CN113498090A

CN113498090A - Time slot-free measuring method and device

Info

Publication number: CN113498090A
Application number: CN202110091110.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金乐
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-03
Filing date: 2021-01-22
Publication date: 2021-10-12

Abstract

The application discloses a method and a device for measuring a time slot-free time slot, relates to the technical field of communication, and solves the problem that terminal equipment cannot measure the time slot-free time slot of a neighboring cell. The specific scheme is as follows: the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment receives configuration information which is used for indicating the terminal equipment to carry out non-time slot measurement on a neighboring cell of a service cell of the terminal equipment from access network equipment; the terminal equipment determines that the radio frequency path of the resource unit to be tested of the adjacent cell is a part of or all the radio frequency path of a second resource unit according to the configuration information, the second resource unit is included in a first resource unit combination, and the first resource unit combination is included in the resource unit combination which is configured for the terminal equipment and is in an activated state; and the terminal equipment performs non-time slot measurement on the first cell on part or all of the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit. The method and the device are used for the terminal device to carry out the time slot-free measurement process on the cell of the access network device.

Description

Time slot-free measuring method and device

The present application claims priority of the chinese patent application entitled "a method and apparatus for non-time-slot measurement" filed by the national intellectual property office on 3/4/2020, application number 202010259696.5, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for non-timeslot measurement.

Background

In mobile communications, measurement is a common and important process. For example, in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) RRC _ CONNECTED (CONNECTED) state, when a terminal device needs to measure a neighboring cell of a serving cell, if measurement of a measurement-free time slot (measurement gap) is not supported, an accurate measurement time slot needs to be configured for the terminal device, so that the terminal device measures the neighboring cell according to the measurement time slot.

In the prior art, in the RRC _ CONNECTED state, when a terminal device measures a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device according to a measurement time slot, if the neighboring cells are not synchronized, and a measurement time slot configured by a base station does not include part or all of a neighboring cell synchronization signal, such as an SSB (synchronization signal block) of NR, the terminal device may not measure part or all of the neighboring cells. If the terminal can support the non-time-slot measurement, the terminal device can measure the SSB of the neighboring cell in a sufficiently long window, and can measure all neighboring cells, so that it is a problem to be solved urgently to ensure that the terminal device supports the non-time-slot measurement.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method and a device for measuring a time slot-free time slot, which solve the problem that in the prior art, no radio frequency channel is arranged on a terminal device to receive signals of an adjacent region, so that the terminal device cannot carry out time slot-free measurement on the adjacent region.

In order to achieve the purpose, the technical scheme is as follows:

in a first aspect, a method for non-slot measurement is provided, where the method includes: the terminal equipment receives configuration information which is used for indicating the terminal equipment to carry out non-time slot measurement on a neighboring cell of a service cell of the terminal equipment from access network equipment. And the terminal equipment determines that part or all of radio frequency paths of a second resource unit are the radio frequency paths of the resource units to be tested of the adjacent cell of the service cell of the terminal equipment according to the configuration information, wherein the second resource unit is included in the first resource unit combination of the resource units which are configured for the terminal equipment and are in the activated state. And the terminal equipment performs non-time slot measurement on the adjacent cell of the service cell of the terminal equipment on part or all of the radio frequency channels in the radio frequency channel of the second resource unit.

Based on the non-timeslot measurement method provided in the first aspect, after receiving configuration information for instructing the terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device, the terminal device may determine, according to the configuration information, that a part or all of radio frequency paths in a radio frequency path of a second resource unit in a first resource unit combination of resource units configured for the terminal device and in an active state are radio frequency paths of resource units to be measured of the neighboring cell of the serving cell. Therefore, the terminal equipment can receive the signal of the adjacent cell on the radio frequency path of the resource unit to be measured, so that the terminal equipment can perform non-time slot measurement on the adjacent cell, and the problem that the non-time slot measurement cannot be performed on the adjacent cell due to the fact that the terminal equipment does not have the radio frequency path to receive the signal of the adjacent cell in the prior art is solved.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the first aspect, the configuration information is further used to indicate a second resource unit combination and a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capability of each resource unit in the second resource unit combination, where the second resource unit combination includes the updated first resource unit combination, and the updated first resource unit combination does not include the second resource unit, or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the updated first resource unit combination is lower than the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the first resource unit combination.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the terminal device can accurately determine the resource unit to be tested of the neighboring cell of the serving cell of the terminal device and the radio frequency path of the resource unit to be tested according to the configuration information, and the terminal device does not need to spend time to determine the radio frequency paths of other resource units to be tested, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, the terminal device sends, to the access network device, capability information that includes resource unit combination capability supported by the terminal device and MIMO capability corresponding to each resource unit in a resource unit combination supported by the terminal device.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the terminal device sends the capability information of the terminal device to the access network, so that the access network device can determine the resource unit combination capability supported by the terminal device and the MIMO capability corresponding to each resource unit in the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device according to the capability information of the terminal device, thereby avoiding the problem that the resource unit combination determined by the access network device is a resource unit combination not supported by the terminal device, or the MIMO capability corresponding to the resource unit in the resource unit combination determined by the access network device is greater than the MIMO capability corresponding to the resource unit supported by the terminal device, which results in that the terminal device cannot perform non-timeslot measurement on the neighboring cell.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, the configuration information is further used to indicate at least one resource unit included in the first resource unit combination, where a radio path of each resource unit included in the at least one resource unit is capable of being used as a radio path of the first resource unit.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the terminal device may obtain the radio frequency path of the first resource unit from the configuration information sent by the access network device, so as to avoid that the terminal device selects the radio frequency path of the first resource unit from the radio frequency paths of the resource units in other resource unit combinations, and reduce time consumed when the terminal device determines the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, the terminal device uses, as a radio frequency path of the first resource unit, all radio frequency paths of a second resource unit, which satisfy one or more of the following conditions, in at least one resource unit: the second resource unit is the resource unit with the largest Identifier (ID) in the activated resource units; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the lowest data transmission rate in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is a resource unit with the minimum Reference Signal Receiving Power (RSRP) or Reference Signal Receiving Quality (RSRQ) or signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) or Rank Indication (RI) among the resource units in the active state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum bandwidth in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum MIMO capability in the active resource units.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the terminal device can determine the second resource unit more accurately, so that the terminal device can accurately use all radio frequency paths of the second resource unit meeting the multiple conditions as the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit, and the accuracy of determining the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit by the terminal device is improved.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, in a combination of at least one resource unit, a terminal device uses, as a radio frequency path of a first resource unit, a partial radio frequency path of a second resource unit that meets one or more of the following conditions: the second resource unit is the resource unit with RI less than or equal to the preset value in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum bandwidth in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum RSRP, RSRQ or SINR in the activated resource units; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the lowest data transmission rate in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the largest ID in the activated resource units.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the terminal device can determine the second resource unit more accurately, so that the terminal device can accurately use part of the radio frequency path of the second resource unit meeting the multiple conditions as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit, and the accuracy of determining the radio frequency path of the first resource unit by the terminal device is improved.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, the terminal device sends, to the access network device, a configuration completion response for indicating the second resource unit and/or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the terminal device sends a configuration completion response for indicating the second resource unit and/or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit to the access network device, so that the access network device determines the radio frequency path of the resource unit to be tested of the neighboring cell of the serving cell of the terminal device according to the configuration completion response, and the problem that the access network device sends the signal of the neighboring cell to the terminal device through the radio frequency paths of other resource units and the terminal device and the access network device are not synchronous is avoided.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect, the terminal device continuously monitors, on the radio frequency path of the first resource unit, a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) for a preset time that is longer than a time occupied by the SSB.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the terminal device can continuously monitor the SSB of the neighboring cell according to the preset time longer than the time length occupied by the SSB, thereby solving the problem that the terminal device cannot accurately measure the neighboring cell of the serving cell because the terminal device cannot monitor the SSB of the neighboring cell or cannot monitor the SSBs of all neighboring cells in the measurement time slot in the prior art.

In a possible implementation manner, in combination with the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, the preset time is SMTC.

Based on the possible implementation manner, on one hand, because the SMTC period is greater than or equal to the SSB period of the neighboring cell, the terminal device may monitor the SSBs of all neighboring cells in the SMTC period; on the other hand, the terminal equipment is prevented from using longer measuring time to carry out non-time slot measurement on the adjacent cell, so that the power consumption of the terminal equipment can be reduced.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, when a radio frequency path of a resource unit to be tested in a neighboring cell of a serving cell of a terminal device is a part of a radio frequency path of a second resource unit, the reduced MIMO capability of the terminal device receives or transmits uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the terminal device may receive the signal of the neighboring cell on a part of the radio frequency path of the second resource unit, and then the terminal device may perform the non-timeslot measurement on the neighboring cell. Meanwhile, the uplink and downlink signals can be continuously received or sent on the second resource unit, and the data transmission is kept.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, when the radio frequency paths of the resource units to be tested in the neighboring cell of the serving cell of the terminal device are all the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit, the terminal device stops receiving or sending the uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the terminal device may receive signals of the neighboring cell on all radio frequency paths of the second resource unit, and then the terminal device may perform non-time slot measurement on the neighboring cell.

In a second aspect, a non-timeslot measuring apparatus is provided, where the non-timeslot measuring apparatus is applied to a terminal device or a chip or a system on a chip in the terminal device, and may also be a functional module in the terminal device for implementing the method according to any possible design of the first aspect or the first aspect. The non-timeslot measuring apparatus may implement the functions performed by the terminal device in the above aspects or in each possible design, and the functions may be implemented by executing corresponding software through hardware. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions. Such as: the non-slot measuring device includes a communication unit and a processing unit.

A communication unit, configured to receive configuration information from an access network device, where the configuration information is used to instruct a terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device. And the processing unit is used for determining that part or all of the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit are the radio frequency paths of the resource unit to be tested of the adjacent cell according to the configuration information, and the second resource unit is included in the first resource unit combination of the resource unit which is configured for the terminal equipment and is in the activated state. And the processing unit is further configured to perform non-timeslot measurement on the neighboring cell on part or all of the radio frequency paths in the radio frequency path of the second resource unit.

The specific implementation manner of the non-timeslot measuring apparatus may refer to the behavior function of the terminal device in the non-timeslot measuring method provided by the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, and is not repeated here. Thus, the provided time-slot-less measuring device may achieve the same advantageous effects as the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

In a third aspect, a non-timeslot measuring apparatus is provided, where the non-timeslot measuring apparatus may be a terminal device or a chip in the terminal device or a system on a chip. The non-timeslot measuring apparatus may implement the functions performed by the terminal device in the above aspects or in each possible design, and the functions may be implemented by hardware, such as: in one possible design, the non-slotted measurement device may include: a processor for executing a computer program or instructions to implement the method of non-slotted measurement as described in the first aspect and any one of its possible implementations.

In yet another possible design, the non-slotted measurement device may further include a memory for storing computer-executable instructions and data necessary for the non-slotted measurement device. The processor executes the computer executable instructions stored in the memory when the non-slotted measurement device is operating, so as to cause the non-slotted measurement device to perform the non-slotted measurement method according to the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

In a fourth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which may be a readable non-volatile storage medium, and which stores computer instructions or a program, which when executed on a computer, make the computer perform the non-time-slot measuring method according to the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the above aspect.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the first aspect described above or any one of the possible designs of the above aspect.

In a sixth aspect, a non-time slot measuring apparatus is provided, which may be a terminal device or a chip in a terminal device or a system on a chip, and includes one or more processors and one or more memories. The one or more memories are coupled to the one or more processors and the one or more memories are configured to store computer program code comprising computer instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the terminal device to perform the non-slotted measurement method as set forth in the first aspect above or any possible design of the first aspect.

A seventh aspect provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor and a communication interface, and the chip system may be configured to implement the function performed by the terminal device in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, for example, the communication interface receives, from the access network device, configuration information used for instructing the terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device on the first resource unit. In one possible design, the system-on-chip further includes a memory to hold program instructions and/or data. The chip system may be formed by a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices, without limitation.

For technical effects brought by any design manner of the second aspect to the seventh aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects brought by the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, and details are not repeated.

In an eighth aspect, a non-slot measuring method is provided, which includes: the access network equipment determines that the radio frequency path of the resource unit to be tested of the adjacent cell of the service cell of the terminal equipment is a part of or all the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit in the first resource unit combination of the resource unit which is configured for the terminal equipment and is in the activated state. The access network device sends a message to the terminal device for instructing the terminal device to perform non-slot measurement on a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device and instructing a second resource unit combination and MIMO capability of each resource unit in the second resource unit combination, where the second resource unit combination includes an updated first resource unit combination, the updated first resource unit combination does not include a second resource unit, or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the updated first resource unit combination is lower than the MIMO capability of the second combination unit in the first resource unit combination.

Based on the non-timeslot measurement method provided in the eighth aspect, after determining the radio frequency path of the resource unit to be measured in the neighboring cell of the serving cell of the terminal device, the access network device sends, to the terminal device, configuration information for instructing the terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on the neighboring cell of the serving cell of the terminal device, and for instructing the terminal device to perform MIMO capability on each resource unit in the second resource unit combination and the second resource unit combination, so that the terminal device determines the radio frequency path of the first resource unit according to the configuration information, and thus the terminal device can perform non-timeslot measurement on the neighboring cell on the radio frequency path of the resource unit to be measured. Therefore, the problem that in the prior art, when the terminal equipment does not have a radio frequency channel to receive the signal of the adjacent cell, the non-time slot measurement of the adjacent cell cannot be carried out is solved.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect, the access network device uses, as the radio path of the first resource unit, a part of the radio path of the second resource unit that meets one or more of the following conditions: the second resource unit is the resource unit with RI less than or equal to the preset value in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum bandwidth in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum RSRP, RSRQ or SINR in the activated resource units; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the lowest data transmission rate in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the largest ID in the activated resource units.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the access network device may provide the terminal device with the more accurate second resource unit, so that the terminal device accurately uses a part of the radio frequency path of the second resource unit that meets the multiple conditions as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit, and the accuracy of determining the radio frequency path of the first resource unit by the access network device is improved.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect, the access network device uses all radio paths of the second resource unit that satisfy one or more of the following conditions as the radio paths of the first resource unit: the second resource unit is the resource unit with the largest ID in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the lowest data transmission rate in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum RSRP, RSRQ, SINR or RI in the activated resource units; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum bandwidth in the resource units in the activated state; the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum MIMO capability in the active resource units.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the access network device may provide the terminal device with the more accurate second resource unit, so that the terminal device accurately uses all the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit that satisfy the multiple conditions as the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit, and the accuracy of determining the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit by the access network device is improved.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect, when the access network device determines that the combination capability of the third resource unit is greater than the combination capability of the resource units supported by the terminal device, or when the access network device determines that the MIMO capability of the combination of the third resource units is greater than the MIMO capability of the combination of the resource units supported by the terminal device, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is determined according to the capability information of the terminal device; and the third resource unit combination is the resource unit combination formed by adding the first resource unit into the first resource unit combination.

Based on the possible implementation manner, when the access network device determines that the resource unit combination capability after adding the first resource unit into the first resource combination is greater than the resource unit combination capability supported by the terminal device, or when the MIMO capability of the resource unit combination after adding the first resource unit into the first resource combination is greater than the MIMO capability of the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is determined according to the capability information of the terminal device, so as to avoid the problem that the terminal device cannot perform non-time slot measurement on the neighboring cell of the serving cell on the radio frequency path of the first resource unit due to the fact that the resource unit combination capability including the first resource unit determined by the access network device according to the capability information of the terminal device is greater than the resource unit combination capability supported by the terminal device or the MIMO capability of the resource unit combination including the first resource unit is greater than the MIMO capability of the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device, the accuracy of the terminal equipment in the time-slot-free measurement of the adjacent cell of the service cell is improved.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect, the access network device receives, from the terminal device, capability information that includes a combination of resource elements supported by the terminal device and a MIMO capability corresponding to each resource element in the combination of resource elements supported by the terminal device.

Based on the possible implementation mode, the access network equipment can acquire the capability information of the terminal equipment through the existing signaling interaction with the terminal equipment, and the method is simple and easy to implement.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect, when a radio frequency path of a resource unit to be tested in a neighboring cell of a serving cell of a terminal device is a partial radio frequency path of a second resource unit, an access network device receives or transmits an uplink signal and a downlink signal on the second resource unit according to a reduced MIMO capability.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the access network device sends uplink and downlink signals to the terminal device on the second resource unit with reduced MIMO capability, so that the terminal device can receive signals of the neighboring cell through a part of radio frequency paths of the second resource unit, so that the terminal device can perform non-time slot measurement on the neighboring cell. Meanwhile, the uplink and downlink signals can be continuously received or sent on the second resource unit, and the data transmission is kept.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect, when the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is all the radio frequency paths in the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit, the access network device stops receiving or sending the uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the access network device stops sending uplink and downlink signals to the terminal device on the second resource unit, so that the terminal device can receive signals of the neighboring cell through a radio frequency access of the second resource unit, so that the terminal device can perform non-time slot measurement on the neighboring cell.

A ninth aspect provides a non-timeslot measuring apparatus, which is applied to an access network device or a chip or a system on chip in the access network device, and may also be a functional module in the access network device for implementing the method according to any possible design of the eighth aspect or the eighth aspect. The non-timeslot measuring apparatus may implement the functions performed by the access network device in the above aspects or possible designs, and the functions may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions. Such as: the non-slot measuring device includes a communication unit and a processing unit.

The processing unit is configured to determine that a radio frequency path of a resource unit to be tested in a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device is a part or all of radio frequency paths of a second resource unit included in a first resource unit combination of resource units configured for the terminal device and in an active state.

A communication unit, configured to send, to a terminal device, a message for instructing the terminal device to perform a non-timeslot measurement on a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device, and a message for instructing that the terminal device includes a second resource unit combination and a MIMO capability of each resource unit in the second resource unit combination, where the second resource unit combination includes an updated first resource unit combination, and the updated first resource unit combination does not include the second resource unit, or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the updated first resource unit is lower than the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the first resource unit.

In a tenth aspect, a non-timeslot measuring apparatus is provided, which may be a terminal device or a chip in the terminal device or a system on a chip. The non-timeslot measuring apparatus may implement the functions performed by the terminal device in the above aspects or in each possible design, and the functions may be implemented by hardware, such as: in one possible design, the non-slotted measurement device may include: a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is coupled to a processor for executing a computer program or instructions for implementing the method of non-slotted measurement as described in the eighth aspect and any possible implementation manner of the eighth aspect.

In yet another possible design, the non-slotted measurement device may further include a memory for storing computer-executable instructions and data necessary for the non-slotted measurement device. When the non-time-slot measuring device is running, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory, so that the non-time-slot measuring device executes the non-time-slot measuring method according to any one of the above-mentioned eighth aspect or the eighth aspect.

In an eleventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which may be a readable non-volatile storage medium, and stores a computer instruction or a program, which when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the non-time-slot measuring method according to the eighth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the eighth aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions that, when run on a computer, enable the computer to perform the non-slotted measurement method of the above-mentioned eighth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the above-mentioned eighth aspect.

In a thirteenth aspect, a non-slotted measurement apparatus is provided, which may be a first access network device or a chip or system on a chip in a first access network device, and includes one or more processors and one or more memories. The one or more memories are coupled to the one or more processors and the one or more memories are configured to store computer program code comprising computer instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the terminal device to perform the non-slotted measurement method as set forth in any of the possible designs of the above eighth aspect or eighth aspect.

In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a chip comprising: a processor and a communication interface, the processor being coupled with a memory through the communication interface, the processor, when executing a computer program or instructions in the memory, causing the method of non-slotted measurement as described in any one of the possible implementations of the eighth aspect and the eighth aspect to be performed.

For technical effects brought by any design manner in the ninth aspect to the fourteenth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects brought by any possible design manner in the eighth aspect or the eighth aspect, and details are not repeated.

In a fifteenth aspect, a non-slot measuring method is provided, which includes: the access network equipment sends configuration information to the terminal equipment, wherein the configuration information is used for instructing the terminal equipment to carry out time slot-free measurement on a neighboring cell of a service cell of the terminal equipment and is used for instructing at least one resource unit which comprises a radio frequency channel and can be used as a radio frequency channel of a resource unit to be measured of the neighboring cell. The access network device receives a configuration complete response from the terminal device indicating the second resource unit comprising the at least one resource unit and/or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit.

Based on the non-timeslot measurement method provided in the fifteenth aspect, after the access network device sends, to the terminal device, configuration information for instructing the terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device and instructing at least one resource unit that can be used as a radio frequency path of a resource unit to be measured of the neighboring cell, so that the terminal device determines, according to the configuration information, the radio frequency path of the resource unit to be measured of the neighboring cell, and the terminal device can receive information of the neighboring cell on the radio frequency path of the resource unit to be measured, and thus the terminal device can perform non-timeslot measurement on the neighboring cell. The problem that in the prior art, when the terminal equipment does not have a radio frequency channel to receive signals of the adjacent cell, the terminal equipment cannot perform time slot-free measurement on the adjacent cell is solved.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to any one of the possible designs of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, when a radio frequency path of a resource unit to be tested in a neighboring cell of a serving cell of a terminal device is a part of a radio frequency path of a second resource unit, an access network device receives or transmits an uplink signal and a downlink signal on the second resource unit according to the reduced MIMO capability.

In a possible implementation manner, with reference to the fifteenth aspect or any possible design of the fifteenth aspect, when the radio frequency paths of the neighboring cell of the serving cell of the terminal device are all of the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit, the access network device stops receiving or sending the uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit.

Based on the possible implementation manner, the access network device stops sending uplink and downlink signals to the terminal device on the second resource unit, so that the access network device can send signals of the neighboring cell to the terminal device through the radio frequency access of the second resource unit, so that the terminal device can perform non-time slot measurement on the neighboring cell.

A sixteenth aspect provides a non-timeslot measuring apparatus, which is applied to an access network device or a chip or a system on chip in the access network device, and may also be a functional module in the access network device for implementing the method according to any one of the possible designs of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect. The non-timeslot measuring apparatus may implement the functions performed by the terminal device in the above aspects or in each possible design, and the functions may be implemented by executing corresponding software through hardware. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions. Such as: the non-slot measuring device includes a communication unit and a processing unit.

A communication unit, configured to send, to a terminal device, configuration information for instructing the terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device and for instructing at least one resource unit that includes a radio frequency channel that can be used as a radio frequency channel of a resource unit to be measured of the neighboring cell; and further for receiving a configuration complete response from the terminal device indicating the second resource unit included in the at least one resource unit and/or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit.

The specific implementation manner of the non-timeslot measuring apparatus may refer to the behavior function of the terminal device in the non-timeslot measuring method provided by any one of the fifteenth aspect and the fifteenth aspect, and details are not repeated here. Therefore, the provided non-slotted measuring device can achieve the same beneficial effects as any one of the possible designs of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect.

In a seventeenth aspect, a non-timeslot measuring apparatus is provided, which may be an access network device or a chip or a system on chip in the access network device. The non-timeslot measuring apparatus may implement the functions performed by the access network device in the above aspects or in each possible design, and the functions may be implemented by hardware, such as: in one possible design, the non-slotted measurement device may include: a processor and a communication interface, the processor being configured to execute a computer program or instructions to implement the method of non-slotted measurement as described in any one of the possible implementations of the fifteenth aspect and the fifteenth aspect.

In yet another possible design, the non-slotted measurement device may further include a memory for storing computer-executable instructions and data necessary for the non-slotted measurement device. When the non-slotted measurement device is running, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory to cause the non-slotted measurement device to perform the non-slotted measurement method according to any one of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect of the possible designs.

In an eighteenth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium, which may be a readable non-volatile storage medium, storing a computer instruction or program, which when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the non-time-slot measuring method of the fifteenth aspect or any of the possible designs of the aspects.

A nineteenth aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the fifteenth aspect described above or any one of the possible designs of the aspects described above.

In a twentieth aspect, a non-slotted measurement apparatus is provided, which may be an access network device or a chip or a system on chip in an access network device, and includes one or more processors and one or more memories. The one or more memories are coupled to the one or more processors for storing computer program code comprising computer instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the terminal device to perform the non-slotted measurement method as set forth in any of the possible designs of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect.

A twenty-first aspect provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor and a communication interface, and the chip system may be configured to implement the function performed by the terminal device in any possible design of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, for example, where the processor is configured to send, to the terminal device through the communication interface, configuration information for instructing the terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on the first resource unit on a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device. In one possible design, the system-on-chip further includes a memory to hold program instructions and/or data. The chip system may be formed by a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices, without limitation.

For technical effects brought by any design manner in the sixteenth aspect to the twenty-first aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects brought by any possible design manner in the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, and details are not repeated.

In a twenty-second aspect, the present application provides a communication system, including an access network device and a terminal device in communication with the access network device, where the access network device is configured to perform the timeslot-less measurement method described in any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect and the first aspect, or the access network device is configured to perform the timeslot-less measurement method described in any one of the possible implementations of the fifteenth aspect and the fifteenth aspect, and the terminal device is configured to perform the timeslot-less measurement method described in any one of the possible implementations of the eighth aspect and the eighth aspect.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a dual connection scenario provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a measurement timeslot configured by a base station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a measurement timeslot structure configured by a base station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 4 is a simplified schematic diagram of a communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a measurement timeslot configured by a base station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 6 is a simplified schematic diagram of a communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a non-timeslot measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating another non-timeslot measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a flowchart of a non-timeslot measurement method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a software architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a flowchart of another non-timeslot measurement method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a flowchart of another non-timeslot measurement method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a non-timeslot measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating another non-timeslot measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is a simplified schematic diagram of another communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

Before describing the embodiments of the present application, some terms referred to in the embodiments of the present application are explained:

a resource unit may refer to a frequency resource for transmitting data, such as: the terminal device may transmit uplink data and/or downlink data with the access network device through the resource unit. The resource unit may include frequency resources such as Component Carrier (CC), bandwidth part (BWP), bandwidth (band), cell, and may also include frequency resources of other granularities, without limitation.

The terminal device may transmit uplink data and/or downlink data with the access network device on one resource unit, or may transmit uplink data and/or downlink data with the access network device on a plurality of resource units in order to improve spectrum efficiency and user throughput of the system. In this application, uplink data and/or downlink data are transmitted between a terminal device and an access network device on multiple resource units.

Wherein a plurality of resource units can be combined together to form a resource unit combination. The combination of resource elements may include a plurality of resource elements and a corresponding MIMO capability for each resource element. Multiple resource units may be resource units of the same cell group, such as: may be a plurality of CCs in the case of Carrier Aggregation (CA). The multiple resource units may also be resource units of different cell groups accessed by the terminal device in a Dual Connectivity (DC) mode, without limitation.

Cell (cell): may refer to a region for providing wireless communication services to terminal devices, where an access network device provides wireless communication services to terminal devices. Wherein one access network device may manage a cell. Each cell corresponds to a cell identifier (cell ID), and the cell is uniquely identified by the cell identifier. If the terminal device camps in a certain cell and is to be accessed to the camped cell, the cell may be referred to as a camped cell or a serving cell (serving cell) of the terminal device, and a cell around the serving cell and adjacent to the serving cell may be referred to as a neighbor cell (neighbor cell) or an adjacent cell of the serving cell.

Carrier Aggregation (CA): two or more CCs are aggregated to support a larger transmission bandwidth (e.g., 100 megahertz (MHz)). Each CC corresponds to an independent cell (cell), and1 CC may be equal to 1 cell. The 3rd generation partnership project (3 GPP) protocol specifies that a terminal device may be configured with multiple CCs, (e.g., may be configured with 5 CCs or 32 CCs at most), and among the multiple CCs configured with the terminal device, one CC may be referred to as a primary cell (PCell), which is a cell where the terminal device performs initial connection establishment, or performs Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reestablishment, or is a primary cell specified in a handover (handover) procedure. The PCell is responsible for RRC communication with the terminal device. The remaining CCs are referred to as secondary cells (scells), which are added upon RRC reconfiguration of the terminal device for providing additional radio resources.

Wherein the two or more CCs are CCs in the same radio access technology. For example, the radio access technology may be Long Term Evolution (LTE) or New Radio (NR), and the radio access technology may also be other radio access technologies, without limitation.

For example, taking the case that a CA includes 2 CCs (e.g., CC1 and CC2), the representation of the CA may be: CA _ [ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ] - [ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ].

In the above representation of the CA, the CA is divided into two parts with "_" as a separator: the first part "CA" indicates that this combination is a CA combination; the second section "[ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ] - [ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ]" represents a combination of CC1 and CC2, each CC may include "[ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ]".

Wherein the band indication indicates the band where the CC is located. bands may be represented by numbers or characters, and carriers corresponding to different radio access technologies may be represented by different symbols. For example, the band in which the carrier is located in LTE may be represented by a number, e.g., 1 represents that the band in which the CC of LTE is located is band1, and2 represents that the band in which the CC of LTE is located is band 2. The band in NR can be represented by a combination of characters and numbers, for example, the band in which the CC of NR represented by n1 is located is band1, and the band in which the CC of NR represented by n78 is located is band 78. In the embodiment of the present application, the band may also be represented in other forms, without limitation.

Wherein, the wideband class refers to the number of continuous CCs in the band supported by the CC.

In one example, bandwidth levels of NR and LTE are shown in table 1, and the bandwidth levels of NR may include: A. b, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J are provided. The wideband class of LTE may include: A. b, C, D, E, F, I are provided. The number of continuous CCs supported by the carrier corresponding to each wideband class may be as shown in table 1.

TABLE 1

In table 1, when the wideband level of NR is "a", it indicates that the number of contiguous CCs in the band support band is 1. When the wideband level of NR is "B", it indicates that the band supports the number of contiguous CCs in the band to be 2. When the wideband class of LTE is "a", it indicates that the band supports the number of contiguous in-band CCs is 1. When the wideband class of LTE is "B", it indicates that the band supports the number of contiguous CCs in the band to be 2. Table 1 can be referred to for the bandwidth levels "C" to "J" of NR and the bandwidth levels "C" to "I" of LTE that support continuous CCs in the band, and details thereof are not repeated.

In the embodiment of the present application, the bandwidth class of NR and the bandwidth class of LTE may further include other bandwidth classes, which is not limited. The representation of the wideband scale is exemplary only and may be other representations such as, without limitation, roman numerals and the like. The number of contiguous CCs in each wideband class support band may be other values, and is not limited.

In one example, with reference to table 1, for the combination CA _ n1A-n3C, "CA" indicates that the carrier combination is a CA combination, "n 1A-n 3C" indicates that the carrier combination is composed of CC1 and CC2, CC1 and CC2 are CCs of NR, and band1 where CC1 is located supports 1 CC in a band, and band3 where CC2 is located supports 2 consecutive CCs in the band. Wherein, the band1 is a primary carrier in the carrier combination, and the band3 is a Secondary Component Carrier (SCC) in the carrier combination.

In yet another example, referring to table 1, for the combination CA _1A-3C, "CA" indicates that the carrier combination is a CA combination, and "1A-3C" indicates that the carrier combination is composed of CC1 and CC2 of LTE, and band1 with CC1 supports 1 CC in the band, and band3 with CC2 supports 2 consecutive CCs in the band.

Wherein CC1 is the primary carrier in the carrier combination, and CC2 is the SCC in the carrier combination.

Double Connection (DC): it can mean that two access network devices provide data transmission service for a terminal device at the same time; the access network device where the PCell is located is referred to as a Primary access network device (e.g., Master gbb, MgNB for short), and the other access network device (i.e., the access network device where the Primary and Secondary cells (pscells) are located) is referred to as a Secondary access network device (e.g., Secondary gbb for short), where the Primary access network device is a control plane anchor point, that is, the terminal device establishes RRC connection with the Primary access network device, and establishes control plane connection with the core network, and the Primary access network device transmits an RRC message with the terminal device, and in a subsequent enhancement technology, part of the RRC message (e.g., configuration information, a measurement report, etc.) may also be sent between the Secondary access network device and the terminal device.

The DC may exist within the same access technology or between different access technologies, e.g., two sets of LTE may constitute LTE DC, two sets of NR may constitute NR DC, one set of LTE and one set of NR may constitute E-UTRA and NR dual connectivity (EN-DC) or NR and LTE dual connectivity (NE-DC).

In DC, two access network devices connected to a terminal device may be a main access network device and an auxiliary access network device, a cell covered by each access network device may form a CA group, and the two access network devices may be regarded as two CA groups, where the CA group covered by the main access network device may be a Master Cell Group (MCG), and the MCG may bear a control plane and a user plane of the terminal device, and may be responsible for sending a service to the terminal device and also may be responsible for sending a control signaling to the terminal device. The CA group covered by the auxiliary access network device may be referred to as an auxiliary cell group (SCG), and the SCG may bear a user plane of the terminal device and may be responsible for sending a service to the terminal device.

For example, for EN-DC, the access network device of LTE is MCG and the access network device of NR is SCG. For NE-DC, the access network device of NR is MCG and the access network device of LTE is SCG.

For example, as shown in fig. 1, the terminal device may be communicatively connected to both access network device 1 and access network device 2. Assuming that cells covered by the access network device 1 form a CA group 1, cells covered by the access network device 2 form a CA group 2, the CA group 1 is an MCG, and the CA group 2 is an SCG, the access network device 1 may send a control signaling and a transmission service to the terminal device on the CA group 1, and the access network device 2 may transmit a service to the terminal device on the CA group 2. The access network device 1 may be a primary access network device and the access network device 2 may be a secondary access network device. The access network device 1 may be a secondary access network device, and the access network device 1 may be a primary access network device, which is not limited.

In an example, taking the resource unit as a carrier, the representation of DC may be: DC _ [ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ] - [ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ].

In the representation of the DC, the DC is divided into three parts with "_" "as a separator: the first part "DC" indicates that this combination is a DC combination; a second part "[ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ] - [ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ]" represents a carrier combination of the MCG, and the carrier combination of the MCG includes 1 or more carriers; the third section "[ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ] - [ band indication ] [ bandwidth class ]" represents a carrier combination of the SCG, and the carrier combination of the SCG includes 1 or more.

For specific description of the band indication and the wideband rank in the second and third parts, reference may be made to the description of the band indication and the wideband rank of CA, and details are not described here.

For an example, in conjunction with table 1, for a carrier combination DC _1A-3C _ n78C, "DC" indicates that the carrier combination is a DC combination, "1A-3C" indicates that the MCG in the carrier combination is composed of CC1 and CC2 of LTE, the band where CC1 is located is band1, the band where CC2 is located is band3, and the MCG is composed of 2 CCs consecutive in band; "n 78C" indicates that SCG in the carrier combination is formed by NR CC3, and the band in which CC3 is located is band78, which is formed by 2 CCs continuing in the band.

CA and DC may be collectively referred to as BC (band combination).

It should be noted that, regardless of whether CA or DC combining is supported, the terminal device needs to operate on multiple carriers (serving cells) simultaneously. Therefore, the combination of CA and DC supported by the terminal device is limited by the design of the radio frequency path (or receiver) of the terminal device, and frequency points of different bands may need different radio frequency paths or may share the same radio frequency path, depending on the specific design of the terminal device. Generally, the more radio paths of the terminal device, the more CA or DC combinations can be supported.

Meanwhile, Multi-input Multi-output (MIMO) Multi-antenna technology is also supported in LTE and NR. On one CC, if the terminal device supports 4 receiving, that is, 4 antennas are used for receiving on the CC, 4 rf paths are correspondingly occupied. It can be seen that the MIMO capability of each CC in different CA or DC combinations is also limited by the design of the radio frequency path (or receiver) of the terminal device. The more radio frequency paths of the terminal equipment, the higher the MIMO capability which can be theoretically supported under the same CA/DC. Downlink MIMO capability is typically denoted xR, where "x" may be the numbers 1, 2, 4, etc. For example, 4R means 4 revenue. Typically each CC is at least 2R capable. The combination of MIMO capabilities of CCs under one CA/DC is referred to as the CA/DC MIMO capability combination. For example, the combination of MIMO capabilities of DC _1A _3A _7A-n78 is 4R +2R +4R +4R, i.e., the CCs of band1, band7 and band n78 support the MIMO capability of 4R, while the CC of band3 supports the MIMO capability of 2R. The radio frequency path of the terminal equipment is designed for a certain time, and the maximum MIMO capability combination under each CA/DC is also determined.

Therefore, when the radio frequency path of the terminal equipment is designed to be fixed, and the terminal equipment works under the CA/DC combination formed by CCs with different MIMO capabilities, the capability of measuring whether the time slot needs to be measured or not for the measurement of the different frequency or the different system adjacent area on a certain band is also different. For example, the terminal device has the capability of DC _1A _3A-n78 (DC _1A-n78 is of course supported as well). The CCs of the band1, the band3 and the band n78 all support 4R, but do not support DC _1A _3C-n78 and DC _1A _3A _ n78, so that when the terminal equipment works under DC _1A-n78, the measurement without measuring time slots can be supported when the inter-frequency adjacent region on the band3 is measured; however, when the terminal device operates on DC _1A _3A-n78, and the base station configures band3 as 4R, and then measures the inter-frequency neighboring cell of band3, at this time, since there is no remaining radio frequency channel for receiving the band3 inter-frequency neighboring cell signal, the terminal device only supports the measurement requiring the measurement time slot.

In one example, when the terminal device accesses the base station, the base station may inform the CA and DC combinations supported by the terminal device and the MIMO capability combination under each combination through RRC signaling (e.g., capability information (UECapabilityInformation) of the terminal device. The base station may configure the CC configuration CA or DC combination for the terminal device through RRC signaling, such as RRC connection reconfiguration (ConnectionReconfiguration), and configure MIMO capability of each CC. In the LTE capabilities part of the UECapabilityInformation, it may also be indicated whether measurements for each band (including 2G, 3G, 4G bands) under each LTE CA require the capability to measure timeslots. However, the R15 protocol specifies that the time slot needs to be measured when the inter-frequency or inter-system neighboring cell is an NR cell, so there is no field in RRC signaling (capability information) indicating whether each NR band needs to be measured under different CAs/DCs.

When the terminal device does not support the measurement without the measurement time slot, the base station needs to configure the measurement time slot at the same time when configuring the measurement of the terminal device. The configuration of the measurement time slot can be as shown in fig. 2, and mainly includes 3 parameters: configuring a measurement period by a measurement slot repetition period (MGRP); configuring the length of a measurement time slot (MGL), wherein the maximum length of the measurement time slot can be 6 ms; gap offset (gap offset) configuration measures the starting position of the slot. The terminal device may determine, according to the 3 parameters, that the measurement timeslot starting position is on a System Frame Number (SFN) and a subframe (subframe) that satisfy the following condition:

SFN mod T＝FLOOR(gapOffset/10)；

subframe＝gap Offset mod 10；

the measurement period T ═ MGRP/10.

It should be noted that, when the terminal device performs measurement on the NR cell to be measured, the measurement may be performed based on the SSB. If the terminal device adopts the measurement mode of measuring the time slot, the base station needs to configure an accurate position of measuring the time slot for the terminal device, and the position needs to include the SSB of the NR cell to be measured.

Synchronization Signal Block (SSB): including Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). The method can be used for synchronization, time-frequency tracking, radio resource measurement and the like.

In an example, as shown in fig. 3, the SSB of the NR cell to be measured may be sent according to a time period (also referred to as an SSB period), where the time period may be set according to needs, for example, the time period may be 5ms, 10ms, 20ms, 40ms, 80ms, or 160ms, and is not limited. The NR cell to be measured may send a plurality of SSBs in one period, and the SSBs may send in one time period, that is, the SSBs in one time period may be referred to as one SSB pulse group (Burst Set). For example, the SSB period of the NR cell to be measured is 20ms, and the SSB period includes 4 and 5 ms. One SSB Burst Set of the NR cell is sent in one 5ms with no SSB occurring in the other 3 5 ms. Therefore, when the base station configures the measurement time slot for the terminal device, the configured measurement time slot needs to include the SSB transmission time (measurement time slot shown by a solid line in fig. 3). Otherwise, the terminal device cannot receive the SSB of the NR cell to be measured in the measurement time slot (the measurement time slot shown by the dotted line in fig. 3), and thus cannot measure the NR cell to be measured.

Further, in order to measure the NR cell to be measured, the base station may also configure measurement time configuration (SMTC) for each frequency point to be measured.

SMTC: the window has a maximum period of 160ms and a maximum window length of 5 ms. The R15 protocol provides that the terminal device only makes SSB measurements where the SMTC window and measurement slot overlap and that the base station configures the SMTC period to be greater than the SSB period.

Therefore, when the base station configures the measurement timeslot of the NR cell to be measured, it is necessary to ensure that the configured measurement timeslot includes a complete SSB Burst Set of the NR cell to be measured. However, there are some difficulties in practice. Specifically, the position of the measurement time slot configured by the base station is referred to the timing of the serving cell, and the position of the SSB of the NR cell to be measured is referred to the timing of the NR cell. If the serving cell and the NR cell to be measured are not synchronized, the base station needs to know the timing offset between the serving cell and the NR cell to be measured, and can correctly configure the position of the measurement time slot for the terminal device. Secondly, even if the base station determines the timing offset between the serving cell and each neighbor cell, it is not possible to configure an appropriate measurement slot in some cases. For example, as shown in fig. 4, a terminal device accesses cell 1. Cell 2 and cell 3 are inter-frequency neighbors of cell 1, and cell 1 is not synchronized with cell 2 and cell 3. Thus, cell 2 and cell 3 are not co-located on the SSBs. If the base station cannot determine whether the terminal device is at the edge of cell 2 or cell 3, the base station cannot determine whether the measurement slot should be allocated at the SSB location of cell 2 or cell 3. As shown in fig. 5, if the terminal device is at the edge of the cell 3 and the measurement timeslot configured by the base station only includes the SSB location of the cell 2, the terminal device cannot detect the cell 3, and thus cannot switch to the cell 3.

Radio frequency path: the embodiment of the present application refers to a receiving radio frequency path, which may also be referred to as a receiver or a radio frequency channel. The radio frequency path of the terminal equipment is used for receiving signals of the access network equipment, and the radio frequency path of the access network equipment is used for receiving signals of the terminal equipment.

The number of radio frequency paths of the terminal device may determine whether the terminal device supports the non-slotted measurement.

For example, in the RRC _ CONNECTED state, if the radio frequency path of the terminal device can receive the signal of the serving cell and the signal of the neighboring cell at the same time, the terminal device may complete the measurement of the neighboring cell without measuring the time slot, that is, the terminal device may perform the non-time slot measurement on the neighboring cell. If the radio frequency path of the terminal device cannot receive the signal of the serving cell and the signal of the neighboring cell at the same time, that is, the terminal device has no additional radio frequency path to receive the signal of the neighboring cell, it needs a period of time to perform the time slot measurement. In the time slot measuring process, the terminal device may stop receiving the signal of the serving cell from the radio frequency path for receiving the serving cell, and make the radio frequency path work at the frequency point of the neighboring cell to receive the signal of the neighboring cell, thereby completing the measurement of the neighboring cell.

It should be noted that, for both CA and DC, the terminal device needs to operate on multiple carriers (serving cells) simultaneously. Therefore, the combination of CA and DC supported by the terminal device is limited by the design of the radio frequency path of the terminal device, and the frequency points of different carriers may need different radio frequency paths or the same radio frequency path, which is related to the specific design of the terminal device. The more radio paths the terminal device has, the more combinations of CA or DC can be supported.

MIMO capability: typically represented as xR, where "x" is a number, e.g., 1, 2, 4, etc. Each CC is at least 2R capable. For example, the MIMO capability of one CC is 4R, which means that the CC supports 4-receive. The MIMO capability of a terminal device to support each resource element in a combination of resource elements refers to the number of antennas or radio frequency paths used by the terminal device to receive signals on each resource element in the combination of resource elements. The resource unit combination may be the above CA or DC.

For CCs of different CA or DC, the MIMO capability of the CC is also limited by the radio frequency path design. The more radio paths a terminal device has, the higher the MIMO capability of the terminal device under the same CA or DC.

The combination of MIMO capabilities of CCs at one CA or one DC is referred to as MIMO combining capability of the CA/DC. When the number of radio frequency paths of the terminal equipment is fixed and the terminal equipment works under CA or DC formed by CCs with different MIMO capabilities, the capability of measuring whether time slots are required to be measured or not for the measurement of the adjacent cell corresponding to a certain band is also different.

For example, DC _1A _3A _ n78 supported by the terminal device. Wherein, the MIMO capability of the CCs of band1, band3 and band n78 in DC _1A _3A-n78 is 4R. The terminal device does not support DC _1A _3A _7A-n 78. In DC _1A _3A _7A _ n78, the MIMO capability of the CCs of band1, band7 and band n78 is 4R, and the MIMO capability of the CC of band3 is 2R. When the terminal equipment works under DC _1A-n78, the non-time-slot measurement can be carried out on the adjacent cell corresponding to band 3; when the terminal operates under DC _1A _3A-n78 and the terminal device performs non-time-slot measurement on the adjacent cell corresponding to band7, the terminal device cannot perform non-time-slot measurement on the adjacent cell corresponding to band7 because the terminal device does not have a residual radio frequency path for receiving signals of the adjacent cell corresponding to band 7.

In the embodiment of the present application, to solve the problem in the prior art that a terminal device cannot perform non-timeslot measurement on a neighboring cell because the terminal device does not have a radio frequency access to receive a signal of the neighboring cell, a non-timeslot measurement method is provided, including: the terminal equipment receives configuration information which is used for indicating the terminal equipment to carry out non-time slot measurement on a neighboring cell of a service cell of the terminal equipment from access network equipment. And the terminal equipment determines that part or all of the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit are the radio frequency paths of the resource unit to be tested of the adjacent region according to the configuration information. The second resource unit is included in the first combination of resource units configured for the terminal device that are in an active state. In this way, the terminal device may perform the non-timeslot measurement on the neighboring cell of the serving cell of the terminal device on part or all of the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit.

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

The method for non-slotted measurement provided in the embodiment of the present application may be used in any communication system supporting communication, where the communication system may be a 3GPP communication system, such as an LTE communication system, a 5G mobile communication system, a New Radio (NR) system, an NR vehicle-to-electronic (V2X) system, and other next-generation communication systems, and may also be a non-3 GPP communication system, without limitation. The non-slot measurement method provided in the embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to fig. 6 as an example.

It should be noted that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present application is for more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation to the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, and as a person having ordinary skill in the art knows along with the evolution of the communication system and the appearance of other communication systems, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 6, the communication system may include a plurality of access network devices and a plurality of terminal devices, such as: user Equipment (UE). The UE may be located within a coverage area of the access network device and connected to the access network device through the Uu port. In the system shown in fig. 6, each access network device may cover one or more cells, the terminal device may operate under CA or DC, the terminal device may be located in one or more cells covered by the access network device, and the terminal device may receive the service provided by the access network device through the cell covered by the terminal device or may be described as providing the terminal device with the service through the cell covered by the access network device. In the embodiment of the present application, a cell providing service for a terminal device may be referred to as a serving cell. For example, as shown in fig. 6, the access network device 1 covers the cell 1.1 and the cell 1.2, the UE1 may be located in the cell 1.1 and the cell 1.2, and the service provided by the access network device 1 may be received through the cell 1.1 and the cell 1.2, so the cell 1.1 and the cell 1.2 may be referred to as a serving cell of the UE 1. The access network device 2 covers the cell 2.1 and the cell 2.2, and the UE2 may be located in the cell 1.1 and the cell 2.1, and may receive the service provided by the access network device 1 through the cell 1.1 and receive the service provided by the access network device 2 through the cell 2.2, so that the cell 1.1 and the cell 2.1 may be referred to as a serving cell of the UE 2.

It should be noted that fig. 6 is only an exemplary framework diagram, the number of access network devices, the number of UEs, and the number of cells covered by the access network devices included in fig. 6 are not limited, names of the respective devices are not limited, and in addition to the functional nodes shown in fig. 6, other nodes may also be included, such as: core network devices, gateway devices, application servers, etc., without limitation.

The access network device in fig. 6 is mainly used to implement the functions of resource scheduling, radio resource management, radio access control, and the like of the terminal device. Specifically, the access network device may be any one of a small base station, a wireless access point, a transmission point (TRP), a Transmission Point (TP), and some other access node. In this embodiment of the present application, the apparatus for implementing the function of the access network device may be an access network device, or may be an apparatus capable of supporting the access network device to implement the function, for example, a chip system. In the following, taking an example that a device for implementing the function of the access network device is an access network device, a method for measuring a non-timeslot provided in the embodiment of the present application is described.

The UE in fig. 6 may be a terminal equipment (terminal equipment), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (MT), or the like. Specifically, the UE may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet pc (tablet personal computer), or a computer with a wireless transceiving function, and may also be a Virtual Reality (VR) device, an Augmented Reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in a smart city (smart city), a smart home, a vehicle-mounted terminal, and the like. In this embodiment of the present application, the apparatus for implementing the function of the terminal device may be the terminal device, or may be an apparatus capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, for example, a chip system. In the following, a device for implementing the function of a terminal device is taken as an example of a terminal device, and the method for measuring a non-timeslot provided in the embodiment of the present application is described.

The access network equipment and the terminal equipment can be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on the water surface; it may also be deployed on airborne airplanes, balloons and satellite vehicles. The embodiment of the application does not limit the application scenes of the access network equipment and the terminal equipment.

In a specific implementation, the network elements shown in fig. 6 are, for example: the terminal device as well as the access network device may have components as shown in fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a schematic composition diagram of a communication apparatus 700 according to an embodiment of the present application, where when the communication apparatus 700 has a function of a terminal device according to the embodiment of the present application, the communication apparatus 700 may be the terminal device or a chip or a system on a chip in the terminal device. When the communication apparatus 700 has the functions of the access network device according to the embodiment of the present application, the communication apparatus 700 may be an access network device or a chip or a system on chip in the access network device.

As shown in fig. 7, the communication apparatus 700 may include: a memory, a processor, a Transmit (TX) signal processing unit, and a Receive (RX) signal processing unit. The memory, the processor, the TX signal processing unit and the RX signal processing unit are connected through a communication line.

The memory may include static memory for storing executable code and data, and may also include dynamic memory for storing instructions and dynamic data.

The processor is configured to control the TX signal processing unit to generate signals in a predefined manner and to control the RX signal processing unit to receive signals in a predefined manner.

The TX signal processing unit is used to implement various signal processing functions of signal transmission, including procedures of channel coding, scrambling, modulation, layer mapping, precoding, and antenna mapping.

The RX signal processing unit implements various signal processing functions of signal reception, including synchronization, time-frequency tracking, measurement, channel estimation, equalization, demodulation, descrambling, decoding, and the like.

The TX signal processing unit and the RX signal processing unit are respectively connected with the antenna through a TX radio frequency path and an RX radio frequency path. The TX radio frequency channel modulates the baseband signal to carrier frequency and sends the carrier frequency out through an antenna; the RX rf path demodulates the rf signal received from the antenna into a baseband signal for processing by an RX signal processing unit. The partial antennas may be configured to transmit and receive simultaneously (e.g., antennas 1 and2 in fig. 7), and thus be connected to both the TX rf path and the RX rf path; the partial antennas are configured for reception only (e.g., antennas s and m in fig. 7) and are therefore connected only to the RX rf path. The TX and RX radio paths may be connected to either antenna, e.g., TX radio path 1 and RX radio path 1 are connected to antenna 3. The RX rf path and the TX rf path are not necessarily connected to the antenna, and if the current rf path is not used, the rf path is not connected to the antenna. The same antenna can be connected with a plurality of RX radio frequency paths and/or TX radio frequency paths, the antenna can work on a plurality of frequency points simultaneously, signals of the frequency points received by the antenna are separated through a filter during downlink receiving, and the signals are sent to an RX signal processing unit for processing through different RX radio frequency paths; when the uplink is sent, signals of different frequency points from different TX radio frequency channels are combined through a combiner and then sent on the same antenna. The above can be flexibly configured according to the service requirement.

In another specific implementation, the components shown in fig. 6, such as the terminal device and the access network device, may adopt the composition structure shown in fig. 7 or include the components shown in fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a schematic composition diagram of a non-timeslot measuring apparatus 800 according to an embodiment of the present application, where when the non-timeslot measuring apparatus 800 has a function of a terminal device according to the embodiment of the present application, the non-timeslot measuring apparatus 800 may be the terminal device or a chip or a system on a chip in the terminal device. When the communication apparatus 800 has the functions of the access network device according to the embodiment of the present application, the non-timeslot measuring apparatus 800 may be an access network device or a chip in the access network device or a system on chip. As shown in fig. 8, the non-slotted measurement apparatus 800 includes a processor 801, a communication interface 802, and a communication line 803.

Further, the non-slotted measurement apparatus 800 may further include a memory 804. The processor 801, the memory 804 and the communication interface 802 may be connected by a communication line 803.

The processor 801 is a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a general purpose processor Network (NP), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The processor 801 may also be other devices with processing functions, such as, without limitation, a circuit, a device, or a software module.

A communication interface 802 for communicating with other devices or other communication networks. The other communication network may be an ethernet, a Radio Access Network (RAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), or the like. The communication interface 802 may be a module, a circuit, a communication interface, or any device capable of enabling communication.

A communication line 803 for transmitting information between the respective components included in the non-slot measuring apparatus 800.

A memory 804 for storing instructions. Wherein the instructions may be a computer program.

The memory 804 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or another type of static storage device that can store static information and/or instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that can store information and/or instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or another optical disc storage, an optical disc storage (including a compact disc, a laser disc, an optical disc, a digital versatile disc, a blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disc storage medium or another magnetic storage device, and the like, without limitation.

It is noted that the memory 804 may exist separately from the processor 801 or may be integrated with the processor 801. The memory 804 may be used for storing instructions or program code or some data or the like. The memory 804 may be located inside the non-slot measuring apparatus 800, or may be located outside the non-slot measuring apparatus 800, which is not limited. The processor 801 is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory 804 to implement the non-slot measurement method provided in the following embodiments of the present application.

In one example, the processor 801 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in fig. 8.

As an alternative implementation, the non-timeslot measuring device 800 includes multiple processors, for example, a processor 807 may be included in addition to the processor 801 in fig. 8.

As an alternative implementation, the non-slot measuring apparatus 800 further includes an output device 805 and an input device 806. Illustratively, the input device 806 is a keyboard, mouse, microphone, or joystick like device, and the output device 805 is a display screen, speaker (spaker) like device.

It is noted that the non-timeslot measuring device 800 may be a desktop computer, a portable computer, a network server, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal, an embedded device, a chip system, or a device with a similar structure as in fig. 8. Further, the constituent structure shown in fig. 8 does not constitute a limitation of the terminal device, and the terminal device may include more or less components than those shown in fig. 8, or combine some components, or a different arrangement of components, in addition to the components shown in fig. 8.

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.

In addition, acts, terms, and the like referred to between the embodiments of the present application may be mutually referenced and are not limited. In the embodiment of the present application, the name of the message exchanged between the devices or the name of the parameter in the message, etc. are only an example, and other names may also be used in the specific implementation, which is not limited.

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.

In the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "e.g.," 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 related in a concrete fashion.

The following describes a method for non-timeslot measurement provided in an embodiment of the present application with reference to the communication system shown in fig. 6. The access network device and the terminal device described in the following embodiments may include components shown in fig. 7 or fig. 8, which are not described in detail. In the embodiment of the present application, the name of the message exchanged between the devices or the name of the parameter in the message, etc. are only an example, and other names may also be used in the specific implementation, which is not limited. The actions related to the embodiments of the present application are only an example, and other names may also be used in the specific implementation, for example: the "carried on" described in the embodiments of the present application may also be replaced by "carried on" or "included" or the like.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart of a method for non-timeslot measurement according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 9, the method includes:

step 901, the access network device sends configuration information to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the configuration information from the access network device.

The terminal device may be any one of the terminal devices in fig. 6, the access network device may be a device that provides a network service for the terminal device, and the access network device is an access network device corresponding to a serving cell of the terminal device.

The configuration information may be used to instruct the terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on the first cell, or may alternatively be described as the configuration information used to instruct the terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on the first resource unit corresponding to the first cell, or the configuration information used to instruct the terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on the SSB on the first resource unit. The first cell may be a neighbor cell of a serving cell of the terminal device. The first resource unit may be a resource unit to be tested of the first cell.

The serving cell and the first cell may be cells covered by the same access network device, or may be cells covered by different access network devices.

For example, when the serving cell and the first cell are cells covered by the same access network device, the terminal device may be UE1 in fig. 6, the access network device may be access network device 1 in fig. 6, the serving cell may be cell 1.1 in fig. 6, and the first cell may be cell 1.2 in fig. 6. Wherein, the first resource unit is the resource unit to be tested of the cell 1.2. When the serving cell and the first cell are cells covered by different access network devices, the terminal device may be UE2 in fig. 6, and the access network device may be access network device 1 or access network device 2 in fig. 6. When the access network device is the access network device 1 in fig. 6, the serving cell may be the cell 1.1 in fig. 6, the first cell may be the cell 2.1 in fig. 6, and the first resource unit is the resource unit to be measured of the cell 2.1. When the access network device is the access network device 2 in fig. 6, the serving cell may be the cell 2.1 in fig. 6, the first cell is the cell 1.1 in fig. 6, and the first resource unit is the resource unit to be measured of the cell 1.1.

Illustratively, when the access network device determines that the terminal device is located at the edge of the serving cell, the access network device is triggered to send the configuration information to the terminal device.

The access network device may determine that the terminal device is located at the edge of the serving cell according to the signal quality of the serving cell reported by the terminal device.

For example, when the signal quality of the serving cell reported by the terminal device is lower than a threshold, the access network device may determine that the access network device is located at the edge of the serving cell. Wherein the threshold value may be a preset value.

The access network device may send the configuration information to the terminal device through an RRC message. Such as: the configuration information may be carried in an RRC message and sent to the terminal device.

The RRC message may be an RRC connection reconfiguration message or an RRC connection recovery message, where the RRC connection reconfiguration message may be referred to as an RRC reconfiguration message for short, and the RRC connection recovery message may be referred to as an RRC recovery message for short.

In one example, as shown in fig. 10, a software block diagram provided in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Both the end device and the access network device may include an RRC layer, an L2 layer, and a PHY layer. The dashed lines in fig. 10 may be used to represent control signaling flow and the solid lines may be used to represent data flow. The L2 layer and the PHY layer may be configured by the RRC layer for both the terminal device and the access network device, and the L2 layer and the PHY layer may indicate the configured structure and state information to the RRC layer. RRC information and L2 information between the terminal device and the access network device are both passed through the PHY layer. For the PHY layer, RRC information and L2 information between the access network device and the terminal device are transmitted in the form of data.

The following description will be given with reference to the schematic diagram of fig. 9 by taking an example that the access network device sends configuration information to the terminal device through an RRC message, and the terminal device sends a measurement result to the access network device after receiving the configuration information.

The access network device encapsulates the RRC message into packets in the form of L2 groups, and transmits the packets to the terminal device through the PHY layer of the access network device. Accordingly, the terminal device may receive the data packet from the access network device through the PHY layer of the terminal device. The PHY layer of the end device sends the packet to the L2 layer of the end device. After receiving the data packet from the PHY layer of the terminal device, the L2 layer of the terminal device decapsulates the data packet to obtain an RRC message. The L2 layer of the terminal device sends the RRC message to the RRC layer of the terminal device. After receiving the RRC message from the L2 layer of the terminal device, the RRC layer of the terminal device parses the RRC message to obtain the configuration information sent from the access network device. The RRC layer of the terminal device may send the internal configuration message to the PHY layer of the terminal device after obtaining the configuration information sent from the access network device. The internal configuration message may be used to instruct the PHY layer of the terminal device to make a non-slotted measurement of the first cell. And after the PHY layer of the terminal equipment performs the non-time-slot measurement on the cell to be measured, reporting the measurement result to the RRC layer of the terminal equipment. The RRC layer of the terminal device may generate a measurement report (MeasurementReport) after receiving the measurement result of the PHY layer of the terminal device. The RRC layer of the terminal device may send the measurement report to the PHY layer of the access network device through the L2 layer, the PHY layer of the terminal device. The PHY layer of the access network device may be passed to the RRC layer of the access network device through the L2 layer of the access network device after receiving the measurement report from the PHY layer of the terminal device.

It should be noted that the access network device may also send the configuration information to the terminal device through other messages, which is not limited.

Besides the configuration information is used to instruct the terminal device to perform the non-timeslot measurement on the first cell, the configuration information may also be used to instruct other information, such as: in one example, the configuration information can also be used to indicate the second combination of resource elements and the MIMO capability of each resource element in the second combination of resource elements.

The second resource unit combination includes the updated first resource unit, and the updated first resource unit does not include the second resource unit, or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the updated first resource unit combination is lower than the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the first resource unit combination.

Wherein the second combination of resource elements may be determined by the access network device and indicated only to the terminal device. The configuration information may include a second combination of resource elements and a MIMO capability for each resource element in the second combination of resource elements.

It should be noted that the second resource unit combination and the MIMO capability of each resource unit in the second resource unit combination may be carried in the configuration information and sent to the terminal device, so as to reduce signaling overhead. The second resource unit combination and the MIMO capability of each resource unit in the second resource unit combination may not be carried in the configuration information and sent to the terminal device, for example: the access network device may send the second resource unit combination and the MIMO capability of each resource unit in the second resource unit combination to the terminal device through a separate signaling, so as to reduce power consumption caused by analyzing the signaling by the terminal device.

For example, the first resource unit combination is CA _1A-3A-7A, the second resource unit is band3, the first resource unit is band78, and band78 is the resource unit of NR. The updated first resource element combination is CA _ 1A-7A.

For another example, the first resource unit combination is CA _1A-3A-7A, and the second resource unit band3, the MIMO capability of the first resource unit combination is 4R +4R, the first resource unit is band78, band78 is a resource unit of NR, the second resource unit is band3, and the MIMO capability of band3 is 4R. The updated first resource combination is CA _ 1A-3A-7A. The MIMO capability of the updated first resource element combination is 4R +2R + 4R.

Specifically, an implementation of this example may be illustrated with reference to fig. 6 described below.

In yet another example, the configuration information may be further used to indicate at least one resource unit, where the at least one resource unit is included in the first resource unit combination, and the at least one resource unit includes a resource unit of which a radio frequency channel can be a radio frequency channel of the first resource unit, so that the terminal device selects a second resource unit from the at least one resource unit, and uses a part of the radio frequency channels or all the radio frequency channels of the second resource unit as the radio frequency channels of the first resource unit.

For example, the first resource unit combination is CA _1A-3A-7A, and the at least one resource unit may include one or more of band1, band3, and band 7. Alternatively, the at least one resource unit may include band3 and/or band 7.

Step 902, the terminal device determines the radio frequency path of the first resource unit according to the configuration information.

The radio frequency path of the first resource unit is a part or all of the radio frequency paths of the second resource units, the second resource units are included in a first resource unit combination which is configured for the terminal equipment and is in an activated state, and the first resource unit combination comprises one or more resource units in the activated state.

It should be noted that, in this application, the resource unit being in an active state may refer to receiving or sending uplink and downlink signals at the resource unit. For example, the terminal device may send an uplink signal to the access network device through the radio frequency path of the resource unit in the active state, and may receive a downlink signal from the access network device through the radio frequency path of the resource unit in the active state.

For example, suppose that the resource units configured for the terminal device in the active state are combined into CA _1A-3A-7A, the resource units in the active state in the resource units may include band1, band3, and band 7. Wherein when the second resource unit may be one or more of band1, band3, and band7, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is a part of the radio frequency path of the second resource unit. When the second resource unit is band3 and/or band7, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is all the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit.

Illustratively, step 902 may include the following two ways:

in a first mode, the configuration information is used to indicate the second resource unit combination and the MIMO capability of each resource unit in the second resource unit combination, and the determining, by the terminal device, the radio frequency channel of the first resource unit according to the configuration information may include:

the terminal equipment compares the first resource unit combination with the second resource unit combination, and takes the radio frequency path of the resource unit which is included in the first resource combination but not included in the second resource combination as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit; or, a part of radio frequency paths of the same resource unit with different MIMO capabilities in the first resource combination and the second resource unit combination are used as the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit.

For example, the first resource unit combination is CA _1A-3A-7A, the second resource unit combination is DC _1A-7A, and the first resource unit combination includes band 3. The second combination of resource units does not include band 3. The terminal device may use all of the radio frequency paths of band3 as the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit.

For another example, the first resource unit combination is CA _1A-3A-7A, the second resource unit combination is DC _1A-3A-7A, the MIMO capability of band3 in the first resource unit combination is 4R, and the MIMO capability of band1 and band7 in the first resource unit combination is 4R. The MIMO capability of band3 in the second resource unit combination is 2R, and the MIMO capability of band1 and band7 are both 4R. The terminal device may use a part of the radio frequency path of band3 as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

In particular, this mode can be seen in fig. 11.

In a second mode, the configuration information is used to indicate at least one resource unit, and the determining, by the terminal device, the radio frequency channel of the first resource unit according to the configuration information may include the following first case or second case:

in a first case, in a possible implementation manner, the terminal device uses, as a radio frequency path of the first resource unit, a partial radio frequency path of at least one resource unit, which satisfies one or more of the following conditions 1 to 5, in the at least one resource unit:

in condition 1, a resource unit in which a Rank Indication (RI) in the resource units in the activated state is less than or equal to a preset value.

The preset value may be a preset value, and is not limited. For example, the preset value may be 2.

Continuing with the example of step 902, the resource element group configured for the terminal device in the active state is CA _1A-3A-7A, if the RI of band1 is 1, the RI of band3 is 2, the RI of band7 is 4, and the preset value is 2. The terminal equipment may use part of the radio frequency path of band1 as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

Condition 2, the resource unit with the smallest bandwidth among the resource units in the active state.

Continuing with the example in condition 1 above, the bandwidth of band1 is greater than the bandwidth of band3, and the bandwidth of band3 is greater than the bandwidth of band 7. The terminal equipment may use part of the radio frequency path of band7 as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

And3, the resource unit with the minimum signal quality in the activated resource units.

The signal quality may include, without limitation, RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, or other parameters.

Continuing with the example in condition 1 above, if the RSRP of band1 is greater than the RSRP of band3, the RSRP of band3 is greater than the RSRP of band 7. The terminal equipment may use part of the radio frequency path of band7 as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

If the RSRQ of the band1 is larger than that of the band3, the RSRQ of the band3 is larger than that of the band 7. The terminal equipment may use part of the radio frequency path of band7 as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

If the SINR of band1 is greater than that of band3, the SINR of band3 is greater than that of band 7. The terminal equipment may use part of the radio frequency path of band7 as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

If RSRP of band1 is the smallest RSRP of the above bands, RSRP of band3 is the smallest RSRQ of the above bands, and SINR of band7 is the smallest SINR of the above bands, the terminal device may use a part of the radio frequency path of any one of the above three bands as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit, and the terminal device may select one band from the above three bands according to a predetermined priority. For example, RSRP may have a higher priority than RSRQ and RSRQ may have a higher priority than SINR. In conjunction with the above description, the terminal device may use a part of the radio frequency path of band1 as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit. The preset priority is a preset priority and is not limited.

And 4, the resource unit with the lowest data transmission rate in the activated resource units.

Continuing with the example in condition 1 above, if the data transmission rate of band1 is greater than the data transmission rate of band3, and the data transmission rate of band3 is greater than the data transmission rate of band7, the terminal device may use part of the radio frequency path of band7 as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

Condition 5, the resource unit with the largest ID among the resource units in the active state.

Continuing with the example in condition 1 above, if the band3 is the resource unit with the largest ID in the above 3 bands, the terminal device may use the partial radio path of the band3 as the radio path of the first resource unit.

The terminal device may deactivate the at least one resource unit according to the configuration information, such that the terminal device stops data transmission with the serving cell on all radio frequency paths of the deactivated at least one resource unit. The terminal device may use all radio frequency paths of the at least one resource unit for stopping data transmission with the serving cell as the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit.

For example, in connection with the example in step 902, the resource unit configured for the terminal device in the active state is combined into CA _1A-3A-7A, and the at least one resource unit may include one or more of band3 and band 7. The terminal device may deactivate band3 and/or band 7. For example, the terminal device deactivates band3, and the terminal device may stop data transmission with the serving cell on this band 3. The terminal device may use all of the radio frequency paths of band3 as the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit.

In case two, in a possible implementation manner, the terminal device takes all radio frequency paths of a second resource unit, which satisfies one or more of the following conditions 6 to 10, in at least one resource unit as the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit:

condition 6, the resource unit with the largest ID among the resource units in the active state.

The specific description of condition 6 may refer to condition 5, which is not described herein.

And condition 7, the resource unit with the lowest data transmission rate among the resource units in the activated state.

The specific description of condition 7 may refer to condition 2 described above, and is not described herein again.

Condition 8, the resource unit with the smallest signal quality or RI among the resource units in the activated state.

The signal quality may include, without limitation, RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, or other parameters. The specific description of RSRP, RSRQ, or SINR in signal quality may refer to the above condition 3, and the specific description of RI may also refer to the above condition 1. And will not be described in detail herein.

Condition 9, the resource unit with the smallest bandwidth among the resource units in the active state.

For a specific description of condition 9, reference may be made to condition 2 above, which is not described herein again.

Condition 10, the resource unit with the maximum MIMO capability among the resource units in the active state.

Continuing with the example in condition 1 above, if the MIMO capability of band3 is 4R and the MIMO capability of band7 is 8R, the terminal device may use all the radio paths of band7 as the radio paths of the first resource unit.

It should be noted that, if the MIMO capabilities of the plurality of resource units in the activated resource unit combination configured for the terminal device are the same, the terminal device may use any one of the plurality of resource units or all the radio frequency paths of the plurality of resource units as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit randomly or according to a preset sequence.

Wherein the preset sequence may be preset. For example, the predetermined sequence is left to right or right to left without limitation. For example, the resource unit combination configured for the terminal device in the active state is CA _1A-3A-7A, in the resource unit combination, the MIMO capabilities of band3 and band7 are the same, and the terminal device may use all the radio paths of band3 and/or band7 as the radio path of the first resource unit.

In this way, the terminal device may reduce MIMO capability in the at least one resource unit, so that the terminal device stops data transmission with the serving cell on a part of the radio frequency paths of the at least one resource unit. The terminal device may use a part of the radio frequency path for stopping data transmission with the serving cell as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

For example, in connection with the example in step 902, the resource unit configured for the terminal device in the active state is combined into CA _1A-3A-7A, and the at least one resource unit may include one or more of band1, band3, and band 7. Wherein. The MIMO capabilities of band1, band3, and band7 are all 4R. That is, the number of radio frequency paths for data transmission of the terminal equipment with the serving cell on the band1, the band3, and the band7 is 4.

The terminal equipment can reduce the MIMO capability of band1 from 4R to 2R; and/or the terminal device may reduce the MIMO capability of band3 from 4R to 2R; and/or the terminal device may reduce the MIMO capability of band7 from 4R to 2R, such that the number of radio frequency paths over which the terminal device performs data transmission with the serving cell on band1 is reduced from 4 to 2, and/or such that the number of radio frequency paths over which the terminal device performs data transmission with the serving cell on band3 is reduced from 4 to 2, and/or such that the number of radio frequency paths over which the terminal device performs data transmission with the serving cell on band7 is reduced from 4 to 2. Thus, the terminal device may use the 2 radio frequency paths on the band1 for stopping data transmission with the serving cell as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit, and/or use the 2 radio frequency paths on the band3 for data transmission with the serving cell as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit, and/or use the 2 radio frequency paths on the band7 for data transmission with the serving cell as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

Further optionally, in the second mode, the terminal device may send a configuration completion response to the access network device, where the configuration completion response may be used to indicate the second resource unit, so that the access network device may determine, according to the configuration completion response, that the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is all the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit.

Wherein the configuration complete response may include an identification of the second resource unit. The configuration complete response may also include other information, such as, without limitation, an identification of the terminal device, etc.

It should be noted that, when a part of the radio frequency channels of the second resource unit is used as the radio frequency channels of the first resource unit, the configuration completion response may also be used to indicate the MIMO capability of the second resource unit, so that the access network device may determine, according to the configuration completion response, that the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is the part of the radio frequency path of the second resource unit.

Specifically, this second embodiment can be described with reference to fig. 12 below.

Step 903, the terminal device performs non-timeslot measurement on the first cell on the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

For example, the terminal device may continuously monitor the SSB for a preset time on the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

The preset time may be set to be equal to or greater than the SSB period of the first cell.

As an example, the preset time may be an SMTC period.

In the embodiment of the present application, since the SMTC period is greater than the SSB period, in the SMTC period, the terminal device may receive a signal of a neighboring cell of the serving cell, that is, the terminal device may perform non-timeslot measurement on the neighboring cell of the serving cell, thereby solving the problem that the terminal device cannot measure the neighboring cell of the serving cell within a measurement timeslot of 6ms in the prior art.

It should be noted that, the method shown in fig. 9 is described by taking the terminal device as an example to perform the non-timeslot measurement on the first cell or the first resource unit of the first cell, and it is understood that the terminal device may perform the non-timeslot measurement on the multiple resource units to be measured with reference to the method shown in fig. 9, which is not described again. For example, the terminal device may perform the non-timeslot measurement on the resource units to be measured of the cell 1.1, the cell 1.2, the cell 2.1, and the cell 2.2 in fig. 6 by referring to the method shown in fig. 9.

Based on the non-timeslot measurement method provided in this embodiment, after receiving configuration information indicating that non-timeslot measurement is performed on a neighboring cell of a serving cell of a terminal device on a first resource unit, the terminal device may determine, according to the configuration information, that a part or all of radio frequency paths in a radio frequency path of a second resource unit in a first resource unit combination of resource units configured for the terminal device and in an active state are radio frequency paths of the first resource unit. Therefore, the terminal device can receive the signal of the adjacent cell on the radio frequency path of the first resource unit, thereby solving the problem that the terminal device cannot perform non-time slot measurement on the adjacent cell when the terminal device does not have the radio frequency path to receive the signal of the adjacent cell in the prior art.

Optionally, in a first implementation manner of the method shown in fig. 9, the method further includes:

the access network equipment sends the first query information to the terminal equipment. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first query information from the access network device.

The first query information is used for querying the capability information of the terminal equipment. The capability information of the terminal device may include resource unit combinations supported by the terminal device and MIMO capabilities corresponding to each resource unit in the resource unit combinations supported by the terminal device. The resource unit combination capability supported by the terminal device refers to a set of all resource unit combinations supported by the terminal device.

For example, the resource unit combinations supported by the terminal device include: CA _1A-3A-7A, DC _1A-3A _ n78A, DC _1A-7A _ n78A, DC _3A-7A _ n 78. That is, the resource unit combination capabilities supported by the terminal device are CA _1A-3A-7A, DC _1A-3A _ n78A, DC _1A-7A _ n78A, DC _3A-7A _ n 78.

As another example, the MIMO capability of the resource element combination CA _1A-3A-7A supported by the terminal device is 4R +4R + 4R. That is, the resource unit combination includes band1, band3, and band 7. The MIMO capability corresponding to band1 is 4R, the MIMO capability corresponding to band3 is 4R, and the MIMO capability corresponding to band7 is 4R.

For example, the first query information may be RRC information, such as that the first query information is a terminal equipment Capability query (UE Capability Enqiry). The terminal device may return the Capability Information of the terminal device to the access network device through RRC response Information, such as Capability Information (UE Capability Information) of the terminal device.

The RRC response message may include a plurality of information elements, and each information element may carry capability information of one or more terminal devices.

For example, the LTE CA combination supported by the terminal device and the MIMO Capability of each resource unit in the LTE CA combination may be included in the cell UE-EUTRA-Capability; the NR CA combination supported by the terminal device and the MIMO Capability of each resource unit in the NR CA combination may be included in the information element UE-NR-Capability; the EN-DC combination supported by the terminal device and the MIMO Capability of each resource unit in the EN-DC combination are included in the cell UE-MRDC-Capability.

Based on the implementation mode, the access network equipment can acquire the capability information of the terminal equipment through signaling interaction with the terminal equipment, and the method is simple and easy to implement.

Optionally, in a second implementation manner of the method shown in fig. 9, the method further includes:

and when the radio frequency channel of the first resource unit is a part of the radio frequency channel of the second resource unit, the access network equipment and the terminal equipment receive or send uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit according to the reduced MIMO capability.

Based on the implementation manner, the terminal device may receive the signal of the neighboring cell on a part of the radio frequency path of the second resource unit, and then the terminal device may perform the non-timeslot measurement on the neighboring cell.

And when the radio frequency access of the first resource unit is all the radio frequency channels of the second resource unit, the access network equipment and the terminal equipment stop receiving or sending uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit.

Based on the implementation manner, the terminal device can receive signals of the neighboring cell on all radio frequency paths of the second resource unit, and further, the terminal device can perform non-time slot measurement on the neighboring cell.

Optionally, in a third implementation manner of the method shown in fig. 9, the method further includes:

and the terminal equipment sends a measurement report to the access network equipment. Accordingly, the access network device receives the measurement report from the terminal device.

In this embodiment, the terminal device may send a measurement report to the access network device when the measurement of the terminal device on the neighboring cell and the serving cell meets the trigger measurement condition, or the measurement duration of the terminal device is greater than or equal to the preset measurement period.

The trigger measurement condition may be a preset condition. For example, the signal quality of the neighboring cell is higher than that of the serving cell, or the signal quality of the serving cell is lower than a first preset threshold, or the signal quality of the neighboring cell is higher than a second preset threshold, and the like. The first preset threshold and the second preset threshold may be preset thresholds and are not limited.

The preset measurement period may be a preset time length, and is not limited.

Based on the implementation mode, the access network equipment can accurately determine whether the terminal equipment needs to perform cell switching according to the measurement report, and the influence on the use of the terminal equipment is avoided under the condition that the signal quality of a service cell of the terminal equipment is poor.

The following describes the method shown in fig. 9 in detail by taking the access network device as an example to determine the radio frequency channel of the first resource unit and indicate the radio frequency channel to the terminal device, with reference to the system shown in fig. 6:

fig. 11 is a flowchart of a method for non-timeslot measurement according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 11, the method may include:

step 1101, the terminal device sends the capability information of the terminal device to the access network device. Accordingly, the access network device receives the capability information from the terminal device.

For the specific description of the capability information of the terminal device, reference may be made to the description of the capability information of the terminal device in step 902, which is not described herein again.

Step 1102, the access network device determines a radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

The radio frequency path of the first resource unit may refer to the description of the radio frequency path of the first resource unit in step 902, and is not described herein again.

Illustratively, step 1102 may include the following two cases:

and in case three, the access network device takes part of the radio frequency path of the second resource unit, which meets one or more of the following conditions, as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit:

conditional 11, resource units in which RI is less than or equal to a preset value among the resource units in the activated state;

condition 12, the resource unit with the smallest bandwidth among the resource units in the activated state;

condition 13, resource elements with the minimum RSRP, RSRQ, or SINR among the resource elements in the active state;

condition 14, a resource unit with the lowest data transmission rate among the resource units in the activated state;

conditional 15, the resource unit with the largest ID among the resource units in the active state.

Specifically, conditions 11 to 15 refer to conditions 1 to 5, which are not described herein in detail.

In case four, the access network device takes all the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit that satisfy one or more of the following conditions as the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit:

conditional 16, the resource unit with the largest ID among the resource units in the active state.

And the condition 17 is that the resource unit with the lowest data transmission rate is among the resource units in the activated state.

Conditional 18, the resource unit with the smallest signal quality among the resource units in the active state.

The signal quality may include, without limitation, RSRP, RSRQ, or SINR.

Conditional 19, the resource unit with the smallest bandwidth among the resource units in the active state.

And 20, the resource unit with the minimum MIMO capability in the activated resource units.

Specifically, conditions 16 to 20 may refer to conditions 6 to 10, and are not described herein in detail.

In a possible embodiment, step 1102 may be specifically implemented by the following steps:

step 11021, the access network device determines the radio frequency path of the first resource unit according to the capability information of the terminal device.

Further, when the access network device determines that the combination capability of the third resource unit is greater than the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device, or when the access network device determines that the MIMO capability of the third resource unit combination is greater than the MIMO capability of the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is determined according to the capability information of the terminal device.

And the third resource unit combination is the resource unit combination formed by adding the first resource unit into the first resource unit combination.

It should be noted that the third resource unit combination capability is greater than the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device, which means that the third resource unit combination is not included in the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device.

The following describes, with reference to a specific example, that the capability of the third resource unit combination is greater than the capability of the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device, and the MIMO capability of the third resource unit combination is greater than the MIMO capability of the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device:

1. the third resource unit combination capability is greater than the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device.

An example of the resource combination capabilities supported by the terminal device is CA _1A-3A-7A, DC _1A-3A _ n78A, DC _1A-7A _ n78A, DC _3A-7A _ n 78. The combination of resources not supported by the terminal device is DC _3A-7A _ n78_ n 67.

For example, the first resource unit is n67, the first resource unit is DC _3A-7A _ n78, and the third resource unit is DC _3A-7A _ n78_ n 67. The third combination of resource units is not included in the combinations of resource units not supported by the terminal device. That is, the third combination of resource units is greater than the combination of resource units supported by the terminal device.

For example, if the first resource unit is n78, the first resource unit is CA _1A-3A, and the third resource unit is DC _1A-3A _ n 78. The third combination of resource units is included in the combination of resources supported by the terminal device. That is, the third resource unit combination capability is less than or equal to the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device.

2. The MIMO capability of the third resource element is greater than the MIMO capability of the combination of resource elements supported by the terminal device.

An example, a combination of resource units supported by a terminal device includes: CA _1A-3A-7A and DC _1A-3A-7A _ n 78A. Wherein the MIMO capability combination of CA _1A-3A-7A is 4R +4R + 4R; the MIMO capability combination of DC _1A-3A-7A _ n78A is 4R +2R +2R +4R, 2R +4R +2R +4R or 2R +2R +4R + 4R.

For example, the first resource element is n78, and the MIMO capability of the first resource element is 2R. The first resource unit combination is CA _1A-3A-7A, and the MIMO capability of the first resource unit combination is 4R +4R + 4R. The third resource element combination is DC _1A-3A-7A _ n78A and the MIMO capability of the third resource element combination is 4R + 2R. The MIMO capability of the third combination of resource elements is greater than the MIMO capability of the combination of resource elements supported by the terminal device.

In the embodiment of the present application, because the number of resource unit combinations supported by the terminal device is large, if the resource combination of the terminal device acquired by the access network device is not all resource combinations supported by the terminal device, when the access network device determines the radio frequency path of the first resource unit according to the radio frequency path of the second resource unit, the determined radio frequency path of the first resource unit may be not optimal.

Step 1103, the access network device sends the configuration information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal equipment receives the configuration information from the access network equipment.

For the detailed description of step 1103, reference may be made to step 901 above, which is not described herein again.

And 1104, the terminal device determines a radio frequency path of the first resource unit according to the configuration information.

For the detailed description of step 1104, reference may be made to step 902 described above, and details are not described here.

Step 1105, the terminal device performs non-timeslot measurement on the first cell on the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

For the detailed description of step 1105, reference may be made to step 903 above, which is not described herein again.

It should be noted that step 1101 in fig. 11 is an optional step, and step 1102, step 1103, step 1104 and step 1150 are optional steps.

The method shown in fig. 9 will be described in detail below with reference to the system shown in fig. 6, by taking the mode two shown in fig. 9 as an example:

fig. 12 is a flowchart of a method for non-slotted measurement according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 12, the method may include:

step 1201, the terminal device sends the capability information of the terminal device to the access network device. Accordingly, the terminal device receives the capability information from the terminal device.

For the detailed description of step 1201, reference may be made to step 1101 described above, and details are not described here.

Step 1202, the access network device sends the configuration information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal equipment receives the configuration information from the access network equipment.

Step 901 may be referred to for the detailed description of step 1202, which is not described herein again.

Step 1203, the terminal device determines a radio frequency path of the first resource unit according to the configuration information.

For the detailed description of step 1203, reference may be made to step 902 described above, and details are not described here.

Step 1204, the terminal device sends a configuration completion response to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network equipment receives the configuration completion response from the terminal equipment.

Wherein the configuration complete response is used to indicate the second resource unit. The configuration complete response may include an identification of the second resource unit. The configuration complete response may also include other information, such as, without limitation, an identification of the terminal device, etc.

In this embodiment of the present application, when the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit are all the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit, the configuration completion response may include the identifier of the second resource unit; when the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is a partial radio frequency path of the second resource unit, the configuration completion response may include an identification of the second resource unit and the MIMO capability of the second resource unit. The MIMO capability of the second resource unit is the reduced MIMO capability of the second resource unit.

The identifier of the second resource unit is used to uniquely identify the second resource unit, so that the access network device can obtain the second resource unit according to the identifier of the second resource unit. For example, the identifier of the second resource unit may be a number or a character, or a combination of a number and a character, or a bit (bit) bitmap, without limitation.

For example, the first resource unit is identified as n78 and the second resource unit is identified as 3A. The configuration complete response may include 3A when the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is all the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit.

For example, the first resource unit combination is DC _1A-3A-7A, and when the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit are all the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit, the bit of the bit bitmap is used to represent each resource unit in the first resource unit combination. And when the bit is set to be 1, the corresponding resource unit is represented as a second resource unit. If the second resource unit is 7A, the configuration completion response contains bit bitmap 001.

For example, the MIMO capability of the second resource unit after being reduced may be a number, or a combination of a number and a character, or a bit bitmap, without limitation.

For example, the first resource unit is identified as n78 and the second resource unit is identified as 3A. When the radio path of the first resource unit is part of the radio path of the second resource unit, the configuration completion response may include 3A {2R } or 3A {2}, and 2R or 2 indicates that the reduced MIMO capability of the second resource unit 3A is 2R.

For example, the first resource unit combination is DC _1A-3A-7A, and when the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is a partial radio frequency path of the second resource unit, each resource unit in the first resource unit combination is represented by a bit of a bit bitmap. When the bit is set to 1, the MIMO capability of the corresponding resource unit is reduced to 2R. If the second resource unit is 7A, the configuration completion response contains bit bitmap 001.

Based on the implementation manner, in this embodiment of the application, the terminal device sends a configuration completion response for indicating the second resource unit to the access network device, so that the access network device determines the second resource unit and the MIMO capability of the second resource unit according to the configuration completion response. And the problem that the access network equipment sends a signal to the terminal equipment through the second resource unit or sends a signaling exceeding the MIMO capability of the second resource unit to the terminal equipment through the second resource unit so that the terminal equipment and the access network equipment are not synchronous is avoided.

Step 1205, the terminal device performs non-timeslot measurement on the first cell on the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

For the detailed description of step 1205, refer to step 903, and are not described herein again.

Step 1206, the terminal device sends a measurement report to the access network device. Accordingly, the access network device receives the measurement report from the terminal device.

The detailed description of step 1206 may refer to the third implementation shown in fig. 9, which is not described herein again.

Step 1207, the access network device sends the first indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal equipment receives the first indication information from the access network equipment.

The first indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to be switched from the serving cell to the first cell.

In the embodiment of the application, after receiving the measurement report from the terminal device, the access network device may determine whether to instruct the terminal device to perform cell handover according to the measurement report.

For example, the access network device may determine whether to instruct the terminal device to perform cell handover according to the signal quality of the first cell in the measurement report. For example, in the case that the signal quality of the first cell is higher than the signal quality of the serving cell, the access network device may determine to instruct the terminal device to perform cell handover, e.g., to instruct the terminal device to handover from the serving cell to the first cell.

After the access network device receives the measurement results of the multiple neighboring cells sent by the terminal device, the access network device may determine to instruct the terminal device to switch to the target neighboring cell according to the measurement results of the multiple neighboring cells. The target neighbor cell may be one cell of the plurality of neighbor cells. For example, the target neighboring cell may be a cell with the best signal quality among the neighboring cells, or the target neighboring cell may be a cell with the highest priority among the neighboring cells, or the target neighboring cell may be a cell with the lowest load among the neighboring cells, or the target cell is a cell with the largest bandwidth among the neighboring cells, and the like, without limitation.

In a possible implementation manner, the access network device sends the first indication information to the terminal device when the access network device determines that the measurement result of the first cell meets the preset condition.

The preset condition may be a condition configured in advance by the access network device. For example, the preset condition may be that the signal quality of the first cell is higher than the signal quality of the serving cell.

In a possible embodiment, after the access network device determines that the terminal device is handed over to the first cell, the access network device and the terminal device activate the second resource unit and recover the MIMO capability of the second resource unit.

Based on the technical scheme, in the embodiment of the application, when the access network device activates the second resource unit and recovers the MIMO capability of the second resource unit, the access network device does not affect subsequent measurement of other neighboring cells of the serving cell of the terminal device.

It should be noted that step 1201, step 1206, and step 1207 in fig. 12 are optional steps, and step 1202 to step 1205 are optional steps.

All the schemes in the above embodiments of the present application can be combined without contradiction.

In the embodiments provided in the foregoing application, the method provided in the embodiments of the present application is introduced from the perspective of an access network device, a terminal device, and interaction between the access network device and the terminal device. It is understood that, in order to implement the functions in the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the access network device and the terminal device include hardware structures and/or software modules corresponding to the functions. 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 as 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 access network device and the terminal device may be divided into 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 using an integrated unit, fig. 13 shows a schematic diagram of a possible structure of the non-time-slot measuring apparatus (denoted as the non-time-slot measuring apparatus 130) in the above embodiment, where the non-time-slot measuring apparatus 130 includes a communication unit 1302, a processing unit 1301, and a storage unit 1303. The schematic structural diagram shown in fig. 13 may be used to illustrate the structure of the terminal device in the above embodiment.

When the schematic configuration diagram shown in fig. 13 is used to illustrate the configuration of the terminal device in the foregoing embodiment, the processing unit 1301 is configured to control and manage the actions of the terminal device, for example, the processing unit 1301 is configured to execute step 902 and step 903 in fig. 9, step 1104 and step 1105 in fig. 11, and execute step 1101 in fig. 11, step 1201 and step 1304 in fig. 11, and/or the actions executed by the terminal device in other processes described in this embodiment of the present application, through the communication unit 1302. The processing unit 1301 may communicate with other network entities, for example, the access network apparatus 1 shown in fig. 6, through the communication unit 1302. The storage unit 1303 is used to store program codes and data of the terminal device.

When the schematic structure diagram shown in fig. 13 is used to illustrate the structure of the terminal device in the foregoing embodiment, the non-timeslot measuring apparatus 130 may be the terminal device or a chip in the terminal device.

When the non-timeslot measuring device 130 is a terminal device, the processing unit 1301 may be a processor or a controller, and the communication unit 1302 may be a communication interface, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver device, or the like. The communication interface is a generic term, and may include one or more interfaces. The storage unit 1303 may be a memory. When the non-timeslot measuring device 130 is a chip in a terminal device, the processing unit 1301 may be a processor or a controller, and the communication unit 1302 may be an input interface and/or an output interface, a pin or a circuit, etc. The storage unit 1303 may be a storage unit (e.g., a register, a cache, etc.) in the chip, or may also be a storage unit (e.g., a read-only memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), etc.) located outside the chip in the terminal device or the first access network device.

In the case of an integrated unit, fig. 14 shows a schematic diagram of a possible structure of the non-time-slot measuring apparatus (denoted as non-time-slot measuring apparatus 140) in the above embodiment, where the non-time-slot measuring apparatus 140 includes a communication unit 1402, and may further include a processing unit 1401 and a storage unit 1403. The schematic structure shown in fig. 14 may be used to illustrate the structure of the access network device in the above embodiments.

When the schematic structure shown in fig. 14 is used to illustrate the structure of the access network device in the foregoing embodiment, the processing unit 1401 is configured to control and manage the actions of the access network device, for example, the processing unit 1401 is configured to execute, through the communication unit 1402, the actions performed by the access network device in step 901 in fig. 9, step 1103 in fig. 11, step 1202, step 1206, step 1207 in fig. 12, and/or other processes described in this embodiment of the present application. The processing unit 901 may communicate with other network entities, e.g. with the terminal device shown in fig. 6, via the communication unit 1402. The storage unit 1403 is used for storing program codes and data of the first access network device.

When the schematic structure diagram shown in fig. 14 is used to illustrate the structure of the access network device in the above embodiment, the non-timeslot measuring device 140 may be the access network device or a chip in the access network device.

When the non-timeslot measuring device 140 is a first access network device, the processing unit 1401 may be a processor or a controller, and the communication unit 1402 may be a communication interface, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver device, or the like. The communication interface is a generic term, and may include one or more interfaces. The storage unit 1403 may be a memory. When the non-timeslot measuring device 140 is a chip within the first access network equipment, the processing unit 1401 may be a processor or a controller, and the communication unit 1402 may be an input interface and/or an output interface, pins or circuits, etc. The storage unit 1403 may be a storage unit (e.g., a register, a cache, etc.) in the chip, or may be a storage unit (e.g., a read-only memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), etc.) located outside the chip in the terminal device or the first access network device.

The communication unit may also be referred to as a transceiver unit. The antenna and the control circuit having the transmitting and receiving functions in the non-slot measuring apparatus 130 and the non-slot measuring apparatus 140 may be regarded as a communication unit of the non-slot measuring apparatus, and the processor having the processing function may be regarded as a processing unit of the non-slot measuring apparatus. Optionally, a device in the communication unit for implementing the receiving function may be regarded as a receiving unit, where the receiving unit is configured to perform the receiving step in the embodiment of the present application, and the receiving unit may be a receiver, a receiving circuit, and the like. The device for realizing the transmission function in the communication unit may be regarded as a transmission unit for performing the steps of transmission in the embodiments of the present application, and the transmission unit may be a transmitter, a transmission circuit, or the like.

The integrated units of fig. 13 and 14, if implemented in the form of software functional modules and sold or used as separate products, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the embodiments of the present application may be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a first access network device) or a processor (processor) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in the embodiments of the present application. A storage medium storing a computer software product comprising: u disk, removable hard disk, read only memory, random access memory, magnetic or optical disk, etc. for storing program codes.

The elements of fig. 13 and 14 may also be referred to as modules, for example, the processing elements may be referred to as processing modules.

As shown in fig. 15, fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application, which includes an access network device 11 and a terminal device 12.

The access network device 11 is configured to perform the actions performed by the access network device in the foregoing embodiments, for example, the access network device 11 is configured to perform step 901 in fig. 9, step 1102 and step 1103 in fig. 11, and step 1204, step 1206 and step 1207 in fig. 12.

The terminal device 12 is configured to execute the actions executed by the terminal device in the foregoing embodiment, for example, the terminal device 12 is configured to execute step 902 and step 903 in fig. 9, step 1101, step 1104 and step 1105 in fig. 11, and step 1203, step 1204 and step 1205 in fig. 12.

In implementation, the steps of the method provided by this embodiment may be implemented by hardware integrated logic circuits in a processor or instructions in the form of software. 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.

Processors in the present application may include, but are not limited to, at least one of: various computing devices that run software, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Microcontroller (MCU), or an artificial intelligence processor, may each include one or more cores for executing software instructions to perform operations or processing. The processor may be a single semiconductor chip or integrated with other circuits to form a semiconductor chip, for example, an SoC (system on chip) with other circuits (such as a codec circuit, a hardware acceleration circuit, or various buses and interface circuits), or may be integrated in the ASIC as a built-in processor of the ASIC, which may be packaged separately or together with other circuits. The processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), PLDs (programmable logic devices), or logic circuits implementing dedicated logic operations, in addition to cores for executing software instructions to perform operations or processes.

The memory in the embodiment of the present application may include at least one of the following types: read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static memory devices that may store static information and instructions, Random Access Memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic memory devices that may store information and instructions, and Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). In some scenarios, the memory may also be, but is not limited to, a compact disk-read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, optical disk storage (including compact disk, laser disk, optical disk, digital versatile disk, blu-ray disk, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium, which includes instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the above methods.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product containing instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the methods described above.

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

Embodiments of the present application further provide a chip, where the chip includes a processor and an interface circuit, where the interface circuit is coupled to the processor, the processor is configured to execute a computer program or instructions to implement the method, and the interface circuit is configured to communicate with other modules outside the chip.

In the above embodiments, the implementation may be wholly or partially realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, 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. The procedures or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the present application are all or partially generated upon loading and execution of computer program instructions on a computer. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored on a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be transmitted 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.). Computer-readable storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer or can comprise one or more data storage devices, such as servers, data centers, and the like, that can be integrated with the media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

While the present application has been described in connection with various embodiments, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed application, from a review of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the word "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Although the present application has been described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments thereof, it will be evident that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Accordingly, the specification and figures are merely exemplary of the present application as defined in the appended claims and are intended to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of the present application. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as well.

Claims

1. A method for non-slotted measurement, the method comprising:

the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment receives configuration information from access network equipment, wherein the configuration information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to carry out non-time slot measurement on a first cell, and the first cell is a neighboring cell of a service cell of the terminal equipment;

the terminal equipment determines a radio frequency path of a first resource unit according to the configuration information, wherein the first resource unit is a resource unit to be tested of the first cell, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is a part or all of radio frequency paths of a second resource unit, and the second resource unit is included in a first resource unit combination which is configured for the terminal equipment and is in an activated state;

and the terminal equipment performs non-time slot measurement on the first cell on the radio frequency path of the first resource unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is further used to indicate a second combination of resource elements and MIMO capability of each resource element in the second combination of resource elements;

wherein the second resource unit combination includes the updated first resource unit combination, and the updated first resource unit combination does not include the second resource unit, or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the updated first resource unit combination is lower than the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the first resource unit combination before updating.

3. The non-slotted measurement method according to claim 2, wherein the non-slotted measurement method further comprises:

and the terminal equipment sends the capability information of the terminal equipment to the access network equipment, wherein the capability information of the terminal equipment comprises the resource unit combination supported by the terminal equipment and the MIMO capability corresponding to each resource unit in the resource unit combination supported by the terminal equipment.

4. The non-slotted measurement method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information is further used to indicate at least one resource unit, the at least one resource unit being included in the first combination of resource units, the at least one resource unit comprising: the radio frequency channel may be a resource unit of the radio frequency channel of the first resource unit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining, by the terminal device, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit according to the configuration information comprises: the terminal device takes all radio frequency paths of a second resource unit which meets one or more of the following conditions in the at least one resource unit as the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit:

the second resource unit is the resource unit with the largest identification ID in the resource units in the activated state;

the second resource unit is the resource unit with the lowest data transmission rate in the resource units in the activated state;

the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) or Rank Indication (RI) in the activated resource unit;

the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum bandwidth in the resource units in the activated state;

the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum MIMO capability in the activated resource units.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining, by the terminal device, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit according to the configuration information comprises: the terminal device takes a part of radio frequency paths of second resource units meeting one or more of the following conditions in the at least one resource unit as radio frequency paths of the first resource units:

the second resource unit is a resource unit of which RI in the resource units in the activated state is less than or equal to a preset value;

the second resource unit is the resource unit with the minimum RSRP, RSRQ or SINR in the activated resource units;

the second resource unit is the resource unit with the largest ID in the resource units in the activated state.

7. The non-slotted measurement method according to any of claims 4-6, wherein the non-slotted measurement method further comprises:

and the terminal equipment sends a configuration completion response to the access network equipment, wherein the configuration completion response is used for indicating the second resource unit and/or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit.

8. The method of any of claims 1-7, wherein the terminal device performs the non-slotted measurement on the first cell on the radio frequency path of the first resource unit, and comprises:

and the terminal equipment continuously monitors a synchronous signal block SSB according to a preset time on a radio frequency path of the first resource unit, wherein the preset time is greater than the SSB period of the first cell.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined time configures an SMTC period for a synchronization signal block measurement time.

10. The non-slotted measurement method according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the non-slotted measurement method further comprises:

when the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is a part of the radio frequency path of the second resource unit, the terminal device receives or transmits uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit with the reduced MIMO capability;

and when the radio frequency access of the first resource unit is all the radio frequency accesses of the second resource unit, the terminal equipment stops receiving or sending uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit.

11. A method for non-slotted measurement, the method comprising:

the method comprises the steps that access network equipment determines a radio frequency path of a first resource unit, wherein the first resource unit is a resource unit to be tested of a first cell, the first cell is a neighboring cell of a service cell of terminal equipment, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is a part of or all radio frequency paths in a radio frequency path of a second resource unit, and the second resource unit is included in a first resource unit combination which is configured for the terminal equipment and is in an activated state;

the access network device sends configuration information to a terminal device, where the configuration information is used to indicate that the terminal device performs non-timeslot measurement on the first cell, and is used to indicate a second resource unit combination and a MIMO capability of each resource unit in the second resource unit combination, where the second resource unit combination includes the updated first resource unit combination, and the updated first resource unit combination does not include the second resource unit, or the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the updated first resource unit combination is lower than the MIMO capability of the second resource unit in the first resource unit combination before updating.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining, by the access network device, the radio frequency path of the first cell comprises: the access network device takes all radio frequency paths of the second resource unit meeting one or more of the following conditions as the radio frequency paths of the first resource unit:

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining, by the access network device, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit corresponding to the first cell comprises: the access network equipment takes part of the radio frequency path of the second resource unit meeting one or more of the following conditions as the radio frequency path of the first resource unit:

14. The method of any of claims 11-13, wherein the determining, by the access network device, the radio frequency path of the first resource unit comprises:

when the access network device determines that the combination capability of a third resource unit is greater than the resource unit supported by the terminal device, or when the access network device determines that the MIMO capability of the third resource unit combination is greater than the MIMO capability of the resource unit combination supported by the terminal device, determining the radio frequency path of the first resource unit according to the capability information of the terminal device;

the third resource unit combination is a resource unit combination obtained by adding the first resource unit to the first resource unit combination.

15. The non-slotted measurement method according to claim 14, wherein the non-slotted measurement method further comprises:

and the access network equipment receives the capability information from the terminal equipment, wherein the capability information of the terminal equipment comprises the resource unit combination supported by the terminal equipment and the MIMO capability corresponding to each resource unit in the resource unit combination supported by the terminal equipment.

16. The non-slotted measurement method according to any of claims 11-15, wherein the non-slotted measurement method further comprises:

when the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is a part of the radio frequency paths of the second resource unit, the access network device receives or transmits uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit with reduced MIMO capability;

and when the radio frequency access of the first resource unit is all the radio frequency access of the second resource unit, the access network equipment stops receiving or sending uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit.

17. A method for non-slotted measurement, the method comprising:

an access network device sends configuration information to a terminal device, where the configuration information is used to instruct the terminal device to perform non-timeslot measurement on a first cell and to instruct at least one resource unit, the first cell is a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal device, the at least one resource unit is included in a first resource unit combination configured for the terminal device and in an activated state, the at least one resource unit includes a resource unit of which a radio frequency channel can be used as a radio frequency channel of the first resource unit, and the first resource unit is a resource unit to be tested of the first cell;

the access network device receives a configuration completion response from the terminal device, where the configuration completion response is used to indicate a second resource unit and/or MIMO capability of the second resource unit, and the second resource unit is included in the at least one resource unit.

18. The non-slotted measurement method according to claim 17, wherein the non-slotted measurement method further comprises:

when the radio frequency path of the first resource unit is a part of the radio frequency path of the second resource unit, the access network device receives or transmits uplink and downlink signals on the second resource unit with the reduced MIMO capability;

19. A non-slotted measurement device, comprising one or more processors and one or more memories; one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories for storing computer program code or computer instructions;

the computer instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a non-slotted measurement device to perform a non-slotted measurement method as defined in any one of claims 1-10, or cause a non-slotted measurement device to perform a non-slotted measurement method as defined in any one of claims 11-16, or cause a non-slotted measurement device to perform a non-slotted measurement method as defined in claim 17 or 18.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer instruction or a program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the non-slotted measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or causes the computer to perform the non-slotted measurement method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, or causes the computer to perform the non-slotted measurement method according to any one of claims 17 or 18.

21. A chip, comprising: a processor and a communication interface, the processor being coupled with a memory through the communication interface, the processor, when executing a computer program or instructions in the memory, causing the non-slotted measurement method of any of claims 1-10 to be performed, or causing the non-slotted measurement method of any of claims 11-16 to be performed, or causing the non-slotted measurement method of any of claims 17 or 18 to be performed.