CN112399580A

CN112399580A - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN112399580A
Application number: CN201910759854.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 余政; 温容慧; 张兴炜; 冯淑兰
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-16
Filing date: 2019-08-16
Publication date: 2021-02-23

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and a device, wherein the communication method comprises that a first device receives indication information from a second device, the indication information is used for indicating characteristic parameters monitored by the first device in N time spans contained in a first time length, and the characteristic parameters comprise control channel elements or the number of the control channel elements; wherein the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, N is a positive integer, M1 is a positive integer; the first device determines characteristic parameters monitored in one or more time spans in the N time spans contained in the first time length according to the indication information; and the first device receives a control channel on the control channel element resource corresponding to the characteristic parameter monitored in the one or more time spans.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus.

Background

In Long Term Evolution (LTE), a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) is used to transmit Downlink Control Information (DCI) that is sent by a base station to User Equipment (UE). One DCI is transmitted in one PDCCH, and one PDCCH occupies one or more Control Channel Elements (CCEs). And the Base Station (BS) selects 1 CCE, 2 CCEs, 4 CCEs or 8 CCEs to transmit the DCI according to the size of the DCI and the required transmission reliability of the control channel.

In order to improve scheduling flexibility and resource utilization, the UE searches for a PDCCH in a certain PDCCH candidate set, and such a resource PDCCH candidate set is called a search space.

In a New Radio (NR) system, in order to improve scheduling flexibility, a base station may flexibly configure a search space for a UE, and define a maximum number of CCEs that the UE can monitor within a slot. For example, monitored CCEs refer to non-overlapping CCEs, or to non-overlapping CCEs used for channel estimation. With the increase of types of communication services supported by the terminal, different types of communication services require different capability of monitoring the CCE by the UE, and require different numbers of CCEs to be monitored by the UE within one slot. For example, for a low-latency and highly reliable communication service, a UE may be required to monitor a larger number of CCEs within one slot. However, there is no clear solution at present how to define the capability of the terminal device to monitor CCEs so that the terminal device can monitor more CCEs.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a communication method and device, which can reasonably define the CCE monitoring capability of terminal equipment, so that the terminal equipment can monitor more CCEs.

In a first aspect, a method for controlling channel reception is provided, the method including: the first device receives indication information from the second device, wherein the indication information can be used for indicating characteristic parameters monitored by the first device in N time spans contained in the first time length, and the characteristic parameters comprise control channel elements or the number of the control channel elements; wherein the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, N is a positive integer, and M1 is a positive integer; then, the first device may determine, according to the indication information, the characteristic parameter monitored in one or more time spans included in the first time length, and then receive the control channel on the control channel element resource corresponding to the characteristic parameter monitored in one or more time spans of the N time spans included in the first time length.

The method may be performed by a first device, which may be a communication device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the communication device to implement the functions required by the method, such as a chip system or a communication module in a communication device. Illustratively, the communication device may be a terminal device or a network device. Likewise, the second device may be a communication device or a communication means capable of supporting the communication device to perform the functions required by the method, such as a system-on-chip or a communication module in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device may be a terminal device or a network device.

In this embodiment of the present application, the indication information may indicate that the number of control channel elements monitored by the first device in each of the N time spans included in the first time length is related to M1, and it can be seen that, by the method provided in this embodiment of the present application, the number of control channel elements monitored by the first device in the N time spans may be made clear. Meanwhile, the number of the control channel elements monitored in each time span of the N time spans is related to M1, and it can be considered that the number of the control channel elements monitored in the N time spans may be multiple, that is, in some time spans, the processing capability of the terminal device is strong, so that the terminal device can complete processing operation in a previous time span, and then can monitor the control channel using strong processing capability in a subsequent time span, thereby increasing the flexibility of the network device in scheduling PDCCH transmission.

In one possible design, the indication information may include, but is not limited to, the following two indication modes: a first indication manner, wherein the indication information indicates that the first device determines the characteristic parameter monitored in the first time length according to one rule of a first rule and/or a second rule and/or a third rule; or, in a second indication manner, the indication information indicates one or more of a position of the N time spans within the first time length, a value of M1, and a value of M2, where M2 is a number of control channel elements monitored by the first device in each of one or more time spans except the N time spans within the first time length, and M2 is a positive integer.

In the above technical solution, a plurality of specific indication modes of the indication information are listed, that is, a plurality of specific implementation schemes of the indication information are provided.

In one possible design, the first rule is: the first length of time comprises N time spans in total, and the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is the M1; or the second rule is: the number of control channel elements monitored in a first time span in the first length of time is M1, and the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the remaining time spans of the first length of time except the first time span is M2; or the third rule is: the number of control channel elements monitored for at least 2 time spans in the first length of time is determined according to the M1, the number of control channel elements monitored for at least 1 time span in the first length of time is determined according to M2, and the M1 is greater than the M2.

In the above technical solution, the first rule, the second rule, and the third rule may be defined in advance, so that the indication information may indicate that one of the rules is adopted, the implementation manner is simple, and the indication manner is more direct. Thus, the first device may determine the first rule, the second rule, or the third rule according to the indication of the indication information, and further perform detection of the control channel element within N time spans according to the determined rule. For example, the third rule is that the number of control channel elements monitored in at least 2 time spans within a time length is determined according to M1, and the number of control channel elements monitored in at least 1 time span is determined according to M2, which may be considered as that the processing capability of the terminal device is stronger in some time spans within a time length, so that the terminal device completes processing operations in a previous time span, and then may monitor the control channel using the stronger processing capability in a subsequent time span. This may increase the flexibility of the network device to schedule PDCCH transmissions.

In a possible design, the second device may determine the indication information according to first capability information reported by the first device, where specific implementation manners of the first capability information include, but are not limited to, the following: first, the first capability information indicates a second length of time, the second length of time being greater than or equal to a minimum time interval of two adjacent time spans, a number of control channel elements monitored in each of the two adjacent time spans being related to the M1. Or second, the first capability information indicates a third length of time, the third length of time being greater than or equal to a minimum time interval of two adjacent time spans, a number of control channel elements monitored in each of the two adjacent time spans being related to the M2. Or third, the first capability information indicates a maximum number of CCEs that the first device can monitor without overlapping within a first time span within the first time length. Or fourth, the first capability information indicates a maximum number of CCEs that the first device can monitor without overlapping in each of the remaining N-1 time spans except the first time span in the first time length. Or fifth, the first capability information indicates a rule that the first device can support for a first length of time, the rule being used to determine a monitored characteristic parameter.

In this embodiment of the application, the implementation manner of the first capability information may be any one or more of the above five manners, that is, the first capability information reported by the first device has multiple choices, which is more flexible.

In one possible design, the indication information includes a first parameter, and the first device determines, according to the indication information, the characteristic parameter monitored in the one or more time spans of the N time spans included in the first time length, including:

the first device determining, from the first parameter and the M1, a number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans over the first length of time; or, the first device determines, according to the first parameter and the M1, the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the remaining N-1 time spans except the first time span in the N time spans in the first time length; or, the first device determines that the number of monitored control channel elements in a first one of the N time spans is the M1, and the number of monitored control channel elements in each of the remaining N-1 ones of the N time spans except the first time span is a product of the M1 and the first parameter.

In the above technical solution, the indication information may include the first parameter, so that the first device may determine, based on the first parameter and M1, the number of control channel elements to be monitored in one or more time spans among the N time spans, which may be implemented in some time spans, so that the terminal device monitors a larger number of control channel elements, thereby enhancing flexibility of PDCCH transmission.

In one possible design, the time intervals of two adjacent time spans of the N time spans are configured by the second device; or, time intervals of two adjacent time spans of the N time spans are configured by the second device; or, the time interval of two adjacent time spans in the N time spans is equal to the second time length; or, time intervals of two adjacent time spans in the rest time spans except the N time spans in the first time length are configured by the second device; or, the time interval of two adjacent time spans in the rest time spans except the N time spans in the first time length is equal to the third time length.

In practical applications, the time interval between two adjacent time spans may be one or more of the above situations, specifically indicating which may be configured by the second device or specified by a protocol. For example, the time interval may be determined according to the type of the service performed by the terminal device, so that for a low-delay high-reliability service, the time interval may be set to be shorter, so as to ensure that the terminal device monitors more CCE counts within a time length as much as possible, and ensure low-delay high-reliability service transmission

In one possible design, the values of M1 and M2 may include:

the M1 is a multiple of 4, or the M1 is a multiple of 8, or the M1 is a multiple of 16;

the M2 is a multiple of 4, or the M2 is a multiple of 8, or the M2 is a multiple of 16.

In the above technical solution, M1 and M2 may be integer multiples of the first aggregation level, for example, multiples of 4, 8, or 16, and as the aggregation level is larger, the reliability of data transmission is higher, so that the reliability of PDCCH transmission can be improved as much as possible.

In one possible design, the method further includes:

the first equipment reports the first capability information to the second equipment according to whether the carrier aggregation is supported or not; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

the first device determining a value of the M1 according to whether carrier aggregation is supported; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

the first device determines the value of M2 according to whether carrier aggregation is supported.

In the above technical solution, the first device may determine the first capability information according to whether carrier aggregation is supported or not, or determine a value of M1 or M2, so as to improve reliability of PDCCH transmission as much as possible.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, where the method includes:

the second device determines indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating characteristic parameters monitored by the first device in N time spans contained in the first time length, and the characteristic parameters comprise control channel elements or the number of the control channel elements; wherein the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, N is a positive integer, M1 is a positive integer;

and the second equipment sends the indication information to the first equipment.

In one possible embodiment, the indication information indicates that the first device determines the characteristic variable monitored for the first time period according to one of a first rule and/or a second rule and/or a third rule; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the indication information indicates one or more of a position of the N time spans within the first length of time, a value of the M1, and a value of M2, wherein the M2 is a number of control channel elements monitored by the first device in each of one or more time spans within the first length of time other than the N time spans, and the M2 is a positive integer.

In one possible design, the first rule is: the first length of time comprises N time spans in total, and the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is the M1;

the second rule is: the number of control channel elements monitored in a first time span of the first length of time is M1, and the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the remaining time spans of the first length of time except the first time span is M2;

the third rule is: the number of control channel elements monitored for at least 2 time spans in the first length of time is determined according to the M1, the number of control channel elements monitored for at least 1 time span in the first length of time is determined according to the M2, and the M1 is greater than the M2.

In one possible design, the method further includes:

the second equipment acquires first capability information of the first equipment; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the first capability information indicates a second length of time, the second length of time being greater than or equal to a minimum time interval of two adjacent time spans, a number of control channel elements monitored in each of the two adjacent time spans being related to the M1; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

the first capability information indicates a third length of time, the third length of time being greater than or equal to a minimum time interval of two adjacent time spans, a number of control channel elements monitored in each of the two adjacent time spans being related to the M2; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

the first capability information indicates a maximum number of CCEs that the first device can monitor for non-overlapping for a first time span within the first time length; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

the first capability information indicates a maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that the first device can monitor in each of the remaining N-1 time spans of the first length of time except the first time span; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

the first capability information indicates a rule that the first device is capable of supporting for a first length of time, the rule being used to determine a monitored characteristic quantity.

In one possible design, the indication information includes a first parameter, where the first parameter is related to the number of control channel elements monitored.

In one possible design of the system, the system may be,

time intervals of two adjacent time spans of the N time spans are configured by the second device; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a time interval of two adjacent time spans of the N time spans is equal to the second time length; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

time intervals of two adjacent time spans in the remaining time spans of the first time length except the N time spans are configured by the second device; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the time interval of two adjacent time spans in the rest time spans except the N time spans in the first time length is equal to the third time length.

In one possible design of the system, the system may be,

In one possible design, the method further includes:

the second device configuring the first device with the value of M1; wherein the first device has a capability to support carrier aggregation, the second device configures the value of M1 from a first set of numerical values, the first device does not have a capability to support carrier aggregation, the second device configures the value of M1 from a second set of numerical values, the first set of numerical values and the second set of numerical values are different sets; or

The second device configuring the first device with the value of M2; wherein the first device has a capability to support carrier aggregation, the second device configures the value of M2 from a third set of values, the first device does not have a capability to support carrier aggregation, the second device configures the value of M2 from a fourth set of values, the third and fourth sets of values are different sets.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the second aspect or various possible embodiments of the second aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or various possible embodiments of the first aspect.

In a third aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which has a function of implementing the first device, for example, a terminal device in the above method embodiments. These functions may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the above functions.

In a fourth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which has a function of implementing the second device, for example, a network device in the above method embodiments. These functions may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the above functions.

In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which may be the first device in the above method embodiments, such as a terminal device or a chip disposed in the terminal device. The communication device comprises a memory for storing a computer program or instructions, a communication interface and a processor, wherein the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface, and when the processor executes the computer program or instructions, the communication device is caused to perform the method performed by the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, where the communication apparatus may be the second device in the above method embodiments, such as a network device or a chip disposed in the network device. The communication apparatus comprises a memory for storing a computer program or instructions, a communication interface, and a processor coupled to the memory and the communication interface, which when executed by the processor causes the communication apparatus to perform the method performed by the network device in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

In a seventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product comprising: computer program code which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of the above aspects performed by the first device.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising: computer program code which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of the above aspects performed by the second device.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor for implementing the functions of the terminal device in the method of the above aspects, for example, receiving or processing data and/or information involved in the method. In one possible design, the system-on-chip further includes a memory to hold program instructions and/or data. The chip system may be formed by a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system comprising a processor for implementing the functions of the network device in the method of the above aspects, e.g. for receiving or processing data and/or information involved in the above method. In one possible design, the system-on-chip further includes a memory to hold program instructions and/or data. The chip system may be formed by a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed, implements the method performed by the terminal device in the above-described aspects.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed, implements the method performed by the network device in the above-described aspects.

Advantageous effects of the third to twelfth aspects and their implementations described above reference may be made to the description of the method of the first aspect and its implementations or the method of the second aspect and its implementations.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram of the number of CCEs monitored over multiple time spans provided by the prior art;

fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the number of CCEs monitored over multiple time spans provided by the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided herein;

fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided herein;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the number of CCEs monitored over multiple time spans according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the number of CCEs monitored over multiple time spans according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the number of CCEs monitored over multiple time spans according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the number of CCEs monitored over multiple time spans according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the number of CCEs monitored over multiple time spans according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of the number of CCEs monitored over multiple time spans according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the number of CCEs monitored over multiple time spans according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Before describing the present application, a part of terms in the embodiments of the present application will be briefly explained so as to be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

1) Terminal equipment, including devices that provide voice and/or data connectivity to a user, may include, for example, handheld devices with wireless connection capability or processing devices connected to wireless modems. The terminal device may communicate with a core network via a Radio Access Network (RAN), exchanging voice and/or data with the RAN. The terminal device may include a UE, a wireless terminal device, a mobile terminal device, a device-to-device communication (D2D) terminal device, a V2X terminal device, a machine-to-machine/machine-type communication (M2M/MTC) terminal device, an internet of things (IoT) terminal device, a subscriber unit (subscriber unit), a subscriber station (subscriber station), a mobile station (mobile station), a remote station (remote station), an Access Point (AP), a remote terminal (remote), an access terminal (access terminal), a user terminal (user terminal), a user agent (user agent), or a user equipment (user device), etc. For example, mobile telephones (or so-called "cellular" telephones), computers with mobile terminal equipment, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included mobile devices, and the like may be included. For example, Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. Also included are constrained devices, such as devices that consume less power, or devices that have limited storage capabilities, or devices that have limited computing capabilities, etc. Examples of information sensing devices include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), sensors, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), laser scanners, and the like.

By way of example and not limitation, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. Wearable equipment can also be called wearable smart device or intelligent wearable equipment etc. is the general term of using wearable technique to carry out intelligent design, develop the equipment that can dress to daily wearing, like glasses, gloves, wrist-watch, dress and shoes etc.. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the clothing or accessories of the user. The wearable device is not only a hardware device, but also realizes powerful functions through software support, data interaction and cloud interaction. The generalized wearable smart device includes full functionality, large size, and can implement full or partial functionality without relying on a smart phone, such as: smart watches or smart glasses and the like, and only focus on a certain type of application functions, and need to be used in cooperation with other devices such as smart phones, such as various smart bracelets, smart helmets, smart jewelry and the like for monitoring physical signs.

The various terminal devices described above, if located on a vehicle (e.g., placed in or installed in the vehicle), may be considered to be vehicle-mounted terminal devices, which are also referred to as on-board units (OBUs), for example.

2) Network devices, for example, include Access Network (AN) devices, such as base stations (e.g., access points). Or may refer to a device that communicates with the wireless terminal device over the air interface, such as other terminal devices. Or, for example, one type of network device in V2X technology is a Road Side Unit (RSU). The base station may be configured to interconvert received air frames and Internet Protocol (IP) packets as a router between the terminal device and the rest of the access network, which may include an IP network. The RSU may be a fixed infrastructure entity supporting the V2X application and may exchange messages with other entities supporting the V2X application. The network device may also coordinate attribute management for the air interface. For example, the network device may include an evolved Node B (NodeB or eNB or e-NodeB) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system or an advanced long term evolution (LTE-a) system, or may also include a next generation Node B (gNB) in a 5G NR system, or may also include a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) in a Cloud access network (Cloud RAN) system, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

3) In application scenarios of the fifth generation Mobile (5G) communication system, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) defines three major application scenarios for 5G and future Mobile communication systems, which are Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), high-reliability Low-Latency communication (URLLC), and Massive Machine Type communication (mtc), respectively. Among the typical eMBB services are: the services include ultra high definition video, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and the like, and these services are mainly characterized by large transmission data volume and high transmission rate. Typical URLLC services are: the main characteristics of the applications of wireless control in industrial manufacturing or production processes, motion control of unmanned automobiles and unmanned airplanes, and haptic interaction such as remote repair and remote operation are that ultra-high reliability, low time delay, less transmission data volume and burstiness are required. Typical mtc services are: the intelligent power distribution automation system has the main characteristics of huge quantity of networking equipment, small transmission data volume and insensitivity of data to transmission delay, and the mMTC terminals need to meet the requirements of low cost and very long standby time. Different services have different requirements on the mobile communication system, and how to better support the data transmission requirements of multiple different services simultaneously is a technical problem to be solved by the current 5G communication system. For example, how to support URLLC service and eMBB service simultaneously is one of the hot spots for discussion of current 5G mobile communication systems.

4) The Search spaces include a Common Search Space (CSS) and a UE-specific Search Space (USS). A plurality of UEs may retrieve DCI transmitted by a base station to the UE in the CSS. The resource location of the CSS is fixed. The USS is determined according to a radio network temporary identity C-RNTI and a subframe number of the UE, and the USSs of different UEs may be partially overlapped or even completely overlapped.

5) The CCE may correspondingly include a plurality of resource element groups. The number of resource element groups corresponding to one CCE may be fixed. For example 4 or 6. One resource element group may occupy S consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and/or T consecutive OFDM symbols in the time domain. Wherein S is a natural number greater than 1. For example, one resource element group may occupy 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and 1 OFDM symbol in the time domain, where S is 12 and T is 1.

6) Subcarrier, one subcarrier is the smallest granularity in the frequency domain. For example, in LTE, the subcarrier width, also referred to as subcarrier spacing, of 1 subcarrier is 15 kHz; in 5G, the subcarrier spacing may be 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz or 120 kHz.

7) Aggregation Level (AL), which is the number of CCEs used for one PDCCH. For example, a PDCCH includes 4 CCEs, and then the aggregation level of the PDCCH is 4. The larger the AL value used for transmission of the same DCI, the higher the reliability.

8) A time slot refers to a basic unit of time. In the embodiment of the present application, a slot may occupy 14 continuous symbols (normal cyclic prefix) or 12 continuous symbols (extended cyclic prefix) in the time domain. The symbols in the embodiment of the present application include, but are not limited to, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, Sparse Code Division Multiple Access (SCMA) symbols, Filtered Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (F-OFDM) symbols, and Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) symbols, which may be determined according to actual situations and are not described herein again.

9) A time span (span), alternatively referred to as a listening span (monitoring span). For convenience of description, the embodiments of the present application are all referred to as time spans. The span is a unit of time shorter than the slot, which is a unit of time. A slot may include multiple spans. Each span is at least X consecutive OFDM symbols in length, X being an integer greater than 0. Where X consecutive OFDM symbols are consecutive in the time domain (there is no more than 1 OFDM symbol interval).

10) The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application may be used interchangeably. In the embodiments of the present application, "a plurality" may also be understood as "at least two". "at least one" is to be understood as meaning one or more, for example one, two or more. For example, including at least one means including one, two, or more, and does not limit which ones are included, for example, including at least one of A, B and C, then including may be A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or a and B and C. "and/or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, meaning that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship, unless otherwise specified.

Unless stated to the contrary, the embodiments of the present application refer to the ordinal numbers "first", "second", etc., for distinguishing between a plurality of objects, and do not limit the sequence, timing, priority, or importance of the plurality of objects. For example, the first terminal device and the second terminal device, are only used for distinguishing different terminal devices, and are not used for limiting the functions, priorities, importance degrees, and the like of the two terminal devices.

Having described some of the concepts related to the embodiments of the present application, the following describes features of the embodiments of the present application.

The NR defines the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that a UE can monitor within one slot. For example, table 1 defines for NR Rel-15 release, the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs a UE can monitor within one slot, at different subcarrier spacings.

TABLE 1

One way to do this is to define the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that the UE can monitor according to Span, as shown in fig. 1. In fig. 1, the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that the UE can monitor is the same in each Span, e.g., M1. Fig. 1 illustrates the nth Span to the n + mth Span. If M1 is small, that is, each Span can monitor fewer CCEs, the UE search space is limited, flexibility is poor, and therefore it cannot adapt to the scheduling of bursty traffic well. For example, the communication task currently being performed by the UE may be a monitoring task, and if there is an alarm task suddenly, that is, bursty traffic, since there are fewer CCEs that each Span can monitor, there are fewer available resources, and the flexibility of scheduling resources for the communication task is poor.

At present, another mode is shown in fig. 2, which is a schematic diagram defining the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that the UE can monitor according to Span. Fig. 2 also illustrates an nth Span to an n + mth Span, where n is 1 in fig. 2. In fig. 2, the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that the UE can monitor is the same within each of the other spans except the first Span, e.g., M2. Within the first Span, the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that a UE can monitor is, for example, M1, with M1 being greater than M2. Similar to fig. 1, if M2 is smaller, there is also scheduling that does not adapt to bursty traffic well, and scheduling flexibility is poor. Also, the processing power of the UE depends on M1, i.e. the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that the UE can monitor within the first Span. Therefore, the larger M1 is, the stronger the processing capability of the UE is required, so the method shown in fig. 2 requires the UE to have stronger processing capability.

In view of this, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application are provided. In this embodiment, the second device may indicate, through the indication information, that the number of control channel elements monitored by the first device in each of the N time spans included in the first time length is related to M1. It can be seen that with the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, it can be determined that the first device monitors the number of control channel elements within N time spans. Meanwhile, the number of the control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, and it can be considered that there may be more control channel elements monitored in the N time spans, which helps to increase the flexibility of the second device for PDCCH scheduling.

The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application can be used for wireless communication systems, such as 4.5G systems or 5G systems, further evolution systems based on LTE or NR, future wireless communication systems or other similar communication systems and the like.

Please refer to fig. 3, which illustrates a network architecture applied in the present embodiment. Fig. 3 includes a network device and 6 terminal devices, which may be cellular phones, smart phones, laptops, handheld communication devices, handheld computing devices, satellite radios, global positioning systems, PDAs, and/or any other suitable device for communicating over a wireless communication system, and each of which may be connected to the network device. The six terminal devices are each capable of communicating with the network device. For example, the terminal device may be a narrowband terminal device, such as an mtc terminal device; the terminal device may be a broadband terminal device, for example, an NR terminal device of existing version (release) 15. Of course, the number of terminal devices in fig. 6 is only an example, and may be fewer or more.

The network device in fig. 3 may be a base station. The network device may correspond to different devices in different systems, for example, the fourth generation mobile communication technology (4G) system may correspond to the eNB, and the 5G system may correspond to the gNB.

The Network architecture applied in the embodiment of the present application may also be a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) Network, a device-to-device (D2D) Network, a machine-to-machine (M2M) Network, an IoT Network, or other networks.

The technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, the method is applied to the network architecture shown in fig. 3 as an example. In addition, the method may be performed by two communication devices, e.g. a first device and a second device. The first device may be a network device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the network device to implement the functions required by the method, or the first device may be a terminal device or a communication apparatus (e.g., a system-on-chip) capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method. The same is true for the second device, which may be a network device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the functionality required by the network device to implement the method, or the second device may be a terminal device or a communication apparatus (e.g. a system-on-chip) capable of supporting the functionality required by the terminal device to implement the method. And the implementation manners of the first device and the second device are not limited, for example, the first device and the second device are both terminal devices, or the first device is a terminal device and the second device is a communication device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and so on. The network device is, for example, a base station.

Referring to fig. 4, a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown, and in the following description, the method is executed by a network device and a terminal device, that is, a first device is a terminal device, and a second device is a network device. For example, if the method is applied to the network architecture shown in fig. 3, the first device may be any one of the 6 terminal devices shown in fig. 3, and the second device may be the network device shown in fig. 3. It should be noted that the embodiment of the present application is only an example implemented by a network device and a terminal device, and is not limited to this scenario.

S401, the network equipment determines indication information.

In an embodiment of the present application, the indication information is used to indicate the characteristic parameter monitored by the first device in the N spans included in the first time length. Where N is a positive integer, the first time length may refer to a time unit such as a time slot.

In some embodiments, the characteristic parameter includes CCEs, and in other embodiments, the characteristic parameter includes the number of CCEs. The terminal device monitors the characteristic parameter at a span, which may be considered as the terminal device monitoring the characteristic parameter at a time based on the processing capability. Different spans within 1 time period may correspond to the same upper limit of processing capacity or may correspond to different upper limits of processing capacity. In general, the processing power of the terminal device at each span is theoretically the same, and the maximum number of non-overlaps that the terminal device can monitor at each span can also be considered to be the same. However, due to the processing delay, when the terminal device is in the next span (n +1 th span), the processing for the last span (n-th span) is not completed yet, and therefore, the terminal device needs to have an extra capability to monitor the n +1 th span.

The processing capability of the terminal device is different, and the number of CCEs that can be monitored in a span or a plurality of spans in a time length may be the same or different. Based on the rule of the characteristic parameter monitored by the terminal device in the N spans included in the first time length, the terminal device may be specified, and notified, so that the terminal device monitors the CCE in one span or a plurality of spans included in the first time length based on the rule notified by the network device, so as to adapt to the processing capability of the terminal device, and may also be considered to adapt to the communication service of the terminal device.

In some embodiments, multiple rules may be supported for a terminal device to monitor CCEs over multiple spans contained within a time span.

For example, the embodiment of the present application may support a first rule that the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that each span that the terminal device can monitor in a time length is the same. For example, a time span contains N spans, and the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that the terminal device can monitor in each span of the N spans is M1, as shown in fig. 1. M1 can be considered as the maximum value of the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor within a plurality of spans contained in a time length. For convenience of description, hereinafter, the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs monitored is also referred to as the monitored CCE number. M1 may also be understood as the value of M1 and M2 may also be understood as the value of M2 hereinafter.

If the processing capability of the terminal device is stronger in all time spans, that is, the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor is larger in all time spans, so that the operation complexity of the terminal device is higher, and the cost of the terminal device is higher. And the terminal equipment monitors more CCE numbers, and the power consumption overhead of the terminal equipment for detecting the PDCCH is also increased.

Therefore, the embodiment of the application can define lower processing capacity for the terminal device so as to reduce the operation complexity and cost of the terminal device. For example, in addition to the first rule, the embodiment of the present application may also support a second rule, that is, the number of CCEs that can be monitored by the terminal device in the first span of a time length is M1, and the number of CCEs that can be monitored in the remaining spans except for the first span is M2, or both are determined according to M2, and M1 is greater than M2, as shown in fig. 2. But this reduces the flexibility of the network device in scheduling PDCCH transmissions and increases the collision probability of the PDCCH. The network device may not be able to perform real-time service scheduling and guarantee low-latency and highly reliable service transmission.

Therefore, the embodiment of the application can define that the processing capacity of the terminal device is stronger in some time spans. For example, in addition to the first rule and the second rule, the embodiment of the present application may also support a third rule that the number of CCEs monitored by the terminal device within at least 2 span in a time length is determined according to M1, and the number of CCEs monitored within at least 1 span in the first time length is determined according to M2, and M1 is greater than M2. Since the number of CCEs monitored by the terminal device within at least 2 spans in a time length is determined according to M1, the number of CCEs capable of being monitored by the terminal device within at least 2 spans in a time length can be determined according to M1, that is, the terminal device can monitor more CCEs, so as to better support the terminal device to perform low-latency and high-reliability services, such as URLLC services.

For example, in the embodiment of the present application, the third rule may specify that the number of CCEs monitored by the terminal device within at least 2 span in the first time length is related to M1, and the number of CCEs monitored within at least 1 span in the first time length is related to M2. For example, please refer to fig. 5, which is a schematic diagram illustrating the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor according to Span definition. If the span included in the first time span shown in fig. 5 is numbered, the number of intra-span monitoring CCEs numbered as odd number is, for example, M1, and the number of intra-span monitoring CCEs numbered as even number is, for example, M2. This is exemplified in fig. 5. Alternatively, the third rule may be that the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor within two spans spaced by X spans is the same, i.e. M1 or M2. Wherein X is a positive integer. X may be predefined, for example, 1, or may be configured by the network device for the terminal device, or may be determined by the network device according to the capability of the terminal device, or may be obtained by the terminal device according to configuration information of the network device. For example, the network device configures the value of X for the terminal device through RRC signaling. Alternatively, the third rule may be that the number of CCEs monitored in a span numbered 3n, for example, is M1, the number of CCEs monitored in a span numbered 3n +1 is M2, and the number of CCEs monitored in a span numbered 3n +2 is M3, among a plurality of spans included in the first time length, where n is a positive integer. It should be noted that the numbers 3n, 3n +1 and 3n +2 are only for convenience of illustration, and in some embodiments, the numbers may be, for example, 2n +1 and 2n +2, and the present application is not limited to this. In some embodiments, the number is also referred to as an index.

Since the processing capability of the terminal device is stronger in some time spans, the terminal device can complete the processing operation in the previous time span, and then can monitor the control channel using the stronger processing capability in the subsequent time span. Therefore, the flexibility of the network equipment for scheduling PDCCH transmission can be increased, and the network equipment can perform real-time service scheduling so as to ensure low-delay and high-reliability service transmission as much as possible. Meanwhile, because the processing capacity of the terminal device is stronger only in some time spans, the terminal device does not need to monitor more CCE numbers or PDCCH candidates in all time spans, and the power consumption overhead of monitoring the control channel by the terminal device can be reduced.

The first rule, the second rule and the third rule all specify specific values of the number of CCEs that can be monitored by the terminal device in one or more spans included in the N spans in the first time length, and the indication mode is more direct, so that the terminal device can directly determine the number of CCEs that can be monitored in each span in the N spans according to the first rule, the second rule or the third rule.

In addition to the three rules, the embodiment of the present application may also support the terminal device to determine, according to M1, the number of CCEs that can be monitored in multiple time spans included in a time length, which may be understood as a fourth rule. The fourth rule requires the terminal device to determine the number of CCEs that can be monitored within a number of spans contained within a time span according to M1. Compared with the three rules, the number of CCEs that can be monitored in a plurality of spans included in a time length according to M1 may be at least two, and the terminal device may be enabled to monitor more CCEs, which helps to increase the flexibility of the second device for PDCCH scheduling.

Since the network device supports the above four rules, when the network device instructs the terminal device to monitor the CCE, the network device needs to notify the terminal device which rule the network device supports.

Specifically, the network device may notify the terminal device of which rule is supported by the network device through the indication information. The indication information may indicate that the first rule is supported by the network device, or the indication information may indicate that the second rule is supported by the network device, or the indication information may indicate that the third rule is supported by the network device, or the indication information may indicate that the fourth rule is supported by the network device.

In one possible case, if the network device selects one rule from the first rule, the second rule and the third rule for the terminal device, it may be considered that the first rule, the second rule and the third rule are predefined, and the network device may notify the terminal device which rule the network device selects. Specifically, the network device may indicate the adopted rule through the indication information. In this case, as a first implementation manner of the indication information, the indication information may be carried in Downlink Control Information (DCI) or Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. For example, the indication information may be carried in one field of DCI or RRC signaling. For convenience of description, in the embodiment of the present application, this field is referred to as a first field. The first field may be a defined field or a newly defined field.

Illustratively, the first field may occupy 1 bit (bit), and when the value of the first field is "0", the first rule may be indicated. In contrast, when the value of the first field is "1", the second rule may be indicated. In other embodiments, the second rule may be indicated when the value of the first field is "1" and the first rule may be indicated when the value of the first field is "0". It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the value of the first field may also be understood as the value carried by the first field in some embodiments.

For another example, the first field may occupy 2 bits. For example, when the value of the first field is "00", the first rule may be indicated. When the value of the first field is "01", the second rule may be indicated. When the value of the first field is "10", a third rule may be indicated. In other embodiments, a third rule may be indicated when the value of the first field is "0", and a first rule may be indicated when the value of the first field is "1"; in contrast, when the value of the first field is "2", the second rule may be indicated. It should be noted that, when the value of the first field is "11," this may be regarded as a reserved indication manner, so that the indication information may be used to indicate if there is a new rule added later. The correspondence between the value of the first field and the rule is only an example, and the correspondence between the value of the first field and the rule is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

For the third rule, when the network device notifies the rule selected by the terminal device through the indication information, the network device may also notify the value of the terminal device X, so that the terminal device may determine, according to the third rule and the value of X, the number of CCEs that can be monitored by one or more spans in the N spans included in the first time length. For example, if X is predefined, the network device need not notify the terminal device of the value of X. If the value of X is configured by the network device, or the value of X is determined by the network device according to the capability of the terminal device, the network device may also notify the terminal device of the value of X.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may notify the network device which rules the terminal device supports, such that the network device selects one of the rules for the terminal device from the rules supported by the terminal device. The rule selected by the network equipment is the supported rule reported to the network equipment by the terminal equipment, so that the rule selected by the network equipment for the terminal equipment from the rules supported by the terminal equipment is more matched with the requirement of the terminal equipment.

Specifically, S4011, the terminal device sends the first information to the network device, so that the network device receives the first information.

The first information may also be considered as capability information of the terminal device, and the first information may be used to indicate rules supported by the terminal device, and may be one or more of the first rule, the second rule, and the third rule, for example. The terminal device may inform the network device via the first information which rules the terminal device supports, so that the network device selects one of the rules for the terminal device from the rules indicated by the first information.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, the terminal device may not execute S4011, that is, S4011 is not necessarily executed, and therefore, is illustrated by a dashed line in fig. 4.

If the terminal device does not send the first information to the network device, in order to better match the capability of the terminal device, the network device may also select one rule from the first rule, the second rule, and the third rule for the terminal device according to the capability of the terminal device, so as to ensure that the number of CCEs that can be monitored by the terminal device is large within a time length or a span.

In another possible case, the network device may also notify the terminal device via the indication information. The indication information may indicate one or more of a position of the N spans within the first length of time, a value of M1, and a value of M2.

For example, when the indication information indicates the positions of the N spans within the first time length, the number of CCEs that the N spans of the terminal device can monitor in the first time length may be considered to be the same. For example, it may be a predefined M1 or M2 or other possible value. Wherein M2 may be the number of CCEs monitored by the terminal device within each of one or more span other than N spans for the first length of time.

For another example, when the indication information indicates a value of M1, it can be considered that the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor in the plurality of time spans included in the first time length is M1. Still alternatively, for another example, when the indication information indicates the positions of the N spans in the first time length and the value of M1, the number of CCEs that the N spans in the first time length can monitor by the terminal device may be considered to be M1.

For another example, when indicating the location of N spans of information within the first time length, and the value of M2, it may be considered that the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor within the N spans is M1, for example, and the number of CCEs monitored within each of one or more spans other than the N spans within the first time length is M2.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may report information indicating the capability of the terminal device to the network device, so that the network device may select a matching rule for the terminal device according to the information to better match the capability of the terminal device.

S4012, the terminal device sends the first capability information to the network device, so that the network device receives the first capability indication information.

The capabilities of the terminal devices are different, and the content indicated by the first capability information is also different, which may include the following cases:

in the first case, the first capability information may indicate the second length of time.

The first capability information may indicate a time length, which is referred to as a second time length in the embodiment of the present application. The second time length may be, for example, the number of symbols, the number of spans, the number of slots, or the number of sub-slots. The first capability information may indicate that the processing capability of the terminal device may be reused after the second time length, that is, for example, the number of CCEs monitored in the span corresponding to the terminal device time n is M1, and the capability of the terminal device to monitor the number of CCEs may be reused at the time n + T, where T is the second time length.

For example, M1 can be considered as the maximum value of the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor within the kth span during the first time length. Wherein the value of k may be predefined, or may be directly indicated by the network device, or indirectly indicated by the network device. For example, k is predefined to be 1, that is, the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor in the 1 st span in the first time length is M1.

In some embodiments, the second length of time is greater than or equal to a minimum time interval of two adjacent spans. The two adjacent spans can be consecutive two adjacent spans, and the number of CCEs monitored within each of the two adjacent spans is related to M1. For example, the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor in one of the two adjacent spans is M1, and the number of CCEs that can be monitored in the other span is, for example, the product of M1 and the first parameter. It should be noted that the first parameter here indicates that the number of CCEs monitored in each of two adjacent spans is M1-dependent.

For example, the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor in a certain span of N spans, for example span (N), is M1, and the number of CCEs that can be monitored in span (N + T) is a × M1, where N is the number of span and T may be the second time length.

In some embodiments, the minimum time interval of two adjacent ones of the N spans may be network device configured or may be a predefined length of time. For example, the minimum time interval between two adjacent spans is the second time length, or a time length less than the second time length.

In a second case, the first capability information indicates a third length of time.

The third time length is similar to the second time length, and may be the number of symbols, the number of spans, the number of slots, or the number of sub-slots.

In the embodiment of the present application, the third time length is greater than or equal to the minimum time interval of two adjacent spans, and the number of CCEs monitored in each time span of the two adjacent spans is related to M2.

Similar to the first case, the difference is that in the embodiment of the present application, the first capability information may indicate a third time length, and a minimum time interval between two adjacent spans is less than or equal to the third time length. When the first capability information indicates the third length of time, the number of control channel elements monitored within each of two adjacent spans is related to M2.

For example, the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor in one of the two adjacent spans is M2, and the number of CCEs that can be monitored in the other span is, for example, the product of M2 and the second parameter. It should be noted that the second parameter is used to illustrate that the number of CCEs monitored in each of two adjacent spans is related to M2.

For example, the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor in a certain span of N spans, for example span (N), is M1, and the number of CCEs that can be monitored in span (N + T) is b × M2, where N is the number of span and T may be the third time length described above.

In some embodiments, the time interval of two adjacent ones of the remaining span of the first length of time other than the N spans may be network device configured or may be a predefined length of time. For example, the third time period, or a time period less than the third time period.

In a third case, the first capability information indicates a maximum number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor without overlapping within a first span of the first time length.

The first capability information may indicate a size of the number of CCEs that the terminal device is capable of monitoring within some span. For example, in the embodiment of the present application, the first capability information may indicate that the terminal device can monitor the maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs within the first span within the first time length, which is, for example, M1.

In a fourth case, the first capability information indicates a maximum number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor without overlapping within each of the remaining N-1 spans except the first span for the first length of time.

Similar to the third case, in some embodiments, the first capability information may indicate that the terminal device is capable of monitoring a maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs within each of the remaining N-1 span of the first length of time except for the first span, e.g., M2.

In a fifth case, the first capability information indicates a rule that the terminal device can support for the first length of time. This rule is used to determine the monitored characteristic variable.

In the embodiment of the application, the first capability information may indicate a rule that the terminal device can support within a first time period. For example, at least one of the first, second and third rules described above.

It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the first capability information may also indicate one or more of the above five cases, and the terminal device selects, as needed, which cases of the first capability information to report.

For example, in one possible implementation, the terminal device may report the first capability information to the network device according to whether carrier aggregation is supported. For example, the terminal device supports carrier aggregation, the terminal device determines the value of M1 within the first set of values. For example, the terminal device does not support carrier aggregation, the terminal device determines the value of M1 within the second set of values. The first set of values and the second set of values are different sets of values. For example, the terminal device supports carrier aggregation, the terminal device determines the value of M2 within the third set of values. For example, the terminal device does not support carrier aggregation, the terminal device determines the value of M2 within the fourth set of values. The third set of values and the fourth set of values are different sets of values.

The terminal device reports at least one of the first capability information in the five situations to the network device, so that the network device can configure the indication information for the terminal device according to the first capability information reported by the terminal device.

In some embodiments, in addition to the five cases described above, the first capability information may also indicate that the number of CCEs monitored by the terminal device within some span is M1. For example, the first capability information indicates the locations of the span with the monitored CCE number M1 within N spans, or the locations of these spans within the first time length. Alternatively, the first capability information may indicate that the number of CCEs monitored by the terminal device within some span is M2. For example, the first capability information indicates the locations of the span with the monitored CCE number M2 within N spans, or the locations of these spans within the first time length. Still alternatively, the first capability information may indicate that the number of CCEs monitored by the terminal device in some span is M1 and the number of CCEs monitored in other span is M2. For example, the first capability information indicates a position of a monitored span of the number of CCEs M1 within the first time length, and indicates a position of a monitored span of the number of CCEs M2 within the first time length.

S402, the network equipment sends the indication information to the terminal equipment, and therefore the terminal equipment receives the indication information.

The network device may notify the terminal device of the number of CCEs that the terminal device is capable of monitoring within one or more of the N spans within the first length of time through the indication information.

In some embodiments, the network device may determine the number of CCEs that the terminal device is capable of monitoring within one or more of the N spans within the first length of time using the first rule, the second rule, or the third rule as described above. The network device may determine that different rules are characterized by different values, for example, so that the indication information may directly indicate the corresponding rule. The network device may then send the indication to the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the network device may configure the value of M1 and/or the value of M2 for the terminal device, and notify the terminal device of the configured value of M1 and/or the configured value of M2 through the indication information.

In some embodiments, the network device receives the first capability information reported by the terminal device, and may determine the indication information according to the first capability information, so as to notify the terminal device of the characteristic parameters monitored in the N spans included in the first time length through the indication information.

Illustratively, the network device may select one of the first rule, the second rule and the third rule for the terminal device according to the first capability information. The network device may notify the terminal device of the selected rule through the indication information.

For example, the network device may determine that the indication information includes the first parameter according to the first capability information. For example, the indication information may include a value of the first parameter, for example, a. Alternatively, the indication information indicates the first parameter and the value of M1.

For another example, the network device may determine that the indication information includes a value of M1 and/or a value of M2 according to the first capability information. That is, the network device configures the value of M1 and/or the value of M2 for the terminal device.

Alternatively, the network device may determine, according to the first capability information, that the indication information includes one or more of a position of the N spans within the first time length, a value of M1, and a value of M2.

In some embodiments, the network device may configure the terminal device with the value of M1 and/or the value of M2. For example, the network device may configure the value of M1 and/or the value of M2 for the terminal device according to the communication service to be performed by the terminal device. For example, the network device configuration M1 takes a larger value AL to adapt to URLLC traffic that may be performed by the terminal device, thereby ensuring a low-latency and high-reliability requirement. For example, the network device may configure M1 to take on integer multiples of the first AL. For example, M1 may be a multiple of 4, or a multiple of 8, or a multiple of 16. Likewise, the network device may configure M2 to take on integer multiples of the first AL. For example, M2 may be a multiple of 4, or a multiple of 8, or a multiple of 16.

In other embodiments, the network device may configure the value of M1 and/or the value of M2 for the terminal device according to whether the terminal device supports carrier aggregation. For example, if the terminal device supports carrier aggregation, the network device may configure the value of M1 from the first value set; if the terminal device does not have the capability of supporting carrier aggregation, the network device may configure a value of M1 from a second set of values, where the first set of values and the second set of values are different sets.

Similarly, if the terminal device supports carrier aggregation, the network device may configure the value of M2 from the third value set; if the terminal device does not have the capability of supporting carrier aggregation, the network device may configure the value of M2 from a fourth value set, where the third value set and the fourth value set are different sets.

And the network equipment determines the indication information according to the first capability information, or determines the indication information according to the value of M1 and/or the value of M2 configured for the terminal equipment, and then sends the determined indication information to the terminal equipment. For example, the network device may send DCI to the terminal device, where the DCI carries the indication information. For another example, the network device may send RRC signaling to the terminal device, where the RRC signaling carries the indication information.

And S403, the terminal equipment determines the characteristic parameters monitored in one or more spans contained in the first time length according to the indication information.

After receiving the indication information, the terminal device may determine the characteristic parameter monitored in the one or more spans included in the first time period according to the indication information.

For example, if the indication information indicates that the network device is a terminal device, one rule is selected from the first rule, the second rule, and the third rule. The terminal device can determine the number of CCEs monitored within one or more of the N spans contained in the first length of time based on the indication information. For example, referring to fig. 6, the first time length includes 6 spans, and if the value indicated by the indication information is "0", the terminal device may determine that the number of CCEs monitored in each span of the 6 spans is M1. In contrast, referring to fig. 7, the first time duration includes 6 spans, and if the value indicated by the indication information is "1", the terminal device may determine that the number of CCEs monitored in the 1 st span of the 6 spans is M1, and the number of CCEs monitored in the remaining 5 spans is M2. In contrast, referring to fig. 8, the first time length includes 6 spans, and if the value indicated by the indication information is "2", the terminal device may determine that the number of CCEs monitored in, for example, the 1 st span, the 3 rd span, and the 5 th span of the 6 spans is M1, and the number of CCEs monitored in the 2 nd span, the 4 th span, and the 6 th span is M2.

Or, if the indication information includes the first parameter, and the value of the first parameter is a. The terminal device may determine the number of CCEs monitored within one or more of the N spans contained in the first length of time based on the first parameter and M1. For example, referring to fig. 9, the first time span includes 6 spans, the terminal device may determine that the number of CCEs monitored in 1 st span of the 6 spans is M1, the number of CCEs monitored in span spaced from the 1 st span by the second time span, i.e., 3 rd span, is a M1, and so on, may determine that the number of CCEs monitored in 5 th span is a M1; while the number of CCEs that can be monitored within the remaining span other than the 1 st span, the 3 rd span and the 5 th span, i.e., the span that cannot monitor the number of CCEs according to a × M1, is, for example, M2. M2 may be a default value, or a value configured by the network device for the terminal device, or M2 may be reported by the terminal device to the network device, or may be determined according to a predefined rule.

In some embodiments, the terminal device acquires the indication information, and may re-determine the value of M1 and/or the value of M2 based on the indication information.

Illustratively, if the first span contains num spans, the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor within one span of the first span, e.g., the first span is M1, and within one or more spans spaced apart from the first span by a second span (T), the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor is a M1. If the number of the span or spans is num₁Then the number of span that can not continue to monitor CCEs according to a M1 for the first length of time is num₂Num is known as₂＝num-num _1-1. Assuming that the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor is S in the first time length, the terminal device may determine that the number is num₂First num in Span₂The number of CCEs monitored within each of the 1 span is M2. The terminal equipment can determine num₂The number of monitoring CCEs within the last Span of the Span is M3. M2 can be specifically determined by formula (1), and M3 can be specifically determined by formula (2). Wherein floor in equation (1) represents rounding down.

M2＝floor{(S-num₁*a*M1-M1)/num₂Equation (1)

M3＝S-num₁A M1- (num2-1) M2-M1 formula (2)

For convenience of explanation, the above embodiments are explained below with specific examples.

Please refer to fig. 10, which is a schematic diagram of a first time duration, wherein the first time duration includes 2 spans, and the 2 spans are span1 and span2, respectively. Configuration of span supported by the terminal device is (7, 3).

For example, S112, M1 56, and the second time length is 7 symbols. The number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor within each of these 2 spans may be M1, and then the number of CCEs that can be monitored within the 2 nd span is determined to be M1.

As yet another example, S112, M1 56, default M2 32, a 1, and the second time duration is 10 symbols. Since only 1 span can monitor CCEs with M1, the number of CCEs that can be monitored in the 2 nd span is the default M2, i.e., 32.

Alternatively, please refer to fig. 11, which is a schematic diagram of a first time duration, wherein the first time duration includes 7 spans, and the number of the 2 spans is sequentially from 1 to 7. The configuration of the span supported by the terminal device is (2, 2).

For example, S112, M1 32, a 1/2, and the second time length is 4 symbols. Since the terminal device has 4 spans that can monitor CCEs with a M1, and according to the aforementioned rule, the number of CCEs that the terminal device can monitor in the 1 st span is M1, and the number of CCEs that can be monitored in the 3 rd span, 5 spans, and 7 spans is a M1, i.e., 16. And according to the formula (1) and the formula (2), it can be determined that the number of CCEs that can be monitored by the terminal device in the 2 nd span is 10, the number of CCEs that can be monitored in the 4 th span is 10, and the number of CCEs that can be monitored in the 6 th span is 12.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may determine the value of M1 according to whether the terminal device supports carrier aggregation, and may also determine the value of M2 according to whether the terminal device supports carrier aggregation. For example, the terminal device supports carrier aggregation, the terminal device determines the value of M1 within the first set of values. For example, the terminal device does not support carrier aggregation, the terminal device determines the value of M1 within the second set of values. The first set of values and the second set of values are different sets of values. For example, the terminal device supports carrier aggregation, the terminal device determines the value of M2 within the third set of values. For example, the terminal device does not support carrier aggregation, the terminal device determines the value of M2 within the fourth set of values. The third set of values and the fourth set of values are different sets of values.

S404, the terminal device receives the control channel on the control channel element resource corresponding to the characteristic parameter monitored in one or more time spans contained in the first time length.

The terminal device may determine, according to the indication information sent by the network device, the characteristic parameter monitored in one or more time spans included in the first time length, for example, CCE or CCE number. So that the terminal device can receive the control channel on the control channel element resource corresponding to the monitored characteristic parameter.

In this embodiment of the present application, the indication information may indicate that the number of control channel elements monitored by the first device in each of the N time spans included in the first time length is related to M1, and it can be seen that, by the method provided in this embodiment of the present application, the number of control channel elements monitored by the first device in the N time spans may be made clear. Meanwhile, the number of the control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, and it can be considered that there may be more control channel elements monitored in the N time spans, which helps to increase the flexibility of the second device for PDCCH scheduling.

In the embodiments provided in the present application, the method provided in the embodiments of the present application is introduced from the perspective of interaction between the terminal device and the network device. In order to implement the functions in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, the first device and the second device may include a hardware structure and/or a software module, and the functions are implemented in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure and a software module. Whether any of the above-described functions is implemented as a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the technical solution.

The following describes a communication device for implementing the above method in the embodiment of the present application with reference to the drawings. Therefore, the above contents can be used in the subsequent embodiments, and the repeated contents are not repeated.

Fig. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus 1200 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1200 is capable of performing the actions and functions of the first device in the above method embodiments, and therefore, in order to avoid repetition, detailed description thereof is omitted here. The communication apparatus 1200 may be a terminal device or a chip applied to the terminal device. The communication apparatus 1200 includes: a transceiving unit 1210 and a processing unit 1220,

the transceiver unit 1210 is configured to receive indication information from a second device, where the indication information is used to indicate a characteristic parameter monitored by the first device in N time spans included in a first time length, where the characteristic parameter includes a control channel element or a number of control channel elements; wherein the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, N is a positive integer, M1 is a positive integer; the processing unit 1220 is configured to determine, according to the indication information received by the transceiver unit 1210, a characteristic parameter monitored in one or more time spans of the N time spans included in the first time length; the transceiver unit 1210 is configured to receive a control channel on a control channel element resource corresponding to the characteristic parameter monitored in the one or more time spans.

The indication information received by the transceiver 1210 may be used to instruct the first device to determine the characteristic parameter monitored in the first time period according to one of a first rule and/or a second rule and/or a third rule; or, one or more of a position of the N time spans within the first time length, a value of the M1, and a value of M2, wherein the M2 is a number of control channel elements monitored by the first device in each of one or more time spans within the first time length except the N time spans, and the M2 is a positive integer.

Specifically, the first rule is as follows: the first length of time includes N time spans in total, and the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is the M1. The second rule is: the number of control channel elements monitored in a first time span of the first length of time is M1, and the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the remaining time spans of the first length of time except the first time span is M2. The third rule is: the number of control channel elements monitored for at least 2 time spans in the first length of time is determined according to the M1, the number of control channel elements monitored for at least 1 time span in the first length of time is determined according to M2, and the M1 is greater than the M2.

All relevant contents of each step related to the above method embodiment may be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and are not described herein again.

Fig. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus 1300 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1300 is capable of performing the behavior function of the second device in the above method embodiment, and therefore, in order to avoid repetition, the detailed description is omitted here. The communication apparatus 1300 may be a network device, or may be a chip applied to a network device. The communication apparatus 1300 includes: a processing unit 1310 and a transceiving unit 1320,

the processing unit 1310 is configured to determine indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate a characteristic parameter monitored by the first device in N time spans included in the first time length, where the characteristic parameter includes a control channel element or a number of control channel elements; wherein the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, N is a positive integer, M1 is a positive integer; the transceiver 1320 is configured to send the indication information determined by the processing unit to the first device.

Fig. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus 1400 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1400 is capable of performing each step performed by the first device in the above method embodiment, and may also be configured to perform each step performed by the second device in the above method embodiment, and therefore, in order to avoid repetition, details are not described here. The communication device 1400 may be a terminal device or a chip applied to a terminal device, and the communication device 1400 may also be a network device or a chip applied to a network device. The communication apparatus 1400 includes:

a memory 1410 for storing programs;

a communication interface 1420 for communicating with other devices;

a processor 1430 for executing a program in the memory 1410, wherein when the program is executed, the processor 1030 is configured to receive indication information from a second device via the communication interface 1420, the indication information indicating a characteristic parameter monitored by the first device in N time spans included in a first time length, the characteristic parameter including a control channel element or a number of control channel elements; wherein the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, N is a positive integer, M1 is a positive integer; and configured to determine, according to the indication information received by the transceiver unit, a characteristic parameter monitored in one or more time spans included in the N time spans of the first time length, and further configured to receive, through the communication interface 1420, a control channel on a control channel element resource corresponding to the characteristic parameter monitored in the one or more time spans.

Alternatively, the processor 1430 determines indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate a characteristic parameter monitored by the first device in N time spans included in the first time length, where the characteristic parameter includes a control channel element or a number of control channel elements; wherein the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, N is a positive integer, M1 is a positive integer, and transmitting the indication information to the first device through the communication interface 1420.

It should be understood that the communication device 1400 shown in fig. 14 may be a chip or a circuit. Such as a chip or circuit that may be provided within a terminal device or a chip or circuit that may be provided within a network device. The communication interface 1020 may also be a transceiver. The transceiver includes a receiver and a transmitter. Further, the communication apparatus 1000 may also include a bus system.

Wherein, the processor 1430, the memory 1410, the receiver and the transmitter are connected through a bus system, and the processor 1430 is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory 1410 to control the receiver to receive signals and control the transmitter to transmit signals, thereby completing the steps of the network device in the communication method of the present application. Wherein the receiver and the transmitter may be the same or different physical entities. When the same physical entity, may be collectively referred to as a transceiver. The memory 1410 may be integrated into the processor 1430, or may be provided separately from the processor 1430.

As an implementation manner, the functions of the receiver and the transmitter may be considered to be implemented by a transceiving circuit or a transceiving dedicated chip. Processor 1430 may be considered to be implemented by a dedicated processing chip, processing circuit, processor, or general purpose chip.

Fig. 15 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a possible design structure of the terminal device involved in the above-described embodiment. The terminal device includes a transmitter 1501, a receiver 1502, a controller/processor 1503, memory 1504 and a modem processor 1505.

The transmitter 1501 is used to transmit an uplink signal, which is transmitted to the network device described in the above embodiments via an antenna. On the downlink, the antenna receives a downlink signal (DCI) transmitted by the network device in the above-described embodiment. The receiver 1502 is configured to receive a downlink signal (DCI) received from an antenna. In the modem processor 1505, an encoder 1506 receives traffic data and signaling messages to be transmitted on the uplink and processes the traffic data and signaling messages. A modulator 1507 further processes (e.g., symbol maps and modulates) the coded traffic data and signaling messages and provides output samples. A demodulator 1509 processes (e.g., demodulates) the input samples and provides symbol estimates. A decoder 1508 processes (e.g., decodes) the symbol estimates and provides decoded data and signaling messages for transmission to the terminal devices. The encoder 1506, modulator 1507, demodulator 1509, and decoder 1508 may be implemented by a combined modem processor 1505. These elements are processed according to the radio access technology employed by the radio access network.

The controller/processor 1503 controls and manages the operation of the terminal device, and executes the processing performed by the terminal device in the above-described embodiment. For example, the terminal device is controlled to receive the indication information from the second device, and determine the characteristic parameters monitored in one or more time spans in the N time spans included in the first time length according to the received indication information; receiving a control channel and/or other processes of the techniques described herein on a control channel element resource corresponding to a characteristic parameter monitored over one or more time spans. The controller/processor 1503 is illustratively configured to enable the terminal device to perform the processes S403 and S404 of fig. 4.

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

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, it should be understood that the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, for example, the division of the units is only one logical function division, and there may be other division manners in actual implementation, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or may be integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the communication connections shown or discussed may be indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units through interfaces, and may be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

In addition, each unit in the embodiments of the apparatus 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.

It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), other general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but may be any conventional processor.

The methods in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions may be stored in or transmitted over a computer-readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server that integrates one or more available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape; or optical media, such as CD-ROM, DVD; it may also be a semiconductor medium, such as a Solid State Disk (SSD), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a register, and the like.

An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium may also be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC may reside in a network device or a terminal device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a transmitting device or a receiving device.

In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or conflicting with respect to logic, the terms and/or descriptions in different embodiments have consistency and may be mutually cited, and technical features in different embodiments may be combined to form a new embodiment according to their inherent logic relationship.

In the present application, "and/or" describes an association relationship of associated objects, which means that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, wherein A and B can be singular or plural. In the description of the text of the present application, the character "/" generally indicates that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship; in the formula of the present application, the character "/" indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in a relationship of "division".

It is to be understood that the various numerical references referred to in the embodiments of the present application are merely for descriptive convenience and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present application without departing from the scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as well.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a first device receives indication information from a second device, wherein the indication information is used for indicating characteristic parameters monitored by the first device in N time spans contained in a first time length, and the characteristic parameters comprise control channel elements or the number of the control channel elements; wherein the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, N is a positive integer, M1 is a positive integer;

the first device determines characteristic parameters monitored in one or more time spans in the N time spans contained in the first time length according to the indication information;

and the first device receives a control channel on the control channel element resource corresponding to the characteristic parameter monitored in the one or more time spans.

2. The method of claim 1,

the indication information indicates that the first device determines the characteristic parameter monitored in the first time length according to one rule of a first rule and/or a second rule and/or a third rule; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

3. The method of claim 2,

the first rule is: the first length of time comprises N time spans in total, and the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is the M1;

the second rule is: the number of control channel elements monitored in a first time span in the first length of time is M1, and the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the remaining time spans of the first length of time except the first time span is M2;

the third rule is: the number of control channel elements monitored for at least 2 time spans in the first length of time is determined according to the M1, the number of control channel elements monitored for at least 1 time span in the first length of time is determined according to M2, and the M1 is greater than the M2.

4. The method of any of claims 1-3, wherein the method further comprises:

the first equipment reports first capacity information to the second equipment; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

5. The method of any of claims 1-4, wherein the indication information includes a first parameter, and wherein determining, by the first device, the characteristic parameter to be monitored in the one or more time spans included in the first time length from the indication information comprises:

the first device determining, from the first parameter and the M1, a number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans over the first length of time; or the like, or, alternatively,

the first device determining, according to the first parameter and the M1, a number of control channel elements to be monitored in each of the remaining N-1 time spans except the first time span in the N time spans of the first time length; or the like, or, alternatively,

the first device determines that the number of monitored control channel elements in a first one of the N time spans is the M1, and the number of monitored control channel elements in each of the remaining N-1 of the N time spans except the first time span is a product of M1 and the first parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 or 4,

7. The method of any of claims 3-6,

8. The method of any of claims 4-7, further comprising:

9. A method of communication, comprising:

10. The method of claim 9,

11. The method of claim 10,

12. The method of any of claims 9-11, wherein the method further comprises:

13. The method of any of claims 9-12, wherein the indication information comprises a first parameter, wherein the first parameter relates to the number of control channel elements monitored.

14. The method of claim 9 or 12,

15. The method of any one of claims 11-14,

16. The method according to any one of claims 12-15, further comprising:

17. A communication apparatus comprising a processing unit and a transceiving unit, wherein:

the transceiver unit is configured to receive indication information from a second device, where the indication information is used to indicate a characteristic parameter monitored by the first device in N time spans included in a first time length, where the characteristic parameter includes a control channel element or a number of control channel elements; wherein the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, N is a positive integer, M1 is a positive integer;

the processing unit is configured to determine, according to the indication information received by the transceiver unit, a characteristic parameter monitored in one or more time spans among the N time spans included in the first time length; and the transceiver unit is configured to receive a control channel on a control channel element resource corresponding to the characteristic parameter monitored in the one or more time spans.

18. The communications apparatus of claim 17,

19. The communications apparatus of claim 18,

20. The communications apparatus as claimed in any of claims 17-19, wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to:

reporting first capability information to the second equipment; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the first capability information indicates a maximum number of CCEs that the communication device is capable of monitoring non-overlapping for a first time span within the first length of time; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

the first capability information indicates a maximum number of CCEs that the communication device is capable of monitoring non-overlapping within each of the remaining N-1 time spans of the first length of time excluding the first time span; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

the first capability information indicates rules that the communication device is capable of supporting for a first length of time, the rules for determining monitored characteristic quantities.

21. The communications apparatus as claimed in any of claims 17-20, wherein the processing unit is specifically configured to, when the indication information includes a first parameter, determine a number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans in the first time length based on the first parameter and the M1; or, when the indication information includes a first parameter, determining the number of control channel elements to be monitored in each of the remaining N-1 time spans except the first time span in the N time spans in the first time length according to the first parameter and the M1; or the like, or, alternatively,

determining that the number of monitored control channel elements in a first one of the N time spans is the M1 when the indication information includes a first parameter, the number of monitored control channel elements in each of the remaining N-1 of the N time spans except the first time span being a product of M1 and the first parameter.

22. The communication apparatus according to claim 17 or 20,

23. The communication apparatus according to any of claims 19 to 22,

24. The communications apparatus as claimed in any of claims 20-23, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

controlling the transceiver unit to report the first capability information to the second device according to whether carrier aggregation is supported or not; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

determining a value of the M1 according to whether carrier aggregation is supported; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

determining the value of M2 according to whether carrier aggregation is supported.

25. A communication apparatus comprising a processing unit and a transceiving unit, wherein:

the processing unit is configured to determine indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate a characteristic parameter monitored by the first device in N time spans included in the first time length, where the characteristic parameter includes a control channel element or a number of control channel elements; wherein the number of control channel elements monitored in each of the N time spans is related to M1, N is a positive integer, M1 is a positive integer;

the transceiver unit is configured to send the indication information determined by the processing unit to the first device.

26. The communications apparatus of claim 25,

27. The communications apparatus of claim 26,

28. The communication apparatus according to any of claims 25-27, wherein the processing unit is further configured to obtain first capability information of the first device; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

29. The communications apparatus of any of claims 25-28, wherein the indication information comprises a first parameter, wherein the first parameter relates to the number of control channel elements monitored.

30. The communication apparatus according to claim 25 or 28,

time intervals of two adjacent time spans of the N time spans are configured by the communication device; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

time intervals of two adjacent time spans in the remaining time spans of the first time length except the N time spans are configured by the communication device; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

31. The communication apparatus according to any of claims 27-30,

32. The communications device according to any one of claims 28-31, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

configuring the first device with the value of M1; wherein the first device has a capability to support carrier aggregation, the communication apparatus configures the value of M1 from a first set of values, the first device does not have a capability to support carrier aggregation, the communication apparatus configures the value of M1 from a second set of values, the first set of values and the second set of values are different sets; or

Configuring the first device with the value of M2; wherein the first device has a capability to support carrier aggregation, the communications apparatus configures the value of M2 from a third set of values, the first device does not have a capability to support carrier aggregation, the communications apparatus configures the value of M2 from a fourth set of values, the third set of values and the fourth set of values are different sets.

33. A communication apparatus, comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the memory storing a computer program, the processor being configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory such that the apparatus implements the method of any of claims 1-8 or 9-16.

34. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that it stores a computer program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or 9 to 16.