Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. In the communication method, a terminal device can determine at least one reference signal when a condition for handover from a first cell to a second cell is met; if a first reference signal associated with a first preconfigured resource exists among the at least one reference signal, the terminal device can send, on the first preconfigured resource by means of a first beam corresponding to the first reference signal, an uplink message to a network device to which the second cell belongs, so that the network device to which the second cell belongs is accessed in a random access-free manner; and if no reference signal associated with a preconfigured resource exists among the at least one reference signal, the second cell is accessed in a random access manner. Failure of access in the random access-free manner is avoided, and system flexibility can be improved, so as to adapt to different requirements.

Description

Communication methods and communication devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510389996.8, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on March 28, 2025, entitled "Communication Method and Communication Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communications, and specifically to communication methods and devices within the field of communications. Background Technology

[0003] In existing communication systems, before transmitting data with network devices, terminal devices must first connect to the network devices. Typically, terminal devices use a fixed access method to connect to the network devices. However, a fixed access method is not flexible enough and may result in the inability to connect to the network devices, thus failing to meet the requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and a communication device that can avoid network device access failures and improve system flexibility to meet different needs.

[0005] Firstly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device with computing capabilities or a component (such as a chip or module) of a terminal device with computing capabilities. For example, the terminal device can be referred to as a computing node. Alternatively, the method can also be executed by a computing device with communication capabilities or a component (such as a chip or module) of a computing device with communication capabilities. The following explanation uses a terminal device as the executing entity of this method as an example; in actual implementation, the executing entity of this method can be named in other ways.

[0006] The communication method includes: under the condition of handover from a first cell to a second cell, determining at least one reference signal, wherein the first cell is the serving cell of the terminal device; if a first reference signal among the at least one reference signal is associated with a first pre-configured resource, then sending an uplink message to the network device to which the second cell belongs via a first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource; if no reference signal among the at least one reference signal is associated with a pre-configured resource, then accessing the second cell via a random access method.

[0007] In the above scheme, under the handover condition of switching from the first cell to the second cell, the terminal device can determine at least one reference signal. If a first reference signal among the at least one reference signal is associated with a first pre-configured resource, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, so as to access the network device of the second cell via a non-random access method; if no reference signal among the at least one reference signal is associated with a pre-configured resource, then access to the second cell is achieved via a random access method. That is, the terminal device can attempt to determine if there is an available beam. If there is an available beam, the terminal device can use a non-random access method to access the network device of the second cell via the available beam. If there is no available beam, the terminal device can use a random access method to access the network device of the second cell, avoiding the failure of non-random access and improving the flexibility of the system to suit different needs.

[0008] In this configuration, the first cell is either the source cell or the serving cell, and the second cell is a candidate cell. The terminal device can determine at least one reference signal from the second cell.

[0009] Optionally, the first cell and the second cell can belong to the same network device or different network devices. This application embodiment does not impose such a limitation.

[0010] Optionally, the terminal device determines at least one reference signal, including: the terminal device can determine a reference signal that satisfies a first condition, for example, the first condition is that the difference between the signal quality of the reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold; or, the first condition is that the difference between the signal quality of the reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold and lasts for a first preset duration; or, the first condition is that the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than a second threshold, and the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell is higher than a third threshold; or, the first condition is that the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold, and the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell is higher than the third threshold and lasts for a second preset duration.

[0011] Optionally, some of the at least one reference signal may be associated with a pre-configured resource, while others may not be associated with one. Alternatively, each of the at least one reference signal may be associated with a pre-configured resource, or none of the at least one reference signal may be associated with a pre-configured resource. Optionally, one of the at least one reference signal may be associated with a pre-configured resource. Optionally, two or more of the at least one reference signal may be associated with a pre-configured resource. This application does not impose any limitations on the association relationship between reference signals and pre-configured resources.

[0012] In some possible implementations, determining at least one reference signal includes: measuring a reference signal of the second cell; determining the at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of a reference signal corresponding to a second beam, wherein the second beam is the beam used by the terminal device in the first cell.

[0013] In the above scheme, the terminal device can measure the reference signal of the second cell and determine at least one reference signal based on the reference signal quality of the second cell and the reference signal quality corresponding to the second beam, thus avoiding the situation where the terminal device cannot determine the reference signal.

[0014] In some possible implementations, determining the at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam includes: determining, in the reference signal of the second cell, the at least one reference signal whose signal quality differs from the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam by a value higher than a first threshold.

[0015] In the above scheme, the terminal device can determine at least one reference signal in the reference signal of the second cell whose signal quality difference with the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold.

[0016] In some possible implementations, determining the at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam includes: determining, in the reference signal of the second cell, at least one reference signal whose signal quality differs from the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam by a value higher than the first threshold and lasts for a first preset duration.

[0017] In the above scheme, the terminal device can determine at least one reference signal in the reference signal of the second cell whose signal quality difference with the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold and lasts for a first preset duration.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the communication method further includes: when there is a first reference signal whose signal quality differs from the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam by a value higher than the first threshold and lasts for the first preset duration, and a second reference signal whose signal quality differs from the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam by a value higher than the first threshold, determining to send an uplink message to the network device to which the second cell belongs via the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, wherein the second reference signal is associated with the second configuration resource.

[0019] In the above scheme, when both a first reference signal and a second reference signal exist in at least one reference signal, the terminal device determines that the first reference signal is relatively stable. Therefore, it can send uplink messages to the network device to which the second cell belongs through the first beam corresponding to the first pre-configured resource corresponding to the first reference signal, which can improve the success rate of accessing the network device to which the second cell belongs.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the communication method further includes: receiving first configuration information from the network device to which the first cell belongs, the first configuration information being used to configure the first threshold, or to configure the first threshold and the first preset duration.

[0021] In the above scheme, the network device to which the first cell belongs can be a source network device. The source network device can configure the terminal device to determine a first threshold for at least one reference signal, or configure a first threshold and a first preset duration for determining at least one reference signal.

[0022] In some possible implementations, determining the at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam includes: if the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than a second threshold, determining the at least one reference signal with a signal quality higher than a third threshold in the reference signals of the second cell.

[0023] In the above scheme, if the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than the second threshold, the terminal device can determine at least one reference signal with a quality greater than the third threshold in the reference signal of the second cell.

[0024] In some possible implementations, determining the at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam includes: if the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than the second threshold, determining the at least one reference signal in the reference signal of the second cell whose signal quality is higher than the third threshold and which lasts for a second preset duration.

[0025] In the above scheme, if the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than the second threshold, the terminal device can determine at least one reference signal in the reference signal of the second cell that is greater than the third threshold and lasts for a second preset duration.

[0026] In some possible implementations, the communication method further includes: when the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than the second threshold, and when there is a first reference signal with a signal quality higher than the third threshold and lasting for the second preset duration, and a second reference signal with a signal quality higher than the third threshold, determining to send an uplink message to the network device to which the second cell belongs via the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, wherein the second reference signal is associated with the second configuration resource.

[0027] In the above scheme, when both a first reference signal and a second reference signal exist in at least one reference signal, the terminal device determines that the first reference signal is relatively stable. Therefore, it can send uplink messages to the network device to which the second cell belongs through the first beam corresponding to the first pre-configured resource corresponding to the first reference signal, which can improve the success rate of accessing the network device to which the second cell belongs.

[0028] In some possible implementations, the communication method further includes: receiving second configuration information from the network device to which the first cell belongs, the second configuration information being used to configure the second threshold and the third threshold, or the second configuration information being used to configure the second threshold, the third threshold, and the second preset duration.

[0029] In the above scheme, the network device to which the first cell belongs can be a source network device. The source network device can configure the terminal device to determine a second threshold and a third threshold for at least one reference signal, or configure a second threshold, a third threshold and a second preset duration for determining at least one reference signal.

[0030] In some possible implementations, before determining at least one reference signal, the communication method further includes: determining at least one candidate cell that satisfies the handover conditions; determining a second cell configured with pre-configured resources among the at least one candidate cell; wherein determining at least one reference signal includes: determining the at least one reference signal of the second cell.

[0031] In the above scheme, the terminal device can determine at least one candidate cell that meets the handover conditions. Some of the candidate cells may be associated with pre-configured resources, while others may not be associated with pre-configured resources. The terminal device can take the second cell among the at least one candidate cell that is associated with pre-configured resources as the target cell and determine at least one reference signal of the second cell to avoid the situation where the target cell determined by the terminal device is not associated with pre-configured resources, which would lead to the failure of random access.

[0032] Optionally, the terminal device may identify a second cell with associated pre-configured resources and a valid TA from at least one candidate cell as the target cell.

[0033] In some possible implementations, if two or more of the at least one reference signal are associated with pre-configured resources, before sending an uplink message to the network device to which the second cell belongs via the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, the communication method further includes: determining the first pre-configured resource that is closest in time among the pre-configured resources associated with the two or more reference signals.

[0034] In the above scheme, the terminal device can select the first pre-configured resource with the closest time, which can save the latency of accessing the network device to which the second cell belongs.

[0035] Secondly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device with computing capabilities or a component (such as a chip or module) of a terminal device with computing capabilities. For example, the terminal device can be referred to as a computing node; alternatively, the method can also be executed by a computing device with communication capabilities or a component (such as a chip or module) of a computing device with communication capabilities. The following explanation uses a terminal device as the executing entity of this method as an example; in actual implementation, the executing entity of this method can be named in other ways.

[0036] The communication method includes: determining whether a first reference signal among at least one reference signal associated with a first pre-configured resource in at least one pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition; if the first reference signal satisfies the first condition, then sending an uplink message on the first pre-configured resource to the network device to which the second cell belongs via the beam corresponding to the first reference signal.

[0037] In the above scheme, the terminal device can determine whether a first reference signal among at least one reference signal associated with a first pre-configured resource in at least one pre-configured resource satisfies a first condition. If satisfied, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device to which the second cell belongs via the beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource. In this way, the terminal device can access the network device to which the second cell belongs via a non-random access method.

[0038] In some possible implementations, when the handover conditions for switching from a first cell to a second cell are met, it is determined whether there is a reference signal in the reference signals of the second cell that satisfies a first condition, where the first cell is the serving cell of the terminal device; determining whether a first reference signal among at least one reference signal associated with a first pre-configured resource in at least one pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition includes: if there is a reference signal in the reference signals of the second cell that satisfies the first condition, then determining whether the first reference signal among at least one reference signal associated with a first pre-configured resource in at least one pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition. If there is no reference signal in the reference signals of the second cell that satisfies the first condition, then the user accesses the network device to which the second cell belongs via random access.

[0039] In the above scheme, if a reference signal satisfying the first condition exists in the reference signals of the second cell, the terminal device determines whether the first reference signal among at least one reference signal associated with the first pre-configured resource in at least one pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition. If the first reference signal satisfies the first condition, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device to which the second cell belongs via the beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource. If no reference signal satisfying the first condition exists in the reference signals of the second cell, the terminal device can access the network device to which the second cell belongs via random access. This avoids the situation of failure without random access, improving the system's flexibility to suit different needs.

[0040] In some possible implementations, the communication method further includes: if each of the at least one reference signal associated with the first pre-configured resource does not satisfy the first condition, then determining whether the at least one reference signal associated with the second pre-configured resource in the at least one pre-configured resource meets the first condition; if the second reference signal associated with the second pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition, then sending an uplink message to the network device to which the second cell belongs via the beam corresponding to the second reference signal on the second pre-configured resource; wherein the time domain position of the first pre-configured resource is before the time domain position of the second pre-configured resource.

[0041] In the above scheme, if the first reference signal does not meet the first condition, the terminal device continues to determine whether other reference signals associated with the first pre-configured resource meet the first condition. If the third reference signal associated with the first pre-configured resource meets the first condition, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the beam corresponding to the third reference signal on the first pre-configured resource. If none of the reference signals associated with the first pre-configured resource meet the first condition, the terminal device can continue to determine whether the reference signals associated with the second pre-configured resource meet the first condition. If the second reference signal meets the first condition, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the beam corresponding to the second reference signal on the second pre-configured resource. The time domain position of the first pre-configured resource is before the time domain position of the second pre-configured resource. That is, the terminal device can sequentially determine whether there is a reference signal associated with a certain pre-configured resource that meets the first condition in chronological order. If it does, the terminal device can send an uplink message on the pre-configured resource with the earlier time using the beam corresponding to the reference signal, thereby reducing the latency of the terminal device accessing the second cell.

[0042] In some possible implementations, the communication method further includes: if the reference signal associated with each of the at least one pre-configured resources does not satisfy the first condition, then accessing the network device to which the second cell belongs via random access.

[0043] In the above scheme, if the terminal device determines that the reference signal associated with each pre-configured resource does not meet the first condition, the terminal device can access the network device to which the second cell belongs through random access.

[0044] In some possible implementations, the first condition is that the difference between the signal quality of the reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold, and the second beam is the beam used by the terminal device to access the first cell.

[0045] In some possible implementations, the first condition is that the difference between the signal quality of the reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold and lasts for a first preset duration.

[0046] In some possible implementations, the first condition is that the signal quality of the reference signal is higher than a third threshold, and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than a second threshold.

[0047] In some possible implementations, the first condition is that the signal quality of the reference signal is higher than the third threshold, and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold, and this condition persists for a second preset duration. Thirdly, a communication method is provided. This communication method can be executed by a first network device with computing capabilities or a component (such as a chip or module) of a first network device with computing capabilities. For example, the first network device can be an access network device, or an access computing node; alternatively, the method can also be executed by a computing device with communication capabilities or a component (such as a chip or module) of a computing device with communication capabilities. The following description uses the first network device as the execution subject of this method as an example. In actual implementation, the execution subject of this method can be other names.

[0048] The communication method includes: obtaining a first mapping relationship, the first mapping relationship being used to indicate the correspondence between at least one reference signal and at least one pre-configured resource; generating configuration information based on the first mapping relationship, the configuration information being used to configure the at least one reference signal; and sending the configuration information to the terminal device, wherein the first network device is the network device to which the source cell of the terminal device belongs.

[0049] In the above scheme, the first network device can generate configuration information for configuring at least one reference signal. The first network device can send the configuration information to the terminal device. The terminal device can measure at least one reference signal associated with pre-configured resources according to the configuration information, and determine the target reference signal among the at least one reference signal. The terminal device can send uplink messages to the candidate cell through the beam corresponding to the target reference signal on the pre-configured resources associated with the target reference signal, thereby improving the success rate of random access and avoiding the situation where the target reference signal selected by the terminal device is not associated with pre-configured resources, resulting in the failure of random access.

[0050] In some possible implementations, obtaining the first mapping relationship includes: obtaining the first mapping relationship from the network element that manages the first network device.

[0051] In the above scheme, the terminal device can obtain the first mapping relationship from the network element that manages the first network device.

[0052] Optionally, the network element that manages the first network device can also be used to manage the second network device.

[0053] In some possible implementations, obtaining the first mapping relationship includes: obtaining the first mapping relationship from the second network device to which the candidate cell belongs.

[0054] In the above scheme, the terminal device can obtain the first mapping relationship from the second network device to which the candidate cell belongs.

[0055] Fourthly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a network element capable of managing a first network device or a component (such as a chip or module) of a network element capable of managing a first network device; alternatively, the method can also be executed by a computing device capable of communication or a component (such as a chip or module) of a computing device capable of communication. The following explanation uses the network element managing the first network device as the executing entity of this method as an example; in actual implementation, the executing entity of this method can be other names.

[0056] The communication method includes: obtaining a first mapping relationship from a second network device to which a candidate cell of the terminal device belongs, the first mapping relationship being used to indicate the correspondence between at least one reference signal and at least one pre-configured resource; sending the first mapping relationship to the first network device; wherein the first network device is the network device to which the serving cell of the terminal device belongs.

[0057] In the above scheme, the network element that manages the first network device obtains the first mapping relationship from the second network device and sends the first mapping relationship to the first network device. In this way, the first network device can obtain the first mapping relationship so that the first network device can generate configuration information according to the first mapping relationship.

[0058] In some possible implementations, obtaining the first mapping relationship from the second network device to which the candidate cell of the terminal device belongs includes: obtaining the first mapping relationship from the second network device through the F1 interface or the Xn interface.

[0059] In the above scheme, the network element managing the first network device can obtain the first mapping relationship from the second network device through the F1 interface or the Xn interface.

[0060] In some possible implementations, before receiving the first mapping relationship from the second network device to which the candidate cell of the terminal device belongs, the communication method further includes: sending a request message to the second network device; wherein, receiving the first mapping relationship from the second network device to which the candidate cell of the terminal device belongs includes: receiving a response message to the request message from the second network device, the response message of the request message including the first mapping relationship.

[0061] In the above scheme, the network element that manages the first network device can send a request message to the second network device. The second network device can send a response message carrying the first mapping relationship to the network element that manages the first network device, thus avoiding the situation where the second network device does not know how to send the first mapping relationship.

[0062] Optionally, receiving a response message to the request message from the second network device includes receiving a response message to the request message from the second network device via the F1 interface or the Xn interface.

[0063] In some possible implementations, the communication method further includes: generating configuration information based on the first mapping relationship, the configuration information being used to configure the at least one reference signal; and sending the configuration information to the first network device.

[0064] In the above scheme, after the network element managing the first network device obtains the first mapping relationship from the second network device, it can generate configuration information according to the first mapping relationship and send the configuration information to the first network device so that the first network device can send the configuration information to the terminal device. The terminal device can measure at least one reference signal associated with the pre-configured resources according to the configuration information and determine the target reference signal among the at least one reference signal. The terminal device can send uplink messages to the candidate cell through the beam corresponding to the target reference signal on the pre-configured resources associated with the target reference signal, thereby improving the success rate of random access and avoiding the situation where the target reference signal selected by the terminal device is not associated with the pre-configured resources, resulting in the failure of random access.

[0065] Fifthly, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a second network device with computing capabilities or a component (such as a chip or module) of a second network device with computing capabilities. For example, the second network device can be an access network device, or an access computing node. Alternatively, the method can also be executed by a computing device with communication capabilities or a component (such as a chip or module) of a computing device with communication capabilities. The following explanation uses a second network device as the executing entity of this method as an example; in actual implementation, the executing entity of this method can be other names.

[0066] The communication method includes: receiving a request message; and sending a response message in response to the request message, the response message including a first mapping relationship, the first mapping relationship being used to indicate the correspondence between at least one reference signal and at least one pre-configured resource.

[0067] In some possible implementations, sending a response message in response to the request message includes: sending the response message via the F1 interface or the Xn interface in response to the request message.

[0068] Specifically, the description of the fifth aspect can be found in the descriptions of the third and fourth aspects mentioned above, but will not be described in detail to avoid redundancy.

[0069] Sixthly, a communication device is provided, which has the function of implementing any one of the above aspects. The function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver module or unit, a processing module or unit, an acquisition module or unit, etc.

[0070] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, including: a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program; and the processor is used to cause the communication device to execute any of the communication methods described above when the computer program is invoked.

[0071] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide a chip system including a processor coupled to a memory, wherein the processor executes a computer program stored in the memory to implement the communication method of any of the above aspects.

[0072] The chip system can be a single chip or a chip module composed of multiple chips.

[0073] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, implements the communication method of any of the above aspects.

[0074] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product that, when run on a communication device, causes the communication device to execute any of the communication methods described in the above aspects.

[0075] It is understood that the beneficial effects of aspects six through ten above can be found in the relevant descriptions of the above aspects, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0076] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the communication system provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0077] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the network device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0078] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0079] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0080] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between CG resources and SSB provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0081] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0082] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0083] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0084] It should be understood that the methods, situations, categories, and classifications of embodiments in this application are for the convenience of description only and should not constitute a special limitation. Various methods, categories, situations, and features in embodiments can be combined without contradiction.

[0085] It should also be understood that the terms "first," "second," and "third" in the embodiments of this application are for distinction only and should not constitute any limitation on this application. It should also be 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.

[0086] In this application embodiment, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, refers to "singular nouns or plural nouns," that is, "one or more." "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0087] Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, used in the description of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the steps or units listed, but may optionally include other steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0088] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, the words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or explanations. Any embodiment or design scheme 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 schemes. Specifically, the use of the words "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0089] The methods and apparatus provided in this application are based on the same or similar technical concepts. Since the methods and apparatus solve problems in similar ways, the implementation of the apparatus and methods can refer to each other, and repeated parts will not be described again.

[0090] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the wireless communication system may include a network device 110 and one or more terminal devices (such as terminal devices 121 and 122 shown in Figure 1) communicating with each other. When the network device 110 sends a signal, the network device 110 is the transmitter, and the terminal device 121 or terminal device 122 is the receiver. Conversely, when the terminal device 121 or terminal device 122 sends a signal, the terminal device 121 or terminal device 122 is the transmitter, and the network device 110 is the receiver. Optionally, terminal devices 121 and 122 can also communicate. When terminal device 121 sends a signal to terminal device 122, terminal device 121 is the transmitter, and terminal device 122 is the receiver. Conversely, when terminal device 122 sends a signal to terminal device 121, terminal device 122 is the transmitter, and terminal device 121 is the receiver.

[0091] Terminal equipment 121 or terminal equipment 122 can also be referred to as terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), roadside unit (RSU), etc. The terminal devices in this application can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, speakers, etc. They can also be wireless terminals used in scenarios such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical care, smart grids, transportation safety, smart cities, smart wearables, intelligent transportation, and smart homes. In this application, the aforementioned terminal devices and chips applicable to them are collectively referred to as terminal devices. It should be understood that this application does not limit the specific technology or form of the terminal device.

[0092] Network device 110 can be a device in a wireless network, and can also be referred to as a network apparatus. For example, network device 110 can be a radio access network (RAN) node that connects terminal devices to the wireless network, and can also be referred to as an access network device. Network device 110 includes, but is not limited to: evolved Node B (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), Node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (e.g., home evolved Node B, or home Node B, HNB), baseband unit (BBU), access point (AP), wireless relay node, wireless backhaul node, transmission point (TP), reception point (RP), or transmission and reception point (TRP) in a wireless fidelity (WIFI) system, and can also be network device in a 5G mobile communication system or other network device in other future network systems. For example, a next-generation NodeB (gNB), transmission reception point (TRP), or TP in an NR system; or, one or a group of antenna panels (including multiple antenna panels) of a base station in a 5G mobile communication system; or, network equipment 110 can also be a network node constituting a gNB or transmission point. For example, a BBU, or a distributed unit (DU), etc.

[0093] In some deployments, network device 110 may include a centralized unit (CU) and one or more distributed units (DUs). Network device 110 may also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU implements some functions of the gNB, and the DU implements some functions of the gNB, as shown in Figure 2. Each DU can connect to the CU via an F1 interface. Information exchange between different DUs can be completed based on forwarding by the CU. The CU and DU can be physically set together or separately; this embodiment does not impose such limitations. For example, the CU is responsible for handling non-real-time protocols and services, implementing the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) layer. The CU can also implement the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. The DU is responsible for handling physical layer protocols and real-time services, implementing the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, media access control (MAC) layer, and physical (PHY) layer. In some deployments, the CU can be further divided into a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) node and a centralized unit user plane (CU-UP) node. The CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions, while the CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions. For example, the CU-CP and CU-UP can be implemented by different functional entities and connected via an E1 interface. The CU-CP and CU-UP can be coupled with the DU to jointly complete the base station's functions. The CU control plane CU-CP also includes a further segmented architecture, dividing the existing CU-CP into CU-CP1 and CU-CP2. CU-CP1 includes various radio resource management functions, while CU-CP2 only includes radio resource control (RRC) functions and PDCP-C functions (i.e., the basic functions of control plane signaling at the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer).

[0094] The communication system shown in Figure 1 can be 4G, 5G, 6G or future communication systems, and this application embodiment does not limit it.

[0095] For ease of description, the device numbers are omitted in the following embodiments. For example, "terminal device" means "terminal device 121 or terminal device 122", and "network device" means "network device 110".

[0096] In this application embodiment, terminal devices and network devices are used as examples for description. In practical applications, this application embodiment can also be applied to other scenarios, such as satellite communication scenarios.

[0097] In existing communication systems, before transmitting data with network devices, terminal devices must first connect to the network devices. If the terminal devices use a fixed access method to connect to the network devices, the system design will be inflexible and unable to meet different communication needs. For example, a fixed method can be a random access method, or it can be a non-random access method.

[0098] Random access requires a certain amount of time, resulting in significant latency for terminal devices accessing network devices. This is especially true during handover scenarios, where a terminal device moves from the coverage area of ​​one network device to another. Accessing the new network device via random access leads to substantial latency, impacting transmission performance. In non-random access methods, terminal devices can use pre-configured resources to access other network devices. These pre-configured resources can be associated with reference signals. However, due to the large number of reference signals, some are associated with pre-configured resources while others are not. If a terminal device measures a reference signal with good quality, but this signal is not associated with a pre-configured resource, the uplink message transmission using the corresponding beam will fail, resulting in access failure.

[0099] In this embodiment of the application, the first network device can be the source network device, and the second network device can be called the candidate network device before the handover. When the terminal device determines to hand over to the candidate network device, the second network device can be the target network device. The cell managed by the second network device can be called the candidate cell before the terminal device handover. When the terminal device determines to hand over to a candidate cell managed by the second network device, the cell managed by the second network device can be called the target cell.

[0100] The following describes the terminology used in the embodiments of this application.

[0101] In random access (RA) or random access channel (RACH) methods, when a terminal device accesses a network device, it can send multiple preambles to the network device and select one. The network device can blindly detect the preamble. After detecting the preamble, the network device can send an uplink grant to the terminal device. The uplink grant may include timing advance (TA). The terminal device sends uplink messages based on the uplink grant. Therefore, the latency of a terminal device accessing a network device via random access is relatively long. However, through random access, the terminal device and the network device can complete uplink synchronization based on the TA, and the network device can also determine the beam direction based on the resources received from the preamble. In this way, the terminal device and the network device can communicate using aligned beam directions.

[0102] Without random access, terminal devices can send uplink messages based on pre-configured uplink grants (CGs) without sending preambles. Therefore, this reduces latency for terminal devices accessing network devices. These pre-configured uplink grants are also known as semi-static uplink grants. Essentially, the network device pre-configures resources for sending uplink messages for the terminal device; these pre-configured uplink grants are also called pre-configured resources or CG resources.

[0103] In handover, a terminal device can move from the coverage area of ​​a first network device to the coverage area of ​​a second network device. The first network device can be the network device belonging to the serving cell (or source cell) of the terminal device. The terminal device can switch from the first network device to the second network device. Handover can be triggered by the terminal device itself or by the first network device. Terminal-triggered handover occurs when the terminal device determines that handover conditions are met and then initiates the switch to the second network device. First-network-triggered handover occurs when the first network device, after confirming that the handover conditions are met, sends a handover command to the terminal device. In terminal-triggered handover scenarios, to reduce the time it takes for the terminal device to access the second network device, it can utilize a pre-configured uplink grant (CG) to switch to the second network device. While the second network device can grant the pre-configured uplink grant to the terminal device, if the terminal device does not access the second network device for an extended period, the pre-configured uplink grant may not be allocated to other terminal devices, resulting in wasted resources.

[0104] In this embodiment, under the handover condition of switching from a first cell to a second cell, the terminal device can determine at least one reference signal. If a first reference signal among the at least one reference signal is associated with a first pre-configured resource, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device belonging to the second cell via the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, so as to access the network device belonging to the second cell via a non-random access method; if no reference signal among the at least one reference signal is associated with a pre-configured resource, then access to the second cell is achieved via a random access method. That is, the terminal device can attempt to determine if there is an available beam, and use the available beam to access the network device belonging to the second cell via a non-random access method. If there is an available beam, the terminal device can access the network device belonging to the second cell via a non-random access method; if there is no available beam, the terminal device can access the network device belonging to the second cell via a random access method. This avoids the situation where non-random access fails, and can improve the flexibility of the system to adapt to different needs.

[0105] The communication method 300 of this application embodiment is described below with reference to FIG3. As shown in FIG3, the communication method 300 includes:

[0106] S310, if the handover conditions for switching from the first cell to the second cell are met, the terminal device determines at least one reference signal.

[0107] In this configuration, the first cell is either the serving cell or the source cell of the terminal device, and the second cell is a candidate cell. At least one reference signal determined by the terminal device is a reference signal of the second cell.

[0108] Optionally, the first cell and the second cell can belong to the same network device or different network devices. If the first cell and the second cell belong to the same network device, the terminal device needs to switch from the first cell of one network device to the second cell of the same network device, thus enabling handover between different cells under the same network device. If the first cell and the second cell belong to different network devices, the first cell belongs to the first network device and the second cell belongs to the second network device. For example, the first network device can be DU1 and the second network device can be DU2. DU1 and DU2 can be DUs under the same CU or DUs under different CUs, such as DU1 being a DU under CU1 and DU2 being a DU under CU2.

[0109] Optionally, prior to S310, the terminal device may determine at least one candidate cell that meets the handover conditions, and determine a second cell associated with pre-configured resources among the at least one candidate cell. That is, there may be one or more candidate cells that meet the handover conditions, and the terminal device may determine a second cell associated with pre-configured resources among the one or more candidate cells. Optionally, the terminal device may determine a second cell associated with pre-configured resources and with a valid TA (Translation Address). S310 includes: the terminal device determining at least one reference signal for the second cell.

[0110] Optionally, in a handover scenario triggered by the terminal device, before S310, the terminal device determines whether the handover conditions are met. Once the terminal device determines that the handover conditions for switching from the current first cell to the second cell are met, S310 can be executed. For example, if the terminal device determines that the signal quality of the first cell is poor and the signal quality of the second cell is good, then it can determine that the handover conditions for switching from the current first cell to the second cell are met. Specifically, the handover conditions can also take other forms. For example, if the terminal device determines that the difference between the RSRP of a certain reference signal in the second cell and the RSRP of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam used by the terminal device in the first cell is greater than a first threshold, then the handover condition is met. Another example is if the terminal device determines that the difference between the RSRP of a certain reference signal in the second cell and the RSRP of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam used by the terminal device in the first cell is greater than a first threshold and has lasted for a first preset duration, then the handover condition is met. Yet another example is if the RSRP of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam used by the terminal device in the first cell is less than a second threshold, and the RSRP of a certain reference signal in the second cell is greater than a third threshold, then the handover condition is met. Yet another example is if the RSRP of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam used by the terminal device in the first cell is less than a second threshold, and the RSRP of a certain reference signal in the second cell is greater than a third threshold, then the handover condition is met. If the RSRP is greater than a third threshold and persists for a second preset duration, the handover condition is met. Alternatively, if the terminal device determines that the difference between the cell-level RSRP of the second cell and the cell-level RSRP of the terminal device's first cell is greater than a fourth threshold, the handover condition is met. Similarly, if the terminal device determines that the difference between the cell-level RSRP of the second cell and the cell-level RSRP of the terminal device's first cell is greater than a fourth threshold and persists for a third preset duration, the handover condition is met. Furthermore, if the terminal device determines that the cell-level RSRP of the second cell is greater than a fifth threshold and the cell-level RSRP of the terminal device's first cell is less than a sixth threshold, the handover condition is met. Finally, if the terminal device determines that the cell-level RSRP of the second cell is greater than a fifth threshold and the cell-level RSRP of the terminal device's first cell is less than a sixth threshold and persists for a fourth preset duration, the handover condition is met. This application embodiment does not impose any restrictions on the handover conditions.

[0111] Optionally, the terminal device determines at least one reference signal, including: the terminal device measuring a reference signal of the second cell; the terminal device determining at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam. The second beam is the beam used by the terminal device in the first cell, and the used beam can be indicated by the transmission configuration indicator state ID (TCI State ID). Optionally, each reference signal in the at least one reference signal corresponds to one beam; for example, N reference signals can correspond to N beams, where N is a positive integer. Optionally, the terminal device determining at least one reference signal can be replaced by: the terminal device determining at least one beam, where at least one beam corresponds to at least one reference signal. The terminal device measuring the reference signal of the second cell can be done by the terminal device measuring the reference signal sent by the network device to which the second cell belongs.

[0112] Optionally, the terminal device determines at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam. This includes: the terminal device determining at least one reference signal among the reference signals of the second cell whose signal quality difference with the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold. In other words, the terminal device can determine the magnitude of the difference between the signal quality of each reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam, and determine the reference signal whose difference is higher than the first threshold as at least one reference signal. For example, if the terminal device measures 10 reference signals of the second cell, and the difference between the signal quality of 5 reference signals and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold, then these 5 reference signals are determined. Optionally, the first threshold can be a threshold used to determine whether to switch cells or a first threshold reconfigured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through first configuration information. That is, the terminal device can use the first threshold used to determine whether to switch cells to determine at least one reference signal, or the terminal device can use the threshold configured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through first configuration information to determine at least one reference signal. This embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0113] Optionally, the terminal device determines at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam. This includes: the terminal device determining at least one reference signal among the reference signals of the second cell whose signal quality difference with the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold and persists for a first preset duration. In other words, the terminal device can determine the magnitude of the difference between the signal quality of each reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam, and determine the reference signal whose difference is higher than the first threshold and has been stably maintained for the first preset duration as at least one reference signal. In other words, the terminal device can measure the reference signals of the second cell intermittently or periodically within the first preset duration, and determine at least one reference signal whose signal quality difference with the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold within the first preset duration. For example, if the terminal device intermittently or periodically measures 10 reference signals of the second cell within the first preset duration, and the signal quality difference between the reference signals of 4 reference signals and the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold within the first preset duration, then these 4 reference signals are determined. Optionally, the first threshold may be a threshold for determining whether to switch cells or a threshold for reconfiguration of the network device to which the first cell belongs. This embodiment of the application does not impose any limitations on this. Optionally, the first threshold and the first preset duration may be values ​​for determining whether to switch cells or thresholds reconfigured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through first configuration information. That is, the terminal device may use the first threshold for determining whether to switch cells and the first preset duration to determine at least one reference signal; or, the terminal device may use the value configured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through the first configuration information to determine at least one reference signal; or, the terminal device may use the first threshold for determining whether to switch cells and the first preset duration configured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through the first configuration information to determine at least one reference signal; or, the terminal device may use the first threshold configured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through the first configuration information and the first preset duration for determining whether to switch cells to determine at least one reference signal. This embodiment of the application does not impose any limitations on this. The value of the first configuration information reconfiguration can also be replaced by other values. For example, the seventh threshold can be used to replace the first threshold, and the fifth preset duration can be used to replace the first preset duration. In other words, the terminal device determines the first threshold of at least one reference signal, or the first threshold and the first preset duration can be values ​​in the handover conditions, or values ​​reconfigured by the network device to which the first cell belongs. When it is a reconfigured value, it can be replaced by other values.

[0114] Optionally, the terminal device determines at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam. This includes: if the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than a second threshold, determining at least one reference signal with a signal quality higher than a third threshold among the reference signals of the second cell. Optionally, the second threshold may be less than or equal to the third threshold. That is, if the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than the second threshold, it indicates that the signal quality of the current first cell is poor. The terminal device can then measure the reference signal of the second cell and determine at least one reference signal with a signal quality higher than the third threshold among the reference signals of the second cell. For example, if the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is poor, and the terminal device measures 10 reference signals of the second cell, and 5 of these reference signals have a signal quality higher than the third threshold, then these 5 reference signals are determined. Optionally, the second and third thresholds can be thresholds used to determine whether to switch cells or thresholds reconfigured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through the second configuration information. That is, the terminal device can use the third threshold to determine whether to switch cells to determine at least one reference signal, or the terminal device can use the third threshold configured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through the third configuration information to determine at least one reference signal. The second threshold can be either a threshold used by the terminal device to determine whether to switch cells or a threshold reconfigured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through the second configuration information; this application embodiment does not impose any limitations on this. The reconfigured value of the second configuration information can also be replaced by other values. For example, the eighth threshold can replace the second threshold, the ninth threshold can replace the third threshold, and the sixth preset duration can replace the second preset duration. In other words, the terminal device determines at least one reference signal using the second and third thresholds, or the second threshold, the third threshold, and the second preset duration can be values ​​in the switching conditions or values ​​reconfigured by the network device to which the first cell belongs. When they are reconfigured values, they can be replaced by other values.

[0115] Optionally, the terminal device determines at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam. This includes: if the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than a second threshold, determining at least one reference signal among the reference signals of the second cell whose signal quality is higher than a third threshold and remains stable for a second preset duration. In other words, if the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than the second threshold, it indicates that the signal quality of the current first cell is poor. The terminal device can then measure the reference signal of the second cell, and determine at least one reference signal whose signal quality is higher than the third threshold and remains stable for a second preset duration. In other words, the terminal device can measure the reference signal of the second cell intermittently or periodically within the second preset duration to determine at least one reference signal whose signal quality is higher than the third threshold within that second preset duration. For example, if the terminal device intermittently or periodically measures 10 reference signals of the second cell within the second preset duration, and the signal quality of 4 of these reference signals is higher than the third threshold within the second preset duration, then these 4 reference signals are determined. Optionally, the second threshold may be a threshold for determining whether to switch cells or a threshold reconfigured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through the second configuration information; this embodiment does not limit this. The third threshold may be a threshold for determining whether to switch cells or a threshold reconfigured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through the second configuration information; this embodiment does not limit this. Optionally, the second preset duration may be a threshold for determining whether to switch cells or a threshold reconfigured by the network device to which the first cell belongs through the second configuration information; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0116] Optionally, the signal quality of the reference signal in the embodiments of this application can be characterized by parameters such as reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), and signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR).

[0117] S320, if at least one of the reference signals is associated with a first reference signal and a first pre-configured resource, the terminal device sends an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, and the network device of the second cell receives the uplink message from the terminal device on the first pre-configured resource.

[0118] Optionally, some of the at least one reference signal may be associated with a pre-configured resource, while others may not be associated with one. Alternatively, each of the at least one reference signal may be associated with a pre-configured resource, or none of the at least one reference signal may be associated with a pre-configured resource. Optionally, one of the at least one reference signal may be associated with a pre-configured resource. Optionally, two or more of the at least one reference signal may be associated with a pre-configured resource. This application does not impose any limitations on the association relationship between reference signals and pre-configured resources.

[0119] Optionally, the network device belonging to the first cell can configure the association relationship between the reference signal and the pre-configured resources to the terminal device. Optionally, the network device belonging to the second cell can send the association relationship between the reference signal and the pre-configured resources to the network device belonging to the first cell, so that the network device belonging to the first cell can configure the association relationship between the reference signal and the pre-configured resources to the terminal device. In other words, the association relationship between the reference signal and the pre-configured resources can be determined and configured by the network device belonging to the first cell to the terminal device, or it can be sent by the network device belonging to the second cell to the network device belonging to the first cell. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0120] Optionally, one reference signal corresponds to one beam. In this embodiment, the association between the reference signal and the pre-configured resource can be replaced by the association between the beam and the pre-configured resource, or by the association between the beam corresponding to the reference signal and the pre-configured resource. No specific limitations are imposed on the embodiments of this application.

[0121] Optionally, the uplink message in S320 can be an uplink message used for random access-free access.

[0122] Optionally, if the number of at least one reference signal determined in S310 is one, and the reference signal is a first reference signal, then in S320, the terminal device determines whether the first reference signal has an associated first pre-configured resource. If it does, S320 can be executed. Otherwise, S330 is executed.

[0123] Optionally, if there are multiple reference signals determined in S310, then in S320, the terminal device determines whether there is a reference signal associated with a pre-configured resource among the multiple reference signals. If there are multiple reference signals associated with the configuration resource, the terminal device can determine a first reference signal among the multiple reference signals. If the first reference signal is associated with a first pre-configured resource, then S320 can be executed.

[0124] Optionally, if there are multiple reference signals associated with the configuration resource, the terminal device determines the first reference signal among the multiple reference signals. This includes: the terminal device can determine the first reference signal that is closest in time to the associated pre-configured resource among the multiple reference signals. For example, the first reference signal is associated with the first pre-configured resource, the second reference signal is associated with the second pre-configured resource, and the time domain position of the first pre-configured resource is earlier than the time domain position of the second pre-configured resource. Then, the terminal device determines to send an uplink message to the network device to which the second cell belongs through the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource. In this way, the latency of accessing the network device to which the second cell belongs can be saved. For example, as shown in Figure 5, CG resources are pre-configured resources, and the reference signal is SSB. In Figure 4, CG resource 1 is associated with SSB1 and SSB2, CG resource 2 is associated with SSB3 and SSB4, and so on, CG resource n is associated with SSB x and SSB y. The temporal order of CG resources is the same as CG resource 1, CG resource 2, ..., CG resource n. The terminal device can determine at least one reference signal as SSB1 and SSB3. SSB1 is associated with CG resource 1, and SSB3 is associated with CG resource 2. Since CG resource 1 precedes CG resource 2, the terminal device can determine to send uplink messages to the network device of the second cell through the beam corresponding to SSB1 on CG resource 1, which helps to reduce the latency of accessing the network device of the second cell.

[0125] Optionally, if there are multiple reference signals associated with the configuration resource, the terminal device determines a first reference signal among the multiple reference signals, including: the terminal device determines the first reference signal according to the judgment conditions of the multiple reference signals, for example, there is a second reference signal among the multiple reference signals, the second reference signal is associated with the second pre-configured resource, and the difference between the signal quality of the second reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold; the first reference signal among the multiple reference signals is associated with the first pre-configured resource, the difference between the signal quality of the first reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold, and this difference has lasted for a first preset duration. Therefore, the terminal device determines that the first reference signal is relatively stable, and can send an uplink message to the network device to which the second cell belongs through the first beam corresponding to the first pre-configured resource corresponding to the first reference signal. For example, among multiple reference signals, there is a second reference signal associated with a second pre-configured resource. The signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than a second threshold, and the signal quality of the second reference signal is greater than a third threshold. Among multiple reference signals, the first reference signal is associated with a first pre-configured resource. The signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than the second threshold, and the signal quality of the first reference signal is greater than the third threshold, and this has lasted for a second preset duration. Therefore, the terminal device determines that the first reference signal is relatively stable and can send an uplink message to the network device of the second cell through the first beam corresponding to the first pre-configured resource corresponding to the first reference signal.

[0126] Optionally, if there are multiple reference signals associated with the configuration resources, the terminal device determines a first reference signal from among the multiple reference signals. This includes: the terminal device determining the first reference signal based on the judgment conditions of the multiple reference signals and the time of the pre-configured resources associated with the multiple reference signals. For example, among the multiple reference signals, a second reference signal is associated with a second pre-configured resource, a third reference signal is associated with a second pre-configured resource, and the difference between the signal quality of the second reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold; among the multiple reference signals, a first reference signal is associated with a first pre-configured resource, the difference between the signal quality of the first reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold, and this difference persists for a first preset duration; the difference between the signal quality of the third reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold, and this difference persists for a first preset duration. Therefore, the terminal device determines that the first reference signal and the third reference signal are relatively stable. If the time domain position of the first pre-configured resource is earlier than the time domain position of the third pre-configured resource, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device of the second cell through the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource corresponding to the first reference signal.

[0127] Optionally, after S320, the network device to which the second cell belongs receives the uplink message on the first pre-configured resource. The network device to which the second cell belongs can determine, based on the correspondence between the first pre-configured resource and the first reference signal, to communicate with the terminal device using the beam corresponding to the first reference signal, thereby achieving beam alignment with the terminal device.

[0128] S330: If none of the at least one reference signal is associated with a pre-configured resource, the terminal device accesses the second cell via random access. In S330, if each of the at least one reference signal is not associated with a pre-configured resource, it indicates that no pre-configured resource is available. Therefore, access to the second cell via random access is not possible, and random access must be used to avoid failure when accessing the second cell via random access.

[0129] In the aforementioned communication method 300, under the handover condition of switching from a first cell to a second cell, the terminal device can determine at least one reference signal. If a first reference signal among the at least one reference signal is associated with a first pre-configured resource, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device belonging to the second cell via the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, so as to access the network device belonging to the second cell via a non-random access method; if no reference signal among the at least one reference signal is associated with a pre-configured resource, then access to the second cell is achieved via a random access method. In other words, the terminal device can attempt to determine if there is an available beam. If an available beam is available, the terminal device can access the network device belonging to the second cell via the available beam using a non-random access method; if no available beam is available, the terminal device can access the network device belonging to the second cell via a random access method. This avoids the possibility of failure when using non-random access, improving system flexibility to suit different needs.

[0130] In the aforementioned communication method 300, the terminal device determines whether a reference signal associated with a pre-configuration exists among at least one reference signal that meets the conditions. The following description, in conjunction with communication method 500, addresses whether the reference signal associated with the pre-configuration resource meets the conditions. In other words, the difference between communication method 300 and communication method 500 is that communication method 300 first determines at least one reference signal that meets the conditions, and then determines the reference signal associated with the pre-configuration resource; while communication method 500 determines whether the reference signal associated with the pre-configuration resource meets the conditions. The following description, in conjunction with communication method 500, describes the communication method provided in this application embodiment. As shown in Figure 5, communication method 500 includes:

[0131] S510, determine whether the first reference signal among at least one reference signal associated with the first pre-configured resource in at least one pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition.

[0132] Prior to S510, communication method 500 further includes: the terminal device determining the handover conditions for switching from the first cell to the second cell. For example, the terminal device can use the reference signal of the first cell and the reference signal of the second cell to determine whether the handover conditions are met, or the terminal device can use the cell-level reference signal of the first cell and the cell-level reference signal of the second cell to determine whether the handover conditions are met. Specifically, the handover conditions can be referred to the description of communication method 300. Optionally, if the handover conditions for switching from the first cell to the second cell are met, the terminal device needs to determine whether to use a random access method or a non-random access method to access the second cell. If the terminal device determines that there is a reference signal in the reference signal of the second cell that meets the first condition, it determines to use the non-random access method to access the second cell, and therefore S510 can be executed. If the terminal device determines that there is no reference signal in the reference signal of the second cell that meets the first condition, the terminal device accesses the second cell through a random access method. The terminal device can further determine whether there is a reference signal in the reference signal of the second cell that meets the first condition. This avoids a situation where, even if the handover conditions for switching from the first cell to the second cell are met, the reference signal of the second cell does not meet the first condition, preventing the terminal device from accessing the second cell using the non-random access method. In other words, the terminal device needs to use the first condition to determine whether there is a reference signal with good signal quality in the reference signal of the second cell. If there is, it means that it may be possible to access the second cell using the non-random access method; if there is no reference signal with good signal quality in the reference signal of the second cell, it means that accessing the second cell using the non-random access method may fail, and therefore, a random access method can be used to access the network device to which the second cell belongs.

[0133] Optionally, the first condition is that the difference between the signal quality of the reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold, where the second beam is the beam used by the terminal device to access the first cell. That is, before S510, the terminal device determines whether there are any reference signals in the reference signals of the second cell whose signal quality difference with the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold. If so, it indicates that access to the second cell may be possible using a non-random access method, and S510 can be executed. The terminal device then determines whether the difference between the signal quality of the first reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold. If it is higher than the first threshold, the first condition is met, and S520 can be executed. If the terminal device determines that the signal quality of any reference signal in the reference signals of the second cell does not meet the requirement that the difference between its signal quality and the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold, it indicates that access to the second cell requires a random access method. Optionally, the first threshold can be configured by the network device to which the first cell belongs.

[0134] Optionally, the first condition is that the difference between the signal quality of the reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold and lasts for a first preset duration. That is, before S510, the terminal device determines whether there are any reference signals in the reference signals of the second cell whose signal quality difference with the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold and lasts for a first preset duration. If so, it indicates that the second cell may be accessible without random access, and S510 can be executed. The terminal device then determines whether the difference between the signal quality of the first reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold and lasts for a first preset duration. If it is higher than the first threshold and lasts for a first preset duration, the first condition is met, and S520 can be executed. If the terminal device determines that the signal quality of any reference signal in the reference signals of the second cell does not meet the condition that the difference between the signal quality of the reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold and lasts for a first preset duration, it indicates that access to the second cell is required via random access. Optionally, the first threshold and / or the first preset duration can be configured by the network device to which the first cell belongs.

[0135] Optionally, the first condition is that the signal quality of the reference signal is higher than the third threshold, and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold. Before S510, the terminal device determines whether there are any reference signals in the second cell whose signal quality is higher than the third threshold and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold. If so, it indicates that access to the second cell may be possible using a non-random access method, and S510 can be executed. The terminal device then determines whether the signal quality of the first reference signal is higher than the third threshold and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold. If the signal quality of the first reference signal is higher than the third threshold and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold, it indicates that the first condition is met, and S520 can be executed. If the terminal device determines that the signal quality of any reference signal in the second cell does not meet the requirement of being higher than the third threshold, it indicates that access to the second cell needs to be done through a random access method. Optionally, the second threshold and / or the third threshold can be configured by the network equipment to which the first cell belongs.

[0136] Optionally, the first condition is that the signal quality of the reference signal is higher than the third threshold, and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold, and this condition persists for a second preset duration. Before S510, the terminal device determines whether there are any reference signals in the second cell whose signal quality is higher than the third threshold, and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold and persists for a second preset duration. If so, it indicates that access to the second cell may be possible using a non-random access method, and S510 can be executed. The terminal device then determines whether the signal quality of the first reference signal is higher than the third threshold, and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold and persists for a second preset duration. If the signal quality of the first reference signal is higher than the third threshold, and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold and persists for a second preset duration, then the first condition is met, and S520 can be executed. If the terminal device determines that the signal quality of any reference signal in the second cell does not meet the condition of being higher than the third threshold and persisting for a second preset duration, it indicates that access to the second cell requires a random access method. Optionally, at least one of the second threshold, the third threshold, or the second preset duration can be configured by the network device to which the first cell belongs.

[0137] Optionally, the network device belonging to the first cell can configure at least one pre-configured resource and reference signal association relationship to the terminal device. Optionally, the network device belonging to the second cell can send at least one pre-configured resource and reference signal association relationship to the network device belonging to the first cell, so that the network device belonging to the first cell can configure at least one pre-configured resource and reference signal association relationship to the terminal device. In other words, the at least one pre-configured resource and reference signal association relationship can be determined and configured by the network device belonging to the first cell to the terminal device, or it can be sent by the network device belonging to the second cell to the network device belonging to the first cell. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0138] Optionally, the association between at least one pre-configured resource and the reference signal can be the association between at least one pre-configured resource and the reference signal of the second cell.

[0139] S520, if the first reference signal satisfies the first condition, the terminal device sends an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, and the network device of the second cell can receive the uplink message sent by the terminal device on the first pre-configured resource.

[0140] Optionally, the first pre-configured resource can be the pre-configured resource with the closest time-domain location among at least one pre-configured resource.

[0141] Optionally, if the first reference signal does not meet the first condition, the terminal device determines whether other reference signals associated with the first pre-configured resource meet the first condition. If the third reference signal associated with the first pre-configured resource meets the first condition, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the beam corresponding to the third reference signal on the first pre-configured resource. The network device of the second cell receives the uplink message sent by the terminal device on the first pre-configured resource. Optionally, if none of the at least one reference signal associated with the first pre-configured resource meets the first condition, the terminal device can further determine whether at least one reference signal associated with the second pre-configured resource in the at least one pre-configured resource meets the first condition. If the second reference signal associated with the second pre-configured resource meets the first condition, the terminal device sends an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the beam corresponding to the second reference signal on the second pre-configured resource. In this configuration, the time domain position of the first pre-configured resource precedes that of the second pre-configured resource. If none of the reference signals associated with the second pre-configured resource satisfy the first condition, the terminal device continues to determine whether at least one reference signal corresponding to the third pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition. The time domain position of the second pre-configured resource precedes that of the third pre-configured resource, and so on, until the last pre-configured resource is determined. If, after determining at least one pre-configured resource, the terminal device finds that none of the reference signals associated with each pre-configured resource satisfy the first condition, the terminal device accesses the network device of the second cell via random access. In other words, the terminal device can sequentially determine whether any reference signal associated with a pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition. If so, it can send uplink messages on the earlier pre-configured resource using the beam corresponding to the reference signal, thereby reducing the latency of the terminal device accessing the second cell.

[0142] Specifically, the first condition in S520 can be found in the description of S510, but will not be described in detail to avoid redundancy.

[0143] In the aforementioned communication method 500, under the handover condition of switching from a first cell to a second cell, the terminal device determines whether a first reference signal among at least one reference signal associated with a first pre-configured resource in at least one pre-configured resource satisfies a first condition. If the first reference signal satisfies the first condition, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource. If the first reference signal does not satisfy the first condition, the terminal device continues to determine whether other reference signals associated with the first pre-configured resource satisfy the first condition. If a third reference signal associated with the first pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the beam corresponding to the third reference signal on the first pre-configured resource. If none of the reference signals associated with the first pre-configured resource satisfy the first condition, the terminal device can determine whether a second reference signal among at least one reference signal associated with a second pre-configured resource after the first pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition. If the second reference signal satisfies the first condition, the terminal device can send an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the beam corresponding to the second reference signal on the second pre-configured resource. Similarly, if a terminal device determines that a reference signal on a pre-configured resource meets the first condition, it can send an uplink message on that pre-configured resource through the beam corresponding to that reference signal. If the terminal device determines that none of the reference signals associated with each pre-configured resource meet the first condition, it can access the network device of the second cell through random access. In this way, the terminal device can first determine whether the reference signals associated with earlier pre-configured resources meet the first condition. If they do, it can access the network device of the second cell using a non-random access method, thus reducing access latency. For example, as shown in Figure 4, CG resources are pre-configured resources, and the reference signal is SSB. In Figure 5, CG resource 1 is associated with SSB1 and SSB2, CG resource 2 is associated with SSB3 and SSB4, and so on, CG resource n is associated with SSB x and SSB y. The temporal order of the CG resources is the same as CG resource 1, CG resource 2, ..., CG resource n. The terminal device can first determine whether SSB1 and SSB2 associated with CG resource 1 meet the first condition, and then determine whether SSB3 and SSB4 associated with CG resource 2 meet the first condition. This allows it to determine that the pre-configured resources associated with SSBs that meet the first condition are located earlier in time, which helps reduce the latency of accessing the network equipment of the second cell through the non-random access method. When the reference signal associated with each pre-configured resource does not meet the first condition, the network equipment of the second cell can be accessed through random access, avoiding the failure of non-random access and improving the system's flexibility to suit different needs.

[0144] In the above communication methods 300 and 500, there is a correspondence between the reference signal and the pre-configured resource. The network device to which the source cell of the terminal device belongs can obtain the correspondence between at least one reference signal and at least one pre-configured resource. The following description is in conjunction with communication method 600, as shown in Figure 6. Communication method 600 includes:

[0145] S610, the second network device indicates the first mapping relationship to the first network device, and the first network device obtains the first mapping relationship from the second network device. The first mapping relationship is used to indicate the correspondence between at least one reference signal and at least one pre-configured resource.

[0146] The first network device is the network device to which the source cell of the terminal device belongs, and the second network device is the network device to which the candidate cell of the terminal device belongs.

[0147] Optionally, S610 can be replaced by: the second network device indicating a first mapping relationship to the management network element; the management network element acquiring the first mapping relationship; and the management network element, after acquiring the first mapping relationship, indicating the first mapping relationship to the first network device. The first network device can receive the first mapping relationship from the management network element. The management network element is used to manage the first network device and the second network device. For example, the first network device is DU1, the second network device is DU2, DU1 is the source DU, DU2 is the candidate DU, and the management network element is CU, which is used to manage DU1 and DU2. Optionally, the second network device indicating the first mapping relationship to the management network element includes: the second network device indicating the first mapping relationship to the management network element through the F1 interface or the Xn interface.

[0148] Optionally, S610 can be replaced by: the second network device indicating the first mapping relationship to its management network element, and the management network element obtaining the first mapping relationship from the second network device. The management network element of the second network device indicating the first mapping relationship to the management network element of the first network device, and the management network element of the first network device obtaining the first mapping relationship from the management network element of the second network device. The management network element of the first network device indicating the first mapping relationship to the first network device, and the first network device obtaining the first mapping relationship. The management network element of the first network device is used to manage the first network device, and the management network element of the second network device is used to manage the second network device. For example, the first network device is DU1, the second network device is DU2, DU1 is the source DU, DU2 is the candidate DU, the management network element of the first network device is CU1, the management network element of the second network device is CU2, CU1 is used to manage DU1, and CU2 is used to manage DU2. Optionally, the second network device indicates the first mapping relationship to its management network element, including: the second network device can indicate the first mapping relationship to its management network element through the F1 interface or the Xn interface; the management network element of the second network device obtains the first mapping relationship from the second network device, including: the management network element of the second network device can obtain the first mapping relationship from the second network device through the F1 interface or the Xn interface.

[0149] Optionally, the source cell and the candidate cell can belong to the same network device or different network devices. If the source cell and the candidate cell belong to the same network device, the terminal device needs to switch from one cell of the network device to another cell of the same network device, thus enabling handover between different cells under the same network device. In this case, the first network device and the second network device can be the same network device, and the management network element managing the first network device and the second network device can be the same management network element. If the source cell and the candidate cell belong to different network devices, with the source cell belonging to the first network device and the candidate cell belonging to the second network device, the management network element managing the first network device and the management network element managing the second network device can be the same management network element or different management network elements. For example, the first network device can be DU1, and the second network device can be DU2. DU1 and DU2 can be DUs under the same CU. In this case, the management network element managing the first network device and the second network device can be the CU. DU1 and DU2 can also be DUs under different CUs, such as DU1 being a DU under CU1 and DU2 being a DU under CU2. In this case, the management network element managing DU1 is CU1, and the management network element managing DU2 can be CU2.

[0150] Optionally, prior to S610, communication method 600 includes: a first network device sending a request message to a second network device, the request message being used to request a first mapping relationship; S610 includes: the second network device sending a response message to the first network device for the request message, the response message including the first mapping relationship. For example, the request message may be a context setup request message from a terminal device. Optionally, if a management network element is used to manage the first and second network devices, the management network element may send a request message to the second network device, the second network device may receive the request message, and the second network device may send a response message to the management network element for the request message, the response message including the first mapping relationship; for example, the response message may be a context setup response message from a terminal device. After receiving the response message, the management network element may send the first mapping relationship to the first network device; for example, the management network element may send a context modification response message from the terminal device to the first network device, the context modification response message including the first mapping relationship. Optionally, the response message sent by the second network device to the management network element for the request message includes: the response message sent by the second network device to the management network element for the request message via the F1 interface or the Xn interface.

[0151] Optionally, the management element of the first network device and the management element of the second network device can be different elements. Before S610, the communication method 600 includes: the management element of the first network device can send a request message to the management element of the second network device, the request message being used to request a first mapping relationship; the management element of the second network device can send a request message to the second network device; the second network device sends a response message to the management element of the second network device, the response message including the first mapping relationship; the management element of the second network device sends a response message to the management element of the first network device, for example, the request message can be a context establishment request message of a terminal device, and the response message can be a context establishment response message of a terminal device. After receiving the response message, the management element of the first network device sends the first mapping relationship to the first network device, for example, the management element of the first network device can send a context modification response message including the first mapping relationship to the first network device. Optionally, the second network device sends a response message to the management element of the second network device in response to the request message, including: the second network device can send a response message to the management element of the second network device in response to the request message through the F1 interface or the Xn interface.

[0152] S620, the first network device generates configuration information according to the first mapping relationship, and the configuration information is used to configure at least one reference signal.

[0153] Optionally, the first network device may generate configuration information for reference signals associated with pre-configured resources, such that at least one reference signal configured in the configuration information is associated with a pre-configured resource.

[0154] Optionally, S620 may be omitted. The second network device can generate configuration information and send it to the first network device. The configuration information is used to configure at least one reference signal. The second network device can send configuration information to the first network device; for example, the second network device can indicate the first mapping relationship and configuration information to the first network device in S610. Alternatively, S610 and S620 may be omitted. The second network device can generate configuration information and send it to the first network device. The first network device can send configuration information to the terminal device in S630. In this case, the first network device may not need to obtain the first mapping relationship. For example, similar to the first mapping relationship, the management network element is used to manage the first and second network devices. The second network device can send configuration information to the management network element, the management network element sends configuration information to the first network device, and the first network device receives configuration information from the management network element; or, the second network device can send configuration information to its management network element, the management network element of the second network device can send configuration information to the management network element of the first network device, and the management network element of the first network device can send configuration information to the first network device. In other words, the source network device of the terminal device can generate configuration information for configuring at least one reference signal, or the candidate network device of the terminal device can generate configuration information for configuring at least one reference signal, and can directly or indirectly send the configuration information to the source network device of the terminal device. This embodiment of the application does not impose any restrictions on the device used by the terminal device to generate the configuration information. Alternatively, S620 may be omitted; the management network element can obtain the first mapping relationship from the second network device, generate configuration information for configuring at least one reference signal based on the first mapping relationship, send it to the first network device, and then execute S630.

[0155] S630: The first network device sends configuration information to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives configuration information from the first network device.

[0156] Optionally, after S630, the terminal device measures at least one reference signal according to the configuration information and obtains the measurement results of at least one reference signal. The terminal device can determine the target reference signal among the at least one reference signal based on the measurement results of the at least one reference signal. Since the at least one reference signal configured in the configuration information is associated with pre-configured resources, the target reference signal is also associated with pre-configured resources. Therefore, the terminal device can send uplink messages to the candidate cell through the beam corresponding to the target reference signal on the pre-configured resources associated with the target reference signal, thereby improving the success rate of random access and avoiding the situation where the target reference signal selected by the terminal device is not associated with pre-configured resources, resulting in failure of random access.

[0157] In the aforementioned communication method 600, the first network device can obtain a first mapping relationship from the second network device to indicate the correspondence between at least one reference signal and at least one pre-configured resource. The first network device or the second network device can generate configuration information for configuring at least one reference signal. The first network device can send the configuration information to the terminal device. The terminal device can measure at least one reference signal associated with the pre-configured resource according to the configuration information and determine a target reference signal among the at least one reference signal. The terminal device can send uplink messages to the candidate cell through the beam corresponding to the target reference signal on the pre-configured resource associated with the target reference signal, thereby improving the success rate of random access and avoiding the situation where the target reference signal selected by the terminal device is not associated with the pre-configured resource, resulting in failure of random access.

[0158] Optionally, the above-described communication method 600 can be applied to handover technology triggered by terminal devices. In some scenarios, the above-described communication method 600 can also be applied to handover technology triggered by network devices. For example, after the first network device determines that the handover conditions are met, it can indicate a target reference signal or a target beam corresponding to the target reference signal to the terminal device. The first network device obtains a first mapping relationship through the communication method 600. The first mapping relationship is used to indicate at least one reference signal and at least one pre-configured resource. The first network device can determine the target reference signal among at least one reference signal. In this way, the terminal device can determine the pre-configured resource corresponding to the target reference signal. This avoids the situation where the first network device indicates the target beam corresponding to the target reference signal to the terminal device. For example, the target reference signal can be indicated by indicating the identifier or TCI State ID of the target reference signal. However, the target reference signal may not be associated with a pre-configured resource, resulting in the inability to access the second network device through the non-random access method. This is beneficial to improving the success rate of accessing the second network device.

[0159] Optionally, the reference signal in this embodiment can be a synchronization signal and a physical broadcast channel block (SSB), where PBCH is an abbreviation for physical broadcast channel. Alternatively, the reference signal can be other reference signals, such as channel state information (CSI-RS) signals.

[0160] Optionally, in the embodiments of this application, "less than" can be replaced with "less than or equal to", and "more than" or "higher than" can be replaced with "greater than" or "greater than or equal to".

[0161] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 7, the communication device 700 may include a processing unit 710 and a communication unit 720. The communication unit 720 can implement corresponding communication functions, which can be internal communication within the communication device 700 or communication between the communication device 700 and other devices; the processing unit 710 can implement corresponding processing functions. The communication unit 720 may also be referred to as a communication interface or a transceiver unit. Optionally, the communication device 700 may further include a storage unit, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing unit 710 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit to enable the device to implement the aforementioned method embodiment.

[0162] In one possible design, the communication device 700 can be a terminal device in the embodiments of communication method 300 or communication method 400 described above, or it can be a module or chip applied to the terminal device. The communication device 700 can be used to execute the steps or processes performed by the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

[0163] In one possible design, the communication device 700 may be a network device belonging to the first cell in the embodiments of communication method 300 or communication method 400 above, or a first network device in the embodiment of communication method 600. It may also be a module or chip applied to the network device belonging to the first cell or the first network device. The communication device 700 can be used to execute the steps or processes performed by the first network device or the network device belonging to the first cell in the above method embodiments.

[0164] In another possible design, the communication device 700 may be a network device belonging to the second cell in the embodiments of communication methods 300 and 400 above, or a second network device in the embodiment of communication method 600. It may also be a module or chip applied to the second network device or the network device belonging to the second cell. The communication device 700 can be used to execute the steps or processes performed by the second network device or the network device belonging to the second cell in the above method embodiments.

[0165] In another possible design, the communication device 700 can be the management network element in the above-described communication method embodiments, or it can be a module or chip applied to the management network element. The communication device 700 can be used to execute the steps or processes performed by the management network element in the above-described method embodiments.

[0166] For details regarding the steps or processes executed by each unit in the communication device 700, please refer to the embodiments of the method described above; they will not be elaborated here.

[0167] It should be understood that the "unit" in the communication device 700 can be implemented in hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software. For example, the "unit" can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), electronic circuitry, a processor (e.g., a shared processor, a proprietary processor, or a group processor) and memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, combined logic circuitry, and / or other suitable components supporting the described functions. As another example, the communication unit 720 can be replaced by a transceiver circuit (e.g., it may include receiving and transmitting circuitry), and the processing unit 710 can be replaced by a processor or processing circuitry.

[0168] Figure 8 shows a schematic block diagram of another communication device 800 provided in an embodiment of this application. This communication device 800 may be a terminal device, a first network device, a second network device, a network device belonging to a first cell, or a network device belonging to a second cell. It may also be a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the terminal device, the first network device, the second network device, the network device belonging to the first cell, or the network device belonging to the second cell in implementing the above methods. This device can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0169] The communication device 800 may include one or more processors 810, which may also be referred to as processing units, and can implement certain control functions. The processor 810 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (e.g., base station, baseband chip, user chip, DU or CU, etc.), execute software programs, and process data from the software programs.

[0170] In an alternative design, processor 810 may also store instructions and / or data that can be executed by processor 1310 to cause communication device 800 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. Optionally, processing unit 710 in communication device 700 may be processor 810.

[0171] In another alternative design, the communication device 800 may include a communication interface 820 for implementing receiving and transmitting functions. For example, the communication interface 820 may be a transceiver circuit, interface, interface circuit, or transceiver. The transceiver circuit, interface, interface circuit, or transceiver for implementing receiving and transmitting functions may be separate or integrated. The aforementioned transceiver circuit, interface, interface circuit, or transceiver may be used for reading and writing code / data, or it may be used for transmitting or relaying signals. Optionally, the communication unit 720 in the communication device 700 may be the communication interface 820.

[0172] Optionally, the communication device 800 may include one or more memories 830, which may store instructions that can be executed on the processor 810, causing the communication device 800 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. Optionally, the memories 830 may also store data. Optionally, the processor 810 may also store instructions and / or data. The processor 810 and the memories 830 may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0173] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for ease of explanation, Figure 8 only shows one memory and processor. In actual communication devices, multiple processors and memories may exist. Memory may also be referred to as storage medium or storage device, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not impose such limitations.

[0174] For example, a processor may include a baseband processor and a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU is mainly used for controlling the entire terminal device, executing software programs, and processing the data in the software programs. The processor in Figure 8 integrates the functions of both a baseband processor and a CPU. Those skilled in the art will understand that the baseband processor and CPU can also be independent processors interconnected via technologies such as buses. Those skilled in the art will understand that a terminal device may include multiple baseband processors to adapt to different network standards, and multiple CPUs to enhance its processing capabilities. The various components of the terminal device can be connected via various buses. The baseband processor can also be described as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The CPU can also be described as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The function of processing communication protocols and communication data can be built into the processor or stored in a storage unit as a software program, which is then executed by the processor to implement the baseband processing function.

[0175] It should be understood that, in one possible design, the steps in the method embodiments provided in this application can be implemented by integrated logic circuits in the processor's hardware or by instructions in software form. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software modules can reside in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are not provided here.

[0176] It should be noted that the processor in the embodiments of this application can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above method embodiments can be completed by the integrated logic circuitry in the processor's hardware or by instructions in software form. The processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware decoding processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules can be located in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above methods.

[0177] It is understood that the memory in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory used in the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0178] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the various steps or processes executed by the terminal device, the first network device, the second network device, the network device to which the first cell belongs, or the network device to which the second cell belongs in any of the above method embodiments.

[0179] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing program code that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the various steps or processes performed by the terminal device, the first network device, the second network device, the network device belonging to the first cell, or the network device belonging to the second cell in any of the above method embodiments.

[0180] This application also provides a communication device, including a processor and an interface for sending and / or receiving signals, such that the processor executes the various steps or processes executed by the terminal device, the first network device, the second network device, the network device to which the first cell belongs, or the network device to which the second cell belongs in any of the above method embodiments.

[0181] This application also provides a communication system, which includes at least two devices among a terminal device, a network device belonging to a first cell, or a network device belonging to a second cell, or includes at least two devices among a first network device, a second network device, and a management network element.

[0182] The above-described device and method embodiments are completely corresponding, with corresponding modules or units performing corresponding steps. For example, a communication unit or communication interface performs the receiving or sending steps in the method embodiment, while other steps besides sending and receiving can be performed by a processing unit or processor.

[0183] In the embodiments of this application, the terms and English abbreviations are exemplary examples given for ease of description and should not be construed as limiting the application in any way. This application does not preclude the possibility of defining other terms that can achieve the same or similar functions in existing or future agreements.

[0184] As used in this specification, the terms "component," "module," "system," etc., are used to refer to computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, combinations of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, an execution thread, a program, and / or a computer. As illustrated, applications running on computing devices and computing devices can both be components. One or more components may reside in a process and / or an execution thread, and components may be located on a single computer and / or distributed among two or more computers. Furthermore, these components can be executed from various computer-readable storage media on which various data structures are stored. Components can communicate, for example, via local and / or remote processes based on signals having one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components interacting with another component between a local system, a distributed system, and / or a network, such as the Internet interacting with other systems via signals).

[0185] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0186] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be based on the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0187] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0188] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0189] 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.

[0190] In the above embodiments, the functions of each functional unit can be implemented entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions (programs). When the computer program instructions (programs) are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., DVDs), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks (SSDs)).

[0191] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0192] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: Applied to terminal devices, including: If the handover conditions for switching from the first cell to the second cell are met, at least one reference signal is determined, wherein the first cell is the serving cell of the terminal device; If a first reference signal is associated with a first pre-configured resource among the at least one reference signal, then an uplink message is sent to the network device to which the second cell belongs via the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource. If none of the at least one reference signal is associated with the pre-configured resources, then the second cell is accessed via random access.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized by, Determining at least one reference signal includes: Measure the reference signal of the second cell; The at least one reference signal is determined based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam, wherein the second beam is the beam used by the terminal device in the first cell.

3. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein, Determining the at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam includes: In the reference signals of the second cell, at least one reference signal is identified whose signal quality difference from the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold; or, In the reference signals of the second cell, at least one reference signal is identified whose signal quality difference with that of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold and lasts for a first preset duration.

4. The communication method according to claim 3, wherein, The communication method further includes: When there is a first reference signal whose signal quality differs from that of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam by a value higher than the first threshold and lasts for the first preset duration, and a second reference signal whose signal quality differs from that of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam by a value higher than the first threshold, it is determined that an uplink message will be sent to the network device to which the second cell belongs via the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, wherein the second reference signal is associated with the second configuration resource.

5. The communication method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by, The communication method further includes: The first configuration information is received from the network device to which the first cell belongs. The first configuration information is used to configure the first threshold, or to configure the first threshold and the first preset duration.

6. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein Determining the at least one reference signal based on the signal quality of the reference signal of the second cell and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam includes: If the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than a second threshold, then at least one reference signal with a signal quality higher than a third threshold is determined from the reference signals of the second cell; or, If the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than the second threshold, at least one reference signal with a signal quality higher than the third threshold is determined in the reference signal of the second cell and continues for a second preset duration.

7. The communication method according to claim 6, wherein, The communication method further includes: When the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is less than the second threshold, and when there is a first reference signal with a signal quality higher than the third threshold and lasting for the second preset duration among the at least one reference signal, and a second reference signal with a signal quality higher than the third threshold, it is determined that an uplink message will be sent to the network device to which the second cell belongs through the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, wherein the second reference signal is associated with the second configuration resource.

8. The communication method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by, The communication method further includes: The second configuration information is received from the network device to which the first cell belongs. The second configuration information is used to configure the second threshold and the third threshold, or the second configuration information is used to configure the second threshold, the third threshold and the second preset duration.

9. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by, Before determining at least one reference signal, the communication method further includes: Identify at least one candidate cell that meets the handover conditions; The second cell, which has been configured with pre-configured resources, is determined from the at least one candidate cell; Wherein, determining at least one reference signal includes: Determine the at least one reference signal of the second cell.

10. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by, If two or more of the at least one reference signal are associated with a pre-configured resource, before sending an uplink message to the network device of the second cell via the first beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource, the communication method further includes: The first pre-configured resource with the closest time among the pre-configured resources associated with the two or more reference signals is determined.

11. A communication method, comprising: Applied to terminal devices, including: If the handover conditions for switching from the first cell to the second cell are met, it is determined whether there is a reference signal in the reference signal of the second cell that meets the first condition, and the first cell is the serving cell of the terminal device; If there is a reference signal in the reference signal of the second cell that satisfies the first condition, then determine whether the first reference signal in at least one reference signal associated with the first pre-configured resource in at least one pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition; if the first reference signal satisfies the first condition, then send an uplink message to the network device to which the second cell belongs through the beam corresponding to the first reference signal on the first pre-configured resource. If there is no reference signal in the reference signal of the second cell that satisfies the first condition, then the network device to which the second cell belongs is accessed through random access.

12. The communication method according to claim 11, wherein, The communication method further includes: If each of the at least one reference signal associated with the first pre-configured resource does not meet the first condition, then it is determined whether the at least one reference signal associated with the second pre-configured resource in the at least one pre-configured resource meets the first condition. If the second reference signal among at least one reference signal associated with the second pre-configured resource satisfies the first condition, then an uplink message is sent to the network device to which the second cell belongs via the beam corresponding to the second reference signal on the second pre-configured resource. The time domain position of the first pre-configured resource is before the time domain position of the second pre-configured resource.

13. The communication method according to claim 12, wherein, The communication method further includes: If the reference signal associated with each of the at least one pre-configured resources does not meet the first condition, then the network device to which the second cell belongs is accessed via random access.

14. The communication method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized by, The first condition is that the difference between the signal quality of the reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than a first threshold, where the second beam is the beam used by the terminal device to access the first cell; or, The first condition is that the difference between the signal quality of the reference signal and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is higher than the first threshold, and this difference persists for a first preset duration; or, The first condition is that the signal quality of the reference signal is higher than the third threshold, and the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold; or, The first condition is that the signal quality of the reference signal is higher than the third threshold, the signal quality of the reference signal corresponding to the second beam is lower than the second threshold, and this condition lasts for a second preset duration.

15. A method of communication, comprising: Applied to the first network device, including: Obtain a first mapping relationship, which is used to indicate the correspondence between at least one reference signal and at least one pre-configured resource; Configuration information is generated based on the first mapping relationship, and the configuration information is used to configure the at least one reference signal; The configuration information is sent to the terminal device, wherein the first network device is the network device to which the source cell of the terminal device belongs.

16. The communication method according to claim 15, wherein, Obtaining the first mapping relationship includes: Obtain the first mapping relationship from the network element that manages the first network device; or... Obtain the first mapping relationship from the second network device to which the candidate cell belongs.

17. A method of communication, comprising: Network elements used to manage the first network device include: A first mapping relationship is obtained from the second network device to which the candidate cell of the terminal device belongs. The first mapping relationship is used to indicate the correspondence between at least one reference signal and at least one pre-configured resource. Send the first mapping relationship to the first network device; The first network device is the network device to which the serving cell of the terminal device belongs.

18. The communication method according to claim 17, wherein, The step of obtaining the first mapping relationship from the second network device to which the candidate cell of the terminal device belongs includes: The first mapping relationship is obtained from the second network device via the F1 interface or the Xn interface.

19. The communication method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein, Before receiving the first mapping relationship from the second network device to which the candidate cell of the terminal device belongs, the communication method further includes: Send a request message to the second network device; The step of receiving the first mapping relationship from the second network device to which the candidate cell of the terminal device belongs includes: The response message to the request message is received from the second network device, and the response message to the request message includes the first mapping relationship.

20. The communication method of any one of claims 17-19, wherein, The communication method further includes: Configuration information is generated based on the first mapping relationship, and the configuration information is used to configure the at least one reference signal; The configuration information is sent to the first network device.

21. A method of communication, comprising: Applied to second network devices, including: Receive request message; In response to the request message, a response message is sent, the response message including a first mapping relationship, the first mapping relationship being used to indicate the correspondence between at least one reference signal and at least one pre-configured resource.

22. The communication method according to claim 21, wherein, The response message sent in response to the request message includes: In response to the request message, the response message is sent via the F1 interface or the Xn interface.

23. A communications device, characterized by This includes performing the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that, when executed, implements the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 22.

25. A chip, characterized by The chip includes a processor connected to a memory for storing computer programs, and the processor is configured to execute the computer programs stored in the memory to cause the chip to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 22.

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