Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and an apparatus, which can help to improve the reliability of UCI multiplexing and the UCI transmission quality of terminals. The method comprises: during a process of transmitting first UCI and second UCI whose valid symbol types are both a first type, when there is an overlap between a first PUCCH carrying the first UCI and a second PUCCH carrying the second UCI in time domain, a terminal first determines a third PUCCH and multiplexes the first UCI and the second UCI on the third PUCCH; and then the terminal sends the third PUCCH when a symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is the first type, or does not send the third PUCCH when the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH comprises a second type.

Description

Communication methods and devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510394924.2, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on March 28, 2025, entitled "Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to communication methods and apparatus. Background Technology

[0003] In new radio (NR) systems, data transmitters and receivers can exchange uplink control information (UCI) via the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) based on subband full duplex (SBFD) technology. Since the data transmitter typically transmits a PUCCH on only one uplink carrier within a PUCCH group at any given time, when the time-domain resources occupied by multiple PUCCHs carrying different UCIs overlap, multiplexing can be used to transmit multiple UCIs on the same PUCCH.

[0004] However, in current UCI multiplexing schemes, reusing some or all of the UCIs from multiple UCIs of the same PUCCH can easily lead to poor transmission quality. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method and apparatus that improves the reliability of UCI multiplexing, thereby improving the transmission quality of UCI.

[0006] Firstly, a communication method is provided that can be applied to the terminal side, such as a terminal or a communication module / processing module in the terminal, or a circuit or chip in the terminal responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core or a system-in-package (SIP) chip), or a circuit or chip in the terminal responsible for processing functions (such as a graphics processing unit (GPU), an artificial intelligence (AI) processor, or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)). The method includes: determining a first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a second PUCCH, wherein the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH overlap in the time domain, the first PUCCH is used to carry first uplink control information (UCI), the second PUCCH is used to carry second UCI, and the effective symbol type of the first UCI and the second UCI is a first type; determining a third PUCCH, wherein the first UCI and the second UCI are multiplexed on the third PUCCH; transmitting the third PUCCH if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is of the first type; or, not transmitting the third PUCCH if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type.

[0007] Based on the above scheme, during the transmission of UCI, the terminal multiplexes the first and second UCIs, which have overlapping time and the same valid symbol type, onto the same PUCCH (i.e., the third PUCCH). Since the valid symbol type of the UCIs carried by the third PUCCH is the same, it helps to reduce the probability that the symbols occupied by the third PUCCH include invalid symbols of multiple UCIs carried by the third PUCCH. When the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is the valid symbol type of the first and second UCIs, the terminal sends the third PUCCH carrying the first and second UCIs; or, when the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes invalid symbol types of the first and second UCIs, the terminal does not send the third PUCCH. This allows the terminal to determine the subsequent process based on the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH after multiplexing the first and second UCIs onto the third PUCCH, which helps to reduce the probability of the terminal sending UCIs on invalid symbols of UCIs and improve the terminal's UCI transmission quality.

[0008] In one possible design, if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type, the method further includes sending the first PUCCH or the second PUCCH.

[0009] Based on this scheme, on the one hand, the total amount of unused uplink resources in the current time slot can be reduced, and the resource utilization rate of the terminal can be improved. On the other hand, it is beneficial to improve the transmission quality of the first UCI or the second UCI.

[0010] In one possible design, send a first PUCCH or a second PUCCH, including sending the PUCCH with the highest priority between the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH.

[0011] Based on this scheme, when a terminal cannot transmit multiple UCIs via UCI multiplexing, it can prioritize the transmission of higher-priority UCIs, which helps improve the transmission quality of higher-priority UCIs.

[0012] In one possible design, the communication method further includes: receiving first configuration information from a radio access network (RAN) node, the first configuration information being used to configure a hybrid time slot, and / or, resources of a first PUCCH and resources of a second PUCCH, wherein the hybrid time slot includes symbols of a first type and symbols of a second type; determining a third PUCCH based on the first configuration information, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is of the first type.

[0013] Based on this scheme, when the terminal performs UCI multiplexing on the mixed time slot configured in the first configuration information, it can effectively reduce the probability that the PUCCH after multiplexing of UCI with the same valid symbol type falls on the invalid symbol of UCI, and improve the UCI transmission quality when the terminal transmits multiple UCIs through UCI multiplexing.

[0014] In one possible design, the first configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the index of a symbol of the first type in the mixed time slot is in a first interval; the index of a symbol of the second type in the mixed time slot is in a second interval; the symbol corresponding to the PUCCH resource in the mixed time slot is in the first interval or the second interval; the symbol corresponding to the first PUCCH is in the first interval; or the symbol corresponding to the second PUCCH is in the first interval.

[0015] In one possible design, determining the third PUCCH includes: determining the resources of the third PUCCH according to a first rule, which includes: prioritizing the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH and then considering the load size that the third PUCCH can carry.

[0016] Based on this scheme, the probability of the terminal selecting the PUCCH resource corresponding to the first type of symbol as the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH is significantly increased, reducing the probability of poor UCI transmission quality due to the third PUCCH corresponding to the second type of symbol, which is beneficial to improving the terminal's UCI transmission quality.

[0017] In one possible design, determining the resources of the third PUCCH according to the first rule includes: determining at least one first resource, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the first resource is a first type, the first resource is a resource indicated by a first index, the first index is the PUCCH resource index corresponding to the PUCCH resource indicator field PRI of the fourth PUCCH, and the fourth PUCCH is the PUCCH with the highest priority among the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH; and determining the resources of the third PUCCH from at least one first resource according to the size of the first UCI and the size of the second UCI.

[0018] In one possible design, the communication method further includes: receiving second configuration information from a radio access network (RAN) node, the second configuration information being used to configure a first PUCCH resource set, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resources in the first PUCCH resource set is a first type; and determining a third PUCCH, including: determining the resources of the third PUCCH within the first PUCCH resource set. Based on this scheme, when the terminal determines the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH in the first PUCCH resource set, the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resources determined by the terminal will definitely be the first type, which helps to increase the probability that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH determined by the terminal is the first type.

[0019] In one possible design, the second configuration information is also used to configure a second PUCCH resource set, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resources in the second PUCCH resource set is a second type.

[0020] In one possible design, the first PUCCH resource set corresponds to the first sub-time unit, the second PUCCH resource set corresponds to the second sub-time unit, and the first and second sub-time units are sub-time units within the first time unit.

[0021] Based on this scheme, when a terminal reuses UCIs with the same valid symbol type, it can reuse UCIs in the sub-time unit where the valid symbol type of the corresponding valid symbol is the same as that of the UCI, which significantly reduces the probability that the time domain location of the PUCCH carrying multiple UCIs includes an invalid symbol of any UCI carried by the PUCCH.

[0022] Secondly, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a RAN node, by a module applied to the RAN node (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or by a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the RAN node's functions. The RAN node can be an entity implementing baseband processing functions (e.g., a DU) or a protocol layer entity implementing radio frequency transceiver functions (e.g., a RU). The method includes: sending first configuration information to a terminal, the first configuration information being used to configure a mixed timeslot, and / or, resources of a first PUCCH and resources of a second PUCCH, wherein the mixed timeslot includes symbols of a first type and symbols of a second type.

[0023] In one possible design, the communication method further includes: sending second configuration information to the terminal, the second configuration information being used to configure a first PUCCH resource set, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resources in the first PUCCH resource set is a first type.

[0024] In one possible design, the second configuration information also configures a second PUCCH resource set, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resources in the second PUCCH resource set is a second type.

[0025] In one possible design, the first PUCCH resource set corresponds to the first sub-time unit, the second PUCCH resource set corresponds to the second sub-time unit, and the first and second sub-time units are sub-time units within the first time unit.

[0026] The technical effects of the second aspect and any of its design methods can be referenced from the technical effects of the first aspect or similar design methods in the first aspect, and will not be elaborated here.

[0027] Thirdly, a communication method is provided, which can be applied to the terminal side, such as a terminal or a communication module / processing module in the terminal, or a circuit or chip in the terminal responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), or a circuit or chip in the terminal responsible for processing functions (such as a GPU, AI processor, or ASIC). The method includes: determining a first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a second PUCCH, wherein the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH overlap in the time domain; the first PUCCH is used to carry first uplink control information (UCI), and the second PUCCH is used to carry second UCI; the effective symbol type of the first UCI is a sub-band full-duplex SBFD symbol or a non-SBFD symbol, and the effective symbol type of the second UCI is an SBFD symbol or a non-SBFD symbol; determining a third PUCCH, wherein the first UCI and the second UCI are multiplexed on the third PUCCH; and transmitting the third PUCCH.

[0028] Based on this scheme, the terminal can directly perform UCI multiplexing on UCIs carried by PUCCHs that overlap in the time domain, reducing the complexity of the terminal in the process of UCI multiplexing involving valid symbols, which is conducive to improving the utilization rate of uplink transmission resources. In addition, after determining the third PUCCH, the terminal directly sends the third PUCCH to the RAN node. Compared with the scheme of determining whether to send the third PUCCH based on the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH, it is conducive to improving the transmission efficiency of the first UCI and the second UCI.

[0029] In one possible design, the effective symbol types of the first UCI and the second UCI are both of type 1. Sending the third PUCCH includes: sending the third PUCCH if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is of type 1, or if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes type 2.

[0030] Based on this scheme, the terminal no longer determines whether to send the third PUCCH based on the valid symbol type of UCI. On the one hand, this simplifies the complexity of UCI multiplexing in mixed time slots that include symbols of the first and second types. On the other hand, the terminal can make full use of the mixed time slots for uplink transmission, which helps to improve the transmission quality of UCI.

[0031] In one possible design, before determining the third PUCCH, the communication method further includes: determining that the symbols containing the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH are symbols of the first type.

[0032] Based on this scheme, the terminal can avoid sending PUCCHs with configuration errors, which helps reduce the probability of the terminal sending PUCCHs with configuration errors and improves the terminal's UCI transmission quality.

[0033] Fourthly, a communication method is provided, which can be applied to the terminal side, such as a terminal or a communication / processing module in the terminal, or a circuit or chip in the terminal responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), or a circuit or chip in the terminal responsible for processing functions (such as a GPU, AI processor, or ASIC). The method includes: receiving third configuration information, which is used to configure Time Division Duplex (TDD) time slots, wherein the TDD time slots may simultaneously include Flexible Duplex (SBFD) symbols and non-SBFD symbols.

[0034] Based on this scheme, in the case that there is no time slot in the TDD time slot that simultaneously includes SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, the PUCCH resources configured by the terminal in a time slot cannot simultaneously contain both types of symbols. Therefore, the probability that the PUCCH resources used by the PUCCH carrying multiple UCIs determined by the terminal through UCI multiplexing contain invalid UCI symbols is basically 0. The terminal does not need to consider the issue of valid UCI symbols multiplexed on the same PUCCH, which helps to simplify the complexity of UCI multiplexing.

[0035] In one possible design, the communication method also includes: UCI multiplexing based on third configuration information.

[0036] In one possible design, the TDD time slot may include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols at different times, including: the TDD time slot may include uplink symbols and first-class symbols, where the first-class symbols are downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols.

[0037] Based on this scheme, if the terminal does not configure a time slot that simultaneously contains uplink symbols and Type I symbols in the TDD configuration, it does not need to consider the valid symbol type of UCI after performing UCI multiplexing, which helps to reduce the terminal's UCI multiplexing process.

[0038] In one possible design, the TDD time slot does not simultaneously include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, including: the TDD time slot includes uplink symbols and first-class symbols, and the first-class symbols are not configured as SBFD symbols, and the first-class symbols are downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols.

[0039] Based on this scheme, if the terminal does not configure a time slot that contains both SBFD and non-SBFD symbols in the SBFD configuration, it does not need to consider the valid symbol type of UCI after performing UCI multiplexing, which helps to reduce the terminal's UCI multiplexing process.

[0040] Fifthly, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a RAN node, by a module applied to the RAN node (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or by a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the RAN node's functions. The RAN node can be an entity implementing baseband processing functions (e.g., a DU) or a protocol layer entity implementing radio frequency transceiver functions (e.g., a RU). The method includes: transmitting third configuration information, which is used to configure Time Division Duplex (TDD) time slots, wherein the TDD time slots may simultaneously include Flexible Duplex (SBFD) symbols and non-SBFD symbols.

[0041] In one possible design, the TDD time slot may include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols at different times, including: the TDD time slot may include uplink symbols and first-class symbols, where the first-class symbols are downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols.

[0042] In one possible design, the TDD time slot does not simultaneously include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, including: the TDD time slot includes uplink symbols and first-class symbols, and the first-class symbols are not configured as SBFD symbols, and the first-class symbols are downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols.

[0043] The technical effects of the fifth aspect and any of its design methods can be referenced from the technical effects of the fourth aspect or similar design methods in the fourth aspect, and will not be elaborated here.

[0044] Sixthly, a communication device is provided for implementing various methods. The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the implementation of the methods, which can be implemented in hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

[0045] In some possible designs, the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module can be used to implement the processing functions in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof. The transceiver module may include a receiving module and a transmitting module, respectively used to implement the receiving function and the transmitting function in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof.

[0046] In some possible designs, the transceiver module can consist of transceiver circuits, transceivers, transceivers, or communication interfaces.

[0047] A seventh aspect provides a communication device, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory being used to store computer instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to perform the method described in either aspect.

[0048] Eighthly, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a communication interface; the communication interface being used to communicate with a module outside the communication device; the processor being used to execute a computer program or instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method described in any one of these aspects.

[0049] A ninth aspect provides a communication device comprising: at least one processor; said processor being configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in a memory to cause the communication device to perform the method described in any of the aspects. The memory may be coupled to the processor, or may be independent of the processor.

[0050] In a tenth aspect, a communication device (e.g., the communication device may be a chip or a chip system) is provided, the communication device including a processor for implementing the functions involved in any one of the first to fifth aspects.

[0051] In some possible designs, the communication device includes a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data.

[0052] In some possible designs, when the device is a chip system, it can be composed of chips or contain chips and other discrete components.

[0053] It is understood that the communication device provided in the sixth to tenth aspects may be a terminal as described in the first, third, or fourth aspects, or a module or unit (e.g., a chip, chip system, or circuit) in the terminal that performs the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the first, third, or fourth aspects, or a module or unit that can be used in conjunction with the terminal, or a logic node, logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the terminal's functions; or, the communication device may be a RAN node as described in the second or fifth aspects, or a module or unit (e.g., a chip, chip system, or circuit) in the RAN node that performs the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the second aspect, or a module or unit that can be used in conjunction with the RAN node, or a logic node, logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the RAN node's functions.

[0054] It is understandable that when the communication device provided in any of the sixth to tenth aspects is a chip, the sending action / function of the communication device can be understood as outputting information, and the receiving action / function of the communication device can be understood as inputting information.

[0055] Eleventhly, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a communication device, enable the communication device to perform the method described in any one of the first to fifth aspects.

[0056] In a twelfth aspect, a computer program product containing instructions is provided, which, when run on a communication device, enables the communication device to perform the method described in any one of the first to fifth aspects.

[0057] In a thirteenth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a terminal and a RAN node. The terminal is configured to perform the method described in any possible design of the first aspect, and the RAN node is configured to perform the method described in any possible design of the second aspect; or, the terminal is configured to perform the method described in any possible design of the fourth aspect, and the RAN node is configured to perform the method described in any possible design of the fifth aspect.

[0058] The technical effects of any of the design methods in aspects six through thirteen can be found in the technical effects of different design methods in aspects one through five, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0059] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a UCI multiplexing method provided in this application;

[0060] Figure 2 is a time slot diagram of a communication system provided in this application;

[0061] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an SBFD configuration provided in this application;

[0062] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in this application;

[0063] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in this application;

[0064] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in this application;

[0065] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in this application;

[0066] Figures 8-10 are schematic diagrams of the communication device provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0067] In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " indicates that the objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" in this application is merely a description of the relationship between the related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural.

[0068] In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of a single item or a plurality of items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0069] Furthermore, to facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used in the embodiments of this application to distinguish identical or similar items with substantially the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, and the terms "first" and "second" are not necessarily different.

[0070] 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.

[0071] It is understood that the term "embodiment" used throughout the specification means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic related to an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, various embodiments throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, these specific features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It is understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the sequence number of each process does not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0072] It is understood that in this application, "...when" and "if" both refer to the corresponding processing that will be carried out under certain objective circumstances, and are not limited to a specific time, nor do they require a judgment action to be performed during implementation, nor do they imply any other limitations.

[0073] It is understood that some optional features in the embodiments of this application can be implemented independently in certain scenarios without relying on other features, such as the current solution on which they are based, to solve the corresponding technical problems and achieve the corresponding effects. Alternatively, they can be combined with other features as needed in certain scenarios. Correspondingly, the apparatus given in the embodiments of this application can also implement these features or functions, which will not be elaborated here.

[0074] In this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be mutually referenced. Technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships. The following descriptions of the embodiments of this application do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

[0075] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, a brief introduction to the relevant technologies of this application is given below.

[0076] 1. Uplink multiplexing in NR:

[0077] In the NR standard, uplink channels include, but are not limited to, PUCCH and the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). PUCCH can carry UCIs such as scheduling requests (SR), hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgements (HARQ-ACK), and channel state information (CSI).

[0078] To enable UCI interaction between the terminal and the base station, the base station configures a PUCCH resource set or a PUCCH resource list for the terminal through higher-layer parameters (PUCCH-ResourceSet). The PUCCH resource set is mainly used to determine the PUCCH resources used when sending HARQ-ACK based on downlink control information (DCI) for scheduling downlink data or when sending HARQ-ACK based on downlink control information (DCI) for unscheduled downlink data. The PUCCH resource list is mainly used to determine the PUCCH resources used when sending SR or CSI or when sending HARQ-ACK based on the semi-persistent Scheduling Physical Downlink Shared Channel (SPS PDSCH).

[0079] Typically, a terminal can be configured with a maximum of 4 PUCCH resource sets. Among the PUCCH resource sets configured for a terminal, only the first PUCCH resource set (i.e., PUCCH-ResourceSet 0) can be configured with a maximum of 32 PUCCH resources, while the other PUCCH resource sets can be configured with a maximum of 8 PUCCH resources.

[0080] When a terminal is configured with multiple PUCCH resource sets, the number of UCI bits that can be transmitted varies among the PUCCH resources contained in different PUCCH resource sets. For example, if the terminal is configured with four PUCCH resource sets, the PUCCH resources in the first PUCCH resource set are used to transmit UCIs with 1 or 2 bits; the PUCCH resources in the second PUCCH resource set are used to transmit UCIs with more than 2 bits and less than or equal to N2 bits; the PUCCH resources in the third PUCCH resource set are used to transmit UCIs with more than N2 bits and less than or equal to N3 bits; and the PUCCH resources in the fourth PUCCH resource set are used to transmit UCIs with more than N3 bits and less than or equal to 1706 bits.

[0081] N2 and N3 can be configured by higher layers. When the terminal is configured with 2 PUCCH resource sets and the value of N2 is not configured, the value of N2 is 1706; when the terminal is configured with 3 PUCCH resource sets and the value of N3 is not configured, the value of N3 is 1706.

[0082] It is worth mentioning that the PUCCH resource set is configured at the slot level. That is, each PUCCH resource in the PUCCH resource set is referenced to the slot boundary, and the length (nrofSymbols) of each PUCCH resource varies from 1 to 14 symbols.

[0083] When a terminal needs to send a UCI to a base station via PUCCH, such as when sending a HARQ-ACK to the base station, it can select the PUCCH resource used by the PUCCH carrying the UCI from the PUCCH resource set based on the number of bits of the UCI and the received PUCCH resource indicator (PRI). Alternatively, when the terminal sends a CSI to the base station, it can determine the PUCCH resource used by the PUCCH carrying the UCI from a pre-configured PUCCH resource list based on the number of bits of the UCI. Each PUCCH resource in the PUCCH resource list can transmit a different number of bits of the UCI.

[0084] For example, taking the terminal receiving downlink control information (DCI) for scheduling downlink data, receiving downlink data and feeding back HARQ-ACK according to the DCI as an example, the terminal first determines the PUCCH resource set (denoted as set1) to which the PUCCH resource to be used by the PUCCH belongs based on the number of bits of the UCI to be transmitted (i.e., HARQ-ACK). Then, according to the fixed 3-bit PRI indication / corresponding index value (denoted as T1) in the DCI, the PUCCH resource indexed as T1 in set1 is used as the PUCCH resource to be used by the PUCCH carrying HARQ-ACK.

[0085] During the process of a terminal sending a UCI to a base station, although a PUCCH group consisting of multiple uplink carriers is configured during the data uplink process, the terminal usually only selects one uplink carrier from the multiple uplink carriers to send the PUCCH at any given time. Therefore, when multiple (two or more) PUCCHs carrying different UCIs overlap in time (i.e., the time domain resources occupied by different PUCCHs overlap), in order to ensure the transmission quality of the UCI, the multiple UCIs on the multiple overlapping PUCCHs can be multiplexed on the same PUCCH for transmission. The PUCCH used to transmit multiple UCIs can be one of the multiple PUCCHs carrying different UCIs, or it can be a newly determined PUCCH. The method of multiplexing multiple UCIs on the same PUCCH for transmission is called UCI multiplexing.

[0086] For example, consider a terminal needing to transmit HARQ-ACK via PUCCH1 and CSI via PUCCH2 within the same time slot. Referring to Figure 1, since PUCCH1 and PUCCH2 in time slot 1 overlap, the terminal can multiplex HARQ-ACK and CSI onto PUCCH3 for transmission. In determining the PUCCH resource used by PUCCH3, the terminal can first determine the PUCCH resource set to which the PUCCH resource used by PUCCH3 belongs based on the sum of the number of bits in HARQ-ACK and CSI. Then, based on the index value indicated by PRI in the DCI associated with the HARQ-ACK transmitted by PUCCH1, the terminal determines the PUCCH resource used by PUCCH3 within that PUCCH resource set.

[0087] Because PUCCH resources in different PUCCH resource sets are used to transmit UCIs with different numbers of bits, the PUCCH resource set determined by the sum of the HARQ-ACK and CSI bit counts may be different from the PUCCH resource set / resources determined solely by the HARQ-ACK bit count or solely by the CSI bit count. Therefore, when multiple UCIs are multiplexed into the same PUCCH, the PUCCH resource set to which the PUCCH resource used by this PUCCH belongs may be different from the PUCCH resource set corresponding to any of the UCIs carried. Furthermore, when multiple UCIs are multiplexed into the same PUCCH, the PUCCH resource used by this PUCCH may be different from the PUCCH resource used to carry any of the UCIs.

[0088] The above explanation uses the example of multiplexing HARQ-ACK and CSI onto the same PUCCH. When multiplexing CSI and SR onto the same PUCCH, the method for determining the PUCCH resources used by a PUCCH carrying multiple UCIs is similar. In other UCI multiplexing scenarios, such as multiplexing CSI and SR onto the same PUCCH, or multiplexing SR and HARQ-ACK corresponding to the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) onto the same PUCCH, the PUCCH resources used by a PUCCH carrying multiple UCIs can be determined from a pre-configured PUCCH resource list based on the sum of the number of bits in SR and CSI. Since the number of bits in the carried UCIs differs from the number of bits in each PUCCH before multiplexing, the PUCCH resources used by a PUCCH carrying multiple UCIs may also change.

[0089] 2. Duplex technology in NR:

[0090] Currently, the main duplex technologies in NR include SBFD, frequency division duplex (FDD), and time division duplex (TDD). SBFD can also be called complementary TDD (C-TDD), full duplex (FD), or flexible duplex, etc., and other names are not limited.

[0091] In an NR system using FDD technology (referred to as an FDD system), the uplink and downlink frequency bands are located on different carriers (i.e., they are separated in the frequency domain). Therefore, the FDD time slots in an FDD system can be used for both uplink and downlink transmission. Referring to Figure 2(a), taking time slot 0 as an example of an FDD time slot using FDD technology, the terminal and the base station can perform uplink transmission via the uplink frequency band (UL bandwidth part, UL DWP) or downlink transmission via the downlink frequency band (DL bandwidth part, DL DWP) in time slot 0. Furthermore, the terminal and the base station can perform uplink and downlink transmissions simultaneously in time slot 0.

[0092] In an NR system using TDD technology (referred to as a TDD system), the center frequencies of the uplink and downlink frequency bands are the same, and the terminal and base station can only perform uplink or downlink transmission at any given time. Referring to Figure 2(b), taking time slots 0-2 as TDD time slots using TDD technology as an example, time slot 0 is the downlink time slot, time slot 1 is the uplink time slot, and time slot 2 is the flexible time slot. The terminal and base station can perform downlink transmission using the downlink frequency band in time slot 0, uplink transmission using the uplink frequency band in time slot 1, uplink transmission using the uplink frequency band in time slot 2, or downlink transmission using the downlink frequency band.

[0093] Since the smallest granularity of uplink / downlink handover is an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, the terminal and the base station can implement uplink and downlink transmission respectively on the flexible time slot, which can include uplink symbols for uplink transmission, downlink symbols for downlink transmission, and flexible symbols that can be used for both uplink and downlink transmission.

[0094] For example, consider time slot 2, which consists of 14 OFDM symbols. The first M symbols are downlink symbols, the next N symbols are uplink symbols, and the middle 14-MN symbols are flexible symbols. Here, M is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 14, N is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 14, and M+N is less than or equal to 14. The terminal and base station can perform downlink transmission using the downlink frequency band in the first M symbols of time slot 2, and uplink transmission using the uplink frequency band in the next N symbols. On each flexible symbol, uplink or downlink transmission is performed according to the base station's scheduling information (such as radio resource control (RRC) signaling or DCI).

[0095] It is not difficult to see that compared with FDD systems, TDD systems require less frequency domain resources. However, because each time slot in a TDD system can only support a fixed transmission type, for example, only downlink transmission can be performed on time slot 0 and uplink transmission cannot be performed, it can easily lead to excessive uplink transmission delay between the terminal and the base station.

[0096] SBFD technology primarily involves simultaneously configuring uplink and downlink transmission resources for certain time slots or symbols in a TDD system. In other words, in an NR system employing SBFD technology (referred to as an SBFD system), uplink and downlink transmission can occur simultaneously on certain time slots or symbols. For example, referring to Figure 2(c), time slot 0 is the downlink time slot in the TDD system, and time slot 1 is the flexible time slot in the TDD system. This flexible time slot includes uplink symbols, downlink symbols, and flexible symbols. The base station configures a portion of the downlink frequency band as the uplink frequency band in time slot 0, and configures a portion of the downlink frequency band as the uplink frequency band on the downlink and flexible symbols in time slot 1. In this case, the base station and terminal can perform uplink and downlink transmissions in time slot 0, or even directly perform synchronous uplink and downlink transmissions in time slot 0 using different frequency domain resources. Similarly, different frequency domain resources can be used to synchronously perform uplink and downlink transmissions on the downlink and flexible symbols in time slot 1.

[0097] In other words, compared to a simple TDD system, the SBFD system has more uplink resources, which is beneficial for increasing uplink coverage and reducing UCI transmission latency.

[0098] Furthermore, the embodiments in this application are illustrated using a time slot containing 14 symbols as an example. In practice, a time slot can also consist of 12 symbols, and there is no limitation.

[0099] Currently, in the SBFD system, the base station sends TDD configuration and SBFD configuration to the terminal. The TDD configuration includes, but is not limited to: downlink time slot index, uplink time slot index, flexible time slot index, uplink symbol index in the flexible time slot, downlink symbol index, and flexible symbol index. Downlink symbols in the downlink time slots and flexible time slots configured via TDD can be used for downlink data transmission; uplink symbols in the uplink time slots and flexible time slots can be used for uplink data transmission; and flexible symbols in the flexible time slots can be used for both uplink and downlink data transmission.

[0100] SBFD configuration includes, but is not limited to: the slot index of the SBFD time slot, the symbol index of the SBFD symbol, and the SBFD sub-band position within the SBFD time slot. The SBFD time slot may include all or part of the downlink time slots configured in the TDD configuration, as well as all or part of the flexible time slots; the SBFD symbol may include some or all of the downlink symbols in the SBFD time slot, and / or some or all of the flexible symbols in the SBFD time slot. The frequency domain position of the SBFD sub-band within the SBFD time slot includes the frequency domain position of the uplink band and / or the frequency domain position of the downlink band.

[0101] As one possible implementation, the base station can configure the time-domain location (i.e., the location of the SBFD symbol) of a TDD carrier using RRC parameters. For example, referring to Figure 3, the base station can first configure the location of the DL symbol, the location of the UL symbol, and the location of the flexible symbol using the RRC parameter TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon, and then semi-statically configure the time-domain location of the SBFD subband using the RRC parameter TDD-UL-DL-Pattern.

[0102] Optionally, a time slot can contain SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols. SBFD symbols can start from any symbol within a time slot or end from any symbol within a time slot.

[0103] 3. PUCCH in the SBFD system:

[0104] Based on the above descriptions, the SBFD system configures uplink transmission resources for downlink symbols and flexible symbols that are SBFD symbols. In other words, the symbols that can be used for uplink transmission in the SBFD system include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols (i.e., uplink symbols). The available resources on SBFD symbols are different from those on non-SBFD symbols.

[0105] Currently, the following conclusions have been drawn regarding repetitive, periodic, or semi-persistent transmissions in SBFD systems:

[0106] Conclusion 1: For uplink transmissions (i.e., PUCCH and PUSCH) that span two types of symbols in different time slots, two configurations are defined. Configuration 1, which uses repetitive, periodic, or semi-persistent transmission, is performed only on SBFD symbols or only on non-SBFD symbols. Configuration 2, which uses repetitive, periodic, or semi-persistent transmission, can be performed on both SBFD and non-SBFD symbols.

[0107] Conclusion 2: For uplink transmissions using Configuration 1, a valid symbol type is defined. That is, for repetitive, periodic, or semi-persistent transmissions using Configuration 1, the valid symbol type determines whether the transmission is performed on SBFD symbols or non-SBFD symbols.

[0108] It is worth mentioning that the valid symbol type of uplink transmission using configuration 1 can be understood as the valid symbol type of UCI transmitted using configuration 1, such as the valid symbol type of CSI, the valid symbol type of SR, the valid symbol type of repeatedly transmitted HARQ-ACK, etc.; or, it can also be understood as the valid symbol type of PUCCH carrying a specific UCI using configuration 1, such as the valid symbol type of PUCCH used to carry CSI, the valid symbol type of PUCCH used to carry SR, the valid symbol type of PUCCH used to carry repeatedly transmitted HARQ-ACK, etc. In this implementation, it can also be simplified to the valid symbol type corresponding to the UCI.

[0109] As one possible implementation, the valid symbol type of the PUCCH used to carry CSI can be explicitly configured in the CSI report config, and the valid symbol type of the PUCCH used to carry SR can be indicated in the SR resource config.

[0110] Currently, the UCI carried by PUCCH in the SBFD system is the same as that carried by PUCCH in the FDD and TDD systems. However, depending on whether Configuration 1 and Configuration 2 are involved, the PUCCH in the SBFD system includes PUCCH that does not involve a valid symbol type and PUCCH that does involve a valid symbol type.

[0111] For example, PUCCHs that do not involve valid symbol types (or PUCCHs that do not involve configuration 1 or configuration 2) mainly include non-repeating PUCCHs triggered by dynamic DCI, which carry HARQ-ACKs corresponding to PDSCHs scheduled by dynamic DCI, or carry HARQ-ACKs corresponding to dynamic DCI. Since the UCI carried by this PUCCH is only transmitted once, and the location of the time-frequency resource where the PUCCH is located is indicated by dynamic DCI, it does not involve configuration 1 or configuration 2, nor does it involve valid symbol types.

[0112] The PUCCHs involving valid symbol types mainly include: dynamically DCI-triggered repetitive PUCCHs (or dynamically DCI-triggered PUCCHs used to carry repetitive UCIs), periodic PUCCHs configured by higher-layer signaling (or higher-layer signaling configured PUCCHs used to carry periodic UCIs), and semi-persistent PUCCHs reactivated after higher-layer signaling configuration (or higher-layer signaling configured and reactivated PUCCHs used to carry semi-persistent UCIs).

[0113] The PUCCH triggered by dynamic DCI mainly carries HARQ-ACK corresponding to the PDSCH scheduled by the dynamic DCU, or carries HARQ-ACK corresponding to the dynamic DCI. However, the PUCCH carrying UCI will be repeatedly sent K times in K time slots. The symbols available for uplink transmission in these K time slots may be composed of different types of symbols, which means that the PUCCH may be transmitted with different types of symbols in different time slots. Therefore, configuration 1 or configuration 2 is involved. If the PUCCH adopts configuration 1, the effective symbol type needs to be determined.

[0114] The periodic PUCCH configured by higher-layer signaling (such as RRC signaling) mainly carries periodic CSI or periodic SR, etc. This PUCCH will be sent periodically. The symbols available for uplink transmission in the time slot where each transmission occurs may be composed of different types of symbols, which means that the PUCCH may be transmitted in different time slots using different types of symbols. Therefore, it also involves configuration 1 or configuration 2. If the PUCCH adopts configuration 1, the valid symbol type needs to be determined.

[0115] Semi-persistent PUCCHs, which are configured and then activated (e.g., via MAC CE or DCI) after higher-layer signaling (such as RRC signaling), primarily carry HARQ-ACKs corresponding to semi-persistent CSI and semi-persistent PDSCH. After activation, this PUCCH is periodically transmitted according to the period configured in the higher-layer signaling until deactivation signaling is received. During periodic transmission, the symbols available for uplink transmission in each time slot of this PUCCH transmission may consist of different types of symbols, meaning that the PUCCH may be transmitted using different symbol types in different time slots. Therefore, configuration 1 or configuration 2 is involved. If configuration 1 is used, the valid symbol types need to be determined.

[0116] It is not difficult to see that in an SBFD system, the PUCCH using configuration 1 needs to be transmitted on specific types of symbols (SBFD symbols or non-SBFD symbols). However, in an SBFD system with mixed time slots containing both SBFD and non-SBFD symbols, the PUCCH resource set configured in the mixed time slot may contain PUCCH resources that only include SBFD symbols, PUCCH resources that only include non-SBFD symbols, and PUCCH resources that include both SBFD and non-SBFD symbols. When the PUCCH using configuration 1 overlaps with other PUCCHs in the mixed time slot, after multiplexing the UCI carried by the PUCCH using configuration 1 with other UCIs onto a new PUCCH, the PUCCH resources corresponding to the new PUCCH may include invalid symbols of the UCI carried by the PUCCH using configuration 1. In this case, the terminal may be unable to transmit UCI correctly, affecting the uplink transmission quality between the terminal and the network.

[0117] Based on this, the present application provides a communication method in which, when a terminal is transmitting a first UCI and a second UCI of the first type, and the first UCI and the second UCI of the second UCI overlap in the time domain, a third PUCCH is first determined and the first UCI and the second UCI are multiplexed on the third PUCCH. Then, if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is the first type, the third PUCCH is sent; or, if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type, the third PUCCH is not sent. In other words, during the transmission of UCI, the terminal multiplexes the first and second UCIs, which overlap in time and have the same valid symbol type, onto the same PUCCH (i.e., the third PUCCH). Since the valid symbol type of the UCI carried by the third PUCCH is the same, it helps reduce the probability that the symbols occupied by the third PUCCH include invalid symbols of the UCI carried by the third PUCCH. When the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is the valid symbol type of the first and second UCIs, the third PUCCH carrying the first and second UCIs is sent. Alternatively, when the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes invalid symbols of the first and second UCIs, the third PUCCH is not sent. This allows the terminal to determine the subsequent process based on the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH after multiplexing the first and second UCIs onto the third PUCCH, which helps reduce the probability that the terminal sends UCIs on invalid symbols of the UCIs and improves the uplink transmission quality between the terminal and the base station.

[0118] The technical solutions of this application embodiment can be used in various communication systems, such as third-generation partnership project (3GPP) communication systems, fourth-generation (4G) systems such as long-term evolution (LTE) systems, 5G systems such as new radio (NR) systems, non-terrestrial network systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems, LTE and 5G hybrid networking systems, device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) systems, global system for mobile communications (GSM) systems, enhanced data rate for GSM evolution (EDGE) systems, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) systems, and code division multiple access 2000 systems. This includes 3GPP communication systems such as CDMA2000, Time Division-Synchronization Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), and other future communication systems. The communication system can also be a non-3GPP system; there are no restrictions.

[0119] The communication systems described above are merely illustrative examples, and are not limited to those described herein. The communication systems provided in this application do not impose any limitations on the solutions described herein. This will be explained uniformly here and will not be repeated below.

[0120] Figure 4 illustrates a possible, non-limiting system diagram. As shown in Figure 4, the communication system 20 includes a radio access network (RAN) 200 and a core network (CN) 300. RAN 200 includes at least one RAN node (210a and 210b in Figure 4, collectively referred to as 210) and at least one terminal (220a-220j in Figure 4, collectively referred to as 220). RAN 200 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 4). Terminal 220 is wirelessly connected to RAN node 210. RAN node 210 is wirelessly or wired connected to core network 300. The core network equipment in core network 300 and RAN node 210 in RAN 200 can be different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device integrating core network logical functions and radio access network logical functions.

[0121] RAN 200 can be a 3GPP-related cellular system, such as a 4G, 5G mobile communication system, or a future-oriented evolution system. RAN 200 can also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. RAN 200 can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0122] RAN node 210, sometimes also referred to as access network equipment, RAN entity, or access node, constitutes part of the communication system and is used to help terminals achieve wireless access. Multiple RAN nodes 210 in communication system 20 can be of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of RAN node 210 and terminal 220 are relative. For example, network element 220i in Figure 4 can be a helicopter or drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminals 220j accessing RAN 200 through network element 220i, network element 220i is a base station; but for base station 210a, network element 220i is a terminal. RAN node 210 and terminal 220 are sometimes both referred to as communication devices. For example, network elements 210a and 210b in Figure 4 can be understood as communication devices with base station functions, and network elements 220a-220j can be understood as communication devices with terminal functions.

[0123] In one possible scenario, a RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a future mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. A RAN node can be a macro base station (as shown in Figure 4, 210a), a micro base station or indoor station (as shown in Figure 4, 210b), a relay node or donor node, or a radio controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, a RAN node can also be a server, wearable device, vehicle, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, the access network equipment in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be a roadside unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the RAN node in this application can also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The RAN node in this application can also be a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the RAN node functions.

[0124] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, with each RAN node performing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs), etc. CUs and DUs can be separate entities or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs).

[0125] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0126] A terminal can also be called a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. Terminals can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, etc. Terminals can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form of the terminal.

[0127] As one possible implementation, RAN nodes and terminals, as well as terminals and terminals, can communicate via licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both simultaneously.

[0128] It should be noted that the communication system described in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0129] The following description, using the communication system shown in Figure 4 as an example and taking the interaction between a terminal and a RAN node as an example, illustrates the communication method provided in this application. The terminal can be any terminal 220 in the communication system shown in Figure 4, and the RAN node can be any RAN node 210 in the same system. It is worth noting that in the following embodiments of this application, the message names, parameter names, or information names between the terminal and the RAN node are merely examples; other names may be used in other embodiments, and the method provided in this application does not specifically limit these names.

[0130] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, the terminal or RAN node may execute some or all of the steps in the embodiments of this application. These steps or operations are merely examples, and the embodiments of this application may also perform other operations or variations thereof. Furthermore, the various steps may be executed in different orders as presented in the embodiments of this application, and it is not necessarily necessary to execute all the operations in the embodiments of this application.

[0131] It is understood that this application uses RAN nodes and terminals as examples to illustrate the execution of the interaction, but this application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction. For example, the method executed by the RAN node in this application can also be executed by a module applied to the RAN node (e.g., a chip, chip system, or processor), or by a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the RAN node's functions; similarly, the method executed by the terminal in this application can also be executed by a module applied to the terminal (e.g., a chip, chip system, or processor), or by a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the terminal's functions.

[0132] Furthermore, in this application, "sending information" can be understood as one device sending information to another device, or it can also be understood as one logical module within a device sending information to another logical module. For example, "RAN node sending information" can be understood as the RAN node sending information to another device (such as a terminal), or it can be understood as logical module 1 (such as a processing module) in the RAN node sending information to logical module 2 (such as a transceiver module) in the RAN node.

[0133] In this application, "receiving information" can be understood as one device receiving information from another device, or it can also be understood as one logical module within a device receiving information from another logical module. For example, "terminal receiving information" can be understood as the terminal receiving information from another device (such as a RAN node), or it can be understood as logical module 1 (such as a processing module) in the terminal receiving information from logical module 2 (such as a transceiver module) in the terminal.

[0134] In this application, phrases such as "sending information to... (e.g., a terminal)" or related illustrations in the accompanying drawings can be understood as indicating that the destination of the information is the terminal. This can include sending information directly or indirectly to the terminal. Similarly, phrases such as "receiving information from... (e.g., a RAN node)," "receiving information from... (e.g., a RAN node)," or "receiving information sent by (e.g., a RAN node)," or related illustrations in the accompanying drawings, can be understood as indicating that the source of the information is the RAN node. This can include receiving information directly or indirectly from the RAN node. Information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be interpreted similarly and will not be elaborated further here.

[0135] Referring to Figure 5, which is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, the method may include the following steps:

[0136] S501. The terminal determines the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH, which overlap in the time domain. The first PUCCH is used to carry the first UCI, and the second PUCCH is used to carry the second UCI. The effective symbol type of the first UCI and the second UCI is the first type.

[0137] For example, determining the first PUCCH can be understood as determining the PUCCH resource used by the first PUCCH, or it can also be understood as determining the time-frequency resource location for sending the first PUCCH. The meaning of determining the second PUCCH is similar to that of determining the first PUCCH, and will not be repeated here.

[0138] The overlap in the time domain between the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH can be understood as the overlap between the time domain symbols occupied by the PUCCH resources used by the first PUCCH and the time domain symbols occupied by the PUCCH resources used by the second PUCCH, or it can be understood as the overlap between the time domain resource positions for sending the first PUCCH and the time domain resource positions for sending the second PUCCH.

[0139] For example, the effective symbol type of the first UCI and the second UCI being the first type can be understood as the PUCCH carrying the first UCI and the PUCCH carrying the second UCI being both transmitted on symbols of the first type.

[0140] Optionally, the first type of symbol can be a flexible symbol configured with uplink transmission resources and / or a downlink symbol, or the first type of symbol can be an uplink symbol. For example, the first type of symbol can be an SBFD symbol, or the first type of symbol can be a non-SBFD symbol. The meanings of SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing embodiments. For ease of description, the following embodiments of this application use SBFD symbols as an example of the first type of symbol.

[0141] As one possible implementation, when the valid symbol types of both the first UCI and the second UCI are of type 1, the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH satisfy any one of the following: both the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH are PUCCHs using configuration 1, and the valid symbol types of both the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH are of type 1; one of the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH is a PUCCH using configuration 1, and the other is a PUCCH using configuration 2, and the valid symbol type of the PUCCH using configuration 1 is of type 1; or one of the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH is a PUCCH using configuration 1, and the other is a PUCCH that does not involve configuration 1 and configuration 2, and the valid symbol type of the PUCCH using configuration 1 is of type 1.

[0142] For PUCCH using configuration 2 and PUCCH not involving configuration 1 and configuration 2, PUCCH can be transmitted on both SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols. Therefore, if one of the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH uses configuration 1 and the effective symbol type of the UCI carried is the first type, and the other uses configuration 2 or the UCI carried does not involve the effective symbol type, the first UCI and the second UCI can be regarded as UCI with the same effective symbol type.

[0143] In one possible implementation, the terminal determines the PUCCH resource used by the first PUCCH based on the PUCCH configuration information associated with the first UCI, and determines the PUCCH resource used by the first PUCCH based on the PUCCH configuration information associated with the second UCI. The PUCCH configuration information associated with the first UCI and the second UCI can be distributed by the RAN node through physical layer signaling or higher-layer signaling (such as DCI, RRC signaling, or MAC CE). The PUCCH configuration information can also be called PUCCH scheduling information, UCI configuration information, or UCI scheduling information, and is not limited thereto.

[0144] S502: The terminal determines the third PUCCH, and the first UCI and the second UCI are multiplexed on the third PUCCH.

[0145] For example, determining the third PUCCH can also be understood as determining the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH, or it can also be understood as determining the time-frequency resource location for sending the third PUCCH.

[0146] The multiplexing of the first UCI and the second UCI on the third PUCCH can be understood as the first UCI and the second UCI being transmitted synchronously through the third PUCCH, or it can be understood as the third PUCCH being used to carry the first UCI and the second UCI.

[0147] As one possible implementation, the terminal determines the third PUCCH based on the number of bits in the first UCI and the number of bits in the second UCI. For example, consider a terminal configured with multiple PUCCH resource sets. The terminal first determines the PUCCH resource set (denoted as resource set 1) to which the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH belongs based on the number of bits in the first UCI and the number of bits in the second UCI. Then, based on the index value indicated by the PRI associated with the first PUCCH or the index value indicated by the PRI associated with the second PUCCH, the terminal determines the PUCCH resource index (denoted as resource index 1) of the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH. The PUCCH resource indexed as resource index 1 in resource set 1 is then used as the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH. The implementation method of the terminal determining the third PUCCH used to carry the first UCI and the second UCI is similar to the implementation method of determining the PUCCH carrying multiple UCIs during the UCI multiplexing process in the aforementioned embodiments, and can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned embodiments.

[0148] It is worth mentioning that the PUCCH resource set in this application embodiment can be understood as any PUCCH resource set among multiple PUCCH resource sets pre-configured by the terminal, or it can be understood as a list of PUCCH resources pre-configured by the terminal. The specific meaning of the PUCCH resource set can be determined according to the first UCI and the second UCI for UCI multiplexing. The implementation method of determining the PUCCH resource set or PUCCH resource list according to the UCI type for UCI multiplexing can be referred to the relevant description in the foregoing embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0149] Optionally, the terminal can determine the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH based on the index value of the PRI indication associated with the highest priority PUCCH in the first and second PUCCHs.

[0150] For example, the PUCCH with the highest priority among the first and second PUCCHs satisfies at least one of the following: it uses the smallest start symbol index of the PUCCH resource (or has the earliest transmission time), carries a HARQ-ACK UCI, is triggered by DCI, or has the smallest / largest associated priority configuration. The priority configuration associated with PUCCHs carrying different UCIs can be predefined by the standard or pre-determined by the RAN node and the terminal.

[0151] For example, if the first PUCCH uses a PUCCH resource with a starting symbol index of 2, and the second PUCCH uses a PUCCH resource with a starting symbol index of 5, then the first PUCCH is the PUCCH with the highest priority between the first and second PUCCHs. As another example, if the first PUCCH is a semi-persistent PUCCH configured via RRC signaling, and the second PUCCH is a PUCCH triggered by DCI, then the first PUCCH is the PUCCH with the highest priority between the first and second PUCCHs.

[0152] It is worth mentioning that when the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH have the same priority, the terminal can choose either the first PUCCH or the second PUCCH as the highest priority PUCCH. For example, if both the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH are triggered by DCI, then either the first PUCCH or the second PUCCH will be chosen as the highest priority PUCCH.

[0153] Furthermore, the above embodiments illustrate the case where the highest-priority PUCCH among the first and second PUCCHs satisfies any one of the above conditions. In practice, the highest-priority PUCCH among the first and second PUCCHs can also be a PUCCH that satisfies multiple conditions. For example, if the UCI carried by the first and second PUCCHs is HARQ-ACK, and the starting symbol index of the PUCCH resource used by the first PUCCH is less than the starting symbol index of the PUCCH resource used by the second PUCCH, then the first PUCCH is designated as the highest-priority PUCCH. Cases where the highest-priority PUCCH among the first and second PUCCHs satisfies any multiple of the above conditions will not be listed here.

[0154] In addition, if at least one of the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH is a PUCCH that is not associated with a PRI (such as a PUCCH carrying CSI or SR), the PUCCH associated with the PRI can be directly used as the PUCCH with the highest priority; if neither the first PUCCH nor the second PUCCH is associated with a PRI, the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH can be determined directly from the PUCCH resource corresponding to the PUCCH resource list based on the sum of the number of UCI bits carried by the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH.

[0155] S503. If the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is type 1, the terminal sends the third PUCCH to the RAN node. Correspondingly, the RAN node receives the third PUCCH from the terminal.

[0156] For example, the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH can be understood as the type of all time-domain symbols contained in the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH. That is, when the terminal determines that the third PUCCH can be used to carry the first UCI and the second UCI, and all time-domain symbols contained in the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH are symbols of the first type (i.e., valid symbols for the first UCI and the second UCI), the terminal sends the third PUCCH to the RAN node, thus sending both the first UCI and the second UCI to the RAN node.

[0157] S504. If the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type, the terminal does not send the third PUCCH.

[0158] The symbols of the second type are different from those of the first type. That is, of the symbols of the first type and the symbols of the second type, one is a downlink symbol / flexible symbol configured with uplink transmission resources, and the other is an uplink symbol.

[0159] The meaning of the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH can be referred to the relevant description in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here. That is to say, if the terminal determines that the third PUCCH can be used to carry the first UCI and the second UCI, and if the time domain symbols contained in the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH include symbols of the second type (or invalid symbols of the first UCI and / or the second UCI), the third PUCCH will not be transmitted.

[0160] For example, the fact that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type can be understood as all time-domain symbols contained in the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH being symbols of the second type, or it can also be understood as the time-domain symbols contained in the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH including both symbols of the first type and symbols of the second type.

[0161] It is not difficult to see that S503 and S504 are two independent steps that the terminal may execute after determining the third PUCCH. After the terminal determines the third PUCCH through S502, there are three possible processing methods:

[0162] Method 1: The terminal only executes S503. That is, the terminal only executes S503 to send the third PUCCH if it detects that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is of type 1; if it detects that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes type 2, the terminal's behavior can be determined by the terminal itself and is not restricted. In other words, only the terminal's behavior is defined when it detects that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is type 1; its behavior in other cases is not restricted.

[0163] Method 2: The terminal only executes S504. That is, the terminal executes S504 and does not send the third PUCCH only if it detects that the symbol type of the third PUCCH includes the second type. If the symbol type of the third PUCCH is detected to be the first type, the terminal's behavior can be determined by the terminal itself and is not restricted. In other words, only the terminal's behavior is defined when it detects that the symbol type of the third PUCCH includes the second type; its behavior in other cases is not restricted.

[0164] Method 3: The terminal selects one step from S503 and S504 to execute based on the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH. That is, if the terminal detects that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is of type 1, it executes S503 to send the third PUCCH; if it detects that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes type 2, it executes S504 and does not send the third PUCCH. This defines the terminal's behavior when it detects that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is type 1, and its behavior when it detects that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes type 2. Based on this scheme, during the process of sending the first UCI and the second UCI to the RAN node, if the valid symbol types of the first UCI and the second UCI are the same, and the first PUCCH carrying the first UCI and the second PUCCH carrying the second UCI overlap in the time domain, the terminal determines the third PUCCH that can carry both the first and second UCI. Then, based on the type of time-domain symbols included in the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH, when the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH do not include invalid symbols of the first and second UCIs, the first and second UCIs are sent to the RAN node by transmitting the third PUCCH; when the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH include invalid symbols of the first and second UCIs, no UCIs are transmitted on the third PUCCH (i.e., the third PUCCH is not transmitted). This allows the terminal to determine the subsequent processing of a PUCCH carrying multiple UCIs after multiplexing UCIs with the same valid symbol type, based on the type of time-domain symbols included in the PUCCH resources used by the multiplexed PUCCH. This reduces the probability of the terminal transmitting a PUCCH carrying UCIs on invalid symbols of UCIs, which is beneficial to improving the uplink transmission quality between the terminal and the RAN node.

[0165] In one possible implementation, after S504, the communication method further includes: S505, the terminal sends a first PUCCH or a second PUCCH to the RAN node. Correspondingly, the RAN node receives the first PUCCH or the second PUCCH from the terminal.

[0166] In other words, after determining not to send the third PUCCH, the terminal will send either the first or second PUCCH, which overlap in time, to the RAN node. Based on this scheme, on the one hand, it can reduce unused uplink resources in the current time slot and improve the terminal's resource utilization; on the other hand, it is beneficial to improve the transmission quality of the first or second UCI.

[0167] As one possible implementation, the terminal sends the highest-priority PUCCH from the first and second PUCCHs to the RAN node. The meaning of the highest-priority PUCCH in the first and second PUCCHs can be found in the descriptions in the preceding embodiments and will not be repeated here. Based on this scheme, higher-priority UCI uplink transmissions can be prioritized, which is beneficial for improving the transmission quality of higher-priority UCIs.

[0168] In one possible implementation, prior to S501, the RAN node sends TDD configuration and SBFD configuration to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the TDD configuration and SBFD configuration from the RAN node. The implementation method of the RAN node sending the TDD configuration and SBFD configuration to the terminal can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0169] In one possible implementation, prior to S501, the RAN node sends PUCCH configuration information for the first PUCCH and PUCCH configuration information for the second PUCCH to the terminal. For example, the PUCCH configuration information indicates at least one of the following: the PUCCH resource used by the PUCCH, the time-frequency position for transmitting the PUCCH, and the valid symbol type for the PUCCH using configuration 1. The implementation of the PUCCH configuration information will not be elaborated here.

[0170] The main flow of the communication method provided in this application has been described above. The specific implementation of some steps of the communication method provided in this application is described below.

[0171] In one possible implementation, prior to S501 or S502, the RAN node sends first configuration information to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first configuration information from the RAN node. This first configuration information is used to configure a hybrid time slot, and / or the resources of the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH, where the hybrid time slot includes symbols of a first type and symbols of a second type. In S503, the terminal determines, based on the first configuration information, a third PUCCH with the corresponding symbol type of the first type.

[0172] Optionally, the locations of the first type of symbols and the second type of symbols in the mixed time slot can be predefined by the standard or configured by the RAN node for the terminal.

[0173] As one possible implementation, if the terminal has pre-acquired the configuration of the mixed time slots (or in other words, the positions of the first type of symbols and the second type of symbols in the mixed time slots are predefined by the standard), the RAN node can use the first configuration information to instruct the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH to use PUCCH resources including the first type of symbols. In this case, the first configuration information is only used to indicate the resources of the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH. If the terminal has not pre-acquired the configuration of the mixed time slots (or in other words, the positions of the first type of symbols and the second type of symbols in the mixed time slots are configured for the terminal by the RAN node), in order for the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH to use PUCCH resources including the first type of symbols, the first configuration information is used to indicate the configuration of the mixed time slots and the resources of the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH determined based on the mixed time slot configuration.

[0174] For example, a RAN node can use first configuration information to configure the first 7 symbols in a mixed time slot as first-type symbols and the last 7 symbols as second-type symbols. It can also use the first configuration information to configure the PUCCH and second PUCCH to use PUCCH resources that do not include the last 7 symbols in the time slot. In other words, the RAN node configures first-type and second-type symbols on fixed symbols, and configures PUCCH resources that do not include second-type symbols for PUCCHs whose valid symbols are first-type symbols.

[0175] For example, the standard predefines the first 5 symbols in a mixed time slot as symbols of type 1 and the last 9 symbols as symbols of type 2. The RAN node configures the symbols occupied by the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH through the first configuration information, excluding the PUCCH resources of the last 9 symbols in the time slot.

[0176] Since the resources of the first PUCCH and the resources of the second PUCCH are both PUCCH resources containing symbols of the first type, and the position of the symbols of the second type in the mixed time slot is fixed, when the terminal determines the resources of the third PUCCH according to the first configuration information, whether it is based on the PRI associated with the first PUCCH or the PRI associated with the second PUCCH, the symbol type included in the resources of the third PUCCH will be the first type.

[0177] In other words, the RAN node can issue the first configuration information to ensure that the PUCCH after UCI multiplexing with the same valid symbol type does not fall on an invalid symbol of UCI, or to minimize the possibility that the PUCCH after UCI multiplexing with the same valid symbol type falls on an invalid symbol of UCI.

[0178] Furthermore, if the RAN node, by sending first configuration information to the terminal, prohibits a PUCCH multiplexed with the same valid symbol type from falling on an invalid symbol of the UCI, and the terminal determines that the resources of the third PUCCH still include symbols of the second type, then the terminal can determine that the RAN node has misconfigured. In this case, the terminal can either not send the third PUCCH or send either the first or the second PUCCH. The procedure executed by the terminal when the resources of the third PUCCH include symbols of the second type is similar to the procedure executed by the terminal when the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes symbols of the second type, and can be referred to the relevant description in the foregoing embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0179] Optionally, the first configuration information can be carried by one or more messages. For example, when the first configuration information is used to configure mixed time slots and the resources of the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH, the first configuration information can be carried by two separate messages. For instance, the information in the first configuration information used to configure mixed time slots can be carried by a message carrying SBFD configuration, the information used to configure the resources of the first PUCCH can be carried by the DCI that triggers the first PUCCH, and the information used to configure the resources of the second PUCCH can be carried by higher-layer signaling (such as RRC signaling) that configures the second PUCCH.

[0180] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the index of a symbol of a first type in the mixed time slot is in a first interval; the index of a symbol of a second type in the mixed time slot is in a second interval; the symbol corresponding to a PUCCH resource in the mixed time slot is in the first interval or the second interval; the symbol corresponding to a first PUCCH is in the first interval; or the symbol corresponding to a second PUCCH is in the first interval.

[0181] For example, the first interval and the second interval include at least one index. Optionally, the indexes included in the first interval and the indexes included in the second interval include all or part of the indexes of the time-domain symbols in the mixed time slot.

[0182] As one possible implementation, the first interval contains at least one consecutive index (or, the first interval is an interval of at least one consecutive integer), and the second interval also contains at least one consecutive index (or, the second interval is an interval of at least one consecutive integer).

[0183] When the first interval and the second region contain at least one consecutive index, there is no overlap between different types of symbols in the mixed time slot. This reduces the probability that the PUCCH resources configured in the mixed time slot contain multiple types of symbols. It also makes it easier for the RAN node to configure PUCCH resources corresponding to only one type of symbol for a PUCCH. This further reduces the probability that the symbol corresponding to the PUCCH contains an invalid symbol of the UCI when UCI with the same valid symbol type is multiplexed on the same PUCCH, thereby improving the UCI transmission quality in the mixed time slot.

[0184] In one possible implementation, in S503, the terminal determines the resources of the third PUCCH according to a first rule. The first rule includes prioritizing the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH before considering the payload size that the third PUCCH can carry. In other words, the first rule includes prioritizing the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH over the payload size that the third PUCCH can carry during the process of determining the resources of the third PUCCH.

[0185] For example, the payload size that the third PUCCH can carry can be understood as the payload size of the UCI carried by the PUCCH resource set to which the third PUCCH resource belongs, or it can also be understood as the maximum number of UCI bits that the PUCCH resource set to which the third PUCCH resource belongs can carry.

[0186] Furthermore, when the PUCCH resource set to which the third PUCCH resource belongs is a pre-configured PUCCH resource list for the terminal, the payload size that the third PUCCH can carry can be understood as the payload size of the UCI used to carry by the PUCCH resource to which the third PUCCH resource belongs in the PUCCH resource list, or it can also be understood as the maximum number of UCI bits that the third PUCCH resource to which the PUCCH resource belongs in the PUCCH resource list can carry.

[0187] As one possible implementation, determining the resources of the third PUCCH according to the first rule includes: determining at least one first resource, the symbol type corresponding to the first resource being a first type, and determining the resources of the third PUCCH from the at least one first resource based on the size of the first UCI and the size of the second UCI.

[0188] Wherein, the first resource is the resource indicated by the first index, the first index is the PUCCH resource index corresponding to the PRI of the fourth PUCCH, and the fourth PUCCH is the PUCCH with the highest priority among the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH.

[0189] For example, the symbol type corresponding to the first resource being of type 1 can be understood as all symbols contained in the first resource being of type 1, or it can also be understood as all symbols contained in the first resource being of type 1.

[0190] In other words, during the process of determining the resources for the third PUCCH according to the first rule, the terminal first uses the PUCCH resource index (i.e., the first index) corresponding to / indicated by the PRI of the higher-priority PUCCH in the first and second PUCCHs. From the PUCCH resources included in the terminal's configured set of multiple PUCCH resources, the PUCCH resource with the resource index of the first index and the corresponding symbol type of the first type is selected as the first resource. Then, based on the size of the first UCI and the size of the second UCI, the first resource used by the third PUCCH is determined. For example, at least one first resource whose number of bits that can be used to transmit is the sum of the number of bits of the first UCI and the second UCI is selected as the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH.

[0191] Optionally, in the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH, the PUCCH with the highest priority of PRI satisfies at least one of the following: the PUCCH resource with the smallest start symbol index (or the earliest transmission time) is used, the UCI carried is HARQ-ACK, or the PRI is indicated by DCI.

[0192] The implementation of the PUCCH with the highest PRI in the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH is similar to that of the PUCCH with the highest PRI in the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH. Please refer to the relevant description in the foregoing embodiments, and it will not be repeated here.

[0193] As another possible implementation, determining the resources of the third PUCCH according to the first rule includes: determining at least one first resource set, wherein the symbol types corresponding to the first PUCCH resources and the second PUCCH resources in the first resource set are of the first type; and determining the resources of the third PUCCH from at least one first resource set according to the size of the first UCI and the size of the second UCI.

[0194] Wherein, the first PUCCH resource is the resource indicated by the PUCCH resource index corresponding to the PRI of the first PUCCH, and the second PUCCH resource is the resource indicated by the PUCCH resource index corresponding to the PRI of the second PUCCH.

[0195] In other words, during the process of the terminal determining the resources for the third PUCCH according to the first rule, it first determines at least one PUCCH resource set as the first resource set from among the multiple PUCCH resource sets configured for the terminal, based on the PUCCH resource index corresponding to the PRI of the first PUCCH and the PUCCH resource index corresponding to the PRI of the second PUCCH. In the first resource set, both the first and second PUCCH resources are PUCCH resources corresponding to symbols of the first type. Then, based on the size of the first UCI and the size of the second UCI, it determines the first resource to be used by the third PUCCH from the first PUCCH resource set. For example, it selects at least one first PUCCH resource or second PUCCH resource from the first PUCCH resource set whose number of bits can be used to transmit the sum of the first UCI and the second UCI as the PUCCH resource to be used by the third PUCCH.

[0196] Based on this scheme, when the terminal determines the resources of the third PUCCH according to the first rule, the probability of configuring the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH as resources of the corresponding first type of symbol is significantly increased. This greatly increases the probability that the symbol type corresponding to the determined third PUCCH is the first type, reducing the probability that the terminal will have poor UCI uplink transmission quality due to the third PUCCH corresponding to the second type of symbol. This is beneficial to improving the terminal's UCI transmission quality.

[0197] In one possible implementation, prior to S502, the RAN node sends second configuration information to the terminal. This second configuration information configures a first PUCCH resource set, where the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resources in the first PUCCH resource set is a first type. In S502, the terminal determines the resources for a third PUCCH from the first PUCCH resource set.

[0198] For example, the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resource being of type 1 can be understood as all symbols contained in the PUCCH resource being of type 1, or it can also be understood as all symbols contained in the PUCCH resource being of type 1.

[0199] In other words, the RAN node sends second configuration information to the terminal to configure at least one set of PUCCH resources for the terminal, in which all PUCCH resources occupy only symbols of the first type. This enables the terminal to determine the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH when determining the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH. The terminal can determine the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH from the first PUCCH resource set according to the PUCCH resource index indicated by the PRI associated with the first PUCCH or the PUCCH resource index indicated by the PRI associated with the second PUCCH; or, based on the size of the first UCI and the size of the second UCI, determine the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH from the first PUCCH resource set.

[0200] The method for determining the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH based on the PRI of the first PUCCH or the PRI of the first PUCCH, and the method for determining the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH based on the size of the first UCI and the size of the second UCI, can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0201] It is worth mentioning that the first PUCCH resource set can also be called the first PUCCH resource list. Determining the third PUCCH includes determining the resources of the third PUCCH in the first PUCCH resource list. For example, if one of the first UCI and the second UCI is SR and the other is CSI, the resources of the third PUCCH are determined in the first PUCCH resource list.

[0202] Optionally, the second configuration information and the configuration information of the RAN node for configuring the PUCCH resource set for the terminal are carried in the same message, such as through the extended field of the higher-layer parameter (PUCCH-ResourceSet), or the second configuration information and the SBFD configuration sent by the RAN node to the terminal are carried in the same message, such as the second configuration information being part of the SBFD configuration, or through the reserved field or extended field in the SBFD configuration message.

[0203] Based on this scheme, when the terminal determines the PUCCH resource used by the third PUCCH in the first PUCCH resource set, the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resource that the terminal can determine must be of type 1. This maximizes the probability that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH determined by the terminal is of type 1, which is beneficial to improving the terminal's UCI transmission quality.

[0204] As one possible implementation, the second configuration information is also used to configure a second PUCCH resource set, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resources in the second PUCCH resource set is a second type. Similarly, the second PUCCH resource set can also be referred to as a second PUCCH resource list.

[0205] For example, the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resource being of type 1 can be understood as all symbols contained in the PUCCH resource being of type 1, or it can also be understood as all symbols contained in the PUCCH resource being of type 1.

[0206] In other words, the RAN node sends second configuration information to the terminal to configure at least one set of PUCCH resources containing only symbols of the first type and at least one set of PUCCH resources containing only symbols of the second type. Alternatively, in a mixed time slot containing symbols of the first and second types, the RAN node independently configures a set of PUCCH resources for each type of symbol (i.e., all symbols in the first set of PUCCH resources are of the first type, and all symbols in the second set of PUCCH resources are of the second type). This allows the terminal to directly determine the PUCCH resources carrying multiple UCIs on the independently configured PUCCH resources for each type of symbol when multiplexing UCIs of the first or second type to the same PUCCH, reducing the probability that the PUCCH resources carrying multiple UCIs will use invalid symbols of the UCIs.

[0207] In one possible implementation, the first PUCCH resource set corresponds to the first sub-time unit, the second PUCCH resource set corresponds to the second sub-time unit, and the first and second sub-time units are sub-time units within the first time unit.

[0208] For example, the first sub-time unit includes at least one consecutively arranged symbol of a first type, or in other words, the first sub-time unit includes at least one symbol of a first type, and the indices / numbers of the first type of symbols included in the first sub-time unit are consecutive. Similarly, the second sub-time unit includes at least one consecutively arranged symbol of a second type, or in other words, the second sub-time unit includes at least one symbol of a second type, and the indices / numbers of the first type of symbols included in the second sub-time unit are consecutive.

[0209] As one possible implementation, the first sub-time unit includes time-domain symbols of a first type, and the second sub-time unit includes time-domain symbols of a second type. That is, the first and second sub-time units may include only symbols of the same type, in which case there is no overlap between the time-domain symbols included in the first and second sub-time units.

[0210] As another possible implementation, the first sub-time unit includes symbols of a first type as well as downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols, and the second sub-time unit includes symbols of a second type as well as downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols. That is, the first and second sub-time units may include not only one type of symbol for uplink transmission, but also at least one of downlink symbols and flexible symbols. In this case, the first and second sub-time units may include the same downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols.

[0211] For example, the first sub-time unit and the second sub-time unit being sub-time units within the first time unit can be understood as the first time unit being composed of the first sub-time unit and the second sub-time unit, or the first time unit being composed of the first sub-time unit, the second sub-time unit, and other sub-time units. That is to say, the time-domain symbols contained in the first sub-time unit and the second sub-time unit are all or part of the symbols in the first time unit.

[0212] For example, consider a first time unit where all symbols are of type 1, and a second sub-time unit where all symbols are of type 2. If the first sub-time unit includes time-domain symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the second sub-time unit includes time-domain symbols 10, 11, 12, and 13, then the first time unit consists of the first sub-time unit, the second sub-time unit, and a sub-time unit including time-domain symbols 5-9. If the first sub-time unit includes time-domain symbols 0-6, and the second sub-time unit includes time-domain symbols 7-13, then the first time unit consists of the first sub-time unit and the second sub-time unit.

[0213] In other words, the RAN node can consider at least one first-type symbol arranged consecutively in a time unit containing first-type symbols and at least one second-type symbol arranged consecutively in a time unit as a sub-time unit, and then independently configure a set of PUCCH resources for each terminal in each sub-time unit. In the set of PUCCH resources configured in each sub-time unit, each PUCCH resource only includes the time-domain symbols contained in that sub-time unit.

[0214] In this scenario, when a terminal multiplexes UCIs with the same valid symbol type, it can multiplex the UCIs within the corresponding sub-time unit where the valid symbol type matches the valid symbol type of the UCI. In other words, based on the PUCCH resource set associated with the sub-time unit, the terminal can independently multiplex UCIs with the same valid symbol type as the time-domain symbol type included in the sub-time unit within different sub-time units. This ensures that the PUCCH resources used by multiple UCIs remain within the same sub-time unit, meaning the symbol type included in the PUCCH resources is the same as the valid symbol type of the UCI multiplexed to the same PUCCH.

[0215] For example, taking a mixed time slot that includes SBFD sub-time slots and non-SBFD sub-time slots, where SBFD sub-time slots include symbols 0-6 and non-SBFD sub-time slots include symbols 7-13, after the terminal determines that the valid symbols of the first and second UCIs to be transmitted in the mixed time slot are SBFD symbols, and that the first and second PUCCHs overlap in the time domain, when determining the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH, the terminal can determine the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH from the first PUCCH resource set corresponding to the SBFD sub-time slot, so that the index of the symbols contained in the third PUCCH resource is in the range of 0-6. Similarly, when the valid symbols of the first and second UCIs are non-SBFD symbols, the terminal determines the PUCCH resources used by the third PUCCH from the second PUCCH resource set corresponding to the non-SBFD sub-time slot, so that the index of the symbols contained in the third PUCCH resource is in the range of 7-13.

[0216] Based on the above scheme, it is beneficial to increase the probability that the terminal can determine the third PUCCH with the first symbol type during the multiplexing of the first UCI and the second UCI, thereby improving the terminal's UCI transmission quality.

[0217] The above embodiments illustrate the multiplexing of UCIs carried by PUCCHs with the same valid symbol type and overlapping time in the UCIs carried by the terminal. This application also provides another communication method where, during UCI multiplexing, the terminal no longer focuses on the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH after multiplexing, and directly sends multiple UCIs through the multiplexed PUCCH. The following describes the other communication method provided by this application:

[0218] Referring to Figure 6, which is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, the communication method includes at least the following steps:

[0219] S601. The terminal determines a first PUCCH and a second PUCCH, which overlap in the time domain. The first PUCCH is used to carry a first UCI, and the second PUCCH is used to carry a second UCI. The valid symbol type of the first UCI is either SBFD symbol or non-SBFD symbol, and the valid symbol type of the second UCI is either SBFD symbol or non-SBFD symbol.

[0220] For example, the first UCI and the second UCI satisfy any of the following: the valid symbol type of the first UCI is SBFD symbol and the valid symbol type of the second UCI is SBFD symbol; the valid symbol type of the first UCI is SBFD symbol and the valid symbol type of the second UCI is non-SBFD symbol; the valid symbol type of the first UCI is non-SBFD symbol and the valid symbol type of the second UCI is SBFD symbol; or the valid symbol type of the first UCI is non-SBFD symbol and the valid symbol type of the second UCI is non-SBFD symbol.

[0221] The implementation of S601 is similar to that of S501, and can be found in the descriptions in the preceding embodiments. The difference lies in that the first and second UCIs used for UCI multiplexing by the terminal can be UCIs with the same valid symbol type or UCIs with different valid symbol types. In other words, during the multiplexing of the first and second UCIs, the terminal only considers whether the first and second PUCCHs overlap in the time domain, and does not consider the valid symbol types of the UCIs.

[0222] S602: The terminal determines the third PUCCH, and the first UCI and the second UCI are multiplexed on the third PUCCH. The implementation of S602 is similar to that of S502, and can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0223] S603, the terminal sends a third PUCCH to the RAN node. Correspondingly, the RAN node receives the third PUCCH from the terminal.

[0224] In other words, after determining that the third PUCCH can carry the first UCI and the second UCI, the terminal directly sends the third PUCCH to the RAN node, and sends the first UCI and the second UCI to the terminal.

[0225] Based on the above scheme, the terminal can directly perform UCI multiplexing on the UCI carried by PUCCHs that overlap in the time domain, reducing the complexity of the terminal in the process of UCI multiplexing involving valid symbols, which is conducive to improving the utilization rate of uplink transmission resources. In addition, after determining the third PUCCH, the terminal directly sends the third PUCCH to the RAN node. Compared with the scheme of determining whether to send the third PUCCH based on the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH, it is conducive to improving the transmission efficiency of the first UCI and the second UCI.

[0226] In one possible implementation, the valid symbol types of both the first UCI and the second UCI are of the first type. In S603, the terminal sends the third PUCCH to the RAN node by sending the third PUCCH if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is of the first type, or if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type.

[0227] The meaning of the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH can be referred to the relevant description in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here. After determining the third PUCCH, if the first UCI and the second UCI are UCIs with the same valid symbol type, the terminal sends the third PUCCH to the RAN node if it detects that the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type, or if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is the first type. In other words, after the terminal performs UCI multiplexing for UCIs with the same valid symbol type, it no longer decides whether to send the third PUCCH based on the valid symbol type of the UCI. On the one hand, this simplifies the complexity of UCI multiplexing in mixed time slots including symbols of the first and second types. On the other hand, the terminal can make full use of the mixed time slots for uplink transmission, which is beneficial to improving the transmission quality of UCI.

[0228] As one possible implementation, prior to S602, the terminal determines that the symbols containing the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH are symbols of the first type.

[0229] For example, the symbol of the first PUCCH can be understood as the time-domain symbol included in the PUCCH resource used by the first PUCCH, or it can also be understood as the time-domain symbol included in the time-domain location where the first PUCCH is sent. Similarly, the symbol of the second PUCCH can be understood as the time-domain symbol included in the PUCCH resource used by the second PUCCH, or it can also be understood as the time-domain symbol included in the time-domain location where the second PUCCH is sent.

[0230] In other words, before multiplexing the first UCI and the second UCI, the terminal checks whether the first PUCCH is on a valid symbol of the first UCI (or whether the symbol type corresponding to the first PUCCH includes an invalid symbol of the first UCI), and checks whether the second PUCCH is on a valid symbol of the second UCI (or whether the symbol type corresponding to the second PUCCH includes an invalid symbol of the second UCI). If the first PUCCH is on a valid symbol of the first UCI and the second PUCCH is on a valid symbol of the second UCI, the first UCI and the second UCI are multiplexed onto the third PUCCH.

[0231] Optionally, if the symbol containing the first PUCCH includes a symbol of the second type and the symbol containing the second PUCCH is a symbol of the first type, the terminal does not send the first PUCCH but sends the second PUCCH; if the symbol containing the second PUCCH includes a symbol of the second type and the symbol containing the second PUCCH is a symbol of the first type, the terminal does not send the second PUCCH but sends the first PUCCH; if the symbols containing both the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH include symbols of the second type, the terminal does not send either the first PUCCH or the second PUCCH.

[0232] Based on this scheme, the terminal can first detect whether the symbol containing the PUCCH includes invalid symbols of UCI, and then not send a PUCCH with a configuration error. This helps to reduce the probability of the terminal sending a PUCCH with a configuration error and improve the transmission quality of UCI.

[0233] The above embodiments illustrate the UCI multiplexing scheme of the terminal based on the existence of mixed time slots including symbols of the first type and symbols of the second type in the communication system. The embodiments of this application also provide another communication method, which can avoid the terminal performing UCI multiplexing on mixed time slots, and is conducive to reducing the complexity of terminal UCI multiplexing. The other communication method provided by the embodiments of this application is described below.

[0234] Referring to Figure 7, which is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, the communication method includes at least the following steps:

[0235] S701 and the RAN node determine the third configuration information. This third configuration information is used to configure TDD time slots, which may include flexible duplex (SBFD) symbols and non-SBFD symbols simultaneously.

[0236] For example, the fact that a TDD time slot does not simultaneously include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols can be understood as the TDD time slot satisfying at least one of the following: including only SBFD symbols, including only non-SBFD symbols, including SBFD symbols and downlink symbols, including SBFD symbols and flexible symbols, including non-SBFD symbols and downlink symbols, or including non-SBFD symbols and flexible symbols.

[0237] In other words, the third configuration information is used to indicate that there is no time slot in the communication system that simultaneously includes SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, or the third information is used to indicate that a time slot that simultaneously includes SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols is an incorrectly configured time slot, or the third information is used to indicate that an SBFD configuration that simultaneously includes SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols is an incorrect configuration.

[0238] Optionally, the third configuration information can be the configuration information for issuing TDD configuration, or it can be the configuration information for issuing SBFD configuration, or the third configuration information can be information indicating invalid / erroneous configuration in TDD configuration, or the third configuration information can also be information indicating invalid / erroneous configuration in SBFD configuration.

[0239] As one possible implementation, TDD time slots may include both SBFD and non-SBFD symbols, specifically: TDD time slots may include uplink symbols and Category 1 symbols. Category 1 symbols are downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols.

[0240] For example, taking the third configuration information as the configuration information for issuing TDD configuration, if the TDD time slots do not simultaneously include uplink symbols and first-type symbols, and the first-type symbols are downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols, the TDD configuration issued by the RAN node to the terminal through the third configuration information will not contain time slots that include both uplink symbols and downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols (such as flexible time slots that include uplink symbols, downlink symbols, and flexible symbols). In other words, the RAN node will not configure the terminal with time slots that simultaneously include uplink symbols and first-type symbols through TDD configuration. Or, in other words, a TDD configuration that includes time slots that include both uplink symbols and downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols is an incorrect configuration.

[0241] For example, taking the third configuration information as an indication of invalid / erroneous configuration in the TDD configuration, if the TDD configuration sent by the RAN node to the terminal already includes time slots containing not only uplink symbols but also downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols, the RAN node can update the configuration of time slots that simultaneously contain uplink symbols and type 1 symbols by sending the third configuration information, changing these time slots to those that do not simultaneously contain both uplink symbols and type 1 symbols. After receiving the third configuration information sent by the RAN node, the terminal determines that the time slots containing both uplink symbols and type 1 symbols are incorrectly configured time slots and updates its TDD configuration according to the third configuration information.

[0242] As another possible implementation, the TDD time slot does not simultaneously include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols. Instead, the TDD time slot includes both uplink symbols and Type I symbols, where the Type I symbols are not configured as SBFD symbols. The Type I symbols are downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols.

[0243] For example, if the third configuration information is the configuration information for issuing SBFD configuration, and the SBFD configuration indicated by the third configuration information does not include SBFD symbols in the time slots containing uplink symbols and first-type symbols, then the RAN node will not configure time slots that simultaneously include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols for the terminal through SBFD configuration. In other words, the SBFD configuration that configures time slots that simultaneously include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols for the terminal is considered an incorrect configuration. If the third configuration information is the information indicating invalid / incorrect configuration in the SBFD configuration, the RAN node can send the third configuration information and simultaneously configure the SBFD configuration of time slots that simultaneously include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, thus invalidating the SBFD symbols in the time slots that simultaneously include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols. After receiving the third configuration information, the terminal determines that the time slots that simultaneously include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols are incorrectly configured time slots based on the third configuration information, and updates the SBFD configuration according to the third configuration information.

[0244] S702, the RAN node sends third configuration information to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the third configuration information.

[0245] For example, the RAN node sends third configuration information to the terminal via RRC signaling or higher-level information such as MAC CE, or sends third configuration information to the terminal via a message carrying TDD / SBFD configuration.

[0246] In one possible implementation, the terminal performs UCI multiplexing based on third configuration information.

[0247] For example, the terminal performing UCI multiplexing based on the third configuration information can be understood as the terminal performing UCI multiplexing on the TDD time slot configured in the third configuration information, or the terminal performing UCI multiplexing on the TDD time slot after configuration updates based on the third configuration information.

[0248] Based on the above scheme, in the case that there is no time slot in the TDD time slot that simultaneously includes SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, the PUCCH resources configured by the terminal in a time slot cannot simultaneously contain both types of symbols. Therefore, the probability that the PUCCH resources used by the PUCCH carrying multiple UCIs determined by the terminal through UCI multiplexing contain invalid UCI symbols is basically 0. The terminal does not need to consider the issue of valid UCI symbols multiplexed on the same PUCCH, which helps to simplify the complexity of UCI multiplexing.

[0249] The method provided in this application has been described above. In addition, this application also provides a communication device for implementing the functions described in the above method embodiments.

[0250] It is understood that, in order to achieve the aforementioned functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the units and algorithm steps of the examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, this application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0251] This application embodiment can divide the communication device into functional modules according to the above method embodiment. For example, each function can be divided into a separate functional module, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional module. It should be noted that the module division in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0252] Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of a communication device 80. The communication device 80 includes a processing module 801 and a transceiver module 802. This communication device 80 can be used to implement the functions of the aforementioned terminal or RAN node.

[0253] In some embodiments, the communication device 80 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG8) for storing program instructions and data.

[0254] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 802, also referred to as a transceiver unit, is used to implement sending and / or receiving functions. The transceiver module 802 may consist of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver unit, or a communication interface.

[0255] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 802 may include a receiving module and a sending module, respectively configured to perform the receiving and sending steps performed by the terminal or RAN node in the above method embodiments, and / or other processes to support the technology described herein; the processing module 801 may be configured to perform the processing steps performed by the terminal or RAN node in the above method embodiments, and / or other processes to support the technology described herein.

[0256] In some embodiments, when the communication device 80 is used to implement the functions of a terminal, the processing module 801 is used to determine a first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a second PUCCH, wherein the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH overlap in the time domain, the first PUCCH is used to carry first uplink control information (UCI), the second PUCCH is used to carry second UCI, and the effective symbol type of the first UCI and the second UCI is a first type; determine a third PUCCH, wherein the first UCI and the second UCI are multiplexed on the third PUCCH; if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is a first type, the third PUCCH is transmitted through the transceiver module 802, or if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes a second type, the third PUCCH is not transmitted.

[0257] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 802 is configured to send either the first PUCCH or the second PUCCH if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type. Optionally, the transceiver module 802 is configured to send the PUCCH with the highest priority between the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH.

[0258] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 802 is used to receive first configuration information from a radio access network (RAN) node. The first configuration information is used to configure a hybrid time slot, and / or the resources of a first PUCCH and the resources of a second PUCCH, wherein the hybrid time slot includes symbols of a first type and symbols of a second type. The processing module 801 is used to determine a third PUCCH based on the first configuration information, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is of the first type.

[0259] In one possible implementation, the processing module 801 is used to determine the resources of the third PUCCH according to a first rule, the first rule including: giving priority to the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH, and then considering the payload size that the third PUCCH can carry.

[0260] In one possible implementation, the processing module 801 is configured to determine at least one first resource, the symbol type corresponding to the first resource being a first type, the first resource being a resource indicated by a first index, the first index being a PUCCH resource index corresponding to the PRI of the fourth PUCCH, the fourth PUCCH being the PUCCH with the highest priority among the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH; and to determine the resource of the third PUCCH from the at least one first resource based on the size of the first UCI and the size of the second UCI.

[0261] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 802 is further configured to receive second configuration information from the radio access network (RAN) node, the second configuration information being used to configure a first PUCCH resource set, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resources in the first PUCCH resource set is a first type; and the processing module 801 is configured to determine the resources of the third PUCCH in the first PUCCH resource set.

[0262] In some embodiments, when the communication device 80 is used to implement the functions of a RAN node, the processing module 801 is used to receive a third PUCCH through the transceiver module 802.

[0263] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 802 is used to send first configuration information to the terminal. The first configuration information is used to configure mixed time slots, and / or the resources of the first PUCCH and the resources of the second PUCCH, wherein the mixed time slots include symbols of a first type and symbols of a second type.

[0264] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 802 is used to send second configuration information to the terminal. The second configuration information is used to configure a first PUCCH resource set, and the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resource in the first PUCCH resource set is a first type.

[0265] In some embodiments, when the communication device 80 is used to implement the functions of a terminal, the processing module 801 is used to determine a first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a second PUCCH, wherein the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH overlap in the time domain, the first PUCCH is used to carry first uplink control information (UCI), and the second PUCCH is used to carry second UCI, wherein the effective symbol type of the first UCI is SBFD symbol or non-SBFD symbol, and the effective symbol type of the second UCI is SBFD symbol or non-SBFD symbol; determine a third PUCCH, wherein the first UCI and the second UCI are multiplexed on the third PUCCH; and, if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is the first type, transmit the third PUCCH through the transceiver module 802.

[0266] In one possible implementation, the valid symbol types of the first UCI and the second UCI are both of type 1. The transceiver module 802 is used to send the third PUCCH when the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is type 1, or when the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes type 2.

[0267] In one possible implementation, the processing module 801 is further configured to determine that the symbols containing the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH are symbols of the first type.

[0268] In some embodiments, when the communication device 80 is used to implement the functions of a RAN node, the processing module 801 is used to receive a third PUCCH through the transceiver module 802.

[0269] In some embodiments, when the communication device 80 is used to implement the functions of a terminal, the processing module 801 is used to receive third configuration information through the transceiver module 802. The third configuration information is used to configure TDD time slots, and the TDD time slots may include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols at the same time.

[0270] In one possible implementation, the processing module 801 is used to perform UCI multiplexing based on third configuration information.

[0271] In some embodiments, when the communication device 80 is used to implement the functions of a RAN node, the processing module 801 is used to send third configuration information through the transceiver module 802.

[0272] All relevant content of each step involved in the above method embodiments can be referenced from the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.

[0273] In this application, the communication device 80 can be presented in an integrated manner by dividing it into various functional modules. Here, "module" can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuits, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions.

[0274] In some embodiments, when the communication device 80 in FIG8 is a chip or chip system, the function / implementation process of the transceiver module 802 can be implemented through the input / output interface (or communication interface) of the chip or chip system, and the function / implementation process of the processing module 801 can be implemented through the processor (or processing circuit) of the chip or chip system.

[0275] Since the communication device 80 provided in this embodiment can execute the above method, the technical effects it can achieve can be referred to the above method embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0276] As a possible product form, the terminal or RAN node described in the embodiments of this application can be implemented using one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuits, or any combination of circuits capable of performing the various functions described throughout this application.

[0277] As another possible product form, the terminal or RAN node described in this application embodiment can be implemented using a general bus architecture. For ease of explanation, refer to FIG9, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 900 provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 900 includes a processor 901 and a transceiver 902. The communication device 900 can be a terminal, or a chip or chip system therein; or, the communication device 900 can be a RAN node, or a chip or module therein. FIG9 only shows the main components of the communication device 900. In addition to the processor 901 and transceiver 902, the communication device may further include a memory 903 and input / output devices (not shown in the figure).

[0278] Optionally, the processor 901 is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process the data of the software programs, thereby implementing the methods provided in the above-described method embodiments. The memory 903 is mainly used to store software programs and data. The transceiver 902 may include radio frequency (RF) circuitry and an antenna. The RF circuitry is mainly used for converting baseband signals to RF signals and processing RF signals. The antenna is mainly used for transmitting and receiving RF signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output devices, such as touchscreens, displays, and keyboards, are mainly used to receive user input data and output data to the user.

[0279] Optionally, the processor 901, transceiver 902, and memory 903 can be connected via a communication bus.

[0280] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 901 can read the software program in the memory 903, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 901 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit processes the baseband signal and transmits the RF signal outward in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 901. The processor 901 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0281] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna can be set up independently of the processor performing baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna can be arranged remotely, independent of the communication device.

[0282] In some embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the above-described communication device 80 can take the form of the communication device 900 shown in FIG9 in terms of hardware implementation.

[0283] As an example, the function / implementation process of the processing module 801 in Figure 8 can be implemented by the processor 901 in the communication device 900 shown in Figure 9 calling computer execution instructions stored in the memory 903. The function / implementation process of the transceiver module 802 in Figure 8 can be implemented by the transceiver 902 in the communication device 900 shown in Figure 9.

[0284] As another possible product form, the terminal or RAN node in this application may adopt the composition structure shown in FIG10, or include the components shown in FIG10. FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device 1000 provided in this application. The communication device 1000 may be a terminal or a chip or system-on-a-chip in the terminal; or, it may be a RAN node or a module or chip or system-on-a-chip in the RAN node.

[0285] As shown in Figure 10, the communication device 1000 includes at least one processor 1001 and at least one communication interface (Figure 10 is merely an example illustrating the inclusion of a communication interface 1004 and a processor 1001). Optionally, the communication device 1000 may also include a communication bus 1002 and a memory 1003.

[0286] Processor 1001 can be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a PLD, or any combination thereof. Processor 1001 can also be other devices with processing functions, such as circuits, devices, or software modules, without limitation.

[0287] The communication bus 1002 is used to connect different components in the communication device 1000, enabling communication between them. The communication bus 1002 can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. This bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used in Figure 10, but this does not indicate that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0288] Communication interface 1004 is used for communicating with other devices or communication networks. For example, communication interface 1004 can be a module, circuit, transceiver, or any device capable of communication. Optionally, communication interface 1004 can also be an input / output interface located within processor 1001, used to implement signal input and signal output for the processor.

[0289] The memory 1003 may be a device with storage function, used to store instructions and / or data. The instructions may be computer programs.

[0290] For example, the memory 1003 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and / or instructions; it may also be a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and / or instructions; it may also be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, etc., without limitation.

[0291] It should be noted that the memory 1003 can exist independently of the processor 1001, or it can be integrated with the processor 1001. The memory 1003 can be located inside or outside the communication device 1000, without limitation. The processor 1001 can be used to execute the instructions stored in the memory 1003 to implement the methods provided in the following embodiments of this application.

[0292] As an optional implementation, the communication device 1000 may further include an output device 1005 and an input device 1006. The output device 1005 communicates with the processor 1001 and can display information in various ways. For example, the output device 1005 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector, etc. The input device 1006 communicates with the processor 1001 and can receive user input in various ways. For example, the input device 1006 may be a mouse, keyboard, touchscreen device, or sensing device, etc.

[0293] In some embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the communication device 80 shown in FIG8 can take the form of the communication device 1000 shown in FIG10 in terms of hardware implementation.

[0294] As an example, the function / implementation process of the processing module 801 in Figure 8 can be implemented by the processor 1001 in the communication device 1000 shown in Figure 10 calling computer execution instructions stored in the memory 1003. The function / implementation process of the transceiver module 802 in Figure 8 can be implemented by the communication interface 1004 in the communication device 1000 shown in Figure 10.

[0295] It should be noted that the structure shown in Figure 10 does not constitute a specific limitation on the terminal or RAN node. For example, in other embodiments of this application, the terminal or RAN node may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine some components, or split some components, or have different component arrangements. The components shown in the figure may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0296] In some embodiments, this application also provides a communication device, which includes a processor for implementing the methods in any of the above method embodiments.

[0297] As one possible implementation, the communication device also includes a memory. This memory stores necessary computer programs and data. The computer program may include instructions, which a processor can invoke to instruct the communication device to execute the methods described in any of the above method embodiments. Alternatively, the memory may not be present in the communication device.

[0298] As another possible implementation, the communication device also includes an interface circuit, which is a code / data read / write interface circuit, used to receive computer execution instructions (which are stored in memory and may be read directly from memory or may be transmitted through other devices) and transmit them to the processor.

[0299] As another possible implementation, the communication device also includes a communication interface for communicating with modules outside the communication device.

[0300] It is understood that the communication device can be a chip or a chip system. When the communication device is a chip system, it can be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0301] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program or instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a computer, implements the functions of any of the above-described method embodiments.

[0302] This application also provides a computer program product that, when executed by a computer, implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0303] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0304] It is understood that the systems, apparatuses, and methods described in this application can also be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the couplings or direct couplings or communication connections shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0305] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0306] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0307] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software programs, implementation can be, in whole or in part, in the form of a computer program product. This computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer or a data storage device containing one or more servers, data centers, etc., that can be integrated with the medium. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state drive (SSD)). In this embodiment, the computer may include the aforementioned apparatus.

[0308] Although this application has been described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, those skilled in the art, by reviewing the accompanying drawings, disclosure, and appended claims, will understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments in carrying out the claimed application. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit can implement several functions listed in the claims. While different dependent claims may recite certain measures, this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

[0309] Although this application has been described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments, it is obvious that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the scope of this application. Accordingly, this specification and drawings are merely illustrative descriptions of the application as defined by the appended claims, and are considered to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of this application. Clearly, those skilled in the art can make various alterations and modifications to this application without departing from the scope of this application. Thus, if such modifications and modifications of this application fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application is also intended to include such modifications and modifications.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: A first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a second PUCCH are determined. The first PUCCH and the second PUCCH overlap in the time domain. The first PUCCH is used to carry the first uplink control information (UCI), and the second PUCCH is used to carry the second UCI. The effective symbol type of the first UCI and the second UCI is the first type. A third PUCCH is determined, and the first UCI and the second UCI are multiplexed on the third PUCCH; If the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is the first type, the third PUCCH is sent; or, if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type, the third PUCCH is not sent.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, If the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type, the method further includes: Send the first PUCCH or the second PUCCH.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Sending the first PUCCH or the second PUCCH includes: Send the PUCCH with the highest priority between the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first configuration information from a Radio Access Network (RAN) node, the first configuration information being used to configure a hybrid time slot, and / or, the resources of the first PUCCH and the resources of the second PUCCH, wherein the hybrid time slot includes symbols of the first type and symbols of the second type; The third PUCCH is determined based on the first configuration information, and the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is the first type.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: In the mixed time slot, the index of the first type of symbol is in the first interval, the index of the second type of symbol is in the second interval, the symbol corresponding to the PUCCH resource in the mixed time slot is in the first interval or the second interval, the symbol corresponding to the first PUCCH is in the first interval, or the symbol corresponding to the second PUCCH is in the first interval.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The third PUCCH is determined, including: The resources of the third PUCCH are determined according to a first rule, which includes: giving priority to the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH, and then considering the payload size that the third PUCCH can carry.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The resources of the third PUCCH are determined according to the first rule, including: At least one first resource is determined, the symbol type corresponding to the first resource is the first type, the first resource is the resource indicated by the first index, the first index is the PUCCH resource index corresponding to the PUCCH resource indication field PRI of the fourth PUCCH, and the fourth PUCCH is the PUCCH with the highest priority among the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH. The resources of the third PUCCH are determined from the at least one first resource based on the size of the first UCI and the size of the second UCI.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive second configuration information from the Radio Access Network (RAN) node, the second configuration information being used to configure a first PUCCH resource set, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resource in the first PUCCH resource set is the first type; The determination of the third PUCCH includes: In the first PUCCH resource set, determine the resources of the third PUCCH.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second configuration information is also used to configure a second PUCCH resource set, wherein the symbol type corresponding to the PUCCH resource in the second PUCCH resource set is the second type.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first PUCCH resource set corresponds to the first sub-time unit, and the second PUCCH resource set corresponds to the second sub-time unit. The first sub-time unit and the second sub-time unit are sub-time units within the first time unit.

11. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: A first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a second PUCCH are determined. The first PUCCH and the second PUCCH overlap in the time domain. The first PUCCH is used to carry the first uplink control information (UCI), and the second PUCCH is used to carry the second UCI. The effective symbol type of the first UCI is either a sub-band full-duplex SBFD symbol or a non-SBFD symbol, and the effective symbol type of the second UCI is either an SBFD symbol or a non-SBFD symbol. A third PUCCH is determined, and the first UCI and the second UCI are multiplexed on the third PUCCH; Send the third PUCCH.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, Both the first UCI and the second UCI have valid symbol types of type 1. Sending the third PUCCH includes: The third PUCCH is sent if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH is the first type, or if the symbol type corresponding to the third PUCCH includes the second type.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, Before determining the third PUCCH, the method further includes: The symbols containing the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH are determined to be symbols of the first type.

14. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive third configuration information, which is used to configure time division duplex (TDD) time slots, wherein the TDD time slots may include flexible duplex (SBFD) symbols and non-SBFD symbols simultaneously.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The method further includes: Uplink control information (UCI) is multiplexed based on the third configuration information.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that, The TDD time slot may include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols simultaneously, including: The TDD time slot may include uplink symbols and a first type of symbols, wherein the first type of symbols is downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols.

17. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that, The TDD time slot may include SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols simultaneously, including: The TDD time slot includes uplink symbols and first type symbols, and the first type symbols are not configured as SBFD symbols. The first type symbols are downlink symbols and / or flexible symbols.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-10, or includes a module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 11-13, or includes a module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 14-17.

19. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor; the processor is configured to run a computer program or instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, or to cause the communication device to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 11-13, or to cause the communication device to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 14-17.

20. A chip or chip system, characterized in that, The chip or chip system includes a processor coupled to a memory for storing programs or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the method as described in any one of claims 1-10 to be executed, or cause the method as described in any one of claims 11-13 to be executed, or cause the method as described in any one of claims 14-17 to be executed.

21. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions or programs that, when executed on a computer, cause the method as described in any one of claims 1-10 to be performed, or cause the method as described in any one of claims 11-13 to be performed, or cause the method as described in any one of claims 14-17 to be performed.

22. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes computer instructions; when some or all of the computer instructions are executed on a computer, they cause the method as described in any one of claims 1-10 to be performed, or cause the method as described in any one of claims 11-13 to be performed, or cause the method as described in any one of claims 14-17 to be performed.

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