CN110831225A

CN110831225A - Method and device for transmitting signals

Info

Publication number: CN110831225A
Application number: CN201810898257.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王俊伟
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-08
Filing date: 2018-08-08
Publication date: 2020-02-21
Also published as: WO2020030008A1

Abstract

The application provides a method and a device for transmitting signals, wherein the method for transmitting signals comprises the following steps: the network device configures two channel access processes, where the two channel access processes respectively correspond to a first Listen Before Talk (LBT) process and a second LBT process, and when the first LBT process fails and the second LBT process succeeds, the network device sends an access signal to the terminal device. The method for transmitting the signal is beneficial to avoiding overlong time for the terminal equipment to search the cell.

Description

Method and device for transmitting signals

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for transmitting a signal.

Background

With the development of mobile broadband (MBB) services, users have increasingly demanded wireless network bandwidth and throughput. In order to better utilize unlicensed spectrum resources, provide higher service rate and better user experience for users, an unlicensed (un-licensed) spectrum is introduced in Long Term Evolution (LTE) and New Radio (NR) systems.

Compared with the exclusive characteristic of the authorized spectrum, the unlicensed spectrum has a shared property, that is, as long as an access point conforming to a certain regulation is in accordance, the spectrum can be used for receiving and transmitting data, in order to enable each access node to have better coexistence, after the LTE and NR introduce the unlicensed spectrum, a Listen Before Talk (LBT) channel access mechanism is adopted, that is, any network node needs to monitor (energy detection) a channel to be transmitted before transmitting data, and can transmit data only when the channel is in an IDLE (IDLE) state, otherwise, the monitoring needs to be continued.

A licensed-assisted access long term evolution (LAA-LTE) technology is introduced into Release 13 of a fourth generation mobile communication technology (4G), data sent by a network device in LTE-LAA includes a Discovery Reference Signal (DRS), the network device first performs LBT before sending the DRS, and if LBT fails, DRS that cannot be sent is directly discarded, which may cause an excessively long time for a terminal device initially accessing to search for a cell, and may also cause a complexity when the terminal device performs neighbor cell measurement.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of this, the present application provides a method and an apparatus for transmitting a signal, so as to avoid that the time for the terminal device to search for a cell is too long.

In a first aspect, a method for transmitting a signal is provided, the method comprising: the network equipment listens to a channel according to a first listen before send LBT process and a second LBT process; the network device sends an access signal to the terminal device on the channel when the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds.

In the method for transmitting the signal according to the embodiment of the application, the network device configures two listen-before-send LBT processes when sending the access signal, and sends the access signal to the terminal device when the first LBT process fails and the second LBT process succeeds, which is beneficial to avoiding a time process of the terminal device for searching the cell and is also beneficial to reducing the complexity of the terminal device for measuring the neighboring cell.

In some possible implementations, upon success of the first LBT procedure, the network device transmits an access signal to the terminal device on the channel, the access signal including a primary synchronization signal PSS, a secondary synchronization signal SSS, and a physical broadcast channel PBCH.

With reference to the first aspect, in some possible implementation manners of the first aspect, the energy threshold in the first LBT procedure is a first energy threshold, the energy threshold in the second LBT procedure is a second energy threshold, and the first energy threshold is smaller than the second energy threshold.

In some possible implementations, the determining, by the network device, that the first LBT procedure failed and the second LBT procedure succeeded includes: the network device determines that the detected energy value of the channel is greater than or equal to the first energy threshold value and less than the second energy threshold value.

With reference to the first aspect, in some possible implementations of the first aspect, a length of the contention time window in the first LBT procedure is greater than a length of the contention time window in the second LBT procedure.

In some possible implementations, the contention time window in the first LBT procedure is N time units, the contention time window in the second LBT procedure is M time units, N and M are positive integers, and the determining, by the network device, that the first LBT procedure failed and the second LBT procedure succeeded includes: the network device determines that the energy detection value of the channel is not smaller than a third energy threshold value in N time units, and the energy threshold value of the channel is larger than a fourth energy threshold value in M time units, where the threshold value corresponding to the first LBT procedure is the third energy threshold value, and the energy threshold value corresponding to the second LBT procedure is the fourth energy threshold value.

In some possible implementations, the first LBT procedure is LBT CAT4 and the second LBT procedure is LBTCAT 2.

With reference to the first aspect, in some possible implementation manners of the first aspect, a time length corresponding to a time-frequency resource of the access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

With reference to the first aspect, in some possible implementations of the first aspect, the access signal is composed of a primary synchronization signal PSS and/or a secondary synchronization signal SSS.

With reference to the first aspect, in some possible implementations of the first aspect, the PSS and the SSS are frequency division multiplexed, or the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed.

With reference to the first aspect, in some possible implementations of the first aspect, the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

In some possible implementations, the access signal includes a PSS, a SSS, and a PBCH, and a subcarrier spacing of the access signal is greater than or equal to the first subcarrier spacing.

In some possible implementations, the PSS and the SSS are frequency division multiplexed.

The method for transmitting signals in the embodiment of the application provides a new format of the access signals, and the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resources of the access signals in the format is shorter than the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resources of the existing access signals, so that the method is beneficial to less interference on other systems.

In some possible implementations, the access signal includes only SSS.

In a second aspect, a method of transmitting a signal is provided, the method comprising: the network equipment determines that the number of access signals to be sent is K; the network equipment monitors a channel according to the first LBT process and the second LBT process; and when the first LBT process fails and the second LBT process succeeds, selecting L access signals from the K access signals and sending the L access signals to the terminal equipment, wherein K and L are positive integers and K is larger than L.

With reference to the second aspect, in some possible implementations of the second aspect, when the first LBT procedure is successful, the network device sends all the K access signals to the terminal device.

In the method for transmitting signals in the embodiment of the application, the network device configures two listen-before-send LBT processes when sending the plurality of access signals, and sends the parts in the plurality of access signals to the terminal device when the first LBT process fails and the second LBT process succeeds, which is helpful for avoiding the time process of the terminal device for searching the cell and is also helpful for reducing the complexity of the terminal device for measuring the adjacent cell.

In a third aspect, a method of transmitting a signal is provided, the method comprising: the network equipment monitors the channel according to the third listen before send LBT process; and when the third LBT process fails, the network equipment sends an access signal to the terminal equipment, wherein the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

With reference to the third aspect, in some possible implementations of the third aspect, the access signal is composed of a primary synchronization signal PSS and/or a secondary synchronization signal SSS.

With reference to the third aspect, in some possible implementations of the third aspect, the PSS and the SSS are frequency division multiplexed, or the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed.

With reference to the third aspect, in some possible implementations of the third aspect, the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

In some possible implementations, the access signal includes only SSS.

In a fourth aspect, a method of transmitting a signal is provided, the method comprising: the network equipment monitors the channel according to the fourth listen before send LBT process; and when the fourth LBT process fails, the network equipment sends at least one access signal to the terminal equipment on the channel according to the relation between the number of the access signals and the first value.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the sending, by the network device, at least one access signal to the terminal device according to a relationship between the number of access signals and the first value includes: when the number of the access signals is greater than or equal to the first value, the network device sends the at least one access signal to the terminal device, and the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of each access signal in the at least one access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

In some possible implementations, each access signal consists of a PSS and/or an SSS.

In some possible implementations, the PSS and the SSS are frequency division multiplexed, or the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed.

In some possible implementations, the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and the symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

In some possible implementations, each access signal includes a PSS, a SSS, and a PBCH, and a subcarrier spacing of the each access signal is greater than or equal to the first subcarrier spacing.

In some possible implementations, the access signal includes only SSS.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the sending, by the network device, at least one access signal to the terminal device according to a relationship between the number of access signals and the first value includes: and when the number of the access signals is smaller than a first value, transmitting the at least one access signal to the terminal equipment, wherein the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of each access signal in the at least one access signal is greater than or equal to a second time length.

In some possible implementations, the access signal includes a PSS, a SSS, and a PBCH.

In a fifth aspect, a method of transmitting a signal is provided, the method comprising: the network equipment determines a fifth LBT process according to the relationship between the number of the access signals to be sent and the second value; and the network equipment listens to a channel according to the fifth LBT process, and when the fifth LBT process is successful, the network equipment sends at least one access signal to the terminal equipment on the channel.

In some possible implementations, each of the at least one access signal includes a PSS, a SSS, and a PBCH.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some possible implementations of the fifth aspect, the fifth LBT procedure is LBT CAT4 or LBT CAT 2.

In some possible implementations, when the number of access signals to be transmitted is greater than or equal to the second value, it is determined that the fifth LBT procedure is LBT CAT 4.

In some possible implementations, when the number of access signals to be transmitted is less than the second value, it is determined that the fifth LBT procedure is LBT CAT 2.

In some possible implementations, the network device transmits the portion of the at least one access signal to the terminal device on the channel when the fifth LBT procedure fails.

In some possible implementations, when the fifth LBT procedure fails, the network device sends at least one access signal to the terminal device on the channel, where a time length corresponding to a time domain resource of each access signal in the at least one access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

In a sixth aspect, a method of transmitting a channel is provided, the method comprising: the network equipment determines the length of a contention time window in the sixth LBT process according to the number of the access signals to be sent; the network device listens to a channel according to the sixth LBT procedure, and when the sixth LBT procedure is successful, the network device sends at least one access signal to the terminal device on the channel.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some possible implementations of the sixth aspect, the smaller the number of access signals to be transmitted, the shorter the length of the contention time window in the sixth LBT procedure is.

In some possible implementations, the network device transmits the portion of the at least one access signal to the terminal device on the channel when the sixth LBT procedure fails.

In some possible implementations, when the sixth LBT procedure fails, the network device sends at least one access signal to the terminal device on the channel, where a time length corresponding to a time domain resource of each access signal in the at least one access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

In a seventh aspect, a method of transmitting a signal is provided, the method comprising: the terminal equipment receives an access signal sent by the network equipment; the terminal equipment determines the format of the access signal according to the demodulation reference signal in the physical broadcast channel PBCH; or, the terminal device determines a format of the access signal according to a time domain position of a secondary synchronization signal SSS, where the access signal includes the SSS; or, the terminal device determines a format of the access signal according to a frequency domain location of a secondary synchronization signal SSS, where the access signal includes the SSS; or, the terminal device determines the format of the access signal according to the subcarrier spacing of the access signal.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some possible implementation manners of the seventh aspect, a time length corresponding to a time-frequency resource of the access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some possible implementations of the seventh aspect, the access signal is composed of a primary synchronization signal PSS and/or a secondary synchronization signal SSS.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some possible implementations of the seventh aspect, the PSS and the SSS are frequency division multiplexed, or the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some possible implementations of the seventh aspect, the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

In some possible implementations, the access signal includes only SSS.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided an apparatus for transmitting a signal, configured to perform the method of the first aspect to the sixth aspect or any possible implementation manner thereof. In particular, the apparatus for transmitting a signal may comprise means for performing the method of the first to sixth aspects or any possible implementation thereof.

In a ninth aspect, there is provided an apparatus for transmitting signals, configured to perform the method of the seventh aspect or any possible implementation manner thereof. In particular, the apparatus for transmitting a signal may comprise means for performing the method of the seventh aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

In a tenth aspect, an apparatus for transmitting signals is provided, where the apparatus may be a network device designed by the method or a chip disposed in the network device. The device includes: a processor, coupled to the memory, and configured to execute the instructions in the memory to implement the method performed by the network device in the first aspect to the sixth aspect and any one of the possible implementations. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a memory. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a communication interface, the processor being coupled to the communication interface.

When the apparatus is a network device, the communication interface may be a transceiver, or an input/output interface.

When the apparatus is a chip configured in a network device, the communication interface may be an input/output interface.

Alternatively, the transceiver may be a transmit-receive circuit. Alternatively, the input/output interface may be an input/output circuit.

In an eleventh aspect, an apparatus for transmitting a signal is provided, where the apparatus may be a terminal device designed in the above method, or a chip disposed in the terminal device. The device includes: a processor, coupled to the memory, and configured to execute the instructions in the memory to implement the method performed by the terminal device in the seventh aspect and any one of the possible implementations. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a memory. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a communication interface, the processor being coupled to the communication interface.

When the apparatus is a terminal device, the communication interface may be a transceiver, or an input/output interface.

When the apparatus is a chip configured in a terminal device, the communication interface may be an input/output interface.

In a twelfth aspect, a program is provided, which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to carry out the method provided in the first to seventh aspects.

In a thirteenth aspect, a program product is provided, the program product comprising: program code which, when executed by a communication unit, a processing unit or a transceiver, a processor of an apparatus (e.g. a network device or a terminal device), causes the apparatus to perform any of the methods of the first to seventh aspects and possible embodiments thereof described above.

In a fourteenth aspect, a computer-readable medium is provided, which stores a program that causes an apparatus (e.g., a network device or a terminal device) to perform the method of any one of the first to seventh aspects and possible implementation manners thereof.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural and transmission diagram of an SSB provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart of a method for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6 is a schematic mechanism diagram of an access signal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 13 is another schematic flow chart of a method for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 14 is another schematic flow chart of a method for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 15 is another schematic flow chart of a method for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 16 is another schematic flow chart of a method for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 17 is another schematic flow chart of a method for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 18 is another schematic flow chart of a method for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 19 is another schematic flow chart of a method for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 20 is another schematic flow chart of a method for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 21 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 22 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus for transmitting signals according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 23 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus for transmitting signals according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 24 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus for transmitting signals according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 25 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus for transmitting signals according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 26 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus for transmitting signals according to the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 27 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 28 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical solution in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: a global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, a LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, a LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, a future fifth generation (5G) or New Radio (NR) system, and the like.

Terminal equipment in the embodiments of the present application may refer to user equipment, access terminals, subscriber units, subscriber stations, mobile stations, remote terminals, mobile devices, user terminals, wireless communication devices, user agents, or user devices. The terminal device may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a future 5G network or a terminal device in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and the like, which are not limited in this embodiment.

The network device in this embodiment may be a device for communicating with a terminal device, where the network device may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a global system for mobile communications (GSM) system or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, may also be a base station (NodeB) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, may also be an evolved NodeB (NB), eNB, or eNodeB) in an LTE system, may also be a wireless controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN) scenario, or may be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a network device in a future 5G network, or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, and the like, and the present embodiment is not limited.

In the embodiment of the application, the terminal device or the network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Memory Management Unit (MMU), and a memory (also referred to as a main memory). The operating system may be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through processes (processes), such as a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Android operating system, an iOS operating system, or a windows operating system. The application layer comprises applications such as a browser, an address list, word processing software, instant messaging software and the like. Furthermore, the embodiment of the present application does not particularly limit the specific structure of the execution main body of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, as long as the communication can be performed according to the method provided by the embodiment of the present application by running the program recorded with the code of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, for example, the execution main body of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application may be a terminal device or a network device, or a functional module capable of calling the program and executing the program in the terminal device or the network device.

In addition, various aspects or features of the present application may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computer-readable media can include but are not limited to magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips, etc.), optical disks (e.g., Compact Disk (CD), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), card, stick, or key drive, etc.). In addition, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" can include, without being limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 provided by an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 1, a terminal device 130 accesses a wireless network to obtain a service of an external network (e.g., the internet) through the wireless network or communicates with other terminal devices through the wireless network. The wireless network includes a RAN110 and a Core Network (CN)120, where the RAN110 is used to access terminal devices 130 to the wireless network and the CN120 is used to manage the terminal devices and provide a gateway for communication with external networks.

It should be understood that the signal transmission methods provided herein may be applicable to wireless communication systems, such as the wireless communication system 100 shown in fig. 1. Two communication devices in a wireless communication system have a wireless communication connection therebetween, and one of the two communication devices may correspond to the terminal equipment 130 shown in fig. 1, and may be, for example, the terminal equipment 130 in fig. 1, or may be a chip configured in the terminal equipment 130; the other of the two communication devices may correspond to RAN110 shown in fig. 1, and may be RAN110 in fig. 1, or a chip configured in RAN110, for example.

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail by taking an interaction process between a terminal device and a network device as an example without loss of generality. It will be appreciated that any one terminal device in a wireless communication system may communicate with one or more network devices having wireless communication connections based on the same method. This is not limited in this application.

The network architecture described in the embodiment of the present application is for facilitating readers to clearly understand the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and does not form a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, and it can be known by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems along with the evolution of the network architecture and the appearance of new service scenarios.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 2, the network architecture includes a CN device and a RAN device. The RAN device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device, where the baseband device may be implemented by one node or by multiple nodes, and the radio frequency device may be implemented independently by being pulled away from the baseband device, or integrated with the baseband device in the same physical device, or partially pulled away and partially integrated with the baseband device. For example, in an LTE communication system, an eNB as RAN equipment includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device, where the radio frequency device may be remotely arranged with respect to the baseband device, for example, a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) is remotely arranged with respect to a BBU.

The communication between the RAN equipment and the terminal follows a certain protocol layer structure. For example, the control plane protocol layer structure may include functions of protocol layers such as a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a physical layer. The user plane protocol layer structure can comprise functions of protocol layers such as a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, an MAC layer, a physical layer and the like; in one implementation, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer may be further included above the PDCP layer.

The RAN equipment can realize the functions of protocol layers such as radio resource control, packet data convergence layer protocol, radio link control, media access control and the like by one node; or the functions of these protocol layers may be implemented by multiple nodes; for example, in an evolved structure, the RAN equipment may include CUs and DUs, and a plurality of DUs may be centrally controlled by one CU. As shown in fig. 2, the CU and the DU may be divided according to protocol layers of the radio network, for example, functions of a PDCP layer and above protocol layers are provided in the CU, and functions of protocol layers below the PDCP layer, for example, functions of an RLC layer and a MAC layer, are provided in the DU.

This division of the protocol layers is only an example, and it is also possible to divide the protocol layers at other protocol layers, for example, at the RLC layer, and the functions of the RLC layer and the protocol layers above are set in the CU, and the functions of the protocol layers below the RLC layer are set in the DU; alternatively, the functions are divided into some protocol layers, for example, a part of the functions of the RLC layer and the functions of the protocol layers above the RLC layer are provided in the CU, and the remaining functions of the RLC layer and the functions of the protocol layers below the RLC layer are provided in the DU. In addition, the processing time may be divided in other manners, for example, by time delay, a function that needs to satisfy the time delay requirement for processing is provided in the DU, and a function that does not need to satisfy the time delay requirement is provided in the CU.

In addition, the radio frequency device may be pulled away, not placed in the DU, or integrated in the DU, or partially pulled away and partially integrated in the DU, which is not limited herein.

Referring to fig. 3, fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another network architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application, and with respect to the architecture shown in fig. 2, the Control Plane (CP) and the User Plane (UP) of a CU may be separated and implemented by being divided into different entities, namely, a control plane CU entity (CU-CP entity) and a user plane CU entity (CU-UP entity), respectively.

In the above network architecture, the signaling generated by the CU may be sent to the terminal through the DU, or the signaling generated by the terminal may be received by the DU and then sent to the CU. The DU may pass through the protocol layer encapsulation directly to the terminal or CU without parsing the signaling. In the above embodiment, the CU is divided into the network devices on the RAN side, and in addition, the CU may also be divided into the network devices on the CN side, which is not limited herein.

The apparatus in the following embodiments of the present application may be located in a terminal or a network device according to the functions implemented by the apparatus. When the above structure of CU-DU is adopted, the network device may be a CU node, or a DU node, or a network device including a CU node and a DU node.

The CU and DU architecture in this embodiment is not limited to 5G NR gbb, and may also be applied to a scenario in which an LTE base station is divided into CU and DU. Optionally, when the LTE base station is used, the protocol layer does not include the SDAP layer.

In the following, prior to describing the embodiments of the present application, first, technical terms related to the embodiments of the present application will be briefly described.

1、LBT

In order to achieve friendly coexistence with different system wireless nodes such as network devices and terminal devices of different operators and Wi-Fi on an unlicensed spectrum, an LTE system operating on the unlicensed spectrum employs a Listen Before Talk (LBT) channel access mechanism, where LBT is also referred to as channel sensing. The network device or the terminal device needs to monitor the channel before sending the information, and the network device or the terminal device can occupy the channel to send the information after monitoring that the channel is idle. The sending node (including network equipment or terminal equipment) listens to the channel idle before wanting to occupy the resources, which is called as LBT listening success, and vice versa, which is called as LBT listening failure. After occupying the channel, the sending node may continuously send information with a maximum time length of Maximum Channel Occupancy Time (MCOT), and after continuously occupying the channel to the maximum time length, the sending node needs to release the channel and re-perform LBT before re-accessing.

The LBT listening type may include a plurality of types, one of which is a random backoff Clear Channel Assessment (CCA). Wherein the random backoff CCA is also referred to as type 1channel sensing. In the random backoff CCA, a transmitting device randomly generates a backoff counter, decrements the backoff counter when it detects that a channel is idle, and accesses the channel after the backoff counter is decremented. The specific procedure of the random backoff CCA is as follows: the sending device uniformly and randomly generates a backoff counter N between 0 and an initial Contention Window (CW), and performs channel sensing with a listening slot (CCA slot) (for example, the duration of 9us) as a granularity, decrements the backoff counter N if a channel is detected to be idle in the listening slot, and otherwise suspends the backoff counter if a channel is detected to be busy in the listening slot, that is, the backoff counter N is kept unchanged for the channel busy time, and does not count down the backoff counter again until the channel is detected to be idle. When the back-off counter is zero, the channel sensing is considered to be successful, and the sending equipment can immediately occupy the channel to send information. In addition, the sending device may also wait for a period of time without immediately sending information after the backoff counter is reset to zero, and after the waiting is finished, listen once again in an additional time slot before the time when the information needs to be sent, and if the extra time slot listens that the channel is idle, the sending device considers that the channel sensing is successful or the LBT is successful, and may send the information immediately. If the outstanding back-off counter is zeroed before the start time of the message, or the additional listening slot is busy, then the channel sensing fails or LBT fails. The sending device comprises a terminal device or a network device. And the corresponding MCOT is DL MCOT after the network equipment successfully executes the CCA of the random backoff. And the corresponding MCOT is UL MCOT after the terminal equipment successfully executes the CCA of the random backoff. The CW is also referred to as a CW Size (CWs).

Another LBT type is single slot CCA. The single-slot CCA is also called Type 2channel access or single (One shot) CCA or 25us CCA, and the flow is: the sending equipment executes a single-slot CCA interception with a fixed interception time slot length (for example, the interception time slot length is fixed to 25us), if the channel is detected to be idle in the single-slot, the channel interception is considered to be successful or the LBT is considered to be successful, and the sending equipment can immediately access the channel; if the channel busy is detected in the single time slot, the channel sensing fails or the LBT fails, the sending equipment gives up sending information, and can wait for the next opportunity to use the single time slot to perform channel sensing so as to access the channel to perform the next single time slot CCA sensing.

The channel state includes two kinds: channel free, channel busy. The judgment criterion of the channel state is as follows: the wireless communication device (base station device or terminal device) compares the power on the received channel within the listening slot with a CCA-energy detection threshold (CCA-ED), and if above the threshold, the status is channel busy, and if below the threshold, the status is channel idle.

2. Type of LBT

There are four types of LBT specified in the current protocol:

CAT1:No LBT；

CAT2:LBT without random back-off；

CAT3:LBT with random back-off with fixed size of contention window；

CAT4:LBT with random back-off with variable size of contentionwindow。

it should be understood that LBT CAT1 may be understood as sending information directly without performing an LBT procedure, or may be understood as a value where the energy detection threshold is infinite.

The following briefly introduces several types of LBT described above.

LBT CAT1

LBT CAT1 is a non-LBT procedure because there are countries and regions that do not mandate that LBT mechanisms be implemented on unlicensed spectrum.

LBT CAT2

Frames of fixed duration are employed, including channel occupancy time and idle time. The CCA is carried out before data transmission is carried out, if the channel is idle, the data transmission is carried out in the following channel occupation time, otherwise, the signals cannot be transmitted in the whole frame period. The length of time to determine whether a signal is idle before a transmitting end transmits data is determined.

For example, when the currently transmitted access signal period is less than 1ms, as long as the network device listens to T_drsThe network device may send an access signal when the time is idle for 25 us. Wherein T is_drs25us, including T_f16us and T_sl＝9us。

It should be understood that the 2 time periods included in 25us represent the need to do two time energy detections. If both time periods are idle (the detected energy is less than a certain threshold) then 25us is considered idle.

The LBT CAT2 and single-shot (One shot) CCA procedure are the same, and the fixed-time-length sensing is adopted without random backoff, and is collectively referred to as LBT CAT 2.

Energy detection gate determination process

When the energy detected by the network equipment is less than or equal to X_{Thresh_max}Then the channel in the time period is considered as idle X_{Thresh_max}The calculation method comprises the following steps:

if it can be ensured that no other system shares this spectrum (e.g. over a certain territory), then X is calculated from equation (1)_{Thresh_max}：

Wherein, X_rIf the requirements defined by a particular region are defined, the defined maximum capability detection threshold is the corresponding value. If not defined, X_r＝T_max+10dB

Otherwise, calculating X from equation (2)_{Thresh_max}：

Wherein, T_AWhen the current transmission signal includes one or more of a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), 10 dB;

T_A5dB when only access signals are included, but PDS is not includedCH. One or more of PDCCH or CSI-RS;

P_H＝23dBm；

P_TXis the maximum transmit power on a certain carrier of the network device;

T_max(dBm)＝10·log10(3.16228·10^-8(mW/MHz)·BWMHz(MHz))。

LBT CAT3 (random backoff LBT with fixed length contention time window)

And a frame structure with an unfixed frame period is adopted, and a mode based on load change is adopted. The contention window is fixed in length, and an extended CCA (ECCA) is used, and when it is detected that the channel is idle, data transmission may start immediately, otherwise, a contention time window, i.e., a fixed number of ECCA windows, is entered.

LBT CAT4 (random backoff LBT using non-fixed length contention time window)

After detecting that the channel is occupied or the maximum transmission time is reached, the transmitting end enters a contention time window. Instead of using a fixed length contention time window, the sending end may change the length of the contention time window.

The LBT CAT4 is similar to the type 1channel access procedure described above, and random generation of the backoff window is required. This is herein collectively referred to as LBT CAT 4.

For example, the length of the contention time window may be set to 10 slots (slots) in the access process of the LBT CAT4, and if the detected energy values in the consecutive 10 slots are all smaller than the energy threshold value, the LBT is considered to be successful.

One specific LBT CAT4 procedure is described below:

defer phase (time length T)_d25 us): the sending end waits for 16us, then judges 1 slot (slot) duration of 9us, if the slot is idle, the deferer stage is completed, and the following steps are entered: (1) a counter (counter) is initialized to a value N, where N is between 0 and CW_pA random number generated in between.

E.g. CW_pSee the following table for values:

table 1channel access class

It should be understood that T_mcot,pIndicating the length of time the signal is allowed to be transmitted after LBT has been successful.

For example, when the priority class of the channel access procedure is 1, the sender may randomly select one number from 3 to 7 as N, where N is 6, that is, the sender determines that the length of the contention time window in the LBT procedure is 6 slots (slots).

(2) If N is greater than 0, the counter is decremented by one, i.e., N-1 is set.

(3) And (5) carrying out channel detection on the length of the next time slot, if the channel detection is idle, carrying out the step (4), and otherwise, carrying out the step (5).

(4) If N is 0, stop (i.e., complete the LBT procedure); otherwise, performing step (2).

(5) Continuing for a duration of T_dUntil T is detected_dIf all slots (slots) in the system are idle, performing the step (4); otherwise, continuing the step (5).

Wherein, T in the step (5)_dThe length includes a length T_fDuration of 16us and m_pDuration (T) of one continuous time slot (slot)_sl＝9us)。

3. Synchronization Signal broadcast channel Block (synchronous signal/PBCH Block, SS/PBCH Block)

In LTE, the Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) blocks have different frequency domain positions from those of NR.

The SS/PBCH block may also be referred to as SSB, where SSB is a reference signal in Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement in NR and includes synchronization signals/physical broadcast channels, and an SSB is composed of a master synchronization signal, a slave synchronization signal, a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), and a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) required for demodulating PBCH. The PSS is mainly used for coarse synchronization, the SSS is used for fine synchronization and SSB-based measurement, the PBCH is used for broadcasting system information at a cell level, and the DMRS may be used for SSB-based measurement in addition to demodulation of the PBCH.

The function of the terminal device reading SSB is as follows:

PSS/SSS: signal synchronization, cell identification (cell ID), and capability detection of SSB signals (e.g., signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) calculation, Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) calculation, or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) calculation of a measurement object, etc.).

PBCH: and reading the cell configuration information to prepare for cell residence and initial access.

Scenarios in which SSB information may be used include, but are not limited to, the following:

initial access phase 1: the terminal equipment searches for the PSS/SSS, and performs signal synchronization, cell identification (cell ID), cell signal quality detection and the like.

Initial access phase 2: reading PBCH, demodulating and decoding PBCH, and reading cell residence related parameters.

Mobility measurement/radio link (radio link) detection: and reading the PSS/SSS, and carrying out cell/beam signal measurement (PBCH is not needed to be solved in an IDLE (IDLE) state, and a connection state is pending, and preparation is mainly carried out for switching).

Beam (beam) management: and reading the PSS/SSS and carrying out RSRP measurement.

It should be understood that the PBCH signal need not be used in all scenarios.

Fig. 4 shows a structure and a transmission diagram of an SSB provided in an embodiment of the present application, where the SSB in the NR includes a PSS, an SSS, and a PBCH.

It should be understood that, when the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is introduced below, the SSB in fig. 4 is referred to as an access signal of format 1.

Period of SSB transmission in NR: the SSB is sent periodically and repeatedly, which is beneficial to cell search when the terminal device initially accesses and is beneficial to mobility measurement of the terminal device. The transmission period of the SSB is transmitted to the terminal device in a broadcast channel, and the value of the period may be 5ms, 10ms, 20ms, 40ms, 80ms, or 160 ms.

One cell may send multiple SSBs: when transmitting multiple SSBs, each SSB can be understood as an area coverage of 1 direction, wherein when at low frequency (FR1), the number of SSBs transmitted at most is L4/8; when the frequency is high (FR2), the number of SSBs is L — 64, and the transmission of the SSBs needs to be completed within a time of 5 ms. Typically, the low and high frequencies are relative and may be bounded by a particular frequency, such as 6 GHz.

4、DRS

A Discovery Reference Signal (DRS) is a signal that allows a terminal device to discover a transmitting node, and the DRS may include all of the SSB signals.

The name of DRS signal is named in 4G, in 5G system, DRS-like signals are also needed, including SSB signals, or SSB and Remaining Minimum System Information (RMSI), for an access point to find another access point or to provide mobility measurements of an access point, the name of which has not been determined, and is herein collectively called DRS or access signal (access signal).

Fig. 5 shows a schematic flow chart of a method 200 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, where as shown in fig. 5, the method 200 includes:

s210, the network device listens to the channel according to the first listen before send LBT process and the second LBT process.

Specifically, before sending an access signal (access signal), the network device may configure two channel access procedures, where a first channel access procedure corresponds to a first LBT procedure, and a second channel access procedure corresponds to a second LBT procedure, and the network device listens to a channel according to the first LBT procedure and the second LBT procedure.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the first LBT process and the second LBT process may be performed simultaneously or in series, and the present application is not limited in any way.

S220, the network device determines that the first LBT procedure failed and the second LBT procedure succeeded.

Specifically, the network device determines that the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds in the channel sensing procedure.

Optionally, the energy threshold in the first LBT procedure is a first energy threshold, the energy threshold in the second LBT procedure is a second energy threshold, and the first energy threshold is smaller than the second energy threshold.

Optionally, the first LBT procedure is LBT CAT2 and the second LBT procedure is a newly designed LBT procedure.

Optionally, the energy threshold value in the newly designed LBT procedure is higher than the energy threshold value in the first LBT procedure by an offset, so that the second LBT procedure is easier to sense the channel than the first LBT procedure, for example, the determination method may be:

if it can be ensured that no other system shares this spectrum (e.g., by a region), then X 'is calculated from equation (3)'_{Thresh_max}：

Wherein, T_format2＝5dB，X_rIf the requirements defined by a particular region are defined, the defined maximum capability detection threshold is the corresponding value. If not defined, X_r＝T_max+10dB。

Otherwise, X 'is calculated from equation (4)'_{Thresh_max}：

Wherein, T_A10dB, the current transmission signal includes PDSCH, PDCCH, or CSI-one or more of RS;

T_Awhen the current transmission signal includes only the access signal of format 1, but does not include one or more of PDSCH, PDCCH, or CSI-RS, 5 dB;

P_H＝23dBm；

P_TXis the maximum transmit power on a certain carrier of the network device;

T_max(dBm)＝10·log10(3.16228·10-8(mW/MHz)·BWMHz(MHz))。

it should be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, T_format2The value may be 5dB, may also be 3dB or 10dB, and may also be other values, which is not limited in this application.

Optionally, the determining, by the network device, that the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds includes:

the network device determines that the detected energy value of the channel is greater than or equal to the first energy threshold value and less than the second energy threshold value.

For example, if the result of the energy detection performed on the channel by the network device is-70 dBm, the first energy threshold value is-72 dBm, and the second energy threshold value is-68 dBm, the network device determines that the first LBT procedure failed and the second LBT procedure succeeded.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the first LBT procedure and the second LBT procedure may be the same as or different from an existing LBT procedure, and the determining manner of the threshold values in the first LBT procedure and the second LBT procedure is not limited to the above manner, and may also be determined by other manners, which is not limited in this application.

Optionally, the length of the contention time window in the first LBT procedure is greater than the length of the contention time window in the second LBT procedure.

Optionally, the length of the contention time window in the first LBT procedure is N time units, the length of the contention time window in the second LBT procedure is M time units, N and M are positive integers, and the network device determines that the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds, including:

the network device determines that the energy detection value of the channel is not less than or equal to a third energy threshold value in N time units, and the energy threshold value of the channel is less than or equal to a fourth energy threshold value in M time units, where the threshold value corresponding to the first LBT procedure is the third energy threshold value, and the energy threshold value corresponding to the second LBT procedure is the fourth energy threshold value.

Optionally, the third energy threshold is equal to the fourth energy threshold.

For example, the first LBT procedure is LBT CAT4, the second LBT procedure is LBT CAT2, the length of the contention time window in LBT CAT4 is CW ═ 13 slots (slot), LBT CAT2 is One-short, the energy threshold values in LBT CAT4 and LBTCAT2 are both-72 dBm, the network device fails to detect 13 slots smaller than-72 dBm when determining the energy detection value of the channel, and has detection capability smaller than-72 dBm when determining LBT CAT2, and the network device may determine that LBT CAT4 fails and LBT CAT2 succeeds.

For another example, the first LBT procedure is LBT CAT4, the second LBT procedure is LBT CAT4, the length CW of the contention time window of the first LBT procedure is 63 slots (slot), the length CW of the contention time window of the second LBT procedure is 15 slots (slot), and the energy threshold values of both LBT procedures are-72 dBm, then, within a certain period of time, the network device fails to detect 63 slots with energy values smaller than-72 dBm in determining the energy detection values of the channel, and can detect 15 slots with energy values smaller than-72 dBm, and the network device can determine that the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds.

It should be understood that the first LBT procedure in the embodiments of the present application may be understood as an LBT procedure that is compared "hard" once, and the second LBT procedure may be understood as an LBT procedure that is compared "easy" once.

It should be noted that, in the contention time window CW parameter of LBT CAT4, an actual standard process may need to perform a process of generating a random number N, so that the number N actually detected to be lower than the energy threshold is not necessarily a value of CW, but probabilistically, the larger CW is, the larger N is, and for convenience of description, the value of N is equal to CW.

S230, the network device sends a first access signal to a terminal device on the channel, and the terminal device receives the first access signal sent by the network device on the channel.

Specifically, the network device sends the first access signal to the terminal device after determining that the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds.

Optionally, the first access signal in this embodiment of the present application is a discovery reference signal DRS.

Optionally, the first access signal comprises at least a synchronization signal broadcast channel block SSB.

It should be understood that one or more access signals are included in the first access signal.

Optionally, a time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the first access signal is smaller than the first time length.

It should be understood that the first time length in the embodiment of the present application may be related to the subcarrier spacing of the current system, for example, when the subcarrier spacing of the current system is 15KHz, the average time length corresponding to each symbol is 71.4us, and the first time length may be 285.6us (i.e. 71.4us × 4); for another example, when the subcarrier spacing of the current system is 30KHz, the average time length corresponding to each symbol is 35.7us, and the first time length may be 142.8us (i.e., 35.7us × 4).

It should be further understood that, when the subcarrier interval of the current system is 15KHz, 14 symbols are included in 1 slot (slot), a time length corresponding to a part of the 14 symbols may be greater than 71.4us, a time length corresponding to a part of the symbols may be smaller than 71.4us, and an average time length of the 14 symbols may be 71.4 us.

It should also be understood that, in some cases, the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the first access signal is smaller than the first time length, which may also be understood that the number of symbols occupied by the first access signal is smaller than 4.

Specifically, after the network device determines that the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds, the network device may send the first access signal to the terminal device, where the format of the first access signal may include, but is not limited to, the following 7 formats in fig. 6 to 12.

Optionally, the first access signal comprises only a PSS and an SSS, and the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed.

Fig. 6 shows a structural diagram of an access signal provided in an embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 6, the access signal includes only a PSS and an SSS, and compared with fig. 4, locations of the PSS and the SSS are not changed, but a PBCH in an original access signal is removed.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 7, the access signal includes only a PSS and an SSS, and compared with fig. 4, symbol positions of the PSS and the SSS are adjacent, and a PBCH in the original access signal is removed.

It should be understood that the PSS and SSS in the access signals in fig. 6 and 7 employ Time Division Multiplexing (TDM).

It should also be understood that when the subcarrier spacing of the current system is 15KHz, the time-frequency resource of the access signal shown in fig. 6 and 7 corresponds to a time length of 142.8us (i.e. 71.4us × 2), which is less than the first time length 285.6 us.

It should also be understood that the number of symbols occupied by the access signals shown in fig. 6 and 7 is 2 (less than 4).

Optionally, the first access signal comprises only a PSS and a SSS, and the PSS and the SSS are frequency division multiplexed.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 8, the access signal includes only a PSS and an SSS, and compared with fig. 4, the PSS and the SSS use a Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) manner.

It should be understood that when the subcarrier spacing of the current system is 15KHz, the time-frequency resource of the access signal shown in fig. 8 corresponds to a time length of 71.4us, which is smaller than the first time length 285.6 us.

It should also be understood that the number of symbols occupied by the access signal shown in fig. 8 is 1 (less than 4).

Optionally, the subcarrier spacing of the first access signal is greater than or equal to the first subcarrier spacing, for example, the candidate subcarrier spacing in the system is: the subcarrier spacing of the first access signal at 15KHz, 30KHz, 60KHz, 120KHz, 240KHz, 480KHz may be selected as: 30Khz, 60Khz, 120Khz, 240Khz, 480Khz, 960 Khz.

For example, the subcarrier spacing of the current system is 15KHz, and the subcarrier spacing of the first access signal may be 30KHz or 60 KHz; alternatively, the subcarrier spacing of the current system is 30KHz, and the subcarrier spacing of the first access signal may be 60KHz or 120 KHz.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 9, the access signal includes a PSS, an SSS, and a PBCH, and compared with fig. 4, a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the access signal is enlarged, that is, a bandwidth occupied by an SSB is increased, and a time length of a single symbol is reduced.

For example, for the SSB shown in fig. 4, the PSS occupies one symbol, when the subcarrier spacing is 15KHz, the time length for transmitting the PSS on the symbol is 71.4us, the PSS in the access signal shown in fig. 9 may occupy one symbol, but the subcarrier spacing may be enlarged to 30KHz, the time length for transmitting the PSS on the symbol is 35.7us, and the time length corresponding to a single symbol is halved, so the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the access signal shown in fig. 9 is 142.8us (35.7us × 4), which is smaller than the first time length 285.6 us.

It should also be understood that when the subcarrier spacing of the current system is 15KHz, the number of symbols occupied by the access signal shown in fig. 9 is 4, but the time length corresponding to each symbol is halved.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 10, the access signal includes PSS, SSS, and PBCH, and compared with fig. 4, PSS and SSS are in FDM manner, and PBCH1 and PBCH2 are in FDM manner, which also halves a time length occupied by the access signal of fig. 9.

It should be understood that when the subcarrier spacing of the current system is 15KHz, the time-frequency resource of the access signal shown in fig. 10 corresponds to a time length of 142.8us (71.4us × 2), which is less than the first time length 285.6 us.

It should also be understood that the number of symbols occupied by the access signal shown in fig. 10 is 2 (less than 4).

Optionally, the first access signal comprises only SSS or only PSS.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 11, the access signal includes only SSS.

It should be understood that when the subcarrier spacing of the current system is 15KHz, the time-frequency resource of the access signal shown in fig. 11 corresponds to a time length of 71.4us, which is smaller than the first time length 285.6 us.

It should also be understood that the number of symbols occupied by the access signal shown in fig. 11 is 1 (less than 4).

Fig. 12 shows a schematic structural diagram of another access signal provided in the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 12, in order to simplify complexity of a network device, the access signal includes a PSS, an SSS, and a PBCH, and compared to fig. 4, the SSS is added on the basis of the access signal shown in fig. 4, and the added SSS and PSS adopt an FDM manner.

For the structure of the access signal shown in fig. 12, the network device is simple to process when transmitting the signal, i.e. for the signal containing PSS, the data format is not readjusted according to the result of LBT.

In this embodiment, the format of the SSB in fig. 4 may be referred to as format 1, the format of the access signal shown in fig. 6 to 12 may be referred to as format 2, and the format 2 is changed based on the format 1, so as to reduce the time length corresponding to the time domain resource of the access signal, and when the network device transmits the SSB as shown in fig. 6 to 12 according to the format 2, it is helpful to reduce interference to other systems.

It should be understood that the access signal of format 2 in the embodiment of the present application is not limited to the format 7 in fig. 6 to 12, and may be in other formats, and as long as the format of other access signals can achieve the effect of the access signal of format 2, it should be considered to be within the scope of the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, if the number of the access signals to be sent is K, the network device sends L access signals to the terminal device when the network device determines that the first LBT fails and the second LBT succeeds, where K and L are positive integers and K is greater than L, that is, the network device selects L access signals from the K access signals and sends the L access signals to the terminal device.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, if the first LBT procedure is successful, the network device may send a second access signal to the terminal device, where the second access signal may be an access signal as shown in fig. 4.

It should also be understood that if the number of access signals to be sent is K, the network device may send the K access signals to the terminal device if the first LBT is successful.

S240, the terminal device determines a format of the first access signal.

Specifically, after the terminal device receives the first access signal, the format of the first access signal is determined first, and the terminal device performs PBCH reception, SSS reception, or SSS and PBCH reception according to the format.

The process of format parsing may include the following 2 steps:

(1) a difference starting point of the access signal of format 1 and the access signal of format 2 is determined.

Optionally, if the access signal is as shown in fig. 6, since the PSS/SSS are the same, the difference point is that PBCH exists in the SSB of format 1, PBCH does not exist in the SSB of format 2, and the detection point is to perform DMRS presence detection of PBCH.

Optionally, if the access signal is as shown in fig. 7, since the PSS is the same, the time domain positions of the SSS in the SSB with the format 1 and the SSB with the format 2 are different, and the detection point is to detect the time domain position of the SSS.

Optionally, if the access signal is as shown in fig. 8, since the PSS is the same, the frequency domain positions of the SSS are different at different points, and the detection point is used to detect the frequency domain position of the SSS.

Alternatively, if the access signal is as shown in fig. 9, the difference point is that the subcarrier intervals of the access signal are different, and the detection point is to detect the time length of the symbol occupied by the PSS, so as to derive the subcarrier interval of the PSS.

Alternatively, if the access signal is as shown in fig. 10, the difference point is that the frequency domain locations of the SSS are different, and the detection point is to perform SSS frequency domain location detection.

Alternatively, if the access signal is as shown in fig. 11, since the access signal of format 2 includes only SSS, the detection point is to detect the SSS first, and then detect whether PSS exists or detect whether DMRS of PBCH exists.

Optionally, if the access signal is as shown in fig. 12, the difference point is that an SSS is newly added to the time domain resource corresponding to the PSS, and the detection point performs PSS time domain position detection.

(2) And determining the format of the access signal sent by the network equipment by using the difference point.

It should be understood that, the access signal of format 2 recited in the embodiment of the present application includes, but is not limited to, the above 7 structures in fig. 6 to 12, during the transmission process, an actual transmitting end may select one of the above 7 structures to transmit, and the terminal device may know in advance that the network device will transmit using one of the access signal of format 1 or the access signal of format 2, for example, the format of the access signal that the network device and the terminal device agree to transmit and receive is format 1 or format 2 shown in fig. 8, and after receiving the access signal, the terminal device may perform the following steps to detect the format of the access signal:

step 1: PSS symbol sequence detection is carried out, and if the PSS symbol sequence is detected, step 2 is executed;

step 2: detecting SSS symbol sequences at predetermined positions;

if the SSS is detected at the position of the PSS corresponding symbol at an interval of one symbol, the transmitting end is considered to be transmitting according to format 1, and subsequent processing is performed (for example, signal quality calculation of the SSS is performed, and when PBCH needs to be received, demodulation of PBCH reception is performed).

If SSS is detected on the same symbol of corresponding symbol of PSS, the sending end is considered to be sent according to format 2, and only the signal quality of SSS is calculated.

According to the signal transmission method, when the channel is busy, the sending end sends the access signal in the format 2, so that interference on other systems is reduced, and meanwhile timely sending of the PSS/SSS in the system is guaranteed.

Optionally, after the network device determines that the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds, the method 200 further includes:

and the network equipment sends indication information to the terminal equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the sending power of the access signal of the format 2.

Specifically, in order to facilitate the sending of the access signal of format 2 and increase the capability of the terminal device to detect the access signal of format 2, the transmission power of the access signal of format 2 may be different from that of the access signal of format 1 compared to the access signal of format 1, such as an offset of-3 dB, 0dB, 3dB, and the application scenario may be: when only the access equipment of the same system exists in the current coverage area, the offset can be a positive value, namely the transmission power is larger, so that the terminal equipment can be ensured to measure the signal more easily, and when only the access equipment of the same system exists in the current coverage area, the offset is 0 or a negative value, namely the transmission power is smaller, so that the interference to other systems is reduced. The information of the related transmission power may be notified by a broadcast signal.

It should be understood that the transmission power of the access signal in format 2 in this embodiment of the present application may also be predefined by the protocol, for example, when the terminal device detects the access signal in format 2, the terminal device may detect the access signal according to the transmission power of format 2 predefined by the protocol.

In an embodiment, fig. 13 shows another schematic flow chart of a method 200 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 13, the method 200 includes:

s211, the sending end configures two channel access processes for sending the access signal, the two channel access processes correspond to two LBT detections, the LBT of the channel access process 1 is a first LBT process, and the LBT of the channel access process 2 is a second LBT process.

It should be understood that, in this embodiment of the present application, the sending end may be a network device.

S221, carrying out LBT of a channel access process 1 and a channel access process 2;

s222, determining whether the first LBT procedure is successful, if the first LBT procedure is successful, performing S231, and if the first LBT procedure is failed, performing S223.

S223, judging whether the second LBT process is successful, and if the second LBT process is successful, performing S232; if the second LBT procedure fails, S233 is performed.

S231, sending a second access signal, wherein the second access signal is an access signal with a format 1;

s232, sending a first access signal, wherein the first access signal is an access signal with a format 2;

s233, the transmission of the access signal is terminated.

Compared with the prior art, the method for transmitting the signals flexibly configures the process of channel access twice, avoids the situation that the sending end gives up sending the access signals after one channel is unsuccessfully accessed, and is beneficial to avoiding the situation that the time for the terminal equipment to search the cell is too long.

In an embodiment, fig. 14 shows another schematic flow chart of a method 200 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 14, the method 200 includes:

s201, a sending end determines that the number of access signals to be sent is K, and K is a positive integer;

s212, the sending end configures two channel access processes for sending the access signal, the two channel access processes correspond to two LBT detections, the LBT of the channel access process 1 is a first LBT process, and the LBT of the channel access process 2 is a second LBT process.

S224, LBT of a channel access process 1 and a channel access process 2 is carried out;

s225, determine whether the first LBT procedure is successful, if the first LBT procedure is successful, proceed to S234, and if the first LBT procedure is failed, proceed to S226.

S226, judging whether the second LBT process is successful, if the second LBT process is successful, performing S235; if the second LBT procedure fails, S236 is performed.

S234, transmitting the K access signals;

s235, selecting L from the K access signals for sending, wherein L is a positive integer;

and S236, ending the sending of the access signal.

It should be understood that the formats of the K access signals may all be format 1, may all be format 2, may also be a part of format 1 and another part of format 2, and this application does not limit this.

Fig. 15 shows another schematic flow chart of a method 300 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 15, the method 300 includes:

s310, the network device listens to the channel according to the third listen before talk LBT procedure.

Optionally, the third LBT procedure is LBT CAT4 or LBT CAT 2.

It should be understood that the type of the third LBT procedure is not limited in the transmission method 300 in the embodiment of the present application, and the third LBT procedure may be an existing LBT procedure or a newly designed LBT procedure, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

S320, determining that the third LBT procedure fails;

s330, the network device sends a third access signal to the terminal device on the channel, and the terminal device receives the third access signal sent by the network device on the channel.

Optionally, a time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the third access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

It should be understood that the first time period is determined in the same manner as the method 200, and therefore, for brevity, the detailed description is omitted. Optionally, the third access signal is a discovery reference signal DRS.

Optionally, the third access signal includes at least an SSB.

Optionally, the format of the SSB in the third access signal may be as shown in fig. 6 to fig. 12, and for brevity, no further description is provided here.

Optionally, the third access signal comprises one or more access signals.

S340, the terminal device determines a format of the third access signal.

It should be understood that S340 is similar to S240 of the method 200, and therefore, for brevity, will not be described again.

It should also be understood that, in this embodiment of the application, if the third LBT procedure is successful in S320, the network device may send the access signal of format 1 to the terminal device.

Fig. 16 shows another schematic flow chart of a method 300 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 16, the method 300 includes:

s301, the sending end configures a channel access procedure, where the channel access procedure corresponds to a third LBT procedure.

It should also be understood that, in this embodiment of the present application, the configuring of one channel access procedure by the sending end may also be understood as configuring two channel access procedures by the sending end, where one channel access procedure may correspond to the third LBT procedure, and another channel access procedure corresponds to LBT CAT1 (no LBT procedure).

S311, performing the third LBT procedure corresponding to the channel access procedure;

s312, determining whether the third LBT procedure is successful, if the third LBT procedure is successful, performing S321, and if the third LBT procedure is failed, performing S322.

S321, sending a second access signal, where the second access signal is an access signal in format 1;

s322, sending a first access signal, where the first access signal is an access signal of format 2.

Fig. 17 shows another schematic flow chart of a method 400 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 17, the method 400 includes:

and S410, the network equipment listens to the channel according to the fourth listen before send LBT process.

Optionally, the fourth LBT procedure is LBT CAT4 or LBT CAT 2.

It should be understood that the type of the fourth LBT procedure is not limited in the transmission method 400 in the embodiment of the present application, and the fourth LBT procedure may be an existing LBT procedure or a newly designed LBT procedure, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

S420, the network device determines that the fourth LBT procedure fails;

s430, the network device sends at least one access signal to the terminal device according to the relationship between the number of the access signals and the first value, and the terminal device receives the at least one access signal.

Optionally, the sending, by the network device, at least one access signal to the terminal device according to the relationship between the number of access signals and the first value includes:

and when the number of the access signals is greater than or equal to the first numerical value, transmitting the at least one access signal to the terminal equipment, wherein the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of each access signal in the at least one access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

Optionally, at least a part of the at least one access signal is a format 2 access signal.

Optionally, if the at least one access signal is a plurality of access signals, padding is not performed between every two adjacent access signals in the plurality of access signals.

and when the number of the access signals is smaller than a first value, transmitting the at least one access signal to the terminal equipment, wherein the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of each access signal in the at least one access signal is greater than or equal to a second time length.

Optionally, the second length of time is equal to the first length of time.

Optionally, at least a part of the at least one access signal is a format 1 access signal.

S440, the terminal device performs format parsing on the at least one access signal.

It should be understood that S440 is similar to the process of S240 in the method 200, and therefore, for brevity, will not be described herein.

It should also be understood that, in this embodiment of the application, if the fourth LBT procedure is successful in S420, the network device may send the at least one access signal to the terminal device, where each access signal in the at least one access signal is an access signal with format 1, and optionally, if the at least one access signal is multiple access signals, padding (padding) is performed between every two adjacent access signals in the multiple access signals.

In an embodiment, fig. 18 shows another schematic flow chart of a method 400 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 18, the method 400 includes:

s401, a sending end configures a channel access process for sending an access signal.

It should also be understood that, the transmitting end configures a channel access procedure for transmitting an access signal corresponding to one LBT, which may be LBT CAT4 or LBT CAT 2.

S411, performing a fourth LBT procedure of the channel access procedure;

s412, determining whether the fourth LBT procedure is successful, and if the fourth LBT procedure is successful, performing S431; otherwise, S421 is performed.

S421, determining the relation between the number of the access signals and the first value, and if the number of the access signals is greater than or equal to the first value, performing S432; if the value is smaller than the first value, S433 is performed.

S431, the transmitting end transmits at least one access signal, where at least a part of the at least one access signal is an access signal with format 1.

Optionally, when the at least one access signal is a plurality of access signals, padding (padding) bits are added between the plurality of access signals transmitted in S431.

S432, the transmitting end transmits at least one access signal, where at least a part of the at least one access signal is an access signal with format 2;

s433, the sending end sends at least one access signal, where at least a part of the at least one access signal is an access signal with format 1.

Optionally, when the at least one access signal is a plurality of access signals, padding (padding) is not performed between the plurality of access signals transmitted in S431.

According to the signal transmission method, after LBT fails, the sending end can send at least one access signal according to the relation between the number of the access signals and the first value, and therefore the situation that the time for the terminal equipment to search the cell is too long is avoided.

Fig. 19 shows another schematic flow chart of a method 500 of transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 19, the method 500 includes:

s510, determining a fifth LBT procedure according to a relationship between the number of the access signals to be transmitted and the second value.

Optionally, when the number of the access signals to be transmitted is greater than or equal to the second value, it is determined that the fifth LBT procedure is LBT CAT 4.

For example, when the second value is 8, the number of access signals to be sent by the network device is 10, and the network device configures the LBT CAT4 to listen to the channel.

Optionally, when the number of the access signals to be transmitted is less than the second value, the fifth LBT procedure is determined to be LBT CAT 2.

For example, when the second value is 8, the number of access signals to be sent by the network device is 6, and the network device configures the LBT CAT2 to listen to the channel.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the network device may also determine, according to a relationship between the number of access signals to be sent and a second value, that the fifth LBT process is other LBT processes, for example, when the network device determines that the number of access signals to be sent is greater than the second value, a newly designed LBT process is configured (for example, an energy threshold in the newly designed LBT process is higher than an energy threshold in LBT CAT 2); and when the network equipment determines that the number of the access signals to be sent is less than the second value, configuring the LBT CAT2 to listen to the channel.

S520, according to the fifth LBT process, monitoring the channel;

s530, when the fifth LBT procedure is successful, the network device sends at least one access signal to the terminal device on the channel, and the terminal device receives the at least one access signal sent by the network device on the channel.

Optionally, each of the at least one access signal comprises a PSS, a SSS and a PBCH.

Specifically, after determining the fifth LBT procedure according to the relationship between the number of the access signals to be sent and the second value, the network device listens to the channel according to the fifth LBT procedure, and if the fifth LBT procedure is successful, the network device sends the at least one access signal to the terminal device.

For example, the number of the access signals to be sent by the network device is 10, and if the fifth LBT procedure is successful, the network device sends the 10 access signals to the terminal device.

For another example, the network device determines that the number of access signals to be sent is 6, and if the fifth LBT procedure is successful, the network device sends 6 access signals to the terminal device.

S540, the terminal device determines a format of the at least one access signal.

It should be understood that S540 is similar to S240 in the method 200, and therefore, for brevity, the description thereof is omitted.

It should also be understood that in this embodiment of the application, in S530, if the fifth LBT procedure fails, the network device may not send the at least one access signal to the terminal device.

It should also be understood that if the fifth LBT procedure fails in S530, the network device may select a portion of the access signal to be transmitted for transmission.

For example, the number of access signals to be transmitted is 10, and if the fifth LBT procedure fails, the network device may select 4 access signals from the 10 access signals to transmit.

It should also be understood that, if the fifth LBT procedure fails in S530, the network device may send the at least one access signal to the terminal device, where at least a portion of the at least one access signal is an access signal in format 2.

Fig. 20 shows another schematic flow chart of a method 600 for transmitting signals according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 20, the method 600 includes:

s610, the network device determines the length of the contention time window in the sixth LBT process according to the number of the access signals to be transmitted. Optionally, before determining the length of the contention time window in the sixth LBT procedure, the method 600 further includes:

the network device determines the sixth LBT procedure according to the number of the access signals to be transmitted and a third value.

It should be appreciated that the network device determining the sixth LBT procedure is similar to S510 in the method 500, and therefore, for brevity, will not be described herein.

Specifically, the length of the contention time window in the sixth LBT procedure may be associated with the number of access signals to be transmitted.

For example, when the number of access signals to be transmitted is smaller, the corresponding contention window time is shorter, the corresponding relationship may be a one-to-one corresponding relationship or a segmented corresponding relationship, for example, when the number of access signals to be transmitted is 1 to M₁When the corresponding CW value is CW₁When the transmitted access signal is M₁+1 to M₂When the corresponding CW value is CW₂。

For example, table 2 shows a relationship between the number of access signals to be transmitted and the length of the contention time window.

TABLE 2 relationship between the number of access signals to be transmitted and the length of the contention time window

Number of access signals to be transmitted	Length of contention time window
		1 to M₁	CW₁
M₁+1 to M₂	CW₂
		……	……
M_n-1+1 to M_n	CW_n

It should be understood that the length of the contention time window is also related to the subcarrier interval of the system, and the length of the corresponding time window may be different for different subcarrier intervals with the same number of access signals to be transmitted.

For example, table 3 shows another relationship between the number of access signals to be transmitted and the length of the contention time window.

TABLE 3 relationship between the number of access signals to be transmitted and the length of the contention time window

For example, when the number of the access signals to be transmitted is 10 and the subcarrier interval of the current system is 15KHz, the network device determines that the length of the contention time window is 6 slots (slots).

It should be understood that the above table is only illustrative, and the specific correspondence between the number of access signals to be transmitted, the subcarrier interval, and the contention time window is not limited to the above example, and may also be other correspondences, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

It should be further understood that the sixth LBT process in the embodiment of the present application may be an existing LBT process or a newly designed LBT process, which is not limited in this application.

It should also be understood that the sixth LBT procedure may be determined by referring to the method 500, or other determination methods, which are not limited in this application.

S620, according to the sixth LBT process, listening to the channel;

s630, when the sixth LBT procedure is successful, the network device sends at least one access signal to the terminal device on the channel, and the terminal device receives the at least one access signal sent by the network device on the channel;

s640, the terminal device determines a format of the at least one access signal.

It should be understood that S620-S640 are similar to S520-S540 of method 500 and are not described herein for brevity.

In one embodiment, the method of transmitting signals further comprises:

the network equipment determines that information to be sent comprises an access signal and at least one of a PDSCH, a PDCCH and a CSI-RS, and the format of the access signal is format 1;

configuring a channel access process by the network device (optionally, the corresponding LBT is LBT CAT 4);

if the LBT is successful, the network equipment sends the information to be sent; if the LBT fails, the network device does not send the information to be sent.

Optionally, if there is no data between the access signals, padding (padding) is performed between the access signals to prevent channel loss.

In one embodiment, the method of transmitting signals further comprises:

the network equipment determines that the information to be sent only comprises an access signal;

configuring a channel access process by the network device (optionally, the corresponding LBT is LBT CAT 2);

if the LBT is successful, the network equipment sends the access signal; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

if LBT fails, the network device may have the following two processing modes:

(1) not sending the access signal and continuing to perform channel interception;

(2) judging the number of access signals to be sent, and if the number of the access signals is greater than or equal to a first numerical value, sending the access signals according to the format 2; if the number of access signals is less than or equal to the second value, the access signal according to format 1 is transmitted.

In one embodiment, the method of transmitting signals further comprises:

the network equipment determines that the information to be sent only comprises DRS;

the network equipment configures two channel access processes (corresponding to two LBT processes);

if the first LBT is successful, the network equipment sends an access signal, and the access signal is sent according to a format 1;

if the first LBT fails, the network equipment carries out second LBT;

if the second LBT is successful, the network equipment sends an access signal, and the access signal is sent according to the format 2;

if the second LBT fails, the network device does not send the access signal.

The method for transmitting signals according to the embodiment of the present application is described in detail above with reference to fig. 1 to 20, and the apparatus, the network device, and the terminal device for transmitting signals according to the embodiment of the present application are described in detail below with reference to fig. 21 to 28, and the technical features described in the method embodiment are also applicable to the following apparatus embodiments.

Fig. 21 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 700 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 21, the apparatus 700 for transmitting a signal includes:

a processing unit 710, configured to listen to a channel according to a first listen before send LBT procedure and a second LBT procedure;

a transceiver unit 720, configured to send an access signal to the terminal device on the channel when the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds.

Optionally, a time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

Optionally, the access signal is composed of a primary synchronization signal PSS and/or a secondary synchronization signal SSS.

Optionally, the PSS and the SSS are frequency division multiplexed, or the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed.

Optionally, the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and the symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

Specifically, the apparatus 700 for transmitting a signal may correspond to a network device in the method 200 for transmitting a signal according to the embodiment of the present application, and the apparatus 700 for transmitting a signal may include modules (or units) for performing the method performed by the network device in the method 200 for transmitting a signal in fig. 5. Also, the modules (or units) in the apparatus 700 and the other operations and/or functions described above are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows of the method 200 in fig. 5. The specific process of each module (or unit) executing the corresponding steps is described in detail in the method 200, and for brevity, will not be described again here.

It should be understood that the apparatus 700 for transmitting signals may be a network device, and may also be a chip or a functional unit in the network device.

Fig. 22 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus for transmitting a signal 800 according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 22, the apparatus for transmitting a signal 800 includes:

a processing unit 810, configured to listen to a channel according to a third listen before talk LBT procedure;

a transceiving unit 820, configured to send an access signal to a terminal device on the channel when the third LBT procedure fails, where a time length corresponding to a time-frequency resource of the access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

Specifically, the apparatus 800 for transmitting a signal may correspond to a network device in the method 300 for transmitting a signal of the embodiment of the present application, and the apparatus 800 for transmitting a signal may include modules (or units) for performing the method performed by the network device in the method 300 for transmitting a signal in fig. 15. Also, the modules (or units) and the other operations and/or functions described above in the apparatus 800 are respectively for implementing the corresponding flow of the method 300 in fig. 15. The specific process of each module (or unit) executing the corresponding steps is described in detail in the method 300, and for brevity, will not be described again here.

It should be understood that the apparatus 800 for transmitting signals may be a network device, and may also be a chip or a functional unit in the network device.

Fig. 23 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus 900 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 23, the apparatus 900 for transmitting a signal includes:

a processing unit 910, configured to listen to a channel according to a fourth listen before talk LBT procedure;

a processing unit 910, configured to control, when the fourth LBT procedure fails, the transceiver unit 920 to send at least one access signal to the terminal device according to a relationship between the number of access signals and the first value.

Optionally, the processing unit 910 is specifically configured to: when the number of the access signals is greater than or equal to the first value, the transceiver unit 920 is controlled to transmit the at least one access signal to the terminal device, and a time length corresponding to a time-frequency resource of each access signal in the at least one access signal is less than or equal to a first time length.

Optionally, the processing unit 910 is specifically configured to: and when the number of the access signals is smaller than the first value, controlling the transceiver 920 to transmit the at least one access signal to the terminal device, where a time length corresponding to a time-frequency resource of each access signal in the at least one access signal is greater than or equal to a second time length.

Specifically, the apparatus 900 for transmitting a signal may correspond to a network device in the method 400 for transmitting a signal of the embodiment of the present application, and the apparatus 900 for transmitting a signal may include modules (or units) for performing the method performed by the network device in the method 400 for transmitting a signal in fig. 17. Also, the modules (or units) and the other operations and/or functions described above in the apparatus 900 are respectively for implementing the corresponding flow of the method 400 in fig. 17. The specific process of each module (or unit) executing the corresponding steps is described in detail in the method 400, and for brevity, will not be described again here.

It should be understood that the apparatus 900 for transmitting signals may be a network device, and may also be a chip or a functional unit in the network device.

Fig. 24 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus 1000 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 24, the apparatus 1000 for transmitting a signal includes:

a processing unit 1010, configured to determine a fifth LBT procedure according to a relationship between the number of access signals to be sent and the second value;

the processing unit 1010 is further configured to listen to a channel according to the fifth LBT procedure;

a transceiver unit 1020, configured to send at least one access signal to the terminal device when the fifth LBT procedure is successful.

Specifically, the apparatus 1000 for transmitting a signal may correspond to the network device in the method 500 for transmitting a signal according to the embodiment of the present application, and the apparatus 1000 for transmitting a signal may include modules (or units) for performing the method performed by the network device in the method 500 for transmitting a signal in fig. 19. Also, the modules (or units) in the apparatus 1000 and the other operations and/or functions described above are respectively for implementing the corresponding flow of the method 500 in fig. 19. The specific process of each module (or unit) executing the corresponding steps is described in detail in the method 500, and for brevity, will not be described again here.

It should be understood that the apparatus 1000 for transmitting signals may be a network device, and may also be a chip or a functional unit in the network device.

Fig. 25 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus 1100 for transmitting signals according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 25, the apparatus 1100 for transmitting signals includes:

a processing unit 1110, configured to determine, according to a relationship between the number of access signals to be sent and a third value, a length of a contention time window in a sixth LBT process;

the processing unit 1110 is further configured to listen to a channel according to the sixth LBT procedure;

a transceiver 1120, configured to transmit at least one access signal to a terminal device when the sixth LBT procedure is successful.

Specifically, the apparatus 1100 for transmitting a signal may correspond to a network device in the method 600 for transmitting a signal according to the embodiment of the present application, and the apparatus 1100 for transmitting a signal may include modules (or units) for performing the method performed by the network device in the method 600 for transmitting a signal according to fig. 20. Also, the modules (or units) and the other operations and/or functions described above in the apparatus 1100 are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows of the method 600 in fig. 20. The specific processes of each module (or unit) to execute the corresponding steps are described in detail in the method 600, and are not described herein again for brevity.

It should be understood that the apparatus 1100 for transmitting signals may be a network device, and may also be a chip or a functional unit in the network device.

Fig. 26 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus 1200 for transmitting a signal according to an embodiment of the present application, where, as shown in fig. 26, the apparatus 1200 for transmitting a signal includes:

a transceiver unit 1210, configured to receive an access signal sent by a network device;

a processing unit 1220, configured to determine a format of the access signal according to a demodulation reference signal in a physical broadcast channel PBCH; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a processing unit 1220, configured to determine a format of the access signal according to a time domain location of a secondary synchronization signal SSS, where the access signal includes the SSS; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a processing unit 1220, configured to determine a format of the access signal according to a frequency domain location of a secondary synchronization signal SSS, where the access signal includes the SSS; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and determining the format of the access signal according to the subcarrier interval of the access signal.

Specifically, the apparatus 1200 for transmitting a signal may correspond to a terminal device in the methods 200 to 600 for transmitting a signal according to the embodiments of the present application, and the apparatus 1200 for transmitting a signal may include modules (or units) for performing the methods performed by the terminal devices in the methods 200 to 600 for transmitting a signal in fig. 5, 15, 17, 19, or 20. Also, the modules (or units) and other operations and/or functions described above in the apparatus 1200 are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows of the methods 200 to 600 in fig. 5, 15, 17, 19, or 20. The specific processes of the modules (or units) to execute the corresponding steps are described in detail in the methods 200 to 600, and are not described herein again for brevity.

It should be understood that the apparatus 1200 for transmitting signals may be a terminal device, and may also be a chip or a functional unit in the terminal device.

It should be understood that the division of the units (or modules) in the above apparatus is only a division of logical functions, and the actual implementation may be wholly or partially integrated into one physical entity or may be physically separated. And the units (or modules) in the device can be realized in the form of software called by the processing element; or may be implemented entirely in hardware; part of the units (or modules) can also be implemented in the form of software invoked by a processing element and part of the units (or modules) can be implemented in the form of hardware.

In one example, the modules (or units) in any of the above apparatus may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above method, such as: one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or one or more microprocessors (DSPs), or one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. As another example, when a unit (or module) in a device can be implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler, the processing element can be a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or other processor capable of invoking programs. As another example, these modules (or units) may be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

The above interface circuit for a transceiver unit (or module) is a kind of the device, and is used for receiving signals from other devices and also used for transmitting signals to other devices. For example, when the device is implemented in the form of a chip, the transceiver unit is an interface circuit of the chip for receiving signals from other chips or devices, and may also be an interface circuit of the device for transmitting signals to other devices. For example, when the device is implemented in the form of a chip, the transceiving unit may be an interface circuit for the chip to transmit signals to other chips or devices.

Fig. 27 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application. For implementing the operation of the network device in the above embodiments. As shown in fig. 27, the network device includes: antenna 1301, radio frequency device 1302, baseband device 1303. The antenna 1301 is connected to the radio frequency device 1302. In the uplink direction, the rf device 1302 receives information sent by the terminal device through the antenna 1301, and sends the information sent by the terminal device to the baseband device 1303 for processing. In the downlink direction, the baseband device 1303 processes the information of the terminal device and sends the information to the rf device 1302, and the rf device 1302 processes the information of the terminal device and sends the information to the terminal device through the antenna 1301.

The baseband device 1303 may include one or more processing elements 13031, e.g., including a main CPU and other integrated circuits. In addition, the baseband device 1303 may further include a storage element 13032 and an interface 13033, where the storage element 13032 is used for storing programs and data; the interface 13033 is used for exchanging information with the radio frequency device 1302, and is, for example, a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI). The above means for a network device may be located on the baseband means 1303, for example, the above means for a network device may be a chip on the baseband means 1303, the chip including at least one processing element and an interface circuit, wherein the processing element is configured to perform each step of any one of the methods performed by the above network device, and the interface circuit is configured to communicate with other devices. In one implementation, the unit of the network device for implementing the steps in the above method may be implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler, for example, an apparatus for the network device includes a processing element and a storage element, and the processing element calls a program stored in the storage element to execute the method executed by the network device in the above method embodiment. The memory elements may be memory elements on the same chip as the processing element, i.e. on-chip memory elements, or may be memory elements on a different chip than the processing element, i.e. off-chip memory elements.

In another implementation, the unit of the network device for implementing the steps of the above method may be configured as one or more processing elements, which are disposed on the baseband apparatus, where the processing elements may be integrated circuits, for example: one or more ASICs, or one or more DSPs, or one or more FPGAs, or a combination of these types of integrated circuits. These integrated circuits may be integrated together to form a chip.

The units of the network device for implementing the steps of the above method may be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system on chip, for example, a baseband device includes the SOC chip for implementing the above method.

Fig. 28 shows a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application. It may be the terminal device in the above embodiment, for implementing the operation of the terminal device in the above embodiment. As shown in fig. 28, the terminal includes: antenna 1410, radio frequency apparatus 1420, signal processing section 1430. Antenna 1410 is coupled to radio 1420. In the downlink direction, rf apparatus 1420 receives information transmitted by the network device through antenna 1410, and sends the information transmitted by the network device to signal processing section 1430 for processing. In the uplink direction, signal processing section 1430 processes the information of the terminal device and sends the information to rf device 1420, and rf device 1420 processes the information of the terminal device and sends the processed information to the network device via antenna 1410.

The signal processing section 1430 may include a modem subsystem for implementing processing of various communication protocol layers of data; the system also comprises a central processing subsystem used for realizing the processing of the operating system and the application layer of the terminal equipment; in addition, other subsystems, such as a multimedia subsystem for implementing control of a terminal camera, a screen display, etc., peripheral subsystems for implementing connection with other devices, and the like may be included. The modem subsystem may be a separately provided chip. Alternatively, the above means for the terminal device may be located at the modem subsystem.

The modem subsystem may include one or more processing elements 1431, including, for example, a host CPU and other integrated circuits. The modem subsystem may also include a memory element 1432 and an interface circuit 1433. The storage element 1432 is used to store data and programs, but programs for performing the methods performed by the terminal device in the above methods may not be stored in the storage element 1432, but stored in a memory outside the modem subsystem, and loaded for use when in use. The interface circuit 1433 is used to communicate with other subsystems. The above apparatus for a terminal device may be located in a modem subsystem, which may be implemented by a chip comprising at least one processing element for performing the steps of any of the methods performed by the above terminal device and interface circuitry for communicating with other apparatus. In one implementation, the unit for the terminal device to implement each step in the above method may be implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler, for example, an apparatus for the terminal device includes a processing element and a storage element, and the processing element calls a program stored in the storage element to execute the method executed by the terminal device in the above method embodiment. The memory elements may be memory elements with the processing elements on the same chip, i.e. on-chip memory elements.

In another implementation, the program for performing the method performed by the terminal device in the above method may be a memory element on a different chip than the processing element, i.e. an off-chip memory element. At this time, the processing element calls or loads a program from the off-chip storage element onto the on-chip storage element to call and execute the method executed by the terminal device in the above method embodiment.

In yet another implementation, the unit of the terminal device for implementing the steps of the above method may be configured as one or more processing elements disposed on the modem subsystem, where the processing elements may be integrated circuits, for example: one or more ASICs, or one or more DSPs, or one or more FPGAs, or a combination of these types of integrated circuits. These integrated circuits may be integrated together to form a chip.

The units of the terminal equipment for realizing the steps of the method can be integrated together and realized in a system on chip form, and the SOC chip is used for realizing the method.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, including: the terminal device and the network device.

In the embodiment of the present application, it should be noted that the above method embodiments of the embodiment of the present application may be applied to a processor, or implemented by a processor. The processor may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. In implementation, the steps of the above method embodiments may be performed by integrated logic circuits of hardware in a processor or instructions in the form of software. The processor described above may be a general purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware components. The various methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented or performed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, etc. storage media as is well known in the art. The storage medium is located in a memory, and a processor reads information in the memory and completes the steps of the method in combination with hardware of the processor.

It will be appreciated that the memory elements of the embodiments of the application can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically Erasable EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. Volatile memory can be Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. 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 SDRAM, enhanced SDRAM, SLDRAM, Synchronous Link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It should be understood that, in the various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

Additionally, the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably herein. The term "and/or" herein is merely an association describing an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B, may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.

The appearances of the phrases "first," "second," and the like in this application are only for purposes of distinguishing between different items and the phrases "first," "second," and the like do not by themselves limit the actual order or function of the items so modified. The appearances of the phrases "exemplary," e.g., "in an alternative design," or "in a design" in this application are only intended to serve as an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary," e.g., "optional design" or "one design" is not to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of these words is intended to present relevant concepts in a concrete fashion.

Various objects such as various messages/information/devices/network elements/systems/devices/actions/operations/procedures/concepts may be named in the present application, it is to be understood that these specific names do not constitute limitations on related objects, and the named names may vary according to circumstances, contexts, or usage habits, and the understanding of the technical meaning of the technical terms in the present application should be mainly determined by the functions and technical effects embodied/performed in the technical solutions.

The network architecture and the service scenario described in the embodiment of the present application are for the convenience of readers to clearly understand the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and do not form a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, and it is known by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems along with the evolution of the network architecture and the appearance of a new service scenario.

The above embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product may include one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, cause the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the application to occur, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored on a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, 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 (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, a data center, etc., that incorporates one or more of the available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic disk), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the implementation. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and shall be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a signal, comprising:

monitoring a channel according to a first listen before send LBT process and a second LBT process;

transmitting an access signal to a terminal device on the channel when the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy threshold for the first LBT procedure is a first energy threshold, wherein the energy threshold for the second LBT procedure is a second energy threshold, and wherein the first energy threshold is less than the second energy threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a length of a contention time window in the first LBT procedure is greater than a length of a contention time window in the second LBT procedure.

4. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the access signal is smaller than or equal to the first time length.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the access signal consists of a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and/or a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the PSS and the SSS are frequency division multiplexed, or wherein the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and wherein symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

8. A method of transmitting a signal, comprising:

monitoring the channel according to the third listen before send LBT process;

and when the third LBT process fails, sending an access signal to the terminal equipment on the channel, wherein the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the access signal is comprised of a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and/or a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the PSS and SSS are frequency division multiplexed or time division multiplexed.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and wherein symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

12. A method of transmitting a signal, comprising:

receiving an access signal sent by network equipment;

determining the format of the access signal according to a demodulation reference signal in a physical broadcast channel PBCH; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

determining a format of the access signal according to a time domain or frequency domain position of a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), wherein the access signal comprises the SSS; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the access signal is less than or equal to the first time length.

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the access signal consists of a primary synchronization signal PSS and/or a secondary synchronization signal SSS.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the PSS and SSS are frequency division multiplexed, or wherein the PSS and SSS are time division multiplexed.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and wherein symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

17. An apparatus for transmitting a signal, comprising:

the processing unit is used for monitoring the channel according to the first listen before send LBT process and the second LBT process;

a transceiver unit, configured to send an access signal to a terminal device on the channel when the first LBT procedure fails and the second LBT procedure succeeds.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the energy threshold for the first LBT procedure is a first energy threshold, wherein the energy threshold for the second LBT procedure is a second energy threshold, and wherein the first energy threshold is less than the second energy threshold.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a length of a contention time window in the first LBT procedure is greater than a length of a contention time window in the second LBT procedure.

20. The apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the access signal is smaller than or equal to the first time length.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the access signal is comprised of a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and/or a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS).

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the PSS and SSS are frequency division multiplexed, or wherein the PSS and SSS are time division multiplexed.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and wherein symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

24. An apparatus for transmitting a signal, comprising:

the processing unit is used for monitoring the channel according to the third listen before send LBT process;

a transceiver unit, configured to send an access signal to a terminal device on the channel when the third LBT procedure fails, where a time length corresponding to a time-frequency resource of the access signal is less than or equal to a first time length.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the access signal consists of a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and/or a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS).

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the PSS and the SSS are frequency division multiplexed, or wherein the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and wherein symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

28. An apparatus for transmitting a signal, comprising:

the receiving and sending unit is used for receiving an access signal sent by the network equipment;

the processing unit is used for determining the format of the access signal according to a demodulation reference signal in a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH); alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a time length corresponding to the time-frequency resource of the access signal is less than or equal to a first time length.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 or 29, wherein the access signal consists of a primary synchronization signal PSS and/or a secondary synchronization signal SSS.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the PSS and SSS are frequency division multiplexed, or wherein the PSS and SSS are time division multiplexed.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the PSS and the SSS are time division multiplexed, and wherein symbols occupied by the PSS and the SSS are adjacent.

33. An apparatus for transmitting signals, comprising at least one processor configured to perform the method of any of claims 1-11 and an interface circuit.

34. An apparatus for transmitting signals, comprising at least one processor configured to perform the method of any of claims 12-16 and an interface circuit.

35. A terminal device, characterized in that it comprises an apparatus according to any of claims 28-32 or an apparatus according to claim 34.

36. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 16.