CN110972289A - Method and apparatus for Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement - Google Patents

Abstract

The application provides a method for RRM measurement, which can reduce power consumption of terminal equipment during RRM measurement. The method comprises the following steps: the terminal equipment receives incidence relation information from the network equipment, wherein the incidence relation information is used for indicating the incidence relation of the SMTC and the SSB based on the time configuration of the RRM measurement of the synchronous signal block; the terminal equipment determines a first SMTC associated with the first SSB according to the association relation information and the first SSB; and the terminal equipment carries out RRM measurement according to the first SMTC.

Description

Method and apparatus for Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for RRM measurement in radio resource management.

Background

In a wireless communication system, limited radio resources need to be allocated and managed in order to optimize system performance and capacity. The allocation and management of radio resources are generally performed according to measurement results of Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements, and thus, the RRM measurements need to be performed first. In New Radio (NR), only one SS block based RRM timing configuration (SMTC) based RRM measurement can be configured per subcarrier. RRM measurements are made from this SMTC for all terminal devices within the cell served by the network device. For a terminal device, it needs to measure not only the SSB of the serving cell it is in, but also the SSBs of the neighbor cells for the duration of an SMTC.

Since the periodicity and location of the SSBs of different neighbor cells may be different. Therefore, in order to measure the SSBs of a plurality of neighbor cells, the terminal device needs to perform RRM measurement according to the minimum period of the SSBs of the serving cell and all neighbor cells. It will be appreciated that the smaller the period during which RRM measurements are made by the terminal device, the greater the power consumption will be.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method and a device for RRM measurement, which can reduce the power consumption of RRM measurement performed by terminal equipment.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a method for RRM measurement, the method including: the terminal equipment receives incidence relation information from the network equipment, wherein the incidence relation information is used for indicating the incidence relation of the SMTC and the SSB based on the time configuration of the RRM measurement of the synchronous signal block; the terminal equipment determines a first SMTC associated with the first SSB according to the association relation information and the first SSB; and the terminal equipment carries out RRM measurement according to the first SMTC.

Alternatively, the first SMTC may be one or more. In other words, the SMTC having an association relationship with the first SSB may be one or more.

Optionally, the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and multiple SSBs, or when the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and one SSB, the association relationship indicates by dividing all or part of SSBs actually sent in a cell or indicated by a system message into M groups, where the association relationship information includes group association information and intra-group association information, the group association information is used to indicate one or more association groups associated with the SMTC in the M groups, the intra-group association information is used to indicate SSBs associated with the SMTC in each of the one or more association groups, and M is a positive integer.

Optionally, the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and multiple SSBs or one SSB, where the multiple SSBs may use SSB packets to indicate, where the SSB packets refer to all or part of SSBs actually sent or indicated by a system message in one cell, the number of allocated groups is M, and the number of SSBs in each group is N. M and N are positive integers.

Optionally, the first SMTC has one or more configuration parameters, one or more of the one or more configuration parameters having an association relationship with the first SSB, the one or more configuration parameters including one or more of: the period of the SMTC, the frequency point of an adjacent cell, the frequency point of SSB of the adjacent cell, the frequency point of SSB defined by the cell of the adjacent cell, the duration of the SMTC and the time offset of the SMTC.

Optionally, the SMTC has a plurality of configuration parameters, and the SMTC and the SSB have an association relationship, for example, one or more configuration parameters in the SMTC and the SSB have an association relationship.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the association relation information indicates one or more of the following: an association of one SMTC with one SSB; an association of an SMTC with a plurality of SSBs; association of a plurality of SMTCs with an SSB; association of multiple SMTCs with multiple SSBs.

Alternatively, if an SMTC is associated with multiple SSBs, the SSBs may be contiguous in time or may be non-contiguous.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the association information is used to indicate an association of one SMTC with a plurality of SSBs, the plurality of SSBs are divided into a plurality of groups, the one SMTC has an association with one or more SSBs in each of the plurality of groups, or the association information is used to indicate an association of a plurality of SMTCs with a plurality of SSBs, the plurality of SSBs are divided into a plurality of groups, each group being associated with one or more SMTCs in the plurality of SMTCs.

Alternatively, the SSBs are divided into a plurality of groups, each of which may also be referred to as an SSB group.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the determining, by the terminal device, the first SMTC associated with the first SSB according to the association relationship information and the first SSB includes: the terminal equipment determines a group to which the first SSB belongs according to the incidence relation information; and the terminal equipment determines that the SMTC corresponding to the group to which the first SSB belongs is the first SMTC.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first SMTC has one or more configuration parameters, and one or more of the one or more configuration parameters have an association relationship with the first SSB, where the one or more configuration parameters include one or more of: the period of the SMTC, the frequency point of an adjacent cell, the frequency point of SSB of the adjacent cell, the frequency point of SSB defined by the cell of the adjacent cell, the duration of the SMTC and the time offset of the SMTC.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the determining, by the terminal device, the first SMTC associated with the first SSB according to the association relationship information and the first SSB includes: the terminal equipment determines that the first SSB has an association relation with one or more SMTCs according to the association relation information and the first SSB; the terminal device determines an SMTC having a maximum or minimum period among the plurality of SMTCs as a first SMTC.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a method for RRM measurement, the method including: the network equipment generates incidence relation information which is used for indicating the incidence relation of the SMTC and the SSB based on the time configuration of the RRM measurement of the synchronous signal block; and the network equipment sends the association relation information to the terminal equipment.

Optionally, the SMTC has a plurality of configuration parameters, the SMTC and the SSB have an association relationship, and it may be that one or more configuration parameters in the SMTC have an association relationship with the SSB.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the association relation information indicates one or more of the following: an association of one SMTC with one SSB; an association of an SMTC with a plurality of SSBs; association of a plurality of SMTCs with an SSB; association of multiple SMTCs with multiple SSBs.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the association information is used to indicate an association of one SMTC and a plurality of SSBs, the plurality of SSBs are divided into a plurality of groups, the one SMTC has an association with one or more SSBs in each of the plurality of groups, or the association information is used to indicate an association of a plurality of SMTCs and a plurality of SSBs, wherein the plurality of SSBs are divided into a plurality of groups, and each group is associated with one or more SMTCs in the plurality of SMTCs.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the SMTC has one or more configuration parameters including one or more of: the period of the SMTC, the frequency point of the adjacent cell, the SSB frequency point defined by the cell of the adjacent cell, the frequency point of the SMTC, the duration of the SMTC and the time offset of the SMTC.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, one or more of a period of the SMTC, a frequency of the SMTC, a duration of the SMTC, and a time offset of the SMTC is set as a common parameter of a serving cell in which the terminal device is located.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus having a function of implementing the first aspect or the terminal device in any possible implementation manner of the first aspect. These functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to these functions.

Alternatively, the communication device may be a terminal device, or may also be a chip configured in the terminal device.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus having the functionality of a network device in implementing the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect. These functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to these functions.

Alternatively, the communication device may be a network device, or may also be a chip configured in the network device.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a terminal device comprising a transceiver, a processor, and a memory. The processor is configured to control the transceiver to transmit and receive signals, the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor is configured to call and execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the terminal device executes the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a network device comprising a transceiver, a processor, and a memory. The processor is configured to control the transceiver to transmit and receive signals, the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor is configured to call and execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the network device executes the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a chip comprising a processor. The processor is configured to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect. Optionally, the chip may include a memory, the memory being coupled to the processor and the memory. Further optionally, the chip further comprises a communication interface, and the processor is connected to the communication interface. The communication interface is used for receiving data and/or information needing to be processed, the processor acquires the data and/or information from the communication interface, processes the data and/or information, and outputs a processing result through the communication interface. Alternatively, the communication interface may be a transceiver, or an input-output interface.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a chip comprising a processor. The processor is adapted to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect. Optionally, the chip may include a memory, the memory being coupled to the processor and the memory. Further optionally, the chip further comprises a communication interface, and the processor is connected to the communication interface. The communication interface is used for receiving data and/or information needing to be processed, the processor acquires the data and/or information from the communication interface, processes the data and/or information, and outputs a processing result through the communication interface. Alternatively, the communication interface may be a transceiver, or an input-output interface.

Alternatively, the memory and the storage may be physically separate units, or the memory and the processor may be integrated together.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising computer program code which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising computer program code which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

In the technical scheme of the application, the SSBs and the SMTC are associated, so that each terminal device only needs to perform RRM measurement according to the SMTC (i.e., the first SMTC) having an association relationship with the SSB (i.e., the first SSB) corresponding to the beam in which the terminal device is located, and RRM measurement does not need to be performed in consideration of the period and the position of the SSBs corresponding to all beams in the serving cell, thereby reducing power consumption of the terminal device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an architecture diagram of a wireless communication 100 suitable for use with embodiments of the present application.

Fig. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of a method 200 of RRM measurements provided herein.

Fig. 3 is an example of a case where the terminal device makes RRM measurements according to the configuration parameters of the SMTC.

Fig. 4 is an example of another case where the terminal device makes RRM measurements according to the configuration parameters of the SMTC.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of representing the association relationship between SSBs and SMTCs by grouping SSBs.

Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus 500 provided in the present application.

Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 600 provided in the present application.

Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device 700 provided in the present application.

Fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a network device 300 provided herein.

Detailed Description

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

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system 100 suitable for use in embodiments of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, at least one network device 101 may be included in a wireless communication system 100, where the network device 101 wirelessly communicates with one or more terminal devices (e.g., terminal device 102 and terminal device 103 shown in fig. 1).

The wireless communication system 100 referred to in the present application includes, but is not limited to, a global system mobile communication (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 (LTE) system, a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system of LTE, a Time Division Duplex (TDD) system of LTE, a universal WiMAX mobile communication system (universal mobile telecommunications system, UMTS), a global interconnection microwave access (wlan) system, a next generation mobile communication system (e.g., a mobile radio communication system, a low bandwidth communication (llc), a high bandwidth communication (llc), eMTC) or new communication systems emerging in the future, etc.

The terminal device in the embodiments of the present application may be a User Equipment (UE), a terminal (terminal), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user equipment. 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 capability, 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), etc.

The network device in this embodiment may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a global system for mobile communications (GSM) system or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a base station (NB) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, an evolved node b (eNB) or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or a wireless controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN) scenario. Alternatively, the network device may also be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle device, a wearable device, etc. of a future communication system (e.g., 5G).

In the embodiment of the present application, the synchronization signal block is also referred to as a synchronization signal/Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), and may include one or more of a PBCH, a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), and a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS). The synchronization signal block may also be denoted as SSB or SS/PBCH block.

It should be appreciated that Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements are used by the terminal device for power control, scheduling, cell selection, cell reselection, cell handover, radio link/connection detection, connection establishment and re-establishment functions. In New Radio (NR), the RRM uses SS/PBCH or channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS). When the terminal device is in an idle state (idle), RRM measurements are made using the SSB.

Beams may also be referred to as spatial filters, spatial filters or spatial parameters. A beam, also understood as a spatial resource, has a directional energy transmission. Energy transmission directivity may also refer to the reception of the same signal transmitted from different spatial locations with different received powers by the precoding vector. The same device (e.g. a network device or a terminal device) may have different precoding vectors, and different devices may also have different precoding vectors, i.e. corresponding to different beams. One device may use one or more of a plurality of different precoding vectors at the same time, i.e. may form one beam or a plurality of beams at the same time, depending on the configuration or capabilities of the device.

Alternatively, the index of the SSB may also be referred to as SSB identification (SSB index), SSB resource identification (SSBRI).

The configuration parameters for RRM measurements may include one or more of a period of an SS block based RRM measurement timing configuration (SMTC) based on the RRM measurements of the synchronization signal block, a duration of the SMTC, a length of the SMTC, a time offset of the SMTC. The period of the SMTC may be 5ms,10ms, 20ms,40ms,80 ms,160ms, or may be set to other values. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the period of the SMTC is denoted as T. The length of the SMTC, which may also be referred to as the duration of the SMTC, may be 1ms,2ms, 3ms,4ms, 5ms, or may be set to other values. The time offset of SMTC can be any one of the values in the set {0,1, …, T-1}, where the values in the set { } are in milliseconds (ms).

Referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of a method 200 for RRM measurements provided herein.

210. And the network equipment sends the association relation information to the terminal equipment. The terminal device receives the association relationship information from the network device.

Wherein the association relation information is used for indicating the association relation between the SMTC and the SSB. Specifically, the association relation information may indicate one or more of the following cases:

an association of one SMTC with one SSB;

an association of an SMTC with a plurality of SSBs;

association of a plurality of SMTCs with an SSB;

association of multiple SMTCs with multiple SSBs.

Optionally, when an SMTC is associated with multiple SSBs, the multiple SSBs may be continuous in time or discontinuous, which is not limited in this application.

In the embodiments of the present application, SMTC may also refer to SMTC window (SMTC window, which may also refer to SMTC.

Optionally, in this application, the association relationship may also be referred to as a mapping relationship, a correspondence relationship, or the like. Alternatively, an SMTC is associated with an SSB, it can also be expressed that an SMTC corresponds to an SSB, or that an SMTC is associated with an SSB. An SSB is associated with an SMTC, which may indicate that the terminal equipment covered by the beam represented by the SSB may only make measurements in the SMTC, or that the terminal equipment receiving the SSB may make measurements in the SMTC.

Further, the SMTC is associated with the SSB, which may be that the SMTC is associated with the SSB index (SSB index).

Optionally, as an embodiment, the network device may further associate the period of the SMTC with the period of the SSB, which is not limited in this application. That is to say, in the embodiment of the present application, the network device associates the SMTC with the SSB, specifically, a certain configuration parameter of the SMTC may be associated with a certain parameter of the SSB. The parameters of the SSB may include a period of the SSB, an index of the SSB, an offset of the SSB, and the like. As introduced above, the configuration parameters of the SMTC may include one or more of a period of the SMTC, a length of the SMTC, a frequency point of a neighboring cell, an SSB frequency point of a neighboring cell, a cell-defined SSB frequency point of a neighboring cell, a time offset of the SMTC, and a frequency point of the SMTC. In other words, the SMTC and the SSB have an association relationship, which may include one or more configuration parameters of the SMTC and the SSB having an association relationship.

In the embodiment of the present application, the method 200 for RRM measurement provided by the present application is described by taking the index association between the SMTC and the SSB as an example.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the association relationship information may be carried in any one or more of the following information, and sent by the network device to the terminal device, where the information includes but is not limited to: a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), Remaining Minimum System Information (RMSI), a System Information Block (SIB) 1, an SIB2, an SIB3, media access control element (MAC-CE) signaling, Downlink Control Information (DCI), Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, and system information.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the association relation information may also be specified by a communication protocol standard. Or, the association relationship information is pre-agreed by the network device and the terminal device. The present application is not limited thereto.

220. And the terminal equipment determines a first SMTC associated with the first SSB according to the first SSB and the association relation information.

Optionally, the first SSB may refer to an SSB corresponding to a beam in which the terminal device is located.

Optionally, the first SSB may also refer to an SSB currently used by the terminal device.

Optionally, the first SSB may also refer to an SSB currently received by the terminal device.

Optionally, there may be one or more SMTCs having an association relationship with the SSB corresponding to the beam where the terminal device is located. That is, the number of the first SMTC may be one or more.

It will be appreciated that a network device may serve multiple terminal devices, and that different terminal devices may be on different beams transmitted by the network device. Thus, the first SSB is different for different terminal devices. For each terminal device, the first SSB refers to the SSB corresponding to the beam in which the first SSB is located. And each terminal device determines the SMTC having the association relation with the SSB corresponding to the beam in which the terminal device is positioned according to the SSB corresponding to the beam in which the terminal device is positioned and the association relation information.

For example, in the communication system shown in fig. 5 below, the beam in which the terminal apparatus 102 is located is beam 1. Thus, for the terminal device 102, the first SSB is the SSB corresponding to beam 1. For another example, the beam in which the terminal device 103 is located is beam 2. Therefore, for the terminal device 103, the first SSB is the SSB corresponding to beam 2.

230. And the terminal equipment carries out RRM measurement according to the first SMTC.

In step 230, the terminal device performs RRM measurement based on the SMTC associated with the SSB corresponding to the beam in which the terminal device is located. The detailed process of RRM measurement may refer to the prior art, and is not described herein.

In the technical scheme of the application, the SSBs and the SMTC are associated, so that each terminal device only needs to perform RRM measurement according to the SMTC (i.e., the first SMTC) having an association relationship with the SSB (i.e., the first SSB) corresponding to the beam in which the terminal device is located, and the period and the position of the SSB corresponding to all beams transmitted by the network device in the serving cell do not need to be considered. Therefore, the terminal device may select to perform RRM measurement according to the period of the first SMTC or an integer multiple of the period of the first SMTC, which may reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

Further, the larger the integer multiple of the period of the first SMTC selected by the terminal device is, the more the power consumption of the terminal device is reduced.

In the prior art, when the terminal device in an idle state performs RRM measurement, the configuration parameter (including the period of the SMTC) of the SMTC received by the terminal device from the network device for performing RRM measurement is PerCell. That is, the terminal device makes RRM measurements, and the SMTC is cell-based. Therefore, for a terminal device, not only the SSB of the own cell but also the SSBs of the neighboring cells need to be measured during the duration of the SMTC. The period and location of the SSB of the neighboring cells may be various, and the RRM measurement performed by the terminal device is different accordingly.

In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solution of the present application, the following briefly describes the current RRM measurement process with reference to fig. 3 and 4.

Referring to fig. 3, fig. 3 is an example of a situation where a terminal device makes RRM measurements based on the configuration parameters of the SMTC. As shown in fig. 3, SC in fig. 3 indicates a Serving Cell (SC) in which the terminal device is located. C1 and C2 represent two neighbor cells of the SC, respectively. The horizontal axis in fig. 3 represents time, where each unit represents 5 ms. In the scenario shown in FIG. 3, the SSB period of SC is 20ms, the SSB period of C1 is 10ms, and the SSB period of C2 is 40 ms. Also, the time-frequency positions of SSBs of SC, C1, and C2 are shown in fig. 3. When the terminal device performs RRM measurement, the minimum period of SSB of SC, C1, and C2 may be selected as one period of RRM measurement, for example, 10 ms. To save power consumption, the terminal device may also select the maximum period of the SSB as one period of the RRM measurement. That is, the terminal device takes 40ms as one cycle. As shown in fig. 3, the terminal device performs RRM measurement once in the 1 st 5ms and performs RRM measurement for the second time in the 9 th 5 ms.

Referring to fig. 4, fig. 4 is an example of another scenario where the terminal device makes RRM measurements based on the configuration parameters of the SMTC. In fig. 4, the SSB period of the SC is 20ms, the SSB period of the C1 is 10ms, and the SSB period of the C2 is 40 ms. In the time-frequency positions of SC, C1 and C2 shown in fig. 4, where RRM measurements are made by the terminal device, the minimum period of SSB of SC, C1 and C2 must be selected as one period of RRM measurements. As shown in fig. 4, the terminal device should perform measurement in a period of 10ms or even 5 ms. In this case, the power consumption of the terminal device is relatively large.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, in order to measure the SSBs of the own cell and each neighboring cell, the terminal device needs to consider the periods and positions of the SSBs of the serving cell and all neighboring cells that need to be measured at the same time when performing RRM measurement. With such a mechanism, the power consumption of the terminal device is relatively large.

In the technical scheme of the application, by associating the SMTC with the SSB, when performing RRM measurement, the terminal device only needs to determine the SMTC associated with the SSB corresponding to the beam where the terminal device is located according to the association relation information, so as to perform RRM measurement according to the SMTC. Compared with the scheme in the prior art, the terminal equipment only needs to perform RRM measurement according to the period of the SMTC associated with the SSB corresponding to the beam where the terminal equipment is located, and the value of the period of the SMTC is not limited by the period and the position of the SSB of each adjacent cell, so that the power consumption of the terminal equipment for performing RRM measurement can be reduced.

The method 200 is illustrated below in conjunction with fig. 5.

Referring to fig. 5, fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario applicable to the embodiments of the present application. As shown in fig. 5, network device 101 transmits 4 beams, numbered beam 1, beam 2, beam 3, and beam 4, respectively. The coverage area corresponding to the beam 1 is denoted as a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) 1, and the coverage area corresponding to the beam 2 is denoted as a PCI 2. According to the method 200 provided by the present application, the beam where the terminal device 102 is located is the beam 1, and therefore, when performing RRM measurement, the terminal device 102 only needs to perform measurement on the SSB corresponding to the beam 1. The beam where the terminal device 103 is located is beam 2, and therefore, the terminal device 103 only needs to measure the SSB corresponding to beam 2. Specifically, the terminal device 102 and the terminal device 103 determine, according to the association relationship information issued by the network device 101, an SMTC associated with an SSB corresponding to a beam in which each is located, and perform RRM measurement according to the SMTC. For example, the terminal device 102 determines the SMTC associated with the SSB corresponding to beam 1 (denoted as SMTC 1), and performs RRM measurement on PCI 1 according to SMTC 1. The terminal device 103 determines the SMTC (denoted as SMTC 2) associated with the SSB corresponding to the beam 2, and performs RRM measurement on the PCI2 according to the SMTC 2.

For example, when the method 200 of the present application is applied to the scenario shown in fig. 3, since the terminal device does not perform RRM measurement on the SSBs corresponding to the beams of all neighboring cells, the constraint on the period for the terminal device to select the RRM measurement is less, so that a larger RRM measurement period is more likely to be selected, and the effect of reducing power consumption is achieved. For example, if the terminal device considers the periods and positions of the SSBs of the serving cells SC and C1, since the period of the SSB of C1 is small (10 ms) and the period of the SSB of SC is large (20 ms), the terminal device may select 20ms with a large period as one period of the RRM measurement. To save power consumption even further, the terminal device may also select an integer multiple of 20ms as one period for RRM measurement, e.g., 40ms,80ms, 120ms, etc.

For another example, applying the method 200 of the present application to the scenario shown in fig. 4 above, for the same reason, if the terminal device only considers the periods and time-frequency positions of the SSBs of SC and C1, the terminal device may obviously select the one with the larger period of the SSBs of SC and C1, that is, select 20ms as one period of the RRM measurement. Alternatively, the terminal device may select an integer multiple of 20ms as one period of RRM measurement. Compared with the existing scheme, the terminal equipment can only select 10ms or even 5ms, so that the power consumption can be saved. If the terminal device considers only the periods and time-frequency positions of the SSBs of SC and C2, the terminal device selects the one with the smallest period of the SSBs, that is, 20ms as one period of the RRM measurement. Alternatively, the terminal device may select an integer multiple of 20ms as one period of RRM measurement. The period of RRM measurement may be selected to be larger than when the terminal device performs RRM measurement on SC, C1, and C2 at the same time, so that power consumption may be saved.

In the method 200, if the association relationship information is sent to the terminal device by the network device, the network device configures the association relationship between the SMTC and the SSB before sending the association relationship information.

Specifically, the network device may configure the association of the SSB index with the SMTC.

In an embodiment of the application, the SMTC has one or more configuration parameters. For example, these configuration parameters may include: one or more of a period of the SMTC, a duration of the SMTC, a frequency bin of the SMTC, and a time offset of the SMTC.

The network device may configure one or more of the configuration parameters of the SMTC according to the SSB index. For example, the network device configures one or more of a period of the SMTC, a duration of the SMTC, a frequency point of the SMTC, and a time offset of the SMTC according to the SSB index.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the network device may send, to the terminal device, an indication message for indicating that the network device does not configure the SMTC for a certain SSB or certain SSBs. Alternatively, the indication information may also indicate that the terminal device does not measure the SSB of the neighboring cell.

As an implementation manner, the network device may not associate SMTC or associated SMTC parameters for some SSBs, or instruct one or more SSBs not to perform RRM measurement of the neighboring cell, and only perform RRM measurement of the local cell or only perform SSB measurement of the local cell. When the SSB where the terminal is located or the received SSB is not associated with the SMTC parameter, the terminal device may measure only the SSB of the local cell, does not measure the SSB of the neighboring cell, and may also measure all neighboring cells. When the terminal device receives the neighboring cell indication information according to the SSB information, it may only measure the SSB of the local cell, not measure the SSB of the neighboring cell or only perform RRM measurement of the local cell, not perform RRM measurement of the neighboring cell, or may perform measurement (RRM measurement) on all neighboring cells.

Optionally, each SSB index corresponds to an SMTC. Alternatively, one SSB index corresponds to multiple SMTCs. Alternatively, one SMTC corresponds to a plurality of SSB indices.

Alternatively, one SSB index corresponds to one SMTC, which can also be expressed as one SSB index corresponding to one SMTC configuration. Here, one SMTC configuration includes one or more configuration parameters of the SMTC, for example, one SMTC configuration may include one or more of a period of the SMTC, a frequency point of a neighboring cell, an SSB frequency point defined by a cell of a neighboring cell, a duration of the SMTC, a frequency point of the SMTC, and a time offset of the SMTC.

Alternatively, one SSB index corresponds to one neighboring cell, which can also be expressed as a frequency point where one SSB index corresponds to the SSB of one neighboring cell. Or the frequency point corresponding to one adjacent cell.

According to the above description, the association information may be carried in any one of PBCH, RMSI, SIB1, SIB2, SIB3, MAC-dci, RRC, and system information. In particular, an SMTC field may be set in the information, and the SMTC field is used to carry one or more configuration parameters of the SMTC.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the network device may select to set one or more configuration parameters of the SMTC as configuration parameters common to the cells.

For example, the configuration parameters of the SMTC include a period of the SMTC, a duration of the SMTC, a frequency point of the SMTC, and a time offset of the SMTC.

Optionally, the SMTC field includes only one of the configuration parameters of the SMTC, all the others being configured as configuration parameters common to the cells. For example, the SMTC field includes only a period of the SMTC, and the duration of the SMTC, the frequency point of the SMTC, and the time offset of the SMTC are configuration parameters common to the cells. For another example, the SMTC field includes only the duration of the SMTC, and the period of the SMTC, the frequency point of the SMTC, and the time offset of the SMTC are configuration parameters common to the cells. As another example, the SMTC field includes only the frequency bin of the SMTC, and the period of the SMTC, the duration of the SMTC, and the time offset of the SMTC are configuration parameters common to the cells. As another example, the SMTC field includes only the time offset of the SMTC, and the period of the SMTC, the duration of the SMTC, and the frequency point of the SMTC serve as configuration parameters common to the cells. The SMTC field in this application is a configuration parameter in the SMTC configuration parameters associated with the SSB.

Optionally, the SMTC field includes only two of the configuration parameters of the SMTC, and the remaining configuration parameters are configured as configuration parameters common to the cells. For example, the SMTC field includes only the period of the SMTC and the duration of the SMTC, and the frequency point of the SMTC and the time offset of the SMTC are configuration parameters common to the cells. For another example, the SMTC field includes only a period of the SMTC and a frequency point of the SMTC, and a duration of the SMTC and a time offset of the SMTC are configured as configuration parameters common to the cells. As another example, the SMTC field includes only a frequency point of the SMTC and a time offset of the SMTC, and a period of the SMTC and a duration of the SMTC are configured as configuration parameters common to the cells. This is not further enumerated here.

Optionally, the SMTC field includes only three of the configuration parameters of the SMTC, and the remaining configuration parameters are configured as configuration parameters common to the cells. For example, the SMTC field includes a period of the SMTC, a duration of the SMTC, and a frequency point of the SMTC, and a time offset of the SMTC is configured as a configuration parameter common to the cells. As another example, the SMTC field includes a period of the SMTC, a duration of the SMTC, and a time offset of the SMTC, and a frequency bin of the SMTC is configured as a configuration parameter common to the cells. Are not listed any more.

Optionally, the SMTC field includes all configuration parameters of the SMTC, such as a period of the SMTC, a duration of the SMTC, a frequency point of the SMTC, and a time offset of the SMTC. The frequency point of the SMTC in the present application may be only the frequency point of the SMTC of the serving cell, may also be the frequency point of the SMTC of the adjacent cell, and may also be at least one of the frequency point of the adjacent cell, the SSB frequency point of the adjacent cell, and the SSB frequency point defined by the cell of the adjacent cell.

As one implementation, the network device may configure the configuration parameters of the SMTC in the order of SSB indexing. The network device configures the configuration parameters of the SMTC associated with each SSB index in turn. Alternatively, the network device may also configure the K1 SSB indexes to use the configuration parameters of the same SMTC, that is, the K1 SSB indexes are associated with one SMTC.

Optionally, the K1 SSB indexes may be temporally continuous SSB indexes or temporally discontinuous SSB indexes.

The network device may also configure one SMTC associated with multiple SSB indexes, or configure one neighboring cell associated with multiple SSB indexes.

As one implementation, the network device may be configured as follows: { SMTC 1: SSB index i₁,SSB indexi₂,…,SSB index N₁},{SMTC2：SSB index j₁,SSB index j₂,…,SSB index N₂}。

Wherein i1, i2, … and N1 are all positive integers. j1, j2, … and N2 are all positive integers.

The index of the SSB may be a direct SSB index representation method. For example, the SSB index is 1, and expressed by 6bits, it is 000001. Or the index of the SSB may be represented using a bit map. For example, the network device has 16 SSBs in total, and the 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd SSBs are associated with one SMTC, or are associated with configuration parameters of one neighboring cell, and are represented by using a bitmap, which is 0000000000000111.

The configuration parameters of the neighboring cell may include at least one of the following parameters: one or more of the frequency point of the adjacent cell, the SSB frequency point of the adjacent cell and the configuration parameters of the SMTC of the adjacent cell.

The SMTC in the present application may only include the configuration parameter of the SMTC, may also only include the configuration parameter of the neighboring cell, and may also include the configuration parameter of the neighboring cell and the configuration parameter of the SMTC at the same time.

Optionally, as an implementation manner, when the association relationship information indicates an association relationship between one SMTC and a plurality of SSBs, or when the association relationship information indicates an association relationship between one SMTC and one SSB, the plurality of SSBs may use SSB packets to indicate. In the grouping indication, SSB grouping refers to grouping all or part of SSBs actually transmitted in a cell or indicated by a system message (e.g., average grouping), where the number of assigned groups is M, and the number of SSBs of each group is N. When one or more SSBs in a group are associated with an SMTC, the group indication information is set to 1 or 0. When there is no SSB associated with SMTC in a group, the group indication information is set to 0 or 1. Then M groups require M bits for indication and the SSBs within each of the M groups use N bits for indication. If the SSB of the corresponding position in the group with the SSB related to the SMTC is related to the SMTC, the data bit of the SSB data bit position in the group is 1 or 0, and if the position has no SSB, the value is 0 or 1.

For example, the network device has 16 SSBs, and the indexes of the 16 SSBs are sequentially denoted as indexes 0 to 15. When the network device configures the association relationship between the 16 SSBs and one SMTC, the 16 SSBs are first divided into 4 groups, which are respectively referred to as group 1 to group 4. Each group includes 4 SSBs. The network device uses 8 bits to indicate whether the 16 SSBs are associated with an SMTC. For example, the association relationship information may be represented as 11001111. The first 4 bits correspond to the 4 groups, and each bit is used to indicate whether the SSB associated with the SMTC exists in the group to which the bit corresponds. The last 8 bits indicate the groups associated with this SMTC, respectively, and specifically which SSBs are associated with this SMTC. Assume that 1 represents association and 0 represents disassociation. 1100 in the association relationship information indicates that there is an SSB associated with the SMTC in group 1 and group 2, and there is no SSB associated with the SMTC in group 3 and group 4. Further, 1111 denotes that indexes 1, 2, 3, 4 in group 1 and group 2 are associated with the SMTC.

Another way of indicating grouping is: for example, the network device has 16 SSBs, and the indexes of the 16 SSBs are sequentially denoted as indexes 0 to 15. When the network device configures the association relationship between the 16 SSBs and one SMTC, the 16 SSBs are first divided into 4 groups, which are respectively referred to as group 1 to group 4. Each group includes 4 SSBs. The network device uses 12 bits to indicate whether the 16 SSBs are associated with an SMTC. For example, the association relationship information may be represented as 110000111100. The first 4 bits correspond to the 4 groups, and each bit is used to indicate whether the SSB associated with the SMTC exists in the group to which the bit corresponds. The last 8 bits indicate the groups associated with this SMTC, respectively, and specifically which SSBs are associated with this SMTC. Assume that 1 represents association and 0 represents disassociation. Therefore, 1100 in the association relationship information indicates that there is an SSB associated with the SMTC in group 1 and group 2, and there is no SSB associated with the SMTC in group 3 and group 4. Further, 0011 indicates that index 2 and index 3 in group 1 are associated with the SMTC. Index 0 and index 1 are not associated with the SMTC. 1100 indicates that index 4 and index 5 in set 2 are associated with the SMTC and that index 6 and index 7 are not associated with the SMTC.

Optionally, when the network device configures an association relationship between a plurality of SMTCs and a plurality of SSBs, the plurality of SSBs may be divided into a plurality of groups, and each group uniquely associates one SMTC of the plurality of SMTCs. Alternatively, the plurality of SSBs are divided into a plurality of groups, each group may be associated with one or more of the plurality of SMTCs. The SSBs of the group may also be indicated using grouping of SSBs of cells.

When a group is uniquely associated with an SMTC, all SSBs in the group may be associated with the SMTC, or some SSBs in the group may be associated with the SMTC.

For example, the network device has 16 SSBs in total, and is divided into 4 groups, each of which includes 4 SSBs. Taking one of the 4 groups as an example, assume that the network device configures the group to be associated with SMTC1, which may be 1, 2, 3, or 4 SSBs in the group, associated with SMTC 1.

For another example, the network devices have 16 SSBs in total, and are divided into 4 groups, which are referred to as group 1, group 2, group 3, and group 4, respectively. The network device may configure each group to uniquely associate with one SMTC. For example, group 1 is associated with SMTC1, group 2 is associated with SMTC2, group 3 is associated with SMTC3, and group 4 is associated with SMTC 4. Alternatively, a group may associate a plurality of SMTCs. For example, group 1 is associated with SMTC1 and group 1 is associated with SMTC 2. Alternatively, multiple groups may be associated with the same SMTC. For example, group 1, group 2 and group 3 are associated with SMTC1, and group 4 is associated with SMTC 2. The packet may also be indicated using the SSB grouping indication of the cell.

Alternatively, the "group" described in the above embodiments may also be referred to as an SSB group.

Optionally, the specific implementation of the packets of the SSB may be predefined by the network device, or may be configured by the network device. Alternatively, the network device may determine how to group the SSBs according to the number of actually transmitted SSBs, the number of possible transmitted SSBs, or the total number of SSBs.

As one implementation, the network devices may group according to the number of SSBs actually transmitted or the number of SSBs that may be transmitted or all or a portion of the SSBs indicated in the system message.

Referring to table 1, in table 1, M × N indicates that SSBs are divided into M groups of N SSBs each. The number of SSBs actually transmitted is counted as L, and the condition that M multiplied by N is larger than or equal to L is met. Wherein M, N and L are positive integers. For example, when L is 56, 7 × 8 indicates that SSBs are divided into 7 groups, each group including 8 SSBs. Alternatively, 8 × 7 indicates that SSBs are divided into 8 groups, each group including 7 SSBs. Alternatively, 8 × 8 indicates that SSBs are divided into 8 groups, each group including 8 SSBs.

TABLE 1

Number of SSBs	Grouping method
		64	8×8
56	7 × 8 or 8 × 7 or 8 × 8
		49	7×7
48	6 × 8 or 8 × 6 or 7 × 7
		42	7X 6 or 6X 7
40	5X 8 or 7X 6
		36	6×6
35	5 × 7 or 7 × 5 or 6 × 6
		32	4 × 8 or 5 × 7 or 6 × 6
30	5X 6 or 6X 5
		28	4X 7 or 7X 4
25	5×5
		24	4 × 6 or 6 × 4 or 5 × 5
21	3 × 7 or 7 × 3 or 5 × 5
		20	4 × 5 or 5 × 4 or 5 × 5
18	3 × 6 or 6 × 3 or 55
		16	4×4
15	3 × 5 or 5 × 3 or 4 × 4
		14	7 × 2 or 4 × 3 or 12 × 1
12	3 × 4 or 4 × 3 or 12 × 1
		10	2 × 5 or 5 × 2 or 10 × 1
9	3X 3 or 9X 1
		8	2X 4 or 8X 1

Optionally, after the network device groups the plurality of SSBs, the network device may use all SSBs of the plurality of SSBs or a part of the plurality of SSBs when configuring the association relationship between the SSBs and the SMTC. For example, the network device has 64 SSBs, which are divided into 8 groups, each of which includes 8 SSBs. The actual transmission usage by the network device may be 56 of the 64 SSBs.

Optionally, as an implementation manner, the network device groups a plurality of SSBs, so as to obtain a plurality of groups. There may be no intersection between any two groups. In other words, one SSB can only belong to one group. In this case, in step 220, when determining the first SMTC associated with the first SSB according to the first SSB and the association relationship information, the terminal device first determines which group the first SSB belongs to, and then determines that the SMTC associated with the group is the first SMTC. Or, the configuration parameters of the SMTC are determined directly according to the SMTC associated with the SSB.

For example, the network device has a total of 4 SSBs, denoted SSB1, SSB2, SSB3, and SSB4, respectively. Wherein the 4 SSBs are divided into 2 groups. The first set is SSB1, SSB2, and the second set is SSB3, SSB 4. Assume that the network device configures a first group to be associated with SMTC1 and a second group to be associated with SMTC 2. And the network equipment sends the association relation information to the terminal equipment. If the SSB corresponding to the beam in which a terminal device is located is SSB 3. The terminal device first determines that the SSB3 belongs to the second group, and the SMTC2 corresponding to the second group is the first SMTC described in this application. Subsequently, the terminal device uses SMTC2 for RRM measurements. Optionally, the network device may use the above-described grouping indication method to indicate when indicating the association relationship between the 4 SSBs and the SMTC1 and/or the association relationship between the 4 SSBs and the SMTC 2.

Optionally, as another implementation, the network device groups the SSBs to obtain a plurality of groups. There may be an intersection between any two groups. That is, one SSB may belong to two or more groups. In this case, in step 220, when the terminal device determines the first SMTC corresponding to the first SSB according to the association relationship information, it first determines a plurality of groups to which the first SSB belongs. According to the SMTC corresponding to each group, the terminal equipment can determine a plurality of SMTCs. As an implementation, the terminal device may select one SMTC with the largest period from the plurality of SMTCs to perform the RRM measurement. Alternatively, the terminal device may also randomly select one SMTC, or select according to other rules, which is not limited in this application.

For example, the network devices have a total of 6 SSBs, denoted SSB1, SSB2, SSB3, SSB4, SSB5, and SSB6, respectively. Among them, the 6 SSBs were divided into 3 groups. The first group is { SSB1, SSB2, SSB3}, the second group is { SSB3, SSB4}, and the third group is { SSB5, SSB6 }. Wherein the first group is associated with SMTC1, the second group is associated with SMTC2, and the third group is associated with SMTC 3. The SSB corresponding to the beam where the terminal device is located is assumed to be SSB 3. And according to the association relation information issued by the network equipment, the terminal equipment determines that the SSB3 corresponds to the first group and the second group. Then SMTC3 corresponds to SMTC1 and SMTC 2. In this case, the terminal device can randomly select one of SMTC1 and SMTC2, and power consumption can be saved as compared with the prior art. Further, in order to save more public, the terminal device may select one having a larger cycle. Alternatively, the terminal device may also be selected according to other configuration parameters of SMTC1 and SMTC2, or according to other principles, which are not limited in this application. Optionally, the network device may use the above-described grouping indication method to indicate when indicating the association relationship between the 4 SSBs and the SMTC1 and/or the association relationship between the 4 SSBs and the SMTC 2.

Optionally, as an implementation manner, the network device may also indicate the association relationship between the SSB and the SMTC to the terminal device through a bitmap (bitmap). For example, each SSB corresponds to one data bit in the bitmap.

For example, the network device has 16 SSBs, and the indexes of the 16 SSBs are sequentially denoted as indexes 0 to 15. When the network device configures the association relationship between the 16 SSBs and one SMTC, the 16 SSBs are first divided into 4 groups, which are respectively referred to as group 1 to group 4. Each group includes 4 SSBs. The network device uses 12 bits to indicate whether the 16 SSBs are associated with an SMTC. For example, the association relationship information may be represented as 110000111100. The first 4 bits correspond to the 4 groups, and each bit is used to indicate whether the SSB associated with the SMTC exists in the group to which the bit corresponds. The last 8 bits indicate the groups associated with this SMTC, respectively, and specifically which SSBs are associated with this SMTC. Assume that 1 represents association and 0 represents disassociation. Therefore, 1100 in the association relationship information indicates that there is an SSB associated with the SMTC in group 1 and group 2, and there is no SSB associated with the SMTC in group 3 and group 4. Further, 0011 indicates that index 2 and index 3 in group 1 are associated with the SMTC. Index 0 and index 1 are not associated with the SMTC. 1100 indicates that index 4 and index 5 in set 2 are associated with the SMTC and that index 6 and index 7 are not associated with the SMTC.

Optionally, as an implementation manner, the network device may indicate the association relationship between the SMTC and the SSB to the terminal device through the SSB index. For example, each SSB index may include 3bits, 2bits, or 6 bits.

Referring to fig. 6, fig. 6 is an example of grouping SSBs. As shown in FIG. 6, the total number of SSBs is 16, corresponding to SSBs 0-SSB 15, as shown on the left side of FIG. 6. The 16 SSBs are divided into 4 subgroups, each subgroup comprising 4 SSBs. Each row as a group. The SSBs within each group are renumbered and grouped as shown to the right in fig. 4. The left SSB0-SSB3 corresponds to the first group (i.e., the first row) on the right, and the SSBs in the first group are numbered 0-3, respectively. SSB 4-SSB 7 correspond to the second group (second row), and the numbers in the second group are 0-3 respectively. SSB 8-SSB 11 correspond to the third group (third row) on the right, and the numbers in the third group are 0-3 respectively. SSB 12-SSB 15 correspond to the fourth group (fourth row), and the numbers in the fourth group are 0-3 respectively.

Taking SMTC1 as an example, assume that a network device configures SSBs associated with SMTC1 as SSB1, SSB6, and SSB 7. Where SSBs 1 are in the first group (first row), SSBs 6 and SSBs 7 are in the second group (second row), and the third and fourth groups have no SSBs associated with SMTC 1.

In the following, it is assumed that 1 represents association and 0 represents disassociation.

One way to indicate bitmaps is 110001000011. Where 1100 is used to indicate whether each group contains an SSB associated with SMTC 1. For example, 1100 indicates that the first and second groups contain SSBs associated with SMTC1, and the third and fourth groups do not have SSBs associated with SMTC 1. 0100 and 0011 indicate the location of the particular SSB in the group containing the SSB associated with SMTC1, i.e. which SSBs in the group containing the SSB associated with SMTC1 are associated with SMTC1, respectively. 0100 indicates that the first and second set of SSBs (i.e., SSB1) are associated with SMTC 1. 0011 denotes that the second set of third and fourth SSBs (i.e., SSB6 and SSB7) are associated with SMTC 1.

Another way to indicate bitmap is 11000111. Where 1100 is used to indicate whether each group contains an SSB associated with SMTC 1. For example, 1100 indicates that the first and second groups contain associated SSBs, and the third and fourth groups do not have SSBs associated with SMTC 1.

0111 collectively indicate the location of a particular SSB in the group containing SSBs associated with SMTC1, i.e., which particular SSBs in the group containing SSBs associated with SMTC1 are associated with SMTC 1. Specifically, the last three SSBs in the first and second sets are associated with SMTC1, i.e., SSB1, SSB2 and SSB3 (numbering after grouping) in the first and second sets are associated with SMTC 1. The numbers before their grouping are SSB1, SSB2, SSB3, SSB5, SSB6, SSB 7. However, SSBs 2, SSBs 3, and SSBs 5 are not actually associated with SMTC1, but in order to save the number of bits, a common indication is adopted, and SSBs 2, SSBs 3, and SSBs 5 are also used as the associated SSBs of SMTC 1. Compared with the above indication mode (the bitmap is 110001000011), two sets of bitmaps are combined into one set, namely 0100 and 0111 are combined into 0111. This way of indication indicates that the accuracy of the SSB associated with SMTC1 is reduced, but 4 bits can be saved compared to the above way of indication.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 6, it can be understood that the association relationship information includes two parts, namely group association information and intra-group association information. Assuming that a network device configures an association relationship between SMTC and SSB, first, the network device divides all or part of SSBs actually sent or indicated by a system message in a cell into M groups. The group association information is used for indicating one or more association groups associated with the SMTC in the M groups, the intra-group association information is used for indicating SSBs associated with the SMTC in each of the one or more association groups, and M is a positive integer.

For example, in the first bitmap indication above, 1100 indicates that the first and second groups contain SSBs associated with SMTC1, and the third and fourth groups do not have SSBs associated with SMTC 1. The first and second groups here are the association groups associated with SMTC 1.

The above bitmap indication mode is referred to as a grouping indication for short, the sending mode of the grouping indication is similar to the sending mode of the precise indication, and the grouping indication can be sent at one time or multiple times, or only part of the bitmap of the SSB can be sent, and the sending mode of the precise indication can be referred to, which is not described herein.

As another embodiment of the present application, the following signals may also be used instead of SSB in the above-described embodiment: CSI-RS, PDCCH DMRS of paging message (paging), PDSCH DMRS of paging message, DMRS of PBCH, DMRS of SIB1, DMRS of PDCCH of SIB1, DMRS of PDSCH of SIB1, DMRS of common search space or DMRS of control resource set 0, etc. Other steps and specific implementation are similar to those of the above embodiment and are not described in detail.

The RRM measurement method provided in the present application is explained above. The following describes the RRM measurement apparatus and device provided in the present application.

Referring to fig. 7, fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 500 provided in the present application. As shown in fig. 7, the apparatus 500 includes a communication unit 510 and a processing unit 520.

A communication unit 510 configured to receive association relationship information from a network device, the association relationship information indicating an association relationship of time configurations SMTC and SSB based on RRM measurements of a synchronization signal block;

a processing unit 520, configured to determine, according to the association relationship information received by the communication unit 510, a first SMTC corresponding to the first SSB;

the communication unit 510 is further configured to perform RRM measurements according to the first SMTC.

Alternatively, the communication unit 510 may also be referred to as a transceiving unit 510.

Alternatively, the communication apparatus 500 may correspond to the method 200 for RRM measurement and the terminal device in each embodiment thereof provided in the present application. The communication apparatus 500 includes units respectively for implementing the method 200 and corresponding operations and/or processes executed by the terminal device in the embodiments thereof.

For example, the processing unit 520 is further configured to execute the step of determining the group to which the first SSB belongs according to the first SSB and the association relation information; when the first SSB associates a plurality of SMTCs, the processing unit 520 is further configured to perform the step of determining the most periodic SMTC of the plurality of SMTCs as the first SMTC, and the like.

Alternatively, the communication apparatus 500 may also be a chip or an integrated circuit mounted in the terminal device.

Alternatively, when the communication apparatus 500 is a terminal device, the communication unit 510 may be a transceiver, and the processing unit 520 may be a processor. The transceiver may include a transmitter and a receiver that together perform the functions of transceiving. Alternatively, when the communication device 500 is a chip or an integrated circuit installed in a terminal device, the communication unit 510 may also be an input/output interface, and the processing unit 520 is a processor.

Alternatively, the communication unit 510 may be a communication interface. In particular, the communication interface may be an input-output interface, or an input-output circuit.

Referring to fig. 8, fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 600 provided in the present application. As shown in fig. 8, the communication device 600 includes a processing unit 610 and a communication unit 620.

A processing unit 610 configured to generate association relation information indicating an association relation of time profiles SMTC and SSB based on RRM measurements of the synchronization signal blocks;

a communication unit 620, configured to send the association relation information to the terminal device.

Alternatively, the communication unit 620 may also be referred to as a transceiving unit 620.

Optionally, the communication apparatus 600 may correspond to the method 200 for RRM measurement and the network device in the embodiments thereof provided in the present application. The communication apparatus 600 includes various units for implementing the method 200 and the corresponding operations and/or processes performed by the network device in the embodiments thereof.

Alternatively, the communication apparatus 600 may be a chip or an integrated circuit installed in a network device.

Alternatively, when the communication device 600 is a network device, the processing unit 610 may be a processor, and the communication unit 620 may be a transceiver. The transceiver may include a transmitter and a receiver that together perform the functions of transceiving. Alternatively, when the communication device is a chip or an integrated circuit installed in a network device, the processing unit 610 may be a processor, and the communication unit 620 is an input-output circuit.

Alternatively, the communication unit 620 may also be a communication interface. In particular, the communication interface may be an input-output interface, or an input-output circuit.

The network device in each of the above-described apparatus embodiments completely corresponds to the terminal device and the network device or the terminal device in the method embodiments, and the corresponding units execute the corresponding steps of the method. For example, the communication unit performs the steps of transmitting and receiving in the method embodiments, and other steps than transmitting and receiving may be performed by the processing unit. The communication unit may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, which may include a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, and has both transmitting and receiving functions.

Referring to fig. 9, fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device 700 provided in the present application. As shown in fig. 9, the terminal device 700 includes: one or more processors 701, one or more memories 702, one or more transceivers 703. The processor 71 is configured to control the transceiver 703 to send and receive signals, the memory 702 is configured to store a computer program, and the processor 701 is configured to call and execute the computer program from the memory 702 to perform the method 200 for RRM measurement provided herein and the corresponding procedure and/or operation performed by the terminal device in the embodiments of the method. For brevity, no further description is provided herein.

For example, the terminal device 700 may be the terminal device 102 or 103 in the wireless communication system shown in fig. 1. For example, the processor 701 may correspond to the processing unit 520 in fig. 7, and the transceiver 703 may correspond to the communication unit 510 shown in fig. 7.

Referring to fig. 10, fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device 3000 provided in the present application. As shown in fig. 10, the network device 3000 may be applied in the wireless communication system shown in fig. 1, and performs the RRM measurement method 200 provided in the present application and the functions of the network device in the embodiments thereof. Network device 3000 may be, for example, a base station.

The network device 3000 may include one or more radio frequency units, such as a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) 3100 and one or more baseband units (BBUs). The baseband unit may also be referred to as a Digital Unit (DU) 3200. The RRU3100 may be referred to as a transceiver unit and corresponds to the communication unit 620 in fig. 8. Alternatively, the transceiving unit 3100 may also be referred to as a transceiver, transceiving circuit, or transceiver, etc., which may comprise at least one antenna 3101 and a radio frequency unit 3102. Alternatively, the transceiving unit 3100 may include a receiving unit and a transmitting unit, the receiving unit may correspond to a receiver (or receiver, receiving circuit), and the transmitting unit may correspond to a transmitter (or transmitter, transmitting circuit). The RRU3100 part is mainly used for transceiving radio frequency signals and converting the radio frequency signals and baseband signals, for example, for sending association information to a terminal device. The BBU 3200 section is mainly used for performing baseband processing, controlling a base station, and the like. The RRU3100 and the BBU 3200 may be physically disposed together or may be physically disposed separately, i.e. distributed base stations.

The BBU 3200 is a control center of the network device 3000, and may also be referred to as a processing unit, and may correspond to the processing unit 610 in fig. 8, and is mainly used for completing a baseband processing function. For example, the BBU may be configured to control the base station to perform the operation procedure performed by the network device in the above method embodiment. For example, the association relationship between the SSB and the SMTC is configured, and association relationship information is generated.

In an example, the BBU 3200 may be formed by one or more boards, and the boards may collectively support a radio access network of a single access system (e.g., an LTE network), or may respectively support radio access networks of different access systems (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G network, or other networks). The BBU 3200 also includes a memory 3201 and a processor 3202. The memory 3201 is used to store necessary instructions and data. The processor 3202 is used for controlling the network device 3000 to perform necessary actions, for example, for controlling the network device 3000 to execute the operation procedures executed by the network device in the above method embodiments. The memory 3201 and processor 3202 may serve one or more boards. That is, the memory and processor may be provided separately on each board. Multiple boards may share the same memory and processor. In addition, each single board can be provided with necessary circuits.

It should be understood that the network device 3000 shown in fig. 10 is capable of implementing various processes involving the network device in the method embodiments of fig. 1-6. The operations and/or functions of the units in the network device 3000 are respectively for implementing the method 200 and the corresponding flows in the embodiments thereof. To avoid repetition, detailed description is appropriately omitted herein.

The BBU 3200 described above may be configured to perform actions implemented inside the network device described in the foregoing method embodiments, for example, configuring an association relationship between the SSB and the SMTC, generating association relationship information, grouping the SSB, and the like. And RRU3100 can be configured to perform the actions described in the previous method embodiments that the network device sends to or receives from the terminal device. For example, step 210 of transmitting the association relation information to the terminal device is performed. Please refer to the description of the previous embodiment of the method, which is not repeated herein.

Furthermore, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein computer instructions, which when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the corresponding operations and/or procedures performed by the terminal device in the method 200 for RRM measurement provided herein.

The present application also provides a computer program product comprising computer program code to, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the corresponding operations and/or procedures performed by the terminal device in the method 200 of RRM measurements provided herein.

The application also provides a chip comprising a processor. The processor is configured to call and execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform corresponding operations and/or procedures performed by the terminal device in the method 200 for RRM measurement provided herein. Optionally, the chip further comprises a memory, the memory is connected with the processor through a circuit or a wire, and the processor is used for reading and executing the computer program in the memory. Further optionally, the chip further comprises a communication interface, and the processor is connected to the communication interface. The communication interface is used for receiving data and/or information needing to be processed, and the processor acquires the data and/or information from the communication interface and processes the data and/or information. Alternatively, the communication interface may be a transceiver, or an input-output interface.

The present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein computer instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the corresponding operations and/or procedures performed by the network device in the method 200 for RRM measurement provided herein.

The present application also provides a computer program product comprising computer program code to, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the corresponding operations and/or procedures performed by the network device in the method 200 of RRM measurements provided herein.

The application also provides a chip comprising a processor. The processor is configured to invoke and execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform the corresponding operations and/or procedures performed by the network device in the method 200 for RRM measurement provided herein. Optionally, the chip further comprises a memory, the memory is connected with the processor through a circuit or a wire, and the processor is used for reading and executing the computer program in the memory. Further optionally, the chip further comprises a communication interface, and the processor is connected to the communication interface. The communication interface is used for receiving data and/or information needing to be processed, and the processor acquires the data and/or information from the communication interface and processes the data and/or information. Alternatively, the communication interface may be a transceiver, or an input-output interface.

In the above embodiments, the processor may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs according to the present disclosure. For example, the processor may be a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, or the like. The processor may distribute the functions of control and signal processing of the terminal device or the network device among these devices according to their respective functions. Further, the processor may have the functionality to operate one or more software programs, which may be stored in the memory. The functions of the processor can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described functions.

The memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), other types of static storage devices that may store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM), or other types of dynamic storage devices that may store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, blu-ray disc, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer, etc.

Alternatively, the memory and the storage involved in the above embodiments may be physically separate units, or the memory and the processor may be integrated together.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of 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.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, the disclosed system, apparatus and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described embodiments of the apparatus are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the unit is only one logical function division, and there may be other division ways in actual implementation. For example, various elements or components may be combined or may be integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not implemented. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may not be physical units, that is, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the technical solution of the present application.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application or portions thereof that substantially contribute to the prior art may be embodied in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium and including instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

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 (18)

1. A method for RRM measurements, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that the terminal equipment receives incidence relation information from the network equipment, wherein the incidence relation information is used for indicating the incidence relation of the SMTC and the SSB based on the time configuration of RRM measurement of a synchronous signal block;

the terminal equipment determines a first SMTC associated with the first SSB according to the association relation information and the first SSB;

and the terminal equipment carries out RRM measurement according to the first SMTC.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the association information indicates one or more of the following:

an association of one SMTC with one SSB;

an association of an SMTC with a plurality of SSBs;

association of a plurality of SMTCs with an SSB;

association of multiple SMTCs with multiple SSBs.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and multiple SSBs, or when the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and one SSB, the association relationship is indicated by dividing all or part of SSBs actually sent in one cell or indicated by a system message into M groups, where the association relationship information includes group association information and intra-group association information, the group association information is used to indicate one or more association groups in the M groups that are associated with the SMTC, the intra-group association information is used to indicate SSBs in each of the one or more association groups that are associated with the SMTC, and M is a positive integer.

4. The method of any of claims 1-3, wherein the first SMTC has one or more configuration parameters, wherein one or more of the one or more configuration parameters have an association with the first SSB, and wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise one or more of:

the period of the SMTC, the frequency point of the neighbor cell SSB, the duration of the SMTC, and the time offset of the SMTC.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining, by the terminal device, the first SMTC associated with the first SSB according to the association relation information and the first SSB comprises:

the terminal equipment determines that the first SSB has an incidence relation with the plurality of SMTCs according to the incidence relation information and the first SSB;

and the terminal equipment determines the SMTC with the largest period in the plurality of SMTCs as the first SMTC.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein one or more of the period of the SMTC, the frequency point of the SSB of the adjacent cell, the duration of the SMTC and the time offset of the SMTC is set as a common parameter of the serving cell in which the terminal device is located.

7. A method for RRM measurements, comprising:

the network equipment generates incidence relation information which is used for indicating the incidence relation of the SMTC and the SSB based on the time configuration of the RRM measurement of the synchronous signal block;

and the network equipment sends the association relation information to the terminal equipment.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the association relation information indicates one or more of the following:

an association of one SMTC with one SSB;

an association of an SMTC with a plurality of SSBs;

association of a plurality of SMTCs with an SSB;

association of multiple SMTCs with multiple SSBs.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and multiple SSBs, or when the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and one SSB, the association relationship is indicated by dividing all or part of SSBs actually sent in one cell or indicated by a system message into M groups, where the association relationship information includes group association information and intra-group association information, the group association information is used to indicate one or more association groups in the M groups that are associated with the SMTC, the intra-group association information is used to indicate SSBs in each of the one or more association groups that are associated with the SMTC, and M is a positive integer.

10. An apparatus for RRM measurements, comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive association relation information indicating an association relation of time configurations SMTC and SSB based on RRM measurement of a synchronization signal block from a network device;

the processing unit is used for determining a first SMTC associated with the first SSB according to the association relation information and the first SSB;

the communication unit is further configured to perform RRM measurement according to the first SMTC.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the association information indicates one or more of the following:

an association of one SMTC with one SSB;

an association of an SMTC with a plurality of SSBs;

association of a plurality of SMTCs with an SSB;

association of multiple SMTCs with multiple SSBs.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and multiple SSBs, or when the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and one SSB, the association relationship is indicated by dividing all or part of SSBs actually sent in one cell or indicated by a system message into M groups, where the association relationship information includes group association information and intra-group association information, the group association information is used to indicate one or more association groups in the M groups that are associated with the SMTC, the intra-group association information is used to indicate SSBs in each of the one or more association groups that are associated with the SMTC, and M is a positive integer.

13. The apparatus according to any of claims 10-12, wherein the processing unit is configured to:

determining a plurality of SMTCs associated with the first SSB according to the association relation information and the first SSB;

determining an SMTC having a largest period among the plurality of SMTCs as the first SMTC.

14. An apparatus for RRM measurements, comprising:

a processing unit configured to generate association relation information indicating an association relation of time configurations SMTC and SSB based on RRM measurements of a synchronization signal block;

and the communication unit is used for sending the association relation information to the terminal equipment.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the association relation information indicates one or more of the following:

an association of one SMTC with one SSB;

an association of an SMTC with a plurality of SSBs;

association of a plurality of SMTCs with an SSB;

association of multiple SMTCs with multiple SSBs.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and multiple SSBs, or when the association relationship information is used to indicate an association relationship between one SMTC and one SSB, the association relationship is indicated by dividing all or part of SSBs actually sent in one cell or indicated by a system message into M groups, where the association relationship information includes group association information and intra-group association information, the group association information is used to indicate one or more association groups in the M groups that are associated with the SMTC, the intra-group association information is used to indicate SSBs in each of the one or more association groups that are associated with the SMTC, and M is a positive integer.

17. A computer storage medium having computer instructions stored thereon which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-6.

18. A chip comprising a memory for storing a computer program and a processor for reading and executing the computer program stored in the memory, the processor performing the method of any one of claims 1-6 when the computer program is executed.

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