Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, which are applied to the technical field of communications. In the method, a terminal apparatus is configured with one or more first time-frequency resources and the type of control information to be monitored within the one or more first time-frequency resources. The type of control information to be monitored within a first time-frequency resource comprises control information used for scheduling uplink data or control information used for scheduling downlink data, thereby helping the terminal apparatus to monitor, in the first time-frequency resource, the control information used for scheduling uplink data or the control information used for scheduling downlink data. Compared with the terminal apparatus monitoring, in the same time-frequency resource, both the control information used for scheduling uplink data and the control information used for scheduling downlink data, the power consumption of the terminal apparatus monitoring the control information can be reduced.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510243115.1, filed on February 28, 2025, entitled "A Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

[0003] Terminal power consumption is a significant factor limiting the development of mobile communication devices. Furthermore, the power consumption of the terminal's communication module accounts for a large portion of the overall terminal power consumption. Among these, invalid blind detection control information is one of the main sources of power consumption in the terminal's communication module. Invalid blind detection control information can be understood as the terminal not knowing when the network will schedule data, thus requiring constant monitoring of various types of control information to avoid missing data transmitted by the network. How to reduce the power consumption of the terminal monitoring control information remains to be studied. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and apparatus that helps reduce the power consumption of terminal devices for monitoring and controlling information.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method executed by a terminal device. The terminal device can be a terminal, or a device within the terminal (e.g., a module, communication module, circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core or a system-in-package (SIP) chip), a chip system, or a processor), or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal functions. In this method, the terminal device receives a first configuration information set, which includes one or more first configuration information items. The first configuration information is used to configure first time-frequency resources and control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources include control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. The first time-frequency resources associated with different first configuration information items may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different first configuration information items may be the same or different.

[0006] As can be seen, through the above method, the terminal device is configured with one or more first time-frequency resources and one or more control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources include control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. This allows the terminal device to monitor control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data within the first time-frequency resources. Compared to the terminal device monitoring both control information for scheduling uplink and downlink data within the same time-frequency resource, this reduces the power consumption of the terminal device monitoring control information.

[0007] Optionally, when the first configuration information set includes multiple first configuration information sets, the first configuration information set includes first configuration information #a and first configuration information #b. First configuration information #a is used to configure the first time-frequency resource #a and the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #a. First configuration information #b is used to configure the first time-frequency resource #b and the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #b. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #a include control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #b include control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. Wherein, the first time-frequency resource #a and the first time-frequency resource #b are the same time-frequency resource or are different time-frequency resources; the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #a are the same as or different from the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #b.

[0008] Therefore, when the first time-frequency resource #a and the first time-frequency resource #b are different time-frequency resources, it is advantageous for the terminal device to monitor control information for scheduling uplink data or downlink data within the first time-frequency resource #a, and to monitor control information for scheduling uplink data or downlink data within the first time-frequency resource #b, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring control information. Conversely, when the first time-frequency resource #a and the first time-frequency resource #b are the same time-frequency resource, it is advantageous for the terminal device to monitor control information for scheduling uplink data or downlink data within the first time-frequency resource #a, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring control information.

[0009] In one optional implementation, the control information type used for scheduling uplink data can be any one of format 0-0, format 0-1, format 0-2, and format 0-3. This approach is beneficial for the terminal device to monitor different types of control information used for scheduling uplink data.

[0010] In one optional implementation, the control information type used for scheduling downlink data can be any one of format 1-0, format 1-1, format 1-2, and format 1-3. This approach is beneficial for the terminal device to monitor different types of control information used for scheduling downlink data.

[0011] In one optional implementation, the terminal device monitors control information based on a first set of configuration information. Optionally, the terminal device monitoring control information based on the first set of configuration information includes: monitoring control information based on the first time-frequency resources and control information types configured / associated with each first configuration information in the first set of configuration information.

[0012] Based on the above scheme, the terminal device can monitor control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data within the first time-frequency resource based on the configured first configuration information set. Compared with the terminal device monitoring control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data within the same time-frequency resource, the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring control information can be reduced.

[0013] In another optional implementation, the terminal device performs the following operations: receiving first information, which instructs monitoring control information based on a first configuration information set or a second configuration information set; and monitoring control information based on the first information. The second configuration information set includes one or more second configuration information sets, which are used to configure second time-frequency resources and the types of control information to be monitored within the second time-frequency resources. The types of control information to be monitored within the second time-frequency resources include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. Different second configuration information sets may be associated with the same or different second time-frequency resources, and different second configuration information sets may be associated with the same or different types of control information.

[0014] Optionally, when the second configuration information set includes multiple second configuration information sets, the second configuration information set includes second configuration information #a and second configuration information #b. Second configuration information #a is used to configure the control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource #a and the second time-frequency resource #a. Second configuration information #b is used to configure the control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource #b and the second time-frequency resource #b. The control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource #a include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. The control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource #b include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. Furthermore, the second time-frequency resource #a and the second time-frequency resource #b may be the same time-frequency resource or different time-frequency resources; the control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource #a may be the same as or different from the control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource #b.

[0015] Based on the above scheme, when the terminal device receives the first information, it does not directly monitor the control information based on the configured first configuration information set, but rather monitors the control information based on the content indicated by the first information. This is beneficial for the terminal device to monitor the control information based on the dynamic changes of the service, thereby improving the flexibility of control information monitoring.

[0016] For example, after a terminal device has been configured with a first set of configuration information for a period of time, the network device determines that the terminal device's service status has changed, such as from uplink-dominant service to downlink-dominant service. Since the first time-frequency resource configured in the first set of configuration information and the control information type to be monitored within that first time-frequency resource are configured for uplink-dominant service, the network device instructs the terminal device to monitor the control information based on a second set of configuration information configured for downlink-dominant service using the first information. This allows the terminal device to monitor the control information based on the second set of configuration information, improving the flexibility of control information monitoring. As another example, after a terminal device has been configured with the first set of configuration information for a period of time, the network device determines that the terminal device's service status has not changed. In this case, the network device instructs the terminal device to monitor the control information based on the configured first set of configuration information using the first information. This allows the terminal device to monitor the control information based on the configured first set of configuration information without changing the time-frequency resource or control information type being monitored.

[0017] In one optional implementation, the terminal device receives a second set of configuration information. This enables the terminal device to monitor and control information based on the received second set of configuration information, provided that the first information indicates that monitoring and control information is based on the second set of configuration information.

[0018] In another optional implementation, the terminal device performs the following operations: receiving second information, the second information indicating the type of control information associated with the first configuration information set; and monitoring control information based on the second information and the first configuration information set. The control information type indicated by the second information includes control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data.

[0019] Optionally, the terminal device monitors control information based on the second information and the first configuration information set, including: monitoring control information of the type indicated by the second information within one or more first time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information set. Wherein, the one or more first time-frequency resources configured by the first configuration information in the first configuration information set are the one or more first time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information set.

[0020] Based on the above scheme, when the terminal device receives the second information, it does not directly monitor the control information based on the configured first configuration information set. Instead, it changes the control information type configured / associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set to the control information type indicated by the second information. Therefore, the terminal device monitors control information of the control information type indicated by the second information within the first time-frequency resources configured by all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set, improving the flexibility of control information monitoring.

[0021] In another optional implementation, the terminal device performs the following operations: receiving third information, which indicates the control information type associated with each piece of first configuration information in the first configuration information set; and monitoring control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information. The control information type indicated by the third information includes control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information type for scheduling downlink data.

[0022] Optionally, the terminal device monitors control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information, including: within the time-frequency resources associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, monitoring control information based on the control information type associated with the first configuration information indicated by the third information.

[0023] Based on the above scheme, when the terminal device receives the third information, it does not directly monitor the control information based on the configured first configuration information set. Instead, it changes the control information type configured / associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set to the control information type associated with that first configuration information, dynamically indicated by the third information. Therefore, within the first time-frequency resources configured for each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, the terminal device monitors the control information based on the control information type associated with that first configuration information, as indicated by the third information, thereby improving the flexibility of control information monitoring.

[0024] In one optional implementation, the terminal device receives fourth information, which is used to configure candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set. The candidate control information types indicated by the fourth information include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information types for scheduling downlink data.

[0025] Optionally, when the terminal device receives the second information, the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set; when the terminal device receives the third information, the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set.

[0026] Based on the above scheme, the terminal device is pre-configured with candidate control information types associated with a first configuration information set, and the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set, and the control information types associated with each piece of the first configuration information indicated by the third information are also one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set. Therefore, when the terminal device receives the second information, it can determine the control information type indicated by the second information from the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set based on the identifier / index indicated by the second information; when the terminal device receives the third information, it can determine one or more control information types indicated by the third information from the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set based on the identifier / index indicated by the third information.

[0027] In another optional implementation, the terminal device receives fifth information, which is used to configure candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set. The fifth information indicates one or more candidate control information types, including control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data.

[0028] Optionally, when the terminal device receives the second information, the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; when the terminal device receives the third information, the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with that first configuration information.

[0029] Based on the above scheme, the terminal device is pre-configured with candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set. The control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with all first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the control information type associated with each first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with that first configuration information. Therefore, when the terminal device receives the second information, it can determine the control information type indicated by the second information from among the candidate control information types associated with all first configuration information in the first configuration information set based on the identifier / index indicated by the second information. Similarly, when the terminal device receives the third information, it can determine the control information type associated with the first configuration information indicated by the third information from among the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information corresponding to the third information based on the identifier / index indicated by the third information.

[0030] In another optional implementation, the terminal device performs the following operations: receiving sixth information, which indicates the type of control information associated with the first configuration information set, the control information associated with the first configuration information set including control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data; and monitoring control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the sixth information.

[0031] Based on the above scheme, when the terminal device receives the sixth information, it does not directly monitor the control information based on the configured first configuration information set, but rather monitors the control information within the time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information in the first configuration information set, based on the candidate control information type associated with the first configuration information and the control information type indicated by the sixth information, thereby improving the flexibility of control information monitoring.

[0032] In one optional implementation, the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource further include control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data.

[0033] Based on the above scheme, certain configuration information in the first configuration information set configures the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources as control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data. Therefore, when the terminal device monitors control information based on the first configuration information set, it can monitor control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data within some first time-frequency resources, and also monitor control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data within other first time-frequency resources, thus meeting the scheduling needs of different services.

[0034] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication method, corresponding to the method of the first aspect. This method can be executed by a network device, which can be a network equipment, or a device within a network equipment (e.g., a module, communication module, circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), chip system, or processor), or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of an access network device. In this method, the network device sends a first configuration information set, which includes one or more first configuration information pieces. The first configuration information is used to configure a first time-frequency resource and a type of control information to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource. The type of control information to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource includes control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. The first time-frequency resources associated with different first configuration information pieces are the same or different, and the control information types associated with different first configuration information pieces are the same or different.

[0035] As can be seen, through the above method, the network device configures one or more first time-frequency resources and one or more control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources for the terminal device using the first configuration information set. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources include control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. This allows the terminal device to monitor control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data within the first time-frequency resources. Compared to the terminal device monitoring both control information for scheduling uplink and downlink data within the same time-frequency resource, this reduces the power consumption of the terminal device monitoring control information.

[0036] In one optional implementation, the network device sends control information based on a first set of configuration information. Optionally, the network device terminal device sends control information based on the first set of configuration information, including: sending control information based on the first time-frequency resources associated with each piece of first configuration information in the first set of configuration information and the control information type.

[0037] Based on the above scheme, the network device can send control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data within the first time-frequency resource based on the first configuration information set configured for the terminal device. Compared with sending control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data within the same time-frequency resource, power consumption can be reduced.

[0038] In another optional implementation, the network device performs the following operations: sending first information, which instructs monitoring control information based on a first configuration information set or a second configuration information set; and sending control information based on the first information. The second configuration information set includes one or more second configuration information sets, which are used to configure second time-frequency resources and the types of control information to be monitored within the second time-frequency resources. The types of control information to be monitored within the second time-frequency resources include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. Different second configuration information sets may be associated with the same or different second time-frequency resources, and different second configuration information sets may be associated with the same or different types of control information.

[0039] Based on the above scheme, when the network device sends the first information, it does not send control information directly based on the first configuration information set configured for the terminal device, but sends control information based on the content indicated by the first information. This is beneficial for the network device to send control information based on changes in dynamic services, thereby improving the flexibility of control information transmission.

[0040] In one optional implementation, the network device sends a second set of configuration information. This approach facilitates the terminal device's ability to monitor and control information based on the received second set of configuration information when the network device instructs the terminal device to do so.

[0041] In another optional implementation, the network device performs the following operations: sending second information, the second information indicating the type of control information associated with the first configuration information set; and sending control information based on the second information and the first configuration information set. The control information type indicated by the second information includes control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data.

[0042] Optionally, the network device sends control information based on the second information and the first configuration information set, including: sending control information of the type indicated by the second information in one or more first time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information set. The first time-frequency resources configured by one or more first configuration information in the first configuration information set are the one or more first time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information set.

[0043] Based on the above scheme, when the network device sends the second information, it does not directly send control information based on the first configuration information set configured for the terminal device. Instead, it changes the control information type configured / associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set to the control information type indicated by the second information. Therefore, the network device sends control information of the control information type indicated by the second information within the first time-frequency resources configured by all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set, improving the flexibility of control information transmission.

[0044] In another optional implementation, the network device performs the following operations: sending third information, which indicates the control information type associated with each piece of first configuration information in the first configuration information set; and sending control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information. The control information type indicated by the third information includes control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information type for scheduling downlink data.

[0045] Optionally, the network device sends control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information, including: within the time-frequency resources associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, sending control information based on the control information type associated with the first configuration information indicated by the third information.

[0046] Based on the above scheme, when the network device sends third information, it does not directly send control information based on the first configuration information set configured for the terminal device. Instead, it changes the control information type configured / associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set to the control information type associated with that first configuration information as indicated by the third information. Therefore, the network device can send control information within the first time-frequency resources configured for each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, based on the control information type associated with that first configuration information as indicated by the third information, thus improving the flexibility of control information transmission.

[0047] In one optional implementation, the network device sends fourth information, which is used to configure candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set. The candidate control information types indicated by the fourth information include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information types for scheduling downlink data.

[0048] Optionally, when the network device sends the second information, the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set; when the network device sends the third information, the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set.

[0049] Based on the above scheme, the network device pre-configures candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set for the terminal device. Therefore, the network device can determine the control information type indicated by the second or third information based on the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set.

[0050] In another optional implementation, the network device sends fifth information, which is used to configure the candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set. The fifth information indicates one or more candidate control information types, including control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data.

[0051] Optionally, when the network device sends the second information, the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; when the network device sends the third information, the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with that first configuration information.

[0052] Based on the above scheme, the network device pre-configures the terminal device with candidate control information types associated with each of the first configuration information in the first configuration information set. Therefore, the network device can determine the control information type indicated by the second information based on the candidate control information types associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; or, the network device can determine the control information type indicated by the third information based on the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information associated with the third information.

[0053] In another optional implementation, the network device performs the following operations: sending a sixth message, the sixth message indicating the type of control information associated with the first configuration information set, the control information associated with the first configuration information set including control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data; and sending control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the sixth message.

[0054] Based on the above scheme, when the network device sends the sixth information, it does not send control information directly based on the configured first configuration information set. Instead, it sends control information within the time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information in the first configuration information set, based on the candidate control information type associated with the first configuration information and the control information type indicated by the sixth information, which can improve the flexibility of control information transmission.

[0055] Optionally, other embodiments of this aspect can be found in the embodiments described in the first aspect above, and their corresponding beneficial effects are described in the same way as the beneficial effects of the corresponding embodiments, without further elaboration.

[0056] Thirdly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication method, which can be executed by a terminal device. The terminal device can be a terminal equipment, or a device within the terminal equipment (e.g., a module, communication module, circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), chip system, or processor), or a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal functions. In this method, the terminal device receives seventh information, which is used to configure a continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception; the terminal device receives eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of a synchronization signal block; the terminal device monitors control information based on the continuous timer and receives the synchronization signal block based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block.

[0057] The start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the persistent timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the persistent timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3, where y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

[0058] As can be seen, through the above method, the start time of the continuous timer configured in the terminal device and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3. This allows the terminal device to start monitoring control information at a time close to the reception time of the synchronization signal block, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device monitoring control information and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device monitoring control information.

[0059] In one optional implementation, the terminal device monitors control information based on a continuous timer, including: monitoring control information based on a continuous timer and an inactive timer associated with discontinuous reception. The duration of the inactive timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value.

[0060] Based on the above scheme, the duration of the inactive timer used by the terminal device to monitor and control information is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and the first preset value, which helps to reduce the duration of the inactive timer, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device's monitoring and control information and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device's monitoring and control information.

[0061] In one optional implementation, the duration of the continuous timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a second preset value, which helps to reduce the duration of the continuous timer, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device's monitoring and control information and lowering the power consumption of the terminal device's monitoring and control information.

[0062] Fourthly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication method, corresponding to the method in the third aspect. This method can be executed by a network device, which may be a network equipment, or a device within a network device (e.g., a module, communication module, circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), chip system, or processor), or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of an access network device. In this method, the network device sends seventh information, which is used to configure a continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception; the network device sends eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of a synchronization signal block; the network device sends control information based on the continuous timer, and sends a synchronization signal block based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block.

[0063] The start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the persistent timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the persistent timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3, where y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

[0064] As can be seen, through the above method, the start time of the persistent timer configured by the network device for the terminal device and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the persistent timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the persistent timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3. This is beneficial to make the time when the terminal device starts monitoring control information close to the reception time of the synchronization signal block, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device monitoring control information and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device monitoring control information.

[0065] In one optional implementation, the network device transmits control information based on a persistent timer, including: transmitting control information based on a persistent timer and an inactive timer associated with discontinuous reception, wherein the duration of the inactive timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value.

[0066] Based on the above scheme, the duration of the inactive timer configured by the network device for the terminal device is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and the first preset value, which helps to reduce the duration of the inactive timer, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device's monitoring and control information and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device's monitoring and control information.

[0067] In one optional implementation, the duration of the continuous timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a second preset value, which helps to reduce the duration of the continuous timer, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device's monitoring and control information and lowering the power consumption of the terminal device's monitoring and control information.

[0068] Fifthly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication method, which can be executed by a terminal device. The terminal device can be a terminal equipment, or a device within the terminal equipment (e.g., a module, communication module, circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), chip system, or processor), or a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal functions. In this method, the terminal device receives seventh information, which is used to configure a continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception; the terminal device receives eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of a synchronization signal block; and when a first condition is met between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block, the terminal device receives the synchronization signal block based on monitoring and control information of the continuous timer and based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block.

[0069] The first condition includes one or more of the following: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3, where y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

[0070] As can be seen, using the above method, the terminal device only uses the configured continuous timer to monitor control information and the synchronization signal block to receive the synchronization signal block when the start time of the configured continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block meet the first condition. This method ensures that the terminal device only uses the configured continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block when the distance between the start time of the configured continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is small, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device's monitoring and control information and lowering the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring and control information.

[0071] In an optional implementation, the seventh information is further used to configure an inactive timer associated with discontinuous reception. In this method, the terminal device monitors control information based on a persistent timer, including: monitoring control information based on the persistent timer and the inactive timer. The duration of the inactive timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value.

[0072] Based on the above scheme, the duration of the inactive timer used for monitoring and controlling information by the terminal device is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and the first preset value, which helps to reduce the duration of the inactive timer, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device's monitoring and control information and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device's monitoring and control information.

[0073] In one optional implementation, the duration of the continuous timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a second preset value, which helps to reduce the duration of the continuous timer, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device's monitoring and control information and lowering the power consumption of the terminal device's monitoring and control information.

[0074] Sixthly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication device. This communication device has some or all of the functions of the terminal device described in the first, third, or fifth aspects above, or it has some or all of the functions of the network device described in the second or fourth aspects above. For example, the communication device may have some or all of the functions of the terminal device described in the first aspect of this application, or it may have the functions of any one of the embodiments of this application implemented individually. The functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0075] In one possible design, the communication device may include a processing unit and a communication unit. The processing unit is configured to support the communication device in performing the corresponding functions described in the above method. The communication unit is used to support communication between the communication device and other communication devices. The communication device may also include a storage unit coupled to the processing unit and the communication unit, which stores necessary program instructions and data for the communication device.

[0076] In one embodiment, the communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, the device being applied to a terminal device, and the processor being used to process signals / signaling;

[0077] The communication unit is configured to receive a first configuration information set, the first configuration information set including one or more first configuration information, the first configuration information being configured to configure a first time-frequency resource and a control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource, the control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource including control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data; the first time-frequency resources associated with different first configuration information among the plurality of first configuration information may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different first configuration information among the plurality of first configuration information may be the same or different.

[0078] In addition, other alternative implementations of the communication device in this regard can be found in the relevant content of the first aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0079] In another embodiment, the communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, the device being applied to a network device, and the processor being used to process signals / signaling;

[0080] The communication unit is configured to send a first configuration information set, which includes one or more first configuration information pieces. The first configuration information is used to configure a first time-frequency resource and a control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource. The control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource includes control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. The first time-frequency resources associated with different first configuration information pieces are the same or different, and the control information types associated with different first configuration information pieces are the same or different.

[0081] In addition, other alternative implementations of the communication device in this regard can be found in the relevant content of the second aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0082] In another embodiment, the communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, and the device is applied to a terminal device;

[0083] The communication unit is used to receive seventh information, which is used to configure a continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception.

[0084] The communication unit is also used to receive eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of the synchronization signal block;

[0085] The processing unit is configured to monitor control information based on the continuous timer, and to receive the synchronization signal block based on the receiving time of the synchronization signal block.

[0086] Wherein, the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; where y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

[0087] In addition, other alternative implementations of the communication device in this regard can be found in the relevant content of the third aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0088] In another embodiment, the communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, and the device is applied to a network device;

[0089] The communication unit is used to send seventh information, which is used to configure a continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception.

[0090] The communication unit is also used to send eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of the synchronization signal block;

[0091] The processing unit is used to send control information based on the continuous timer and to send a synchronization signal block based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block.

[0092] Wherein, the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; where y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

[0093] In addition, other alternative implementations of the communication device in this regard can be found in the relevant content of the fourth aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0094] In another embodiment, the communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, and the device is applied to a terminal device;

[0095] The communication unit is used to receive seventh information, which is used to configure a continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception.

[0096] The communication unit is also used to receive eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of the synchronization signal block;

[0097] The processing unit is configured to, when a first condition is met between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block, monitor control information based on the continuous timer and receive the synchronization signal block based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block.

[0098] The first condition includes one or more of the following: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

[0099] In addition, other alternative implementations of the communication device in this regard can be found in the relevant content of the fifth aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0100] As an example, the processing unit can be a processor, and the communication unit can be a transceiver unit, transceiver, or communication interface. It is understood that when the communication device is a communication apparatus (e.g., a terminal or network device), the communication unit can be a transceiver within the communication apparatus (e.g., a transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver), implemented, for example, through an antenna, feeder, and codec within the communication apparatus. Alternatively, if the communication device is a chip located within a device, the processing unit can be the chip's processing circuitry, logic circuitry, etc., and the communication unit can be the chip's input / output interface, such as input / output circuitry, pins, etc.

[0101] In another embodiment, the communication device is a chip or chip system. The processing unit may also be a processing circuit or logic circuit; the communication unit may be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip or chip system.

[0102] In implementation, the processor can be used for, but is not limited to, baseband-related processing, and the transceiver can be used for, but is not limited to, radio frequency transceiver. These devices can be disposed on separate chips, or at least partially or entirely on the same chip. For example, the processor can be further divided into analog baseband processors and digital baseband processors. The analog baseband processor can be integrated with the transceiver on the same chip, while the digital baseband processor can be disposed on a separate chip. With the continuous development of integrated circuit technology, more and more devices can be integrated on the same chip. For example, a digital baseband processor can be integrated with multiple application processors (e.g., but not limited to graphics processors, multimedia processors, etc.) on the same chip. Such a chip can be called a System-on-a-Chip (SoC). Whether the devices are disposed independently on different chips or integrated on one or more chips often depends on the needs of the product design. This application does not limit the implementation form of the above-mentioned devices.

[0103] Seventhly, embodiments of this application also provide a processor for executing the various methods described above. During the execution of these methods, the processes related to sending and receiving the aforementioned information can be understood as the processor outputting the aforementioned information and the processor receiving the input information. When outputting the aforementioned information, the processor outputs the information to a transceiver for transmission. After being output by the processor, the information may require further processing before reaching the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives the input information, the transceiver receives the information and inputs it to the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives the information, the information may require further processing before being input to the processor.

[0104] Unless otherwise specified, or unless it contradicts its actual function or internal logic in the relevant description, the transmission and reception operations involved by the processor can be more generally understood as processor output and reception, input and other operations, rather than transmission and reception operations directly performed by radio frequency circuits and antennas.

[0105] In implementation, the processor can be a dedicated processor for executing these methods, or it can be a processor that executes computer instructions stored in memory to execute these methods, such as a general-purpose processor. The memory can be a non-transitory memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), which can be integrated with the processor on the same chip or disposed on different chips. This application does not limit the type of memory or the arrangement of the memory and processor.

[0106] Eighthly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication system, which includes a terminal device for performing the method described in the first aspect and a network device for performing the method described in the second aspect, or includes a terminal device for performing the method described in the third aspect and a network device for performing the method described in the fourth aspect, or includes a terminal device for performing the method described in the fifth aspect and a corresponding network device. In another possible design, the system may further include other devices / functional network elements that interact with at least one of the terminal device and the network device.

[0107] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions that, when executed on a communication device, implement the method described in any one of the first to fifth aspects.

[0108] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a computer program product including instructions that, when executed on a communication device, implement the method described in any one of the first to fifth aspects.

[0109] Eleventhly, this application provides a chip including a processor (or logic circuit) for implementing the methods in any possible implementation of any of the first to fifth aspects. Optionally, the chip may also include a communication interface (or interface). In one possible implementation, if the chip is the smallest processing unit in the entire machine, the chip may be a processor, or it may include a processor and a memory, or it may include a processor, a memory, and a transceiver for implementing the methods in any possible implementation of any of the first to fifth aspects.

[0110] In a twelfth aspect, this application provides a chip system. The chip system includes a processor and an interface, the interface being used to acquire programs or instructions, and the processor being used to invoke the programs or instructions to implement the functions involved in any of the first to fifth aspects. In one possible design, the chip system further includes a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the terminal. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0111] The beneficial effects of the above-mentioned sixth to twelfth aspects can be specifically referred to in the description of the beneficial effects in any of the first to fifth aspects, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0112] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system;

[0113] Figure 2 is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0114] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of configuration information provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0115] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a configuration information set provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0116] Figure 5 is an interactive schematic diagram of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0117] Figure 6 is an interactive schematic diagram of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0118] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0119] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0120] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0121] Hereinafter, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this embodiment, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0122] Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the steps or units listed, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0123] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design. Specifically, the use of terms such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner to facilitate understanding.

[0124] It should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more. "More than one" refers to two or more. "At least two (items)" refers to two or three or more. "And / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. Both "...when" and "if" indicate that a corresponding action will be taken under certain objective circumstances. They are not time limits, nor do they require a judgment action to be taken when the action is taken, nor do they imply any other limitations.

[0125] In the embodiments of this application, "instruction" may include: direct instruction, or indirect instruction, or explicit instruction, or implicit instruction.

[0126] In the embodiments of this application, "including" may include: direct inclusion, or indirect inclusion, or explicit inclusion, or implicit inclusion.

[0127] It should be understood that the prior art may change as the technical solutions evolve, and the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are not limited to the prior art provided.

[0128] It should be noted that different embodiments or some steps (e.g., any one or more steps) in different embodiments of this application can be combined with each other to form new embodiments. It should also be noted that the steps or any one or more steps in different embodiments are not limited to include optional steps in a certain embodiment, mandatory steps in a certain embodiment, or both optional and mandatory steps in a certain embodiment; the embodiments of this application are not limited in this way.

[0129] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced in each other.

[0130] It should be noted that the order of the steps in the embodiments of this application is not limited by this application.

[0131] It should be noted that the order of judgment of different conditions in the embodiments of this application is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0132] It should be noted that the terms "after" and "time" in the embodiments of this application do not strictly limit the time point.

[0133] It should be noted that the nouns and terms used in the embodiments of this application are merely examples, and may be other names. The embodiments of this application are not limited to these.

[0134] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) 100, wherein the RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (110a and 110b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 110), and may also include at least one terminal device (120a-120j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). The terminal device 120 is wirelessly connected to the RAN node 110. Terminal devices and RAN nodes can be interconnected via wired or wireless means. The communication system may also include a core network 200. The RAN node 110 is connected to the core network 200 wirelessly or via wired means. The core network device in the core network 200 and the RAN node 110 in the RAN 100 can be independent and different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device integrating the logical functions of the core network device and the logical functions of the RAN node. The communication system may also include the Internet 300.

[0135] RAN100 can be an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) system, a new radio (NR) system, or a future radio access system as defined in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). RAN100 can also include two or more of the aforementioned different radio access systems. RAN100 can also be an open RAN (O-RAN). RAN100 can be a terrestrial network communication system or a non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system. The NTN system can be an NTN system integrated with 4th Generation (4G), 5th Generation (5G), or any future communication system, such as NR NTN, IoT NTN, etc. NTN communication systems can be, for example, satellite communication systems, and can also include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), high altitude platform stations (HAPS), and other aerial access network equipment; this application does not limit this.

[0136] RAN nodes, also known as network devices, radio access network devices, RAN entities, or access nodes, are used to help terminal devices access communication systems wirelessly. In one application scenario, an RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. RAN nodes can be macro base stations (as shown in Figure 1, 110a), micro base stations or indoor stations (as shown in Figure 1, 110b), relay nodes, or donor nodes. In satellite communication systems, RAN nodes can be satellites or base station equipment mounted on satellites. RAN nodes can also be gateway stations (or ground stations, earth stations, signaling stations, gateways, or gateway stations), high-altitude platforms (HAPs), drones, hot air balloons, low-Earth orbit satellites, medium-Earth orbit satellites, high-Earth orbit satellites, etc., without limitation.

[0137] In another application scenario, multiple RAN nodes can collaborate to help terminals achieve wireless access, with different RAN nodes implementing different functions of the base station. For example, a RAN node can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). Here, the CU performs the functions of the base station's Radio Resource Control (RRC) and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), and can also perform the functions of the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP). The DU performs the functions of the base station's Radio Link Control (RANC) and Medium Access Control (MAC) layers, and can also perform some or all of the physical layer functions. For specific descriptions of these protocol layers, refer to the relevant 3GPP technical specifications. The RU can be used to implement radio frequency signal transmission and reception. The CU and DU can be two independent RAN nodes, or they can be integrated into the same RAN node, such as within a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment, such as remote radio units (RRUs) or active antenna units (AAUs). CUs can be further divided into two types of RAN nodes: CU-control plane and CU-user plane.

[0138] In different systems, RAN nodes may have different names. For example, in an O-RAN system, a CU can be called an open CU (O-CU), a DU can be called an open DU (O-DU), and an RU can be called an open RU (O-RU). The RAN nodes in the embodiments of this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules. For example, a RAN node can be a server loaded with the corresponding software modules. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the RAN nodes. For ease of description, a base station is used as an example of a RAN node in the following description.

[0139] Terminal equipment is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, capable of sending signals to or receiving signals from a base station. Terminal equipment can also be called a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. Terminals can be widely used in various scenarios, such as NTN, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, and smart cities. Terminals can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. Terminals can also be satellite communication terminals, such as very small aperture terminals (VSAT terminals), portable stations, fixed stations, and vehicle-mounted or airborne satellite communication terminals. It should be understood that the satellite communication terminal communicates with satellites and can also act as a micro base station to provide a data interface to accessed user equipment. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the terminal.

[0140] Base stations and terminals can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can be deployed on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the base stations and terminals.

[0141] The roles of base stations and terminals can be relative. For example, the helicopter or drone 120i in Figure 1 can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminals 120j that access the wireless access network 100 through 120i, terminal 120i is a base station; however, for base station 110a, 120i is a terminal, meaning that 110a and 120i communicate via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120i can also communicate via a base station-to-base station interface protocol. In this case, relative to 110a, 120i is also a base station. Therefore, both base stations and terminals can be collectively referred to as communication devices. 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be called communication devices with base station functions, and 120a-120j in Figure 1 can be called communication devices with terminal functions.

[0142] In this embodiment, the device for implementing the terminal's functions can be a terminal itself; it can also be a device capable of supporting the terminal in implementing those functions, such as a chip system, which can be installed in the terminal. In this embodiment, the chip system can consist of chips or include chips and other discrete components. This embodiment only uses the terminal device as an example to illustrate the device for implementing the terminal device's functions and does not constitute a limitation on the solutions in this embodiment.

[0143] In this embodiment, the apparatus for implementing the functions of a network device can be a network device itself; it can also be an apparatus capable of supporting the network device in implementing those functions, such as a chip system, hardware circuit, software module, or a hardware circuit plus a software module. This apparatus can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device. In this embodiment, the example of a network device being used to implement the functions of a network device is provided only and does not constitute a limitation on the solutions described in this embodiment.

[0144] Furthermore, when the solutions of this application embodiment are applied to future communication systems, the names of the corresponding network function entities may change, and this application does not limit this.

[0145] The embodiments disclosed in this application will be presented to illustrate various aspects, embodiments, or features of this application in relation to systems including multiple devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood and appreciated that individual systems may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or may not include all the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, combinations of these approaches may also be used.

[0146] In one possible approach, the network can configure time-frequency resources and the types of control information to be monitored within those resources to the terminal via radio resource control (RRC) signaling. Specifically, the network can configure multiple search space sets for a terminal. Each search space set is associated with a search space configuration, which includes a set of possible time-frequency resources for transmitting control information and the corresponding control information types. In the search space configuration, `monitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset` represents the time-frequency resources configured for the search space, and `dci-formats` represents the types of control information the terminal needs to monitor within those configured time-frequency resources. These control information types include control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data. Formats 0-x represent control information for scheduling uplink data, and formats 1-x represent control information for scheduling downlink data. For example, the network might configure control information types for the terminal using search space configuration as formats 0-0 and 1-0. For example, the network configures the control information type for the terminal using search space configuration as format 0-1 and 1-1. It can be seen that in this configuration method, the network configures the terminal to monitor both control information used for scheduling downlink data and control information used for scheduling uplink data on the same time-frequency resources.

[0147] However, different user services have different uplink and downlink data requirements. For downlink-dominant services, such as downloads, most data scheduling is downlink-based. Therefore, the network should allocate more downlink scheduling opportunities and fewer uplink scheduling opportunities to users performing such services. For uplink-dominant services, such as live streaming, most data scheduling is uplink-based. Therefore, the network should allocate more uplink scheduling opportunities and fewer downlink scheduling opportunities to users performing such services. Therefore, the network should configure the terminal to monitor both downlink and uplink control information on the same time-frequency resources, ensuring that the time allocated to uplink control information is equal to that allocated to downlink control information. Furthermore, due to service type, the network may not send uplink control information in some locations, but configuration limitations still require the terminal to monitor it, increasing the frequency of control information monitoring and consequently increasing the power consumption of this monitoring. Similarly, due to the nature of the service, the network may not send control information for scheduling downlink data in some locations. However, due to configuration limitations, the terminal still needs to monitor the control information for scheduling downlink data, thereby increasing the number of times the terminal monitors the control information and thus increasing the power consumption of the terminal monitoring the control information.

[0148] In another possible approach, to reduce terminal power consumption, a discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism is proposed. In the DRX mechanism, the terminal is in an active state during the timing of at least one of several timers: an onduration timer and an inactivity timer. The onduration timer has a fixed start time and is configured by the network; the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) information used for initial data transmission can trigger the inactivity timer.

[0149] Furthermore, during the initial cell selection process, the terminal may assume that the network transmits synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) with a period of 20ms. This results in most cells in the network having an SSB transmission period of 20ms, meaning the network still needs to periodically transmit SSBs even in lightly loaded scenarios, making it difficult for the network to sleep for extended periods and thus wasting power. To address this, it is proposed that the network extend the SSB transmission period, such as to 160ms. Based on the configured onduration timer and inactivity timer monitoring and control information, the terminal will increase the SSB search time during the initial cell selection. Therefore, extending the SSB transmission period can reduce network power consumption, but it will simultaneously increase terminal power consumption.

[0150] This application provides a communication method 1000. In the communication method 1000, a network device configures one or more first time-frequency resources and control information types to be monitored within one or more first time-frequency resources for a terminal device. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources include control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. This allows the terminal device to monitor control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data within the first time-frequency resources. Compared to the terminal device monitoring both control information for scheduling uplink and downlink data within the same time-frequency resource, this reduces the power consumption of the terminal device monitoring control information.

[0151] This application also provides a communication method 2000. In the communication method 2000, a network device configures a continuous timer and a synchronization signal block reception time for a terminal device. The start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3. Therefore, the terminal device monitors control information based on the configured continuous timer and receives the synchronization signal block based on the configured reception time of the synchronization signal block. This facilitates making the start time of the terminal device monitoring control information close to the reception time of the synchronization signal block, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device monitoring control information and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device monitoring control information.

[0152] This application also provides a communication method 3000. The difference between communication method 3000 and communication method 2000 is that when the network device configures the reception time of the persistent timer and the synchronization signal block for the terminal device, it does not consider the relationship between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block. Instead, the terminal device determines whether a first condition is met between the start time of the configured persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block. If the first condition is met, the terminal device uses the configured persistent timer to monitor control information and uses the reception time of the configured synchronization signal block to receive the synchronization signal block. The first condition includes one or more of the following: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3. This is beneficial for the terminal device to use the configured continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block only when the time to start monitoring control information is close to the reception time of the synchronization signal block, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device's monitoring control information and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device's monitoring control information.

[0153] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of this application illustrate the corresponding methods using a terminal device and a network device as the execution subjects. For example, the terminal device is the terminal equipment in the system shown in Figure 1, and the network device is the RAN node in the system shown in Figure 1. However, this application does not limit the execution subject of the method. For example, the terminal device in the method can also be a processor, module, chip, chip system, or software module that supports the implementation of the corresponding method, and the network device in the method can also be a processor, module, chip, chip system, or software module that supports the implementation of the corresponding method.

[0154] This application provides a communication method 1000, and Figure 2 is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method 1000. The communication method 1000 is described from the perspective of the interaction between a terminal device and a network device. The communication method 1000 includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0155] S201. The network device sends a first configuration information set, which includes one or more first configuration information items. The first configuration information is used to configure a first time-frequency resource and a type of control information to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource. The type of control information to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource includes control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first configuration information set.

[0156] Among these multiple first configuration information sets, the first time-frequency resources associated with different first configuration information sets may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different first configuration information sets may be the same or different. When the types of control information to be monitored within different first time-frequency resources are different, it indicates that the control information sent by the network device for scheduling uplink data and the control information sent for scheduling downlink data are decoupled. In other words, the opportunities for the network device to send control information for scheduling uplink data and the opportunities to send control information for scheduling downlink data are different, and the network device configures the opportunities for sending control information for scheduling uplink data and the opportunities for sending control information for scheduling downlink data separately.

[0157] In addition, the first time-frequency resource associated with the first configuration information can be understood as the first time-frequency resource configured by the first configuration information; the control information type associated with the first configuration information can be understood as the control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource configured by the first configuration information.

[0158] For example, when the first configuration information set includes multiple first configuration information sets, the first configuration information set includes first configuration information #a and first configuration information #b. First configuration information #a is used to configure the first time-frequency resource #a and the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #a. First configuration information #b is used to configure the first time-frequency resource #b and the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #b. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #a include control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #b include control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. The first time-frequency resource #a and the first time-frequency resource #b are the same time-frequency resource or different time-frequency resources. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #a may be the same as or different from the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #b. For example, both the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #a and the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #b are control information for scheduling uplink data. For example, the control information type to be monitored in the first time-frequency resource #a is control information used for scheduling uplink data, while the control information type to be monitored in the first time-frequency resource #b is control information used for scheduling downlink data; the two are different.

[0159] As can be seen, the network device configures one or more first time-frequency resources and one or more control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources for the terminal device through the first configuration information set. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources include control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. This allows the terminal device to monitor control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data within the first time-frequency resources. Compared to the terminal device monitoring both control information for scheduling uplink and downlink data within the same time-frequency resources, this reduces the number of times the terminal device monitors control information, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring control information.

[0160] In this embodiment of the application, control information refers to downlink control information. For example, control information used for scheduling uplink data is PDCCH used for scheduling uplink data, and control information used for scheduling downlink data is PDCCH used for scheduling downlink data.

[0161] In this embodiment of the application, the monitoring and control information may also be referred to as detection control information, receiving control information, etc., and is not limited thereto.

[0162] In one optional implementation, the first configuration information can also be understood as: the first configuration information is used to configure the terminal device to monitor control information in the first time-frequency resource, and the type of control information to be monitored can be control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data.

[0163] In one optional implementation, the first configuration information set is carried in RRC signaling, which can reduce signaling overhead. For example, the first configuration information set is carried in RRC search space information element (RRC search space IE) signaling.

[0164] In an optional implementation, the configuration information set may be referred to as a search space group, and the configuration information may be referred to as a search space. In this case, S201 can be replaced by: the network device sending a first search space group to the terminal device, the first search space group including one or more first search spaces, the first search space being used to configure a first time-frequency resource and the control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource, the control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource including control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data.

[0165] In one optional implementation, the candidate types of control information are shown in Table 1 below. Here, format 0-0, format 0-1, format 0-2, and format 0-3 represent control information types used for scheduling uplink data, and format 1-0, format 1-1, format 1-2, and format 1-3 represent control information types used for scheduling downlink data.

[0166] Therefore, when the control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource is control information used for scheduling uplink data, its specific type can be any one of format 0-0, format 0-1, format 0-2, and format 0-3, that is, any one of the control information types represented by indices 1 to 4. When the control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource is control information used for scheduling downlink data, its specific type can be any one of format 1-0, format 1-1, format 1-2, and format 1-3, that is, any one of the control information types represented by indices 5 to 8. Or, the first configuration information configures the control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource to be any one of format 0-0, format 0-1, format 0-2, format 0-3, format 1-0, format 1-1, format 1-2, and format 1-3, that is, any one of the control information types represented by indices 1 to 8 in Table 1. Alternatively, the searchspace field in the first configuration information indicates that the terminal device monitors any one type of control information among the control information types represented by indices 1 to 8 in Table 1 within the first time-frequency resource.

[0167] Table 1

[0168] In another optional implementation, the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource also include control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data. The types of control information for scheduling uplink data and downlink data can be any combination of the control information types represented by indices 1 to 4 and indices 5 to 8 in Table 1. For example, the types of control information for scheduling uplink data and downlink data can be a combination of the types represented by indices 1 and 5 in Table 1, which is the control information type represented by index 9, i.e., format 0-0 and format 1-0. As another example, the types of control information for scheduling uplink data and downlink data can be a combination of the types represented by indices 1, 5, 2, and 6 in Table 1, which is the control information type represented by index 13, i.e., format 0-0, format 1-0, format 0-1, and format 1-1.

[0169] It is evident that certain first configuration information in the first configuration information set can configure the control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource as control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data. This is beneficial for the terminal device to monitor control information based on the first configuration information set, not only in some first time-frequency resources, but also in other first time-frequency resources, to meet the scheduling needs of different services.

[0170] For example, the first configuration information set includes first configuration information #a, first configuration information #b, and first configuration information #c. First configuration information #a configures the first time-frequency resource #a and the control information to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #a as control information for scheduling uplink data. First configuration information #b configures the first time-frequency resource #b and the control information to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #b as control information for scheduling downlink data. First configuration information #c configures the first time-frequency resource #c and the control information to be monitored as control information for scheduling both uplink and downlink data. Specifically, the control information type configured by first configuration information #a is format 0-0, the control information type configured by first configuration information #b is format 1-1, and the control information type configured by first configuration information #c is format 0-1 and format 1-1.

[0171] Furthermore, after receiving the first configuration information set, the terminal device can directly use the first configuration information set to monitor and control information, or it can combine the first configuration information set with other received information to monitor and control information. The following describes in detail the implementation methods for the terminal device to monitor and control information, with reference to embodiments 1 to 4:

[0172] Implementation method 1: The terminal device monitors and controls information based on the first set of configuration information.

[0173] Optionally, if the terminal device does not receive other information related to monitoring and control information (such as instructions for dynamically adjusting monitoring and control information), it monitors and controls the information based on the first set of configuration information.

[0174] It is evident that the terminal device can directly monitor and control information based on the configured first set of configuration information, thereby reducing the complexity of the terminal device's monitoring and control information.

[0175] In one optional implementation, when the first time-frequency resources associated with different first configuration information in the first configuration information set are all different, the terminal device monitors control information based on the first configuration information set, including: monitoring control information of the control information type configured by each first configuration information in the first configuration information set within the first time-frequency resources configured by each first configuration information in the first configuration information set.

[0176] For example, the first configuration information set includes first configuration information #a, which is used to configure the first time-frequency resource #a and the control information to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource #a as format1-0. Then, based on the first configuration information set, the terminal device monitors control information, including monitoring control information of type format1-0 within the first time-frequency resource #a. It is evident that the terminal device monitors control information used for scheduling downlink data within the first time-frequency resource #a, but does not monitor control information used for scheduling uplink data, thus reducing the number of times control information is monitored within the first time-frequency resource #a and reducing the power consumption of monitoring control information.

[0177] For example, the first configuration information set includes first configuration information #a and first configuration information #b. First configuration information #a is used to configure the first time-frequency resource #a and the control information to be monitored within it as format 0-0. First configuration information #b is used to configure the first time-frequency resource #b and the control information to be monitored within it as format 0-1 and format 1-1, and the first time-frequency resource #a and first time-frequency resource #b are different time-frequency resources. Then, based on the first configuration information set, the terminal device monitors control information, including: monitoring control information of type format 0-0 within the first time-frequency resource #a, and monitoring control information of type format 0-1 and format 1-1 within the first time-frequency resource #b. It can be seen that the terminal device monitors control information used for scheduling uplink data within the first time-frequency resource #a, but does not need to monitor control information used for scheduling downlink data, which can reduce the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring control information. In addition, the terminal device monitors both control information used for scheduling uplink data and control information used for scheduling downlink data within the first time-frequency resource #b, which can meet the needs of scheduling uplink and downlink services within the first time-frequency resource #b.

[0178] In another optional implementation, some of the first configuration information in the first configuration information set is associated with the same first time-frequency resource, while some is associated with different first time-frequency resources. In the case where different first configuration information is associated with different first time-frequency resources, the terminal device monitors control information of different control information types associated with different first time-frequency resources. The control information type associated with a first time-frequency resource can be understood as the control information type to be monitored within that first time-frequency resource. In the case where different first configuration information is associated with the same first time-frequency resource, the terminal device can further determine which type of control information to monitor within the first time-frequency resource based on other instructions from the network device. This application embodiment does not limit how the network device instructs the terminal device to monitor which type of control information within the first time-frequency resource.

[0179] For example, the first configuration information set includes first configuration information #a, first configuration information #b, and first configuration information #c. First configuration information #a is used to configure the first time-frequency resource #1 and the control information to be monitored within it as format 0-0. First configuration information #b is used to configure the first time-frequency resource #1 and the control information to be monitored within it as format 0-1. First configuration information #c is used to configure the first time-frequency resource #2 and the control information to be monitored within it as format 1-1. The network device further instructs the terminal device to monitor control information within the first time-frequency resource #1 based on the first configuration information #a. Therefore, the terminal device's monitoring of control information based on the first configuration information set includes: monitoring control information of type format 0-0 within the first time-frequency resource #1, and monitoring control information of type format 1-1 within the first time-frequency resource #2.

[0180] Accordingly, the network device sends control information based on the first configuration information set. For example, the network device sends control information based on the first configuration information set without sending other monitoring control information to the terminal device. The implementation method of the network device sending control information based on the first configuration information set can be referred to the implementation method of the terminal device monitoring control information based on the first configuration information set, and will not be repeated here.

[0181] Implementation method 2: The terminal device monitors and controls information based on the received first information.

[0182] In one optional implementation, the terminal device performs the following operations: receiving first information from a network device, the first information being used to instruct monitoring control information based on a first set of configuration information or a second set of configuration information; and monitoring control information based on the first information.

[0183] The second configuration information set includes one or more second configuration information items, which are used to configure the second time-frequency resource and the control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource. The control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. For example, the control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource include, but are not limited to, any one of the control information types represented by indices 1 to 13 in Table 1 above.

[0184] Furthermore, the second time-frequency resources associated with different second configuration information in multiple second configuration information sets may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different second configuration information in multiple second configuration information sets may be the same or different. In other words, when the set of second configuration information includes multiple second configuration information sets, different second configuration information sets within the set can be configured with the same second time-frequency resource, or they can be configured with different second time-frequency resources, and the types of control information to be monitored within the second time-frequency resources configured by different second configuration information sets within the set may be the same or different.

[0185] In one optional implementation, the terminal device monitors and controls information based on first information, including: monitoring and controlling information based on the first configuration information set when the first information indicates that monitoring and controlling information is based on a first configuration information set; and monitoring and controlling information based on the second configuration information set when the first information indicates that monitoring and controlling information is based on a second configuration information set. The implementation method for the terminal device monitoring and controlling information based on the first configuration information set is the same as that described in Implementation 1 above, and will not be repeated here. The implementation method for the terminal device monitoring and controlling information based on the second configuration information set is the same as that for the terminal device monitoring and controlling information based on the first configuration information set, and will not be repeated here.

[0186] It is evident that the network device can also instruct the terminal device to monitor and control information based on the first configuration information set or the second configuration information set through the first information. Thus, the terminal device does not monitor and control information directly based on the configured first configuration information set, but rather based on the content indicated by the first information. This is beneficial for the terminal device to monitor and control information based on the dynamic changes of services, thereby improving the flexibility of control information monitoring.

[0187] For example, after a network device configures a first set of configuration information for a terminal device for a period of time, the network device determines that the terminal device's service status has changed, such as from uplink-dominant service to downlink-dominant service. Since the first time-frequency resources configured in the first set of configuration information and the control information types to be monitored within those resources are configured for uplink-dominant service, the network device instructs the terminal device to monitor the control information based on a second set of configuration information configured for downlink-dominant service using the first set of information. The terminal device then monitors the control information based on the second set of configuration information, improving the flexibility of control information monitoring. As another example, after a network device configures a first set of configuration information for a terminal device for a period of time, the network device determines that the terminal device's service status has not changed. In this case, the network device instructs the terminal device to monitor the control information based on the first set of configuration information using the first set of information. Thus, the terminal device monitors the control information based on the first set of configuration information without changing the time-frequency resources or the control information types being monitored.

[0188] In one optional implementation, the terminal device further receives a second set of configuration information. This allows the terminal device to monitor and control information based on the received second set of configuration information, provided that the first information indicates that monitoring and control information is based on the second set of configuration information.

[0189] Optionally, the first information includes an identifier of a first configuration information set, to instruct the terminal device to monitor and control information based on the first configuration information set. Optionally, the first information includes an identifier of a second configuration information set, to instruct the terminal device to monitor and control information based on the second configuration information set.

[0190] For example, refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of configuration information. As shown in Figure 3, the configuration information determined by the network device includes configuration information 1, configuration information 2, and configuration information 3. The time-frequency resources configured by configuration information 1, configuration information 2, and configuration information 3 are respectively the black parts in Figure 3, and the time-frequency resources configured by configuration information 2 and configuration information 3 are the same. In addition, the control information type configured or associated with configuration information 1 is format 0-1 and format 1-1, indicating that the terminal device needs to monitor control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 1; the control information type configured with configuration information 2 is format 0-1, indicating that the terminal device needs to monitor control information for scheduling uplink data within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 2; the control information type configured with configuration information 3 is format 1-1, indicating that the terminal device needs to monitor control information for scheduling downlink data within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 3. The network device divides configuration information 1, configuration information 2, and configuration information 3 into two configuration information sets as shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, the configuration information set includes configuration information set 1 and configuration information set 2. Configuration information set 1 includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2, and configuration information set 2 includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 3.

[0191] The network device configures configuration information set 1 for the terminal device via S201. If, after a period of time, the network device determines that the terminal device's services have not changed, it instructs the terminal device to monitor control information based on configuration information set 1 via first information. This allows the terminal device to monitor control information of type format 0-1 and format 1-1 within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 1, and to monitor control information of type format 0-1 within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 2. If, after a period of time, the network device determines that the terminal device's services have changed, and determines that the terminal device can monitor control information based on configuration information set 2, it instructs the terminal device to monitor control information based on configuration information set 2 via first information. This allows the terminal device to monitor control information of type format 0-1 and format 1-1 within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 1, and to monitor control information of type format 1-1 within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 3.

[0192] Optionally, if the unit of the time-frequency resources shown in Figure 3 is one time slot, then when the first information indicates that the terminal device monitors control information based on configuration information set 1, the terminal device monitors control information for scheduling uplink data in each time slot and monitors control information for scheduling downlink data every time slot interval. The service corresponding to this situation can be a service with high uplink data transmission requirements. When the first information indicates that the terminal device monitors control information based on configuration information set 2, the terminal device monitors control information for scheduling downlink data in each time slot and monitors control information for scheduling uplink data every time slot interval. The service corresponding to this situation can be a service with high downlink data transmission requirements.

[0193] Optionally, the first information includes upper{log2(M)} bits, where M represents the number of configuration information sets, upper{} denotes rounding up, and M is a positive integer. Alternatively, the first information can use upper{log2(M)} bits to indicate a specific configuration information set within the configuration information sets. Therefore, the above method is not limited to scenarios with two configuration sets; it can be directly extended to scenarios with more than two configuration sets.

[0194] Optionally, the configuration information set in the above example includes configuration information set 1 and configuration information set 2, then the first information includes upper{log2(1)} = 1 bit. Optionally, the bit values ​​of the first information are shown in Table 2 below. As shown in Table 2, when the bit value of the first information is 0, it is used to indicate configuration information set 1; when the bit value of the first information is 1, it is used to indicate configuration information set 2.

[0195] Table 2

[0196] Accordingly, the network device performs the following operations: sending first information; and sending control information based on the first information. Optionally, if the first information instructs the terminal device to monitor control information based on a first configuration information set, the network device sends control information based on the first configuration information set; if the first information instructs the terminal device to monitor control information based on a second configuration information set, the network device sends control information based on the second configuration information set.

[0197] Optionally, the implementation method of the network device sending control information based on the first configuration information set can refer to the implementation method of the terminal device monitoring control information based on the first configuration information set. For example, the network device sends control information of the control information type configured by each first configuration information in the first configuration information set within the first time-frequency resources associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set. Optionally, the implementation method of the network device sending control information based on the second configuration information set can refer to the implementation method of sending control information based on the first configuration information set, and will not be described again.

[0198] It is evident that when the network device sends the first information to the first device, it does not send control information directly based on the first set of configuration information configured for the terminal device, but rather sends control information based on the content indicated by the first information. This can meet the dynamic changes of services and improve the flexibility of control information transmission.

[0199] Implementation method 3: The terminal device monitors and controls information based on the first set of configuration information and the received second information.

[0200] In one optional implementation, the terminal device performs the following operations: receiving second information from a network device, the second information indicating the type of control information associated with the first configuration information set; and monitoring the control information based on the second information and the first configuration information set.

[0201] The second information indicates the control information type associated with the first configuration information set, including control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. Specifically, the control information type associated with the first configuration information set includes, but is not limited to, any one of the control information types represented by indices 1 to 13 in Table 1 above. For example, the second information indicates that the control information type associated with the first configuration information set is format 0-0. Another example is that the second information indicates that the control information type associated with the first configuration information set is format 1-0. Yet another example is that the second information indicates that the control information types associated with the first configuration information set are both format 0-0 and format 1-0.

[0202] In one optional implementation, the terminal device monitors control information based on the second information and the first configuration information set, including: monitoring control information of the type indicated by the second information within all time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information in the first configuration information set. Alternatively, the terminal device replaces / changes the control information type associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set to the control information type indicated by the second information; the terminal device monitors the control information of the replaced / changed control information type within all time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information.

[0203] For example, the first configuration information set is configuration information set 1 in Figure 4. Configuration information set 1 includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2. The second information indicates that the control information type associated with configuration information set 1 is format 1-1. Then, after receiving the second information, the terminal device changes / replaces the types format 0-1 and format 1-1 associated with configuration information 1 with format 1-1, and changes / replaces the type format 0-1 associated with configuration information 2 with format 1-1. Thus, the terminal device monitors control information of type format 1-1 in both the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 1 and the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 2.

[0204] As can be seen, after the network device configures the first configuration information set for the terminal device, it can, in conjunction with the dynamic changes in services, instruct the terminal device to change the control information types associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set by indicating the control information types in the second information. Therefore, when the terminal device receives the second information, it does not directly monitor the control information based on the configured first configuration information set, but rather monitors the control information within the time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information set, based on the changed control information types (i.e., the control information types indicated by the second information), thus improving the flexibility of control information monitoring.

[0205] Optionally, the implementation of the network device sending the second information to the terminal device can be viewed as follows: the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the type of control information to be monitored based on a set of configuration information. Thus, the terminal device switches the type of control information to be monitored based on the control information type associated with the set of configuration information indicated by the second information. Compared to the method of switching based on multiple sets of configuration information described in Implementation 2, the method described in Implementation 3 can save the number of first and second configuration information items.

[0206] In one optional implementation, the second information includes an identifier of the first configuration information set and an identifier / index of the control information type to indicate the control information type associated with the first configuration information set. For example, if the bit value of the field indicating the configuration information set in the second information is 0 in Table 2, and the index of the field indicating the control information type in the second information is 3 in Table 1, then the second information indicates that the control information type associated with configuration information set 1 in Figure 4 is format 0-2. The terminal device receives control information based on the time-frequency resources associated with configuration set 1 and the control information type format 0-2.

[0207] Accordingly, the network device performs the following operations: sending second information; and sending control information based on the second information and the first configuration information set. Optionally, the network device sending control information based on the second information and the first configuration information set includes: sending control information of the type indicated by the second information within all time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information in the first configuration information set.

[0208] It is evident that when the network device sends the second information to the terminal device, it does not directly send control information based on the first configuration information set configured for the terminal device. Instead, it sends control information by combining the control information type indicated by the second information with the time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information set, thereby improving the flexibility of control information transmission.

[0209] Optionally, the second information indicating the control information type associated with the first configuration information set can also be replaced with: the second information indicating the control information type associated with the second configuration information set. Then, the terminal device monitors the control information based on the second configuration information set and the second information; the network device sends the control information based on the second configuration information set and the second information. The implementation where the second information indicates the control information type associated with the second configuration information set is the same as the implementation where the second information indicates the control information type associated with the first configuration information set, and will not be described again. The implementation where the terminal device monitors the control information based on the second configuration information set and the second information is the same as the implementation where the terminal device monitors the control information based on the first configuration information set and the second information, and will not be described again. The implementation where the network device sends the control information based on the second configuration information set and the second information is the same as the implementation where the network device monitors the control information based on the first configuration information set and the second information, and will not be described again.

[0210] For example, the terminal device monitors control information of the type indicated by the second information within all time-frequency resources associated with the second configuration information in the second configuration information set; the network device sends control information of the type indicated by the second information within all time-frequency resources associated with the second configuration information in the second configuration information set.

[0211] Implementation method 4: The terminal device monitors and controls information based on the first set of configuration information and the received third information.

[0212] In one optional implementation, the terminal device performs the following operations: receiving third information from a network device, the third information indicating the control information type associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set; and monitoring the control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information.

[0213] The control information type associated with the first configuration information indicated by the third information includes control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. Specifically, the control information type associated with the first configuration information indicated by the third information includes, but is not limited to, any one of the control information types represented by indices 1 to 13 in Table 1 above. Furthermore, the control information types associated with different first configuration information within the first configuration information set may be the same or different.

[0214] For example, the first set of configuration information includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2, and the third information indicates that the control information types associated with configuration information 1 and configuration information 2 are both format 0-0. As another example, the first set of configuration information includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2, and the third information indicates that the control information type associated with configuration information 1 is format 0-0, and the third information indicates that the control information types associated with configuration information 2 are format 0-1 and format 1-1.

[0215] Furthermore, the control information type associated with the first configuration information indicated by the third information may be the same as or different from the control information type configured by the first configuration information. For example, configuration information set 1 includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2. The control information type configured by configuration information 1 is format 0-0, and the control information type configured by configuration information 2 is format 1-0. The third information indicates that the control information type associated with configuration information 1 is format 0-0, and the control information types associated with configuration information 2 are format 0-1 and format 1-1. Therefore, the control information type associated with configuration information 1 indicated by the third information is the same as the control information type configured by configuration information 1, while the control information type associated with configuration information 2 indicated by the third information is different from the control information type configured by configuration information 2.

[0216] In one optional implementation, the terminal device monitors control information based on a first configuration information set and third information, including: monitoring control information of the type of control information associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, as indicated by the third information, within the time-frequency resources associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set. Alternatively, the terminal device replaces / changes the control information type configured in each first configuration information in the first configuration information set with the control information type associated with the first configuration information indicated by the third information, and then monitors the control information within the time-frequency resources associated with each first configuration information based on the replaced / changed control information type.

[0217] For example, configuration information set 1 includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2. Configuration information 1 configures control information of type format 0-0, configuration information 2 configures control information of type format 1-0, and third information indicates that the control information associated with configuration information 1 is of type format 0-0, and that the control information associated with configuration information 2 is of types format 0-1 and format 1-1. If the terminal device determines that the control information associated with configuration information 1 indicated by the third information is the same as the control information type configured in configuration information 1, it will not change the control information type associated with configuration information 1. The terminal device will change the control information type associated with configuration information 2 from format 1-0 to format 0-1 and format 1-1. Furthermore, the terminal device monitors control information of type format 0-0 within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 1, and monitors control information of type format 0-1 and format 1-1 within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 2.

[0218] It is evident that after configuring a first configuration information set for the terminal device, the network device can, in conjunction with dynamic changes in services, instruct the terminal device to change the control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set based on the third information. Therefore, upon receiving the third information, the terminal device does not directly monitor control information based on the configured first configuration information set, but instead changes the configured control information types of each first configuration information in the first configuration information set to the control information types associated with that first configuration information indicated by the third information. Consequently, the terminal device can monitor control information based on the changed control information types within the time-frequency resources associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, thus improving the flexibility of control information monitoring.

[0219] Optionally, the implementation of the network device sending third information to the terminal device can be viewed as follows: the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the type of control information to be monitored based on a single configuration information. Thus, the terminal device switches the type of control information to be monitored based on the control information type associated with each configuration information indicated by the third information.

[0220] In one optional implementation, the third information includes an identifier of the first configuration information set, an identifier of each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and an identifier / index of the control information type associated with each first configuration information, so as to indicate the control information type associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set.

[0221] Accordingly, the network device performs the following operations: sending third information; and sending control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information. Optionally, the network device sending control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information includes: within the time-frequency resources associated with each piece of first configuration information in the first configuration information set, sending control information based on the type of control information associated with the first configuration information indicated by the third information.

[0222] It is evident that when the network device sends third information to the terminal device, it does not send control information directly based on the first configuration information set configured for the terminal device, but rather combines the first configuration information and the third information to send control information, which can improve the flexibility of control information transmission.

[0223] Optionally, the third information indicating the control information type associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set can be replaced with: the third information indicating the control information type associated with each second configuration information in the second configuration information set. Then, the terminal device monitors the control information based on the second configuration information set and the third information; the network device sends the control information based on the second configuration information set and the third information.

[0224] The implementation method for the third information indicating the control information type associated with each second configuration information in the second configuration information set can be found in the implementation method for the third information indicating the control information type associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and will not be repeated here. Furthermore, the implementation method for the terminal device to monitor control information based on the second configuration information set and the third information can be found in the implementation method for the terminal device to monitor control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information, and will not be repeated here. The implementation method for the network device to send control information based on the second configuration information set and the third information can be found in the implementation method for the network device to send control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information, and will not be repeated here.

[0225] In an optional implementation, the terminal device may further receive fourth information, which is used to configure the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set. Correspondingly, the network device sends the fourth information. The candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. Specifically, the candidate control types associated with the first configuration information set include, but are not limited to, one or more of the control information types represented by indices 1 to 13 in Table 1. Therefore, the network device can also pre-configure the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set for the terminal device using the fourth information.

[0226] For example, the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set configured by the network device for the terminal device using the fourth information are shown in Table 1 above. As another example, the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set configured by the network device for the terminal device using the fourth information are shown in Table 3 below.

[0227] Table 3

[0228] Optionally, the candidate control information type associated with the first information set is not configured by the network device for the terminal device through the fourth information, but is predefined by the standard.

[0229] Therefore, when there are associated candidate control information types in the first information set, in the above-described embodiment 3, when the network device sends the second information to the terminal device, the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set. Alternatively, if the network device pre-configures the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set for the terminal device, the network device can select one from the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set as the associated control information type and indicate it to the terminal device via the second information. Correspondingly, upon receiving the second information, the terminal device can determine the control information type indicated by the second information from the configured candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set using the identifier / index indicated by the second information.

[0230] For example, the control information types shown in Table 1 are candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set. The control information type associated with the first configuration information set indicated by the network device through the second information is any one of the control information types in Table 1, such as format 0-0 in Table 1.

[0231] For example, the control information types shown in Table 3 are candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set. The control information type associated with the first configuration information set indicated by the network device through the second information is any one of the control information types in Table 3, such as format 0-0 and format 0-1 in Table 3.

[0232] Furthermore, when there are associated candidate control information types in the first information set, in embodiment 4 described above, when the network device sends third information to the terminal device, the control information type associated with each first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set. Alternatively, if the network device pre-configures the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set for the terminal device, the network device can select the control information associated with each first configuration information from the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set and indicate the control information type associated with each first configuration information through the third information.

[0233] Furthermore, the control information type configured in each of the first configuration information sets is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set. In other words, the network device configures the first configuration information for the terminal device based on the candidate configuration information types associated with the first configuration information set, thus the control information type configured in the first configuration information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set.

[0234] For example, the candidate control information types associated with configuration information set 1 are the control information types shown in Table 3. Configuration information set 1 includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2. The control information type configured by configuration information 1 is format 0-0 in Table 3, and the control information types configured by configuration information 2 are format 0-0 and format 0-1 in Table 3. The third information indicates that the control information type associated with configuration information 1 is format 0-0 in Table 3, and the third information indicates that the control information type associated with configuration information 2 is format 0-1 in Table 3. It can be seen that the control information types configured by configuration information 1 and configuration information 2 are one of the candidate control information types associated with configuration information set 1, and the control information types associated with configuration information 1 and configuration information 2 indicated by the third information are also one of the candidate control information types associated with configuration information set 1. In addition, the control information type associated with configuration information 1 indicated by the third information is the same as the control information type configured in configuration information 1, the control information type associated with configuration information 2 indicated by the third information is different from the control information type configured in configuration information 2, and the control information type associated with configuration information 1 indicated by the third information is different from the control information type associated with configuration information 2 indicated by the third information.

[0235] In another optional implementation, the terminal device may also receive fifth information, which is used to configure the candidate control information types associated with each piece of first configuration information in the first configuration information set. Correspondingly, the network device sends the fifth information.

[0236] In this first configuration information set, the candidate control information types associated with different first configuration information may be the same or different. Each first configuration information in the first configuration information set may be associated with one or more candidate control information types, but this embodiment does not limit this.

[0237] In addition, the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. Specifically, the candidate control types associated with the first configuration information include, but are not limited to, one or more of the control information types represented by indices 1 to 13 in Table 1.

[0238] As can be seen, the network device can also pre-configure the candidate control information type associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set for the terminal device through the fifth information. For example, configuration information set 1 includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2. The network device sends the fifth information to the terminal device. The fifth information is used to configure the candidate control information type associated with configuration information 1 as shown in Table 4 below, and to configure the candidate control information type associated with configuration information 2 as shown in Table 5 below.

[0239] Table 4

[0240] Table 5

[0241] Optionally, the candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first information set are not configured by the network device for the terminal device through the fifth information, but are predefined by the standard.

[0242] Therefore, when there are associated candidate control information types for each first configuration information in the first information set, in the above-described embodiment 3, when the network device sends the second information to the terminal device, the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set. Alternatively, when the network device pre-configures the candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set for the terminal device, the network device can select one from all the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information in the first configuration information set as the control information type associated with the first configuration information set, and indicate it to the terminal device through the second information. Correspondingly, upon receiving the second information, the terminal device can determine the control information type indicated by the second information from all the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information in the first configuration information set through the identifier / index indicated by the second information.

[0243] For example, configuration information set 1 includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2. The control information types shown in Table 4 are candidate control information types associated with configuration information 1, and the control information types shown in Table 5 are candidate control information types associated with configuration information 2. Therefore, the control information type associated with configuration information set 1 indicated by the network device through the second information is one of all the control information types shown in Tables 4 and 5, that is, the control information type associated with configuration information set 1 indicated by the second information is one of format 0-0, format 1-0, format 0-0 and format 0-1, format 0-1, and format 1-1.

[0244] Furthermore, when each first configuration information in the first information set has associated candidate control information types, in the above-described embodiment 4, when the network device sends third information to the terminal device, the control information type associated with each first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with that first configuration information. Alternatively, when the network device pre-configures the candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information set for the terminal device, the network device can determine the configuration information type associated with each first configuration information from the candidate configuration information types associated with each first configuration information, and indicate the control information type associated with that first configuration information through the third information.

[0245] Furthermore, the control information type configured in each of the first configuration information sets is one of the candidate control information types associated with that first configuration information. In other words, the network device determines the control information type configured in the first configuration information based on the candidate control information types associated with it, thus ensuring that the control information type configured in the first configuration information is one of the candidate control information types associated with it.

[0246] For example, configuration information set 1 includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2. The control information types shown in Table 4 are candidate control information types associated with configuration information 1, and the control information types shown in Table 5 are candidate control information types associated with configuration information 2. The control information type configured by configuration information 1 is format 0-0 in Table 4, and the control information type configured by configuration information 2 is format 1-1 in Table 5. The third information indicates that the control information type associated with configuration information 1 is format 1-0 in Table 4, and the third information indicates that the control information type associated with configuration information 2 is format 1-1 in Table 5. It can be seen that the control information type configured by configuration information 1 and the control information type associated with configuration information 1 indicated by the third information are both one of the candidate control information types associated with configuration information 1; the control information type configured by configuration information 2 and the control information type associated with configuration information 2 indicated by the third information are both one of the candidate control information types associated with configuration information 2. Furthermore, the control information type associated with configuration information 1 indicated by the third information is different from the control information type configured by configuration information 1, while the control information type associated with configuration information 2 indicated by the third information is the same as the control information type configured by configuration information 2.

[0247] In summary, the network device can pre-configure the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set for the terminal device through the fourth information. Thus, based on the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set, the network device can indicate the control information types associated with the first configuration information set to the terminal device through the second information, or indicate the control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set to the terminal device through the third information, so that the terminal device can monitor the control information in combination with the second information or the third information.

[0248] Alternatively, the network device can pre-configure the candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set for the terminal device using five pieces of information. Then, based on the candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, the network device can indicate the control information types associated with the first configuration information set to the terminal device through second information, or through third information, so that the terminal device can monitor the control information in combination with the second or third information.

[0249] Implementation method 5: The terminal device monitors and controls information based on the first set of configuration information and the received sixth information.

[0250] In an optional implementation, the terminal device may further perform the following operations: receiving sixth information, the sixth information indicating the control information type associated with the first configuration information set, the control information type associated with the first configuration information set including control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data; and monitoring control information based on the first configuration information set and the sixth information. Specifically, the terminal device monitors the control information based on the first configuration information set and the sixth information, including: monitoring the control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each piece of first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the sixth information.

[0251] Furthermore, the candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set can be pre-configured by the network device for the terminal device, or they can be predefined by the standard. The candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information can include control information used for scheduling uplink data and / or for scheduling downlink data. Specifically, the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information can be one or more of the control information types shown in Table 1 above. For example, the configuration information set includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2, the candidate control information types associated with configuration information 1 are shown in Table 4 above, and the candidate control information types associated with configuration information 2 are shown in Table 5 above.

[0252] In one optional implementation, the terminal device monitors control information based on the time-frequency resources associated with the first configuration information and the candidate control information type, as well as the sixth information. This can be understood as: within each time-frequency resource associated with the first configuration information in the first configuration information set, monitoring control information based on the candidate control information type associated with the first configuration information and the control information type indicated by the sixth information.

[0253] It is evident that when the terminal device receives the sixth information, it does not directly monitor the control information based on the configured first configuration information set, but rather monitors the control information based on the control information type indicated by the sixth information, the time-frequency resources associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the candidate control information type, which can improve the flexibility of control information monitoring.

[0254] Optionally, if the control information type associated with a portion of the first configuration information in the first configuration information set does not belong to the control information type indicated by the sixth information, the terminal device may still monitor the control information based on the control information type configured in that portion of the first configuration information, or the terminal device may abandon monitoring the control information within the time-frequency resources configured in that portion of the first configuration information.

[0255] For example, configuration information set 1 includes configuration information 1 and configuration information 2. The candidate control information types associated with configuration information 1 include format 0-1 and format 1-0. The candidate control information types associated with configuration information 2 include format 0-0, format 1-1, format 0-0, and format 0-1. The sixth information indicates that the control information type associated with configuration information set 1 is control information used for scheduling uplink data. Since the configuration information type associated with configuration information set 1 indicated by the sixth information is control information used for scheduling uplink data, the terminal device monitors control information of type format 0-1 within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 1, and monitors control information of type format 0-0 within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 2. That is, the terminal device monitors the control information corresponding to scheduling uplink data within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 1 and configuration information 2, respectively.

[0256] For example, the configuration information set includes configuration information 1, and the candidate control information types associated with configuration information 1 include format 0-2, format 0-0, and format 0-1. The candidate control information type associated with configuration information 2 is format 1-1. The sixth information indicates that the control information type associated with configuration information set 1 is control information used for scheduling uplink data. Since the control information type indicated by the sixth information is control information used for scheduling uplink data, the terminal device monitors the control information of type format 0-2 within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 1. Alternatively, since there is no candidate control information type for scheduling uplink data associated with configuration information 2, the terminal device monitors the control information of type format 1-1 configured in configuration information 2 within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 2, or the terminal device abandons monitoring control information within the time-frequency resources associated with configuration information 2.

[0257] Accordingly, the network device performs the following operations: sending the sixth information; and sending control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, as well as the sixth information. This implementation can be referred to the corresponding implementation of the terminal device, and will not be repeated here.

[0258] It is evident that when the network device sends the sixth information to the terminal device, it does not send control information directly based on the first set of configuration information configured for the terminal device. Instead, it sends control information based on the control information type indicated by the sixth information, as well as the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information. This improves the flexibility of control information transmission.

[0259] Optionally, the sixth information indicating the control information type associated with the first configuration information set can be replaced by the third information indicating the control information type associated with the second configuration information set. Then, the terminal device monitors the control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each second configuration information in the second configuration information set, as well as the sixth information; the network device sends the control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each second configuration information in the second configuration information set, as well as the sixth information.

[0260] The implementation method for the sixth information indicating the control information type associated with the second configuration information set can be found in the implementation method for the sixth information indicating the control information type associated with the first configuration information set, and will not be repeated here. Furthermore, the implementation method for the terminal device to monitor control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each second configuration information in the second configuration information set, and the sixth information, can be found in the implementation method for the terminal device to monitor control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the sixth information, and will not be repeated here. The implementation method for the network device to send control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each second configuration information in the second configuration information set, and the sixth information, can be found in the implementation method for the network device to send control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the sixth information, and will not be repeated here.

[0261] Optionally, the first, second, third, and sixth pieces of information mentioned above can be carried in downlink control information (DCI) or medium access control-control element (MAC CE) to dynamically indicate the type of control information, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0262] Optionally, the aforementioned fourth and fifth information can be carried in RRC signaling to pre-configure the candidate control information type associated with the first configuration information set for the terminal device, or to configure the candidate control information type associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set.

[0263] Optionally, since a user's service type may change over time, the proportion of opportunities to receive uplink and downlink scheduling information required by the user may also change over time. Therefore, the time-frequency resources and control information types configured by the network device for the terminal device will also change. In embodiments 2 to 5 above, after configuring the first configuration information set for the terminal device, the network device dynamically indicates the control information type based on changes in the user's service. This facilitates the terminal device switching control information types, or in other words, enables the terminal device to monitor control information by combining the first configuration information set and the dynamically indicated control information type, thereby improving the flexibility of control information monitoring and meeting the dynamic changes in services. Furthermore, compared to changing the control information type through RRC reconfiguration, the method of changing the control information type by dynamically indicating the control information type by the network device improves the flexibility of control information type changes and ensures service continuity.

[0264] In summary, the terminal device can directly monitor control information based on the configured first set of configuration information, thereby reducing the complexity of monitoring. Alternatively, the terminal device can monitor the control information type based on the configured first set of configuration information and the dynamically indicated control information type, which can improve the flexibility of control information monitoring and meet the dynamic changes in business requirements.

[0265] Optionally, a default control information type associated with the default configuration information set can be specified, i.e., the type of control information that the terminal device receives in the initial stage of scheduling data. The initial stage can be the stage when the terminal device first enters the RRC connection state after random access, the RRC reconfiguration completion stage, etc. Specifically, the network device pre-defines a configuration information set and the default control information type associated with that configuration information set to the terminal device. Thus, in the initial stage, the terminal device monitors the control information based on the time-frequency resources associated with the default configuration information set and the default control information type.

[0266] Optionally, the terminal device may subsequently monitor control information based on any one of embodiments 2 to 5. For example, in the initial stage, the terminal device monitors control information based on the default control information type associated with the default configuration information set. After a period of time, it receives first information, and the time-frequency resource and / or control information type indicated by the first information is different from the time-frequency resource and control information type associated with the default configuration information set. Then, based on the first information, the time-frequency resource and / or control information type to be monitored is changed, and the control information is monitored based on the changed time-frequency resource and / or control information type.

[0267] For example, in the initial stage, the terminal device monitors control information based on the default control information type associated with the default configuration information set. After a period of time, it receives second information indicating the control information type associated with the default configuration information set. Then, the terminal device monitors control information based on the default configuration information set and the second information.

[0268] For example, in the initial stage, the terminal device monitors control information based on the default control information type associated with the default configuration information set. After a period of time, it receives third information, which indicates the control information type associated with each configuration information in the default configuration information set. Then, the terminal device monitors control information based on the default configuration information set and the third information.

[0269] For example, in the initial stage, the terminal device monitors control information based on the default control information type associated with the default configuration information set. After a period of time, it receives the sixth information, which indicates the control information type associated with the default configuration information set. Then, the terminal device monitors control information based on the default configuration information set and the sixth information.

[0270] As can be seen, in this embodiment, the terminal device is configured with one or more first time-frequency resources and one or more control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources. The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resources include control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. This allows the terminal device to monitor control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data within the first time-frequency resources. Compared to the terminal device monitoring both control information for scheduling uplink and downlink data within the same time-frequency resource, this reduces the power consumption of the terminal device monitoring control information.

[0271] This application also proposes a communication method 2000, and Figure 5 is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method 2000. The communication method 2000 is described from the perspective of the interaction between a terminal device and a network device. The communication method 2000 includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0272] S501. The network device sends a seventh message, which is used to configure a persistent timer associated with discontinuous reception. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the seventh message.

[0273] Optionally, the seventh piece of information can be specifically used to configure the start time, duration, etc. of the on-duration timer associated with DRX. Thus, the terminal device can determine the start time, duration, etc. of the on-duration timer based on the seventh piece of information.

[0274] S502. The network device sends the eighth message, which is used to configure the reception time of the synchronization signal block. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the eighth message.

[0275] The start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3.

[0276] In addition, y1, y2, and y3 are predefined. The units for y1, y2, and y3 can be milliseconds (ms), slots, symbols, etc.

[0277] Understandably, if the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1, it indicates that the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is within a preset range. This allows the terminal device to start monitoring control information based on the start time of the continuous timer to be close to the reception time of the synchronization signal block, which helps to reduce the working and waiting time of the terminal device and reduce the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring control information.

[0278] Furthermore, if the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3, the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal being greater than or equal to y2 allows the terminal device to reserve sufficient time for synchronization to monitor control information; if the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal being less than or equal to y3, the time at which the terminal device starts monitoring control information based on the start time of the continuous timer can be close to the reception time of the synchronization signal block, which helps to reduce the duration of the terminal device monitoring control information and reduce the power consumption of the terminal device monitoring control information.

[0279] Similarly, if the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1, and the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3, the time when the terminal device starts monitoring control information can be close to the reception time of the synchronization signal block. This helps to reduce the duration of the terminal device monitoring control information and reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0280] It is evident that the start time of the on-duration timer configured by the network device for the terminal device and the reception time of the SSB satisfy at least one of the above relationships, thereby enabling the terminal device to start monitoring control information as close as possible to the reception time of the SSB, which helps to reduce the duration of the terminal device monitoring control information and reduce the power consumption of the terminal device monitoring control information.

[0281] Optionally, if the SSB transmission period is greater than or equal to a preset value, the network device determines that the start time of the on-duration timer and the SSB reception time satisfy at least one of the aforementioned relationships. This method ensures that even when the SSB transmission period is lengthened, the network device can guarantee that the terminal device starts monitoring control information close to the SSB reception time. This reduces both the network device's power consumption and the terminal device's monitoring and control information duration, thereby reducing the terminal device's power consumption during monitoring and control information, achieving energy savings for both the network and the terminal.

[0282] For example, when configuring the DRX feature of a cell for a terminal device, if the SSB transmission period of the cell is greater than or equal to x ms, or if the SSB transmission period of the cell is assumed to be greater than or equal to x ms when the terminal device performs initial cell selection, the start time of the on-duration timer and the SSB reception time are configured to satisfy at least one of the above relationships, so as to reduce the power consumption of the network device and the power consumption of the terminal device for monitoring and controlling information.

[0283] S503. The network device sends control information based on a continuous timer and sends synchronization signal blocks based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block.

[0284] Optionally, the network device sends control information based on a persistent timer, which can be understood as: control information can be sent during the duration of the persistent timer.

[0285] Optionally, the network device transmits control information based on a persistent timer, including: transmitting control information based on a persistent timer and an inactive timer associated with discontinuous reception.

[0286] Optionally, the network device sends control information based on a persistent timer and an inactive timer. This can be understood as: control information can be sent during the timing of the persistent timer and the timing of the inactive timer.

[0287] Optionally, the network device transmits the synchronization signal block based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block, including: determining the transmission time of the synchronization signal block based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block; and transmitting the synchronization signal block based on the transmission time of the synchronization signal block.

[0288] Optionally, the duration of the inactive timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value. This method is beneficial because the longer the transmission period of the SSB, the shorter the duration of the inactive timer, which in turn helps to reduce the duration of the terminal device's monitoring and control information and reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0289] For example, if the SSB transmission period is x, and 80 > x > 40 ms, the first preset value is a1, and the duration of the inactive timer is x / a1; if 160 > x > 80, the first preset value is a2, and the duration of the inactive timer is x / a2, where x / a1 is greater than or equal to x / a2. It is evident that the longer the SSB transmission period, the shorter the duration of the inactive timer, enabling the terminal device to monitor control information within a shorter duration even with a longer SSB transmission period, thus reducing the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring control information.

[0290] Optionally, the duration of the inactive timer is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block (SSB). For example, the longer the SSB transmission period, the shorter the duration of the inactive timer. This reduces the power consumption of the network device while also reducing the time the terminal device spends monitoring control information, thus lowering the terminal device's power consumption. For instance, if the SSB transmission period x satisfies the following conditions: 80 > x > 40 ms, the duration of the inactive timer is less than or equal to m1; if 160 > x > 80, the duration of the inactive timer is less than or equal to m2, and m2 is less than m1. This allows the terminal device to monitor control information within a shorter duration even when the SSB transmission period is longer, thereby reducing the power consumption of both the network device and the terminal device.

[0291] Optionally, the duration of the on-duration timer is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a second preset value. This method allows for a longer transmission period of the SSB and a shorter duration of the on-duration timer, thereby reducing the time the terminal device spends monitoring and controlling information and lowering the power consumption of the terminal device. For example, if the transmission period of the SSB is x, and 80 > x > 40 ms, the second preset value is b1, and the duration of the on-duration timer = x / b1; if 160 > x > 80, the second preset value is b2, and the duration of the on-duration timer = x / b2, where x / b1 is greater than or equal to x / b2.

[0292] Optionally, the duration of the on-duration timer is related to the SSB transmission period. For example, the longer the SSB transmission period, the shorter the duration of the on-duration timer, thereby reducing the time the terminal device spends monitoring control information and lowering its power consumption. For instance, if the SSB transmission period x satisfies the following conditions: 80 > x > 40 ms, the duration of the on-duration timer is less than or equal to m3; if 160 > x > 80, the duration of the on-duration timer is less than or equal to m4, and m4 is less than m3. This allows the terminal device to monitor control information within a shorter duration even when the SSB transmission period is long, thus simultaneously reducing the power consumption of both the network device and the terminal device.

[0293] S504. The terminal device monitors control information based on a continuous timer and receives a synchronization signal block based on the receiving time of the synchronization signal block.

[0294] Optionally, the terminal device monitors control information based on a continuous timer, which can be understood as: monitoring control information during the duration of the continuous timer, or as: monitoring control information starting from the start time of the continuous timer.

[0295] Optionally, the terminal device monitors control information based on a continuous timer, including: monitoring control information based on a continuous timer and an inactive timer associated with discontinuous reception.

[0296] Optionally, the terminal device monitors control information based on a persistent timer and an inactive timer. This can be understood as monitoring control information during the timing of the persistent timer and the timing of the inactive timer, or as monitoring control information from the start time of the persistent timer and from the start time of the inactive timer.

[0297] Understandably, since the start time of the on-duration timer and the reception time of the SSB satisfy at least one of the above relationships, the terminal device monitors control information based on the on-duration timer and receives the SSB based on the reception time of the SSB, which is beneficial to monitor control information within a shorter monitoring duration and can reduce the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring control information.

[0298] As can be seen, in this embodiment of the application, the start time of the continuous timer configured by the network device for the terminal device and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3. This is beneficial to make the time when the terminal device starts monitoring the control information as close as possible to the reception time of the synchronization signal block, that is, to make the control information sent by the network device to the terminal device as close as possible to the transmission time of the synchronization signal block, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device monitoring the control information and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device monitoring the control information.

[0299] This application also proposes a communication method 3000, and Figure 6 is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method 3000. The communication method 3000 is described from the perspective of the interaction between a terminal device and a network device. The communication method 3000 includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0300] S601. The network device sends a seventh message, which is used to configure a persistent timer associated with discontinuous reception. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the seventh message.

[0301] Optionally, the seventh piece of information can be specifically used to configure the start time, duration, etc. of the on-duration timer associated with DRX. Thus, the terminal device can determine the start time, duration, etc. of the on-duration timer based on the seventh piece of information.

[0302] S602. The network device sends the eighth message, which is used to configure the reception time of the synchronization signal block. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the eighth message.

[0303] S603. When the first condition is met between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block, the terminal device monitors control information based on the continuous timer and receives the synchronization signal block based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block.

[0304] The first condition includes one or more of the following: the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the persistent timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the persistent timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3. y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

[0305] Based on the communication method 2000 described above, when the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy a first condition, it is beneficial to ensure that the time when the network device sends control information to the terminal device is as close as possible to the transmission time of the synchronization signal block, and the time when the terminal device starts monitoring the control information is as close as possible to the reception time of the synchronization signal block. This reduces the duration of the terminal device's monitoring of the control information and lowers the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring the control information. Therefore, the terminal device, based on the configured persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block, determines that the first condition is met between the start time of the persistent timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block before monitoring the control information based on the configured persistent timer and receiving the synchronization signal based on the configured synchronization signal block. This reduces the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring the control information.

[0306] Optionally, the implementation method of the terminal device monitoring and control information based on the continuous timer can be found in the above-described communication method 2000, and will not be repeated here.

[0307] Optionally, the duration of the inactive timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value. The implementation method can be found in the above-described communication method 2000, and will not be repeated here.

[0308] Optionally, the duration of the inactive timer is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block. For example, the longer the transmission period of the SSB, the shorter the duration of the inactive timer, thereby reducing the time for the terminal device to monitor and control information, reducing the power consumption of the terminal device, and achieving energy saving for both the network and the terminal.

[0309] Optionally, the duration of the continuous timer is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and the second preset value. The implementation method can be found in the above-described communication method 2000, and will not be repeated here.

[0310] As can be seen, in this embodiment, the terminal device only uses the configured continuous timer to monitor control information and the configured synchronization signal block to receive the synchronization signal block when the start time of the configured continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block meet a first condition. This method ensures that the terminal device uses the configured continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block only when the start time of monitoring control information is as close as possible to the reception time of the synchronization signal block, thereby reducing the duration of the terminal device's monitoring of control information and lowering the power consumption of the terminal device in monitoring control information.

[0311] The following section further describes the corresponding device implementation scheme in relation to the technical solution described above.

[0312] To achieve the functions of the methods provided in the embodiments of this application, the terminal device and the network device may include hardware structures and / or software modules, implementing the above functions in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules. Whether a particular function is executed in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0313] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 700 provided in this application. The communication device 700 may include modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in any of the embodiments of communication methods 1000 to 3000. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software.

[0314] The communication device 700 includes a communication unit 701 and a processing unit 702, used to implement the methods executed by the various devices in the foregoing embodiments. The communication unit 701 is also called a transceiver unit, which includes a sending unit and a receiving unit. The sending unit is used to send signals, and the receiving unit is used to receive signals.

[0315] In one possible implementation, the communication device 700 is, for example, a terminal device. Specifically, the communication unit 701 is configured to receive a first configuration information set, the first configuration information set including one or more first configuration information, the first configuration information being used to configure a first time-frequency resource and a control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource, the control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource including control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data; the first time-frequency resources associated with different first configuration information among the plurality of first configuration information may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different first configuration information among the plurality of first configuration information may be the same or different.

[0316] In one possible approach, the processing unit 702 is used to monitor control information based on the first set of configuration information.

[0317] In another possible approach, the processing unit 702 is configured to perform the following operations: receive first information, which instructs monitoring control information based on a first configuration information set or a second configuration information set; and monitor control information based on the first information. The second configuration information set includes one or more second configuration information sets, which configure second time-frequency resources and control information types to be monitored within those resources. The control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resources include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. The second time-frequency resources associated with different second configuration information sets may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different second configuration information sets may be the same or different.

[0318] In one possible approach, the communication unit 701 is also used to receive the second configuration information set.

[0319] In another possible approach, the processing unit 702 is configured to perform the following operations: receive second information, the second information indicating the type of control information associated with the first configuration information set; and monitor the control information based on the second information and the first configuration information set.

[0320] In another possible approach, the processing unit 702 is configured to perform the following operations: receive third information, the third information indicating the control information type associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set; and monitor the control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information.

[0321] In one possible manner, the communication unit 701 is further configured to receive fourth information, the fourth information being used to configure the candidate control information type associated with the first configuration information set; the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set; or, the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set.

[0322] In another possible approach, the communication unit 701 is further configured to receive fifth information, which is used to configure the candidate control information types associated with each of the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; or, the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with that first configuration information.

[0323] In another possible approach, the processing unit 702 is configured to perform the following operations: receive sixth information, the sixth information indicating the control information type associated with the first configuration information set, the control information type associated with the first configuration information set including control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data; monitor control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the sixth information.

[0324] In one possible approach, the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource also include control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data.

[0325] In another possible implementation, the communication device 700 is, for example, a network device. Specifically, the communication unit 701 is used to send a first configuration information set, which includes one or more first configuration information pieces. The first configuration information is used to configure a first time-frequency resource and a control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource. The control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource includes control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data. The first time-frequency resources associated with different first configuration information pieces are the same or different, and the control information types associated with different first configuration information pieces are the same or different.

[0326] In one possible approach, the processing unit 702 is used to send control information based on the first set of configuration information.

[0327] In one possible approach, the processing unit 702 is configured to perform the following operations: send first information, which instructs monitoring control information based on a first configuration information set or a second configuration information set; and send control information based on the first information. The second configuration information set includes one or more second configuration information sets, which configure second time-frequency resources and control information types to be monitored within those resources. The control information types to be monitored within the second time-frequency resources include control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. The second time-frequency resources associated with different second configuration information sets may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different second configuration information sets may be the same or different.

[0328] In one possible approach, the communication unit 701 is also used to send the second configuration information set.

[0329] In another possible approach, the processing unit 702 is configured to perform the following operations: send second information, the second information being used to indicate the type of control information associated with the first configuration information set; and send control information based on the second information and the first configuration information set.

[0330] In another possible approach, the processing unit 702 is configured to perform the following operations: send third information, the third information being used to indicate the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; and send control information based on the first configuration information set and the third information.

[0331] In one possible manner, the communication unit 701 is further configured to send fourth information, the fourth information being used to configure the candidate control information type associated with the first configuration information set; the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set; or, the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set.

[0332] In another possible manner, the communication unit 701 is further configured to send fifth information, the fifth information being configured to configure the candidate control information types associated with each of the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; the control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; or, the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with that first configuration information.

[0333] In another possible approach, the processing unit 702 is configured to perform the following operations: send a sixth message, the sixth message indicating the control information type associated with the first configuration information set, the control information type associated with the first configuration information set including control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data; and send control information based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the sixth message.

[0334] In one possible approach, the control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource also include control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data.

[0335] In another possible implementation, the communication device 700 is, for example, a terminal device. Specifically, the communication unit 701 is used to receive seventh information, which is used to configure a continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception; the communication unit 701 is also used to receive eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of the synchronization signal block; the processing unit 702 is used to monitor and control information based on the continuous timer, and to receive the synchronization signal block based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block. Wherein, the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; where y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

[0336] In one possible approach, the processing unit 702 monitors control information based on the continuous timer, including: monitoring control information based on the continuous timer and the inactive timer associated with the discontinuous reception; the duration of the inactive timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value.

[0337] In one possible approach, the duration of the continuous timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a second preset value.

[0338] In another possible implementation, the communication device 700 is, for example, a network device. Specifically, the communication unit 701 is used to send seventh information, which is used to configure a continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception; the communication unit 701 is also used to send eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of a synchronization signal block; the processing unit 702 is used to send control information based on the continuous timer, and to send a synchronization signal block based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block. Wherein, the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; where y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

[0339] In one possible approach, the processing unit 702 sends control information based on the continuous timer, including: sending control information based on the continuous timer and the inactive timer associated with the discontinuous reception; the duration of the inactive timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value.

[0340] In one possible approach, the duration of the continuous timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a second preset value.

[0341] In another possible implementation, the communication device 700 is, for example, a terminal device. Specifically, the communication unit 701 is configured to receive seventh information, which is used to configure a continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception; the communication unit 701 is also configured to receive eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of a synchronization signal block; the processing unit 702 is configured to, when a first condition is met between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block, monitor and control information based on the continuous timer, and receive the synchronization signal block based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block. The first condition includes one or more of the following: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

[0342] In one possible implementation, the seventh information is further used to configure the inactive timer associated with the discontinuous reception. The processing unit 702 monitors control information based on the continuous timer, including: monitoring control information based on the continuous timer and the inactive timer; the duration of the inactive timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value.

[0343] In one possible implementation, the duration of the continuous timer is associated with the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a second preset value.

[0344] In one possible implementation, when the communication device 700 is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit can be an input / output circuit or a communication interface; the processing unit is a processor, microprocessor, integrated circuit, or logic circuit integrated on the chip.

[0345] This application also provides a communication device 800. Please refer to FIG8, which is a schematic diagram of another communication device 800. The communication device 800 can be used to perform the steps performed by the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments, and can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0346] The communication device 800 includes a processor 801. Optionally, the communication device 800 may also include a memory 802 and a transceiver 803.

[0347] In one possible implementation, the processor 801, memory 802, and transceiver 803 are connected via a bus, and the memory stores computer instructions. Optionally, the processor 801 and memory 802 can also be integrated together.

[0348] Optionally, the processing unit 702 in the foregoing embodiments may specifically be the processor 801 in this embodiment, therefore the specific implementation of the processor 801 will not be described in detail. The communication unit 701 in the foregoing embodiments may specifically be the transceiver 803 in this embodiment, therefore the specific implementation of the transceiver 803 will not be described in detail.

[0349] In this application, the processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components, capable of implementing or executing the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in this application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in this application can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.

[0350] In this application, the memory can be non-volatile memory, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), or it can be volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM). Memory is any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures, and accessible by a computer, but is not limited to this. The memory in this application can also be a circuit or any other device capable of implementing storage functions for storing program instructions and / or data.

[0351] This application provides another communication device, which includes a processor and an interface. Optionally, it also includes a memory, with the processor coupled to the memory, the processor being used to read and execute computer instructions stored in the memory to implement the communication methods as shown in the embodiments of communication methods 1000 to 3000.

[0352] This application also provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device is used to perform all or part of the steps performed by the terminal device in the preceding embodiments. The network device is used to perform all or part of the steps performed by the network device in the preceding embodiments. In another possible design, the system may further include other devices / functional network elements that interact with at least one of the terminal device and the network device.

[0353] This application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a program or instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication methods shown in the embodiments of communication methods 1000 to 3000 are implemented.

[0354] This application provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, they implement the communication methods shown in the embodiments of communication methods 1000 to 3000.

[0355] This application provides a chip or chip system including at least one processor and an interface. The interface and the at least one processor are interconnected via a circuit. The at least one processor is used to run computer programs or instructions to perform communication methods as shown in the embodiments of communication methods 1000 to 3000. The interface in the chip can be an input / output interface, pins, or circuits, etc.

[0356] The aforementioned chip system can be a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) or a baseband chip, etc. The baseband chip can include a processor, channel encoder, digital signal processor, modem, and interface module, etc.

[0357] In one implementation, the chip or chip system described above in this application further includes at least one memory, which stores instructions. The memory can be an internal storage unit of the chip, such as a register or cache, or it can be a storage unit of the chip itself (e.g., read-only memory, random access memory, etc.).

[0358] The technical solutions provided in this application can be implemented in whole or in part through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, they can be implemented in whole or in part 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 this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a terminal, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium, etc.

[0359] In this application, provided there is no logical contradiction, the various embodiments may reference each other. For example, the methods and / or terms between method embodiments may reference each other, the functions and / or terms between device embodiments may reference each other, and the functions and / or terms between device embodiments and method embodiments may reference each other.

[0360] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive a first set of configuration information, the first set of configuration information includes one or more first configuration information, the first configuration information is used to configure a first time-frequency resource and a control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource, the control information type to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource includes control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data; The first time-frequency resources associated with different first configuration information among the plurality of first configuration information may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different first configuration information among the plurality of first configuration information may be the same or different.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the first set of configuration information, monitor and control information.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first information, the first information being used to instruct monitoring and control information based on the first configuration information set or the second configuration information set; Based on the first information, monitor and control information; The second configuration information set includes one or more second configuration information, which is used to configure the second time-frequency resource and the control information type to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource. The control information type to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource includes control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. The second time-frequency resources associated with different second configuration information among the plurality of second configuration information may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different second configuration information among the plurality of second configuration information may be the same or different.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive the second set of configuration information.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive second information, which indicates the type of control information associated with the first configuration information set; Based on the second information and the first set of configuration information, monitoring and control information is generated.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive third information, the third information being used to indicate the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; Based on the first set of configuration information and the third set of information, monitoring and control information is generated.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive fourth information, the fourth information being used to configure the candidate control information type associated with the first configuration information set; The control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set; or, The control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set.

8. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive fifth information, the fifth information being used to configure the candidate control information type associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set; The control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; or, The control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with that first configuration information.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive a sixth message, the sixth message being used to indicate the control information type associated with the first configuration information set, the control information type associated with the first configuration information set including control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data; Based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the sixth information, the monitoring control information is obtained.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource also include control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data.

11. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send a first set of configuration information, the first set of configuration information including one or more first configuration information, the first configuration information being used to configure a first time-frequency resource and a type of control information to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource, the type of control information to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource including control information for scheduling uplink data or control information for scheduling downlink data; The first time-frequency resources associated with different first configuration information among the plurality of first configuration information may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different first configuration information among the plurality of first configuration information may be the same or different.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the first set of configuration information, control information is sent.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a first message, which is used to instruct monitoring and control information based on the first configuration information set or the second configuration information set; Based on the first information, send control information; The second configuration information set includes one or more second configuration information, which is used to configure the second time-frequency resource and the control information type to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource. The control information type to be monitored within the second time-frequency resource includes control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data. The second time-frequency resources associated with different second configuration information among the plurality of second configuration information may be the same or different, and the control information types associated with different second configuration information among the plurality of second configuration information may be the same or different.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send the second set of configuration information.

15. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a second message, which indicates the type of control information associated with the first configuration information set; Based on the second information and the first set of configuration information, control information is sent.

16. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a third message, the third message being used to indicate the control information type associated with each of the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; Based on the first set of configuration information and the third set of information, control information is sent.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a fourth message, which is used to configure the candidate control information type associated with the first configuration information set; The control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set; or, The control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with the first configuration information set.

18. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a fifth message, which is used to configure the candidate control information type associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set; The control information type indicated by the second information is one of the candidate control information types associated with all the first configuration information in the first configuration information set; or, The control information type associated with each of the first configuration information indicated by the third information is one of the candidate control information types associated with that first configuration information.

19. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a sixth message, the sixth message being used to indicate the control information type associated with the first configuration information set, the control information type associated with the first configuration information set including control information for scheduling uplink data and / or control information for scheduling downlink data; Based on the time-frequency resources and candidate control information types associated with each first configuration information in the first configuration information set, and the sixth information, control information is sent.

20. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, characterized in that, The control information types to be monitored within the first time-frequency resource also include control information for scheduling uplink data and control information for scheduling downlink data.

21. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive the seventh information, which is used to configure the continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception; Receive the eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of the synchronization signal block; Based on the continuous timer monitoring and control information, and based on the receiving time of the synchronization signal block, the synchronization signal block is received; Wherein, the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3. y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The monitoring and control information based on the continuous timer includes: Based on the continuous timer and the inactive timer associated with the discontinuous reception, monitor and control information; The duration of the inactive timer is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that, The duration of the continuous timer is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a second preset value.

24. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send a seventh message, which is used to configure a persistent timer associated with discontinuous reception; Send the eighth message, which is used to configure the reception time of the synchronization signal block; Control information is sent based on the continuous timer, and a synchronization signal block is sent based on the receiving time of the synchronization signal block; Wherein, the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block satisfy one or more of the following relationships: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3. y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that, The sending of control information based on the continuous timer includes: Based on the continuous timer and the inactive timer associated with the discontinuous reception, control information is sent; The duration of the inactive timer is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that, The duration of the continuous timer is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a second preset value.

27. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive the seventh information, which is used to configure the continuous timer associated with discontinuous reception; Receive the eighth information, which is used to configure the reception time of the synchronization signal block; If a first condition is met between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block, the continuous timer monitors control information and the synchronization signal block is received based on the reception time of the synchronization signal block. The first condition includes one or more of the following: the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3; the start time of the continuous timer is later than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal block is less than or equal to y1; the start time of the continuous timer is earlier than the reception time of the synchronization signal block and the distance between the start time of the continuous timer and the reception time of the synchronization signal is greater than or equal to y2 and less than or equal to y3. y1, y2, and y3 are predefined.

28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that, The seventh piece of information is also used to configure the inactive timer associated with the discontinuous reception, and the monitoring and control information based on the continuous timer includes: Based on the continuous timer and the inactive timer, monitor and control information; The duration of the inactive timer is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a first preset value.

29. The method according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that, The duration of the continuous timer is related to the transmission period of the synchronization signal block and a second preset value.

30. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or includes a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 11 to 20, or includes a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, or includes a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, or includes a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 27 to 29.

31. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 11 to 20, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 27 to 29.

32. A chip, characterized in that, The device includes at least one processor, which executes instructions to cause a communication device including the chip to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, or the communication method as described in any one of claims 11 to 20, or the communication method as described in any one of claims 21 to 23, or the communication method as described in any one of claims 24 to 26, or the communication method as described in any one of claims 27 to 29.

33. The chip according to claim 32, characterized in that, The chip also includes an interface circuit for receiving the executed instructions and transmitting them to the processor.

34. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium is used to store instructions that, when executed on a communication device, implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or the method according to any one of claims 11 to 20, or the method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, or the method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, or the method according to any one of claims 27 to 29.

35. A computer program product containing instructions, characterized in that, When the instructions are executed on the communication device, they implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or the method according to any one of claims 11 to 20, or the method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, or the method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, or the method according to any one of claims 27 to 29.

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