Communication method and communication apparatus
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2026/089963
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-04-18
- Filing Date
- 2026-04-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-22
Smart Images
Figure CN2026089963_22102026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Communication methods and communication devices
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510497011.3, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on April 18, 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, specifically to a communication method and a communication device. Background Technology
[0003] During initial access, network devices can transmit synchronization signals and physical broadcast channel blocks (SS / PBCH blocks or SSBs) using wide beams in several different directions to ensure SSB coverage. After the terminal device accesses the network, the network device can use narrow beams (with a beamwidth smaller than the beam that transmits SSBs) to transmit other system information (OSI) messages to improve OSI transmission performance.
[0004] Typically, OSI messages are carried within system information (SI) messages. Therefore, when using narrow-beam OSI transmission, a problem needs to be solved: how does the terminal device determine the monitoring occasion for the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) used to schedule SI messages? Summary of the Invention
[0005] This application provides a communication method and communication device that enables terminal equipment to determine the monitoring timing of PDCCH used for scheduling SI messages.
[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to a first communication device, such as a terminal device or a component applicable to the terminal device (e.g., a module, a communication module, a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core or a system-in-package (SIP) chip)). It can also be a logic node, logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method: a first synchronization signal and a Physical Broadcast Channel Block (SSB) are received. The first SSB is associated with a first System Information Block (SIB) and is associated with multiple System Information (SI) messages, the multiple SI messages carrying the same information. The first System Information Block (SIB) is received, and first information is carried in the first SSB and / or the first SSB. The first information is used to determine a first monitoring opportunity. The first monitoring opportunity includes a monitoring opportunity for multiple Physical Downlink Control Channels (PDCCHs) used to schedule the multiple SI messages, or the first monitoring opportunity includes a monitoring opportunity for a PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message among the multiple SI messages. Based on the first monitoring opportunity, the first SI message among the multiple SI messages is received.
[0007] For example, this communication method can be applied to non-terrestrial networks (NTN) scenarios, terrestrial networks (TN) scenarios, and other communication scenarios, such as existing communication systems and future communication systems.
[0008] For example, multiple SI messages carrying the same information can be replaced by one or more of the following: multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB are associated with the same entry in the SI message list; multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB are sent in the same SI window; or, where SI messages carrying different OSIs are referred to as different types of SI messages, multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB can be SI messages of the same type. For ease of description, the aforementioned multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB can be simply referred to as M SI messages.
[0009] For example, the first information may be carried in the first SSB, the first information may be carried in the first SIB, or the first information may be partially carried in the first SIB and partially carried in the first SSB. See the examples below for details.
[0010] This application embodiment sends first information to the terminal device to enable the terminal device to know the SSB covering the terminal device, such as the multiple PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SSB, or to enable the terminal device to know the PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SI message covering the terminal device among the multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB, thereby helping the terminal device to accurately obtain SI messages.
[0011] In addition, the method provided in this application embodiment can monitor the PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message at multiple PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SSB, or at the PDCCH monitoring time associated with the first SI message, without monitoring the entire SI window length, thereby helping to reduce the monitoring overhead and power consumption of the terminal device.
[0012] In some embodiments, the plurality of SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window, wherein the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with a plurality of SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs, wherein the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB in the first SI window is the same as the number of the plurality of SI messages.
[0013] In other words, the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs in the above SSB burst set according to the number of SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the SSB, such as M, and the SSB index.
[0014] In this scheme, the mapping relationship between the SSB and SI messages regarding PDCCH monitoring timing remains unchanged across different usage scenarios. Therefore, there is no need to redetermine the mapping relationship between the SSB and SI messages regarding PDCCH monitoring timing based on the usage scenario, making it highly versatile and simple to implement.
[0015] In some embodiments, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB, and the first monitoring timing includes M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, where: i is the index of the first SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages; N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring timings in the first SI window / (N1*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0016] Alternatively, the M PDCCH monitoring times starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring time of the first SI window correspond to SSB i, where i takes values of 0,…,N1-1.
[0017] For example, the first information can also be replaced with the number of SIBs associated with the first SSB.
[0018] As can be seen, the first monitoring timing determined by the above method includes monitoring timings for M PDCCHs. Compared to monitoring the entire SI window length, this helps reduce the power consumption of the terminal device. Furthermore, this scheme enables the terminal device to determine the first monitoring timing by indicating the number of SI messages associated with the SSB, which helps reduce network-side complexity and indication overhead.
[0019] The relationship between the SSB and PDCCH monitoring timing mentioned above can be predefined or preconfigured.
[0020] In some embodiments, the first SSB is associated with a plurality of SIBs, the plurality of SIBs are associated one-to-one with the plurality of SI messages, the first SIB among the plurality of SIBs is associated with the first SI message, and the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the plurality of SI messages according to the index of the SIB; or the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the plurality of SI messages according to the index of the SI message.
[0021] For example, the first SIB and the first SSB can both use wide-beam transmission, meaning the first SSB can be associated with multiple SIBs. This scheme can be applied, for example, to scenarios where the demodulation threshold of the SI message is greater than or equal to the demodulation threshold of the SIB.
[0022] In this case, determining the correspondence between SI messages and PDCCH monitoring timing according to the SI message index enables the terminal device to determine the monitoring timing of the PDCCH associated with the first SI message, thereby supporting a further reduction in the monitoring overhead of the terminal device.
[0023] For example, the first SSB uses a wide beam for transmission, while the first SIB uses a narrow beam for transmission; that is, the first SSB is associated with one SIB (the first SIB). This scheme can be applied, for example, to scenarios where the transmission performance of both SIBs and SI messages needs to be enhanced.
[0024] In this case, the correspondence between SI messages and PDCCH monitoring timing can be determined by using the SI message index. Alternatively, the correspondence between SI messages and PDCCH monitoring timing can be determined by using the SIB index, which supports parameter sharing between SIB and SI messages, thereby helping to reduce the indication overhead of these shared parameters.
[0025] As an example, if the number of SIBs associated with an SSB is the same as the number of SI messages associated with the SSB (M), then by sharing M, or by indicating M only once, the terminal device can be enabled to know the number of SIBs associated with the SSB and the number of SI messages associated with the SSB, thereby helping to reduce the indication overhead.
[0026] As another example, the SIB index can identify the first SIB associated with the first SSB, and also the first SI message associated with the first SIB, thereby helping to reduce indication overhead.
[0027] In some embodiments, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB or the number of the plurality of SIBs associated with the first SSB, and the first information includes the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. The first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: i is the index of the first SSB; j is the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages or the number of the plurality of SIBs; N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N1*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0028] Alternatively, the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window corresponds to SI message j (associated with SSB i), where i takes values of 0,…,N1-1 and j takes values of 0,…,M-1.
[0029] Alternatively, the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window corresponds to SIB j (associated with SSB i), where i takes values of 0,…,N1-1 and j takes values of 0,…,M-1.
[0030] This solution only needs to perform monitoring at one PDCCH monitoring time to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to further reduce the monitoring power consumption of terminal devices.
[0031] In addition, in scenarios where SIBs use narrow beam transmission, or where the first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, an index for the SIBs may already be configured. The embodiments of this application can directly reuse the SIB index in related technologies, such as the index of SIB1, thereby helping to reduce indication overhead.
[0032] In some embodiments, the plurality of SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window, and the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with a plurality of SSBs that are actually sent, wherein the plurality of SSBs that are actually sent include the first SSB. In the first SI window, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of the plurality of SI messages.
[0033] To balance the multi-dimensional requirements of coverage, capacity, energy consumption, and interference, a flexible beam transmission strategy is supported. In this case, not all SSBs in a burst concentration may be transmitted. That is, the PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with untransmitted SSBs are invalid, which may lead to some resource waste.
[0034] In this embodiment, determining the mapping relationship between PDCCH monitoring timing and SSBs in the first SI window based on the actual number of SSBs sent helps avoid resource waste. Alternatively, since the number of SSBs actually sent may be less than the number of configured SSBs, considering only the actual number of SSBs sent helps increase the number of PDCCHs associated with an SSB, thereby improving the transmission performance of the PDCCH (see Figure 10C below for related information).
[0035] In some embodiments, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB, and the first monitoring timing includes the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, wherein: the first SSB is the Kth actually sent SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages; N2 is the number of actually sent SSBs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring timings in the first SI window / (N2*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0036] Alternatively, the M PDCCH monitoring times starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring time of the first SI window correspond to the Kth SSB actually sent, where K takes the value 1,…,N2.
[0037] For example, the first information can also be replaced with the number of SIBs associated with the first SSB.
[0038] As can be seen, the first monitoring timing determined by the above method includes monitoring timings for M PDCCHs. Compared to monitoring the entire SI window length, this helps reduce the power consumption of the terminal device. Furthermore, this scheme enables the terminal device to determine the first monitoring timing by indicating the number of SI messages associated with the SSB, which helps reduce network-side complexity and indication overhead.
[0039] In some embodiments, the first SSB is associated with a plurality of SIBs, the plurality of SIBs are associated one-to-one with the plurality of SI messages, the first SIB among the plurality of SIBs is associated with the first SI message, and the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the plurality of SI messages according to the index of the SIB; or the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the plurality of SI messages according to the index of the SI message.
[0040] The first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, which can refer to the scenario mentioned above where both the first SIB and the first SSB use wide-beam transmission.
[0041] PDCCH monitoring timing can be associated with SI messages according to their index or with SI messages according to their SIB index, which can support determining PDCCH monitoring timing at the SI message granularity.
[0042] Similar to the previous method, the PDCCH monitoring timing is associated with the SIB index and the corresponding SI message, which helps to achieve parameter sharing between the SIB and the SI message, thereby helping to reduce the indication overhead of these shared parameters.
[0043] In some embodiments, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB or the number of the plurality of SIBs associated with the first SSB, and the first information includes the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. The first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: the first SSB is the Kth actually sent SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages or the number of the plurality of SIBs; j is the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message; N2 is the number of actually sent SSBs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N2*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0044] Alternatively, the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window corresponds to SI message j (associated with the Kth actually sent SSB), where K takes the value 1,…,N2, and j takes the value 0,…,M-1.
[0045] Alternatively, the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window corresponds to SIB j (associated with the Kth actually transmitted SSB), where K takes values of 1,…,N2, and j takes values of 0,…,M-1.
[0046] This solution only needs to perform monitoring at one PDCCH monitoring time to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to further reduce the monitoring power consumption of terminal devices.
[0047] In some embodiments, the plurality of SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window. The first SI message set includes SI messages associated with SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs. The SI messages in the first SI message set carry the same information. The plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with the SI messages in the first SI message set. The first SI message set includes the first SI message. Alternatively, the second SI message set includes the SI messages actually sent in the first SI message set. The plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with the SI messages in the second SI message set. The second SI message set includes the first SI message.
[0048] It should be understood that the SI message index mentioned in this method is different from the SI message index mentioned earlier. The SI message index mentioned earlier can be called a local index, that is, an index within multiple SI messages associated with a single SSB. The SI message index mentioned in this method can be called a global index, that is, an index within multiple SI messages supported by the cell. In this scheme, only one mapping is needed to determine the PDCCH monitoring timing associated with the first SI message, making implementation simple.
[0049] The multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SI messages supported by the cell (i.e., multiple SI messages in the first SI message set), which can be applied to various scenarios and has strong versatility. For example, when switching usage scenarios, there is no need to redetermine the PDCCH monitoring opportunities, which helps to reduce processing complexity.
[0050] Since unsent SI messages are invalid, associating multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the first SI window with multiple actually sent SI messages helps avoid resource waste. Furthermore, when there are many PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the first SI window, the first SI message can be associated with multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities, thereby improving the transmission performance of SI message scheduling information.
[0051] In some embodiments, the first information is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set, and the first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N3+(b+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: b is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set; N3 is the number of SI messages included in the first SI message set; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / N3), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0052] In other words, the [x1*N3+(b+1)]th PDCCH monitoring time in the first SI window corresponds to SI message b, where b takes values of 0, ..., N3-1.
[0053] Compared to related technologies that monitor the entire window length, the above solution only requires monitoring during a single PDCCH monitoring session to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device. Moreover, this solution is applicable to a variety of scenarios and has strong versatility.
[0054] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set, and the first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N4+c]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: c is the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set; N4 is the number of SI messages included in the second SI message set; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / N4), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0055] In other words, the [x1*N4+c]th PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window corresponds to the cth sent SI message, where c takes values from 1 to N4.
[0056] Compared to monitoring the entire window length in related technologies, the above solution only requires monitoring during a single PDCCH monitoring session to obtain the scheduling information for the first SI message, which helps reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device. In scenarios where SI messages are flexibly configured, this solution helps avoid resource waste.
[0057] In some embodiments, the starting frame of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: SFN%T = FLOOR(x2 / N); the starting time slot of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: a = x2%N; the x2 satisfies the following formula: x2 = (n-1)*w*M; where SFN is the starting frame number of the first SI window, T is the period of the first SI message, FLOOR represents rounding down, N is the number of time slots included in a radio frame, a is the starting time slot of the first SI window, x2 is in units of time slots, w is the length of the first SI window, the first SI message is the nth SI message in the SI message list, and M is the number of the plurality of SI messages.
[0058] The above method can extend the length of the first SI window, thereby determining the starting position of the first SI window based on the extended length. Compared with related technologies, the number of SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with one SSB in this embodiment of the application is increased, such as from one SI message to M SI messages. Therefore, extending the length of the first SI window helps to avoid the situation where the first SI window cannot carry multiple SI messages associated with multiple SSBs, thereby helping to avoid performance loss.
[0059] Considering that an SSB is associated with M SI messages, extending the length of the first SI window by a factor of M helps the first SI window to carry multiple SI messages associated with multiple SSBs.
[0060] In some embodiments, the plurality of SI messages are non-quasi-co-located.
[0061] For example, the M SI messages are non-quasi-co-located, or in other words, the M SI messages have a non-quasi-co-located relationship. For instance, the M SI messages being non-quasi-co-located could mean that the M SI messages cannot share some or all of the channel characteristic parameters. For example, the M SI messages are non-quasi-co-located in one or more aspects of Doppler frequency offset, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread, or spatial reception parameters (if applicable).
[0062] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to a second communication device, such as a network device or a component applicable to a network device (e.g., a module, communication module, circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (e.g., a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core)). It can also be a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the communication device functions. In this method: a first synchronization signal and a Physical Broadcast Channel Block (SSB) are transmitted. The first SSB is associated with a first System Message Block (SIB) and is associated with multiple System Information (SI) messages, the multiple SI messages carrying the same information. The first SIB is transmitted, with first information carried in the first SSB and / or the first SIB. The first information is used to determine a first monitoring opportunity, the first monitoring opportunity including a monitoring opportunity for multiple Physical Downlink Control Channels (PDCCHs) used to schedule the multiple SI messages, or the first monitoring opportunity including a monitoring opportunity for a PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message among the multiple SI messages. The first SI message among the multiple SI messages is transmitted.
[0063] For example, this communication method can be applied to NTN scenarios. In other words, the network device can be a non-terrestrial network device. Part or all of the network device can be deployed on satellites, flight platforms, hot air balloons, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, meaning that satellites, flight platforms, hot air balloons, aircraft, and UAV systems can implement some or all of the functions of the network device. This communication method can also be applied to terrestrial networks (TN) scenarios, as well as other communication scenarios, such as existing and future communication systems.
[0064] For example, multiple SI messages carrying the same information can be replaced by one or more of the following: multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB are associated with the same entry in the SI message list; multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB are sent in the same SI window; or, where SI messages carrying different OSIs are referred to as different types of SI messages, multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB can be SI messages of the same type. For ease of description, the aforementioned multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB can be simply referred to as M SI messages.
[0065] This application embodiment sends first information to the terminal device to enable the terminal device to know the SSB covering the terminal device, such as the multiple PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SSB, or to enable the terminal device to know the PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SI message covering the terminal device among the multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB, thereby helping the terminal device to accurately obtain SI messages.
[0066] In addition, the method provided in this application embodiment can monitor the PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message at multiple PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SSB, or at the PDCCH monitoring time associated with the first SI message, without monitoring the entire SI window length, thereby helping to reduce the monitoring overhead and power consumption of the terminal device.
[0067] In some embodiments, the plurality of SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window, wherein the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with a plurality of SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs, wherein the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB in the first SI window is the same as the number of the plurality of SI messages.
[0068] In other words, the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs in the above SSB burst set according to the number of SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the SSB, such as M, and the SSB index.
[0069] In this scheme, the mapping relationship between the SSB and SI messages regarding PDCCH monitoring timing remains unchanged across different usage scenarios. Therefore, there is no need to redetermine the mapping relationship between the SSB and SI messages regarding PDCCH monitoring timing based on the usage scenario, making it highly versatile and simple to implement.
[0070] In some embodiments, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB, and the first monitoring timing includes M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, where: i is the index of the first SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages; N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring timings in the first SI window / (N1*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0071] Alternatively, the M PDCCH monitoring times starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring time of the first SI window correspond to SSB i, where i takes values of 0,…,N1-1.
[0072] For example, the first information can also be replaced with the number of SIBs associated with the first SSB.
[0073] As can be seen, the first monitoring timing determined by the above method includes monitoring timings for M PDCCHs. Compared to monitoring the entire SI window length, this helps reduce the power consumption of the terminal device. Furthermore, this scheme enables the terminal device to determine the first monitoring timing by indicating the number of SI messages associated with the SSB, which helps reduce network-side complexity and indication overhead.
[0074] In some embodiments, the first SSB is associated with a plurality of SIBs, the plurality of SIBs are associated one-to-one with the plurality of SI messages, the first SIB among the plurality of SIBs is associated with the first SI message, and the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the plurality of SI messages according to the index of the SIB; or the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the plurality of SI messages according to the index of the SI message.
[0075] The first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, which can refer to the scenario mentioned above where both the first SIB and the first SSB use wide-beam transmission.
[0076] PDCCH monitoring timing can be associated with SI messages according to their index or with SI messages according to their SIB index, which can support determining PDCCH monitoring timing at the SI message granularity.
[0077] Similar to the previous method, the PDCCH monitoring timing is associated with the SIB index and the corresponding SI message, which helps to achieve parameter sharing between the SIB and the SI message, thereby helping to reduce the indication overhead of these shared parameters.
[0078] In some embodiments, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB or the number of the plurality of SIBs associated with the first SSB, and the first information includes the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. The first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: i is the index of the first SSB; j is the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages or the number of the plurality of SIBs; N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N1*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0079] Alternatively, the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window corresponds to SI message j (associated with SSB i), where i takes values of 0,…,N1-1 and j takes values of 0,…,M-1.
[0080] Alternatively, the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window corresponds to SIB j (associated with SSB i), where i takes values of 0,…,N1-1 and j takes values of 0,…,M-1.
[0081] This solution only needs to perform monitoring at one PDCCH monitoring time to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to further reduce the monitoring power consumption of terminal devices.
[0082] In addition, in scenarios where SIBs use narrow beam transmission, or where the first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, an index for the SIBs may already be configured. The embodiments of this application can directly reuse the SIB index in related technologies, such as the index of SIB1, thereby helping to reduce indication overhead.
[0083] In some embodiments, the plurality of SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window, and the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with a plurality of SSBs that are actually sent, wherein the plurality of SSBs that are actually sent include the first SSB. In the first SI window, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of the plurality of SI messages.
[0084] Determining the mapping relationship between PDCCH monitoring timing and SSBs in the first SI window based on the actual number of SSBs sent helps avoid resource waste. Alternatively, since the number of SSBs actually sent may be less than the number of configured SSBs, considering only the actual number of SSBs sent can help increase the number of PDCCHs associated with an SSB, thereby improving the transmission performance of that PDCCH (see Figure 10C below for related information).
[0085] In some embodiments, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB, and the first monitoring timing includes the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, wherein: the first SSB is the Kth actually sent SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages; N2 is the number of actually sent SSBs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring timings in the first SI window / (N2*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0086] Alternatively, the M PDCCH monitoring times starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring time of the first SI window correspond to the Kth SSB actually sent, where K takes the value 1,…,N2.
[0087] For example, the first information can also be replaced with the number of SIBs associated with the first SSB.
[0088] As can be seen, the first monitoring timing determined by the above method includes monitoring timings for M PDCCHs. Compared to monitoring the entire SI window length, this helps reduce the power consumption of the terminal device. Furthermore, this scheme enables the terminal device to determine the first monitoring timing by indicating the number of SI messages associated with the SSB, which helps reduce network-side complexity and indication overhead.
[0089] In some embodiments, the first SSB is associated with a plurality of SIBs, the plurality of SIBs are associated one-to-one with the plurality of SI messages, the first SIB among the plurality of SIBs is associated with the first SI message, and the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the plurality of SI messages according to the index of the SIB; or the plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the plurality of SI messages according to the index of the SI message.
[0090] The first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, which can refer to the scenario mentioned above where both the first SIB and the first SSB use wide-beam transmission.
[0091] PDCCH monitoring timing can be associated with SI messages according to their index or with SI messages according to their SIB index, which can support determining PDCCH monitoring timing at the SI message granularity.
[0092] Similar to the previous method, the PDCCH monitoring timing is associated with the SIB index and the corresponding SI message, which helps to achieve parameter sharing between the SIB and the SI message, thereby helping to reduce the indication overhead of these shared parameters.
[0093] In some embodiments, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB or the number of the plurality of SIBs associated with the first SSB, and the first information includes the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. The first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: the first SSB is the Kth actually sent SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages or the number of the plurality of SIBs; j is the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message; N2 is the number of actually sent SSBs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N2*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0094] Alternatively, the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window corresponds to SI message j (associated with the Kth actually sent SSB), where K takes the value 1,…,N2, and j takes the value 0,…,M-1.
[0095] Alternatively, the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window corresponds to SIB j (associated with the Kth actually transmitted SSB), where K takes values of 1,…,N2, and j takes values of 0,…,M-1.
[0096] This solution only needs to perform monitoring at one PDCCH monitoring time to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to further reduce the monitoring power consumption of terminal devices.
[0097] In some embodiments, the plurality of SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window. The first SI message set includes SI messages associated with SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs. The SI messages in the first SI message set carry the same information. The plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with the SI messages in the first SI message set. The first SI message set includes the first SI message. Alternatively, the second SI message set includes the SI messages actually sent in the first SI message set. The plurality of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with the SI messages in the second SI message set. The second SI message set includes the first SI message.
[0098] The index of the SI message mentioned in this method can be called a global index, that is, an index among multiple SI messages supported by the cell. In this scheme, only one mapping is needed to determine the PDCCH monitoring timing associated with the first SI message, making it simple to implement.
[0099] The multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SI messages supported by the cell (i.e., multiple SI messages in the first SI message set), which can be applied to various scenarios and has strong versatility. For example, when switching usage scenarios, there is no need to redetermine the PDCCH monitoring opportunities, which helps to reduce processing complexity.
[0100] Since unsent SI messages are invalid, associating multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the first SI window with multiple actually sent SI messages helps avoid resource waste. Furthermore, when there are many PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the first SI window, the first SI message can be associated with multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities, thereby improving the transmission performance of SI message scheduling information.
[0101] In some embodiments, the first information is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set, and the first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N3+(b+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: b is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set; N3 is the number of SI messages included in the first SI message set; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / N3), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0102] In other words, the [x1*N3+(b+1)]th PDCCH monitoring time in the first SI window corresponds to SI message b, where b takes values of 0, ..., N3-1.
[0103] Compared to related technologies that monitor the entire window length, the above solution only requires monitoring during a single PDCCH monitoring session to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device. Moreover, this solution is applicable to a variety of scenarios and has strong versatility.
[0104] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set, and the first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N4+c]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: c is the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set; N4 is the number of SI messages included in the second SI message set; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / N4), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0105] In other words, the [x1*N4+c]th PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window corresponds to the cth sent SI message, where c takes values from 1 to N4.
[0106] Compared to monitoring the entire window length in related technologies, the above solution only requires monitoring during a single PDCCH monitoring session to obtain the scheduling information for the first SI message, which helps reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device. In scenarios where SI messages are flexibly configured, this solution helps avoid resource waste.
[0107] In some embodiments, the starting frame of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: SFN%T = FLOOR(x2 / N); the starting time slot of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: a = x2%N; the x2 satisfies the following formula: x2 = (n-1)*w*M; where SFN is the starting frame number of the first SI window, T is the period of the first SI message, FLOOR represents rounding down, N is the number of time slots included in a radio frame, a is the starting time slot of the first SI window, x2 is in units of time slots, w is the length of the first SI window, the first SI message is the nth SI message in the SI message list, and M is the number of the plurality of SI messages.
[0108] The method described above can extend the length of the first SI window, thereby determining the starting position of the first SI window based on the extended length. Extending the length of the first SI window helps avoid situations where the first SI window cannot carry multiple SI messages associated with multiple SSBs, thus helping to avoid performance loss.
[0109] Considering that an SSB is associated with M SI messages, extending the length of the first SI window by a factor of M helps the first SI window to carry multiple SI messages associated with multiple SSBs.
[0110] In some embodiments, the plurality of SI messages are non-quasi-co-located.
[0111] For example, the M SI messages are non-quasi-co-located, or in other words, the M SI messages have a non-quasi-co-located relationship. For instance, the M SI messages being non-quasi-co-located could mean that the M SI messages cannot share some or all of the channel characteristic parameters. For example, the M SI messages are non-quasi-co-located in one or more aspects of Doppler frequency offset, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread, or spatial reception parameters (if applicable).
[0112] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device that includes units for performing various steps in any possible implementation of the first aspect above.
[0113] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device that includes units for performing various steps in any possible implementation of the second aspect above.
[0114] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device including one or more processors. The one or more processors are capable of executing computer programs or instructions, which, when executed, cause the communication device to implement the methods in any possible design or implementation of the first aspect described above.
[0115] In one possible design, the communication device may further include an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices or components through the interface circuit.
[0116] In one possible design, the communication device may further include a memory for storing part or all of the computer programs or instructions necessary to implement the functions involved in the first aspect above.
[0117] The aforementioned communication device may be a terminal, or a component of the terminal, such as a module, a communication module, or a chip in the terminal responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem chip module), or a logic node, logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the communication device.
[0118] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device including one or more processors. The one or more processors are capable of executing computer programs or instructions, which, when executed, cause the communication device to implement the methods in any possible design or implementation of the second aspect described above.
[0119] In one possible design, the communication device may further include an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices or components through the interface circuit.
[0120] In one possible design, the communication device may further include a memory for storing part or all of the computer programs or instructions necessary to implement the functions involved in the second aspect above.
[0121] The aforementioned communication device may be a network device, or a component of a network device, such as a module, a communication module, or a chip in a network device that is responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem chip module). It may also be a logic node, logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the communication device.
[0122] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product comprising a computer program that, when executed by a processor, performs the method described in the first aspect above, or performs the method described in the second aspect above.
[0123] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed, performs the method of the first aspect above, or performs the method of the second aspect above.
[0124] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a chip, the chip including: a processor, configured to call and run a computer program from a memory, causing a communication device on which the chip is installed to perform the method of the first aspect above, or to perform the method of the second aspect above.
[0125] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system, which includes the communication devices described in the third or fourth aspect above, and / or the communication devices described in the fifth or sixth aspect above. Attached Figure Description
[0126] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system used in the embodiments of this application;
[0127] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of the NTN architecture including transparent transmission mode satellites;
[0128] Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of an NTN architecture that includes regenerable mode satellites;
[0129] Figure 2C is a schematic diagram of another NTN architecture that includes regenerable mode satellites;
[0130] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of satellite coverage;
[0131] Figure 4 shows an example of the coverage area of wide beams and narrow beams;
[0132] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the access and data transmission process based on wide and narrow beams.
[0133] Figure 6 is another flowchart illustrating the access and data transmission process based on wide and narrow beams;
[0134] Figure 7 shows an example of the correspondence between PDCCH monitoring timing and SSB in the SI window;
[0135] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0136] Figure 9A is an example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiment of this application;
[0137] Figure 9B is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0138] Figure 10A is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0139] Figure 10B is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0140] Figure 10C is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0141] Figure 11A is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiment of this application;
[0142] Figure 11B is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0143] Figure 12A is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiment of this application;
[0144] Figure 12B is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0145] Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0146] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0147] Figure 15 is an exemplary block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0148] Figure 16 is another exemplary block diagram of the communication device provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation
[0149] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0150] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " indicates that the objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B. "And / or" in the embodiments of this application is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" refers to two or more. "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 can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. Additionally, to facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used in the embodiments of this application to distinguish identical or similar items with essentially the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art will understand that the words "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or the order of execution, and that the words "first" and "second" do not necessarily imply that they are different.
[0151] In the various method embodiments of this application, the order of the sequence numbers does not imply the order of execution. The execution order 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.
[0152] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, descriptions such as "under the circumstances," "if," "when," and "if..." can be used interchangeably. Furthermore, these descriptions all refer to the corresponding processing that will be carried out under certain objective circumstances, and are not limited to a specific time, nor do they require any judgment action during implementation, nor do they imply any other limitations.
[0153] It is understood that some optional features in the embodiments of this application can be implemented independently in certain scenarios without relying on other features, such as the current solution on which they are based, to solve the corresponding technical problems and achieve the corresponding effects. Alternatively, they can be combined with other features as needed in certain scenarios. Correspondingly, the apparatus given in the embodiments of this application can also implement these features or functions, which will not be elaborated here.
[0154] In this application embodiment, "sending information to...(terminal)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal, and may include sending information to the terminal directly or indirectly. "Receiving information from...(terminal)" can be understood as the source of the information being the terminal, and may include receiving information from the terminal directly or indirectly. Information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood in a similar way, and will not be elaborated further here.
[0155] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. In the various embodiments of this application, and in the various implementation methods / methods / implementations within each embodiment, unless otherwise specified or logically conflicting, the terminology and / or descriptions between different embodiments and between the various implementation methods / methods / implementations within each embodiment are consistent and can be mutually referenced. The technical features in different embodiments and the various implementation methods / methods / implementations within each embodiment can be combined according to their inherent logical relationships to form new embodiments, implementation methods, methods, or implementation approaches. The embodiments of this application described below do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.
[0156] This application can be applied to various communication systems. For ease of understanding, the following description uses the communication system 10 shown in Figure 1 as an example to illustrate the communication system to which the embodiments of this application are applicable.
[0157] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system 10 used in the embodiments of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) 100, wherein the RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (110a and 110b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 110), and may also include at least one terminal (120a-120j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). The terminal 120 is wirelessly connected to the RAN node 110. Terminals and RAN nodes can be interconnected via wired or wireless means. The communication system 10 may also include a core network 200. The RAN node 110 is connected to the core network 200 wirelessly or via wired means. The core network equipment in the core network 200 and the RAN node 110 in the RAN 100 may be independent and different physical devices, or they may be the same physical device that integrates the logical functions of the core network equipment and the logical functions of the RAN node. Communication system 10 may also include Internet 300.
[0158] RAN 100 can be an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) system, a new radio (NR) system, or a future radio access system as defined in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). RAN 100 can also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. RAN 100 can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems. RAN 100 can also be applied to non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication systems, or scenarios where NTN and terrestrial network (TN) are integrated. The NTN system can be an NTN system integrated with 4th generation (4G), 5th generation (5G), and any future generation of communication systems, such as NR NTN, IoT NTN, etc. NTN communication systems can be, for example, satellite communication systems, or include unmanned aerial vehicles, high altitude platform stations (HAPS), and other aerial access network equipment; this application does not limit the scope of such systems.
[0159] RAN node 110 (also known as access network equipment, RAN entity, or access node, etc.) is used to help terminals access the communication system wirelessly. In one possible scenario, the RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc. The RAN node can be a macro base station (as shown in Figure 1, 110a), a micro base station or indoor station (as shown in Figure 1, 110b), a relay node or donor node, or a radio controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, the RAN node can also be a satellite (or satellite base station) or HAPS, or base station equipment mounted on a satellite / HAPS. The satellite can include at least one of the following: a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite (or geosynchronous orbit satellite) or a non-geostationary earth orbit (NGEO) satellite. Non-geostationary orbit satellites may include at least one of the following: medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites or low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. There are no limitations here. Network equipment may also be gateway stations (or ground stations, earth stations, signaling stations, gateways, or gateway stations), etc. RAN nodes may also be servers, wearable devices, vehicles, or in-vehicle equipment, etc. For example, the access network equipment in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be a roadside unit (RSU).
[0160] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes each implementing some of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), or radio units (RUs). Here, the CU can perform the functions of the base station's radio resource control protocol and PDCP, as well as the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP). The DU can perform the functions of the base station's radio link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer, and can also perform some or all of the physical layer functions. For specific descriptions of these protocol layers, refer to the relevant 3GPP technical specifications. The RU can be used to implement radio frequency signal transmission and reception. The CU and DU can be two independent RAN nodes, or they can be integrated into the same RAN node, such as within a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs). CUs can be further divided into two types of RAN nodes: CU-control plane (CP) and CU-user plane (UP).
[0161] In different systems, RAN nodes may have different names. For example, in an O-RAN system, a CU can be called an open CU (O-CU), a DU can be called an open DU (O-DU), and an RU can be called an open RU (O-RU). Similarly, a CU-CP can be called an O-CU-CP, a CU-UP can be called an O-CU-UP, and an RU can be called an O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples in its embodiments.
[0162] All or part of the functions of the RAN node in this application can also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The RAN node may also be equipped with communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform corresponding communication functions. The RAN node may also be configured with program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions and corresponding program instructions. The RAN node in this application can also be a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the RAN node functions. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or specific device form used in the RAN node.
[0163] Terminal 120 is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, capable of sending signals to or receiving signals from a base station. The terminal can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal equipment, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station (MS), remote station, remote terminal, mobile terminal (MT), user terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, user device, and terminal device, etc. Terminal 120 can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable device, vehicle, drone, helicopter, airplane, ship, robot, robotic arm, smart home device, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form of the terminal.
[0164] For example, terminal 120 can be an Internet of Things (IoT) device (e.g., a sensor, electricity meter, water meter, etc.), a V2X device, a station (ST) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device (also known as a wearable smart device), a tablet computer or a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical care, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, or a wireless terminal in a smart home. Wireless terminals (such as those in the home), vehicle-mounted terminals, vehicles with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication capabilities, intelligent connected vehicles, and drones with drone-to-drone (U2U) communication capabilities are all examples. Terminals can also be communication modules with satellite communication capabilities, satellite phones or their components, or satellite communication terminals, such as very small aperture terminals (VSAT terminals), portable stations, fixed stations, and vehicle-mounted or airborne satellite communication terminals. It should be understood that satellite communication terminals can serve as micro base stations to further provide data interfaces to accessed user equipment.
[0165] The roles of base stations and terminals can be relative. For example, network element 120i in Figure 1 can be a helicopter or a drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminals 120j that access the wireless access network 100 through 120i, terminal 120i is a base station; however, for base station 110a, 120i is a terminal, meaning that 110a and 120i communicate via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120i can also communicate via a base station-to-base station interface protocol. In this case, relative to 110a, 120i is also a base station. Therefore, both base stations and terminals can be collectively referred to as communication devices. 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be called communication devices with base station functions, and 120a-120j in Figure 1 can be called communication devices with terminal functions.
[0166] Base stations and terminals can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can be deployed on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the base stations and terminals.
[0167] For example, the core network 200 may include user plane function (UPF) network elements, access and mobility management function (AMF) network elements, session management function (SMF) network elements, policy control function (PCF) network elements, network exposure function (NEF) network elements, charging function (CHF) network elements, location management function (LMF) network elements, application function (AF) network elements, etc.
[0168] In the future, ultra-wide coverage scenarios are likely to attract attention. Ultra-wide coverage scenarios have the following three characteristics: First, they involve long transmission distances and significant path loss, while the power of both network and terminal devices is limited. Second, network devices may be located at higher elevations, allowing the channel between the network device and the user to approach line-of-sight (LOS). Third, ultra-wide coverage scenarios require both ensuring user access across the entire coverage area and guaranteeing user performance.
[0169] Extremely wide coverage scenarios can be understood as scenarios where a single network device covers a large area. For example, ultra-wide coverage in terrestrial networks reaching tens of kilometers, or scenarios where satellites provide coverage in non-terrestrial networks. The following section introduces NTN communication scenarios.
[0170] NTN refers to a network that uses radio frequency resources on platforms such as satellites (including GEO, MEO, and LEO satellites), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or high-altitude platforms to provide communication services. Compared to terrestrial cellular networks (such as 5G), NTN networks have wider coverage, higher path loss, greater latency, faster speeds, and lower costs. As a supplement and extension to terrestrial networks, NTN can achieve wide-area seamless coverage that wired telephone networks and terrestrial mobile communication networks cannot, effectively solving the problem of internet access in areas with scarce communication infrastructure. For example, by deploying a large number of satellites in low Earth orbit, seamless coverage over the ground can be achieved through reasonable constellation construction, and the round-trip latency of data between satellites and ground terminals is greatly reduced. Even compared to geostationary satellites, deploying satellites in low Earth orbit results in lower data round-trip latency, reaching the tens of milliseconds level.
[0171] With the use of technologies such as high-frequency bands, multi-beamforming, and frequency reuse, satellite communication capabilities have been significantly improved while reducing unit broadband costs, thus meeting the demands of high-data-rate services. Compared to terrestrial 5G networks and submarine fiber optic cables, NTN also has a significant cost advantage. Modern small satellites have low R&D and manufacturing costs, and software-defined technologies can further extend the lifespan of satellites in orbit. In addition to global coverage (such as in remote areas and on ocean-going vessels), NTN can also be used in emergency relief (such as disaster monitoring and emergency communications), the Internet of Things, and high-speed mobility (such as high-speed rail and airplanes), thus attracting widespread attention from industry and academia.
[0172] With the increasing research interest in NTN, the 3GPP standards organization has also conducted standardization research on NTN, aiming to achieve NTN deployment using the NR architecture. 3GPP began research on satellite-ground integration with Release 14 (R14), discussing the role and advantages of satellites in 5G systems in Technical Specification (TS) 22.261, and for the first time specifying 5G support for satellite access. In R15, the first 5G and satellite integration technical report, TR 38.811, was produced, defining eight eMBB scenarios and two mMTC scenarios, and defining the NTN channel model. R16 further researched the architecture and solutions for NR supporting NTN in TR 38.821. Based on the research results of R16, R17 initiated the standardization work for 5G NR supporting NTN, resulting in the first version of the integration technical specification. R18 will continue with corresponding NTN enhancement research.
[0173] Because satellites are less susceptible to natural disasters or external damage, research is currently underway to use them as access network equipment (such as base stations) in mobile communication systems to provide communication services to areas such as oceans and forests. Unlike terrestrial base stations, satellites move at higher speeds relative to the ground and travel much farther, resulting in greater signal path loss when used as base stations. Current communication mechanisms designed for communication between terminal devices and terrestrial base stations cannot be directly applied to communication between terminal devices and satellite base stations.
[0174] Based on their operating modes, satellites can generally be divided into two main categories: transparent mode and regenerative mode. These two modes will be described in detail below.
[0175] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of an NTN architecture including a satellite in pass-through mode. In pass-through mode, the satellite only acts as a frequency conversion relay, essentially functioning as an analog radio frequency repeater. Specifically, the satellite can replicate the NR Uu radio interface signal from the feed link (between the NTN gateway and the satellite) to the service link (between the satellite and the terminal equipment), and vice versa. The satellite radio interface on the feed link transmits the NR-Uu interface signal; that is, the satellite does not terminate the NR Uu interface signal but replicates it. The NTN gateway supports all the necessary functions for forwarding the NR-Uu interface signal. Different transmission satellites can connect to the same ground base station, such as a gNB. Optionally, the gateway can also be integrated with the base station.
[0176] Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of an NTN architecture including a satellite in regeneration mode. In regeneration mode, the satellite has some or all of the functions of a base station, such as including gNB equipment or DU on the satellite. In this architecture, the satellite acts as a base station to regenerate signals received from the ground, that is, transmitting NR-Uu radio interface signals on the service link between the terminal equipment and the satellite, and transmitting satellite radio interface signals on the feeder link between the NTN gateway and the satellite. The NG interface between the satellite and the gateway is carried on the satellite radio interface (SRI). The NG interface signal is transmitted to the NTN gateway through the SRI interface, and then forwarded by the NTN gateway to the core network equipment on the ground.
[0177] Figure 2B shows the NTN architecture with all base station functions. If the satellite only has DU functions, then the NTN architecture also includes a ground CU unit, as shown in Figure 2C.
[0178] Initial access is a crucial step in the communication process. The following is an introduction to the initial access in NTN.
[0179] Generally, communication systems rely on several broadcast beams in different directions to send SSBs to users for terminal synchronization during the initial access phase. In terrestrial systems, a maximum of 8 SSBs (frequency range 1, FR1) or 64 SSBs (frequency range 2, FR2) corresponding to broadcast beams are sufficient to cover the service area of a single base station. Compared to terrestrial systems, NTN systems have wider coverage, greater transmission loss, and faster mobility. For example, an NTN system with an orbital altitude of 600km can provide a service area of hundreds of thousands of square kilometers for a single satellite. Therefore, the number of broadcast beams required in an NTN system may reach hundreds or even thousands.
[0180] To overcome path loss caused by transmission distance and ensure communication service quality, satellites generally use large-scale antenna arrays to provide higher array gain, but this also results in a narrower main lobe. For example, a coverage radius of 3dB bandwidth is only a few tens of kilometers, covering an area of about several hundred square kilometers. For the NTN system with an orbital altitude of 600km mentioned earlier, thousands of beams would be needed to achieve seamless coverage of a single satellite's service range.
[0181] One possible approach is to broaden the beam to reduce the number of beams needed to cover the service range of a single satellite. However, considering the significant transmission loss in this scenario, hundreds of beams are typically required to achieve single-satellite coverage in order to maintain the gain level.
[0182] Therefore, satellite communication scenarios typically require a large number of scanning beams. Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of satellite coverage. Referring to Figure 3, the satellite can provide services to terminal devices within the coverage area through beams 0 to N. The value of N can be 64, 128, 256, 512, etc. Coverage area refers to the projection range of the beam on the Earth's surface. The beam is the main lobe of the antenna array diagram. The base station adjusts the antenna weights so that the beam transmitted by the base station can point in different directions, resulting in different coverage areas. The coverage area changes as the satellite moves and the weights are adjusted.
[0183] During the initial access phase, the satellite, acting as a network device, needs to scan all beams sequentially and configure random access resources for the terminal device. The random access process generally refers to the process from when the terminal device sends a random access preamble (or simply preamble) to attempt to access the network device until a basic signaling connection is established between the terminal device and the network device.
[0184] Currently, network devices can broadcast different SSBs for different communication areas. These different SSBs refer to SSBs that cover and serve different areas. The SSBs broadcast to different communication areas can be distinguished by their indices. In other words, different SSB indices represent downlink synchronization signals with different beam directions, and different downlink synchronization signals can cover and serve different areas.
[0185] After receiving the SSB, the terminal device can perform timed synchronization based on the SSB. Additionally, the terminal device can determine the time-frequency location of System Information B1 (SIB1) based on the indication information in the SSB, and complete the reception and parsing of SIB1. Based on the parsing result of SIB1, the terminal device can obtain cell information.
[0186] Optionally, the terminal device can monitor SIB19 based on the search space configured in SIB1 and complete the parsing of SIB19. Based on the parsing results of SIB19, the terminal device can obtain the satellite's ephemeris information. It should be noted that for satellite communication systems, the terminal device needs to obtain the satellite's ephemeris information, while for terrestrial communication systems, it does not.
[0187] After obtaining cell information, or cell information and ephemeris information, the terminal device can send a random access preamble on the corresponding uplink resources based on the configuration information and SSB index. For the network device, the received random access preamble and the uplink resources can be used to determine the area where the terminal device is located and establish a connection with the terminal device.
[0188] As discussed earlier, compared to terrestrial communication systems, single-satellite communication systems offer wider coverage and longer transmission distances. Providing services to terminal devices through extensive coverage is a significant characteristic of satellite communication systems. For satellite communication systems, overcoming signal path loss to improve coverage and ensuring stable initial access for terminal devices while reducing access latency are pressing issues that need to be addressed.
[0189] As one possible implementation, the initial access method based on wide beams and narrow beams can solve the above problems. To better understand this scheme, a brief introduction to beams, wide beams, and narrow beams will be given below.
[0190] In communication protocols, beaming can also be described as a spatial domain filter, spatial filter, spatial domain parameter, spatial parameter, spatial domain setting, spatial setting, quasi-colocation (QCL) information, QCL assumption, QCL indication, etc. Beaming can be indicated by transmission configuration indication (TCI) state (TCI-state) parameters or by spatial relation parameters. Therefore, in this application, beaming can be replaced by spatial domain filter, spatial filter, spatial parameter, spatial parameter, spatial setting, spatial setting, QCL information, QCL assumption, QCL indication, TCI-state (which may include downlink (DL) TCI-state, i.e., DL TCI-state, and uplink (UL) TCI-state, i.e., UL TCI-state), spatial relation, etc. These terms are also equivalent to each other. The term "beam" can be replaced with other beam terms, which are not limited in this application.
[0191] The beam used to transmit signals can be called the transmission beam (Tx beam), or it can be referred to as a spatial domain transmission filter, spatial transmission filter, spatial domain transmission parameter, spatial transmission setting, or spatial transmission setting. The downlink transmission beam can be indicated by TCI-state.
[0192] The beam used to receive signals can be called a reception beam (Rx beam), a spatial domain reception filter, a spatial reception filter, a spatial domain reception parameter, a spatial reception setting, or a spatial reception setting. The uplink transmit beam can be indicated by a spatial relation, an uplink TCI-state, or a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource (indicating the transmit beam using that SRS). Therefore, the uplink beam can also be replaced by an SRS resource.
[0193] The transmitting beam can refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space after a signal is transmitted through an antenna, while the receiving beam can refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space of a wireless signal received from an antenna.
[0194] The technology used to form a beam can be beamforming technology or other technologies. Specifically, beamforming technology can be digital beamforming technology, analog beamforming technology, or hybrid digital / analog beamforming technology, etc.
[0195] Beams are generally associated with resources. For example, during beam measurement, network devices measure different beams using different resources. The terminal provides feedback on the measured resource quality, allowing the network device to determine the quality of the corresponding beam. During data transmission, beam information is also indicated through its corresponding resources. For instance, network devices use the TCI field in downlink control information (DCI) to indicate the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) beam information of the terminal.
[0196] Optionally, multiple beams with the same or similar communication characteristics can be considered as a single beam. A beam may include one or more antenna ports for transmitting data channels, control channels, and detection signals, etc. One or more antenna ports forming a beam can also be considered as a set of antenna ports.
[0197] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, a beam refers to the transmit beam of a network device. In beam measurement, each beam of a network device corresponds to a resource, and therefore the beam corresponding to that resource can be identified by the resource index.
[0198] Furthermore, the beam can be a wide beam, a narrow beam, or other types of beams. A wide beam can be understood as a beam with a larger coverage area, and a narrow beam can be understood as a beam with a smaller coverage area. That is, in the same usage scenario, the coverage area of a wide beam is greater than that of a narrow beam. For example, the beamwidth of a wide beam can be greater than that of a narrow beam. Beamwidth, or half-power beamwidth, refers to the angular range in which the radiated power in the direction of the main lobe of the beam drops to half of its maximum value (-3dB). As an example, the beamwidth of the wide beam mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be greater than or equal to 65°, and the beamwidth of the narrow beam can be approximately 20° to 30°. The beamwidth given here is merely illustrative and is not limited in this application.
[0199] For example, the area covered by a wide beam is the same as, or substantially the same as, the area covered by multiple narrow beams. Figure 4 is an example diagram of the coverage area of wide and narrow beams. Figure 4 shows four different beams, where beam A can be the wide beam mentioned above, while beams 0, 1, and 2 can be the narrow beams mentioned above. It can be seen that the coverage area of beam A can be equal to the combined coverage area of beams 0, 1, and 2, or in other words, the area covered by beam A is substantially the same as the area covered by beams 0, 1, and 2. The coverage area of beam A is greater than the coverage area of any one of beams 0, 1, and 2.
[0200] Based on the preceding explanation, it can be understood that although the coverage area of a wide beam is larger than that of a narrow beam, the coverage gain of a narrow beam can be greater than that of a wide beam because it can concentrate energy over a smaller area. For example, the coverage gain of beams 0, 1, and 2 can all be greater than that of beam A.
[0201] The initial access schemes based on wide beam and narrow beam of the present invention will be illustrated below with reference to Figures 5 and 6, using specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments.
[0202] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the access and data transmission process based on wide and narrow beams. The method shown in Figure 5 may include steps 1 to 3.
[0203] Step 1: Network devices use wide beams to transmit SSBs; they use regional-level narrow beams to transmit system information, such as SIB1 / SIB19.
[0204] This scheme is introduced for terminal equipment within the aforementioned wide beam coverage area. Therefore, the narrow beam mentioned here can refer to a narrow beam whose coverage area overlaps with that of the wide beam. Since multiple area-level narrow beams can provide system information to different areas within the SSB coverage area, this beam can be called an area-level narrow beam. Each area-level narrow beam can be used to transmit the same system information, such as all of them being used to transmit SIB1. It should be understood that each area-level narrow beam can also carry different information, such as carrying its own index.
[0205] After receiving the SSB, the terminal device can determine the narrow beam search space based on the SSB and receive SIB1 / SIB19 within that search space. Furthermore, the terminal device can initiate a physical random access channel (PRACH) to the network device based on the parsing results of the system messages.
[0206] Using a narrow beam for transmission of SIB1 / SIB19 helps to improve the transmission performance of SIB1 / SIB19.
[0207] Step 2: The network device receives the PRACH sent by the terminal device.
[0208] Network devices can receive PRACH signals using the same beam as the aforementioned multiple regional narrow beams to perform coarse localization of terminal devices, determining the narrow beam subsequently used for communication with the terminal device from among the multiple regional narrow beams. For example, network devices can distinguish the regional narrow beam to which the terminal device belongs by identifying the direction in which the signal is received, or they can determine the approximate location information of the terminal device by combining the received signal strength through multi-beam merging reception.
[0209] After sending PRACH, the terminal device can receive the random access response (RAR) in the RAR window.
[0210] Step 3: The network device sends the RAR to the terminal device.
[0211] Network devices can send RARs to terminal devices using the narrow beam determined in step 2.
[0212] After receiving the RAR, the terminal device can execute subsequent random access procedures according to the schedule in the RAR, such as sending message 3 (Msg3) to report the terminal device identifier.
[0213] After the random access process is completed, the terminal equipment and network equipment can use user-grade narrow beams for service data transmission.
[0214] The above scheme utilizes and combines the inconsistency in demodulation thresholds between the SSB and PDSCH (carrying SIB1 / SIB19). For example, the SSB has a lower demodulation threshold, while the PDSCH has a higher one. This scheme achieves coverage through a wide beam for the SSB and narrow beams for multiple system messages (SIB1 / SIB19), enabling the SSB to transmit with a wider beam to ensure demodulation even under large coverage, while the SIB1 / SIB19 uses a narrower beam to meet demodulation requirements.
[0215] Figure 6 is another flowchart illustrating the access and data transmission process based on wide and narrow beams. The method shown in Figure 6 may include steps 1 to 3.
[0216] Step 1: The network device uses a wide beam to transmit the synchronization sequence and MIB-E.
[0217] This scheme divides system information into cell-level system information and region-level system information, namely, the enhanced master information block-extended (MIB-E) and the system information block remaining (SIB-R). MIB-E can be a newly defined type of system message, carrying only the system information necessary for the terminal to initiate PRACH, such as some or all of the information in the MIB and some information in SIB1. Compared to the sum of the information carried by the MIB and SIB1, MIB-E reduces the amount of information carried, which can improve the link budget to some extent. Using a wide beam to transmit cell-level system information (MIB-E) ensures wide coverage of MIB-E, thereby guaranteeing the transmission of necessary information.
[0218] Step 1 can also be replaced by using a wide-beam SSB. The SSB mentioned here includes the MIB-E mentioned above.
[0219] After receiving the SSB, the terminal device can initiate a PRACH using a wide beamwidth based on the information in the MIB-E. The PRACH can be transmitted using a wide beamwidth.
[0220] Step 2: The network device receives the PRACH sent by the terminal device.
[0221] Network devices can use multiple regional-level narrow beams to receive signals, locate the position of the terminal device, and determine the subsequent narrow beam used for communication with the terminal device from among the multiple regional-level narrow beams. The position of the terminal device mentioned here can be a coarse-grained position, which can be used to determine the regional-level narrow beam mentioned by the UE.
[0222] Step 3: The network device sends SIB-R / RAR / Msg4 and other information to the terminal device.
[0223] Network devices can transmit SIB-R / RAR / Msg4, etc., to terminal devices through the regional-level narrow beam determined in step 2. The coverage range of the regional-level narrow beam is smaller than that of the wide beam, but the coverage gain of the regional-level narrow beam is greater than that of the wide beam. Therefore, transmitting SIB-R through the regional-level narrow beam helps to improve the transmission performance of SIB-R.
[0224] After sending PRACH, the terminal device can receive SIB-R and RAR according to certain rules.
[0225] After the random access process is completed, the terminal equipment and network equipment can use user-grade narrow beams for service data transmission.
[0226] As can be seen, in the method shown in Figure 5, the system messages sent by the network side are SIB1 and SIB19, while the method shown in Figure 6 splits the system messages and places the system messages necessary for the terminal device to access the network in the newly defined system message MIB-E, or in other words, the message only contains some necessary system messages.
[0227] In some embodiments, the terminal device can obtain OSIs, such as SIB2, SIB3, SIB4, etc., as needed. The scheduling information for each OSI is typically configured in SIB1. For example, the SI-SchedulingInfo of SIB1 (see the relevant description in 3GPP TS 38.331V17.6.0) includes a list of SI messages. Each entry in this list corresponds to a type of SI message, and an SI message can include one or more SIBs. An SI message is transmitted within the same SI window, or in other words, SI messages carrying the same SIBs are transmitted within an SI window. SI-SchedulingInfo can be used to configure SI windows and the broadcast type of SI messages, as well as to configure which SIBs are included in the SI messages. In other words, SI messages include OSIs other than SIB1.
[0228] When a terminal device requires OSI, such as SIB2, it can identify the SI message (which can be denoted as SI message #A) that has a mapping relationship with SIB2 in the SI message list. Then, it can monitor the PDCCH that schedules SI message #A in the SI window associated with SI message #A, and receive SI message #A according to the scheduling information in the PDCCH to obtain SIB2. For example, it can blindly detect the PDCCH scrambled with the System Information Radio Network Temporary Identity (SI-RNTI) in the aforementioned SI window.
[0229] The method for determining the SI window is described below.
[0230] The starting position of the SI window is associated with an integer x, where x = (n-1)*w, where w is the length of the SI window (indicated by si-WindowLength), x is in units of slots, and n indicates which entry in the SI message list corresponds to the SI message associated with this SI message window.
[0231] The starting frame of the SI window satisfies SFN%T = FLOOR(x / N), where the system frame number (SFN) indicates the starting frame number of the SI window, T is the period of the SI messages associated with this SI window (specified by si-Periodicity, which is in system frames), N is the number of slots contained in each radio frame, and FLOOR represents rounding down. For example, the value of si-Periodicity can be rf8, rf16, rf32…rf512, etc. Here, rf8 represents the duration corresponding to 8 radio frames.
[0232] The starting time slot of the SI window is time slot #a, where a = x%N.
[0233] The SI window can include multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities, and different PDCCH monitoring opportunities can be associated with different SSBs. The terminal device can monitor the DCI of the scheduling SI message at the PDCCH monitoring opportunity corresponding to its associated SSB, thereby helping to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.
[0234] For example, the correspondence between multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities and SSBs in the SI window is as follows: the [x3*N2+K]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the SI window is associated with the Kth SSB, where K takes values from 1 to N2, N2 is the actual number of SSBs sent, x3 takes values from 0 to X-1, and X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the SI window / N2), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0235] Figure 7 shows an example of the correspondence between PDCCH monitoring opportunities and SSBs in the SI window. Referring to Figure 7, SI window #1 includes two PDCCH monitoring opportunities (shown in gray in Figure 7), which are associated with SSB0 and SSB1, respectively.
[0236] In the above scheme, SSB and SI messages are transmitted using a beamwidth of the same. For example, SSB0 and SI message #A can be transmitted using a beamwidth of the same. That is, SSB0 is associated with an SI message #A (denoted as SI message #A-0).
[0237] One possible implementation is to use narrow beams to transmit OSI messages (such as SI messages). In other words, multiple narrow beams can be used to provide the same SI message within the coverage area of a single SSB, thereby improving the OSI link budget and transmission performance. For example, multiple narrow beams can provide SI messages #A to different areas within the coverage area of SSB0. That is, SSB0 can be associated with multiple SI messages #A carried on different narrow beams, denoted as SI message #A-1, SI message #A-2, etc.
[0238] Generally, the PDCCH monitoring timings corresponding to SI messages carried by different beams are different. Taking the association of SSB0 with SI messages #A-1 and #A-2 as an example, within an SI window, the PDCCH monitoring timing associated with SSB0 can include the monitoring timing of the PDCCH used to schedule SI message #A-1 and the monitoring timing of the PDCCH used to schedule SI message #A-2. However, in related technologies, within an SI window, SSB0 is associated with a monitoring timing of a PDCCH used to schedule SI message #A-0.
[0239] It can be seen that, compared with related technologies, when using narrow beams to transmit SI messages, the number of SI messages #A associated with SSB0 changes, and the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with SSB0 within an SI window also changes accordingly. Therefore, determining the PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with SSB using the methods in related technologies may be inaccurate.
[0240] For example, in Figure 7, the first PDCCH monitoring opportunity in SI#1 window is associated with SSB0, and the second PDCCH monitoring opportunity is associated with SSB1. However, when using narrow beam to transmit SI message #A, the first and second PDCCH monitoring opportunities in SI#1 window may be associated with SSB0. If the terminal device monitors SI message #A associated with SSB1 during the second PDCCH monitoring opportunity in SI#1 window, it will not be able to detect the required SI message, thus affecting performance. Alternatively, the terminal device can disregard the mapping relationship between SSB and PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the SI window and obtain SI message #A associated with SSB1 by monitoring the entire SI#1 window. However, this incurs a significant overhead on the terminal device side.
[0241] Therefore, when using narrow beam OSI transmission, the problem that needs to be solved is how the terminal device determines the timing of PDCCH monitoring for scheduling SI messages.
[0242] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a communication method that sends first information to a terminal device to enable the terminal device to obtain information about the SSBs covering the terminal device, such as the monitoring timing of multiple PDCCHs associated with the first SSB, or to enable the terminal device to obtain information about the monitoring timing of the PDCCH associated with the first SI message covering the terminal device among multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB, thereby helping the terminal device to accurately obtain SI messages.
[0243] In addition, the method provided in this application embodiment can monitor the PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message at multiple PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SSB, or at the PDCCH monitoring time associated with the first SI message, without monitoring the entire SI window length, thereby helping to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.
[0244] The preceding text used a satellite scenario as an example. It should be understood that satellite is only one application scenario. The method provided in this application embodiment can also be applied to terrestrial networks, or to scenarios requiring coverage enhancement or extensive beam scanning during the future evolution of communication systems.
[0245] The communication method provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figure 8.
[0246] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. The method shown in Figure 8 may involve the interaction between a first communication device and a second communication device. In this embodiment, the first communication device is described as a terminal device and the second communication device is described as a network device.
[0247] It should be noted that the first communication device can be a terminal device, or a component applicable to a terminal device, such as a module or communication module, or a circuit or chip applicable to a terminal device (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), or a logic node, logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the terminal device.
[0248] Similarly, the second communication device can be a network device, or a component applicable to a network device, such as a module or communication module, or a circuit or chip applicable to a network device (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), or a logic node, logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of a network device.
[0249] The method provided in the embodiments of this application will now be described from the perspective of the interaction between the terminal device (as the first communication device) and the network device (as the second communication device).
[0250] The method shown in Figure 8 may include steps S810 to S830.
[0251] In S810, the network device sends the first SSB. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first SSB.
[0252] The first SSB is associated with the first SIB, and the first SSB is associated with multiple SI messages. The first SIB may include, for example, SIB1 or SIB19. In the embodiments of this application, the multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB satisfy one or more of the following: the multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB carry the same information; the multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB are associated with an entry in the SI message list; the multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB are sent in the same SI window; or, when SI messages carrying different OSIs are referred to as different types of SI messages, the multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB can be SI messages of the same type. Taking the SI message #A carrying SIB2 mentioned above as an example, the first SSB can be associated with multiple SI messages #A. For ease of description, the multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB can be simply referred to as M SI messages.
[0253] The coverage area of the first SSB can be the same as, or substantially the same as, the coverage area of the M SI messages. Alternatively, the coverage areas of the first SSB and the M SI messages overlap. For example, the first SSB can be transmitted using the wide beam mentioned earlier, while the M SI messages can be transmitted using M narrow beams. The M narrow beams can provide services to terminal devices within the coverage area of the wide beam. If the coverage area of the M narrow beams is the same as (or substantially the same as) the coverage area of the wide beam transmitting the first SSB, it helps ensure that all terminal devices within the coverage area of the first SSB have available SI messages. Using narrow beams to transmit SI messages helps improve the transmission performance and link budget of SI messages.
[0254] For example, the M SI messages are non-quasi-co-located, or in other words, the M SI messages have a non-quasi-co-located relationship. For instance, the M SI messages being non-quasi-co-located could mean that the M SI messages cannot share some or all of the channel characteristic parameters. For example, the M SI messages are non-quasi-co-located in one or more aspects of Doppler frequency offset, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread, and spatial reception parameters (if applicable). It can also be understood that the M SI messages are transmitted through M narrow beams.
[0255] In some embodiments, the SIB associated with the first SSB includes only the first SIB; that is, the SSB and SIB are associated one-to-one. For example, the first SSB and the first SIB can be transmitted using the same wide beam, and the M SI messages can be transmitted using M narrow beams. In this case, the aforementioned M SI messages can all be associated with the first SIB. This scheme can be applied, for example, to scenarios where the demodulation threshold of the SI message is greater than or equal to the demodulation threshold of the first SIB.
[0256] In other embodiments, the first SSB is associated with M SIBs, and each of the M SIBs is associated with one of the M SI messages. Specifically, the first SIB among the M SIBs is associated with the first SI message among the M SI messages. For example, the first SSB can be transmitted using a wide beam, while the M SIBs and M SI messages can be transmitted using M narrow beams. The SI message associated with an SIB can refer to an SI message transmitted using the same narrow beam as the SIB, or in other words, SIBs and SI messages serving the same area are associated with each other. This scheme can be applied, for example, to scenarios where the transmission performance of both SIBs and SI messages needs to be enhanced.
[0257] In addition, in the above cases, the first SIB can be the SIB that provides services to the terminal device among the multiple SIBs associated with the first SSB. Alternatively, when more than one SIB among the multiple SIBs associated with the first SSB can provide services to the terminal device, the first SIB can be the SIB with the best signal quality or the SIB that the terminal device received earliest, etc.
[0258] It should be understood that the first SI message refers to the SI message that provides services to the terminal device among the M SI messages.
[0259] In S820, the network device sends the first SIB, and the corresponding terminal device receives the first SIB.
[0260] If the first SSB is associated only with the first SIB, then the first SIB can be received according to the search space indicated by the first SSB. If the first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, then the first SIB can be the SIB that provides services to the terminal device among the multiple SIBs associated with the first SSB, such as the SIB with better signal quality among the multiple SIBs.
[0261] In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a first SSB and / or a first SIB. That is, the first information is carried in the first SSB, or the first information is carried in the first SIB, or some information in the first information is carried in the first SSB and some information is carried in the first SIB (or, the first SSB and the first SIB may each include different information in the first information). The carrying method of the first information will be described in detail below in conjunction with the content of the first information, and will not be repeated here.
[0262] The aforementioned first information can be used to determine the first monitoring opportunity.
[0263] In some embodiments, the first monitoring timing may include the monitoring timing of multiple PDCCHs used to schedule multiple SI messages (i.e., the M SI messages mentioned above). That is, the first information can be used to determine the monitoring timing of the M PDCCHs associated with the M SI messages. The PDCCHs associated with the M SI messages are the multiple PDCCHs used to schedule the M SI messages. In this method, the first monitoring timing may also be referred to as the PDCCH monitoring timing of the multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB.
[0264] In other embodiments, the first monitoring timing may include the monitoring timing of the PDCCH for scheduling the first SI message, wherein the M SI messages include the first SI message.
[0265] S830, the terminal device receives the first SI message based on the first monitoring opportunity.
[0266] When the first monitoring time includes the monitoring time of M PDCCHs associated with SI messages, the terminal device can perform monitoring during the monitoring time of the M PDCCHs associated with the M SI messages to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI messages. In this scheme, the terminal device does not need to monitor the entire SI window length, but only needs to monitor the multiple PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SSB to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI messages, which helps to reduce the monitoring overhead of the terminal device. In addition, in this scheme, the information required to indicate the multiple PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SSB to the terminal device is less, which helps to reduce the transmission overhead of the first information.
[0267] When the first monitoring time includes the PDCCH monitoring time associated with the first SI message, the terminal device can directly receive the scheduling information of the first SI message during the PDCCH monitoring time, which helps to further reduce the monitoring overhead of the terminal device.
[0268] The scheduling information of the first SI message, such as the DCI in the PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message, can be obtained using the above method. Based on the scheduling information of the first SI message, the time-frequency resource location of the PDSCH carrying the first SI message can be determined. The terminal device can then receive the first SI message at this time-frequency resource location. Furthermore, based on the parsing result of the first SI message, the terminal device can obtain the required OSI.
[0269] In this embodiment, the network device can indicate to the terminal device the PDCCH monitoring timing of multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB, thereby narrowing the monitoring range for acquiring the first SI message, which helps improve monitoring performance, reduce the power consumption of the terminal device, and also helps reduce indication overhead. Alternatively, the network device can indicate to the terminal device the monitoring timing of the PDCCH associated with the first SI message, which can further reduce the monitoring range of the terminal device, thereby helping to further reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.
[0270] It is understandable that, given different mapping relationships between SI messages and the monitoring timings of multiple PDCCHs within the SI window, the monitoring timing of the PDCCH associated with the first SI message may differ. Therefore, the methods for determining the monitoring timing of the PDCCH associated with the first SI message differ depending on the first information mentioned in the embodiments of this application.
[0271] The following section uses the transmission of M SI messages in the first SI window as an example, and combines Examples 1 to 3 to introduce the mapping method between the first SI message and the monitoring timing of multiple PDCCHs in the first SI window; and introduces the method for determining the content of the first information and the monitoring timing of the PDCCH associated with the first SI message under different mapping methods.
[0272] Example 1
[0273] Typically, a cell can achieve coverage by periodically sending multiple SSBs from a burst set. In this embodiment, the SSB burst set includes a first SSB, or in other words, the first SSB belongs to the SSB burst set.
[0274] In some embodiments, multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs in the aforementioned SSB burst set. For example, the multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window are associated with the multiple SSBs according to the SSB index.
[0275] In the first SI window, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with each SSB is the same as the number of SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with that SSB, that is, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is M as mentioned above.
[0276] In other words, the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs in the above SSB burst set according to the number of SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the SSB, such as M, and the SSB index.
[0277] For example, the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB can be sequentially associated with M SI messages according to the index of the SI message.
[0278] Figure 9A is an example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiment of this application. Referring to Figure 9A, the first SSB is SSB1, and the above-mentioned SSB burst set includes SSB0, SSB1, SSB2, and SSB3. Each SSB is associated with two SI messages (including SI#0 and SI#1), that is, M is 2.
[0279] In Figure 9A, the gray time slots represent the PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with SI messages. Referring to Figure 9A, the 1st and 2nd PDCCH monitoring opportunities are associated with SSB0, the 3rd and 4th PDCCH monitoring opportunities with SSB1, and so on. Specifically, the 1st PDCCH monitoring opportunity is associated with SSB0-SI#0, the 2nd with SSB0-SI#1, the 3rd with SSB1-SI#0, the 4th with SSB1-SI#1, and so on. It should be understood that SSBx-SI#x represents the SI message x associated with SSBx. It can be seen that the PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are associated with multiple SSBs according to the SSB index, and the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with each SSB is related to the number of SI messages associated with that SSB.
[0280] In some embodiments, the first monitoring timing may include M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, where: i is the index of the first SSB; M is the number of multiple SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the first SSB; N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, where X = CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring timings within the first SI window / (N1*M)), and CEIL represents rounding up. Alternatively, the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window correspond to SSB i, where i takes values of 0,…,N1-1.
[0281] In this case, the first monitoring opportunity may include the monitoring opportunities of M PDCCHs used to schedule M SI messages. That is, the first monitoring opportunity may include multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities.
[0282] Taking Figure 9A as an example, x1 is 0, N1 is 4, the index i of the first SSB is 1, and M is 2. Therefore, the first monitoring opportunity includes the [0*4*2+1*2+1]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the first SI window, which is the two PDCCH monitoring opportunities starting from the 3rd PDCCH monitoring opportunity. In other words, the first monitoring opportunity is the 3rd and 4th PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the first SI window.
[0283] In the above scheme, the first information may include the number of SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the first SSB, i.e., M mentioned above. Other parameters can be determined based on the configuration information in the SSB and / or the first SIB (not described in detail below). Taking Figure 9A as an example, the related technology needs to monitor the entire window length of the first SI window, i.e., 8 PDCCH monitoring opportunities, while the embodiment of this application only needs to monitor during the 3rd and 4th PDCCH monitoring opportunities, i.e., 2 PDCCH monitoring opportunities, to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device. In addition, the first information in this scheme only includes M, which helps to reduce the indication overhead of the first information.
[0284] In other embodiments, the first monitoring opportunity can be the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: i is the index of the first SSB; j is the index of the first SI message; M is the number of multiple SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the first SSB; N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X = CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N1*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up. Alternatively, the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window corresponds to SI message j (associated with SSB i), where i takes values of 0,…,N1-1, and j takes values of 0,…,M-1.
[0285] In this case, the first monitoring opportunity may include the monitoring opportunity of the PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message. That is, the first monitoring opportunity includes a PDCCH monitoring opportunity.
[0286] Taking Figure 9A as an example, x1 is 0, N1 is 4, the index i of the first SSB is 1, M is 2, and the index j of the first SI message is 0. Then the first monitoring opportunity includes the [0*4*2+1*2+(0+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window.
[0287] In the above scheme, the first information may include the number of SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the first SSB, i.e., M mentioned above, and the index of the first SI message. Taking Figure 9A as an example, the related technology needs to monitor the entire window length of the first SI window, i.e., 8 PDCCH monitoring opportunities, while the embodiment of this application only needs to monitor during the 3rd PDCCH monitoring opportunity, i.e., 1 PDCCH monitoring opportunity, to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to further reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device.
[0288] As mentioned earlier, the embodiments of this application can be applied to scenarios where the SIBs associated with the first SSB use wide-beam transmission (such as a scenario where the first SSB is associated with one SIB1 (or SIB19)) or scenarios where the SIBs associated with the first SSB use narrow-beam transmission (such as a scenario where the first SSB is associated with M SIB1s (or SIB19s)). The following description will use the example of the first SSB being associated with multiple SIB1s.
[0289] In a scenario where the SIB1 associated with the first SSB uses narrow beam transmission, the M SIB1s associated with the first SSB can be associated one-to-one with M SI messages, meaning they are transmitted using the same narrow beam. Therefore, in this scenario, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with each SSB in the first SI window is the same as the number of SIB1s associated with that SSB. For example, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of SIBs associated with the first SSB, i.e., the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is M.
[0290] In other words, in this scenario, the monitoring timing of multiple PDCCHs in the first SI window is sequentially associated with multiple SSBs in the aforementioned SSB burst set according to the number of SIB1s associated with the SSB.
[0291] For example, the monitoring timings of multiple PDCCHs associated with the first SSB can be sequentially associated with M SI messages according to SIB indexes, such as SIB1 index. Alternatively, the monitoring timings of multiple PDCCHs associated with the first SSB can be sequentially associated with multiple SIB1s according to SIB indexes, wherein the monitoring timing of the PDCCH associated with the first SIB is the monitoring timing associated with the first SI message.
[0292] Figure 9B is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiments of this application. Referring to Figure 9B, the first SSB is SSB1, and the above-mentioned SSB burst set includes SSB0, SSB1, SSB2, and SSB3. Each SSB is associated with two SIB1s (including SIB1#0 and SIB1#1), that is, M is 2.
[0293] In Figure 9B, the gray time slots represent the PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with SI messages. The first and second PDCCH monitoring opportunities are associated with SSB0, the third and fourth with SSB1, and so on. Specifically, the first PDCCH monitoring opportunity is associated with SSB0-SIB1#0, the second with SSB0-SIB1#1, the third with SSB1-SIB1#0, the fourth with SSB1-SIB1#1, and so on. It should be understood that SSBx-SIB1#x represents SIB1#x associated with SSBx. It can be seen that the PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are associated with multiple SSBs according to their SSB indices, and the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with each SSB is related to the number of SIB1s associated with that SSB.
[0294] Therefore, when the first monitoring time includes the M PDCCH monitoring times starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring time of the first SI window, M can be the number of SIB1 associated with the first SSB, and the meanings of other parameters can be referred to the previous introduction. In this case, the first monitoring time can include multiple PDCCH monitoring times.
[0295] Taking Figure 9B as an example, x1 is 0, N1 is 4, the index i of the first SSB is 1, and M is 2. Therefore, the first monitoring opportunity includes the [0*4*2+1*2+1]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the first SI window, which is the second PDCCH monitoring opportunity starting from the third PDCCH monitoring opportunity. In other words, the first monitoring opportunity includes the third and fourth PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the first SI window.
[0296] In the above scheme, the first information may include the number of SIB1s associated with the first SSB, i.e., M mentioned above. Taking Figure 9B as an example, compared with the related technology which requires monitoring the entire window length of the first SI window, the method provided by this application embodiment only needs to monitor during two PDCCH monitoring times to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device. In addition, the first information in this scheme only includes M, which helps to reduce the indication overhead of the first information.
[0297] When the first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, j is the index of the first SIB; M can be the number of SIB1 associated with the first SSB, and the meanings of other parameters can be referred to the previous introduction. In this case, the first monitoring opportunity includes one PDCCH monitoring opportunity.
[0298] Taking Figure 9B as an example, x1 is 0, N1 is 4, the index i of the first SSB is 1, M is 2, and the index j of the first SIB is 0. Then the first monitoring opportunity includes the [0*4*2+1*2+(0+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window.
[0299] In the above scheme, the first information may include the number of SIB1s associated with the first SSB, i.e., M mentioned above, and the index of the first SIB. This embodiment only requires monitoring during one PDCCH monitoring session to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to further reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device.
[0300] In addition, in scenarios where SIB1 uses narrow beam transmission, or where the first SSB is associated with multiple SIB1s, an index for SIB1 may already be configured. The embodiments of this application can directly reuse the SIB1 index in related technologies, thereby helping to reduce indication overhead.
[0301] In the solution of Example 1, the mapping relationship between the PDCCH monitoring timing associated with SSBs and SI messages, and the mapping relationship between the monitoring timing of SI messages and PDCCH messages remain unchanged in different use cases, such as the scenario where some SSBs in the SSB burst concentration do not send messages. This solution is applicable to all scenarios and has strong versatility; it does not require redefining the mapping relationship between the PDCCH monitoring timing associated with SSBs and SI messages according to the use case, and is simple to implement.
[0302] Example 2
[0303] In some cases, beam transmission strategies can be flexibly configured to balance multi-dimensional requirements such as coverage, capacity, power consumption, and interference. In such cases, not all SSBs in an SSB burst may be transmitted. For example, in an SSB burst including SSB0 to SSB7, the actually transmitted SSBs may include SSB0, SSB2, SSB4, and SSB6. If the actually transmitted SSBs are not considered, there may be PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with untransmitted SSBs within the first SI window. The terminal equipment cannot receive these untransmitted SSBs, and therefore cannot receive the associated SIB1 and OSI. In other words, the PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with untransmitted SSBs are invalid, potentially leading to resource waste.
[0304] In some embodiments, multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple actually sent SSBs, such as associating them with multiple actually sent SSBs according to the SSB index, which helps to avoid the aforementioned resource waste. The multiple actually sent SSBs include the first SSB. In the first SI window, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of multiple SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the first SSB, that is, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is M as mentioned above.
[0305] For example, the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB can be sequentially associated with M SI messages according to the index of the SI message.
[0306] Figure 10A is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiments of this application. Referring to Figure 10A, the SSBs actually sent include SSB1 (i.e., the first SSB) and SSB3. Each SSB is associated with two SI messages (including SI#0 and SI#1), i.e., M is 2.
[0307] In Figure 10A, the gray time slots represent the PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with SI messages. Referring to Figure 10A, the first and second PDCCH monitoring opportunities are associated with SSB1, and the third and fourth PDCCH monitoring opportunities are associated with SSB3. Specifically, the first PDCCH monitoring opportunity is associated with SSB1-SI#0, the second with SSB1-SI#1, the third with SSB3-SI#0, and the fourth with SSB3-SI#1. It can be seen that the PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are associated with multiple actually sent SSBs according to the SSB index, and the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with each SSB is related to the number of SI messages associated with that SSB.
[0308] In some embodiments, the first monitoring timing may include the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, where: the first SSB is the Kth actually sent SSB; M is the number of multiple SI messages associated with the first SSB; N2 is the number of actually sent SSBs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, where X = CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring timings within the first SI window / (N2*M)), and CEIL represents rounding up. Alternatively, the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window correspond to the Kth actually sent SSB, where K takes values of 1,…,N2.
[0309] In this case, the first monitoring opportunity may include the monitoring opportunities of M PDCCHs used to schedule M SI messages. That is, the first monitoring opportunity may include multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities.
[0310] Taking Figure 10A as an example, with x1 set to 0, N2 to 2, K to 1, and M to 2, the first monitoring opportunity includes the [0*2*2+0*2+1]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the first SI window, which is the two PDCCH monitoring opportunities starting from the first PDCCH monitoring opportunity. In other words, the first monitoring opportunity is the first PDCCH monitoring opportunity and the second PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the first SI window.
[0311] In the above scheme, the first information may include the number of SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the first SSB, i.e., M mentioned above. Other parameters can be determined based on the configuration information in the SSB or the first SSB (not described in detail below). Taking Figure 10A as an example, the related technology requires monitoring the entire window length of the first SI window, i.e., 4 PDCCH monitoring opportunities, while the embodiment of this application only needs to monitor during 2 PDCCH monitoring opportunities to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device. In addition, the first information in this scheme only includes M, which helps to reduce the indication overhead of the first information.
[0312] In other embodiments, the first monitoring opportunity can be the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: the first SSB is the Kth actually sent SSB; j is the index of the first SI message; M is the number of multiple SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the first SSB; N2 is the number of actually sent SSBs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X = CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N1*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up. Alternatively, the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window corresponds to SI message j (associated with the Kth actually sent SSB), where K takes values of 1,…,N2, and j takes values of 0,…,M-1.
[0313] In this case, the first monitoring opportunity may include the monitoring opportunity of the PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message. That is, the first monitoring opportunity includes a PDCCH monitoring opportunity.
[0314] Taking Figure 10A as an example, x1 is 0, N2 is 2, K is 1, M is 2, and the index j of the first SI message is 0. Then the first monitoring opportunity includes the [0*2*2+0*2+(0+1)]th SI window, which is the first PDCCH monitoring opportunity.
[0315] In the above scheme, the first information may include the number of SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with the first SSB, i.e., M mentioned above, and the index of the first SI message. Taking Figure 10A as an example, the embodiment of this application only needs to perform monitoring at the first PDCCH monitoring time to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to further reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device.
[0316] In a scenario where the SIB1 associated with the first SSB uses narrow beam transmission, the M SIB1s associated with the first SSB can be associated one-to-one with M SI messages, meaning they are transmitted using the same narrow beam. Therefore, in this scenario, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with each SSB in the first SI window is the same as the number of SIB1s associated with that SSB. For example, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of SIBs associated with the first SSB, i.e., the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is M.
[0317] In other words, in this scenario, the monitoring timing of multiple PDCCHs in the first SI window can be sequentially associated with multiple SSBs in the aforementioned SSB burst set according to the number of SIB1s associated with the SSB.
[0318] For example, the monitoring timings of multiple PDCCHs associated with the first SSB can be sequentially associated with M SI messages according to SIB indexes, such as SIB1 index. Alternatively, the monitoring timings of multiple PDCCHs associated with the first SSB can be sequentially associated with multiple SIB1s according to SIB indexes, wherein the monitoring timing of the PDCCH associated with the first SIB is the monitoring timing associated with the first SI message.
[0319] Figure 10B is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiments of this application. Referring to Figure 10B, the SSBs actually sent include SSB1 (i.e., the first SSB) and SSB3. Each SSB is associated with two SIB1s (including SIB1#0 and SIB1#1), i.e., M is 2.
[0320] In Figure 10B, the gray time slots represent the PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with SI messages. Specifically, the 1st and 2nd PDCCH monitoring opportunities are associated with SSB1, and the 3rd and 4th PDCCH monitoring opportunities are associated with SSB3. The 1st PDCCH monitoring opportunity is associated with SSB1-SIB1#0, the 2nd with SSB1-SIB1#1, the 3rd with SSB3-SIB1#0, and the 4th with SSB3-SIB1#1. It can be seen that the PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are associated with multiple actually transmitted SSBs according to the SSB index, and the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with each SSB is related to the number of SIB1s associated with that SSB.
[0321] Therefore, when the first monitoring time includes the M PDCCH monitoring times starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring time of the first SI window, M can be the number of SIB1 associated with the first SSB. The meanings of other parameters can be found in the previous description. In this case, the first monitoring time can include multiple PDCCH monitoring times.
[0322] Taking Figure 10B as an example, with x1 set to 0, N2 to 2, K to 1, and M to 2, the first monitoring opportunity includes the [0*2*2+0*2+1)]th monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, which is the two PDCCH monitoring opportunities starting from the first PDCCH. In other words, the first monitoring opportunity is the first PDCCH monitoring opportunity and the second PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the first SI window.
[0323] In the above scheme, the first information may include the number of SIB1s associated with the first SSB, i.e., M mentioned above. Taking Figure 10B as an example, compared with related technologies, the method provided by this application embodiment only needs to perform monitoring at two PDCCH monitoring times to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device. In addition, the first information in this scheme only includes M, which helps to reduce the indication overhead of the first information.
[0324] When the first monitoring opportunity consists of [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)] PDCCH monitoring opportunities, j is the index of the first SIB; M can be the number of SIB1s associated with the first SSB, and the meanings of other parameters can be found in the previous description. In this case, the first monitoring opportunity includes one PDCCH monitoring opportunity.
[0325] Taking Figure 10B as an example, x1 is 0, N2 is 2, K is 1, M is 2, and the index j of the first SIB is 0. Then the first monitoring opportunity includes the [0*2*2+0*2+(0+1)]th of the first SI window, that is, the first PDCCH monitoring opportunity.
[0326] In the above scheme, the first information may include the number of SIB1s associated with the first SSB, i.e., M mentioned above, and the index of the first SIB. This embodiment only requires monitoring during one PDCCH monitoring session to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps to further reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device.
[0327] In addition, in scenarios where SIB1 uses narrow beam transmission, or where the first SSB is associated with multiple SIB1s, an index for SIB1 may already be configured. The embodiments of this application can directly reuse the SIB1 index in related technologies, thereby helping to reduce indication overhead.
[0328] In this embodiment, determining the mapping relationship between PDCCH monitoring opportunities and SSBs in the first SI window based on the actual transmitted SSBs helps avoid resource waste. Alternatively, considering only the actual transmitted SSBs helps increase the number of PDCCH transmissions associated with an SSB, thereby improving the transmission performance of the PDCCH. For example, if Figure 10A includes more PDCCH monitoring opportunities, such as 8 PDCCH monitoring opportunities, then the PDCCHs associated with SSB1 and SSB3 can be transmitted twice, as shown in Figure 10C. Referring to Figure 10C, the light gray time slots represent the first repeated transmission of the PDCCHs associated with SSB1 and SSB3, and the dark gray time slots represent the second repeated transmission of the PDCCHs associated with SSB1 and SSB3. This scheme helps improve the transmission performance of the PDCCH.
[0329] In the methods provided in Examples 1 and 2 above, the index of the SI message can be determined based on the scanning order of the beams used to transmit the SI message. Taking two SI messages associated with SSB0 as an example, these two SI messages use different beams, such as the narrow beam transmission mentioned above. The index of the SI message transmitted by the first scanned beam can be 0, i.e., it can be represented as SI#0, and the index of the SI message transmitted by the second scanned beam can be 1, i.e., it can be represented as SI#1. It should be understood that other rules can also be used to determine the index of multiple SI messages associated with an SSB, and this application does not limit this.
[0330] Example 3
[0331] For ease of description, the term "first SI message set" can be used to refer to the SI messages associated with the SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs. It should be understood that this name is not limited. That is, the first SI message set can include multiple SI messages configured within the cell, or in other words, multiple supported SI messages. For example, if the burst set to which the first SSB belongs includes SSB0 to SSB2, a total of 3 SSBs, and each SSB is associated with 2 SI messages (carrying the same information), then the first SI message set can include 6 SI messages.
[0332] In other words, the first SI message set may include multiple SI messages transmitted through different narrow beams.
[0333] In this embodiment of the application, the first SI message set refers to SI messages that carry the same information, i.e., the same type of SI message. The first SI message set includes the first SI message mentioned above.
[0334] In some embodiments, multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the first SI message set. For example, multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window can be sequentially associated with SI messages in the first SI message set according to their index.
[0335] When multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the first SI message set, the first information may include the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set.
[0336] The determination of the index of an SI message can take several forms. For example, the index of an SI message can be determined based on the scanning order of the beam carrying multiple SI messages. For example, the index of an SI message can be determined based on the index of the SSB associated with the SI message. For instance, as the SSB index increases, the index of the SI message associated with the SSB increases or decreases. As an example, the index value of the SI message associated with SSB0 is less than the index value of the SI message associated with SSB1, i.e., as the SSB index increases. As another example, the index value of the SI message associated with SSB0 is greater than the index value of the SI message associated with SSB1, i.e., as the SSB index decreases.
[0337] It should be understood that the index of the SI message in this example is different from the index of the SI messages mentioned in Example 1 and Example 2. The index of the SI message mentioned in Example 1 and Example 2 can be called a local index, that is, an index within multiple SI messages associated with a single SSB. The index of the SI message mentioned in this example can be called a global index, that is, an index within multiple SI messages supported by the cell.
[0338] For example, the first information includes the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set, and the first monitoring opportunity can be the [x1*N3+(b+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: b is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set; N3 is the number of SI messages included in the first SI message set; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / N3), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0339] In other words, the [x1*N3+(b+1)]th PDCCH monitoring time in the first SI window corresponds to SI message b, where b takes values of 0, ..., N3-1.
[0340] Figure 11A is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiment of this application. Referring to Figure 11A, the first SI message set may include SI#0 to SI#5 (the association between SI messages and SSB is shown in Figure 11A), N3 is 6, the index b of the first SI message in the first SI message set is 1, and the PDCCH monitoring timing (shown in gray in Figure 11A) is associated with SI#0 to SI#5 sequentially according to the SI message index. Through calculation, it can be seen that x1 is 0, so the first monitoring timing can be the [0*6+(1+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window, that is, the second PDCCH monitoring timing.
[0341] Compared to monitoring the entire window length in related technologies, the above scheme only requires monitoring during a single PDCCH monitoring period to obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message, which helps reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device. Secondly, based on the global index of the SI message, the above scheme only requires one mapping to determine the PDCCH monitoring period associated with the first SI message, simplifying implementation. Furthermore, the method of determining the PDCCH monitoring period based on the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set is applicable to various scenarios and has strong versatility. For example, when switching usage scenarios, there is no need to re-determine the PDCCH monitoring period, which helps reduce processing complexity.
[0342] In scenarios where the SIB associated with the first SSB uses narrow beam transmission, the SI messages in the first SI message set can be associated one-to-one with the SIB, such as SIB1, which helps reduce the processing complexity on the network side. Therefore, in this scenario, multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window can be associated with the SI messages in the first SI message set sequentially according to the index of SIB1.
[0343] In this case, the meaning of 'b' in the above method for determining the first monitoring timing can be replaced with the index of the first SIB, and the meaning of 'N3' can be replaced with the number of SIBs1.
[0344] Figure 11B is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided in the embodiments of this application. Referring to Figure 11B, the SIB1 associated with the SI messages in the first SI message set may include SIB1#0 to SIB1#5 (the association relationship between SIB and SSB is shown in Figure 11B); N3 is 6, the first SIB can be SIB1#2, that is, the index b of the first SIB can be 2; the PDCCH monitoring timing (shown in gray in Figure 11B) can be associated with SIB1#0 to SIB1#5 in sequence according to the index of SIB1. It can be calculated that x1 takes the value of 0, so the first monitoring timing can be the [0*6+(1+2)]th, that is, the 3rd PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window.
[0345] Considering that SIBs are transmitted using narrow beams, network devices also need to indicate the SIB index to terminal devices. Therefore, in addition to the benefits described above, this scheme helps to reuse the SIB index, thereby helping to reduce indication overhead.
[0346] As one possible implementation, not all SI messages in the first SI message set are transmitted, to match different scenario requirements or usage needs. For example, the transmission of some SI messages can be turned off, or some SI messages can be omitted to meet energy-saving requirements or reduce interference. Alternatively, in the first time period, only some SI messages in the first SI message set can be transmitted; in the second time period, other SI messages in the first SI message set can be transmitted to balance access capacity and energy consumption requirements. It should be understood that the transmission of multiple SI messages within a certain time period mentioned here can refer to the sequential transmission of these multiple SI messages, or some SI messages can be transmitted simultaneously; this application does not limit this.
[0347] For ease of description, the second SI message set can refer to the SI messages actually sent in the SI messages associated with the SSB in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs. In other words, the second SI message set includes the SI messages actually sent in the first SI message set. Specifically, the second SI message set includes the first SI messages.
[0348] In other embodiments, multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the second SI message set. For example, the multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window can be associated with SI messages in the second SI message set sequentially according to the sending order of the SI messages. Alternatively, the multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window can be associated with SI messages in the second SI message set sequentially according to the index of the SI messages, wherein the index of the SI messages is determined based on the sending order of the SI messages.
[0349] When multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the second SI message set, the first information may include the transmission order of the first SI messages in the second SI message set. Alternatively, the first information may include the index of the first SI message in the second SI message set, which is determined based on the transmission order of the SI messages.
[0350] Alternatively, the first information may include indication information regarding the transmission order of the first SI message within the second SI message set. For example, the indication information included in the first information may be a bitmap, which includes multiple bits, each of which can be associated with an SI message. Different values of a bit in the bitmap can be used to indicate whether the SI message associated with that bit has been transmitted. Therefore, based on the values of the bits in the bitmap associated with the first SI message, and whether multiple SI messages preceding the first SI message have been transmitted, the transmission order of the first SI message can be determined. For example, if the first SI message set includes C SI messages, the aforementioned bitmap may include C bits, sequentially associated with the C SI messages in the first SI message set. As an example, the C bits in the bitmap can be sequentially associated with the C SI messages in the first SI message set according to their SI message indices. In this case, the first information may also include the index of the first SI message.
[0351] Taking a first SI message set comprising six SI messages (SI#0 to SI#5, carrying the same information) as an example, the first information can be 011010. These six bits are associated with SI#0 to SI#5 from left to right. Taking the index of the first SI message as 2 (i.e., SI#2), the third bit of the aforementioned six bits is associated with the first SI message. If the value of this bit is 1, indicating that the SI message associated with this bit is an actually sent SI message, then based on the aforementioned first information, the sending order of the first SI message can be determined as 2, meaning that the first SI message is the second actually sent SI message. It should be understood that the meaning of this bit value is only provided as an example and is not limited in this application.
[0352] For example, the first monitoring opportunity can be the [x1*N4+c]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: c is the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set; N4 is the number of SI messages included in the second SI message set; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / N4), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0353] In other words, the [x1*N4+c]th PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window corresponds to the cth sent SI message, where c takes values from 1 to N4.
[0354] Figure 12A is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided by the embodiment of this application. Referring to Figure 12A, the second SI message set may include SI#0, SI#2, and SI#4, N4 is 3, the index of the first SI message is 4, and the PDCCH monitoring timing (shown in gray in Figure 12A) is associated with SI#0, SI#2, and SI#4 in the order of SI message transmission. Through calculation, it can be known that x1 takes the value of 0 or 1. According to the first information, it can be determined that the transmission order of the first SI message in the first SI message set is 3. Therefore, the first monitoring timing can be the [0*3+3]th PDCCH monitoring timing and the [1*3+3]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, that is, the 3rd PDCCH monitoring timing and the 6th PDCCH monitoring timing.
[0355] Compared to monitoring the entire window length in related technologies, the above scheme reduces the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities, thereby helping to reduce the monitoring power consumption of the terminal device. Secondly, the above scheme only requires one mapping to determine the PDCCH monitoring opportunity associated with the first SI message, simplifying implementation. Since unsent SI messages are invalid, multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are associated with multiple actually sent SI messages, helping to avoid resource waste. Moreover, when there are many PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window, the first SI message can be associated with multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities, thereby helping to improve the transmission performance of SI message scheduling information.
[0356] In scenarios where the SIB associated with the first SSB uses narrow-beam transmission, SI messages in the second SI message set can be associated one-to-one with SIBs, such as SIB1, thereby helping to reduce the processing complexity on the network side. Specifically, SIB1 and SI messages use the same flexible configuration scheme; that is, all SIB1s associated with SI messages in the second SI message set are sent, while other SIB1s are not sent. Therefore, in this scenario, multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window can be sequentially associated with SI messages in the first SI message set according to their SIB1 indices.
[0357] In this case, the meaning of 'c' in the above method for determining the first monitoring timing can be replaced by the sending order of the first SIB, and the meaning of 'N4' can be replaced by the number of SIB1s actually sent (the same as the number of SI messages actually sent).
[0358] Figure 12B is another example diagram of the PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window provided by the embodiments of this application. Referring to Figure 12B, the SIB1 associated with the SI message in the second SI message set may include SIB1#0, SIB1#2, and SIB1#4; N4 is 3, the first SIB can be SIB1#4, that is, the index of the first SIB can be 4; SIB1#2 is the 3rd SIB1 sent, that is, c is 3; the PDCCH monitoring timing (shown in gray in Figure 12B) can be associated with the actually sent SIB1#0, SIB1#2, and SIB1#4 in sequence according to the index of SIB1. By calculation, it can be seen that x1 takes the value of 0 or 1, so the first monitoring timing can be the [0*3+3]th PDCCH monitoring timing and the [1*3+3]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, that is, the 3rd PDCCH monitoring timing and the 6th PDCCH monitoring timing.
[0359] Considering that SIBs are transmitted using narrow beams, network devices also need to indicate the SIB index to terminal devices. Therefore, in addition to the benefits described above, this scheme helps to reuse the SIB index, thereby helping to reduce indication overhead.
[0360] Furthermore, in the method for determining the PDCCH monitoring timing associated with the first SI message based on the actual transmission order of the first SIB, the bit map in the aforementioned first information can be used to indicate the transmission status of the SIBs. That is, each bit in the bit map is associated with a SIB, and different values of the bits indicate whether the SIB associated with that bit has been transmitted. Based on this, the transmission status of the SIBs can be determined according to the first information, thereby determining which SIB was transmitted, i.e., determining c. In this case, the first information may also include the index of the first SIB.
[0361] When the first monitoring opportunity may include multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities, the terminal device can determine the first SI message covering the terminal device based on its own location information and angle information, thereby determining the PDCCH monitoring opportunity associated with the first SI message among the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities. Alternatively, the terminal device can determine the narrow beam covering the terminal device based on its own location information and angle information, thereby determining the PDCCH monitoring opportunity associated with the first SI message transmitted by that narrow beam.
[0362] For example, the terminal device can determine the narrow beam covering the terminal device based on the coverage area of the narrow beam associated with the first SSB and its own location information. For instance, the narrow beam covering the terminal device can be determined based on the distance between the center point of the narrow beam and the terminal device, such as the narrow beam with the closest distance between its center point and the terminal device among the multiple narrow beams associated with the first SSB.
[0363] For example, the terminal device can determine the narrow beam covering the terminal device based on the angle information of the narrow beam associated with the first SSB and the angle information between the terminal device and the network device. As an example, if the angles between the center points of the two narrow beams associated with the first SSB and the horizontal line are 30° and 40° respectively, and the angle between the line connecting the terminal device and the network device and the horizontal line is 33°, then the narrow beam covering the terminal device can be considered to be the beam corresponding to the aforementioned 30°.
[0364] When a first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, upon receiving the first SIB, the terminal device can determine that the SIB covering it is the first SIB, or that the SI message covering it is the first SI message, based on the index of the first SIB carried in the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. In other words, the terminal device can determine which of the multiple narrow beams associated with the first SSB the narrow beam covering it is.
[0365] When the first SSB is associated with a first SIB, meaning the first SSB and the first SIB use wide-beam transmission, the terminal device cannot determine the narrow beam covering it after receiving the first SIB. In this case, the terminal device can determine the narrow beam covering it based on its own location and angle information, thereby determining the PDCCH monitoring timing associated with the first SIB message. The determination method is the same as described above and will not be repeated here.
[0366] It should be understood that in this case, the first information may also include the center point of multiple narrow beams associated with the first SSB, the beam coverage radius, the beam angle information, or the angle information between the terminal device and the network device.
[0367] The location information of the terminal device can reuse location information already obtained in related technologies. In scenarios where the terminal device cannot obtain its own location information, the first information may also include the location information of the terminal device. In some embodiments, the angle information between the terminal device and the network device can be determined by the terminal device; in this case, the first information does not need to include this information.
[0368] As described above, the first information may include one or more of the following: the number M of SI messages associated with the first SSB (or the number of SIBs associated with the first SSB, or the number of narrow beams associated with the first SSB); the index of the first SIB (or the index of the first SI message, or the index of the narrow beam); the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set (or the index of the first SIB among the supported multiple SIBs (i.e., the SIBs associated with the SSB in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs)); indication information of the transmission order of the first SI message in the second SI message set (or the transmission order of the first SIB among the actually transmitted multiple SIBs); the number of SI messages included in the first SI message set (or the number of supported multiple SIBs); the number of SI messages included in the second SI message set (or the number of actually transmitted SIBs among the supported multiple SIBs); the center point of the beam; the beam coverage radius; the beam angle information; or, the angle information between the terminal device and the network device, etc. It should be noted that the beam-related parameters mentioned here are the narrow beam-related parameters mentioned above.
[0369] The following section introduces how the first piece of information is carried.
[0370] In some embodiments, the first information may be entirely carried in the first SSB. For example, when the first information includes one or more of the following: the number M of SI messages associated with the first SSB; the number of SI messages included in the first SI message set; the number of SI messages included in the second SI message set; indication information of the transmission order of the first SI messages in the second SI message set; the center point of the beam; the beam coverage radius; the beam angle information; or the angle information between the terminal device and the network device, the first information may be entirely carried in the first SSB.
[0371] In this case, the terminal device can know the number of narrow beams covering the terminal device before receiving the first SIB, which helps to reduce the latency for the terminal device to obtain the first information.
[0372] In some embodiments, the first information may be entirely carried in the first SIB. For example, when the first information includes one or more of the above, all of the first information may be carried in the first SIB. Exemplarily, the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message may be carried in the first SIB, thereby helping the terminal device to identify the narrow beam associated with the first SIB or the narrow beam associated with the first SI message.
[0373] Since the resources in the first SIB are relatively abundant, carrying the first information in the first SIB helps to avoid performance loss caused by insufficient resources.
[0374] In some embodiments, the first information may be partially carried in the first SSB and partially carried in the first SIB. For example, when the first information includes multiple pieces of information, one or more of the following may be carried in the first SSB: the number M of SI messages associated with the first SSB; the number of SI messages included in the first SI message set; the number of SI messages included in the second SI message set; and indication information of the transmission order of the first SI messages in the second SI message set. In addition to the information carried in the first SSB, all other information in the first information may be carried in the first SIB.
[0375] When the mapping rules for PDCCH monitoring timing in SI messages and SI windows are the same, one possible implementation is for the network device to issue relevant parameters, and the terminal device to determine the first monitoring timing based on these parameters. This is the method described above, which helps reduce network-side complexity and facilitates parameter reuse. Another possible implementation is for the network device to issue an index of the PDCCH monitoring timing associated with the first SI message, enabling the terminal device to determine the first monitoring timing, thereby reducing terminal-side processing complexity. This method will be described in detail below.
[0376] In some embodiments, the network device can directly issue the index of the PDCCH associated with the first SI message. The index of the PDCCH associated with the first SI message is f, where f ranges from 0 to (the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities included in the first SI window - 1), and the first monitoring opportunity is the (f+1)th PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the first SI window.
[0377] In some embodiments, the network device may issue an index of the first SI message (i.e., the first information is the index of the first SI message), and the first monitoring opportunity is the (index of the first SI message + 1)th PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the first SI window. The meaning of the index of the first SI message differs depending on the circumstances.
[0378] For example, when multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the first SI message set, the index of the first SI message can range from 0 to (N3-1). The number of SI messages in the first SI message set, N3, is equal to N1 * M. The meanings of N1 and M can be found in the previous explanation. The index of the first SI message can be its index within the first SI message set, i.e., b mentioned earlier.
[0379] For example, when multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs actually sent, the index of the first SI message can be in the range of 0,..,(N2*M-1), where N2 is the number of SSBs actually sent.
[0380] For example, when multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the second SI message set, the index of the first SI message can range from 0 to (N4-1), where N4 is the number of SI messages included in the second SI message set. The index of the first SI message can be the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set, i.e., c mentioned above.
[0381] When the first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, i.e., when a narrow beam is used to transmit the SIBs, the index of the first SI message can be replaced with the index of the first SIB. In other words, the first monitoring opportunity is the (index of the first SIB + 1)th PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the first SI window.
[0382] For example, when multiple PDCCH monitoring events in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SIBs, the index of the first SIB can range from 0 to (N3-1). The number of SIBs associated with a burst of SSBs is N3 = N1 * M, and the meanings of N1 and M can be found in the previous explanation.
[0383] For example, when multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs actually sent, the index of the first SSB can be in the range of 0,..,(N2*M-1), where N2 is the number of SSBs actually sent.
[0384] For example, when multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SIBs actually sent, the index of the first SIB can range from 0 to (N₄-1), where N₄ is the number of multiple SIBs actually sent. The index of the first SIB can be the sending order of the first SIB among the multiple SIBs actually sent.
[0385] In some embodiments, different SIBs may carry their own SIB indexes. In this case, the information carried by different SIBs is different, and this system message can be called a wave-level system message. That is, the index of the first SIB can be explicitly indicated through a wave-level system message.
[0386] In other embodiments, different SIBs carry the same information, namely, broadcasting system messages. The index of the SIB is indicated by its time-domain resource location, such as the order in which the SIBs are located. Taking the first SSB associated with three SIB1s as an example, these three SIB1s are carried in time slots 1, 3, and 5 respectively. Then, the index of the SIB1 carried in time slot 1 can be 0, the index of the SIB1 carried in time slot 3 can be 1, and the index of the SIB1 carried in time slot 5 can be 2. It can be seen that this scheme can implicitly indicate the index of the SIB through its time-domain resource location. Furthermore, the PDCCH monitoring timing associated with the SIB1 carried in time slot 1 can be the first PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window, and so on.
[0387] The design of the first SI window can adopt methods from related technologies, or it can adopt the following methods provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0388] In some embodiments, the starting frame of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: SFN%T = FLOOR(x2 / N5); the starting time slot of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: a = x2%N5; x2 satisfies the following formula: x2 = (n-1)*w*M; where SFN is the starting frame number of the first SI window, T is the period of the first SI message, FLOOR indicates rounding down, N5 is the number of time slots included in a radio frame, a is the starting time slot of the first SI window, x2 is in time slots, w is the length of the first SI window, the first SI message is the nth SI message in the SI message list, and M is the number of multiple SI messages.
[0389] In other words, the length of the first SI window is extended, and the starting position of the first SI window is determined based on the extended length of the first SI window. Compared with related technologies, the number of SI messages (carrying the same information) associated with one SSB is increased in this embodiment of the application, such as from one SI message to M SI messages. Therefore, extending the length of the first SI window helps to avoid the situation where the first SI window cannot carry multiple SI messages associated with multiple SSBs, thereby helping to avoid performance loss.
[0390] Considering that an SSB is associated with M SI messages, extending the length of the first SI window by a factor of M helps the first SI window to carry multiple SI messages associated with multiple SSBs.
[0391] One possible implementation is to avoid redundant transmission of PDCCH associated with multiple SI messages within the first SI window. In other words, the PDCCH of multiple SI messages is traversed only once within the first SI window. This means there is only one PDCCH monitoring opportunity associated with the first SI message within the first SI window. Based on this, the length of the first SI window does not need to be extended, or rather, its length can be shortened, thereby reducing the latency for the terminal device to acquire multiple SI messages. This is because multiple SI windows are distributed sequentially in the time domain. For example, if the first SI window and the second SI window are adjacent, and the second SI window follows the first SI window in the time domain, if the first SI window is long, the terminal device can only acquire the scheduling information of the SI messages in the second SI window after the first SI window, resulting in a longer latency.
[0392] In this case, the values of x1 or x2 involved in the method for determining the first monitoring timing described above can be replaced with 0. For example, the first monitoring timing mentioned above, which includes the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, can be replaced with: the first monitoring timing includes the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window. Similarly, the first monitoring timing mentioned above, which includes the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, can be replaced with: the first monitoring timing includes the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window. And so on. For simplicity, these will not be elaborated upon further.
[0393] In addition, in this case, the first information may not include information such as the number of SI messages in the first SI message set or the number of SI messages in the second SI message set.
[0394] As one possible implementation, expanding the optional parameters of the SI message period, such as supporting shorter SI message periods, can help reduce the latency of obtaining SI message scheduling information. Due to transmission performance and other reasons, the terminal device may not be able to successfully obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message within the first SI window of the current period. In this case, the terminal device can obtain the scheduling information of the first SI message in the first SI window of the next period. Therefore, with a shorter first SI message period, the latency of the terminal device obtaining the scheduling information of the first SI message over multiple periods can be reduced.
[0395] As mentioned earlier, the SI message period in related technologies has a range of seven values: rf8, rf16, rf32…rf512. In this embodiment, shorter SI message periods can be configured. For example, rf2 and / or rf4 can be added to the SI message period range, making it possible for the SI message period to be rf2, rf4, rf8, rf16, rf32…rf512.
[0396] For ease of understanding, the following describes the method provided in the embodiments of this application, taking the narrow beam transmission of SIB as an example, in conjunction with Figures 13 and 14.
[0397] Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. The steps shown in Figure 13 may include steps 1 to 9.
[0398] Step 1: The network device transmits the first SSB using a wide beam. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first SSB. That is, the terminal device is within the coverage area of the first SSB.
[0399] Step 2: The terminal device performs downlink synchronization based on the first SSB and determines the search space of the first SSB.
[0400] Step 3: The network device transmits the first SIB using a regional narrow beam. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first SIB.
[0401] The first SIB is included among the M SIBs associated with the first SSB. The first SIB can be, for example, the SIB with the best signal quality among the M SIBs associated with the first SSB. The first SIB can be, for example, SIB1 / SIB19.
[0402] For example, the terminal device can monitor the PDCCH used to schedule the first SIB in the search space determined in step 2, and then determine the PDSCH carrying the first SIB to obtain the first SIB.
[0403] The first SIB can carry OSI configuration information. This OSI configuration information can include the first piece of information mentioned earlier, such as the number of SIBs associated with the SSB.
[0404] Step 4: The terminal device sends a PRACH, and the network device receives the corresponding PRACH.
[0405] Based on the random access process in step 4, the terminal device can complete the initial access.
[0406] Step 5: The terminal device determines the OSI model it needs to acquire. The following explanation will use SIB2 as an example.
[0407] Step 6: The terminal device determines the position of the first SI window. The SI message sent by the first SI window is used to carry SIB2.
[0408] For example, the terminal device can determine the first entry in SI-SchedulingInfo corresponding to SIB2, i.e., the first SI message, based on the OSI configuration information obtained in step 3. Substituting n=1 into the following formula, the starting frame and starting timeslot of the first SI window can be determined.
[0409] Integer x = (n-1)*w*M, where w is si-WindowLength, x is in slots, n represents the SI number, and M is the number of SIBs associated with each SSB.
[0410] The starting frame of the first SI window satisfies SFN%T = FLOOR(x / N), where T is the period of the corresponding SI message, specified by si-Periodicity (in system frames), and N is the number of slots contained in each radio frame.
[0411] The starting time slot of the first SI window is #a, where a = x%N.
[0412] Step 7: The terminal device determines the monitoring timing of the M PDCCH associated with the first SSB.
[0413] Before performing step 7, you can first determine the timing of multiple PDCCH monitoring in the first SI window.
[0414] Based on the index of the first SSB and the number M of SIBs associated with the SSB, the M PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB can be determined from the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window.
[0415] For example, the M PDCCH monitoring opportunities starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th in the first SI window are associated with the Kth SSB, where K takes values of 1, ..., N2, N2 is the actual number of SSBs sent, x1 takes values of 0, ..., X-1, and X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the SI window / N2*M).
[0416] For example, the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+m]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window is associated with the Kth SSB, where m takes values from 1 to M. The meanings of other parameters are described above.
[0417] The terminal device can determine K based on the index of the first SSB.
[0418] Taking N2=2 and M=2 as an example, the [0*2*2+0*2+1]=1st PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the first SI window is associated with the first SSB actually sent, the [0*2*2+0*2+2]=2nd PDCCH monitoring opportunity is associated with the first SSB actually sent, the [0*2*2+1*2+1]=3rd PDCCH monitoring opportunity is associated with the second SSB actually sent, and the [0*2*2+1*2+2]=4th PDCCH monitoring opportunity is associated with the second SSB actually sent. In other words, the first and second PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are associated with the first SSB actually sent, and the third and fourth PDCCH monitoring opportunities are associated with the second SSB actually sent. Step 8: The terminal device monitors the M PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB to obtain PDCCH#1 used for scheduling the first SI message.
[0419] The time-frequency resource location of PDSCH#1 carrying the first SI message can be determined based on the parsing result of PDCCH#1.
[0420] Optionally, the terminal device can also determine its own narrow beam based on its own location information, angle information, etc., such as determining the identifier m of the narrow beam. Then, the terminal device can determine the PDCCH monitoring time associated with the narrow beam m from among the multiple PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SSB, that is, the PDCCH monitoring time associated with the first SI message. In this case, step 8 can be replaced by: the terminal device monitoring during the PDCCH monitoring time associated with the first SI message to obtain PDCCH#1 used for scheduling the first SI message.
[0421] Step 9: The terminal device receives PDSCH#1, such as at the time-frequency resource location determined in step 8, thereby obtaining SIB2.
[0422] In some embodiments, PDSCH#1 may also employ narrow beam transmission to improve link performance and enhance OSI transmission performance.
[0423] In the above method, the terminal device only needs to monitor the OSI during multiple PDCCH monitoring times associated with the first SSB, or during one PDCCH monitoring time associated with the first SIB, which helps to save the monitoring overhead of the terminal device and save power consumption.
[0424] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. The steps shown in Figure 14 may include steps 1 to 9.
[0425] Steps 1 to 6 can be referred to in the description of steps 1 to 6 in Figure 13. It should be noted that in the method shown in Figure 14, the first information carried in the first SIB may include the index of the SIB, such as the local index or the global index of the SIB.
[0426] Step 7: The terminal device determines the PDCCH monitoring timing associated with the first SI message.
[0427] Before performing step 7, you can first determine the timing of multiple PDCCH monitoring in the first SI window.
[0428] For example, the first information is the local index of the SIB, and the value range of the local index of the SIB is (0…M-1), which can be represented as SIB-Index INTEGER(0..M-1). The PDCCH monitoring timing associated with the first SI message can be determined based on the SSB index and the local index of the SIB.
[0429] For example, the i*M+(j+1)th PDCCH monitoring opportunity in the first SI window is associated with the first SI message. Here, i is the index of SSB, with a value range of (0…N1-1), N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; j is the index of SIB, with a value range of (0…M-1).
[0430] For example, the first information is the global index of the SIB. The value range of the global index of the SIB can be (0…N2*(M-1)), which can be represented as SIB-Index INTEGER(0..N2*(M-1)). Where N2 is the number of SSBs actually sent.
[0431] The PDCCH monitoring timing associated with the first SI message can be determined based on the global index of the SIB. For example, the (j+1)th PDCCH monitoring timing in the first SI window is associated with the first SI message. Here, j is the index of the SIB, with a value range of (0…N2*(M-1)).
[0432] Taking N2 as 2 and M as 2 as an example, SIB-Index = 1 can indicate the second narrow beam associated with SSB0, and can monitor the PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message at the second PDCCH monitoring time in the first SI window; SIB-Index = 3 can indicate the second narrow beam associated with SSB1, and can monitor the PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message at the fourth PDCCH monitoring time in the first SI window.
[0433] Step 8: The terminal device performs monitoring at the PDCCH monitoring time associated with the first SI message to obtain PDCCH#1 used for scheduling the first SI message.
[0434] The time-frequency resource location of PDSCH#1 carrying the first SI message can be determined based on the parsing result of PDCCH#1.
[0435] Step 9: The terminal device receives PDSCH#1, such as at the time-frequency resource location determined in step 8, thereby obtaining SIB2.
[0436] In some embodiments, PDSCH#1 may also employ narrow beam transmission to improve link performance and enhance OSI transmission performance.
[0437] In the above method, the terminal device only needs to monitor the OSI at one PDCCH monitoring time associated with the first SIB, which helps to save the monitoring overhead of the terminal device and save power consumption.
[0438] In the embodiments of this application, M can be a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. It should be understood that the method provided in the embodiments of this application is also applicable when M is 1, that is, M can also be a positive integer greater than or equal to 1.
[0439] The wide beam and narrow beam mentioned above can both be replaced with beams. In this embodiment of the application, the coverage range of the wide beam is greater than that of the narrow beam.
[0440] This application uses a time slot as an example, or one PDCCH monitoring opportunity corresponding to one time slot, for illustration. This application is not limited in this respect. For example, one PDCCH monitoring opportunity can correspond to multiple symbols, multiple time slots, etc.
[0441] It should be noted that the embodiments of this application are described for SI messages carrying the same information, or in other words, for the same type of SI message. It should be understood that each type of SI message can be processed using the methods provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0442] It should be noted that the relationship between the SSB and PDCCH monitoring timing, the relationship between the SSB, SI message (or SIB) and PDCCH monitoring timing, or the relationship between the SI message (or SIB) and PDCCH monitoring timing can be predefined or preconfigured.
[0443] It should be understood that the embodiments described in this application are based on the example of multiple SSBs being associated with the same number of narrow beams, but this application does not limit this. Different SSBs may be associated with different numbers of narrow beams. In this case, the terminal device can determine the monitoring timing of the PDCCH based on the number of narrow beams associated with each of the multiple SSBs.
[0444] It should be noted that the order of appearance of the steps in the embodiments described above in this application does not represent the order in which the steps are executed. The steps in the embodiments described above in this application can also be executed in other orders, all of which are within the protection scope of this application.
[0445] It is understood that some optional features in the embodiments of this application may not depend on other features in certain scenarios, or may be combined with other features in certain scenarios. This application does not limit this.
[0446] The method embodiments provided in this application have been described above. The apparatus embodiments provided in this application will be described below. It should be understood that the description of the apparatus embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments. Therefore, any content not described in detail can be referred to the method embodiments above. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.
[0447] Figure 15 is an exemplary block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 15, the communication device 1500 may include modules or units for implementing the methods described above. In one possible design, the communication device 1500 may include a communication unit 1510 and a processing unit 1520. Optionally, the communication device 1500 may further include a storage unit 1530 for storing device program code and / or data.
[0448] The communication device 1500 can be the first communication device in the above embodiments, such as a terminal or a component of the terminal, such as a module, a communication module, or a circuit or chip in the terminal that is responsible for communication functions, or a logic node, logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the communication device.
[0449] For example, in one embodiment, the communication unit 1510 can be used to receive a first synchronization signal and a Physical Broadcast Channel Block (SSB), the first SSB being associated with a first System Message Block (SIB) and a plurality of System Information (SI) messages, the plurality of SI messages carrying the same information; receiving the first SSB, where first information is carried in the first SSB and / or the first SSB, the first information being used to determine a first monitoring opportunity, the first monitoring opportunity including a monitoring opportunity for a plurality of Physical Downlink Control Channels (PDCCHs) used to schedule the plurality of SI messages, or the first monitoring opportunity including a monitoring opportunity for a PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message among the plurality of SI messages; and receiving the first SI message among the plurality of SI messages based on the first monitoring opportunity. Exemplarily, the processing unit 1520 can determine the first monitoring opportunity based on the first information.
[0450] In one possible design, the multiple SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window, and the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs. In the first SI window, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of the multiple SI messages.
[0451] In one possible design, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB, and the first monitoring timing includes M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, where: i is the index of the first SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages; N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring timings in the first SI window / (N1*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0452] In one possible design, the first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, and each of the multiple SIBs is associated with a single SI message. The first SIB among the multiple SIBs is associated with the first SI message, and the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the SIB index; or the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the SI message index.
[0453] In one possible design, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB or the number of the plurality of SIBs associated with the first SSB, and the first information includes the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. The first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: i is the index of the first SSB; j is the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages or the number of the plurality of SIBs; N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N1*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0454] In one possible design, the multiple SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window, and the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs that are actually sent, including the first SSB. In the first SI window, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of the multiple SI messages.
[0455] In one possible design, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB, and the first monitoring timing includes the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, where: the first SSB is the Kth actually sent SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages; N2 is the number of actually sent SSBs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring timings in the first SI window / (N2*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0456] In one possible design, the first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, and each of the multiple SIBs is associated with a single SI message. The first SIB among the multiple SIBs is associated with the first SI message, and the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the SIB index; or the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the SI message index.
[0457] In one possible design, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB or the number of the plurality of SIBs associated with the first SSB, and the first information includes the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. The first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: the first SSB is the Kth actually sent SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages or the number of the plurality of SIBs; j is the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message; N2 is the number of actually sent SSBs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N2*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0458] In one possible design, the multiple SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window. The first SI message set includes SI messages associated with SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs. The SI messages in the first SI message set carry the same information. Multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the first SI message set. The first SI message set includes the first SI message. Alternatively, the second SI message set includes SI messages actually sent in the first SI message set. Multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the second SI message set. The second SI message set includes the first SI message.
[0459] In one possible design, the first information is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set, and the first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N3+(b+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: b is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set; N3 is the number of SI messages included in the first SI message set; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / N3), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0460] In one possible design, the first information is used to indicate the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set, and the first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N4+c]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: c is the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set; N4 is the number of SI messages included in the second SI message set; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / N4), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0461] In one possible design, the starting frame of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: SFN%T = FLOOR(x2 / N); the starting time slot of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: a = x2%N; and x2 satisfies the following formula: x2 = (n-1)*w*M; where SFN is the starting frame number of the first SI window, T is the period of the first SI message, FLOOR represents rounding down, N is the number of time slots included in a radio frame, a is the starting time slot of the first SI window, x2 is in units of time slots, w is the length of the first SI window, the first SI message is the nth SI message in the SI message list, and M is the number of the plurality of SI messages.
[0462] In one possible design, the multiple SI messages are non-quasi-co-located.
[0463] The communication device 1500 can be the second communication device in the above embodiments, such as a network device or a component of a network device, such as a module, a communication module, or a circuit or chip in a network device that is responsible for communication functions, or a logic node, logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the communication device.
[0464] For example, in one embodiment, the communication unit 1510 can be used to send a first synchronization signal and a physical broadcast channel block (SSB), the first SSB being associated with a first system message block (SIB) and the first SSB being associated with multiple system information (SI) messages, the multiple SI messages carrying the same information; sending the first SSB, first information being carried in the first SSB and / or the first SSB, the first information being used to determine a first monitoring opportunity, the first monitoring opportunity including a monitoring opportunity for multiple physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) used to schedule the multiple SI messages, or the first monitoring opportunity including a monitoring opportunity for a PDCCH used to schedule the first SI message among the multiple SI messages; and sending the first SI message among the multiple SI messages.
[0465] In one possible design, the multiple SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window, and the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs. In the first SI window, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of the multiple SI messages.
[0466] In one possible design, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB, and the first monitoring timing includes M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, where: i is the index of the first SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages; N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring timings in the first SI window / (N1*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0467] In one possible design, the first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, and each of the multiple SIBs is associated with a single SI message. The first SIB among the multiple SIBs is associated with the first SI message, and the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the SIB index; or the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the SI message index.
[0468] In one possible design, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB or the number of the plurality of SIBs associated with the first SSB, and the first information includes the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. The first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: i is the index of the first SSB; j is the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages or the number of the plurality of SIBs; N1 is the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N1*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0469] In one possible design, the multiple SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window, and the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs that are actually sent, including the first SSB. In the first SI window, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of the multiple SI messages.
[0470] In one possible design, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB, and the first monitoring timing includes the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, where: the first SSB is the Kth actually sent SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages; N2 is the number of actually sent SSBs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring timings in the first SI window / (N2*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0471] In one possible design, the first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, and each of the multiple SIBs is associated with a single SI message. The first SIB among the multiple SIBs is associated with the first SI message, and the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the SIB index; or the multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the SI message index.
[0472] In one possible design, the first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB or the number of the plurality of SIBs associated with the first SSB, and the first information includes the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. The first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: the first SSB is the Kth actually sent SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages or the number of the plurality of SIBs; j is the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message; N2 is the number of actually sent SSBs; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X=CEIL(number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N2*M)), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0473] In one possible design, the multiple SI messages are transmitted in a first SI window. The first SI message set includes SI messages associated with SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs. The SI messages in the first SI message set carry the same information. Multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the first SI message set. The first SI message set includes the first SI message. Alternatively, the second SI message set includes SI messages actually sent in the first SI message set. Multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the second SI message set. The second SI message set includes the first SI message.
[0474] In one possible design, the first information is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set, and the first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N3+(b+1)]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: b is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set; N3 is the number of SI messages included in the first SI message set; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / N3), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0475] In one possible design, the first information is used to indicate the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set, and the first monitoring opportunity is the [x1*N4+c]th PDCCH monitoring opportunity of the first SI window, where: c is the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set; N4 is the number of SI messages included in the second SI message set; and x1 takes values of 0,…,X-1, X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / N4), where CEIL represents rounding up.
[0476] In one possible design, the starting frame of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: SFN%T = FLOOR(x2 / N); the starting time slot of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: a = x2%N; and x2 satisfies the following formula: x2 = (n-1)*w*M; where SFN is the starting frame number of the first SI window, T is the period of the first SI message, FLOOR represents rounding down, N is the number of time slots included in a radio frame, a is the starting time slot of the first SI window, x2 is in units of time slots, w is the length of the first SI window, the first SI message is the nth SI message in the SI message list, and M is the number of the plurality of SI messages.
[0477] In one possible design, the multiple SI messages are non-quasi-co-located.
[0478] For details regarding the steps or processes executed by each unit in the communication device 1500, please refer to the descriptions in the corresponding methods; they will not be elaborated here.
[0479] It should be understood that the "unit" in the communication device 1500 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, etc.) and memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, combined logic circuitry, and / or other suitable components supporting the described functions. Furthermore, the transmitting and receiving units can be replaced by transceiver circuitry (e.g., including receiving and transmitting circuitry).
[0480] Figure 16 is another exemplary block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 1600 can be a terminal device / network device, or it can be a chip, chip system, or processor, etc., applicable to a terminal device / network device to implement the above-described methods. This device can be used to implement the methods described in the above-described method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above-described method embodiments.
[0481] The communication device 1600 may include one or more processors 1610, which may also be referred to as processing units, and can implement certain control functions. The processor 1610 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, execute software programs, and process data from the software programs.
[0482] In an alternative design, the processor 1610 may also store instructions and / or data that can be executed by the processor 1610 to cause the communication device 1600 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments.
[0483] In another alternative design, the communication device 1600 may include a communication interface 1620 for implementing receiving and transmitting functions. For example, the communication interface 1620 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.
[0484] Optionally, the communication device 1600 may include one or more memories 1630, which may store instructions that can be executed on the processor 1610, causing the communication device 1600 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. Optionally, the memories 1630 may also store data. Optionally, the processor 1610 may also store instructions and / or data. The processor 1610 and the memories 1630 may be provided separately or integrated together.
[0485] 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 method 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.
[0486] 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.
[0487] 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.
[0488] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer program code. When the computer program code is run on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the various steps or processes executed by the terminal device / network device in any of the above method embodiments.
[0489] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing program code that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the various steps or processes performed by the terminal device / network device in any of the above method embodiments.
[0490] This application also provides a communication device, including a processor and an interface, the interface being used to send and / or receive signals, causing the processor to execute the various steps or processes executed by the terminal device / network device in any of the above method embodiments.
[0491] 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.
[0492] 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. The embodiments of this application do not preclude the possibility of defining other terms that can achieve the same or similar functions in existing or future agreements.
[0493] 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).
[0494] 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.
[0495] 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.
[0496] 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.
[0497] 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.
[0498] 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.
[0499] 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)).
[0500] 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 solutions of the embodiments of this application, essentially or in other words, the parts that contribute to the prior art, or parts of the technical solutions, 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, a server, or a 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.
[0501] 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: include: Receive a first synchronization signal and a physical broadcast channel block (SSB). The first SSB is associated with a first system message block (SIB). The first SSB is associated with multiple system information (SI) messages, and the multiple SI messages carry the same information. The first SIB is received, and first information is carried in the first SSB and / or the first SIB. The first information is used to determine a first monitoring opportunity. The first monitoring opportunity includes the monitoring opportunity of multiple physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) for scheduling the multiple SI messages, or the first monitoring opportunity includes the monitoring opportunity of the PDCCH for scheduling the first SI message among the multiple SI messages. Based on the first monitoring timing, the first SI message among the plurality of SI messages is received.
2. A communication method characterized by comprising: include: Send a first synchronization signal and a physical broadcast channel block (SSB). The first SSB is associated with a first system message block (SIB). The first SSB is associated with multiple system information (SI) messages, and the multiple SI messages carry the same information. The first SIB is sent, and first information is carried in the first SSB and / or the first SIB. The first information is used to determine a first monitoring opportunity. The first monitoring opportunity includes the monitoring opportunity of multiple physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) for scheduling the multiple SI messages, or the first monitoring opportunity includes the monitoring opportunity of the PDCCH for scheduling the first SI message among the multiple SI messages. Send the first SI message of the plurality of SI messages.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The multiple SI messages are transmitted in the first SI window. The multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with multiple SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs. In the first SI window, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of the multiple SI messages.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB, and the first monitoring timing includes the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N1*M+i*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, wherein: i is the index of the first SSB; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages; N1 represents the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0, ..., X-1, where X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N1*M)), and CEIL represents rounding up.
5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, and each of the multiple SIBs is associated with one of the multiple SI messages. The first SIB among the multiple SIBs is associated with the first SI message. The multiple PDCCH monitoring events associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the SIB index; or The monitoring timing of multiple PDCCH associated with the first SSB is sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the index of the SI message.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB or the number of the plurality of SIBs associated with the first SSB, and the first information includes the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. The first monitoring timing is the [x1*N1*M+i*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, wherein: i is the index of the first SSB; j is the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message; M represents the number of the plurality of SI messages or the number of the plurality of SIBs; N1 represents the number of SSBs included in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs; and x1 takes values of 0, ..., X-1, where X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window / (N1*M)), and CEIL represents rounding up.
7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The multiple SI messages are transmitted in the first SI window. The multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with the multiple SSBs that are actually sent. The multiple SSBs that are actually sent include the first SSB. In the first SI window, the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities associated with the first SSB is the same as the number of the multiple SI messages.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB, and the first monitoring timing includes the M PDCCH monitoring timings starting from the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+1]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, wherein: The first SSB is the Kth SSB that was actually transmitted; M is the number of the plurality of SI messages; N2 is the actual number of SSBs sent; and x1 takes values from 0 to X-1, where X = CEIL (the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the first SI window / (N2 * M)), and CEIL represents rounding up.
9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The first SSB is associated with multiple SIBs, and each of the multiple SIBs is associated with one of the multiple SI messages. The first SIB among the multiple SIBs is associated with the first SI message. The multiple PDCCH monitoring events associated with the first SSB are sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the SIB index; or The monitoring timing of multiple PDCCH associated with the first SSB is sequentially associated with the multiple SI messages according to the index of the SI message.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein, The first information includes the number of the plurality of SI messages associated with the first SSB or the number of the plurality of SIBs associated with the first SSB, and the first information includes the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message. The first monitoring timing is the [x1*N2*M+(K-1)*M+(j+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, wherein: The first SSB is the Kth SSB that was actually transmitted; M represents the number of the plurality of SI messages or the number of the plurality of SIBs; j is the index of the first SIB or the index of the first SI message; N2 is the actual number of SSBs sent; and x1 takes values from 0 to X-1, where X = CEIL (the number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the first SI window / (N2 * M)), and CEIL represents rounding up.
11. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The multiple SI messages are transmitted in the first SI window. The first SI message set includes SI messages associated with SSBs in the burst set to which the first SSB belongs. The SI messages in the first SI message set carry the same information. Multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with SI messages in the first SI message set. The first SI message set includes the first SI message; or The second SI message set includes the SI messages actually sent in the first SI message set. The multiple PDCCH monitoring opportunities in the first SI window are sequentially associated with the SI messages in the second SI message set. The second SI message set includes the first SI message.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first information is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set, and the first monitoring timing is the [x1*N3+(b+1)]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, where: b is the index of the first SI message in the first SI message set; N3 is the number of SI messages included in the first SI message set; and x1 takes values from 0 to X-1, where X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the first SI window / N3), and CEIL represents rounding up.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The first information is used to indicate the transmission order of the first SI message in the second SI message set, and the first monitoring timing is the [x1*N4+c]th PDCCH monitoring timing of the first SI window, where: c represents the sending order of the first SI message in the second SI message set; N4 is the number of SI messages included in the second SI message set; and x1 takes values from 0 to X-1, where X = CEIL (number of PDCCH monitoring opportunities within the first SI window / N4), and CEIL represents rounding up.
14. The method according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that, The starting frame of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: SFN%T = FLOOR(x2 / N); The starting time slot of the first SI window satisfies the following formula: a = x²%N; The x2 satisfies the following formula: x2 = (n-1) * w * M; Wherein, SFN is the starting frame number of the first SI window, T is the period of the first SI message, FLOOR indicates rounding down, N is the number of time slots included in a radio frame, a is the starting time slot of the first SI window, x2 is in units of time slots, w is the length of the first SI window, the first SI message is the nth SI message in the SI message list, and M is the number of the plurality of SI messages.
15. The method of any one of claims 1-14, wherein, The multiple SI messages are non-quasi-co-located.
16. A communications device, characterized by Includes units for performing the various steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1-15.
17. A communications device, characterized by The device includes a processor coupled to a memory for storing programs or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-15.
18. A communications device, characterized by It includes a processor and an interface for sending and / or receiving signals, such that the processor performs the method as described in any one of claims 1-15.
19. A readable storage medium, on which a computer program or instructions are stored, characterized in that, When the computer program or instructions are executed, the computer performs the method as described in any one of claims 1-15.
20. A computer program product, characterised in that, It includes computer program instructions that cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-15.