uplink share channel (PDSCH) due to repeated PDCCH transmissions, leading to decreased accuracy in PDSCH reception. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and a communication device that enables terminals to flexibly receive PDSCH and improves the accuracy of PDSCH reception.

[0005] Firstly, a communication method is provided that can be applied to the terminal side, such as a terminal or a communication module and / or processing module within a terminal, or circuits or chips in the terminal responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip or system-in-package (SIP) chip containing a modem core), or circuits or chips in the terminal responsible for communication and / or processing functions (such as a graphics processing unit (GPU), an artificial intelligence (AI) processor, or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), or it can also be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal's functions. In some places below, the description uses the terminal as the executing entity, but it should be understood that this does not limit the executing entity.

[0006] The method includes: receiving reference downlink control information (DCI), the reference DCI being carried on a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH being associated; and receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) based on the reference DCI.

[0007] The association between the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH can be understood as the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH being repeatedly transmitted PDCCHs. For example, the first PDCCH is a repeated transmission of the second PDCCH, or the second PDCCH is a repeated transmission of the first PDCCH.

[0008] Based on the above scheme, the terminal receives a reference DCI. The reference DCI can be understood as indicating which PDCCH (first PDCCH or second PDCCH) the terminal is associated with carries the DCI for the actual scheduling of the PDSCH. In other words, the terminal can know which PDCCH among the associated PDCCHs carries the reference DCI. Thus, regardless of whether the terminal detects the first PDCCH or the second PDCCH, since the reference DCI is carried on one of the first or second PDCCH, the terminal can determine the time-domain and frequency-domain resources where the PDSCH is located based on the reference DCI. Therefore, when the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are repeatedly transmitted PDCCHs, the terminal can receive the PDSCH based on the reference DCI. Since the reference DCI can be carried on either the first or the second PDCCH, the terminal can flexibly receive the PDSCH and improve the correctness of receiving the PDSCH. It should be understood that the scheduling information included in the DCI may include the offset between the PDCCH and PDSCH, or other information related to relative positions. Therefore, when the terminal learns about the resources carrying the PDSCH based on the received DCI, it also needs the location information of the PDCCH carrying the DCI, such as its time-domain location. In other words, when the PDCCH is repeatedly transmitted, the terminal can only correctly receive the PDSCH based on the reference DCI. If the terminal does not know which PDCCH carries the reference DCI, reception failure may occur.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: determining the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving first configuration information, the first configuration information being used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

[0011] Based on the above scheme, the terminal determines whether the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is the first PDCCH or the second PDCCH according to the first configuration information, thereby knowing which PDCCH among the associated PDCCHs carries the reference DCI. In this way, the terminal knows that the reference DCI is carried on one of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH according to the indication of the first configuration information. Therefore, when the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are repeatedly transmitted PDCCHs, the terminal can receive the PDSCH according to the reference DCI to improve the correctness of receiving the PDSCH.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured.

[0013] Based on the above scheme, the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI can be predefined or preconfigured, which can save signaling overhead and reduce power consumption.

[0014] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, and the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the first PDCCH. The method further includes: receiving second configuration information, the second configuration information being used to indicate that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or receiving second configuration information, the second configuration information being used to indicate a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH, the first processing delay being determined by a second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration, the second processing delay being the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), the first duration being the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI, and the second duration being the duration for the terminal to process the reference DCI.

[0015] Based on the above scheme, the terminal can know the processing delay of PDSCH according to the second configuration information, thus enabling the terminal to have sufficient time to process PDSCH and send acknowledgment (ACK) information through PUCCH. Alternatively, it can send negative acknowledgment (NACK) information to the network device.

[0016] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first processing delay satisfies: T' proc,1 =T proc，1 +T0+T1

[0017] Among them, T' proc,1 For this first processing delay, T proc,1 The second processing delay is defined as T0, the first duration, and T1, the second duration.

[0018] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH; and / or the first configuration information is also used to indicate that system information block (SIB) 1 is repeatedly transmitted, the SIB 1 being scheduled by the reference DCI.

[0019] For example, the first configuration information is specifically used to indicate the association between a first search space and a second search space. The first search space includes multiple candidate PDCCHs, and the second search space includes multiple candidate PDCCHs. The first PDCCH is transmitted on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources corresponding to the first candidate PDCCH in the first search space, and the second PDCCH is transmitted on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources corresponding to the second candidate PDCCH in the second search space. The first candidate PDCCH and the second candidate PDCCH are associated, and the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated.

[0020] For example, the first configuration information is specifically used to indicate the association of multiple candidate PDCCHs in the third search space. Specifically, the first configuration information is used to indicate the association of a first candidate PDCCH and a second candidate PDCCH in the third search space, where the first candidate PDCCH and the second candidate PDCCH belong to the multiple candidate PDCCHs in the third search space. In this case, the first PDCCH is transmitted on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources corresponding to the first candidate PDCCH, and the second PDCCH is transmitted on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources corresponding to the second candidate PDCCH. Thus, the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated. The first configuration information is used to indicate the association of multiple candidate PDCCHs in the third search space. Specifically, the first configuration information is used to indicate the association of a first candidate PDCCH and a second candidate PDCCH in the third search space, where the first candidate PDCCH and the second candidate PDCCH belong to the multiple candidate PDCCHs in the third search space. In this case, the first PDCCH is transmitted on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources corresponding to the first candidate PDCCH, and the second PDCCH is transmitted on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources corresponding to the second candidate PDCCH. Then the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are related.

[0021] Based on the above scheme, the network device also instructs SIB1 to be transmitted repeatedly through the first configuration information. In this way, the terminal can know that SIB1 is being transmitted repeatedly according to the instruction of the first configuration information, and thus can perform parallel decoding on the repeatedly transmitted SIB1, thereby improving the performance of SIB1 decoding.

[0022] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the reference DCI is used to indicate the mapping type of the PDSCH, the correspondence between the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located and the scheduling offset, wherein the scheduling offset indicates the offset of the time unit where the PDSCH is located relative to the time unit where the reference DCI is located.

[0023] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the correspondence includes at least one of the following: when the mapping type of the PDSCH is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0; when the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located is the third symbol, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0.

[0024] For example, the first mapping type is Type B.

[0025] Alternatively, in one implementation, the above correspondence can also be represented in a table, where the mapping type of the PDSCH, the symbol containing the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH, and the scheduling offset satisfy the following:

[0026] Where S and L represent the symbol at the start of the PDSCH in the time slot and the length occupied by the PDSCH in the time slot, respectively.

[0027] Alternatively, in one implementation, the mapping type of the PDSCH, the symbol containing the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH, and the scheduling offset satisfy the following:

[0028] Alternatively, in one implementation, the mapping type of the PDSCH, the symbol containing the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH, and the scheduling offset satisfy the following:

[0029] Based on the above scheme, the terminal knows that the scheduling offset included in the reference DCI is an integer greater than 0 by referring to the DCI, so that it can schedule PDSCH between different time slots, thereby improving the flexibility of PDSCH scheduling.

[0030] Secondly, a communication method is provided that can be applied to the network side, such as network devices or modules within network devices (e.g., communication modules, circuits, chips, or chip systems), or circuits or chips within network devices responsible for communication and / or processing functions (e.g., GPUs, AI processors, or ASICs), or logic modules or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of a network device. In some sections of the following description, the execution subject is described using the network device as an example; it should be understood that this does not limit the execution subject.

[0031] The method includes: transmitting reference downlink control information (DCI), the reference DCI being carried on a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH being associated; and transmitting a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) based on the reference DCI.

[0032] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending first configuration information, the first configuration information being used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

[0033] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured.

[0034] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, and the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the first PDCCH. The method further includes: sending second configuration information, the second configuration information being used to indicate that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or sending second configuration information, the second configuration information being used to indicate a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH, the first processing delay being determined by a second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration, the second processing delay being the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), the first duration being the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI, and the second duration being the duration for the terminal to process the reference DCI.

[0035] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first processing delay satisfies: T' proc,1 =T proc，1 +T0+T1

[0036] Among them, T' proc,1 For this first processing delay, T proc,1 The second processing delay is defined as T0, the first duration, and T1, the second duration.

[0037] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH; and / or the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the system message block SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted, the SIB1 being scheduled by the reference DCI.

[0038] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the reference DCI is used to indicate the mapping type of the PDSCH, the correspondence between the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located and the scheduling offset, wherein the scheduling offset indicates the offset of the time unit where the PDSCH is located relative to the time unit where the reference DCI is located.

[0039] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the correspondence includes at least one of the following: when the mapping type of the PDSCH is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0; when the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located is the third symbol, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0.

[0040] Regarding the beneficial effects not detailed in the second aspect, one can refer to the beneficial effects of any of the possible implementation methods in the first aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0041] Thirdly, a communication device is provided, which has the functions of the first aspect above. For example, the communication device includes modules, units or means corresponding to the operations involved in the first aspect above. The modules, units or means can be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0042] For example, the aforementioned communication device may be a terminal, or a communication and / or processing module in a terminal, or a chip in a terminal responsible for communication functions such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module, or a circuit or chip in a terminal responsible for communication and / or processing functions (such as a GPU, AI processor, or ASIC), or a logic node or logic module capable of implementing all or part of the terminal functions.

[0043] In one possible implementation, the communication device includes: a communication unit (or communication module), and a processing unit (or processing module) connected to the communication unit.

[0044] For example, the communication unit is configured to receive reference downlink control information (DCI), which is carried on a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH being associated; the communication unit is also configured to receive a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) according to the reference DCI.

[0045] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the apparatus further includes a processing unit for determining the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

[0046] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the communication unit is further configured to receive first configuration information, which is used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

[0047] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured.

[0048] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the first PDCCH, and the communication unit is further configured to receive second configuration information, which is used to indicate that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or the communication unit is further configured to receive second configuration information, which is used to indicate a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH, the first processing delay being determined by a second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration, the second processing delay being the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), the first duration being the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI, and the second duration being the duration for the terminal to process the reference DCI.

[0049] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first processing delay satisfies: T' proc,1＝ T proc，1 +T0+T1

[0050] Among them, T' proc,1 For this first processing delay, T proc,1 The second processing delay is defined as T0, the first duration, and T1, the second duration.

[0051] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH; and / or the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the system message block SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted, the SIB1 being scheduled by the reference DCI.

[0052] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the reference DCI is used to indicate the mapping type of the PDSCH, the correspondence between the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located and the scheduling offset, wherein the scheduling offset indicates the offset of the time unit where the PDSCH is located relative to the time unit where the reference DCI is located.

[0053] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the correspondence includes at least one of the following: when the mapping type of the PDSCH is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0; when the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located is the third symbol, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0.

[0054] The aforementioned communication device may be a terminal, a communication module in a terminal, or a chip in a terminal that is responsible for communication functions, such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module.

[0055] Fourthly, a communication device is provided. This communication device has the functions described in the second aspect above. For example, the communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the operations involved in the second aspect above. These modules, units, or means can be implemented through software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0056] For example, the aforementioned communication device may be a network device, or a communication and / or processing module in a network device, or a chip in a network device responsible for communication functions such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module, or a circuit or chip in a network device responsible for communication and / or processing functions (such as a GPU, AI processor, or ASIC), or a logical node or logical module capable of implementing all or part of the functions of a network device.

[0057] In one possible implementation, the communication device includes: a communication unit (or communication module), and a processing unit (or processing module) connected to the communication unit.

[0058] For example, the communication unit is configured to transmit reference downlink control information (DCI), which is carried on a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH being associated; the communication unit is also configured to transmit a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) according to the reference DCI.

[0059] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the communication unit is also used to send first configuration information, which is used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

[0060] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured.

[0061] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the first PDCCH, and the communication unit is further configured to send second configuration information, which is used to indicate that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or the communication unit is further configured to send second configuration information, which is used to indicate a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH, the first processing delay being determined by a second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration, the second processing delay being the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), the first duration being the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI, and the second duration being the duration for the terminal to process the reference DCI.

[0062] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first processing delay satisfies: T' proc,1＝ T proc，1 +T0+T1

[0063] Among them, T' proc,1 For this first processing delay, T proc,1 The second processing delay is defined as T0, the first duration, and T1, the second duration.

[0064] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH; and / or the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the system message block SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted, the SIB1 being scheduled by the reference DCI.

[0065] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the reference DCI is used to indicate the mapping type of the PDSCH, the correspondence between the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located and the scheduling offset, wherein the scheduling offset indicates the offset of the time unit where the PDSCH is located relative to the time unit where the reference DCI is located.

[0066] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the correspondence includes at least one of the following: when the mapping type of the PDSCH is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0; when the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located is the third symbol, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0.

[0067] Fifthly, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes an interface circuit and one or more processors. The one or more processors are coupled to a memory. The memory stores part or all of a computer program or instructions necessary for implementing the functions described in the first aspect. The one or more processors are executable to carry out the computer program or instructions, causing the communication device to implement any possible design or implementation method described in the first aspect. The interface circuit is used to implement communication functions within the communication device and / or communication functions between the communication device and other devices or components.

[0068] In one possible design, the processor is used to communicate with other devices or components through the interface circuit.

[0069] In one possible design, the communication device may also include the memory.

[0070] The aforementioned communication device may be a terminal, or a communication and / or processing module in a terminal, or a chip in a terminal responsible for communication functions such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module, or a circuit or chip in a terminal responsible for communication and / or processing functions (such as a GPU, AI processor, or ASIC), or a logic node or logic module capable of implementing all or part of the terminal functions.

[0071] Sixthly, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes an interface circuit and one or more processors. The one or more processors are coupled to a memory. The memory is used to store part or all of a computer program or instructions necessary for implementing the functions involved in the second aspect above. The one or more processors are capable of executing the computer program or instructions, which, when executed, cause the communication device to implement the methods in any possible design or implementation of the second aspect above. The interface circuit is used to implement the communication functions within the communication device and / or the communication functions between the communication device and other devices or components.

[0072] In one possible design, the processor is used to communicate with other devices or components through the interface circuit.

[0073] In one possible design, the communication device may also include the memory.

[0074] The aforementioned communication device may be a network device, or a module in a network device (such as a communication module, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a circuit or chip in a network device that is responsible for communication and / or processing functions (such as a GPU, AI processor, or ASIC), or a logical node or logical module that can implement all or part of the functions of a network device.

[0075] In a seventh aspect, a communication system is provided, the communication system including a network device and / or a terminal, wherein the terminal is used to perform the method in any possible implementation of the first aspect, and the network device is used to perform the method in any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0076] Eighthly, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. This computer-readable storage medium stores computer program code or instructions, which, when read and executed by a computer, cause the method in any of the possible implementations of the first to second aspects to be implemented.

[0077] Ninthly, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes computer program code or instructions that, when read and executed by a computer, cause the methods in any of the possible implementations of the first to second aspects to be implemented.

[0078] In a tenth aspect, a computer program is provided. When the computer program is run, it causes the method in any of the possible implementations of the first to second aspects to be implemented.

[0079] It should be understood that the beneficial effects of the third to tenth aspects mentioned above can be referred to the first to second aspects mentioned above and any possible implementation thereof, which will not be elaborated here. Attached Figure Description

[0080] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of this application.

[0081] Figures 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of possible application frameworks in a communication system.

[0082] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the satellite beam-hopping process.

[0083] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the activated beam service time.

[0084] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of repeated PDCCH transmission.

[0085] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0086] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the time slot where an SSB is located.

[0087] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0088] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0089] Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram of a chip system provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0090] Before introducing the scheme of this application, the following points should be noted.

[0091] (1) In this application, the expression " / " is used to indicate that the objects before and after are in an "or" relationship; for example, A / B can mean: A or B. The expression "and / or" is used to indicate that the objects before and after are in a relationship of either "and" or "or"; for example, A and / or B can mean the following: A exists alone, B exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be single or multiple. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions are used to indicate any combination of the listed items; for example, at least one of A, B and / or C can mean the following: A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, B and C exist simultaneously, A and C exist simultaneously, A, B and C exist simultaneously, where A, B, and C can be single or multiple.

[0092] (2) In this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which may include direct transmission via the air interface or indirect transmission via the air interface by other units or modules. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which may include direct reception from YY via the air interface or indirect reception from YY via the air interface by other units or modules. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via a bus, wiring, or interface.

[0093] (3) In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or logically conflicting, the terms 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.

[0094] (4) In this application, "first," "second," and "#1," "#2," and "#A" are merely for descriptive convenience and are used to distinguish objects, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. They are not used to describe the order or sequence of features. It should be understood that such described objects can be interchanged where appropriate so as to describe solutions other than those in the embodiments of this application.

[0095] (5) In this application, the words “exemplary,” “for example,” etc., are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as an “example” in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the word “example” is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner. In the embodiments of this application, “of,” “corresponding, relevant,” and “corresponding” may sometimes be used interchangeably, and it should be noted that their intended meanings are consistent unless their distinction is emphasized.

[0096] (6) In this application, "instruction" can include direct instruction, indirect instruction, explicit instruction, implicit instruction, etc. When describing an instruction information as indicating A, it can be understood as the instruction information carrying A, carrying the identifier of A, carrying B which is associated with A, carrying the identifier of B which is associated with A, etc. In other words, if the receiving side of an instruction information can determine A based on the instruction information, it can be described as the instruction information indicating A, and the specific method of determination is not limited. When it is understood that the instruction information carries A, "instruction" can be replaced with "includes". In this case, expressions such as "send / receive instruction information, the instruction information indicates A" can be replaced with "send / receive A".

[0097] In this application, the information indicated by the instruction information is called the information to be instructed. In specific implementations, there are many ways to indicate the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly indicate the information to be instructed by indicating other information, where there is a relationship between the other information and the information to be instructed. It can also indicate only a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-defined) arrangement of various pieces of information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to some extent. Furthermore, the information to be instructed can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information pieces, and the sending period and / or timing of these sub-information pieces can be the same or different.

[0098] The following describes the communication system to which this application applies.

[0099] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems, 5th Generation (5G) systems or New Radio (NR) systems and future communication systems, vehicle-to-other devices (V2X), where V2X can include vehicle-to-network (V2N), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), etc., long term evolution-vehicle (LTE-V) technology for vehicle-to-everything (V2V), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), long term evolution-machine (LTE-M) technology for machine-to-machine (M2M), etc. The method provided in this application can also be applied to NTN communication systems, or to scenarios where NTN is integrated with terrestrial networks (TN). The NTN system can be an NTN system integrated with 4G, 5G, and any future generation of communication systems, such as NR NTN, IoT NTN, etc. The NTN communication system can be, for example, a satellite communication system, or it can include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), high altitude platform stations (HAPS), and other airborne access network equipment; this application does not limit this.

[0100] As an example, a satellite communication system includes a satellite base station and terminals. The satellite base station provides communication services to the terminals. Satellite base stations can also communicate with each other. A satellite can act as both a base station and a terminal. Here, "satellite" can refer to drones, hot air balloons, low-Earth orbit satellites, medium-Earth orbit satellites, high-Earth orbit satellites, etc. "Satellite" can also refer to non-terrestrial base stations or non-terrestrial equipment.

[0101] As an example, V2X communication can include: vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, and vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication.

[0102] In a communication system, a device can send signals to or receive signals from another device. These signals can include information, signaling, or data. The device can also be replaced by an entity, network entity, communication equipment, communication module, node, communication node, etc. This application uses a device as an example for description.

[0103] The terminal in this application embodiment can be a device or module that accesses the aforementioned communication system and has corresponding communication functions. It can be used to connect people, objects, machines, etc. The terminal can also be referred to as terminal equipment, user equipment (UE), user device, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station (MS), remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal unit, terminal station, terminal device, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device. The terminal typically contains a communication module, circuit, or chip that performs the corresponding communication functions. The terminal can also be configured with program instructions for performing the corresponding communication functions. The terminal can be widely used in various scenarios, including peer-to-peer, M2M, MTC, IoT, NTN, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, drones, robots, remote sensing, passive sensing, positioning, navigation and tracking, autonomous delivery, etc. Terminal devices can be terminals in any of the above scenarios, such as MTC terminals, IoT terminals, etc. Terminal devices can be user equipment (UE), terminals, fixed equipment, mobile station equipment or mobile devices, subscriber units, handheld devices, vehicle-mounted equipment, wearable devices, cellular phones, smartphones, session initialization protocol (SIP) phones, wireless data cards, personal digital assistants (PDAs), computers, tablets, laptops, wireless modems, handsets, laptop computers, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, smart books, vehicles, satellites, global positioning system (GPS) devices, target tracking devices, aircraft (e.g., drones, helicopters, multiple helicopters, four helicopters, or airplanes), ships, remote control devices, smart home devices, industrial equipment, transportation vehicles with wireless communication capabilities, communication modules, roadside units (RSUs) with terminal functions, etc., all conforming to the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) standard.The terminal device can also be a communication module, satellite phone, or a component thereof with satellite communication capabilities, or a satellite communication terminal, such as a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) (commonly referred to as a VSAT terminal), a portable station, a fixed station, a vehicle-mounted or airborne satellite communication terminal, etc. It should be understood that the satellite communication terminal can serve as a micro base station to further provide a data interface to the accessing user equipment. The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form of the terminal. The terminal typically contains a communication module, circuit, or chip that performs the corresponding communication function, and may further contain modules, circuits, or chips (such as GPUs, AI processors, or ASICs) that perform the corresponding communication and / or processing functions. The terminal can also be configured with program instructions for performing the corresponding communication and / or processing functions.

[0104] In this embodiment, the apparatus for implementing the terminal's functions, i.e., the terminal apparatus, can be a terminal device or an apparatus capable of supporting the terminal in implementing these functions, such as a chip system, chip, circuit, or communication module (i.e., a communication module that performs communication functions). This apparatus can be installed in the terminal. In this embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete devices. Furthermore, the apparatus can also be configured with program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions. For ease of description, the following description uses a UE as an example of the terminal.

[0105] It should be understood that in certain scenarios, a UE can also be used as a base station. For example, a UE can act as a scheduling entity, providing sidelink signaling between UEs in scenarios such as V2X, D2D, or end-to-end.

[0106] In this embodiment, the device for implementing the terminal's functions, i.e., the terminal device, can be a terminal equipment or a device capable of supporting the terminal in implementing these functions, such as a chip system, chip, circuit, or communication module (i.e., a communication module that performs communication functions). This device can be installed in the terminal. In this embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete devices. Furthermore, the device can also be configured with program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions.

[0107] The network device in this application embodiment can be any type of communication device with wireless transceiver function used in a satellite network for communicating with user equipment. It can be a device or module with corresponding communication functions, and can also be called an access network device or a radio access network device, such as a base station. In this application embodiment, the network device can refer to a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects a terminal device to a wireless network. A base station can broadly encompass, or be replaced by, various names including: NodeB, evolved NodeB (eNB), relay station, access point, transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmitter, master station, auxiliary station, motor slide retainer (MSR) node, home base station, network controller, access node, wireless node, access point (AP), transmission node, transceiver node, baseband unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), positioning node, etc. A base station can be a macro base station, micro base station, relay node, donor node, or similar entities, or combinations thereof. A base station can also refer to a communication module, modem, or chip installed within the aforementioned equipment or apparatus. Network equipment can also be satellites (or satellite base stations) or high altitude platform stations (HAPS), or base station equipment mounted on satellites / HAPS. Satellites can include at least one of the following: geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites (or geosynchronous orbit satellites) or non-geostationary earth orbit (NGEO) satellites. Non-geostationary earth orbit satellites can include at least one of the following: medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites or low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. There are no restrictions here. Network equipment can also be gateway stations (or ground stations, earth stations, signaling stations, gateways, or gateway stations). Base stations can also be mobile switching centers and equipment that performs base station functions in D2D, V2X, and M2M communications, as well as equipment that performs base station functions in future communication systems.Base stations can support networks using the same or different access technologies. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or device forms employed in the network equipment.

[0108] Base stations can be fixed or mobile. For example, a helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a mobile base station, and one or more cells can move depending on the location of the mobile base station. In other examples, a helicopter or drone can be configured as a device to communicate with another base station.

[0109] In some deployments, the network devices mentioned in the embodiments of this application may be devices including CU, DU, or CU and DU, or devices with control plane CU nodes (central unit-control plane (CU-CP)) and user plane CU nodes (central unit-user plane (CU-UP)) and DU nodes. For example, the network devices may include gNB-CU-CP, gNB-CU-UP, and gNB-DU.

[0110] In some deployments, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes each implementing some of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be CUs, DUs, CU-CPs, CU-UPs, or radio units (RUs). CUs and DUs can be configured separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs).

[0111] In one possible design, the processing unit in the BBU used to implement baseband functions is called the baseband high (BBH) unit, and the processing unit in the RRU / AAU / RRH used to implement baseband functions is called the baseband low (BBL) unit.

[0112] 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, a radio access network can also be an open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture. In an O-RAN system, CU can also be called an open CU (open CU, O-CU), DU can also be called an open DU (open DU, O-DU), CU-CP can also be called an open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), CU-UP can also be called an open CU-UP (O-CU-UP), and RU can also be called an open RU (open RU, O-RU). Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0113] In this embodiment, the device for implementing the functions of a network device can be a network device itself, or a device capable of supporting the network device in implementing those functions, such as a chip system, chip, circuit, or communication module (i.e., a communication module that performs communication functions). This device can be installed within the network device. In this embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. Furthermore, the device can be configured with program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions. This embodiment only uses a network device as an example to illustrate the device for implementing the functions of a network device, and does not limit the solution of this embodiment.

[0114] Network devices and terminal devices can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can also be deployed in the air on airplanes, balloons, and satellites. This application does not limit the scenario in which the network devices and terminal devices are located. Furthermore, terminal devices and network devices can be hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or software functions running on general-purpose hardware, such as virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform), or entities that include dedicated or general-purpose hardware devices and software functions. This application does not limit the specific form of the terminal devices and network devices.

[0115] The technical solution of this application will be described in detail below, taking a satellite communication system as an example.

[0116] In satellite communication systems, network equipment may include satellites. Furthermore, the solutions provided in this application can be applied to the field of satellite communication, such as the integration of satellite communication and 5G technology by 3GPP members.

[0117] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 provided in an embodiment of this application. The system schematic diagram uses a 5G scenario as an example. Of course, the technical solutions proposed in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to future communication network scenarios.

[0118] As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 100 includes: a terminal, a satellite station, a 5G core network, a ground station, a 5G New Radio (NR) interface, an Xn interface, an NG interface, and a data network (DN). The terminal can also be a terrestrial mobile terminal (UE). The UE accesses the network through the 5G NR interface. The 5G access network equipment is deployed on the satellite and connected to the terrestrial core network via a wireless link. Simultaneously, wireless links exist between the satellites to facilitate signaling interaction and user data transmission between the access network equipment. The network elements in Figure 1 and their interfaces are described below:

[0119] Terminal: Mobile devices that support 5G New Radio, such as mobile phones and tablets. They can access satellite networks and initiate calls, internet access, and other services via the air interface.

[0120] Satellite stations can be 5G base stations, primarily used to provide wireless access services, allocate wireless resources for accessing terminals, and provide reliable wireless transmission protocols and data encryption protocols. Furthermore, satellite stations can connect to the terrestrial core network via wireless links. Simultaneously, a satellite network can include multiple satellite stations, with wireless links existing between them to facilitate signaling and data transmission between multiple base stations.

[0121] 5G Core Network: This includes services such as user access control, mobility management, session management, user security authentication, and billing. It consists of multiple functional units, which can be divided into control plane and data plane functional entities. The Access and Mobility Management Unit (AMF) is responsible for user access management, security authentication, and mobility management. The Session Management Function (SMF) unit works with the AMF unit to support customized mobility management schemes. The User Plane Function (UPF) unit is responsible for managing user plane data transmission, traffic statistics, and other functions. These functional entities can also be called functional network elements. The UPF network element, acting as the interface with the data network, performs user plane data forwarding, session / flow-based billing statistics, bandwidth limiting, and other functions. This includes packet routing and forwarding, as well as quality of service (QoS) processing for user plane data.

[0122] In long-term evolution (LTE) communication systems, the user plane network element can be a serving gateway user plane (SGW-U), a packet data network gateway user plane (PGW-U), or a combined SGW-U and PGW-U element. In 5G communication systems, the user plane network element can be a user plane function (UPF) element. In future communication systems, the user plane network element can still be a UPF element, or it can have other names; this application does not limit this.

[0123] AMF network elements: Access and Mobility Management Function network elements are mainly used for mobility management and access management, and can be used to implement other functions in MME functions other than session management, such as access authorization / authentication functions.

[0124] In future communication systems, the access and mobility management equipment may still be an AMF, or may have other names; this application does not limit this.

[0125] Ground station: Responsible for forwarding signaling and service data between satellite access network equipment and 5G core network.

[0126] 5G New Radio: The wireless link between a terminal and access network equipment.

[0127] Xn interface: The interface between 5G access network devices and other access network devices, mainly used for signaling interactions such as handover.

[0128] NG interface: The interface between 5G access network equipment and 5G core network, mainly used for exchanging signaling such as NAS of the core network and user service data.

[0129] DN (Network Provider Network): A DN is a network located outside the carrier's network. Multiple DNs can be connected to a carrier's network, and various services can be deployed on a DN, providing data and / or voice services to terminal devices. For example, a DN might be the private network of a smart factory. Sensors installed in the workshop can act as terminal devices, and a control server for these sensors is deployed within the DN. The control server provides services to the sensors. Sensors can communicate with the control server, receive instructions from it, and transmit the collected sensor data back to the control server accordingly. Another example is a DN serving as an internal office network for a company. Employees' mobile phones or computers can act as terminal devices, accessing information and data resources on the company's internal office network.

[0130] It should be noted that the 5G core network 140 also includes other network elements, such as policy control function (PCF) network elements, application function (AF) network elements, unified data management (UDM) network elements, authentication server function (AUSF) network elements, network data analytics function (NWDAF) network elements, etc.

[0131] It should be understood that the above naming is defined solely for the purpose of distinguishing different functions and should not constitute any limitation on this application. This application does not preclude the possibility of using other naming conventions in 5G networks and other future networks. For example, in future networks, some or all of the above-mentioned network elements may use the terminology from 5G, or they may use other names. The interface names between the various network elements in Figure 1 are just an example; in specific implementations, the interface names may be different, and this application does not impose any specific limitations on them. Furthermore, the names of the messages (or signaling) transmitted between the above-mentioned network elements are also just an example and do not constitute any limitation on the function of the messages themselves.

[0132] It is understood that the aforementioned network elements or functions can be network components in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0133] The communication system 100 provided in this application may further include AI network elements for implementing some or all AI-related operations. AI network elements may also be referred to as AI nodes, AI devices, AI entities, AI modules, AI models, or AI units, etc. These AI network elements may be built into the network elements of the communication system. For example, an AI network element may be an AI module built into access network equipment, core network equipment, a cloud server, or an operation, administration, and maintenance (OAM) management system to implement AI-related functions. The OAM may act as the management system for core network equipment and / or access network equipment. Alternatively, the AI ​​network element may be an independently configured network element within the communication system. Optionally, the terminal or its built-in chip may also include an AI entity for implementing AI-related functions.

[0134] Figure 2 illustrates a possible application framework in a communication system. As shown in Figure 2, network elements in the communication system are connected via interfaces (e.g., NG, Xn) or air interfaces. These network element nodes, such as core network equipment, access network nodes (RAN nodes), terminals, or one or more devices in operations administration and maintenance (OAM), are equipped with one or more AI modules (only one is shown in Figure 2 for clarity). An access network node can be a single RAN node or can include multiple RAN nodes, for example, including CU and DU. The CU and / or DU can also be equipped with one or more AI modules. A CU can also be split into CU-CP and CU-UP, with one or more AI modules configured in the CU-CP and / or CU-UP.

[0135] AI modules are used to implement corresponding AI functions. AI modules deployed in different network elements can be the same or different. The models of AI modules can achieve different functions depending on the parameter configurations. The models of AI modules can be configured based on one or more of the following parameters: structural parameters (e.g., at least one of the following: number of neural network layers, neural network width, inter-layer connections, neuron weights, neuron activation function, or biases in the activation function), input parameters (e.g., the type and / or dimension of the input parameters), or output parameters (e.g., the type and / or dimension of the output parameters). The biases in the activation function can also be referred to as the biases of the neural network.

[0136] In one example, the neural network mentioned above can be a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), or a generative adversarial network (GAN).

[0137] Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) are artificial neural network architectures with multiple layers of nonlinear transformation units stacked in a hierarchical structure to form deep computational models. Compared to shallow neural networks, deep neural networks have more hidden layers, allowing the network model to capture more complex data structures and higher-level abstract features.

[0138] A CNN is a deep neural network with a convolutional structure. A CNN contains a feature extractor consisting of convolutional layers and subsampling layers. This feature extractor can be viewed as a filter, and the convolution process can be seen as performing convolution between a trainable filter and an input image or a convolutional feature map.

[0139] RNN is a type of recursive neural network that takes sequence data as input, recursively moves along the direction of sequence evolution, and connects all nodes (recurrent units) in a chain-like manner.

[0140] GAN is a deep learning model. It consists of a generator and a discriminator, and is trained through adversarial learning. Its purpose is to estimate the potential distribution of data samples and generate new data samples.

[0141] An AI module can have one or more models. A model can infer an output, which includes one or more parameters. The learning, training, or inference processes of different models can be deployed on different nodes or devices, or they can be deployed on the same node or device.

[0142] Figure 3 illustrates another possible application framework in a communication system. As shown in Figure 3, the communication system includes a RAN intelligent controller (RIC). For example, the RIC can be the AI ​​module shown in Figure 2, used to implement AI-related functions. RICs include near-real-time RICs (near-RT RICs) and non-real-time RICs (non-RT RICs). Non-real-time RICs primarily process non-real-time information, such as data that is not sensitive to latency, with latency in the order of seconds. Real-time RICs primarily process near-real-time information, such as data that is relatively sensitive to latency, with latency in the order of tens of milliseconds.

[0143] Near real-time (NRT) RICs are used for model training and inference. For example, they are used to train AI models and then use those models for inference. NRT RICs can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CUs, CU-CPs, CU-UPs, DUs, and / or RUs) and / or terminals. This information can be used as training data or inference data. NRT RICs can deliver inference results to RAN nodes and / or terminals. Inference results can be exchanged between CUs and DUs, and / or between DUs and RUs. For example, a NRT RIC delivers an inference result to a DU, which then forwards it to an RU.

[0144] Non-real-time RICs are also used for model training and inference. For example, they are used to train AI models and then use those models for inference. Non-real-time RICs can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CUs, CU-CPs, CU-UPs, DUs, and / or RUs) and / or terminals. This information can be used as training data or inference data, and the inference results can be delivered to RAN nodes and / or terminals. Inference results can be exchanged between CUs and DUs, and / or between DUs and RUs; for example, a non-real-time RIC delivers inference results to a DU, which then forwards them to an RU.

[0145] Near real-time RICs and non-real-time RICs can also be configured as separate network elements. Near real-time RICs and non-real-time RICs can also be part of other devices. For example, near real-time RICs can be set in RAN nodes (e.g., CU, DU), while non-real-time RICs can be set in OAM, cloud servers, core network devices, or other network devices.

[0146] It should be understood that the communication system described above for use in the embodiments of this application is merely an example, and the communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application is not limited thereto. Any communication system capable of implementing the functions of the above-described network elements is applicable to the embodiments of this application.

[0147] The communication system and business scenarios described in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of communication systems and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0148] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the terms used in this application will be briefly explained.

[0149] 1. Non-terrestrial networks (NTN): Compared to terrestrial communications, NTN communications offer wider coverage and more flexible networking options, enabling seamless global network coverage. NTN networks can supplement current terrestrial networks or be viewed as an independent communication system providing users with high-speed global network access. Currently, research institutes, communication organizations, and companies worldwide are involved in researching NTN communication technologies and standards, striving to build a unified communication network integrating air, space, and terrestrial communications. NTN communications utilizes equipment such as drones, high-altitude platforms, or satellites to create networks, providing data transmission and voice communication services to users. High-altitude platform equipment is typically located at an altitude of 8–50 km above the ground. Based on satellite orbital altitude, satellite communication systems can be categorized into three types: GEO satellite communication systems (also known as geostationary orbit satellite systems); MEO satellite communication systems; and LEO satellite communication systems. Unlike terrestrial base stations, satellites move at higher speeds relative to the ground and travel longer distances, resulting in greater signal path loss when using satellites as base stations. Current communication mechanisms designed for communication between terminal devices and terrestrial base stations in mobile communication systems cannot be directly applied to communication between terminal devices and satellite base stations. Compared to terrestrial communication systems, satellite communication systems offer wider coverage and longer transmission distances, and providing services to UEs through wide coverage is a significant characteristic. However, satellite communication systems are characterized by large latency and significant frequency offset.

[0150] 2. SSB transmission period in NTN network

[0151] In NR, the network can configure the SSB transmission period in the SIB message, typically ranging from 5ms to 160ms. When a UE initially accesses the network, it hasn't yet received the SIB message, and will search for an SSB using the default 20ms period. In NTN, the existing protocol extends the default SSB period from NR. For example, in NTN, the SSB transmission period is 160ms, meaning the network sends an SSB every 160ms. When the UE accesses the network from idle state, it will search for an SSB every 160ms.

[0152] 3. Satellite hopping beam

[0153] Satellite beam hopping refers to switching the beam from one location to another to achieve coverage of different areas, thereby providing better services to users or optimizing resource utilization. The location of the beam can be understood as the beam position; for ease of description, the beam position will be used as an example below.

[0154] In NTN, the satellite coverage area is larger than the terrestrial base station coverage area, and the number of beams within the satellite coverage area is also greater than the number of beams within the terrestrial base station coverage area. For example, the satellite coverage area has 1058 beams, while the terrestrial base station coverage area has 4 beams. Considering the hardware constraints of the satellite payload, such as the number of radio frequency beams (or active beams) that the satellite can simultaneously transmit and the total power of the downlink common signal payload available for the satellite, the current protocol discusses the set1-2 parameter set with 16 active beams, and transmits the downlink common signal through on-board beam hopping and time division multiplexing (TDM) technology. As shown in Figure 4, in snapshot 0, the satellite transmits signals (e.g., SSB and common signals) in the 16 shaded regions using 16 active beams. These 16 active beams are: active beam 1, active beam 2, ..., active beam 16. In snapshot 1, these 16 active beams move to the 16 white regions to transmit signals. The difference between snapshot 0 and snapshot 1 can be understood as dwell time. Dwell time can be understood as the duration from when a beam is lit up to when the beam is removed, or the duration from when a beam is served to when the beam is turned off. In other words, within the dwell time, the beam is always served by an active beam. During the time the active beam serves the beam, it transmits SSB, SIB, or common signals, or data channels such as the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Snapshot 0 can also be understood as time 0 or zero time; for ease of description, time will be used as an example below.

[0155] In the satellite beam hopping process, the period during which a beam is activated for service is related to the SSB's transmission period. Taking one of the 16 beams (e.g., beam 0) as an example, Figure 5 illustrates the time it takes for the beam to be activated and the time when the activated beam is deactivated for that beam. As shown in Figure 5, at time t0, the beam is activated for service; at time t1, the activated beam moves away from the beam. The difference between t0 and t1 represents the dwell time, meaning the duration of the activated beam service for that beam is 20ms. At time t3, the beam is activated again for service. The time difference between t0 and t3 is the SSB's transmission period (e.g., 160ms). From t2 to t3, the beam is not activated for service, meaning the activated beam has moved away from the beam. Therefore, t2 to t3 is the beam-off phase. From t3 to t4, the beam is activated again for service for another 20ms.

[0156] It should be noted that the active beam serving the wavelength from time t0 to time t1 may be the same as or different from the active beam serving the wavelength from time t2 to time t3. This application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0157] 4. PDCCH repetition

[0158] Release 17 (Rel-17) discussed PDCCH enhancement in multi-TRP scenarios within NR, improving PDCCH coverage through intra-slot retransmission. For example, by configuring a new parameter `searchSpaceLinkingID-r17` in the search space, the UE, upon receiving and parsing System Information Block (SIB) 1, knows to repeatedly receive PDCCH in the associated search space, typically twice. The time domain resources occupied by the first and second PDCCHs are in the same time slot, but they occupy different symbols within the same time slot. For instance, the first PDCCH occupies symbols 2 and 3 in the time slot, while the second PDCCH occupies symbols 9 and 10. Furthermore, both the first and second PDCCHs use the same aggregation level (AL) and the same number of control channel elements (CCEs) to repeatedly transmit the same DCI.

[0159] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of PDCCH retransmission. As shown in Figure 6, the first PDCCH is transmitted on symbols 2 and 3, and the second PDCCH is transmitted on symbols 9 and 10. Since the first and second PDCCHs are retransmitted, their DCIs (Digital Correspondence Interfaces) are also transmitted within the same time slot. The K0 value in both DCIs is 0. When the UE parses the retransmitted first and / or second PDCCH, it determines that the time domain resources occupied by the scheduled PDSCH are in time slot 1, i.e., time slot 1 + K0 = time slot 1. Here, the fact that the first and second PDCCHs are retransmitted can be understood as the second PDCCH being a retransmission of the first PDCCH.

[0160] Current PDCCH enhancement schemes in multi-TRP (M-TRP) scenarios are applicable to CSSs of type 3 PDCCH CSS in the common search space (common SS, CSS), but not to PDCCHs of other CSS types. Furthermore, Rel-19 discusses inter-slot repetition of PDCCHs of CSS types other than type 3 PDCCH CSS. If the network side configures the retransmitted PDCCH but does not indicate the reference DCI in the retransmitted PDCCH, the UE will be confused about the time or frequency domain location of the PDSCH, resulting in the inability to correctly receive the PDSCH. For example, in a retransmitted PDCCH, the first PDCCH occupies resources in slot 1, and the second PDCCH occupies resources in slot 2. Since K0=0 in the DCI carried by both the first and second PDCCHs, when the UE detects the first PDCCH, it assumes that the PDSCH occupies resources in slot 1 as well, and the UE can correctly receive the PDSCH. However, if the UE detects the second PDCCH, it assumes that the PDSCH occupies resources in slot 2+K0. Since the UE is unaware that the second PDCCH is a retransmitted PDCCH, it cannot correctly receive the PDSCH in slot 2, causing the PDSCH scheduling to fail.

[0161] Rel-17 specifies that in two PDCCHs that are repeatedly transmitted within a time slot, the DCI carried by the second PDCCH is the reference DCI. That is, the scheduling offset K0 included in the reference DCI is used as a reference for subsequent PDSCH scheduling, allowing the UE to know the time domain resources where the PDSCH resides. However, Rel-19 discusses inter-slot PDCCH repetition. If the retransmitted PDCCHs are spaced far apart, for example, the first PDCCH occupies resources in slot 1 and the second PDCCH occupies resources in slot 5, then using the reference DCI of the second PDCCH as the reference DCI in Rel-17 will cause significant delays in PDSCH scheduling, preventing the UE from flexibly scheduling PDSCHs.

[0162] In view of the above problems, this application provides a communication method and communication device to associate a PDCCH with a repeatedly transmitted PDCCH by referring to DCI, so that the terminal can flexibly receive PDSCH, thereby improving the correctness of receiving PDSCH.

[0163] The following detailed description of a communication method provided by an embodiment of this application, in conjunction with Figures 7 and 8, is provided. It is understood that this application uses network devices and terminals as examples of the execution entities in the interactive illustration, but this application does not limit the execution entities in the interactive illustration. For example, the method executed by the network device in this application can also be implemented by modules in the network device (e.g., communication modules, circuits, chips, or chip systems), or logical nodes, logical modules, or software capable of implementing all or part of the network device's functions, or circuits or chips (e.g., GPUs, AI processors, or ASICs) in the network device responsible for communication and / or processing functions. Similarly, the method executed by the terminal in this application can also be implemented by communication and / or processing modules in the terminal, or circuits or chips (e.g., modem chips (also known as baseband chips), or SoC chips / SIP chips containing modem cores, or GPUs / AI processors / ASICs) in the terminal responsible for communication and / or processing functions, or logical nodes, logical modules, or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal's functions. The steps described below as being executed by a single execution entity can also be divided into being executed by multiple execution entities, which can be logically and / or physically separated.

[0164] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 700 provided in an embodiment of this application. The method 700 shown in Figure 7 may include the following steps.

[0165] S710, network devices send reference DCI to terminals.

[0166] Accordingly, the terminal receives a reference DCI from the network device.

[0167] The reference DCI is carried on either a first PDCCH or a second PDCCH, and the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated.

[0168] For example, the reference DCI can be understood as the DCI that the terminal subsequently uses to schedule the PDSCH. In this case, when the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated, the terminal schedules the PDSCH according to the reference DCI.

[0169] For example, the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH or the second PDCCH. This can be understood as follows: the DCI carried on the first PDCCH is used as the reference DCI; or the DCI carried on the second PDCCH is used as the reference DCI.

[0170] For example, the association between the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH can be understood as the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH being repeatedly transmitted, or the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH being repeatedly transmitted PDCCHs. For example, the first PDCCH is a repeated transmission of the second PDCCH, or the second PDCCH is a repeated transmission of the first PDCCH. The association between the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH can be as follows: the first search space containing the first PDCCH can be associated with the second search space containing the second PDCCH, thus the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated; alternatively, the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH can belong to the same search space, such as a third search space, where the network device indicates that multiple PDCCHs in the third search space are associated, and the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH belong to the multiple PDCCHs included in the third search space, thus the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated.

[0171] For ease of description, the following description will take the repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH as an example.

[0172] In this embodiment, the reference DCI refers to the DCI used for subsequent PDSCH scheduling. Repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH includes repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH within a time slot, and repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH between time slots. Repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH within a time slot can be understood as repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH within the same time slot; repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH between time slots can be understood as repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH on different time slots. Repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH means that the network device repeatedly sends the same PDCCH, and the repeatedly sent PDCCH carries the same DCI payload bits.

[0173] In one implementation, the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are repeatedly transmitted within the same time slot. In this case, the DCI carried by the first PDCCH and the DCI carried by the second PDCCH are located in the same time slot, and the reference DCI can be either the DCI carried by the first PDCCH or the DCI carried by the second PDCCH.

[0174] In one implementation, the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are repeatedly transmitted between time slots, meaning they reside in different time slots. In this case, the DCI carried by the first PDCCH and the DCI carried by the second PDCCH are in different time slots. As needed, either the DCI carried by the first PDCCH or the DCI carried by the second PDCCH can be used as a reference DCI. For example, if the first PDCCH is located in slot 1 and the second PDCCH is located in slot 4, the time slots of the first and second PDCCHs are far apart. The first PDCCH can be used as the reference PDCCH, meaning its DCI can be used as the reference DCI. This allows the terminal to receive the PDSCH after detecting the first PDCCH, reducing the PDSCH reception latency. For example, if the first PDCCH is located in slot 1 and the second PDCCH is located in slot 2, and the time slots of the first and second PDCCHs are adjacent, then the second PDCCH can be used as the reference PDCCH, that is, the DCI carried by the second PDCCH can be used as the reference DCI. In this way, since the terminal already knows the location of the reference DCI, even if the terminal detects the second PDCCH, it can still correctly receive the PDSCH.

[0175] It should be noted that when the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the time slot of the reference DCI is the same as the time slot of the first PDCCH; when the reference DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, the time slot of the reference DCI is the same as the time slot of the second PDCCH. In other words, the terminal knows the time slot of the reference DCI and then determines the time slot of the scheduled PDSCH based on the scheduling offset K0 carried in the reference DCI. This ensures that the terminal can correctly receive the PDSCH regardless of whether it detects the first or the second PDCCH.

[0176] For example, when a network device sends a reference DCI, it can be understood that the network device repeatedly sends a first PDCCH and a second PDCCH, one of which carries the reference DCI. Then, the terminal monitors the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH, thereby receiving the reference DCI.

[0177] Optionally, before the terminal receives the reference DCI, the method 700 further includes the following steps.

[0178] S701, The network device sends the first configuration information to the terminal.

[0179] Accordingly, the terminal receives the first configuration information from the network device.

[0180] The first configuration information is used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI. This can be understood as the first configuration information indicating that the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, or the first configuration information indicating that the reference DCI is carried on the second PDCCH. Whether the reference DCI is carried on the first or second PDCCH can be configured according to actual needs. For example, when the first and second PDCCHs are in the same time slot, the reference DCI can be carried on either the first or the second PDCCH. Alternatively, if the first and second PDCCHs are in different time slots, assuming the first PDCCH is the first transmitted PDCCH, the first configuration can configure the reference DCI to be carried on the first PDCCH. This allows for flexible scheduling of the PDSCH when the time slot of the second PDCCH is far from the time slot of the first PDCCH, reducing the delay in scheduling the PDSCH.

[0181] Optionally, the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH, and / or the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the system message block SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted, which is scheduled by the reference DCI.

[0182] In one implementation, the first configuration information is further used to indicate that the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH. In this case, the first configuration information can be carried in radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[0183] In the first example, the first configuration information is specifically used to indicate the association between a first search space and a second search space. The first search space includes multiple candidate PDCCHs, and the second search space includes multiple candidate PDCCHs. The first PDCCH is transmitted on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources corresponding to the first candidate PDCCH in the first search space, and the second PDCCH is transmitted on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources corresponding to the second candidate PDCCH in the second search space. The first candidate PDCCH and the second candidate PDCCH are associated, and the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated.

[0184] In this search, the first search space is associated with the second search space. Multiple candidate PDCCHs in the first search space correspond one-to-one with multiple candidate PDCCHs in the second search space. Therefore, the corresponding candidate PDCCHs in the first and second search spaces are associated. The first and second candidate PDCCHs are used for repeated PDCCH transmission; that is, the first and second PDCCHs are mutually repeated PDCCHs. Let the first search space be denoted as SS#1 and the second search space as SS#2. Then SS#1 and SS#2 can be called linked SSs. Assume SS#1 includes candidate PDCCH#1, candidate PDCCH#2, and candidate PDCCH#3, and assume SS#2 includes candidate PDCCH#1, candidate PDCCH#2, and candidate PDCCH#3. When the first configuration information indicates that the first search space is associated with the second search space, candidate PDCCH#1 in SS#1 is associated with candidate PDCCH#1 in SS#2, candidate PDCCH#2 in SS#1 is associated with candidate PDCCH#2 in SS#2, and candidate PDCCH#3 in SS#1 is associated with candidate PDCCH#3 in SS#2. In other words, candidate PDCCHs with the same sequence number in SS#1 and SS#2 are associated. The candidate PDCCHs in SS#1 and SS#2 all correspond to the same aggregation level.

[0185] It should be noted that the first configuration information is carried in RRC signaling. Specifically, the first configuration information includes searchspace parameter configuration information elements in SIB1 used to configure the searchspace set. These searchspace parameter configuration information elements include the searchspace-linkingID parameter. After receiving SIB1, the terminal can determine that the first search space, which includes this searchspace-linkingID parameter, is associated with the second search space. Specifically, if the linkingID configured in the first search space is the same as the linkingID configured in the second search space, the terminal considers the two search spaces with the same linkingID to be associated.

[0186] In the second example, the first configuration information is specifically used to indicate the association of multiple candidate PDCCHs in the third search space. Specifically, the first configuration information indicates the association of a first candidate PDCCH and a second candidate PDCCH in the third search space, where both belong to the multiple candidate PDCCHs within the third search space. In this case, the first PDCCH is transmitted on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources corresponding to the first candidate PDCCH, and the second PDCCH is transmitted on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources corresponding to the second candidate PDCCH. Therefore, the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated.

[0187] The first configuration information includes an aggregation level parameter and a candidate PDCCH index parameter. The aggregation level parameter indicates the aggregation level corresponding to the first candidate PDCCH and the second candidate PDCCH, and the candidate PDCCH index parameter indicates the index corresponding to the first candidate PDCCH and the index corresponding to the second candidate PDCCH.

[0188] For example, the first configuration information includes the ALandIndex-R19 information element in SIB1 used to configure the searchspace set. This ALandIndex-R19 information element includes AL parameters and Index parameters (i.e., candidate PDCCH index parameters). The AL parameter takes any value from 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16, and the Index parameter takes a value from 0 to N, where N is the number of candidate PDCCHs corresponding to that AL parameter. It is understood that the ALandIndex-R19 information element can configure multiple rows of AL and Index parameters. For instance, the third search space includes eight candidate PDCCHs, all with an aggregation level of 4 (namely: candidate PDCCH#1, candidate PDCCH#2, candidate PDCCH#3, candidate PDCCH#4, candidate PDCCH#5, candidate PDCCH#6, candidate PDCCH#7, and candidate PDCCH#8). Suppose that the ALandIndex-R19 cell configuration has one line of parameters: {AL=4, Index={1,2}}, indicating that among all candidate PDCCHs with an aggregation level of 4 in the third search space, candidate PDCCHs with index numbers 1 and 2 are associated. That is, candidate PDCCH#1 and candidate PDCCH#2 are associated. In this case, the network device will repeatedly transmit PDCCHs on the time domain resources corresponding to candidate PDCCH#1 and candidate PDCCH#2. For example, the first PDCCH is transmitted on the time domain resource corresponding to candidate PDCCH#1, and the second PDCCH is transmitted on the time domain resource corresponding to candidate PDCCH#2. The first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are transmitted repeatedly.

[0189] It should be noted that the embodiments of this application do not limit the number of candidate PDCCHs associated as indicated by the first configuration information. For example, suppose the ALandIndex-R19 cell configuration has a line of parameters: {AL=4, Index={2,3,4,5}}, indicating that candidate PDCCHs with index numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5 are associated among all candidate PDCCHs with aggregation level 4 in the third search space. That is, candidate PDCCH#2, candidate PDCCH#3, candidate PDCCH#4, and candidate PDCCH#5 are associated. In this case, the network device will associate candidate PDCCH#2, candidate PDCCH#3, and candidate PDCCH#5. PDCCH is repeatedly transmitted on the time-domain resources corresponding to H#4 and candidate PDCCH#5. For example, PDCCH#2 is transmitted on the time-domain resource corresponding to candidate PDCCH#2, PDCCH#3 is transmitted on the time-domain resource corresponding to candidate PDCCH#3, PDCCH#4 is transmitted on the time-domain resource corresponding to candidate PDCCH#4, and PDCCH#5 is transmitted on the time-domain resource corresponding to candidate PDCCH#5. Among these, PDCCH#2, PDCCH#3, PDCCH#4, and PDCCH#5 are transmitted repeatedly.

[0190] It should also be noted that the first search space, the second search space and the third search space mentioned above correspond to CSS, and the corresponding CSS type can be Type0A-pdcch CSS, Type1-pdcch CSS, Type2-pdcch CSS or Type3-pdcch CSS. This application does not limit this.

[0191] At this point, the first configuration information is used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI. This can be understood as indicating that the reference DCI is associated with a first candidate PDCCH, or with a second candidate PDCCH. Alternatively, the first configuration information can be said to indicate that the first candidate PDCCH is the reference PDCCH, or the second candidate PDCCH is the reference PDCCH. Thus, after receiving the first configuration information, the terminal can determine whether the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH or the second PDCCH.

[0192] For example, the first configuration information includes the searchSpaceExt-v1900 parameter, which is used to indicate that the first search space is associated with the reference DCI, or to indicate that the second search space is associated with the reference DCI. Thus, the terminal determines whether the reference DCI is associated with the first search space or the second search space according to the indication of the first configuration information, and then determines whether the reference DCI is carried on a first PDCCH transmitted through a first candidate PDCCH, or the reference DCI is carried on a second PDCCH transmitted through a second candidate PDCCH.

[0193] For example, the first configuration information includes the searchSpaceExt-v1900 parameter, which is used to indicate that the first candidate PDCCH in the third search space is associated with the reference DCI, or to indicate that the second candidate PDCCH in the third search space is associated with the reference DCI. Thus, the terminal determines, according to the indication of the first configuration information, whether the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH transmitted through the first candidate PDCCH, or the reference DCI is carried on the second PDCCH transmitted through the second candidate PDCCH.

[0194] In one implementation, the first configuration information is also used to indicate that system message block SIB1 should be retransmitted, which is scheduled by the reference DCI. The first configuration information can be called master information block (MIB) information; that is, the MIB information is used to indicate whether system message block SIB1 should be retransmitted. Specifically, the reserved field in the MIB information indicates whether SIB1 should be retransmitted. For example, using one bit of the reserved field to indicate whether SIB1 should be retransmitted, a value of 1 in the reserved field indicates that SIB1 should be retransmitted; a value of 0 in the reserved field indicates that SIB1 should not be retransmitted. Alternatively, a value of 0 in the reserved field indicates that SIB1 should be retransmitted; a value of 1 in the reserved field indicates that SIB1 should not be retransmitted.

[0195] It should be noted that multiple bits of information in the reserved field can also be used to indicate whether SIB1 is transmitted repeatedly, and this application does not limit this.

[0196] In one implementation, the first configuration information is further used to indicate the association between the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH, and also to indicate the repeated transmission of system message block SIB1. In this case, the first configuration information can be referred to as MIB information; that is, the MIB information is used to indicate the repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH, as well as the repeated transmission of system message block SIB1.

[0197] Specifically, in this embodiment, the satellite can transmit SSB or SIB during the period when the spectral position is activated or illuminated. The terminal obtains MIB information to further obtain SIB1, thereby achieving network access. SIB1 is scheduled via PDCCH. The PDCCH search space type for SIB1 is Type0-pdcch CSS, and the control-resource set (CORESET) associated with this Type0-pdcch CSS is CORESET 0. The multiplexing mode of CORESET 0 and SSB includes multiplexing mode 1. In multiplexing mode 1, the scheduling of PDSCH may result in the following situations:

[0198] Case 1: The network device sends the first PDCCH in slot n0 and the second PDCCH in slot n0+1. When K0=0, the PDSCH is only scheduled in slot n0.

[0199] Scenario 2: The network device sends the first PDCCH in slot n0 and the second PDCCH in slot n0+1. When K0=0, the PDSCH is only scheduled in slot n0+1.

[0200] Case 3: The network device sends the first PDCCH in slot n0 and the second PDCCH in slot n0+1. When K0=0, the PDSCH is scheduled in slot n0 and slot n0+1.

[0201] Case 4: The network device sends PDCCH only in slot n0 or slot n0+1. When K0=0, PDSCH is scheduled in slot n0 or slot n0+1.

[0202] Case 5: The network device sends PDCCH only in slot n0 or slot n0+1. When K0=0, PDSCH is scheduled in slot n0 or slot n0+1, as well as in slots after slot n0 or slot n0+1.

[0203] Regarding scenarios 1 and 2 above, if the terminal does not know whether the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH or the second PDCCH, the terminal cannot detect the scheduled PDSCH within the DCI carried by the first PDCCH or the DCI carried by the second PDCCH. Regarding scenario 5 above, since the PDSCH is scheduled in slot n0 or slot n0+1, and in slots after slot n0 or slot n0+1, if the terminal is unaware of the repeated transmission of SIB1, assuming the second PDCCH is transmitted after the first PDCCH, the terminal cannot obtain scheduling information within the second PDDCH, and therefore cannot merge SIB1. Regarding scenarios 3 and 4, the terminal needs to use blind detection to determine whether to merge the repeatedly transmitted SIB1 and PDCCH, which will cause power consumption.

[0204] Therefore, when the first configuration information indicates the reference DCI, the first configuration information indicates the association between the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH, and the reference DCI schedules repeated transmission of SIB1, the terminal can know which PDCCH in the repeated transmission is specifically carried by the reference DCI, regardless of whether it detects the first PDCCH or the second PDCCH.

[0205] Where the first configuration information is MIB information, then one bit of the MIB information can indicate repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH, as well as repeated transmission of SIB1 scheduled with reference to DCI. This one bit of the MIB information can be one bit of the reserved field. The repeated transmission of SIB1 scheduled with reference to DCI can be referred to the above description and will not be repeated here. The following section mainly describes in detail how to indicate the reference DCI when the first configuration information is MIB information.

[0206] It should be noted that the MIB information is carried on the physical broadcast channel (PBCH). For ease of description, the following description will use the example of the first PDCCH being located in slot n0 and the second PDCCH being located in slot n0+1. However, it is understood that the first PDCCH can be located in slot n0+1 and the second PDCCH can be located in slot n0, and this application does not impose any limitation on this.

[0207] In the first example, when the first configuration information is MIB information, the reference DCI is indicated through the reserved field in the MIB information. For example, the reference DCI can be indicated by one bit of the reserved field. When the value of the reserved field is 1, it indicates that the DCI carried by the first PDCCH in slot n0 is the reference DCI, and the reference DCI is located in slot n0. When the value of the reserved field is 0, it indicates that the DCI carried by the second PDCCH in slot n0+1 is the reference DCI, and the reference DCI is located in slot n0+1. Alternatively, the reference DCI can be indicated by two bits of the reserved field. When the value of the reserved field is 01, it indicates that the DCI carried by the first PDCCH in slot n0 is the reference DCI, and the reference DCI is located in slot n0. When the value of the reserved field is 11, it indicates that the DCI carried by the second PDCCH in slot n0+1 is the reference DCI, and the reference DCI is located in slot n0+1.

[0208] In the second example, when the first configuration information is MIB information, and the CSS type corresponding to the first or second PDCCH is Type0-pdcch CSS, the protocol defines the DCI carried by the first PDCCH in slot n0 as the reference DCI. This eliminates the need for additional signaling overhead.

[0209] In the third example, in this embodiment, the repetition of PDCCH in the Type0-pdcch CSS can introduce an additional Type0-pdcch CSS set. In this case, assume the third PDCCH in the additional Type0-pdcch CSS set is located in slot n1, and the fourth PDCCH in the additional Type0-pdcch CSS set is located in slot n1+1. Then the terminal can merge the duplicate PDCCHs in slot n0 and slot n0+1 (i.e., merge the first and second PDCCHs), or it can merge the duplicate PDCCHs in slot n1 and slot n1+1 (i.e., merge the third and fourth PDCCHs), where the first and second PDCCHs correspond to the third search space, and the third and fourth PDCCHs correspond to the fourth search space. When the first configuration information is MIB information, the index of the reference search space (or the identifier (ID) of the search space) is indicated by the reserved field in the MIB information. For example, one bit of the reserved field can be used to indicate the index of the reference search space. When the value of the reserved field is 1, it indicates the index of the third search space. In this case, the third search space is the reference search space, and the reference DCI is located on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources where the third search space resides. When the value of the reserved field is 0, it indicates the index of the fourth search space. In this case, the fourth search space is the reference search space, and the reference DCI is located on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources where the fourth search space resides. For example, the index of the reference search space can be indicated using two bits of the reserved field. When the value of the reserved field is 01, it indicates the index of the third search space. In this case, the third search space is the reference search space, and the reference DCI is located on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources where the third search space resides. When the value of the reserved field is 11, it indicates the index of the fourth search space. In this case, the fourth search space is the reference search space, and the reference DCI is located on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources where the fourth search space resides.

[0210] It should be noted that this application does not limit the value of the reserved field or the content indicated by the value of the reserved field. The above is only an example given to clearly describe the solution of this application and cannot be construed as limiting the solution of this application.

[0211] For example, when the first configuration information is MIB information, the MIB information is also used to indicate the number of times SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted. For example, the number of times SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted can be 1, 2, 4, or 8. Here, the number of times SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted can be understood as SIB1 not being repeatedly transmitted, but the terminal can know that SIB1 is not being repeatedly transmitted based on the indication of the MIB information.

[0212] In one implementation, the DCI (Distributed Modulation and Coding Scheme) can be referenced to indicate whether SIB1 should be transmitted repeatedly. For example, the high bit of the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) field in the DCI can be referenced to indicate whether SIB1 should be transmitted repeatedly. For instance, a value of 1 in the high bit of the MCS field indicates that SIB1 should be transmitted repeatedly; a value of 0 in the high bit of the MCS field indicates that SIB1 should not be transmitted repeatedly.

[0213] In one implementation, the number of times SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted can be indicated by referencing the DCI. For example, the time domain resource assignment (TDRA) field in the DCI can be used to indicate the number of times SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted. Specifically, a column indicating the number of times SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted is added after the TDRA table. After the terminal decodes the reference DCI, it can see the number of times the SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted from the new table indicated by the TDRA field.

[0214] In one implementation, the number of times SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted can be indicated by referring to the DCI. For example, the reserved field in the DCI can be used to indicate the number of times SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted. For instance, a value of 1 in the reserved field indicates that SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted; a value of 0 indicates that SIB1 is not repeatedly transmitted. Alternatively, a value of 0 in the reserved field indicates that SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted; a value of 1 in the reserved field indicates that SIB1 is not repeatedly transmitted.

[0215] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, if the first configuration information is MIB information, then during PDCCH retransmission, the payload in the retransmitted PDCCH can be used to instruct the terminal to retransmit SIB1. For example, the payload in the retransmitted PDCCH carries SIB1 repetition factor = 2. In this case, SIB1 in slot n0 can be used as the PDSCH scheduled with reference to DCI, and SIB1 in slot n0+1 can be used as a repetition of the PDSCH scheduled with reference to DCI. Alternatively, SIB1 in slot n0 can be used as the first PDSCH scheduled with reference to DCI, and SIB1 in PDSCH slot n0+1 can be used as the second PDSCH scheduled with reference to DCI.

[0216] It should also be noted that, in this embodiment, if the first configuration information is MIB information, then during PDCCH retransmission, the payload in the retransmitted PDCCH does not instruct the terminal SIB1 to retransmit; that is, the payload in the retransmitted PDCCH does not instruct the terminal SIB1 to retransmit. In this case, the SIB1 in slot n0 can be used as the PDSCH scheduled by the first PDCCH, and the SIB1 in slot n0+1 can be used as the PDSCH scheduled by the second PDCCH. The terminal can decide whether to merge the two SIB1s to improve the decoding performance of SIB1 reception.

[0217] Furthermore, the terminal can know whether the reference DCI is specifically carried on the first PDCCH or the second PDCCH according to the indication of the first configuration information, that is, execute step S702.

[0218] S702, The terminal determines the PDCCH that carries the reference DCI.

[0219] In one implementation, the terminal receives first configuration information. When the first configuration information indicates that the first PDCCH is a reference PDCCH, the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH. When the first configuration information indicates that the second PDCCH is a reference PDCCH, the reference DCI is carried on the second PDCCH.

[0220] For example, if the first configuration information indicates the reference DCI, the terminal determines whether the reference DCI is carried on a first PDCCH or a second PDCCH based on the indication of the first configuration information. For instance, if the first configuration information is carried in RRC signaling, the searchSpaceExt-v1900 parameter indicates whether the reference DCI is associated with a first candidate PDCCH or a second candidate PDCCH, thus determining whether the reference DCI is carried on the first or second PDCCH. As another example, if the first configuration information is MIB information, one bit of information in the MIB information indicates whether the reference DCI is carried on the first or second PDCCH.

[0221] For a detailed description of the first configuration information indication reference DCI, please refer to the description in step S701 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0222] In one implementation, the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured. That is, the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured to be carried by either the first PDCCH or the second PDCCH. The terminal knows the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI based on the predefined or preconfigured information. In this case, step S701 is not executed; that is, when the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured, method 700 does not execute step S701, while the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI in step S702 is obtained through predefined or preconfigured information.

[0223] It should be noted that the terminal's determination of the PDCCH carrying the DCI can occur before step S710. In this case, the terminal determines the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI and then receives the reference DCI from the network device. The PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is either a first PDCCH or a second PDCCH. That is, the terminal receives the reference DCI, which is carried on either a first PDCCH or a second PDCCH, and the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH, thus determining the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI. Alternatively, it can be described as the terminal determining the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI, which is either a first PDCCH or a second PDCCH, and the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH; then receiving the reference DCI. It should also be noted that the embodiments of this application do not limit the execution order of steps S710 and S702.

[0224] S720, network devices send PDSCH to terminals.

[0225] Accordingly, the terminal receives the PDSCH from the network device.

[0226] Specifically, the network device sends the PDSCH to the terminal based on the reference DCI. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the PDSCH from the network device based on the reference DCI.

[0227] In one implementation, the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH. For example, if the first PDCCH is located in slot n0 and the scheduling offset K0 in the reference DCI is 0, then the terminal receives the PDSCH on slot n0.

[0228] In one implementation, the reference DCI is carried on the second PDCCH. For example, if the first PDCCH is located in slot n0+1 and the scheduling offset K0 in the reference DCI is 0, then the terminal receives the PDSCH in slot n0+1.

[0229] For example, before the terminal receives the PDSCH according to the reference DCI, the terminal monitors the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH on the first candidate PDCCH and the second candidate PDCCH respectively to receive the reference DCI. In the embodiments of this application, on the R1 band in the NTN, and in the SSB CORESET multiplexing mode 1 scenario, the protocol defines the monitoring position of the Type 0-pdcch corresponding to two consecutive time slots for each SSB index (e.g., slot n0 and slot n0+1). When the terminal calculates the value of n0, there are three possibilities: M = 1, 1 / 2, and 2, where M represents the interval of the search space of CORESET 0 corresponding to the two consecutive SSBs. For a detailed description, please refer to the description of the prior art, which will not be repeated here. The following explanation uses M = 1 / 2 as an example. When M = 1 / 2, each SSB index corresponds to the monitoring position of Type0-pdcch of two consecutive slots. At this time, the slot n0 corresponding to the previous SSB index coincides with the slot n0 corresponding to the next SSB index, and the slot n0+1 corresponding to the previous SSB index also coincides with the slot n0+1 corresponding to the next SSB index.

[0230] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the time slot where an SSB is located. As shown in Figure 8, assume there are SSB 1, SSB 2, SSB 3 and SSB 4, where SSB 1 and SSB 2 correspond to slot 1, and SSB 3 and SSB 4 correspond to slot 2. At this point, in Figure 8, symbol 0 in slot 1 corresponds to the DCI of SSB 1, symbol 1 in slot 1 corresponds to the DCI of SSB 2, symbol 2 in slot 2 corresponds to the DCI of SSB 3, and symbol 3 in slot 2 corresponds to the DCI of SSB 4. Therefore, the PDSCH scheduled by the DCI corresponding to SSB 1 is located in slot 1, but the PDSCH scheduled by the DCI corresponding to SSB 2 is located in slot 2, the PDSCH scheduled by the DCI corresponding to SSB 3 is located in slot 3, and the PDSCH scheduled by the DCI corresponding to SSB 4 is located in slot 4. That is, the DCI corresponding to SSB 1 includes K0=0, the DCI corresponding to SSB 2 includes K0=1, the DCI corresponding to SSB 3 includes K0=1, and the DCI corresponding to SSB 4 includes K0=2. However, in the default table (default-A) specified by the current protocol, the value of K0 is always 0. SIB1 decoding requires more time-domain resources, which is detrimental to improving SIB1 decoding performance when K0=0.

[0231] Therefore, in this embodiment of the application, the aforementioned reference DCI can be used to indicate the mapping type of the PDSCH, the correspondence between the symbol where the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDSCH is located and the scheduling offset, wherein the scheduling offset indicates the offset of the time unit where the PDSCH is located relative to the time unit where the reference DCI is located.

[0232] The symbol containing the demodulation reference signal DMRS in the PDSCH can be understood as the position of the first DMRS in PDSCH mapping type A. This can be represented by the parameter dmrs-typeA-position, which is typically 2 or 3, indicating that the first DMRS is located on the second or third symbol within the time slot. For a detailed description, please refer to existing technologies; further details will not be provided here.

[0233] Specifically, the above correspondence includes at least one of the following: when the mapping type of the PDSCH is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0; when the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located is the 3rd symbol, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0.

[0234] In the embodiments of this application, the time unit may be referred to as a time slot, micro-time slot, symbol, etc., and this application does not limit it.

[0235] For example, the first mapping type is Type B. In this case, in the existing default-A table, the value of K0 corresponding to the PDSCH mapping type of Type B in the PDSCH mapping type column is an integer greater than 0. For example, K0 can be 1, 2, 3, etc. The PDSCH mapping type can be represented by the parameter PDSCH mapping type. The PDSCH mapping types include Type A and Type B. For a detailed description, please refer to existing technologies, which will not be repeated here.

[0236] In one implementation, when the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is the third symbol, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0, that is, the K0 corresponding to the row where dmrs-typeA-position 3 is modified to a value greater than or equal to 0. Specifically, the K0 corresponding to the row where dmrs-typeA-position 3 can be set according to actual needs. This application does not limit this, only requiring that the value of K0 is greater than 0 and is an integer.

[0237] For ease of description, Table 1 below is a table provided in this application embodiment after modifying the value of K0 corresponding to the row where dmrs-typeA-position is 3 based on the existing default-A table.

[0238] Table 1

[0239] In Table 1, the K0 values ​​corresponding to a value of 3 in the dmrs-typeA-position column are all integers greater than 0. Here, S and L represent the starting symbol of the PDSCH in the time slot and the length occupied by the PDSCH in the time slot, respectively.

[0240] In one implementation, when the PDSCH mapping type is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0, that is, modifying K0 corresponding to the PDSCH mapping type Type B row to a value greater than 0. Specifically, K0 corresponding to the PDSCH mapping type Type B row can be set according to actual needs. This application does not limit this, only requiring that the value of K0 is greater than 0.

[0241] For ease of description, Table 2 below is a table provided in this application embodiment after modifying the values ​​of K0 corresponding to the row where the PDSCH mapping type is Type B, based on the existing default-A table.

[0242] Table 2

[0243] In Table 2, the values ​​of K0 corresponding to the rows where the PDSCH mapping type is Type B are all integers greater than 0.

[0244] In one implementation, when the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is the 3rd symbol, the scheduling offset is a positive integer, that is, modifying K0 in the row where dmrs-typeA-position 3 is to a value greater than 0. And when the mapping type of the PDSCH is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is a positive integer, that is, modifying K0 in the row where the PDSCH mapping type is Type B to a value greater than 0 and an integer.

[0245] For ease of description, Table 3 below shows the values ​​of K0 corresponding to the row with dmrs-typeA-position 3 and the values ​​of K0 corresponding to the row with PDSCH mapping type Type B, based on the existing default-A table provided in this application embodiment.

[0246] Table 3

[0247] In Table 3, the K0 values ​​corresponding to the dmrs-typeA-position column when the value is 3 are all integers greater than 0, and the K0 values ​​corresponding to the rows where the PDSCH mapping type is Type B are all integers greater than 0.

[0248] In actual communication, the mapping type of PDSCH may not have TypeB. In this case, the row containing TypeB in Table 1 can be changed to TypeA, and the value of K0 corresponding to the dmrs-typeA-position column when the value is 3 can be changed to an integer greater than 0. That is to say, the table only contains TypeA, and when the value of dmrs-typeA-position corresponding to TypeA is 3, the value of K0 is an integer greater than 0.

[0249] For descriptions of parameters not detailed in the table, please refer to existing technologies; they will not be repeated here.

[0250] Furthermore, after receiving the PDSCH, the terminal processes it. Currently, after processing the PDSCH, the terminal also sends an ACK message to the network device to indicate that the network device successfully received the PDSCH, or sends a NACK message to the network device to indicate that the network device failed to receive the PDSCH. To ensure that the terminal has sufficient time to process the received PDSCH and send an ACK or NACK on the PUCCH in the case of repeated PDCCH transmission, this application introduces a PDSCH processing delay. Specifically, when the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are repeated PDCCHs, and the PDSCH scheduled with reference to DCI is located between the time domain resources where the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are located, the PDSCH processing delay can be indicated to the terminal through the second configuration information.

[0251] Optionally, the method 700 further includes: the network device sending second configuration information to the terminal, and correspondingly, the terminal receiving the second configuration information from the network device.

[0252] The reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, and the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH. The time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH. The second configuration information is used to indicate that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or the second configuration information is used to indicate the first processing delay for processing the PDSCH. The first processing delay is determined by the second processing delay, the first duration, and the second duration. The second processing delay is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). The first duration is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI. The second duration is the duration for the terminal to process the reference DCI.

[0253] For example, the second configuration information is carried in RRC signaling.

[0254] It should be noted that the first configuration information can be the same as or different from the second configuration information; this application does not limit this.

[0255] In one implementation, the second configuration information indicates that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI. Here, the first DCI is the DCI carried by the last transmitted PDCCH in the first and second PDCCHs. For example, if the first PDCCH is the last transmitted PDCCH, then the first DCI is carried by the first PDCCCH. If a reference DCI is carried by the first PDCCH at this time, then the first DCI is the reference DCI. Similarly, if the second PDCCH is the last transmitted PDCCH, then the first DCI is carried by the second PDCCCH. If a reference DCI is carried by the second PDCCH at this time, then the second DCI is the reference DCI. In other words, the terminal can start processing the PDSCH from the last symbol occupied by the DCI carried by the last transmitted PDCCH, thus allowing the terminal sufficient time to process the PDSCH.

[0256] In one implementation, the second configuration information is used to indicate a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH. This first processing delay can be a modification of the second processing delay. Specifically, the first processing delay is determined by the second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration. For example, the first processing delay is determined by the sum of the second processing delay, the first duration, and the second duration. Here, the second processing delay is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the PUCCH; the first duration is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; and the second duration is the time it takes for the terminal to process the reference DCI. The second processing delay can be understood as the existing T... proc,1 For ease of distinction, the delay of the second processing step is denoted as T. proc,1 The first processing delay is denoted as T'. proc,1 Then the second processing delay T proc,1 It can be expressed by the following formula: T proc,1 =(N1+d) 1,1 +d2)(2048+144)k·2 -μ ·T c +T ext

[0257] Wherein, N1 defines the minimum processing time requirement between the end of the last symbol occupied by PDSCH and the start of the PUCCH transmission, μ represents the subcarrier spacing, and d 1,1 It is the number of overlapping symbols between the scheduling PDCCH and the scheduled PDSCH, where d2 and T c 、 and T ext The calculation is based on the processing power of the terminal. For details regarding the formula not described above, please refer to existing technologies, which will not be elaborated here.

[0258] It should be noted that before receiving the second configuration information, the terminal will report its ability to process PDSCH to the network device. The implementation details regarding the terminal's ability to report PDSCH processing to the network device and the method by which the terminal determines the first processing delay can be found in existing technologies and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0259] Furthermore, the first processing delay T' proc,1＝ T proc，1 +T0+T1, where T proc,1 The second processing delay is defined as T0, where T0 is the first duration and T1 is the second duration. This gives the terminal sufficient time to process the PDSCH and send an ACK or NACK via PUSCCH.

[0260] It should also be noted that the above embodiments are described using the repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH as an example. However, it is understood that the embodiments of this application do not limit the number of PDCCHs that are repeatedly transmitted. For example, the number of PDCCHs that are repeatedly transmitted can be 3, 4, 5, etc., depending on the number of associated search spaces and the number of associated candidate PDCCHs. That is to say, this application can realize the repeated transmission of multiple PDCCHs, and the repeated transmission of multiple PDCCHs is similar to the repeated transmission of the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH. For example, if the first configuration information indicates that candidate PDCCH#2, candidate PDCCH#3, candidate PDCCH#4, and candidate PDCCH#5 are associated in the third search space, then the number of PDCCHs that are repeatedly transmitted is 4. This application does not limit the number of PDCCHs that are repeatedly transmitted.

[0261] In this embodiment, the terminal receives a reference DCI and can determine which PDCCH in the retransmitted PDCCHs carries the reference DCI. Regardless of whether the terminal detects the first or second PDCCH, since the reference DCI carries one of the first or second PDCCHs, the terminal can determine the time-domain and frequency-domain resources where the PDSCH resides based on the reference DCI. Thus, when the first and second PDCCHs are retransmitted PDCCHs, the terminal can receive the PDSCH based on the reference DCI. Because the reference DCI can carry either the first or second PDCCH, it allows for flexible PDSCH reception and improves the accuracy of PDSCH reception. It should be understood that the scheduling information included in the DCI may include the offset between the PDCCH and the PDSCH, or other information related to relative positions. Therefore, when the terminal learns about the resources carrying the PDSCH based on the received DCI, it also needs to consider the location information of the PDCCH carrying the DCI, such as its time-domain location. In other words, during retransmitted PDCCHs, the terminal can only correctly receive the PDSCH based on the reference DCI. If the terminal does not know which PDCCH carries the reference DCI, reception failure may occur.

[0262] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a communication device 1000 provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 9, the communication device 1000 may include modules or units for implementing the methods described in the above embodiments. In one possible design, the communication device 1000 includes a communication unit 1003 and a processing unit 1002. Optionally, the communication device 1000 may further include a storage unit 1001 for storing device program code and / or data. The communication unit 1003 may also be referred to as a communication interface, transceiver unit, or interface unit.

[0263] The communication device 1000 can be a terminal-side device as described in the above embodiments, such as a terminal or a communication module in a terminal, or a circuit or chip in a terminal that is responsible for communication functions.

[0264] For example, in one embodiment, the communication unit 1003 is used to receive reference downlink control information (DCI), which is carried on a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated; the communication unit 1003 is also used to receive physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) according to the reference DCI.

[0265] In one possible design, processing unit 1002 is used to determine the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

[0266] In one possible design, the communication unit 1003 is also configured to receive first configuration information, which is used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

[0267] In one possible design, the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured.

[0268] In one possible design, the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, and the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the first PDCCH. The communication unit 1003 is also used to receive second configuration information, which is used to indicate that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or to receive second configuration information, which is used to indicate a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH. The first processing delay is determined by a second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration. The second processing delay is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). The first duration is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI. The second duration is the duration for the terminal to process the reference DCI.

[0269] In one possible design, the first processing delay satisfies: T' proc,1＝ T proc，1 +T0+T1

[0270] Among them, T' proc,1 For this first processing delay, T proc,1 The second processing delay is defined as T0, the first duration, and T1, the second duration.

[0271] In one possible design, the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH; and / or the first configuration information is also used to indicate that system message block SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted, which is scheduled by the reference DCI.

[0272] In one possible design, the reference DCI is used to indicate the mapping type of the PDSCH, the correspondence between the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located and the scheduling offset, the scheduling offset indicating the offset of the time unit where the PDSCH is located relative to the time unit where the reference DCI is located.

[0273] In one possible design, the correspondence includes at least one of the following: when the mapping type of the PDSCH is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0; when the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located is the 3rd symbol, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0.

[0274] In one possible design, when the communication device 1000 is a terminal or a communication module within a terminal, the function of the processing unit 1002 can be implemented by one or more processors. Specifically, the processor may include a modem chip, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip or a SIP chip containing a modem core. The function of the communication unit 1003 can be implemented by transceiver circuitry.

[0275] In one possible design, when the communication device 1000 is a circuit or chip in a terminal responsible for communication functions, such as a modem chip or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or SIP chip containing a modem core, the function of the processing unit 1002 can be implemented by a circuit system in the aforementioned chip that includes one or more processors or processor cores. The function of the communication unit 1003 can be implemented by the interface circuitry or data transceiver circuitry on the aforementioned chip.

[0276] In one possible design, when the communication device 1000 is a terminal or a communication and / or processing module within a terminal, the functionality of the processing unit 1002 can be implemented by one or more processors. Specifically, the processor may include a GPU, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or SIP chip containing a GPU. Alternatively, the processor may include an AI processor, or a SoC or SIP chip containing an AI processor. Or, the processor may include an ASIC, or a SoC or SIP chip containing an ASIC. The functionality of the communication unit 1003 can be implemented by transceiver circuitry.

[0277] In one possible design, when the communication device 1000 is a circuit or chip in a terminal responsible for communication and / or processing functions, such as a GPU or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or SIP chip containing a GPU, an AI processor or a SoC or SIP chip containing an AI processor, or an ASIC or a SoC or SIP chip containing an ASIC, the function of the processing unit 1002 can be implemented by a circuit system in the aforementioned chip that includes one or more processors or processor cores. The function of the communication unit 1003 can be implemented by interface circuits or data transceiver circuits on the aforementioned chip.

[0278] The communication device 1000 can be a network-side device in the above embodiments, such as a network device, or a module in a network device (e.g., a communication module, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic node or logic module that can implement all or part of the functions of the network device.

[0279] For example, in one embodiment, the communication unit 1003 is used to send reference downlink control information (DCI), which is carried on a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated; the communication unit 1003 is used to send physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) according to the reference DCI.

[0280] In one possible design, the communication unit 1003 is also used to receive first configuration information, which is used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

[0281] In one possible design, the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured.

[0282] In one possible design, the reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, and the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the first PDCCH. The communication unit 1003 is also used to send second configuration information, which is used to indicate that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or to send second configuration information, which is used to indicate a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH. The first processing delay is determined by a second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration. The second processing delay is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). The first duration is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI. The second duration is the duration for the terminal device to process the reference DCI.

[0283] In one possible design, the first processing delay satisfies: T' proc,1＝ T proc，1 +T0+T1

[0284] Among them, T' proc,1 For this first processing delay, T proc,1 The second processing delay is defined as T0, the first duration, and T1, the second duration.

[0285] In one possible design, the first configuration information is also used to indicate that the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH; and / or the first configuration information is also used to indicate that system message block SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted, which is scheduled by the reference DCI.

[0286] In one possible design, the reference DCI is used to indicate the mapping type of the PDSCH, the correspondence between the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located and the scheduling offset, the scheduling offset indicating the offset of the time unit where the PDSCH is located relative to the time unit where the reference DCI is located.

[0287] In one possible design, the correspondence includes at least one of the following: when the mapping type of the PDSCH is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0; when the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located is the 3rd symbol, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0.

[0288] In one possible design, when the communication device 1000 is a circuit or chip in a network device responsible for communication functions, the function of the processing unit 1002 can be implemented by a circuit system in the chip that includes one or more processors or processor cores. The function of the communication unit 1003 can be implemented by an interface circuit or data transceiver circuit on the chip.

[0289] In one possible design, when the communication device 1000 is a terminal or a communication and / or processing module within a terminal, the functionality of the processing unit 1002 can be implemented by one or more processors. Specifically, the processor may include a GPU, an AI processor, or an ASIC. The functionality of the communication unit 1003 can be implemented by transceiver circuitry.

[0290] In one possible design, when the communication device 1000 is a circuit or chip in a terminal responsible for communication and / or processing functions, such as a GPU, AI processor, or ASIC, the function of the processing unit 1002 can be implemented by a circuit system in the aforementioned chip that includes one or more processors or processor cores. The function of the communication unit 1003 can be implemented by interface circuits or data transceiver circuits on the aforementioned chip.

[0291] It is understood that the division of units in the above-described device is merely a logical functional division. One function can correspond to one functional unit, or two or more functions can be integrated into one functional unit. In actual implementation, all or some units can be integrated onto a single physical entity, or distributed across different physical entities. Furthermore, the aforementioned functional units can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. Whether a function is executed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for specific applications, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0292] In one example, the functional unit in any of the above devices may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as: one or more ASICs, or one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more microprocessor units (MPUs), one or more microcontroller units (MCUs), one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms.

[0293] In one example, storage unit 1001 may include random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory or electrically erasable programmable memory and / or registers, etc.

[0294] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another communication device 1100 provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 1100 includes a processor 1110, which is coupled to a memory 1120. The memory 1120 is used to store computer programs or instructions and / or data. The processor 1110 is used to execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 1120, or to read the data stored in the memory 1120, so as to execute the methods in the above method embodiments.

[0295] Optionally, there may be one or more processors 1110.

[0296] Optionally, the memory 1120 may be one or more.

[0297] Alternatively, the memory 1120 can be integrated with the processor 1110, or it can be set separately.

[0298] Optionally, as shown in FIG10, the device 1100 further includes a transceiver 1130 for receiving and / or transmitting signals. For example, the processor 1110 is used to control the transceiver 1130 to receive and / or transmit signals.

[0299] As an example, processor 1110 may have the functions of processing unit 1002 shown in FIG9, memory 1120 may have the functions of storage unit, and transceiver 1130 may have the functions of transceiver unit.

[0300] As one option, the device 1100 is used to implement the operations performed by a communication device (such as a terminal or a network device) in the various method embodiments described above.

[0301] For example, processor 1110 is used to execute computer programs or instructions stored in memory 1120 to implement the relevant operations of the communication device in the various method embodiments described above.

[0302] It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a CPU, or other general-purpose processors, DSPs, ASICs, FPGAs, or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0303] It should also be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory and / or non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM). For example, RAM can be used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, RAM includes the following forms: static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0304] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated into the processor.

[0305] It should also be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0306] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a chip system 1200 provided in an embodiment of this application. The chip system 1200 (or may also be called a processing system) includes logic circuitry 1210 and an input / output interface 1220.

[0307] The logic circuit 1210 can be a processing circuit in the chip system 1200. The logic circuit 1210 can be coupled to a memory unit, calling instructions from the memory unit, enabling the chip system 1200 to implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application. The input / output interface 1220 can be an input / output circuit in the chip system 1200, outputting processed information from the chip system 1200, or inputting data or signaling information to be processed into the chip system 1200 for processing.

[0308] As one approach, the chip system 1200 is used to implement operations performed by a communication device (such as a terminal or a network device) in the various method embodiments described above.

[0309] For example, logic circuit 1210 is used to implement processing-related operations performed by a communication device (such as a terminal, or a network device) in the above method embodiments; input / output interface 1220 is used to implement sending and / or receiving-related operations performed by a communication device (such as a terminal, or a network device) in the above method embodiments.

[0310] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions for implementing the methods executed by a communication device (such as a terminal or a network device) in the above-described method embodiments. For example, when the computer program or instructions are run on the communication device, they cause the communication device (such as a terminal or a network device) to execute the above-described methods (such as method 700).

[0311] This application also provides a computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, implement the methods described above as performed by a communication device (such as a terminal or a network device). For example, when the computer program or instructions are run on the communication device, the communication device (such as a terminal or a network device) performs the methods described above (such as method 700).

[0312] This application also provides a communication system that includes the terminal and / or network device described in the embodiments above. For example, the system includes the terminal and network device described in the embodiment of FIG7.

[0313] The explanations and beneficial effects of the relevant contents in any of the devices provided above can be found in the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0314] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection of apparatus or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0315] 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 as a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. For example, the computer can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., DVDs), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks, SSDs). For example, the aforementioned available media include, but are not limited to, various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0316] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Receive reference downlink control information (DCI), the reference DCI being carried on a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a second PDCCH, the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH being associated; The Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) is received according to the reference DCI.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Determine the PDCCH that carries the reference DCI.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first configuration information, which is used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, and the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the first PDCCH. The method further includes: Receive second configuration information, which indicates that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or The terminal receives second configuration information, which is used to indicate a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH. The first processing delay is determined by a second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration. The second processing delay is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). The first duration is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI. The second duration is the duration for the terminal to process the reference DCI.

5. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Transmit Reference Downlink Control Information (DCI), the Reference DCI being carried on a first Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) or a second PDCCH, the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH being associated; The Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) is transmitted according to the reference DCI.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send first configuration information, which is used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, and the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the first PDCCH. The method further includes: Send second configuration information, which indicates that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or Send second configuration information, which is used to indicate a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH. The first processing delay is determined by a second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration. The second processing delay is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). The first duration is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI. The second duration is the duration for the terminal to process the reference DCI.

8. The method according to claim 4 or 7, characterized in that, The first processing delay satisfies: T' proc,1＝ T proc，1 +T0+T1 Among them, T' proc,1 T is the first processing delay. proc,1 T0 is the second processing delay, T1 is the first duration, and T1 is the second duration.

9. The method according to any one of claims 3, 4, 6 and 7, characterized in that, The first configuration information is also used to indicate that the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH; and / or The first configuration information is also used to instruct the repeated transmission of system message block SIB1, which is scheduled by the reference DCI.

10. The method according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, The PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The reference DCI is used to indicate the correspondence between the mapping type of the PDSCH, the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located, and the scheduling offset. The scheduling offset indicates the offset of the time unit where the PDSCH is located relative to the time unit where the reference DCI is located.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The correspondence includes at least one of the following: When the mapping type of the PDSCH is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0; When the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is the third symbol, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0.

13. A communication device, characterized in that, The system includes a communication unit for receiving reference downlink control information (DCI), which is carried on a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated. The communication unit is also configured to receive the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) according to the reference DCI.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, The apparatus further includes a processing unit for determining the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The communication unit is further configured to receive first configuration information, which is used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

16. The apparatus according to any one of claims 13-15, characterized in that, The reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, and the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the first PDCCH. The communication unit is further configured to receive second configuration information, which indicates that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or The communication unit is further configured to receive second configuration information, which indicates a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH. The first processing delay is determined by a second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration. The second processing delay is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). The first duration is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI. The second duration is the duration for the terminal to process the reference DCI.

17. A communication device, characterized in that, The system includes a communication unit for transmitting reference downlink control information (DCI), which is carried on a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated. The communication unit is also configured to transmit the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) according to the reference DCI.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that, The communication unit is also configured to send first configuration information, which is used to indicate the PDCCH carrying the reference DCI.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that, The reference DCI is carried on the first PDCCH, the first DCI is carried on the second PDCCH, and the time domain resources occupied by the second PDCCH are located after the time domain resources occupied by the first PDCCH. The communication unit is further configured to send second configuration information, which indicates that the start time for processing the PDSCH is the last symbol occupied by the first DCI; or The communication unit is further configured to send second configuration information, which indicates a first processing delay for processing the PDSCH. The first processing delay is determined by a second processing delay, a first duration, and a second duration. The second processing delay is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the first symbol occupied by the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). The first duration is the time interval between the last symbol occupied by the PDSCH and the last symbol occupied by the first DCI. The second duration is the duration for the terminal to process the reference DCI.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16 or 19, characterized in that, The first processing delay satisfies: T' proc,1＝ T proc，1 +T0+T1 Among them, T' proc,1 T is the first processing delay. proc,1 T0 is the second processing delay, T1 is the first duration, and T1 is the second duration.

21. The apparatus according to any one of claims 15, 16, 18, and 19, characterized in that, The first configuration information is also used to indicate that the first PDCCH is associated with the second PDCCH; and / or The first configuration information is also used to instruct the repeated transmission of system message block SIB1, which is scheduled by the reference DCI.

22. The apparatus according to claim 13 or 17, characterized in that, The PDCCH carrying the reference DCI is predefined or preconfigured.

23. The apparatus according to any one of claims 13-22, characterized in that, The reference DCI is used to indicate the correspondence between the mapping type of the PDSCH, the symbol where the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is located, and the scheduling offset. The scheduling offset indicates the offset of the time unit where the PDSCH is located relative to the time unit where the reference DCI is located.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that, The correspondence includes at least one of the following: When the mapping type of the PDSCH is the first mapping type, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0; When the demodulation reference signal DMRS of the PDSCH is the third symbol, the scheduling offset is an integer greater than 0.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor configured to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 4, or configured to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 5 to 12.

26. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, or cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 5 to 12.

27. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, or cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 5 to 12.

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