CN112586057B

CN112586057B - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN112586057B
Application number: CN201880096846.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 韩金侠; 李铮; 南杨; 李振宇; 张武荣
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-05
Filing date: 2018-09-05
Publication date: 2022-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-05
Also published as: WO2020047759A1; CN112586057A

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a communication method and equipment, relates to the field of communication, and can control the duty ratio in a fixed channel period to be smaller than or equal to a preset duty ratio. The specific scheme is as follows: the method comprises the steps of configuring a de-enabled downlink subframe in advance, sending NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH on the downlink subframe in a first period in a time domain, wherein the ratio of the sum of the total duration of a first type of downlink subframe for sending the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH and the total duration of a third type of downlink subframe to the total duration of a first period is smaller than or equal to a preset duty ratio, the first type of downlink subframe is a downlink subframe used for downlink sending, the second type of downlink subframe is an invalid downlink subframe, and the third type of downlink subframe is used for sending NPSS, NSSS and NPBCH. The embodiment of the application is used in the downlink sending process.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

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

Background

The technology of narrowband band internet of things (NB-IoT) is an emerging technology in the field of the Internet of things, supports cellular data connection of low-power consumption equipment in a wide area network, and has the characteristics of wide coverage, more connections, high speed, low cost, low power consumption, excellent architecture and the like. The narrowband internet of things may also be referred to as a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN). In order to fully utilize spectrum resources, the MulteFire alliance (MFA) proposes unlicensed spectrum based narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT-U) technology. The NB-IoT-U has the technical characteristics of NB-IoT, but in order to adapt to the unlicensed spectrum regulations, some modifications to adapt to the unlicensed spectrum regulations are also required on the basis of the NB-IoT frame structure. For example, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) spectrum regulations specify that for devices using unlicensed spectrum below 1GHZ, a required duty cycle should be less than or equal to a preset duty cycle (e.g., 10% of the preset duty cycle). The duty ratio refers to a ratio of a transmission time length of a transmitter of each transmitting device on one observation frequency band to an observation period in the observation period. However, according to the frame structure of the NB-IoT-U under the existing ETSI regulation, in a fixed channel period, if all downlink subframes except for the fixed channel portion in the frame structure of the NB-IoT-U are used to transmit a Narrowband Physical Downlink Shared Channel (NPDSCH) or/and a Narrowband Physical Downlink Control Channel (NPDCCH), the duty ratio is greater than the preset duty ratio. Therefore, how to control the downlink duty ratio within the fixed channel period to be less than or equal to the preset duty ratio is an urgent problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and equipment, which can control the duty ratio in a fixed channel period to be less than or equal to a preset duty ratio.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the embodiment of the present application adopts the following technical solutions:

in a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, where the method is applicable to a base station, and/or the method is applicable to a communication apparatus that can support the base station to implement the method, for example, the communication apparatus includes a chip system, and the method includes: in a first period in the time domain, NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is transmitted on a downlink subframe. The downlink subframes comprise a first type of downlink subframe and a second type of downlink subframe. The first type of downlink subframe is a downlink subframe for downlink transmission. The second type of downlink subframe is an invalid downlink subframe. Wherein the content of the first and second substances,

T ₁ indicating the total duration, T, of the first type downlink sub-frame for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH ₂ Indicating the total duration, T, of the downlink sub-frame of the third type _total Representing the total duration of the first cycle, D _{presupposition} Representing a preset duty cycle. The preset duty ratio is the ratio of the sum of the total duration of all first type downlink subframes used for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH and the total duration of third type downlink subframes in the first period to the total duration of the first period. The preset duty cycle may be 10% or 2.5%. The third type of downlink subframe is used for transmitting a Narrowband Primary Synchronization Signal (NPSS), a Narrowband Secondary Synchronization Signal (NSSS), and a Narrowband Physical Broadcast Channel (NPBCH). According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, before the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by using the downlink subframe, the downlink subframe is determined to be enabled, then the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by occupying the enabled downlink subframe, so that the duty ratio of the sum of the total duration of the enabled downlink subframes actually sending the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH and the total duration of the third type of downlink subframes is smaller than or equal to the preset duty ratio.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, where the method is applicable to a terminal device, and/or the method is applicable to a communication apparatus that can support the terminal device to implement the method, for example, the communication apparatus includes a chip system, and the method includes: receiving NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH on downlink subframes in a first period in a time domain, wherein the downlink subframes comprise first type downlink subframes and second type downlink subframes, the first type downlink subframes are downlink subframes used for downlink transmission, the second type downlink subframes are invalid downlink subframes, wherein,

T ₁ indicating the total duration, T, of the first type downlink sub-frame for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH ₂ Indicating the total duration, T, of the downlink sub-frame of the third type _total Representing the total duration of the first cycle, D _{presupposition} Representing a preset duty cycle, thirdThe quasi-downlink subframe is used for transmitting NPSS, NSSS and NPBCH. According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, before the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by using the downlink subframe, the downlink subframe is determined to be enabled, then the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by occupying the enabled downlink subframe, so that the duty ratio of the sum of the total duration of the enabled downlink subframes actually sending the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH and the total duration of the third type of downlink subframes is smaller than or equal to the preset duty ratio.

With reference to the first aspect and the second aspect, in a first possible design, the downlink subframes of the second type are discretely distributed in the first period. Specifically, the downlink subframes of the second type are uniformly distributed in the first period. Therefore, the downlink data transmission delay can be effectively reduced.

With reference to the foregoing possible design, in a second possible design, the first period includes M first time units including the first type downlink subframes and P first time units including the second type downlink subframes, M is greater than 0 and smaller than N, a sum of M and P is greater than or equal to N, N represents a total number of the first time units in the first period, P is greater than 0 and smaller than N, and N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1.

And the sum of M and P is equal to N, and all downlink subframes included in each first time unit of the P first time units including the second type of downlink subframes are de-enabled downlink subframes.

The sum of M and P is larger than N, and at least one first time unit in the P first time units comprising the second type downlink subframes comprises the first type downlink subframes and the second type downlink subframes.

When the sum of M and P is equal to N, in a third possible design, the duration of the first period is 1280ms, and the starting position of 1280ms is the same as the starting position of the second time unit to which the first period belongs, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 40ms, the first time unit includes 4 downlink subframes and 36 uplink subframes, the index number of the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes is a multiple of 7, the index number starts from the first time unit within 1280ms, and the index number of the first time unit starts from 1.

When the sum of M and P is equal to N, in a fourth possible design, the duration of the first period is 1280ms, and the starting position of 1280ms is the same as the starting position of the second time unit to which it belongs, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 20ms, the first time unit includes 2 downlink subframes and 18 uplink subframes, the index number of the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes is a multiple of 7, the index number starts from the first time unit within 1280ms, and the index number of the first time unit starts from 1.

When the sum of M and P is equal to N, in a fifth possible design, the duration of the first period is 1280ms, and the starting position of 1280ms is the same as the starting position of the second time unit to which the first time unit belongs, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 20ms, the first time unit includes 2 downlink subframes and 18 uplink subframes, the index number of the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes is 1 and is a multiple of 8, the index number starts from the first time unit within 1280ms, and the index number of the first time unit starts from 1.

The sum of M and P is greater than N, in a sixth possible design, the duration of the first period is 1280ms, and the starting position of 1280ms is the same as the starting position of the second time unit to which it belongs, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 80ms, the first time unit includes 8 downlink subframes and 72 uplink subframes, the index number of the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes is a multiple of 7, the index number starts from the first time unit within 1280ms, and the index number of the first time unit starts from 1.

With reference to the above possible designs, in a seventh possible design, the first period further includes a third time unit, and the third time unit includes only the uplink subframe. In case that the duration of the first time unit is 80ms, the duration of the third time unit is 60 ms. In case the duration of the first time unit is 40ms, the duration of the third time unit is 20 ms.

When the sum of M and P is equal to N, in an eighth possibilityIn the design, the duration of the first period is 1280ms, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the third time unit is 0ms, the first time unit comprises 2 downlink subframes and 8 uplink subframes, the index number of the first time unit comprising the second type downlink subframes is even index number or odd index number and

a multiple of 7, the index number starts from the first time unit and the index number for the first time unit starts from 1 within 1280 milliseconds.

When the sum of M and P is equal to N, in a ninth possible design, the duration of the first period is 1280ms, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the third time unit is 0ms, the first time unit includes 2 downlink subframes and 8 uplink subframes, the index number of the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes is an even index number or an odd index number and

equal to 1 and a multiple of 8, the index number starts from the first time unit and the index number of the first time unit starts from 1 within 1280 milliseconds.

When the sum of M and P is equal to N, in a tenth possible design, the duration of the first period is 1280 msec, the duration of the second time unit is 20 msec, the duration of the third time unit is 0 msec, the first time unit is divided into 2 time units, each time unit includes 2 downlink subframes and 8 uplink subframes, the index number of the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes is a multiple of 7, and in the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes, the downlink subframes of the first time unit or the second time unit are enabled within 1280 msec, the index number starts from the first time unit, and the index number of the first time unit starts numbering from 1.

With reference to the above possible designs, in an eleventh possible design, all downlink subframes of the first type in the first period are used to transmit the narrowband reference signal NRS.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, where the method is applicable to a base station, and/or the method is applicable to a communication apparatus that can support the base station to implement the method, for example, the communication apparatus includes a chip system, and the method includes: in a first period in a time domain, transmitting a Narrowband Reference Signal (NRS) on Q first-type downlink subframes, where the first-type downlink subframes are downlink subframes used for downlink transmission, Q is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, a ratio of a sum of total duration of the Q first-type downlink subframes and total duration of a third-type downlink subframe to the total duration of the first period is less than or equal to a preset duty ratio, the third-type downlink subframe is used for transmitting NPSS, NSSS, and NPBCH, and the preset duty ratio may be 10% or 2.5%.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, where the method is applicable to a terminal device, and/or the method is applicable to a communication apparatus that can support the terminal device to implement the method, for example, the communication apparatus includes a chip system, and the method includes: in a first period in a time domain, receiving NRS on Q first-class downlink subframes, wherein the first-class downlink subframes are downlink subframes used for downlink transmission, Q is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, the ratio of the sum of the total duration of the Q first-class downlink subframes and the total duration of a third-class downlink subframe to the total duration of a first period is smaller than or equal to a preset duty ratio, and the third-class downlink subframes are used for transmitting NPSS, NSSS and NPBCH.

Therefore, the first-class downlink subframe for pre-configuring and sending the NRS may be the first-class downlink subframe for sending the SIB1, so that the synchronization performance of the terminal equipment and the base station is ensured, more first-class downlink subframes can be reserved, and the flexibility of resource scheduling of the base station is improved. In these first type downlink subframes, the base station may decide whether to transmit NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH, and whether to transmit NRS depends on whether NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH is transmitted, and if NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH is transmitted, NRS is transmitted, and if not, NRS is not transmitted.

With reference to the first aspect and the second aspect, in a first possible design, the Q first-type downlink subframes are discretely distributed in the first period. Specifically, Q first-type downlink subframes are uniformly distributed in a first period.

Illustratively, the Q first type downlink subframes are discretely distributed in the first time unit with index numbers 4, 5, 18, 19, 33, 34, 49 and 50. Or, the Q first-type downlink subframes are uniformly distributed in the first time unit with the index number being the odd index number or the even index number. Or, the Q first-type downlink subframes are uniformly distributed in the first time unit of the index number which is a multiple of 7.

With reference to the foregoing possible designs, in a first possible design, before transmitting NRS on Q first type downlink subframes, the method further includes: and sending system information, wherein the system information comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating a first type of downlink subframe for sending NRS.

With reference to the foregoing possible design, in a second possible design, before sending NRS on Q first-type downlink subframes, the method further includes: and transmitting system information, wherein the system information comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating a first time unit for transmitting the NRS.

Specifically, the first indication information is indicated by a bitmap, the length of the bitmap is greater than or equal to the number of downlink subframes in all first time units in a period indicated by the bitmap, and one bit in the bitmap corresponds to one downlink subframe of one first time unit in the period indicated by the bitmap.

The first indication information is indicated by a bitmap, the length of the bitmap is greater than or equal to the number of first time units in a period indicated by the bitmap, and each bit in the bitmap corresponds to one first time unit in the period indicated by the bitmap.

The period indicated by the bitmap is equal to the first period length. Alternatively, the period indicated by the bitmap is equal to one quarter of the length of the first period. For example, the period indicated by the bitmap may be 32 Qms.

The subframe for carrying the NRS is different from or partially the same as the subframe for downlink transmission.

With reference to the foregoing possible designs, in a third possible design, after NRS is sent on Q first-type downlink subframes, the method further includes: and transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, configured to implement the method described in the first aspect. The communication device implements the method described in the first aspect for a base station or a supporting base station, e.g. the communication device comprises a system of chips. For example, the communication apparatus includes: and a sending unit. The sending unit is configured to send NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH on a downlink subframe in a first period in a time domain. The downlink subframes comprise a first type downlink subframe and a second type downlink subframe. The first type of downlink subframe is a downlink subframe for downlink transmission. The second type of downlink subframe is an invalid downlink subframe. Wherein the content of the first and second substances,

T ₁ indicating the total duration, T, of the first type downlink sub-frame for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH ₂ Indicating the total duration, T, of the downlink sub-frame of the third type _total Representing the total duration of the first cycle, D _{presupposition} Representing a preset duty cycle. The preset duty ratio is the ratio of the sum of the total duration of all first type downlink subframes used for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH and the total duration of third type downlink subframes in the first period to the total duration of the first period. The preset duty cycle may be 10% or 2.5%. The third type of downlink subframe is used for transmitting NPSS, NSSS and NPBCH. According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, before the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by using the downlink subframe, the downlink subframe is determined to be enabled, then the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by occupying the enabled downlink subframe, so that the duty ratio of the sum of the total duration of the enabled downlink subframes actually sending the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH and the total duration of the third type of downlink subframes is smaller than or equal to the preset duty ratio.

Optionally, the specific method is the same as that described in the first aspect, and is not described herein again.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, configured to implementThe method described in the second aspect above. The communication apparatus implements the method described in the second aspect for the terminal device and/or a communication apparatus supporting the terminal device, for example, the communication apparatus includes a system-on-chip. For example, the communication apparatus includes: and a receiving unit. The receiving unit is configured to receive the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH on a downlink subframe in a first period in a time domain, where the downlink subframe includes a first type of downlink subframe and a second type of downlink subframe, the first type of downlink subframe is a downlink subframe used for downlink transmission, the second type of downlink subframe is an invalid downlink subframe, where,

T ₁ indicating the total duration, T, of the first type downlink sub-frame for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH ₂ Indicating the total duration, T, of the downlink sub-frame of the third type _total Denotes the total duration of the first cycle, D _{presupposition} And the third type of downlink subframe is used for sending NPSS, NSSS and NPBCH. According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, before the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by using the downlink subframe, the downlink subframe is determined to be enabled, then the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by occupying the enabled downlink subframe, so that the duty ratio of the sum of the total duration of the enabled downlink subframes actually sending the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH and the total duration of the third type of downlink subframes is smaller than or equal to the preset duty ratio.

Optionally, the specific method is as described in the second aspect, and is not described herein again.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, configured to implement the method described in the foregoing third aspect. The communication device implements the method described in the third aspect for a base station or a supporting base station, e.g. the communication device comprises a system of chips. For example, the communication apparatus includes: and a sending unit. The sending unit is configured to send NRS on Q first type downlink subframes in a first period in a time domain, where the first type downlink subframes are downlink subframes used for downlink sending, Q is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, a ratio of a sum of total duration of the Q first type downlink subframes and total duration of a third type downlink subframe to the total duration of the first period is less than or equal to a preset duty ratio, and the third type downlink subframes are used for sending NPSS, NSSS, and NPBCH, and the preset duty ratio may be 10% or 2.5%.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, configured to implement the method described in the fourth aspect. The communication apparatus implements the method described in the fourth aspect for the terminal device and/or a communication apparatus supporting the terminal device, for example, the communication apparatus includes a system-on-chip. For example, the communication apparatus includes: and a receiving unit. The receiving unit is configured to receive NRS on Q first-class downlink subframes in a first period in a time domain, where the first-class downlink subframes are downlink subframes used for downlink transmission, Q is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, a ratio of a sum of total duration of the Q first-class downlink subframes and total duration of a third-class downlink subframe to the total duration of the first period is less than or equal to a preset duty ratio, and the third-class downlink subframe is used for transmitting NPSS, NSSS, and NPBCH.

Optionally, the specific method is the same as that described in the fourth aspect, and is not described herein again.

It should be noted that the functional modules in the fifth aspect to the eighth aspect may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described functions. E.g. a transceiver for performing the functions of the receiving unit and the transmitting unit, a processor for performing the functions of the processing unit, a memory for the processor to process the program instructions of the methods of the embodiments of the application. The processor, transceiver and memory are connected by a bus and communicate with each other. In particular, reference may be made to the functionality of the behavior of the terminal device or the base station in the method of the first aspect to the method of the fourth aspect.

In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, configured to implement the methods described in the first aspect and the third aspect. The communication device implements the method described in the first aspect and the third aspect for a base station or a supporting base station, for example, the communication device comprises a chip system. For example the communication device comprises a processor for implementing the functionality of the methods described in the first and third aspects above. The communication device may also include a memory for storing program instructions and data. The memory is coupled to the processor, and the processor may call and execute the program instructions stored in the memory, so as to implement the functions in the methods described in the first and third aspects. The communication device may further comprise a communication interface for the communication device to communicate with other devices. Illustratively, if the communication device is a base station, the other device is a terminal device.

In one possible arrangement, the communication device comprises: a communication interface for the communication device to communicate with other devices. Illustratively, the communication interface may be a transceiver for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH on downlink subframes, or NRS on Q downlink subframes of the first type. A memory for storing program instructions.

Optionally, the specific communication method is the same as that described in the first aspect and the third aspect, and is not described herein again.

In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, configured to implement the method described in the second aspect and the fourth aspect. The communication apparatus implements the method described in the second aspect and the fourth aspect for a terminal device or a support terminal device, for example, the communication apparatus includes a chip system. For example, the communication device comprises a processor for implementing the functions in the methods described in the second and fourth aspects above. The communication device may also include a memory for storing program instructions and data. The memory is coupled to the processor, and the processor may call and execute the program instructions stored in the memory to implement the functions in the methods described in the second and fourth aspects. The communication device may further comprise a communication interface for the communication device to communicate with other devices. Illustratively, if the communication device is a terminal device, the other device is a base station.

In one possible arrangement, the communication device comprises: a communication interface for the communication device to communicate with other devices. Illustratively, the communication interface may be a transceiver for receiving NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH on downlink subframes or for receiving NRS transmitted on Q downlink subframes of the first type. A memory for storing program instructions.

In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, including: computer software instructions; the computer software instructions, when executed in a communication apparatus, cause the communication apparatus to perform the method of any of the first to fourth aspects described above.

In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product containing instructions, which, when run in a communication apparatus, cause the communication apparatus to perform the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor and may further include a memory, and is configured to implement the function of the network device or the terminal device in the foregoing method. The chip system may be formed by a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, where the communication system includes the base station described in the fifth aspect or a communication apparatus that supports the base station to implement the method described in the first aspect, and the terminal device described in the sixth aspect or a communication apparatus that supports the terminal device to implement the method described in the second aspect;

the communication system comprises the base station described in the seventh aspect or a communication apparatus supporting the base station to implement the method described in the third aspect, and the terminal device described in the eighth aspect or a communication apparatus supporting the terminal device to implement the method described in the fourth aspect;

the communication system comprises the base station described in the ninth aspect or the communication apparatus supporting the base station to implement the method described in the first aspect or the third aspect, and the terminal device described in the tenth aspect or the communication apparatus supporting the terminal device to implement the method described in the second aspect or the fourth aspect.

In addition, the technical effects brought by the design manners of any aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought by the different design manners in the first aspect and the second aspect, and are not described herein again.

In the embodiments of the present application, the names of the terminal device, the base station, and the communication apparatus do not limit the device itself, and in practical implementations, the devices may appear by other names. Provided that the function of each device is similar to the embodiments of the present application, and fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

These and other aspects of the embodiments of the present application will be more readily apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a transit system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U provided in the prior art;

fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U provided in the prior art;

fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U provided in the prior art;

fig. 5 is a diagram of a frame structure example of an NB-IoT-U provided in the prior art;

fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U provided in the prior art;

fig. 7 is a first flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a first example of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 10 is a third exemplary diagram of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 11 is a fourth example of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a fourth example of a time cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a second flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a diagram of a frame structure example of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 15 is a sixth exemplary diagram of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 16 is a seventh exemplary frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 17 is an example of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U provided in an embodiment of the present application, fig. eight;

fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 19 is a diagram illustrating another example of a structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application may be applied. As shown in fig. 1, the communication system may include: base station 101 and terminal equipment 102.

The base station 101 may be a Base Station (BS) or a base station controller (bsc) for wireless communication. Specifically, the base station may include a user plane base station and a control plane base station. A base station is a device deployed in a radio access network to provide a wireless communication function for a terminal device 102, and its main functions are: management of radio resources, compression of Internet Protocol (IP) headers and encryption of user data streams, selection of Mobility Management Entity (MME) when a user equipment is attached, routing of user plane data to Serving Gateway (SGW), organization and transmission of paging messages, organization and transmission of broadcast messages, measurement for mobility or scheduling, and configuration of measurement reports. Base station 101 may include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, access points, and so forth. In systems using different radio access technologies, names of devices having a base station function may be different, for example, in an LTE network, the device is called an evolved NodeB (eNB) or eNodeB, in a 3 rd generation mobile communication technology (3G) system, the device is called a base station (Node B), and in a next generation wireless communication system, the device is called a next generation base station (gNB). The name "base station" may change as communication technology evolves. Further, the base station 101 may be other apparatuses that provide the terminal device 102 with a wireless communication function, in other possible cases. For convenience of description, in the embodiment of the present application, an apparatus for providing a wireless communication function for the terminal device 102 is referred to as a base station.

The terminal 102 may also be referred to as a terminal (terminal), a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (MT), etc. The terminal device may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer (Pad), a computer with wireless transceiving function, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal device, an Augmented Reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote surgery (remote medical supply), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), and so on. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific technology and the specific device form adopted by the terminal device. The terminal device 102 may also be a relay (relay) and the base station may be both capable of data communication as a terminal device. In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 1, a user equipment taking a terminal device 102 as a general meaning is illustrated as an example.

It should be noted that the communication system provided in the embodiments of the present application may refer to an unlicensed wireless communication system limited by spectrum regulations. Such as an NB-IoT-U system. The communication method is suitable for the frequency spectrum with the duty ratio limitation.

For example, taking the spectral regulation of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) as an example, the ETSI regulation imposes the following constraints on devices using unlicensed bands below 1 GHz.

For the 869.4-869.65MHz (band54) band, the equivalent radiated power (or effective radiated power, ERP) is 27dBm at the maximum, and the duty cycle is 10% at the maximum in a 1-hour period. For the 865-868MHz (band47b) frequency band, only four frequency bands of 865.6-865.8MHz, 866.2-866.4MHz, 866.8-867.0MHz and 867.4-867.6MHz can be used, and an adaptive power control technology needs to be provided, the equivalent radiation power is 27dBm at most, the duty ratio of the network access point is 10% at most in a 1-hour period, otherwise, the duty ratio is 2.5%, that is, for NB-IoT-U, the downlink transmission duty ratio on the network side is 10% at most in a 1-hour period. Reference may be made in particular to the description of COMMISON IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU)2017/1483 of 8 August 2017.

In general, duty cycle refers to the proportion of the time of energization relative to the total time within a pulse cycle. In general, in the periodic type phenomenon, the ratio of the time that a certain phenomenon lasts after it occurs to the total time. In the embodiment of the present application, the duty ratio refers to a ratio of a time length of transmission of the transmitter of each transmitting device on one observation frequency band to an observation period in the observation period. The observation period may be understood as a fixed channel period.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "like" are used to mean serving as examples, illustrations or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "such as" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the word "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion.

The terms "first," "second," and "third," etc. in the description and claims of this application and the above-described drawings are used for distinguishing between different objects and not for limiting a particular order.

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

It should be noted that "connection" in this application means that the communication can be performed, specifically, the connection can be performed through a wired manner, and also can be performed through a wireless manner, and this is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the application. The devices connected to each other may be directly connected to each other, or may be connected to each other through other devices, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The current ETSI regulations specify that one fixed channel period in the frame structure of NB-IoT-U includes a fixed channel portion (anchor segment) and a data channel portion (data segment). The fixed channel period may also be referred to as a Discovery Reference Signal (DRS) period or an anchor segment (anchor segment) period. By fixed channel is understood a fixed frequency point where messages such as synchronization signals and MIB, or synchronization signals, MIB and other broadcast information are transmitted. Fixed channels may also be referred to as common channels. For a system operating on an unlicensed spectrum, in order to reduce a time delay when a terminal device initially accesses, a base station generally first transmits a synchronization signal and a MIB, or the synchronization signal, the MIB and other broadcast information, on a pre-agreed fixed frequency point, and after transmitting the synchronization signal and the MIB, or the synchronization signal, the MIB and other broadcast information, a System Information Block (SIB) is transmitted to the terminal device on a data channel in a time division multiplexing manner. Therefore, the synchronization signal and the MIB, or the synchronization signal, the MIB and other broadcast information are transmitted on the fixed channel, so that the terminal device can search for the synchronization signal during blind detection, then receive the MIB information and other broadcast information, then receive the SIB, and perform the procedures of random access and the like. The SIBs described in the embodiments of the present application include SIB1 to SIB22, and the like, and the other broadcast information described in the embodiments of the present application includes SIB1 or other SIBs. The synchronization signals include Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS). The MIB is transmitted via a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), and other broadcast information includes, but is not limited to, other SIBs of the SIB transmission scheme according to the embodiment of the present application. Alternatively, the synchronization signal includes a Narrowband Primary Synchronization Signal (NPSS) and a Narrowband Secondary Synchronization Signal (NSSS). The MIB is transmitted through a Narrowband Physical Broadcast Channel (NPBCH), and other broadcast information includes, but is not limited to, other SIBs of the SIB transmission scheme according to the embodiment of the present application. The fixed channel portion may also be referred to as an anchor segment, a fixed segment, or a fixed portion. The data channel portion may also be referred to as a data segment or data portion. The data channel part is used for transmitting uplink data and downlink data. The frequency domain resources and the time domain resources occupied by the fixed channel part and the data channel part in the embodiment of the application are both unlicensed spectrum resources.

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U provided in the prior art. The duration of the fixed channel period is 1280 milliseconds (ms), the duration of the fixed channel portion is 20ms, and the duration of the data channel portion is 1260 ms. The duration for transmitting NPSS and/or NSSS in the fixed channel section may be 10ms, and the duration for transmitting NPBCH may be 10 ms. According to different proportions of the uplink sub-frame and the downlink sub-frame, the number of data frames used for transmitting uplink data and downlink data in the data channel part is different. The data frame may also be understood as a time unit for transmitting uplink data and downlink data in a fixed channel period, that is, the data frame corresponds to the first time unit in the following text.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U provided in the prior art. Assuming that a time unit includes 8 downlink subframes and 72 uplink subframes, each subframe has a duration of 1ms, i.e., 8ms in the time unit is used for transmitting downlink data and 72ms is used for transmitting uplink data, the duration of the time unit may be 80 ms. In this case, the 1260ms data channel portion may include up to 15 80ms time elements and one 60ms time element. For simplicity, hereinafter, a time unit including a downlink subframe and an uplink subframe is defined as a first time unit, and a time unit including only an uplink subframe is defined as a third time unit. The fixed channel portion is a second time unit.

It should be noted that, in this scenario, the sum of the duration of the third time unit and the duration of the second time unit is equal to the duration of the first time unit. It will be appreciated that the fixed channel period comprises 16 time units of 80 ms. For convenience, the index of 80ms may be indexed in a fixed channel period by the duration of the first time unit, and the index may be numbered from n, so that the index of the time unit formed by the second time unit and the third time unit is n, the index of the 1 st first time unit is n +1, and so on, the index of the 15 th first time unit is n + 15. For convenience, the index value is expressed by a frame number (nFrame) index, and the index value within the fixed channel period may be expressed by a frame number (nFrame _ anchor) index within the fixed channel period. For example, the index of the nFrame is n, n +1, n +2.., n +15, n + 16.., but the index of the nFrame _ anchor is 0, 1, 2.. 15. Hereinafter, the index value is generally expressed by using the nFrame _ anchor, and the value of the nFrame _ anchor is different according to the duration of the first time unit. An nFrame _ anchor of 0 indicates the second time unit and the third time unit, an nFrame _ anchor of 1 indicates the 1 st first time unit, and an nFrame _ anchor of 15 indicates the 15 th first time unit included in the data channel part.

Hereinafter, if the frame number is used alone, the nFrame index is represented, and if the frame number in the fixed channel period is used, the nFrame _ anchor index is represented, that is, the index of the frame number in the fixed channel period 1280ms is fixed, the value is fixed from 0, and the maximum value is determined by the number of nFrame frames contained in 1280 ms.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U provided in the prior art. Assuming that the first time unit includes 4 downlink subframes and 36 uplink subframes, each subframe has a duration of 1ms, i.e. 4ms in the first time unit is used for transmitting downlink data and 36ms is used for transmitting uplink data, the duration of the first time unit may be 40 ms. In this case, the 1260ms data channel portion may include up to 31 40ms first time units and a 20ms third time unit. It should be noted that, in this case, the sum of the duration of the third time unit and the duration of the second time unit is equal to the duration of the first time unit. It will be appreciated that the fixed channel period comprises 32 time units of 40 ms. For convenience, 40ms may be indexed within a fixed channel period in units of the duration of the first time unit, and the index may be numbered from n, so that the duration of the second time unit is indexed with the duration of the third time unit by n, the index of the 1 st first time unit is n +1, and so on, the index of the 31 st first time unit is n + 31. For convenience, the index value is expressed by a frame number (nFrame) index, and the index value within the fixed channel period may be expressed by a frame number (nFrame _ anchor) index within the fixed channel period. For example, the index of the nFrame is n, n +1, n +2.., n +31, n + 32.. yet the index of the nFrame _ anchor is 0, 1, 2.. 31. Hereinafter, the index value is generally expressed by using the nFrame _ anchor, and the value of the nFrame _ anchor is different according to the duration of the first time unit. An nFrame _ anchor of 0 indicates the second time unit and the third time unit, an nFrame _ anchor of 1 indicates the 1 st first time unit, and an nFrame _ anchor of 31 indicates the 31 st first time unit included in the data channel portion.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of a frame structure example of an NB-IoT-U provided in the prior art. Assuming that a time unit includes 2 downlink subframes and 18 uplink subframes, each subframe has a duration of 1ms, i.e., 2ms in the first time unit is used for transmitting downlink data and 18ms is used for transmitting uplink data, the duration of the first time unit may be 20 ms. In this case, the 1260ms data channel portion may include up to 63 20ms first time units. It should be noted that, in this case, the fixed channel period does not include the third time unit of the uplink subframe. The duration of the first time unit is the same as the duration of the second time unit. It is understood that the fixed channel period includes 64 time units of 20 ms. For convenience, 20ms may be indexed within a fixed channel period in units of time duration of a first time unit, and the indices may be numbered from n, so that the index of the second time unit is n, the index of the 1 st first time unit is n +1, and so on, and the index of the 63 st first time unit is n + 63. For convenience, the index value is expressed by a frame number (nFrame) index, and the index value within the fixed channel period may be expressed by a frame number (nFrame _ anchor) index within the fixed channel period. For example, the index of the nFrame is n, n +1, n +2.., n +63, n + 64.., but the index of the nFrame _ anchor is 0, 1, 2.. 63. Hereinafter, the index value is generally expressed by using the nFrame _ anchor, and the value of the nFrame _ anchor is different according to the duration of the first time unit. An nFrame _ anchor of 0 indicates a fixed channel portion (second time unit), an nFrame _ anchor of 1 indicates a 1 st first time unit, and an nFrame _ anchor of 63 indicates a 63 st first time unit included in the data channel portion.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U provided in the prior art. It is assumed that a time unit includes 2 downlink subframes and 8 uplink subframes, each subframe has a duration of 1ms, and the time unit is a fourth time unit, i.e., 2ms in the fourth time unit is used for transmitting downlink data, gms is used for transmitting uplink data, and the duration of the fourth time unit is 10 ms. In this case, the 1260ms data channel portion may include up to 126 fourth time elements of 10 ms. It should be noted that, in this case, the fixed channel period does not include the third time unit of the uplink subframe. The duration of the second time unit is 2 times the duration of the fourth time unit. To facilitate numbering of the fourth time units, two fourth time units may be numbered as one first time unit. It is understood that the fixed channel period includes 64 time units of 20 ms. For convenience, 20ms may be indexed within a fixed channel period in units of time duration of a first time unit, and the indices may be numbered from n, so that the index of the second time unit is n, the index of the 1 st first time unit is n +1, and so on, and the index of the 63 st first time unit is n + 63. For convenience, the index value is expressed by a frame number (nFrame) index, and the index value within the fixed channel period may be expressed by a frame number (nFrame _ anchor) index within the fixed channel period. For example, the index of the nFrame is n, n +1, n +2.., n +63, n + 64.., but the index of the nFrame _ anchor is 0, 1, 2.. 63. Hereinafter, the index value is generally expressed by using the nFrame _ anchor, and the value of the nFrame _ anchor is different according to the duration of the first time unit. An nFrame _ anchor of 0 indicates a fixed channel portion (second time unit), an nFrame _ anchor of 1 indicates a 1 st first time unit, and an nFrame _ anchor of 63 indicates a 63 st first time unit included in the data channel portion.

It should be noted that, in the NB-IoT-U frame structure, 1 subframe, that is, 1ms is a special subframe, is reserved in the uplink portion in the first time unit, and is used for switching from downlink to uplink. Since the special subframe is irrelevant to the embodiment of the present application, the special subframe is uniformly assigned as an uplink subframe.

In addition, in the NB-IoT-U frame structure, 2 kinds of physical downlink channels and 2 kinds of physical uplink channels coexist. The 2 physical downlink channels are a Narrowband Physical Downlink Control Channel (NPDCCH) and a Narrowband Physical Downlink Shared Channel (NPDSCH), respectively. The 2 physical uplink channels are a Narrowband Physical Uplink Shared Channel (NPUSCH) and a Narrowband Physical Random Access Channel (NPRACH), respectively. The NPUSCH comprises two formats, namely NPUSCH format 1 and NPUSCH format 2. NPUSCH format 1 is used to send user data, and NPUSCH format 2 is used to send downlink feedback information. NPRACH is used to transmit a random access signal. NPDCCH is used to transmit downlink control information and NPDSCH is used to transmit downlink data and/or broadcast information.

In the NB-IoT-U frame structure, an uplink subframe is used to transmit NPRACH and/or NPUSCH format 1 and/or NPUSCH format 2, and is collectively referred to as uplink data for convenience of description, and a downlink subframe other than a downlink subframe of a fixed channel part is used to transmit NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH, and is collectively referred to as downlink data for convenience of description.

In addition, there are physical signals in the NB-IoT-U frame structure. For example, when a Narrowband Reference Signal (NRS) and a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) are transmitted in the downlink, the NRS is included by default and is not described separately. Similarly, when NPUSCH format 1 or/and NPUSCH format 2 is transmitted in the uplink portion, DMRS is included by default.

According to the NB-IoT-U frame structures shown in fig. 3 to 6, assuming that all downlink subframes have downlink data transmission in 1280ms, the duty ratio in 1280ms is shown in table 1.

TABLE 1

Uplink and downlink configuration	Duty ratio (%)	Remarks to note
			8D+72U	10.9375	((1280/80-1)*8+20)/1280
4D+36U	11.25	((1280/40-1)*4+20)/1280
			2D+18U	11.40625	((1280/20-1)*2+20)/1280
2D+8U	21.25	(((1280-20)/10)*2+20)/1280
			2D+8U+2D+8U	21.25	((1280/20)*4+20)/1280

It can be seen that, in the currently supported 4 uplink and downlink ratios, if the resource usage of the downlink part is not restricted, the downlink duty ratio will all exceed 10% within 1280 ms. It should be noted that, in the case that the uplink and downlink configuration is 2D +8U, the duration of the second time unit is 2 times the duration of the fourth time unit, and two fourth time units may be used as one first time unit to calculate the duty ratio, as shown in table 1, where the uplink and downlink configuration is 2D +8U +2D + 8U.

ETSI regulations stipulate that the statistical time of the duty cycle is 1 hour, and therefore, in order to meet the requirement that the duty cycle does not exceed 10%, the following two ways may be adopted for constraint. The first mode ensures that the duty ratio does not exceed 10% within 1280ms, and the second mode ensures that the duty ratio does not exceed 10% within 1 hour. No matter what way to constrain downlink resources, some downlink subframes are required to be unable to transmit downlink data, i.e. some downlink subframes need to be disabled or muted. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the disabling of the downlink subframe means that the downlink subframe cannot send any data. The following description takes the duration of the downlink subframe as 1ms as an example, and the downlink duration and the corresponding number of the downlink subframes that need to be disabled under different uplink and downlink ratios within 1280 ms. As shown in table 2.

TABLE 2

The method for determining the disabled downlink duration and the corresponding number of downlink subframes shown in table 2 is only schematically illustrated, and this is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

To control inThe duty cycle within the fixed channel period is less than or equal to a preset duty cycle. The embodiment of the application provides a communication method, and the basic principle is as follows: in a first period in a time domain, NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent on a first type of downlink subframe included in downlink subframes, the downlink subframes also include a second type of downlink subframe, the first type of downlink subframe is an enabling downlink subframe, the second type of downlink subframe is a de-enabling downlink subframe, wherein,

wherein, T ₁ Indicating the total duration, T, of the downlink subframe enabling the transmission of NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH ₂ Indicating the total duration, T, of the downlink sub-frame of the third type _total Representing the total duration of the first cycle, D _{presupposition} Representing a preset duty cycle. According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, before the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by using the downlink subframe, the downlink subframe is determined to be enabled, then the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by occupying the enabled downlink subframe, so that the duty ratio of the sum of the total duration of the enabled downlink subframes actually sending the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH and the total duration of the third type of downlink subframes is smaller than or equal to the preset duty ratio.

For convenience of understanding, in the embodiments of the present application, it is assumed that the transmitting entity is a base station and the receiving entity is a terminal device. The description will be made taking as an example communication between a base station and a terminal device.

Fig. 7 is a first flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 7, the method may include:

s701, the base station sends NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH on a downlink subframe in a first period on a time domain.

The first period may be understood as a fixed channel period. For a detailed explanation of the fixed channel period, reference may be made to the above description, and details of the embodiment of the present application are not repeated herein. The downlink subframes comprise a first type downlink subframe and a second type downlink subframe. The first type of downlink subframe is an enabled downlink subframe, and the enabled downlink subframe is a downlink subframe capable of sending NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH and NRS. The second type of downlink subframe is an invalid downlink subframe, which may also be referred to as a de-enabled downlink subframe. The de-enabled downlink subframe is an invalid downlink subframe which cannot transmit any data or signal, for example, NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is not transmitted, and a downlink subframe of NRS. The first type downlink subframe and the second type downlink subframe are downlink subframes included in the data channel part. The first period further includes a third type of downlink subframe. The third type of downlink subframe is used for transmitting NPSS, NSSS and NPBCH. The third type of downlink subframe is a downlink subframe included in the fixed channel part.

When the base station sends the downlink NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH, the base station selects the first type downlink subframes with corresponding number from the first type downlink subframes included in the data channel part to send the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH. Because the downlink subframes influencing the duty ratio requirement are removed from all the downlink subframes included in the data channel part, only the remaining first-class downlink subframes are occupied to send the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH. Thereby, making

Wherein, T ₁ The total duration of the first type downlink subframe for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is represented; t is ₂ Representing the total duration of the third type of downlink sub-frame; t is _total Representing a total duration of all subframes in the first period; d _{presupposition} Representing a preset duty cycle.

It can be understood that the total duration of the first type downlink subframes for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is the total duration of the first type downlink subframes occupied by actually transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH.

It should be noted that the preset duty ratio may be 10% or 2.5%. In addition, if downlink subframes are centrally disabled in a plurality of consecutive first time units, the base station needs to delay at least the duration of the first time unit including the second type of subframes when performing downlink transmission. In one possible implementation, the downlink subframes of the second type may be distributed discretely in the first period. Specifically, the downlink subframes of the second type are uniformly distributed in the first period, so that the data transmission delay can be effectively reduced while the duty ratio of 10% can be ensured. It should be noted that the uniform distribution described in the embodiments of the present application is not strictly uniform distribution.

For example, taking the NB-IoT-U frame structures shown in fig. 3 to 6 as an example, the first period may include M first time units including the first type of downlink subframes and P first time units including the second type of downlink subframes, where M is greater than 0 and less than N, a sum of M and P is greater than or equal to N, N represents a total number of the first time units in the first period, P is greater than 0 and less than N, and N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. The P first time units comprising the downlink subframes of the second type may be evenly distributed in the first period. And under the condition that the sum of the M and the P is equal to N, all downlink subframes included in each first time unit of the P first time units including the second type downlink subframes are de-enabled downlink subframes. And under the condition that the sum of M and P is greater than N, at least one first time unit in the P first time units comprising the second type downlink subframes comprises the first type downlink subframes and the second type downlink subframes.

The NB-IoT-U frame structures shown in fig. 3 to 6 are used as examples to describe in detail how the P first time units including the downlink subframes of the second type are distributed in the first period.

Fig. 8 is a first example of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The duration of the first period is 1280ms, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the third time unit is 60ms, the duration of the first time unit is 80ms, and the first time unit comprises 8 downlink subframes and 72 uplink subframes. 12ms downlink data needs to be disabled within 1280 ms. The duration of each subframe is 1ms, i.e. 12 downlink subframes are disabled. Since each data frame includes 8ms downlink subframes, it is equivalent to disable 8 downlink subframes in 1 first time unit and4 downlink subframes in 1 first time unit. According to the index encoding method for the frame number in the fixed channel period shown in fig. 3, the index number of the frame number in the fixed channel period including the second type of downlink subframes may be a multiple of 7, that is, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit having the index number of 7 are disabled, and4 downlink subframes included in the first time unit having the index number of 14 are disabled. The 4 downlink subframes may be the first 4 downlink subframes included in the first time unit with the index number of 14, or the last 4 downlink subframes included in the first time unit with the index number of 14, which is not limited in this embodiment of the application. Or, according to the frame number index coding manner shown in fig. 3, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit whose index numbers of frame numbers of the second type of downlink subframes satisfy nFrame% 16 ═ 7 are disabled, and4 downlink subframes included in the first time unit whose index numbers of frame numbers of the second type of downlink subframes satisfy nFrame% 16 ═ 14 are disabled.

It should be noted that "%" used in connection with nFrame represents "modulo" operation in mathematical computation, or "module" operation, which is not described in detail below.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The duration of the first period is 1280ms, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the third time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 40ms, and the first time unit comprises 4 downlink subframes and 36 uplink subframes. 16ms downlink data needs to be disabled within 1280 ms. The duration of each subframe is 1ms, i.e. 16 downlink subframes are disabled. Since each data frame includes 4ms downlink subframes, it is equivalent to disable all downlink subframes in 4 first time units. According to the index encoding manner of the frame number in the fixed channel period shown in fig. 4, the index number of the frame number in the fixed channel period including the second type of downlink subframe may be a multiple of 7, that is, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 7 are disabled, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 14 are disabled, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 21 are disabled, and all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 28 are disabled. Or, according to the frame number index coding method shown in fig. 4, the index number of the frame number including the second type of downlink subframe satisfies that all downlink subframes included in the first time unit are disabled, where nFrame% 32 is 7, nFrame% 32 is 14, nFrame% 32 is 21, and nFrame% 32 is 28.

Fig. 10 is a third exemplary diagram of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The duration of the first period is 1280ms, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the third time unit is 0ms, namely the third time unit is not included, the duration of the first time unit is 20ms, and the first time unit comprises 2 downlink subframes and 18 uplink subframes. It is necessary to disable 18ms of downlink data within 1280 ms. The duration of each subframe is 1ms, i.e. 18 downlink subframes are disabled. Since each data frame contains 2ms downlink subframes, it is equivalent to disable all downlink subframes in 9 first time units. According to the index encoding method of the frame number in the fixed channel period shown in fig. 5, the index number of the frame number in the fixed channel period including the second type downlink sub-frame may be a multiple of 7, namely, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 7 are disabled, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 14 are disabled, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 21 are disabled, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 28 are disabled, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 35 are disabled, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 42 are disabled, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 49 are disabled, all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 56 are disabled, and all downlink subframes included in the first time unit with index number 63 are disabled. Or, the index number of the frame number in the fixed channel period including the downlink subframe of the second type may be 1 and 63, and the index number of the frame number in the fixed channel period is a multiple of 8. For example, the index number of the frame number in the fixed channel period including the downlink subframe of the second type is 1,8,16,24,32,40,48,56, 63. Or, according to the frame number index coding scheme shown in fig. 4, the index number of the frame number including the frame number of the second type of downlink subframe satisfies that all downlink subframes included in the first time unit of nFrame% 64 to 7,14,21,28,35,42,49,56,63 or nFrame% 32 to 1,8,16,24,32,40,48,56,63 are disabled.

Fig. 11 is a diagram of a frame structure example of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The duration of the first period is 1280ms, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the fourth time unit is 10ms, the duration of the first time unit is 20ms, the fourth time unit comprises 2 downlink subframes and 8 uplink subframes, and the first time unit comprises 2 downlink subframes, 8 uplink subframes, 2 downlink subframes and 8 uplink subframes. 144ms downlink data needs to be disabled within 1280 ms. The duration of each subframe is 1ms, i.e. 144 downlink subframes are disabled. Since each fourth time unit includes a 2ms downlink subframe, it is equivalent to disable all downlink subframes in 72 fourth time units. According to the index encoding method of the frame number in the fixed channel period shown in fig. 6, the index number of the frame number in the fixed channel period including the downlink subframes of the second class is 1 to 63, that is, the first period includes 63 first time units, the first 2ms or the second 2ms in each first time unit is the downlink subframes of the second class, and in addition, the index number of the frame number in the fixed channel period is the first time unit of the multiple of 7, the remaining 2ms is also the downlink subframes of the second class.

In addition, according to the current conference progress of MFA, ETSI regulations stipulate a possible NB-IoT-U frame structure as: ETSI supports at least single carrier design at band54, and subsequently may support two-carrier design of band54 and band47b, or even more, but to ensure compatibility, even with multi-carrier design, band54 is a fixed carrier (anchor carrier) or primary carrier, i.e., NPSS, NSSS, and NPBCH are all transmitted on band 54.

The following explains how to disable the downlink subframe when the base station uses a plurality of carriers to transmit the NPDSCH or/and the NPDCCH, and ensures that the duty ratio does not exceed the preset duty ratio within 1280 ms.

In the embodiment of the present application, the carrier transmitting NPSS, NSSS, NPBCH, and/or SIB is defined as a fixed carrier or a primary carrier, and the other carriers are non-fixed carriers or secondary carriers. The number of carriers may be configured by MIB or SIB1 sent on the fixed carrier. If the SIB1 is transmitted on a fixed carrier, the number of carriers is configured by the SIB1, and if the SIB1 is transmitted on a non-fixed carrier, the number of carriers is configured by the MIB. When the number of carriers is configured through the MIB or SIB1, the frequency point information of each carrier needs to be configured at the same time. The configuration order of the carrier frequency point information in the MIB or SIB1 determines the corresponding carrier index. The carrier index may also be referred to as a carrier index number. For example, the default fixed carrier index is 0, the carrier index corresponding to the first carrier configured in the MIB or SIB1 is 1, the carrier index corresponding to the second carrier configured in the MIB or SIB1 is 2, and so on.

Optionally, the first 2 downlink subframes in the first time unit corresponding to the carrier with the even index number as the carrier index are disabled, and the last 2 downlink subframes in the first time unit corresponding to the carrier with the even index number as the carrier index are used for sending NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH. And de-enabling the last 2 downlink subframes in the first time unit corresponding to the carrier with the odd index number as the carrier index, wherein the first 2 downlink subframes in the first time unit corresponding to the carrier with the odd index number as the carrier index are used for sending the NPDSCH or/and the NPDCCH. And all downlink subframes contained in a first time unit with the index number of the frame number being a multiple of 7 in the fixed channel period are disabled; or, for all downlink subframes included in the first time unit whose index number of the first time unit is a multiple of 7, the index numbers of the frame numbers in the fixed channel periods including the second type of downlink subframes may be 1 and 63, and the index number of the frame number in the fixed channel period is a multiple of 8. For example, the index number of the frame number in the fixed channel period including the downlink subframe of the second type is 1,8,16,24,32,40,48,56, 63. Or, according to the frame number index coding manner, the index number of the frame number including the frame number of the second type downlink subframe satisfies that all downlink subframes included in the first time unit of nFrame% 64 ═ 7,14,21,28,35,42,49,56,63 or nFrame% 32 ═ 1,8,16,24,32,40,48,56,63 are disabled.

Or the first 2 downlink subframes in the first time unit corresponding to the carrier with the odd index number are disabled, and the last 2 downlink subframes in the first time unit corresponding to the carrier with the odd index number are used for sending the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH. And de-enabling the last 2 downlink subframes in the first time unit corresponding to the carrier with the even index number as the carrier index, wherein the first 2 downlink subframes in the first time unit corresponding to the carrier with the even index number as the carrier index are used for sending the NPDSCH or/and the NPDCCH. And all downlink subframes contained in the first time unit with the index number of the first time unit being a multiple of 7 are disabled.

Of course, if there is a carrier in a multi-carrier configuration that has no duty cycle requirement, then that carrier is not constrained by the above specification.

Two carriers are taken as an example for explanation. Assuming that the fixed carrier index is 0, the non-fixed carrier index is 1, and SIB1 is transmitted on the fixed carrier, the number of carriers is configured by SIB 1. As shown in fig. 12, each first time unit corresponding to carrier 0 includes two fourth time units, the duration of the first time unit is 20ms, and the duration of the fourth time unit is 10 ms. The downlink subframe in the first fourth time unit is used for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH to enable the downlink subframe in the second fourth time unit. And enabling the first 2 downlink subframes or the last 2 downlink subframes in the first time unit with the index number of the first time unit being a multiple of 7. For example, a multiple of 7 first time unit has index numbers of 7,14,21,28,35,42,49,56, 63.

Similarly, each first time unit corresponding to the carrier 1 includes two fourth time units, the duration of the first time unit is 20ms, and the duration of the fourth time unit is 10 ms. The downlink subframe in the first fourth time unit is disabled and the downlink subframe in the second fourth time unit is used for transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH. And enabling the first 2 downlink subframes or the last 2 downlink subframes in the first time unit with the index number of the first time unit being a multiple of 7. For example, the index numbers of the first time units of multiples of 7 are 7,14,21,28,35,42,49,56, 63. The scheme for disabling the downlink subframe can be realized in a pre-configuration mode, the terminal equipment is not required to be informed through a signaling message, air interface resources are saved, and service delay can be effectively reduced. And under various uplink and downlink configuration schemes, unified processing can be realized, and the complexity of the base station and the terminal equipment is reduced.

Further, for NPDCCH, NPDSCH transmission, by default, must include NRS transmission. If a de-enabled subframe is encountered, the transmission of NPDCCH and NPDSCH and the corresponding NRS will be deferred until the next available downlink subframe for continued transmission.

In addition, optionally, all the first type downlink subframes in the first period are used to send NRS. For example, NRS is transmitted by default on the downlink subframe where NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is transmitted, even if the subframe has no NPDSCH and no NPDCCH is occurring, the subframe also transmits NRS.

S702, the terminal equipment receives NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH on a downlink subframe in a first period on a time domain.

In the first period in the time domain, the manner of receiving the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH on the downlink subframe by the terminal device may refer to the explanation about the manner of sending the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH on the downlink subframe in S701, and this embodiment of the present application is not described herein again.

According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, before the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by using the downlink subframe, the disabled downlink subframe is determined, and then the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is sent by occupying the enabled downlink subframe, so that the duty ratio of the sum of the total duration of the enabled downlink subframes actually sending the NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH and the total duration of the third type of downlink subframes is smaller than or equal to the preset duty ratio.

In the above embodiment, regardless of whether the first type downlink subframe in the first period transmits NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH, all the first type downlink subframes in the first period transmit NRS, so that the terminal device may maintain time synchronization and frequency synchronization with the base station through NRS. And the requirement of the preset duty ratio is ensured to be met by enabling the first type of downlink subframe, namely the second type of downlink subframe. However, in practical applications, NRS may also be transmitted according to NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH in order to save downlink resources. It can be understood that the base station transmits NRS when transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH to the terminal device, that is, NRS is transmitted on the first type downlink subframe where NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH is transmitted in the first period. In this case, when the terminal device only needs to transmit uplink data and does not receive downlink data, or the terminal device in an Idle (RRC _ Idle) state cannot determine whether NRS is transmitted on the downlink subframe, the terminal device cannot keep synchronization with the base station through NRS, and therefore the terminal device cannot perform time and frequency synchronization with the base station, resulting in performance degradation. In such a scenario, how to keep time synchronization and frequency synchronization between the terminal device and the base station, and meet the requirement of a preset duty ratio when performing downlink transmission is an urgent problem to be solved.

In a second implementation manner, the base station and the terminal device may determine, in a preconfigured manner, the first type downlink subframe for sending the NRS, so that the terminal device obtains a sending subframe number of the NRS, and the first type downlink subframe and the third type downlink subframe for sending the NRS satisfy a preset duty ratio in the first period.

It should be noted that, in the second implementation manner and the subsequent third implementation manner, the second type of downlink subframe is not configured in a manner of pre-configuration or base station indication, so in the second implementation manner and the subsequent third implementation manner, the default downlink subframe is the first type of downlink subframe.

Fig. 13 is a second flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 13, the method may include:

s1301, the base station sends NRS on Q first-class downlink subframes in the first period of the time domain.

Before downlink transmission is carried out by a base station, Q first-class downlink subframes for transmitting NRS are configured in advance, wherein Q is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. In the first period, the ratio of the sum of the total duration of the Q first type downlink subframes and the total duration of the third type downlink subframes to the total duration of the first period is less than or equal to a first preset duty ratio. Is formulated as:

T ₃ representing the total duration, T, of Q first-type downlink subframes ₂ Indicating the total duration, T, of the downlink sub-frame of the third type _total Representing the total duration of the first cycle, D _{presupposition1} Representing a first preset duty cycle. The first preset duty ratio may be 10%, or may be 2.5% or 5%.

In addition, if NRSs are collectively transmitted in one or more consecutive first time units, the terminal apparatus can synchronize with the base station only in the first time unit of the collectively transmitted NRSs in the first period, and the timing of synchronization is small. In one possible implementation manner, the Q first type downlink subframes may be discretely distributed in the first period. Specifically, Q first-type downlink subframes may be uniformly distributed in the first period. For example, the Q first type downlink subframes may be discretely distributed in Q first time units in the first period, and one first type downlink subframe in each of the Q first time units is used for transmitting NRS. Or, the Q first type downlink subframes may be discretely distributed in Q/2 first time units in the first period, and two first type downlink subframes in each of the Q/2 first time units are used to transmit NRS. Or, the Q first type downlink subframes may be discretely distributed in Q/4 first time units in the first period, and four first type downlink subframes in each of the Q/4 first time units are used to transmit NRS. Therefore, the terminal equipment can be ensured to be synchronized with the base station for multiple times within 1280 ms. Moreover, since the first type downlink subframe for transmitting the SIB1 is sure to transmit NRSs at the same time, since the SIB1 is discretely distributed within 1280ms, the subframe for transmitting NRSs may multiplex the transmission subframe of the SIB1, thereby reducing the duty ratio of NRS transmission and improving the flexibility of scheduling resources by the base station.

Illustratively, taking the NB-IoT-U frame structures shown in fig. 3 to fig. 6 as an example, the first cycle includes N first time units, and Q first type downlink subframes are distributed in the first time units with odd or even index numbers, or Q first type downlink subframes are discretely distributed in the first time units with frame numbers satisfying nFrame% 64 ═ 2, 3, 4, 5,16, 17, 18, 19,32, 33, 34, 35,48, 49, 50, and 51. Alternatively, the frame number index value within the fixed channel period may be represented by a frame number (nFrame _ anchor) index within the fixed channel period, and then the Q first type downlink subframes are discretely distributed within the first time units of the frame number indices 2, 3, 4, 5,16, 17, 18, 19,32, 33, 34, 35,48, 49, 50, and 51 within the fixed channel period.

The NB-IoT-U frame structures shown in fig. 3 to 6 are used as examples to describe in detail how the first time unit including Q downlink subframes of the first type is distributed in the first period.

Fig. 14 is a diagram of a frame structure example of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The duration of the first period is 1280ms, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the third time unit is 60ms, the duration of the first time unit is 80ms, and the first time unit comprises 8 downlink subframes and 72 uplink subframes. According to the index coding method of the first time unit shown in fig. 3, in 1280ms, NRS may be sent on the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit where the frame number index satisfies nFrame% 16 ═ 1, 3, … 15. Of course, the NRS may also be sent on the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit where the frame number index satisfies nFrame% 16 ═ 2,4, … 14; alternatively, the NRS is sent on the first downlink subframe in the first time unit with the frame number index satisfying nFrame% 16 ═ 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, and 13, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, the NRS may be sent on all the first type downlink subframes in the first time unit when the index number satisfies the condition, or may be sent on a part of the first type downlink subframes in the first time unit when the index number satisfies the condition. For example, the NRS is sent on the first 4 first type downlink subframes in the first time unit with the index number satisfying the condition, or the NRS is sent on the last 4 first type downlink subframes in the first time unit with the index number satisfying the condition. The index number may also be referred to as a frame number index.

Fig. 15 is a sixth example of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The duration of the first period is 1280ms, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the third time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 40ms, and the first time unit comprises 4 downlink subframes and 36 uplink subframes. According to the index coding method of the first time unit shown in fig. 4, in 1280ms, NRS is sent on the first downlink subframe in the first time unit where the frame number index satisfies nFrame% 32 ═ 1, 3, … 31. Of course, the NRS may also be sent on the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit where the frame number index satisfies nFrame% 32 ═ 2,4, … 30; or, the NRS is sent on the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit with the frame number index satisfying nFrame% 32 ═ 1 to 3, 8 to 11, 16 to 19, and 24 to 27, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, the NRS is sent on all the first-class downlink subframes in the first time unit whose frame number index satisfies the preconfigured condition, or may be sent on a part of the first-class downlink subframes in the first time unit whose frame number index satisfies the preconfigured condition. For example, NRS is sent on the first 2 first type downlink subframes in the first time unit with the frame number index meeting the preconfigured condition, or NRS is sent on the last 2 first type downlink subframes in the first time unit with the frame number index meeting the preconfigured condition.

Fig. 16 is a seventh exemplary diagram of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The duration of the first period is 1280ms, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 20ms, and the first time unit comprises 2 downlink subframes and 18 uplink subframes. According to the index coding method of the first time unit shown in fig. 5, in 1280ms, NRS is transmitted on the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit where the frame number index of the first time unit satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 1, 3, and … 63. Of course, the NRS may also be sent on the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit where the frame number index of the first time unit satisfies that nFrame% 64 is 2,4, … 62; or, the NRS is sent on the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit whose frame number index of the first time unit satisfies that nFrame% 64 is 2 to 7, 16 to 23, 32 to 39, 48 to 55, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present invention.

Optionally, the NRS is sent on all the first type downlink subframes in the first time unit whose frame number index meets the preconfigured condition, or the NRS may be sent on a part of the first type downlink subframes in the first time unit whose frame number index meets the preconfigured condition. For example, the NRS is sent on the first 1 first type downlink subframes in the first time unit with the frame number index meeting the preconfigured condition, or the NRS is sent on the last 1 first type downlink subframes in the first time unit with the frame number index meeting the preconfigured condition.

Fig. 17 is an example of a frame structure of an NB-IoT-U according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which is shown in fig. eight. The duration of the first period is 1280ms, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the fourth time unit is 10ms, and the fourth time unit comprises 2 downlink subframes and 8 uplink subframes. It should be noted that, for the case that the uplink and downlink ratio of the fourth time unit is 2 downlink subframes and 8 uplink subframes, the duration of the second time unit is 2 times the duration of the fourth time unit, two fourth time units may be used as one first time unit, and the first time unit includes 4 downlink subframes and 16 uplink subframes. In this scenario, according to the index coding method of the first time unit shown in fig. 6, in 1280ms, NRS is sent on the first type downlink subframes in the first time unit with the index numbers of 2 to 5,16 to 19,32 to 35, and 48 to 51 in the first time unit. Optionally, the NRS is sent on the first type downlink subframes in the first time unit with the index numbers of 2-5, 16-19, 32-35, and 48-51 in the first time unit, and a part of the first type downlink subframes may be occupied to send the NRS. For example, NRS is sent on the first 2 first-class downlink subframes in the first time unit with corresponding index numbers of 2-5, 16-19, 32-35, and 48-51, or NRS is sent on the last 2 first-class downlink subframes in the first time unit with corresponding index numbers of 2-5, 16-19, 32-35, and 48-51. Or, optionally, the NRS is sent on the first type downlink subframes in the first time unit with the index numbers of 2 to 5,16 to 19,32 to 35, and 48 to 51 in the first time unit, and a part of the first type downlink subframes may be occupied to send the NRS. For example, the NRS is sent on the 1 st and 3 rd first-class downlink subframes in the first time unit with corresponding index numbers of 2-5, 16-19, 32-35, 48-51, that is, the NRS is sent on the 1 st downlink subframe of each fourth time unit in the first time unit with corresponding index numbers of 2-5, 16-19, 32-35, 48-51.

S1302, the terminal device receives NRS on Q first-class downlink subframes in a first period in a time domain.

Compared with the first implementable manner, the second implementable manner is different in that:

in a first implementation manner, the second type of downlink subframe is preconfigured, that is, no downlink signal or data is sent on the second type of downlink subframe. And NRS is transmitted on other first-class downlink subframes regardless of whether NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH is transmitted or not.

In a second implementation manner, the first type of downlink subframe for transmitting NRS is preconfigured, which has greater flexibility. It is understood that, besides the first type downlink subframe for transmitting NRS, whether other first type downlink subframes transmit NRS depends on whether NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH is transmitted, i.e., NRS is transmitted on the first type downlink subframe for transmitting NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH, and NRS is not transmitted on the first type downlink subframe for not transmitting NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH. Meanwhile, the preset duty ratio is ensured through downlink resources actually scheduled by the base station, and the requirement of the preset duty ratio is not limited to be met within 1280 ms. For example, as long as the downlink resource scheduled by the base station can meet the requirement of the preset duty ratio within one hour, the downlink resource scheduled by the base station within 1280ms of one hour may exceed the preset duty ratio, but the downlink resource scheduled by the base station within the other 1280ms may be smaller than the preset duty ratio.

In the embodiment of the present application, a second preset duty cycle may be defined, where the second preset duty cycle is greater than or less than the first preset duty cycle. The second preset duty ratio is a ratio of a sum of a total duration of the first type downlink subframes only used for transmitting NRS, a total duration of the first type downlink subframes used for transmitting NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH, a total duration of the third type downlink subframes, and the total duration of the second period. The second period may be one hour.

In addition to the above-mentioned determining, by a pre-configuration manner, the first type of downlink subframe for sending NRS, in a third implementation manner, the base station may indicate, by sending indication information to the terminal device, the first type of downlink subframe for sending NRS. For example, the first type downlink subframe for transmitting NRS is indicated by the system information. In the prior art, the SIB1 may indicate which subframes are downlink subframes on which the PDCCH and/or PDSCH may be transmitted by transmitting a bitmap 1(bitmap1) field. In the embodiment of the present application, a bitmap field 2(bitmap2) may also be set in the SIB1, and bitmap2 is used to indicate the first type downlink subframe for transmitting NRS. The following illustrates how to use the bitmap2 to indicate the first type downlink subframe for transmitting NRS. Optionally, the length of bitmap2 may be greater than or equal to the number of first type downlink subframes in all first time units in the first period (1280 ms). When the length of bitmap2 is equal to the number of first type downlink subframes in all first time units in a first period (1280ms), for example, in the frame structure of NB-IoT-U shown in fig. 3, the first period includes 15 first time units, each first time unit includes 8 first type downlink subframes, and the length of bitmap2 may be equal to 120. In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 4, the first period includes 31 first time units, each of the first time units includes 4 first-type downlink subframes, and the length of bitmap2 may be equal to 124. In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 5, the first period includes 63 first time units, each of the first time units includes 2 first type downlink subframes, and the length of bitmap2 may be equal to 126. In the case that the length of bitmap2 is greater than the number of first type downlink subframes in all first time units in the first period (1280ms), the length of bitmap2 may be greater than the number of first type downlink subframes in all first time units in the first period (1280ms), which is the power of an integer closest to 2, for example, in the frame structure of NB-IoT-U as shown in fig. 3, 4 and5, the length of bitmap2 is 128. Optionally, when the length of bitmap2 is greater than the number of first type downlink subframes in all first time units in a first period (1280ms), bitmap2 includes bits of all subframes in the first period (1280 ms).

It can be understood that, when the length of bitmap2 is equal to the number of first type downlink subframes in all first time units in the first period (1280ms), one bit in bitmap2 may correspond to one first type downlink subframe in one first time unit in the first period. For example, from the leftmost position, the first bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit in the first period, and so on, the second bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the second first type downlink subframe in the first time unit in the first period.

Optionally, when the length of bitmap2 is greater than the number of first type downlink subframes in all first time units in the first period (1280ms) and a field in bitmap2 does not include a bit indicating an uplink subframe in the first time unit in the first period (1280ms), that is, the length of bitmap2 is 128. For the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 3, from the leftmost, one bit after ignoring the first 8 bits may correspond to one first type downlink subframe in one first time unit in the first period. For example, from the leftmost bit, the ninth bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit in the first period, and so on, the tenth bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the second first type downlink subframe in the first time unit in the first period. For the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 4, from the leftmost, one bit after ignoring the first four bits may correspond to one first type downlink subframe in one first time unit in the first period. For example, from the leftmost bit, the fifth bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit in the first period, and so on, the sixth bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the second first type downlink subframe in the first time unit in the first period. For the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 5, one bit after ignoring the first two bits may correspond to one downlink subframe of the first type in one first time unit in the first period, from the leftmost digit. For example, from the leftmost bit, the third bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit in the first period, and so on, the fourth bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the second first type downlink subframe in the first time unit in the first period.

In addition, optionally, when the length of bitmap2 is greater than the number of first type downlink subframes in all first time units in a first period (1280ms), bitmap2 includes bits of all subframes in the first period (1280 ms). I.e., each bit in bitmap2 corresponds to a subframe in the first period. In actual configuration, the bit indications corresponding to the uplink subframes in the second time unit, the third time unit and all the first time units are invalid downlink subframes or indicate according to an indication mode of not sending NRS.

In addition, the value of the bit in bitmap2 can be 1 or 0. When the bit value in bitmap2 is 1, it indicates that the first type downlink subframe at the corresponding position in the first period is used for sending NRS. When the bit value in bitmap2 is 0, it indicates that the first-class downlink subframe at the corresponding position in the first period does not send NRS. Of course, when the bit value in bitmap2 is 1, it may also indicate that the first type downlink subframe at the corresponding position in the first period is used to not send NRS. When the bit value in bitmap2 is 0, it may also indicate that the first-class downlink subframe corresponding to the same position in the first period sends NRS. In the embodiment of the present application, the manner of taking the bits in bitmap2 is merely an example, and is not limited to this. For convenience of description, it is assumed hereinafter that when a bit in bitmap2 takes a value of 1, the first-class downlink subframe representing a corresponding position in the first period is used for sending an NRS. When the bit value in bitmap2 is 0, it indicates that the first-class downlink subframe at the corresponding position in the first period does not send NRS.

It should be noted that, when the bit in the bitmap2 indicates that the first-class downlink subframe at the corresponding position in the first period does not send NRS, it may also be understood that whether the first-class downlink subframe at the corresponding position in the first period sends NRS is determined according to whether NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH is sent, that is, when the first-class downlink subframe at the corresponding position in the first period sends NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH, the first-class downlink subframe at the corresponding position in the first period sends NRS, and when the first-class downlink subframe at the corresponding position in the first period does not send NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH, the first-class downlink subframe at the corresponding position in the first period does not send NRS.

In addition, the first type downlink subframe which is used for sending the NRS and corresponds to the value 1 in the bitmap2 field may be the same as or partially the same as the first type downlink subframe which is used for sending the NPDCCH and/or the NPDSCH and corresponds to the bitmap 1; or, the first type downlink subframe which is used for sending the NRS and whose value is 1 in the bitmap2 field is a subset of the first type downlink subframe which is used for sending the NRS and whose value is 1 in the bitmap1 field.

The following describes how to use bitmap2 to instruct the first type downlink subframe for transmitting NRS, taking the NB-IoT-U frame structures shown in fig. 3 to 6 as examples.

In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 3, there are 15 first time units in 1280ms, each first time unit includes 8 downlink subframes, that is, there are 120 first type downlink subframes in 1280 ms. For simplicity, if the length of bitmap2 is 120, it means that the period indicated by bitmap2 is 1280ms, and one bit corresponds to one first type downlink subframe in one first time unit within 1280 ms. Further, the bitmap2 may be configured to be 128 bits in length for convenience of processing by the base station and the terminal device. According to the frame number index coding method shown in fig. 3, from the leftmost side, the terminal device ignores the 1 st bit to the 8 th bit in bitmap2, the 9 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 16 ═ 1, and so on, the 128 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the 8 th first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 16 ═ 15. The first 8 bits counted from the leftmost bit of bitmap2 take a value of 0, and the bit value corresponding to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit may be determined according to an actual situation. Or, as shown in fig. 3, from the leftmost bit, the 1 st bit to the 8 th bit in bitmap2 are ignored, the 9 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit, and so on, the 128 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the 8 th first type downlink subframe in the 15 th first time unit. The first 8 bits counted from the leftmost bit of bitmap2 take a value of 0, and the bit value corresponding to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit may be determined according to an actual situation.

Hereinafter, for simplicity of description, the 1 st bit of bitmap2 refers to the 1 st bit from the leftmost. For example, if bitmap2 is 10000, then the 1 st bit of bitmap2 is 1.

Further, when describing the period indicated by bitmap2, the boundary of the default 1280ms period is aligned with the left boundary of the fixed segment, and when the period indicated by bitmap2 is 640ms, 2 640ms are included in 1280ms, wherein the first 640ms boundary is aligned with the left boundary of the fixed segment. When the period indicated by bitmap2 is 320ms, 4 320ms are included in 1280ms, wherein the first boundary of 320ms is aligned with the left boundary of the fixed segment, and when the period indicated by bitmap2 is 160ms, 8 320ms are included in 1280ms, wherein the first boundary of 160ms is aligned with the left boundary of the fixed segment, and so on, and the description is omitted herein.

Optionally, the length of bitmap2 may also be 64, which indicates that the period indicated by bitmap2 is 640ms, and the values of the corresponding bitmap2 in each 640ms are the same, but for the first 640ms, the terminal device may ignore the 1 st bit to the 8 th bit. Obviously, bitmap2 may also be 32, 16 or 8, or even 2 bits in length. If the length of bitmap2 is 8, it is equivalent to divide the 1280ms period into 16 parts on average, each part having a length of 80 ms. The indication period of bitmap2 is 80ms, and the value of the corresponding bitmap2 in each 80ms is the same, but for the first 80ms, the terminal device can ignore the 1 st bit to the 8 th bit.

In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 4, there are 31 first time units in 1280ms, each first time unit includes 4 downlink subframes, i.e., there are 124 first type downlink subframes in 1280 ms. For simplicity, if the length of bitmap2 is 124, it means that the period indicated by bitmap2 is 1280ms, and one bit corresponds to one first type downlink subframe in one first time unit within 1280 ms. Further, the bitmap2 may be configured to be 128 bits in length for the convenience of processing by the base station and the terminal device. According to the frame number index coding method shown in fig. 4, from the leftmost side, the terminal device ignores the 1 st bit to the 4 th bit in bitmap2, the 5 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 32 ═ 1, and so on, the 128 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the 4 th first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 32 ═ 31. The first 4 bits counted from the leftmost bit of bitmap2 take a value of 0, and the bit value corresponding to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit may be determined according to an actual situation. Or, as shown in fig. 4, from the leftmost bit, the 1 st bit to the 4 th bit in bitmap2 are ignored, the 5 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit, and so on, the 128 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the 4 th first type downlink subframe in the 31 st first time unit. The first 4 bits counted from the leftmost bit of bitmap2 take a value of 0, and the bit value corresponding to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit may be determined according to an actual situation.

Optionally, the length of bitmap2 may also be 64, which indicates that the period indicated by bitmap2 is 640ms, and the values of the corresponding bitmap2 in each 640ms are the same, but for the first 640ms, the terminal device may ignore the 1 st bit to the 4 th bit.

Obviously, bitmap2 may also be 32, 16 or 8, or even 2 bits in length. If the length of bitmap2 is 8, it is equivalent to divide the 1280ms period into 16 parts on average, each part having a length of 80 ms. The indication period of bitmap2 is 80ms, and the value of the corresponding bitmap2 in each 80ms is the same, but for the first 80ms, the terminal device can ignore the 1 st bit to the 4 th bit.

In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 5, there are 63 first time units in 1280ms, each first time unit includes 2 downlink subframes, i.e., there are 126 first type downlink subframes in 1280 ms. For simplicity, if the length of bitmap2 is 126, it indicates that the period indicated by bitmap2 is 1280ms, and one bit corresponds to one first type downlink subframe in one first time unit within 1280 ms. Further, the bitmap2 may be configured to be 128 bits in length for the convenience of processing by the base station and the terminal device. According to the frame number index coding method shown in fig. 5, from the leftmost side, the terminal device ignores the 1 st bit to the 2 nd bit in bitmap2, the 3 rd bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 1, and so on, the 128 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the 2 nd first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 63. The first 2 bits from the leftmost bit of bitmap2 take the value of 0, and the bit value corresponding to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit may be determined according to the actual situation. Or, as shown in fig. 5, from the leftmost bit, the 1 st bit to the 2 nd bit in bitmap2 are ignored, the 3 rd bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit, and so on, the 128 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the 2 nd first type downlink subframe in the 63 rd first time unit. The first 2 bits from the leftmost bit of bitmap2 take the value of 0, and the bit value corresponding to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit may be determined according to the actual situation.

Optionally, the length of bitmap2 may also be 64, which indicates that the period indicated by bitmap2 is 640ms, and then the values of the corresponding bitmap2 in each 640ms are the same, but for the first 640ms, the terminal device may ignore the 1 st bit to the 2 nd bit, which is obvious, and the bitmap2 bit length may also be 32, 16, or 8, or even 2. If the length of bitmap2 is 8, it is equivalent to divide the 1280ms period into 16 parts on average, each part having a length of 80 ms. The indication period of bitmap2 is 80ms, and the value of the corresponding bitmap2 in each 80ms is the same, but for the first 80ms, the terminal device can ignore the 1 st bit to the 2 nd bit.

In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 6, there are 63 first time units in 1280ms, each first time unit includes 4 downlink subframes, that is, there are 252 first type downlink subframes in 1280 ms. For simplicity, if the length of bitmap2 is 252, it means that the period indicated by bitmap2 is 1280ms, and one bit corresponds to one first type downlink subframe in one first time unit within 1280 ms. Further, for the convenience of processing by the base station and the terminal device, the bitmap2 may also be configured to have a length of 256 bits. According to the frame number index coding method shown in fig. 5, from the leftmost side, the terminal device ignores the 1 st bit to the 4 th bit in bitmap2, the 5 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 1, and so on, the 256 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the 4 th first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 63. The first 2 bits from the leftmost bit of bitmap2 take the value of 0, and the bit value corresponding to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit may be determined according to the actual situation. Or, as shown in fig. 6, from the leftmost bit, the 1 st bit to the 4 th bit in bitmap2 are ignored, the 5 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first type downlink subframe in the first time unit, and so on, the 256 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the 4 th first type downlink subframe in the 63 rd first time unit. The first 4 bits counted from the leftmost bit of bitmap2 take a value of 0, and the bit value corresponding to the first-class downlink subframe in the first time unit may be determined according to an actual situation.

In addition, if 2D +8U +2D +8U is applied to multiple carriers, referring to the first implementation manner, the number of downlink subframes actually used for sending downlink on different carriers is the same as 2D +18U, so in terms of the use of bitmap2, for different carriers, it is only necessary to directly ignore the downlink subframes that the carrier de-enables, at this time, for the downlink subframes that the carrier de-enables, bitmap2 does not need to indicate separately, that is, bits in the bitmap2 field do not indicate de-enabled subframes.

In a second manner, the length of bitmap2 may be greater than or equal to the number of first time units in the first period (1280 ms). When the length of bitmap2 is equal to the number of first time units in a first period (1280ms), for example, in the frame structure of NB-IoT-U as shown in fig. 3, the first period includes 15 first time units, and the length of bitmap2 may be equal to 15. In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 4, the first period includes 31 first time units, and the length of bitmap2 may be equal to 31. In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 5, the first period includes 63 first time units, and the length of bitmap2 may be equal to 63. Understandably, one bit in bitmap2 may correspond to a first time cell in the first cycle. For example, the first bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time cell in the first cycle, and so on, the second bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the second first time cell in the first cycle.

In the case that the length of bitmap2 is greater than the number of all first time units in the first period (1280ms), for example, in the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 3, the length of bitmap2 may be equal to 16. In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 4, bitmap2 may be equal in length to 32. In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 5, bitmap2 may be equal to 64 in length.

Understandably, one bit in bitmap2 may correspond to a first time cell in the first cycle. For example, in the frame structure of NB-IoT-U shown in fig. 3 to 5, the terminal ignores the 1 st bit of bitmap2, the second bit of bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit in the first period, and so on, the third bit of bitmap2 corresponds to the second first time unit in the first period.

In addition, the value of the bit in bitmap2 can be 1 or 0. When the bit value in bitmap2 is 1, it indicates that all the first-class downlink subframes included in the corresponding first time unit in the first period are used for sending NRS. When the bit value in the bitmap2 is 0, it indicates whether all first-class downlink subframes included in the corresponding first time unit in the first period send NRS or not, depending on whether NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH is sent or not, if there is NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH sent, NRS is sent, and if there is no NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH sent, NRS is not sent. Certainly, when the bit value in the bitmap2 is 1, it may also indicate whether all the first-class downlink subframes included in the corresponding first time unit in the first period send NRS or not depending on whether the downlink subframes send NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH or not. When the bit value in bitmap2 is 0, it may also indicate that all the first-class downlink subframes included in the corresponding first time unit in the first period are used to send NRS. In the embodiment of the present application, the bit value manner in bitmap2 is only an example, and is not limited to this. For convenience of description, in the following description, it is assumed that when a bit in bitmap2 takes a value of 1, all downlink subframes of the first class included in a corresponding first time unit in the first period are used to send NRS. When the bit value in bitmap2 is 0, it indicates whether all first-class downlink subframes included in the corresponding first time unit in the first period send NRS or not depending on whether the downlink subframes send NPDCCH and/or NPDSCH or not.

The NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 3 to 6 is used as an example to describe in detail how to use bitmap2 to indicate the first time unit for sending NRS.

In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 3, there are 15 first time units in 1280ms, and bitmap2 has a length of 15. In fig. 3, the 1 st bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 16 ═ 1, and so on, and the 15 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 16 ═ 15. Of course, the length of bitmap2 may also be 16, the terminal ignores the 1 st bit in bitmap2, the 2 nd bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 16 ═ 1, and so on, the 16 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 16 ═ 15.

In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 4, there are 31 first time units within 1280ms, and bitmap2 has a length of 31. In fig. 4, the 1 st bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 32 ═ 1, and so on, and the 31 st bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 32 ═ 31. Of course, the length of bitmap2 may also be 32, the terminal ignores the 1 st bit in bitmap2, the 2 nd bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 32 ═ 1, and so on, the 32 nd bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 32 ═ 31.

In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 5, there are 63 first time units within 1280ms, and bitmap2 has a length of 63. In fig. 5, the 1 st bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 1, and so on, and the 63 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 63. Of course, the length of bitmap2 may also be 64, the terminal ignores the 1 st bit in bitmap2, the 2 nd bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 1, and so on, the 64 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 63.

In the NB-IoT-U frame structure shown in fig. 6, there are 63 first time units within 1280ms, and bitmap2 has a length of 63. In fig. 6, the 1 st bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 1, and so on, and the 63 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 63. Of course, the length of bitmap2 may also be 64, the terminal ignores the 1 st bit in bitmap2, the frame number corresponding to the 2 nd bit in bitmap2 satisfies the first time unit of nFrame% 64 ═ 1, and so on, the frame number corresponding to the 64 th bit in bitmap2 satisfies the first time unit of nFrame% 64 ═ 63.

Optionally, in the frame structure of NB-IoT-U shown in fig. 6, there are 126 fourth time units in total within 1280ms, the bitmap2 may have a length of 126, and each first time unit includes 2 fourth time units. In fig. 6, the frame number corresponding to the 1 st bit in bitmap2 satisfies the 1 st fourth time unit in the first time unit of nFrame% 64 ═ 1, the frame number corresponding to the 2 nd bit in bitmap2 satisfies the 2 nd fourth time unit in the first time unit of nFrame% 64 ═ 1, and so on, the 126 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the 2 nd fourth time unit in the first time unit of frame number satisfying the nFrame% 64 ═ 63. Of course, the length of bitmap2 may also be 128, the terminal ignores the 1 st bit and the 2 nd bit in bitmap2, the 3 rd bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the first fourth time unit of the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 1, and so on, the 128 th bit in bitmap2 corresponds to the 2 nd fourth time unit of the first time unit whose frame number satisfies nFrame% 64 ═ 63.

In the embodiments provided in the present application, the method provided in the embodiments of the present application is introduced from the perspective of a base station, a terminal device, and interaction between the base station and the terminal device. It can be understood that, in order to implement each function in the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, each network element, for example, the base station and the terminal device include a corresponding hardware structure and/or a corresponding software module for performing each function. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the present application is capable of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software implementing the various illustrative algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein. Whether a function is performed in hardware or computer software drives hardware depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution. 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.

In the embodiment of the present application, the base station and the terminal device may be divided into the functional modules according to the above method examples, for example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the division of the module is schematic, and is only one logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation.

In the case of dividing the functional modules according to the respective functions, fig. 18 shows a schematic diagram of a possible composition of the communication apparatus according to the above and the embodiments, which is capable of executing the steps executed by the base station or the terminal device in any of the method embodiments of the present application. As shown in fig. 18, the communication apparatus is a terminal device or a communication apparatus supporting the terminal device to implement the method provided in the embodiment, for example, the communication apparatus may be a chip system, or the communication apparatus is a base station or a communication apparatus supporting the base station to implement the method provided in the embodiment, for example, the communication apparatus may be a chip system. The communication apparatus may include: a transmitting unit 1801 and a receiving unit 1802.

The sending unit 1801 is configured to support a communication device to execute the method described in this embodiment of the present application. For example, the sending unit 1801 is configured to execute or support the communication apparatus to execute S701 in the communication method shown in fig. 7 or S1301 in the communication method shown in fig. 13.

A receiving unit 1802 for performing or for supporting a communication apparatus to perform S702 in the communication method shown in fig. 7, S1302 in the communication method shown in fig. 13.

In this embodiment, further, as shown in fig. 18, the communication apparatus may further include: a processing unit 1803.

It should be noted that 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.

The communication device provided by the embodiment of the application is used for executing the method of any embodiment, so that the same effects as the method of the embodiment can be achieved.

Fig. 19 shows a communication apparatus 1900 according to an embodiment of the present application, which is used to implement the functions of the base station in the foregoing method. The communication device 1900 may be a base station or a device in a base station. The communication device 1900 may be a chip system. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices. Alternatively, the communication device 1900 is configured to implement the functions of the terminal device in the foregoing method. The communication apparatus 1900 may be a terminal device or an apparatus in a terminal device. The communication device 1900 may be a chip system. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

The communication apparatus 1900 includes at least one processor 1901, configured to implement the functions of the base station or the terminal device in the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the processor 1901 may be configured to process downlink data, and the like, for specific reference to detailed description in the method example, which is not described herein again.

The communications apparatus 1900 may also include at least one memory 1902 for storing program instructions and/or data. The memory 1902 is coupled to the processor 1901. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or a communication connection between devices, units or modules, and may be an electrical, mechanical or other form for information interaction between the devices, units or modules. The processor 1901 may operate in conjunction with the memory 1902. The processor 1901 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 1902. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

Communications apparatus 1900 may also include a communications interface 1903 for communicating with other devices over a transmission medium so that the apparatus used in communications apparatus 1900 may communicate with other devices. Illustratively, if the communication device is a base station, the other device is a terminal device. If the communication device is a terminal device, the other device is a base station. The processor 1901 utilizes the communication interface 1903 to transmit and receive data and is used to implement the method performed by the base station or the terminal device in the embodiments corresponding to fig. 7 and 13. For example, the communication interface 1903 is configured to execute S701 in the communication method illustrated in fig. 7 and S1301 in the communication method illustrated in fig. 13. Alternatively, the communication interface 1903 is used to execute S702 in the communication method shown in fig. 7 and S1302 in the communication method shown in fig. 13.

The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific connection medium among the communication interface 1903, the processor 1901, and the memory 1902. In the embodiment of the present application, the communication interface 1903, the processor 1901, and the memory 1902 are connected by a bus 1904 in fig. 19, the bus is represented by a thick line in fig. 19, and the connection manner among other components is only schematically illustrated and is not limited thereto. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in FIG. 19, but it is not intended that there be only one bus or one type of bus.

In the embodiments of the present application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and may implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like. The steps of a method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in a processor.

In the embodiment of the present application, the memory may be a nonvolatile memory, such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), and may also be a volatile memory, for example, a random-access memory (RAM). The memory is any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to such. The memory in the embodiments of the present application may also be circuitry or any other device capable of performing a storage function for storing program instructions and/or data. The terminal device according to the embodiment of the present application may be a smart phone shown in fig. 8. The base station according to the embodiment of the present application may be the base station shown in fig. 9.

Through the description of the foregoing embodiments, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and simplicity of description, only the division of the functional modules is illustrated, and in practical applications, the above function distribution may be completed by different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the apparatus may be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the above described functions.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described device embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the modules or units is only one logical functional division, and there may be other divisions when actually implemented, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or may be integrated into another device, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

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

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware, and can also be realized in a form of a software functional unit.

The method provided by the embodiment 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 instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, cause the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the invention to occur, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, a network appliance, a terminal, or other programmable apparatus. The computer instructions may be stored on a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wire (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, a data center, etc., that incorporates one or more of the available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., Digital Video Disk (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., SSD), among others.

The above description is only an embodiment of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present disclosure should be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, applied to a base station or a chip of the base station, the method comprising:

in a first period in time domain, sending a narrowband physical downlink shared channel NPDSCH or/and a narrowband physical downlink control channel NPDCCH on a downlink subframe, wherein the downlink subframe comprises a first type downlink subframe and a second type downlink subframe, the first type downlink subframe is a downlink subframe used for downlink sending, the second type downlink subframe is an invalid downlink subframe, wherein,

T ₁ indicating the total duration, T, of the first type of downlink sub-frame transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH ₂ Indicating the total duration, T, of the downlink sub-frame of the third type _total Representing the total duration of said first period, D _{presupposition} Indicating a preset occupancyAnd the third type of downlink subframe is used for sending a narrowband primary synchronization signal NPSS, a narrowband secondary synchronization signal NSSS and a narrowband physical downlink broadcast channel NPBCH.

2. A communication method is applied to a terminal device or a chip of the terminal device, and comprises the following steps:

receiving a narrowband physical downlink shared channel NPDSCH or/and a narrowband physical downlink control channel NPDCCH on a downlink subframe in a first period on a time domain, wherein the downlink subframe comprises a first type downlink subframe and a second type downlink subframe, the first type downlink subframe is a downlink subframe used for downlink transmission, the second type downlink subframe is an invalid downlink subframe, and the first type downlink subframe is a non-invalid downlink subframe,

T ₁ indicating the total duration, T, of said first type downlink sub-frames transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH ₂ Indicating the total duration, T, of the downlink sub-frame of the third type _total Representing the total duration of said first period, D _{presupposition} And the third type of downlink subframe is used for sending a narrowband primary synchronization signal NPSS, a narrowband secondary synchronization signal NSSS and a narrowband physical downlink broadcast channel NPBCH.

3. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the downlink subframes of the second type are discretely distributed in the first period.

4. The communication method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the first period comprises M first time units comprising the first type of downlink subframes and P first time units comprising the second type of downlink subframes, M is greater than 0 and less than N, the sum of M and P is greater than or equal to N, N represents the total number of the first time units in the first period, P is greater than 0 and less than N, N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1.

5. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein the sum of M and P is equal to N, and all downlink subframes included in each of the P first time units including the second type of downlink subframes are disabled downlink subframes.

6. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein the sum of M and P is greater than N, and at least one of the P first time units including the second type downlink subframes includes the first type downlink subframes and the second type downlink subframes.

7. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein the duration of the first period is 1280ms, and a starting position of 1280ms is the same as a starting position of the second time unit, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 40ms, the first time unit includes 4 downlink subframes and 36 uplink subframes, and the nFrame index of the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes satisfies nFrame% 40 ═ 7,14,21, 28.

8. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein the duration of the first period is 1280ms, and a starting position of 1280ms is the same as a starting position of the second time unit, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 20ms, the first time unit includes 2 downlink subframes and 18 uplink subframes, and a frame number index of the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes satisfies nFrame% 20 ═ 7,14,21,28,35,42,49,56, 63.

9. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein the duration of the first period is 1280ms, and a starting position of 1280ms is the same as a starting position of the second time unit, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 20ms, the first time unit includes 2 downlink subframes and 18 uplink subframes, and a frame number index of the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes satisfies nFrame% 20 ═ 1,8,16,24,32,40,48,56, 63.

10. The communication method according to claim 6, wherein the duration of the first period is 1280ms, and a starting position of 1280ms is the same as a starting position of the second time unit, the duration of the second time unit is 20ms, the duration of the first time unit is 80ms, the first time unit includes 8 downlink subframes and 72 uplink subframes, and a frame number index of the first time unit including the second type of downlink subframes satisfies nFrame% 80 ═ 7, 14.

11. The communication method according to any of claims 1-10, wherein all downlink subframes of the first type in the first period are used for transmitting a narrowband reference signal, NRS.

12. A communication method, applied to a base station or a chip of the base station, the method comprising:

in a first period in a time domain, transmitting a narrowband reference signal NRS on Q first-class downlink subframes, wherein the first-class downlink subframes are downlink subframes for downlink transmission, Q is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, the ratio of the sum of the total duration of the Q first-class downlink subframes and the total duration of a third-class downlink subframe to the total duration of a first period is less than or equal to a preset duty ratio, and the third-class downlink subframes are used for transmitting a narrowband primary synchronization signal NPSS, a narrowband secondary synchronization signal NSSS and a narrowband physical downlink broadcast channel NPBCH.

13. A communication method is applied to a terminal device or a chip of the terminal device, and comprises the following steps:

in a first period in a time domain, receiving a narrowband reference signal NRS on Q first-class downlink subframes, wherein the first-class downlink subframes are downlink subframes used for downlink transmission, Q is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, the ratio of the sum of the total duration of the Q first-class downlink subframes and the total duration of a third-class downlink subframe to the total duration of a first period is less than or equal to a preset duty ratio, and the third-class downlink subframes are used for transmitting a narrowband primary synchronization signal NPSS, a narrowband secondary synchronization signal NSSS and a narrowband physical downlink broadcast channel NPBCH.

14. The communication method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the Q first type downlink subframes are discretely distributed in the first period.

15. The communication method according to claim 14, wherein the first period includes N first time units, and the Q first type downlink subframes are discretely distributed in the first period, specifically including:

the Q first-type downlink subframes are distributed in the first time unit with the index numbers of 2-5, 16-19, 32-35 and 48-51 in a discrete mode.

16. The communication method according to claim 14, wherein the first period includes N first time units, and the Q first type downlink subframes are uniformly distributed in the first period, specifically including:

the Q first-type downlink subframes are uniformly distributed in the first time unit with the index number of odd index number or even index number.

17. The communication method according to any of claims 12-16, wherein before said transmitting narrowband reference signals, NRSs, on Q downlink subframes of a first type, the method further comprises:

and sending system information, wherein the system information comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating a first type of downlink subframe for sending NRS.

18. The communication method according to any of claims 12-16, wherein before said transmitting narrowband reference signals, NRSs, on Q downlink subframes of a first type, the method further comprises:

transmitting system information including first indication information indicating a first time unit for transmitting NRS.

19. The communication method according to claim 17, wherein the first indication information is a bitmap indication, a length of the bitmap is greater than or equal to a number of downlink subframes in all first time units in a period indicated by the bitmap, and one bit in the bitmap corresponds to one downlink subframe of one first time unit in the period indicated by the bitmap.

20. The communication method according to claim 18, wherein the first indication information is indicated by a bitmap, a length of the bitmap is greater than or equal to a first number of time units in a period indicated by the bitmap, and each bit in the bitmap corresponds to one of the first time units in the period indicated by the bitmap.

21. A method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the period indicated by the bitmap is equal to the first period length.

22. A communication device, wherein the communication device is a base station or a chip of the base station, the communication device comprising:

a sending unit, configured to send a narrowband physical downlink shared channel NPDSCH or/and a narrowband physical downlink control channel NPDCCH on a downlink subframe in a first period in a time domain, where the downlink subframe includes a first type of downlink subframe and a second type of downlink subframe, the first type of downlink subframe is a downlink subframe used for downlink sending, and the second type of downlink subframe is an invalid downlink subframe, where,

T ₁ indicating the total duration, T, of said first type downlink sub-frames transmitting NPDSCH or/and NPDCCH ₂ RepresentTotal duration, T, of downlink sub-frame of the third type _total Representing the total duration of said first period, D _{presupposition} And the third type of downlink subframe is used for sending a narrowband primary synchronization signal NPSS, a narrowband secondary synchronization signal NSSS and a narrowband physical downlink broadcast channel NPBCH.

23. A communication apparatus, wherein the communication apparatus is a terminal device or a chip of the terminal device, the communication apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive a narrowband physical downlink shared channel NPDSCH or/and a narrowband physical downlink control channel NPDCCH on a downlink subframe in a first period in a time domain, where the downlink subframe includes a first type of downlink subframe and a second type of downlink subframe, the first type of downlink subframe is a downlink subframe used for downlink transmission, and the second type of downlink subframe is an invalid downlink subframe, where,

24. A communication device, wherein the communication device is a base station or a chip of the base station, the communication device comprising:

a sending unit, configured to send a narrowband reference signal NRS on Q first-class downlink subframes in a first period in a time domain, where the first-class downlink subframes are downlink subframes for downlink sending, Q is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, a ratio of a sum of a total duration of the Q first-class downlink subframes and a total duration of a third-class downlink subframe to the total duration of the first period is less than or equal to a preset duty ratio, and the third-class downlink subframe is used to send a narrowband primary synchronization signal NPSS, a narrowband secondary synchronization signal NSSS, and a narrowband physical downlink broadcast channel NPBCH.

25. A communication apparatus, wherein the communication apparatus is a terminal device or a chip of the terminal device, the communication apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive a narrowband reference signal NRS on Q first-class downlink subframes in a first period in a time domain, where the first-class downlink subframes are downlink subframes used for downlink transmission, Q is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, a ratio of a sum of a total duration of the Q first-class downlink subframes and a total duration of a third-class downlink subframe to the total duration of the first period is less than or equal to a preset duty cycle, and the third-class downlink subframe is used to transmit a narrowband primary synchronization signal NPSS, a narrowband secondary synchronization signal NSSS, and a narrowband physical downlink broadcast channel NPBCH.

26. A base station, comprising: at least one processor, and a memory,

the memory is for storing a computer program such that the computer program when executed by the at least one processor implements the communication method of any one of claims 1, 3-11, or the communication method of any one of claims 12, 14-21.

27. A terminal device, comprising: at least one processor, and a memory,

the memory is for storing a computer program such that the computer program when executed by the at least one processor implements the communication method of any one of claims 2, 3-11, or the communication method of any one of claims 13, 14-21.

28. A computer storage medium on which a computer program is stored, which program, when being executed by a processor, carries out a communication method according to any one of claims 1, 3-11, or a communication method according to any one of claims 12, 14-21, or a communication method according to any one of claims 2, 3-11, or a communication method according to any one of claims 13, 14-21.