CN116034614A

CN116034614A - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN116034614A
Application number: CN202080103599.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘哲; 余政
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-15
Filing date: 2020-10-15
Publication date: 2023-04-28
Also published as: WO2022077404A1

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communication, wherein the method comprises: the network equipment determines first time slot format combination information according to one or more of the service type of the terminal equipment, the capability information of the terminal equipment and the threshold information; the service type is associated with at least one time slot format, the capability information of the terminal equipment indicates the quantity information of the time slot formats supported by the terminal equipment, and the threshold information indicates at least one time slot format meeting the threshold information; the network device sends first information to the terminal device, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

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

Background

In the New Radio (NR) system, the base station can configure the pattern (pattern) 1 and pattern 2 of slots through radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) common (common) signaling for all terminal devices in the cell. Taking pattern 1 as an example, the period of pattern 1 and the positions of the downlink time slot, the downlink symbol, the uplink time slot and the uplink symbol in pattern 1 can be configured through RRC common signaling. The symbol that is not arranged in pattern 1 is a variable (F) symbol. The base station may also configure the F symbol as an uplink or downlink symbol through RRC dedicated (dedication) signaling.

For flexibly configuring the cell slot format, the utilization rate of resources is improved, and for a slot comprising an F symbol, the base station can dynamically indicate the symbol format configured as an "F symbol" in the slot through downlink control information (downlink control information, DCI). The slot formats are predefined in the protocol, currently 256 slot formats are defined. Since the base station indicates the index value of the slot format through the DCI, the terminal device needs to store all possible slot formats, so that the corresponding slot format can be determined according to the index value indicated by the DCI.

As protocols evolve, the variety of slot formats may continue to increase, and if a terminal device stores all possible slot formats, the complexity of implementation for the terminal device is greater. Particularly for low capability (REDCAP) terminals, many slot formats are not suitable for REDCAP terminals, and the base station does not configure slot formats that are not suitable for REDCAP terminals, so that the REDCAP terminals do not need to store such many slot formats. For the base station, the base station needs to configure a suitable slot format for the terminal device from all possible slot formats, which results in greater complexity of configuring the slot format.

Disclosure of Invention

The present application is directed to a communication method and apparatus for reducing complexity of slot format configuration.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, where the method is applicable to a scenario in which a network device configures a slot format for a terminal device. The execution body of the method is a network device or a module in the network device, and the network device is taken as an execution body for description. The method comprises the following steps: the network equipment determines first time slot format combination information according to one or more of the service type of the terminal equipment, the capability information of the terminal equipment and the threshold information; the service type is associated with at least one time slot format, the capability information of the terminal equipment indicates the quantity information of the time slot formats supported by the terminal equipment, and the threshold information indicates at least one time slot format meeting the threshold information; the network device sends first information to the terminal device, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information.

By the method, the network equipment determines the first time slot format combination information according to the service types, considers the difference of the requirements of different service types on the uplink and downlink time slot numbers and the uplink and downlink symbol numbers, is more suitable for the transmission requirements of different service types of the terminal equipment, improves the utilization efficiency of the terminal equipment on the frequency spectrum, and improves the transmission throughput. The network equipment determines the first time slot format combination information according to the capability information of the terminal equipment, considers the processing capability of different terminal equipment, is more suitable for the processing capability and transmission requirement of the terminal equipment, improves the utilization efficiency of the frequency spectrum of the terminal equipment, and improves the transmission throughput. The network equipment determines the first time slot format combination information according to the threshold information, so that the transmission requirements of different terminal equipment can be considered, the transmission of the terminal equipment can be more satisfied, the utilization efficiency of the frequency spectrum by the terminal equipment is improved, and the transmission throughput is improved. The network device determines the first time slot format combination information according to at least two of the service type of the terminal device, the capability information of the terminal device and the threshold information, and has the same beneficial effects. Meanwhile, the method can configure the time slot format for the terminal equipment under the condition that the number of the time slot formats supported by the terminal equipment is smaller than the number of the time slot formats specified in the standard, and reduces the complexity of time slot format configuration.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first slot format combination information includes at least one of the following: the number of the time slot formats corresponding to the time slot format index, the maximum time slot format or the value set of the time slot format index.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first information further indicates a configuration of a slot format of the one or more slots. According to the method, the configuration of the time slot format of one or more time slots is indicated through the first information, so that the terminal equipment can acquire the time slot format and uplink or downlink transmission is facilitated.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the threshold information includes one or more of a first threshold value, a second threshold value, and a third threshold value; any of the at least one slot format satisfying the threshold information satisfies one or more of: the number of the uplink symbols is larger than or equal to a first threshold value; the number of the downlink symbols is larger than or equal to a second threshold value; the flexible number of symbols is greater than or equal to a third threshold.

In the method, the first threshold value is used for indicating the minimum value of the uplink symbol number, which is more beneficial to ensuring the transmission requirement of uplink service and improving the uplink speed and throughput. The second threshold is used for indicating the minimum value of the downlink symbol number, which is more beneficial to ensuring the receiving requirement of the downlink service, improving the downlink rate and improving the spectrum utilization efficiency. The third threshold is used for indicating the minimum value of the flexible symbol number, and the third threshold can avoid influencing uplink transmission and downlink reception.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the threshold information is determined according to a first parameter; the first parameter comprises at least one of: subcarrier spacing SCS, radio frequency adjustment duration, timing advance TA or bandwidth part BWP switching duration.

In the method, under the condition that the first parameter brings the switching time of the terminal equipment, the threshold information is used for indicating the minimum value of the flexible symbol number, so that uplink transmission and downlink reception cannot be carried out on the symbol indicated by the threshold information, and the influence on the uplink transmission and the downlink reception can be avoided.

In a second aspect, the present application also provides a communication device having means to implement any of the methods provided in the first aspect above. The communication device may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In one possible implementation, the communication device includes: a processor configured to support the communication apparatus to perform the corresponding functions of the network device in the method shown above. The communication device may also include a memory, which may be coupled to the processor, that holds the program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. Optionally, the communication device further comprises an interface circuit for supporting communication between the communication device and a terminal equipment or the like.

In one possible implementation manner, the communication device includes corresponding functional modules, each for implementing the steps in the above method. The functions may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus includes a processing module and a communication module in a structure, and these units may perform corresponding functions in the foregoing method example, and specific reference is made to the description in the method provided in the first aspect, which is not repeated herein.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, where the method is applicable to a scenario in which a network device configures a slot format for a terminal device. The execution body of the method is a terminal device or a module in the terminal device, and the terminal device is taken as an execution body for example. The method comprises the following steps: the terminal equipment determines first time slot format combination information according to one or more of the service type of the terminal equipment, the capability information of the terminal equipment and the threshold information; the service type is associated with at least one time slot format, the capability information of the terminal equipment indicates the quantity information of the time slot formats supported by the terminal equipment, and the threshold information indicates at least one time slot format meeting the threshold information; the terminal device receives first information from the network device, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information.

In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the first slot format combination information includes at least one of the following: the time slot format corresponding to the time slot format index, the maximum number of the time slot formats and the value set of the time slot format index.

In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the first information further indicates a configuration of a slot format of the one or more slots.

In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the threshold information includes one or more of a first threshold value, a second threshold value, and a third threshold value;

any of the at least one slot format satisfying the threshold information satisfies one or more of:

the number of the uplink symbols is larger than or equal to a first threshold value; the number of the downlink symbols is larger than or equal to a second threshold value; the flexible number of symbols is greater than or equal to a third threshold.

In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the threshold information is determined according to a first parameter; the first parameter comprises at least one of: subcarrier spacing SCS, radio frequency adjustment duration, timing advance TA or bandwidth part BWP switching duration.

In a fourth aspect, the present application also provides a communications device having means for implementing any of the methods provided in the third aspect. The communication device may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In one possible implementation, the communication device includes: a processor configured to support the communication device to perform the corresponding functions of the terminal device in the method shown above. The communication device may also include a memory, which may be coupled to the processor, that holds the program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises an interface circuit for supporting communication between the communication apparatus and a device such as a network device.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus includes a processing module and a communication module in a structure, and these units may perform corresponding functions in the foregoing method example, and specifically refer to descriptions in the method provided in the third aspect, which is not described herein.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, where the method is applicable to a scenario in which a network device configures a slot format for a terminal device. The execution body of the method is a terminal device or a module in the terminal device, and the terminal device is taken as an execution body for example. The method comprises the following steps: the terminal equipment receives configuration information from the network equipment, wherein the configuration information indicates a first time slot format; the terminal equipment determines at least one of a time unit and transmission direction switching information between two adjacent time slots according to the first time slot format, wherein the time unit is not used for uplink transmission or downlink reception.

By the method, the terminal equipment receives the configuration information from the network equipment and determines the first time slot format, which is beneficial for the terminal equipment to determine the configuration of the uplink symbol, the downlink symbol and the flexible symbol in one time slot. According to the first time slot format, a time unit between two adjacent time slots can be determined, wherein the time unit is not used for uplink transmission or downlink reception and is used for ensuring that the terminal equipment can finish the conversion of uplink symbols and downlink symbols. According to the first time slot format, the transmission direction switching information can be determined, the implementation complexity of REDCAP UE can be reduced by restraining the transmission direction switching information, and the switching times of a transmitting side and a receiving side are reduced.

In a possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, a duration of the time unit is greater than or equal to a radio frequency adjustment duration of the terminal device, or a timing advance TA, or a bandwidth part switching duration; or the duration of the time unit is greater than or equal to the sum of at least two of the radio frequency adjustment duration, the timing advance and the bandwidth part switching duration of the terminal equipment.

By the method, the requirements of different switching times can be met under different scenes.

In a possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the terminal device determines, in the first manner or the second manner, a positional relationship in which the time unit is located in two adjacent time slots, and a duration of the time unit.

In a possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the first manner is: when two adjacent time slots include a first time slot and a second time slot located after the first time slot, and there is a conversion from a downlink symbol to an uplink symbol between the two adjacent time slots, the last M symbols of the first time slot are used as time units, and M is a positive integer.

In a possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the second manner is: when the adjacent two time slots comprise a first time slot and a third time slot positioned before the first time slot, and the uplink is converted into the downlink or the downlink is converted into the uplink, the first M symbols of the first time slot are used as time units, and M is a positive integer.

In a possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the transmission direction switching information indicates the number of uplink and downlink switching, and the transmission direction switching information is 0 or 1.

In a possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the transmission direction switching information includes: the transmission symbol directions are the same, and the transmission direction switching information is 0 or 1; or, the transmission symbol directions are different, the transmission direction switching information is O, and O is greater than or equal to 1.

In a sixth aspect, the present application also provides a communication device having any of the methods provided in the fifth aspect. The communication device may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus includes a processing module and a communication module in a structure, and these units may perform corresponding functions in the foregoing method example, and specifically refer to a description in the method provided in the fifth aspect, which is not repeated herein.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, where the method is applicable to a scenario in which a network device configures a slot format for a terminal device. The execution body of the method is a network device or a module in the network device, and the network device is taken as an execution body for description. The method comprises the following steps: the network equipment determines configuration information, wherein the configuration information indicates a first time slot format; the first time slot format may determine at least one of a time unit between two adjacent time slots, which is not used for uplink transmission or downlink reception, and transmission direction switching information; the network device sends configuration information to the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, a duration of the time unit is greater than or equal to a radio frequency adjustment duration of the terminal device, or a timing advance TA, or a bandwidth part switching duration; or the duration of the time unit is greater than or equal to the sum of at least two of the radio frequency adjustment duration, the timing advance and the bandwidth part switching duration of the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, a duration of the time unit is determined according to the first manner or the second manner.

In a possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, the first manner is: when two adjacent time slots include a first time slot and a second time slot located after the first time slot, and there is a conversion from a downlink symbol to an uplink symbol between the two adjacent time slots, the last M symbols of the first time slot are used as time units, and M is a positive integer.

In a possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, the second manner is: when the adjacent two time slots comprise a first time slot and a third time slot positioned before the first time slot, and the uplink is converted into the downlink or the downlink is converted into the uplink, the first M symbols of the first time slot are used as time units, and M is a positive integer.

In a possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, the transmission direction switching information indicates the number of uplink and downlink switching, and the transmission direction switching information is 0 or 1.

In an eighth aspect, the present application also provides a communication device having any of the methods provided in the seventh aspect. The communication device may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus includes a processing module and a communication module in a structure, and these units may perform corresponding functions in the foregoing method example, and specifically refer to descriptions in the method provided in the seventh aspect, which is not described herein in detail.

In a ninth aspect, there is provided a communication device comprising a processor and interface circuitry for receiving signals from or transmitting signals to the processor from or to other communication devices than the communication device, the processor being operable to implement the method of any of the possible implementations of the first and any of the preceding aspects by logic circuitry or executing code instructions.

In a tenth aspect, there is provided a communication device comprising a processor and interface circuitry for receiving signals from or transmitting signals from other communication devices than the communication device to the processor, the processor being operable to implement the functional modules of the methods of any of the possible implementations of the third aspect, by logic circuitry or executing code instructions.

In an eleventh aspect, there is provided a communication device comprising a processor and interface circuitry for receiving signals from or transmitting signals to the processor from or to other communication devices than the communication device, the processor being operable to implement the functional modules of the methods of any of the possible implementations of the fifth and fifth aspects described above by logic circuitry or executing code instructions.

In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a communication device comprising a processor and interface circuitry for receiving signals from or transmitting signals to the processor from or to other communication devices than the communication device, the processor being operable to implement functional modules of the method in any of the possible implementations of the seventh and seventh aspects by logic circuitry or executing code instructions.

In a thirteenth aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided, in which a computer program or instructions is stored which, when executed by a processor, implement the method of any of the foregoing first or third or fifth or seventh aspects, and any possible implementation of any of the foregoing aspects.

In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement the method of any of the foregoing first or third or fifth or seventh aspects, and any possible implementation of any of the aspects.

A fifteenth aspect provides a chip system comprising a processor, and possibly a memory, for implementing the method of any of the foregoing first or third or fifth or seventh aspects, and any possible implementation of any of the foregoing aspects. The chip system may be formed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

In a sixteenth aspect, there is provided a communication system comprising an apparatus (e.g. a network device) according to the second aspect and an apparatus (e.g. a terminal device) according to the fourth aspect.

In a seventeenth aspect, there is provided a communication system comprising an apparatus (e.g. a terminal device) according to the sixth aspect and an apparatus (e.g. a network device) according to the eighth aspect.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture suitable for use in embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a pattern according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of transmission direction switching provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of transmission direction switching provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a slot structure according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a slot structure according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a slot structure according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of transmission direction switching provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of transmission direction switching provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of transmission direction switching provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

Detailed Description

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

The technical solution of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD), NR systems, and the like, without limitation herein. The method in the embodiment of the application is not only suitable for a TDD system, but also suitable for half duplex frequency division duplex (HD-frequency division duplex, HD-FDD), so that the HD-FDD works according to the time slot configuration method in the embodiment of the application.

In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may be a device with a wireless transceiver function or a chip that may be disposed in any device, and may also be referred to as a User Equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user equipment. The terminal device in the embodiment of the present application may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer (Pad), a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote medical (remote medical), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation security (transportation safety), or the like.

In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may be a REDCAP terminal device in the NR system, or may be a terminal device with conventional capability. REDCAP terminal equipment may also be referred to as low capability terminal equipment, reduced capability terminal equipment, REDCAP UE, reduced Capacity UE, mMTC UE, and the like. Legacy or normal or high capability terminals may also be referred to as legacy (legacy) terminals or normal (normal) terminals. The low capability terminal device is different from the legacy terminal device in one or more of the following characteristic parameters:

The bandwidth (channel bandwidth), i.e. the supported or configured bandwidth of the terminal device, in this application the bandwidth of the low capability terminal device and the legacy terminal device may be different. For example, the bandwidth of the low-capability terminal device is 20M, and the bandwidth of the legacy terminal device is 100M.

The number of resource units supported or configured is different. For example: the number of resources supported by the low-capability terminal equipment is 48RB, and the number of resources supported by the traditional terminal equipment is 96RB.

The number of transmit antenna ports and/or the number of receive antenna ports are different. For example, the low-capability terminal device has a transmitting antenna port number of 1, a receiving antenna port number of 2, a transmitting antenna port number of 2, and a receiving antenna port number of 4.

The number of radio frequency channels is different. For example, the number of radio frequency channels of the low-capability terminal device is 1, and the number of radio frequency channels of the conventional terminal device is 2.

The number of HARQ processes is different. For example, the HARQ process number of the low capability terminal device is 8, and the HARQ process number of the legacy terminal device is 16.

The peak rates supported are different. For example, the maximum peak rate supported by the low capability terminal device is 100Mbps, and the peak rate supported by the legacy terminal device is 200Mbps.

The application scenarios are different. For example, low-capability terminal devices are applied to industrial wireless sensing, video monitoring, wearable devices and the like, and traditional terminal devices are applied to mobile communication, video surfing and the like.

The latency requirements are different. For example, the latency requirement of a low capability terminal device is 500 milliseconds and the latency requirement of a legacy terminal device is 100 milliseconds.

The processing power is different. For example, low-capability terminal devices do not support complex operations (complex operations include: artificial intelligence (artificial intelligence, AI), virtual Reality (VR) rendering), which are supported by legacy terminal devices; such as: the processing power of the low-capability terminal device is lower than that of the conventional terminal device.

The protocol versions are different. For example, the protocol version supported by the low-capability terminal device is Release 17, and the protocol version supported by the legacy terminal device is Release 15.

Duplex mode (half duplex, full duplex) is different. For example, a half duplex mode is used by a low capability terminal device, and a full duplex mode is used by a legacy terminal device.

Services (e.g., internet of things applications such as video surveillance, MBB, etc.) are different. For example, the service supported by the low-capability terminal device is time video monitoring, and the service supported by the traditional terminal device is MBB.

The network equipment is mainly responsible for providing wireless connection for the terminal equipment, ensuring reliable transmission of uplink and downlink data of the terminal equipment and the like. The network device may be a next generation base station (next Generation node B, gNB) in an NR system, an evolved node (evolutional node B, eNB) in an LTE system, etc. When the network device is a gNB, the network device may be composed of a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU).

For example, the method provided in the embodiment of the present application may be applied to the communication system shown in fig. 1, where the network device and 3 terminal devices (respectively denoted by UE1 to UE 3) form a single-cell communication system, and UE1 to UE3 may respectively or simultaneously send uplink data to the network device, and the network device may respectively or simultaneously send downlink data to UE1 to UE3. It should be understood that fig. 1 is only an exemplary illustration, and is not intended to limit the number of terminal devices, network devices, and cells covered by the network devices included in the communication system in any particular manner.

Taking the communication system shown in fig. 1 as an example of an NR TDD system, before a terminal device communicates with a network device, the network device may configure a pattern (pattern) of a time slot for all terminal devices in a cell through RRC common signaling, and at present, the patterns that may be configured by the network device are divided into a pattern 1 and a pattern 2, where the configuration rules of the two patterns are the same. Taking pattern 1 as an example, the configuration rule is as follows:

determining the transmission period of pattern 1, the transmission period P1 may be 0.5ms,0.625ms,1ms,1.25ms,2ms, 2.5ms,5ms or 10ms, etc., specifically configured according to the actual situation:

configuring continuous x time slots at the beginning of the pattern 1 as downlink time slots, wherein x is a positive integer, and the specific value is determined according to the actual situation;

Configuring continuous y symbols starting from the ending positions of the x downlink time slots as downlink symbols, wherein y is a positive integer, and the specific value is determined according to the actual situation;

configuring consecutive x slots with the end position of pattern 1 forward as uplink slots;

configuring consecutive y symbols with forward starting positions of x uplink time slots as uplink symbols;

the symbols remaining in pattern 1 are configured as F symbols.

In connection with the above description, the configuration result of pattern 1 may be shown in fig. 2, where D represents a downlink slot or a downlink symbol, U represents an uplink slot or an uplink symbol, and F represents an F symbol, which may also be referred to as a flexible symbol.

Based on the RRC common signaling, the network device may also configure the F symbol as an uplink or downlink symbol through RRC dedicated signaling. Further, if the F symbol is also present after RRC common signaling and RRC dedicated signaling configuration, the network device may also indicate a symbol format configured as the F symbol through DCI. For example, the DCI does not directly indicate the symbol format of the F symbol, but indicates a slot format including a slot in which the F symbol is located, and each slot format specifies the number and location of uplink symbols, the number and location of downlink symbols in one slot.

The current time slot formats have 256 types, when the network device indicates through the DCI, an appropriate time slot format needs to be selected from 256 time slot formats to indicate to the terminal device, and the implementation complexity is high.

The network architecture and the service scenario described in the embodiments of the present application are for more clearly describing the technical solution of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can know that, with the evolution of the network architecture and the appearance of the new service scenario, the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

In this embodiment of the present application, the interaction between the terminal device and the network device is taken as an example to describe the interaction between other execution bodies, for example, the interaction between a terminal device chip or module and a chip or module in the network device may be used, and when the execution body is a chip or module, reference may be made to the description in the embodiment of the present application, which is not repeated herein.

Embodiment one:

in combination with the foregoing description, as shown in fig. 3, a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application is provided. Referring to fig. 3, the method includes:

step 301: the network equipment determines first time slot format combination information according to one or more of the service type of the terminal equipment, the capability information of the terminal equipment and the threshold information.

The service type is associated with at least one time slot format, the capability information of the terminal equipment indicates the quantity information of the time slot formats supported by the terminal equipment, and the threshold information indicates at least one time slot format meeting the threshold information;

step 302: and the network equipment sends first information to the terminal equipment, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information.

In this embodiment of the present application, the network device may send the first information through DCI, or may send the first information through other manners, which is not limited in this application.

Step 303: and the terminal equipment determines first time slot format combination information according to one or more of the service type of the terminal equipment, the capability information of the terminal equipment and the threshold information.

The traffic type is associated with at least one slot format, the capability information of the terminal device indicates a number of slot formats supported by the terminal device, and the threshold information indicates at least one slot format satisfying the threshold information.

Step 304: the terminal equipment receives first information from the network equipment, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information.

Wherein, in the one or more time slots, there are no time slots with the same time slot format, that is, the time slot format of each time slot is different; or in the one or more slots, there may be slots with the same slot format, i.e. there are at least two slots with the same slot format.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first timeslot format combination information may include at least one of the following:

the slot format corresponding to the slot format index: the slot format corresponding to the slot format index is a complete set of slot formats supported by the terminal device, for example, the slot format may indicate one or more of the following information in one slot: downlink symbol number and symbol position, flexible symbol number and symbol position, uplink symbol number and symbol position. For example, there are 14 symbols in a slot, numbered 0-13, assuming that the slot format of the slot is format a, format a may represent 0-3 downlink symbols, 4-5 flexible symbols, and 5-13 uplink symbols in the slot. The slot format corresponding to the slot format index is a subset of the 256 slot formats defined in the existing standard or is a portion of the 256 slot formats defined in the existing standard. The number of the time slot formats corresponding to the time slot format indexes is smaller than 256, and the specific number is determined according to actual conditions.

Maximum number of slot formats: the maximum number of slot formats may be included in a first slot format parameter, such as the RRC parameter slotFormats. For example, the maximum number of slot formats is the RRC parameter maxnrofslotformats per combination, the maximum number of slot formats is less than 256, for example, n1=2n, N is a positive integer greater than 1, and N1 may have a value of 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128. In another possible case, according to the maximum number of slot formats, determining the length of the sequence (slotFormats sequence size) of the slotFormats and the slot format corresponding to each element in the sequence, where the slot format of each element in the sequence is the slot format corresponding to the slot format index.

Value set of slot format index: the valued set of slot format indexes may be contained in a first slot format parameter, such as RRC parameter slotFormats. The set of values of the slot format index is expressed in (0, …, N2), where n2=2 ⁿ -1, N is a positive integer greater than 1 and N2 has a value less than 255, for example N2 may be 7, 15, 31, 63 or 127. The number of the largest slot formats and the value of the value set of the slot format index may be in a corresponding relationship, for example, n2=n1-1.

In the embodiment of the present application, an association relationship between a service type and the first timeslot format combination information may be established, and one service type may be associated with at least one timeslot format. The slot format associated with a traffic type may be determined based on the data transmission requirements of that traffic type. For example, if the service type needs more uplink data to be transmitted and less downlink data to be transmitted, the number of uplink symbols in the slot format associated with the service type is greater than the number of downlink symbols. If the service type needs more downlink data to be transmitted and less uplink data to be transmitted, the number of downlink symbols in the slot format associated with the service type is larger than the number of uplink symbols. If the service type has more uplink data to be transmitted and more downlink data to be transmitted, the number of uplink symbols in the slot format associated with the service type is equal to or similar to the number of downlink symbols, and both the uplink symbols and the downlink symbols are larger than a preset value, for example, both the uplink symbols and the downlink symbols are larger than 3. If the service type has fewer uplink data to be transmitted and fewer downlink data to be transmitted, the number of uplink symbols in the slot format associated with the service type is equal to or similar to the number of downlink symbols. Where the symbol may refer to a symbol such as an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM) symbol.

For example, the service types are respectively an industrial wireless sensor network (industrial wireless sensor network, IWSN) service, a video monitoring service, and a wearable service, and the data transmission requirements of the services can be shown in table 1.

TABLE 1

In connection with table 1, the IWSN service needs more downlink data to be transmitted and less uplink data to be transmitted, so the number of downlink symbols to be included in the slot format associated with the IWSN service is more, for example, the slot format associated with the IWSN service may be one or more of the slots in table 2. Associating a plurality of time slots may include associating all of the slot formats in table 2.

TABLE 2

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
0	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
1	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F
2	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F
3	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F
4	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	F
5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	U	U
6	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U
7	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U

In table 2, D represents a downlink symbol, U represents an uplink symbol, and F represents a flexible symbol. In table 2, row 1 represents a symbol index in a slot, column 1 represents an index of a slot format, a slot includes 14 symbols, each row represents a slot format except row 1, and each slot format may represent a distribution of uplink symbols, downlink symbols, and flexible symbols in a slot, i.e., the number of symbols and the symbol position. For example, the slot format of row 2 indicates that all symbols in a slot are downlink symbols; the slot format of row 9 indicates that in a slot, the 0 th to 5 th symbols are downlink symbols, the 6 th to 7 th symbols are flexible symbols, and the 8 th to 13 th symbols are uplink symbols.

For another example, the video monitoring service needs less downlink data to be transmitted and more uplink data to be transmitted, so the number of uplink symbols to be included in the timeslot format associated with the video monitoring service is greater, for example, the timeslot format associated with the video monitoring service may be one or more of the formats shown in table 3. Associating a plurality of time slots may include associating all of the slot formats in table 3.

TABLE 3 Table 3

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
0	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
1	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U

2	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
3	F	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
4	F	F	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
5	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
6	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
7	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U

In table 3, D represents a downlink symbol, U represents an uplink symbol, and F represents a flexible symbol, wherein row 1 represents a symbol index in one slot, and column 1 represents an index of a slot format.

For another example, the number of uplink and downlink symbols to be included in the timeslot format associated with the wearable service is similar, for example, the timeslot format associated with the wearable service may be one or more of table 4. When associating a plurality of slots, a case of associating all slot formats in table 4 may be included.

TABLE 4 Table 4

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
0	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	U	U	U	U	U	U
1	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U
2	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U
3	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	U	U	U	U	U
4	D	D	D	D	D	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U

In table 4, D represents a downlink symbol, U represents an uplink symbol, and F represents a flexible symbol.

It should be noted that the number of slot formats associated with different traffic types may be the same or different. For example, wearable traffic may be associated with 8 slot formats and video surveillance traffic may be associated with 16 slot formats. The number of slot formats associated with different traffic types may be predefined or may be determined in other ways, which embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard. Further, at least one time slot format associated with a service type may be determined by the terminal device and then reported to the network device, or may be predefined, or may be configured by the network device.

It is necessary to say thatIt is to be noted that, when the first slot format combination information includes the value set of the slot format indexes, for example, table 2 is taken as an example, the maximum value of the indexes in the first column in table 2 may be n2=2 ⁿ -1 (n-1 of 2), n being a positive integer greater than 1, and the maximum value of the index being less than 255, for example, the maximum value of the index being 7, 15, 31, 63 or 127. The same applies to tables 3 and 4, and will not be described in detail here. When the first timeslot format combination information includes a timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index, taking table 2 as an example, the timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index corresponds to the timeslot format of each row in table 2.

In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may further report capability information to the network device, where the capability information may indicate number information of slot formats supported by the terminal device. The capability information may also indicate one or more slot formats supported by the terminal device. When the network device acquires the capability information, the number of time slot formats configured for the terminal device is smaller than or equal to the maximum number of time slot formats supported by the terminal device.

In one possible implementation, the number of slot formats may be the number of maximum slot formats supported by the terminal device, for example, the number of maximum slot formats supported by the terminal device is equal to N1, n1=2n, N is a positive integer greater than 1, and N1 may be 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128.

In another possible implementation, the number of slot formats information may directly indicate the slot format corresponding to the slot format index. For example, if the service executed by the terminal device is a video monitoring service, the timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index associated with the video monitoring service may be reported to the network device through the capability information. For another example, the terminal device may indicate, through the capability information, a slot format corresponding to the slot format index supported by the terminal device, for example, there are 256 slot formats currently, and the terminal device supports a part of the slot formats, for example, 20 slot formats as shown in table 5, and the capability information may indicate all or part of the 20 slot formats. For another example, the M slot formats may be divided into different sets by a predefined method, it should be understood that the M slot formats may be any number of slot formats, the M slot formats may be existing 256 slot formats, the M slot formats may be divided into M1 sets (M is greater than M1), the dividing method may be continuous according to an index, or may be divided according to a predefined rule, the index may be discontinuous, divided into sets 0, …, set M1-1, and the terminal device may report through one or more sets of capability information (sets 0, …, set M1-1).

TABLE 5

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
0	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
1	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F
2	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F
3	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F
4	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	F
5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	U	U
6	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U
7	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U
8	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
9	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
10	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
11	F	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
12	F	F	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
13	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
14	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
15	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
16	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	U	U	U	U	U	U
17	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U	U
18	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U
19	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	U	U	U	U	U
20	D	D	D	D	D	F	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U

In another possible implementation, the capability information may indirectly indicate at least one slot format, and the capability information may be at least one of: the terminal device supports the slot formats of the number of uplink symbols greater than the first threshold, the terminal device supports the slot formats of the number of downlink symbols greater than the second threshold, and the terminal device supports the slot formats of the number of flexible symbols greater than the third threshold. The first threshold, the second threshold and the third threshold may be determined according to actual situations. For example, the capability information is that the number of uplink symbols is greater than 5, which means that the terminal device supports a slot format with the number of uplink symbols being greater than 5, and the network device does not consider a slot format with the number of uplink symbols being less than or equal to 5 when configuring the slot format. For example, the capability information is that the number of uplink symbols is greater than 5, the number of downlink symbols is greater than 3, which means that the terminal device supports a slot format with the number of uplink symbols being greater than 5 and the number of downlink symbols being greater than 3.

In the embodiment of the present application, at least one slot format may also be indicated by threshold information. The threshold information may be reported to the network device by the terminal device, may be configured by the network device, may be predefined for a protocol, and embodiments of the present application are not limited.

The threshold information may include one or more of a first threshold, a second threshold, and a third threshold. The first threshold represents the minimum value of the uplink symbol number included in the time slot format supported by the terminal equipment; the second threshold represents the minimum value of the downlink symbol number included in the slot format supported by the terminal device; the third threshold represents a minimum value of the number of flexible symbols included in the slot format supported by the terminal device.

In this case, the threshold information indicates that any one of the at least one slot format (or the at least one slot format that satisfies the threshold information) satisfies one or more of the following:

the number of the uplink symbols is larger than or equal to the first threshold value; the number of the downlink symbols is larger than or equal to the second threshold value; the flexible number of symbols is greater than or equal to the third threshold.

For example, the first threshold is 6, then the threshold information indicates any of the at least one slot formats including a number of uplink symbols greater than or equal to 6. The first threshold is 6 and the second threshold is 4, then the threshold information indicates any of the at least one slot formats including a number of uplink symbols greater than or equal to 6 and including a number of downlink symbols greater than or equal to 4.

In the embodiment of the application, the first threshold and the second threshold may be determined according to a service type. For example, if there are more uplink data to be transmitted for the service type, the value of the first threshold may be greater than 5. For example, the service type needs more downlink data to be transmitted, and the value of the second threshold may be greater than 5. Of course, the foregoing is merely an example, and the first threshold and the second threshold may be determined according to other manners, which will not be described herein.

In an embodiment of the present application, the third threshold may be determined according to a first parameter, where the first parameter may include one or more of the following:

subcarrier spacing (subcarrier spacing, SCS); radio frequency adjustment duration; timing Advance (TA); bandwidth part switching delay. The radio frequency adjustment duration is the time required for the radio frequency transmission channel of the terminal equipment to perform corresponding adjustment when the radio frequency adjustment duration is converted from uplink to downlink or from downlink to uplink. The uplink transmission and the downlink transmission are in different bandwidth parts, the terminal equipment also needs to switch the bandwidth parts, and the time length required by the switching of the bandwidth parts can be called as the switching time delay of the bandwidth parts.

For example, when SCS is 15KHz, the radio frequency adjustment duration is 13 microseconds, and if TA and the bandwidth part switching delay are not considered, the second threshold may be set to 1 symbol. If the bandwidth part switching delay is considered, if the bandwidth part switching delay is 140 microseconds, the duration corresponding to the second threshold should be greater than 13+140=153 microseconds, that is, the second threshold may be set to 3 symbols (1 symbol length is 77 microseconds when SCS is 15 KHz).

In connection with the foregoing description, how the network device determines the first slot format combination information is described below, respectively.

The implementation mode is as follows:

when the network device determines the slot format of one or more slots according to the service type of the terminal device, the network device may determine at least one slot format of the one or more slot formats associated with the service type as the slot format included in the first slot format combination information. The network device may configure the at least one slot format to the one or more slots, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited in how this is specifically configured. Wherein different time slots can be selected in the same time slot format or in different time slot formats.

For example, the service type is an IWSN service, the network device needs to determine a slot format for P slots, P is a positive integer, and assuming that no slots with the same slot format exist in the P slots, the network device may determine any P slot formats in at least one slot format associated with the IWSN service as the slot formats of the P slots, where a correspondence between each slot format and a slot may be determined according to an actual situation, and embodiments of the present application are not limited. Taking table 2 as an example, for example, p=2, the slot formats indexed 1 and 3 in table 2 can be configured for both slots. For another example, assuming that there are slots of the same slot format among P slots, p=2 as an example of table 2, the slot format with index 5 in table 2 may be configured for the two slots. Other cases may be similarly considered and will not be described in detail herein.

The implementation mode II is as follows:

when the network device determines the slot format of one or more slots according to the capability information of the terminal device, the network device may determine the one or more slot formats indicated by the capability information as the slot formats included in the first slot format combination information. The network device may configure the at least one slot format to the one or more slots.

For example, if there are 3 slots, slot 1, slot 2 and slot 3, respectively. Taking table 5 as an example, the 3 slot formats in table 5 may be allocated to the three slots, e.g., slot formats with indices 1, 3, and 5. For another example, slot 1 and slot 3 may be configured in a slot format with an index of 5 in table 5, and slot 2 may be configured in a slot format with an index of 8 in table 5. Other cases may be similarly considered and will not be described in detail herein.

And the implementation mode is three:

when the network device determines the slot format of the one or more slots according to the threshold information, the network device may determine the one or more slot formats indicated by the threshold information as the slot format included in the first slot format combination information. The network device may configure the at least one slot format to the one or more slots.

For example, the first threshold included in the threshold information is 6, the slot format indicated by the threshold information is a slot format including the number of uplink symbols greater than or equal to 6, and the network device may configure at least one slot format including the number of uplink symbols greater than or equal to 6 to the one or more slots.

For example, the first threshold value is 6, the third threshold value is 2, the time slot format indicated by the threshold value information is a time slot format including uplink symbols with a number greater than or equal to 6 and a flexible symbol with a number greater than or equal to 2, and the network device may configure at least one time slot format including uplink symbols with a number greater than or equal to 6 and a flexible symbol with a number greater than or equal to 2 to the one or more time slots.

The threshold information indicates any of the at least one slot format including a number of uplink symbols greater than or equal to 6. The first threshold is 6 and the second threshold is 4, then the threshold information indicates any of the at least one slot formats including a number of uplink symbols greater than or equal to 6 and including a number of downlink symbols greater than or equal to 4.

The implementation mode is four:

the network device determines a slot format of the one or more slots based on at least two of the traffic type, the capability information, and the threshold information. Specifically, the network device may determine the slot format included in the first slot format combination information according to at least two of the service type, the capability information, and the threshold information.

The time slot format included in the first time slot format combination information may be an intersection of at least two of the following:

at least one slot format associated with a traffic type; at least one slot format indicated by the capability information; at least one slot format indicated by the threshold information.

For example, the service type is IWSN service, and the associated at least one slot format may be as shown in table 2. The at least one slot format indicated by the capability information may be the slot format in table 5. The first threshold included in the threshold information is 7, and the third threshold is 1. The network device determines the first timeslot format combination information according to the service type and the capability information, where the first timeslot format combination information may include at least one of a timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index, the number of the largest timeslot formats, and a value set of the timeslot format index, that is, the network device determines one or more of a timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index, the number of the largest timeslot formats, and a value set of the timeslot format index according to the service type and the capability information, which may be as shown in table 6.

TABLE 6

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
0	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
1	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F
2	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F
3	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F
4	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	F
5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	U	U
6	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U

As can be seen from table 6, the set of values in the slot format shown in table 6 satisfies both the service type and capability information, which is the intersection of the first 6 rows in tables 2 and 5.

The network device determines the first timeslot format combination information according to the service type and the threshold information, where the first timeslot format combination information may include one or more of a timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index, the number of the largest timeslot formats, and a value set of the timeslot format index, that is, the network device determines one or more of a timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index, the number of the largest timeslot formats, and a value set of the timeslot format index according to the service type and the threshold information, which may be as shown in table 7.

TABLE 7

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
1	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F
2	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F
3	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F
4	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	F
5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	U	U
6	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U

The network device determines the first timeslot format combination information according to the capability information and the threshold information, where the first timeslot format combination information may include one or more of a timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index, the number of the largest timeslot formats, and a value set of the timeslot format index, that is, the network device determines, according to the capability information and the threshold information, one or more of a timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index, the number of the largest timeslot formats, and a value set of the timeslot format index, which may be as shown in table 8.

TABLE 8

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
1	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F
2	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F
3	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F
4	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	F
5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	U	U
6	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U
16	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	U	U	U	U	U	U
18	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	U	U	U	U	U

The network device determines the first timeslot format combination information according to the service type, the capability information and the threshold information, where the first timeslot format combination information may include one or more of a timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index, the number of the largest timeslot formats, and a value set of the timeslot format index, that is, the network device determines, according to the service type, the capability information and the threshold information, one or more of a timeslot format corresponding to the timeslot format index, the number of the largest timeslot formats, and a value set of the timeslot format index, which may be as shown in table 9.

TABLE 9

The above is merely an example, and other cases may be so inferred and are not illustrated one by one.

The present application may also be applied to pattern configuration, and for convenience of description, the pattern will be hereinafter referred to as time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration. The time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration comprises configuration of RRC parameter TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon or RRC parameter TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedimated. For example, at least one of the following may be included: the number of uplink time slots and the time slot position; the number of uplink symbols and the symbol position; the number of downlink time slots and the time slot position; downlink symbol number and symbol position; flexible time slot number and time slot position; flexible symbol number and symbol position. The parameters in the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration comprise at least one of uplink time slot number, uplink time slot position, uplink symbol number, uplink symbol position, flexible symbol number, flexible symbol position, and time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration period. The number of uplink time slots is the number of uplink time slots in the configuration; the uplink time slot position is the starting position or the ending position of the uplink time slot or the position determined according to a certain rule; the number of downlink time slots is the number of downlink time slots in the configuration; the downlink time slot position is the starting position or the ending position of the downlink time slot or the position determined according to a certain rule; the period of the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration is the duration of the configuration, that is, the UE will work according to the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration in the duration of the configuration.

For example, the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration corresponds to the configuration of the RRC parameter TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon or the RRC parameter TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedimated. For example, the number of uplink time slots and the position of the symbol, and/or the number of downlink time slots and the position of the symbol, and/or the position of the flexible time slots and the position of the symbol, and/or the number of flexible symbols and the position of the symbol, and/or the period of the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration. For another example, to simplify the processing of the terminal device, the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration includes only one period or only one period for the characteristic traffic type, and the value of the period is an integer multiple of 5 milliseconds (ms), for example, 5ms,10ms, or 20ms; the configuration of the period value and the service type of the terminal equipment, for example, the service type is IWSN service, and the configuration value of the period is a larger value because the channel environment and the data volume to be transmitted are relatively stable.

In the embodiment of the present application, parameters in the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration may be determined according to one or more of a service type of a terminal device, capability information of the terminal device, and threshold information.

Specifically, the service type is associated with parameters in the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration, the capability information of the terminal equipment indicates the parameters in the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration supported by the terminal equipment, and the threshold information indicates the parameters in the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration meeting the threshold information. The service type is associated with parameters in the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration, and if the service type needs more uplink data to be transmitted and less downlink data to be transmitted, the number of uplink time slots in a time slot format associated with the service type is larger than the number of downlink time slots. If the service type needs more downlink data to be transmitted and less uplink data to be transmitted, the downlink time slot number in the time slot format associated with the service type is larger than the uplink time slot number. If the service type has more uplink data to be transmitted and more downlink data to be transmitted, the number of uplink slots in the slot format associated with the service type is equal to or similar to the number of downlink slots, and both the uplink slots and the downlink slots are larger than a preset value, for example, both the uplink slots and the downlink slots are larger than 3. If the service type has fewer uplink data to be transmitted and fewer downlink data to be transmitted, the number of uplink symbols in the slot format associated with the service type is equal to or similar to the number of downlink symbols. Wherein the time slot can be replaced by any one of a subframe, a radio frame, a mini-slot and a symbol. The service type may be associated with a period of time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration. For example, if the service type needs more uplink data to be transmitted and less downlink data to be transmitted, the number of uplink timeslots associated with the service type is greater than the number of downlink timeslots. For example, if the service type is a video monitoring service, the number of associated uplink timeslots is 5 and the number of downlink timeslots is 2. If the service type has more downlink data to be transmitted and less uplink data to be transmitted, the number of uplink time slots associated with the service type is smaller than the number of downlink time slots. For example, the service type is IWSN service, the number of associated uplink timeslots is 1 and the number of downlink timeslots is 6.

The capability information of the terminal equipment indicates parameters in time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration supported by the terminal equipment, and in one possible implementation manner, the capability information of the terminal equipment is at least one item of capability information reported by the terminal equipment to the network equipment:

1) The period of the uplink and downlink configuration is time division multiplexed.

2) The reporting of the capability information of the terminal equipment supports at least one of the following: the number of uplink time slots, the number of downlink time slots, the number of flexible time slots and the number of flexible symbols.

3) The reporting of the capability information of the terminal device supports a proportional relationship between at least one of the following: the number of uplink time slots, the number of downlink time slots, the number of flexible time slots and the number of flexible symbols. For example, the ratio of the number of uplink slots to the number of downlink slots is 2 to 1.

4) The capability information of the terminal equipment reports indexes of supported time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configurations, at the moment, the terminal equipment reports one corresponding index on the premise that the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configurations are provided with a plurality of predefined configurations.

The threshold information comprises a first threshold, and/or a second threshold, and/or a third threshold, wherein the first threshold represents a minimum value of an uplink time slot number or an uplink symbol number in a time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration, the second threshold represents a minimum value of a downlink time slot number or a downlink symbol number in the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration, and the third threshold represents a minimum value of a flexible time slot number or a flexible symbol number in the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration.

Specifically, parameters in the time division multiplexing uplink and downlink configuration may be determined according to at least two of a service type of the terminal device, capability information of the terminal device, and threshold information.

Embodiment two:

currently, in TDD, a terminal device needs to perform transmission direction switching. In the present application, the transmission direction switching includes uplink to downlink switching, and downlink to uplink switching. In the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, D represents a downlink symbol, U represents an uplink symbol, and F represents a flexible symbol in fig. 4 to 5. As shown in (a) of fig. 4, if two consecutive symbols are an uplink symbol and a downlink symbol, respectively, the terminal device needs to switch from uplink to downlink. At least one flexible symbol may also be included between the uplink symbol and the downlink symbol, for example, as shown in fig. 4 (b), which is a schematic diagram of another transmission direction switching.

As shown in (a) of fig. 5, if two consecutive symbols are a downlink symbol and an uplink symbol, respectively, the terminal device needs to switch from downlink to uplink. At least one flexible symbol may also be included between the downlink symbol and the uplink symbol, for example, as shown in fig. 5 (b), which is a schematic diagram of another transmission direction switching. The embodiment of the application provides a method capable of reducing the number of times of switching transmission directions and improving transmission efficiency, which are described below.

In connection with the foregoing description, as shown in fig. 6, a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application is provided. Referring to fig. 6, the method includes:

step 601: the network equipment determines a first time slot format of a first time slot;

the method for determining the first slot format may be determined by a method in the flowchart shown in fig. 3, that is, one or more of a service type of the terminal device, capability information of the terminal device, and threshold information determine the first slot format. It is also understood that the network device may indicate the first slot format through the first information in the flow shown in fig. 3.

Step 602: the network device sends configuration information to the terminal device, the configuration information indicating the first slot format.

Step 603: the terminal device receives configuration information from the network device.

Step 604: and the terminal equipment determines at least one of a time unit between two adjacent time slots and transmission direction switching information according to the first time slot format indicated by the configuration information.

Wherein the time unit is not used for uplink transmission or downlink reception.

The first slot format is a slot format of one slot. In step 601, the network device may determine first timeslot format combination information according to one or more of a service type of the terminal device, capability information of the terminal device, and threshold information, where the first timeslot format is a timeslot format corresponding to one timeslot in the first timeslot format combination information.

Wherein, two adjacent time slots refer to a first time slot and a second time slot located after the first time slot, or refer to the first time slot and a third time slot located before the first time slot.

The transmission direction switching includes any one or more of switching an uplink symbol to a downlink symbol, switching an uplink transmission to a downlink transmission, and switching a downlink transmission to an uplink transmission. The transmission direction switching information may indicate the number of transmission direction switching times, and the transmission direction switching information may be any of the following cases:

1, if all symbols in a time slot are uplink symbols, the transmission direction switching information is 0;

2, if all symbols in a time slot are downlink symbols, the transmission direction switching information is 0;

3, one time slot comprises an uplink symbol and a flexible symbol, and the transmission direction switching information is 0;

4, one time slot comprises a downlink symbol and a flexible symbol, and the transmission direction switching information is 0;

5, one time slot comprises an uplink symbol and a downlink symbol, and the transmission direction switching information is 1;

6, one time slot comprises an uplink symbol, a flexible symbol and a downlink symbol, and the transmission direction switching information is 1;

The time slot comprises the configurations of downlink symbols, flexible symbols and uplink symbols, and N configurations, for example, the direction of 14 symbols in one time slot in sequence is DDDFUUUDDDFUUU, and the transmission direction switching information is 2 or 3; in this case flexible symbols may not be configured; where D represents a downlink symbol, F represents a flexible symbol, and U represents an uplink symbol.

8, the symbols in the first time slot are uplink symbols or uplink symbols and flexible symbols, the symbols in the second time slot are downlink symbols or downlink symbols and flexible symbols, and the transmission direction switching information is 1;

9, the symbols in the first time slot are uplink symbols or uplink symbols and flexible symbols, the symbols in the third time slot are downlink symbols or downlink symbols and flexible symbols, and the transmission direction switching information is 1;

the positional relationship in which the time units are located in the adjacent two slots may be the following case, the units of the time units: may be any one of a subframe, a radio frame, a slot, a mini-slot, and a symbol. The following description takes the positional relationship between two slots as an example, and two slots may be replaced by two adjacent symbols in one slot:

1) If a time slot includes both uplink and downlink symbols, the positional relationship of the time unit in two adjacent time slots is within one time slot, i.e. adjacent symbol time; or it can be understood that, when the transmission direction is required to be switched between adjacent symbols of one time slot, the position relationship of the time unit in two adjacent time slots is the position relationship between adjacent uplink symbols and downlink symbols of one time slot, and the transmission direction is switched at the position.

2) If a time slot includes only uplink symbols, only downlink symbols, or both uplink symbols and flexible symbols, or both downlink symbols and flexible symbols, then the positional relationship of the time unit in two adjacent time slots is between adjacent time slots, i.e., the end of the time slot or the beginning of the time slot.

3) The positional relationship of the time units in the adjacent two time slots can be replaced by the positional relationship of the time units in one time slot. And switching from uplink symbol to downlink symbol, or switching from downlink symbol to uplink symbol, or switching from uplink transmission to downlink transmission, or switching from downlink transmission to uplink transmission occurs in the one slot.

The duration of the time units may be one or more of the following: the time length of the time unit is greater than or equal to the radio frequency adjustment time length of the terminal equipment, the time length of the time unit is greater than or equal to the timing advance TA of the terminal equipment, the time length of the time unit is greater than or equal to the bandwidth part switching time length of the terminal equipment, the time length of the time unit is greater than or equal to the sum of at least two of the radio frequency adjustment time length, the timing advance and the bandwidth part switching time length of the terminal equipment, and the time length of the time unit is greater than or equal to the maximum value of the radio frequency adjustment time length, the timing advance and the bandwidth part switching time length of the terminal equipment.

In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may determine the positional relationship of the time unit in two adjacent time slots in the first manner or the second manner, and the duration of the time unit. Wherein the time length of the time unit is greater than or equal to the radio frequency adjustment time length of the terminal equipment, or the timing advance TA, or the bandwidth part switching (BWP switching) time length; or the duration of the time unit is greater than or equal to the sum of at least two of the radio frequency adjustment duration, the timing advance and the bandwidth part switching duration of the terminal equipment. The radio frequency adjustment duration may be understood as a time (RF return) for the terminal device to adjust radio frequency, or may be understood as a time required for the terminal device to switch from the transmitting end to the receiving end, or may be understood as a time required for the terminal device to switch from the receiving end to the transmitting end, or may be understood as a time for the terminal device to adjust hardware.

The first mode is as follows: when the adjacent two time slots comprise a first time slot and a second time slot positioned after the first time slot, and the downlink is converted into the uplink between the adjacent two time slots, the last M symbols of the first time slot are taken as time units. M is a positive integer. A time unit may occupy all symbols of the first slot.

The second mode is as follows: when the adjacent two time slots include a first time slot and a third time slot before the first time slot, and there is an uplink to downlink conversion or a downlink to uplink conversion between the adjacent two time slots, the first M symbols of the first time slot are used as time units. M is a positive integer. A time unit may occupy all symbols of the first slot.

Wherein the transmission direction switching information is less than 2. By limiting the transmission direction switching information, the realization complexity of the terminal equipment is reduced, the switching times of a transmitting side and a receiving side are reduced, and the communication efficiency is improved.

When the transmission direction switching information is 0, the symbols included in the first slot are uplink symbols or downlink symbols, and taking 14 symbols included in one slot as an example, the first slot may be as shown in fig. 7.

When the transmission direction switching information is 1, in one case, the first slot includes an uplink symbol and a downlink symbol, and the first slot may be as shown in fig. 8.

In another case, as shown in fig. 9, two slot configurations, the symbols included in the first slot are downlink symbols and flexible symbols, or the symbols included in the first slot are uplink symbols and flexible symbols. At this time, if the first slot is configuration 1, and one slot/symbol before or one slot/symbol after the first slot is an uplink main slot/uplink symbol, the transmission direction switching information is recorded as 1, and in addition, the transmission direction switching information is recorded as 0; if the first slot is configuration 2 and one slot/symbol before or one slot/symbol after the first slot is the downlink active slot/downlink symbol, the transmission direction switching information is recorded as 1, and otherwise, the transmission direction switching information is recorded as 0.

In this embodiment of the present application, the network device may indicate the transmission direction switching information through signaling, or may not indicate the transmission direction switching information.

In this embodiment, in order to avoid collision between downlink transmission and uplink transmission at the transmission direction switching location, the first mode or the second mode may be determined according to the transmission direction switching information, that is, the first mode or the second mode is used for determining the transmission direction switching information by the terminal device and determining that the terminal device is used by the terminal device, which are described below respectively.

For example, when the transmission direction switching information is 0, the positional relationship of the time unit in the adjacent two time slots may be determined according to the first manner. Specifically, the first mode may be defined as follows: as shown in fig. 10, when two consecutive time slots are a downlink time slot and an uplink time slot, respectively, there is an overlap between the downlink time slot and the uplink time slot, and a time unit is located in the downlink time slot, and the time unit may include the last M symbols of the downlink time slot. In this case, the terminal device does not perform downlink reception at the transition, i.e. at the last M symbols of the downlink slot, i.e. M symbols are dropped, where the M symbols include the area overlapping with the uplink slot in the downlink slot. M is a positive integer, and M can be determined according to at least one of SCS, radio frequency adjustment duration, TA and bandwidth part switching duration.

For example, when SCS is 15KHz, the length of 1 symbol is 77 microseconds, the radio frequency adjustment time length is 13 microseconds, if TA and the bandwidth part switching delay are not considered, the reserved switching time is at least 13 microseconds, and at this time, 1 symbol needs to be reserved, that is, M is equal to 1. If the bandwidth portion switching duration is 100 microseconds, the switching time to be reserved is at least 13+100=113 microseconds, i.e. 2 symbols need to be reserved, i.e. M equals 2.

The value of M may also be determined according to other manners, which will not be described herein.

For example, when the transmission direction switching information is 1, as shown in (a) of fig. 11, when the terminal device switches from downlink to uplink in the first slot, the terminal device does not perform uplink transmission for a first period of time after the end position of the downlink symbol, but starts uplink transmission at a position that is a first period of time from the end position of the downlink symbol. The first duration may be greater than or equal to a TA or bandwidth portion switching duration or a radio frequency adjustment duration; or the first duration may be greater than or equal to a sum of at least two of TA, bandwidth portion switching duration, radio frequency adjustment duration.

As shown in (b) of fig. 11, when the terminal device switches from uplink to downlink in the first slot, the terminal device does not perform downlink reception for a second period of time after the end position of the uplink symbol, but starts downlink reception at a position that is a second period of time from the end position of the uplink symbol. The second duration may be greater than or equal to the TA or bandwidth portion switching duration or the radio frequency adjustment duration; or the second duration may be greater than or equal to a sum of at least two of TA, bandwidth portion switching duration, radio frequency adjustment duration.

It should be noted that, the network device may instruct the terminal device to use the first mode or the second mode through physical layer signaling or radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) signaling or medium access control (medium access control, MAC) Control Element (CE) signaling or Downlink Control Information (DCI), or the network device may not instruct. If the network equipment does not indicate, determining a first mode or a second mode by adopting a predefined mode, wherein the transmission direction switching information is 0, and the terminal equipment adopts the first mode; the transmission direction switching information is 1, and the terminal equipment adopts a second mode. Or the terminal equipment reports at least one item of the terminal equipment capability information and the threshold information according to the service type to support the first mode or the second mode. For example: if there are more uplink transmissions of the terminal device, i.e. the service type of the terminal device is the service with the primary uplink activity, there may be fewer downlink transmission opportunities, and therefore downlink transmission is preferred, then the time unit is located in the uplink time slot or N consecutive uplink symbols. For another example: if there are more downlink transmissions of the terminal device, i.e. the service type of the terminal device is the service with the dominant downlink behaviour, so that there may be fewer uplink transmission opportunities, and therefore uplink transmission is preferred, then the time unit is located in the downlink time slot or N consecutive downlink symbols.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, when the transmission direction switching information is 0, a third mode may also be used to determine a positional relationship of the time unit in two adjacent time slots, and a duration of the time unit. In the third mode, the position of the terminal device for performing transmission direction switching is fixed, and the time length required for transmission direction switching is Q symbols at the beginning of a time slot or is Q symbols at the end of a time slot. Q is a number greater than 0.

Q may be determined from at least one of SCS, radio frequency adjustment duration, TA, and bandwidth part switch time delay.

For example, when SCS is 15KHz, the length of 1 symbol is 77 microseconds, the radio frequency adjustment time length is 13 microseconds, if TA and the bandwidth part switching delay are not considered, the reserved switching time is at least 13 microseconds, and 1 symbol needs to be reserved at this time, that is, Q is equal to 1. If the bandwidth portion switching delay is 100 microseconds, the switching time to be reserved is at least 13+100=113 microseconds, i.e. 2 symbols need to be reserved, i.e. Q is equal to 2.

For example, as shown in fig. 12, the first slot precedes the second slot, and the symbols in the first slot are downlink symbols, i.e. the first slot includes a number of transitions of 0. The symbols in the second slot are all uplink symbols. The first time slot may be referred to as a downlink time slot and the second time slot may be referred to as an uplink time slot. Of course, the second slot may also have a downlink symbol or a flexible symbol, which is illustrated in fig. 12, and the other cases are not repeated.

Since the last symbol of the first slot and the first symbol of the second slot are different in type, the terminal device needs to switch from downlink to uplink. In this case, as shown in (a) of fig. 12, the transmission direction switching position is located in the first slot, and the transmission direction switching duration is the last Q symbols of the first slot. In this case, the last Q symbols of the first slot are not used for downlink transmission.

In another case, as shown in (b) of fig. 12, the transmission direction switching position is located in the second slot, and the transmission direction switching duration is the first Q symbols of the second slot. In this case, the last Q symbols of the second slot are not used for uplink transmission.

When the transmission direction switching mode is the third mode, the network device may send third indication information, where the third indication information may indicate a time slot where the location relationship is located. For example, the third indication information includes 1 bit, and when the state of the bit is 1, the third indication information indicates that the transmission direction switching position is located in Q symbols at the beginning of the uplink time slot; when the state of the bit is 0, it indicates that the transmission direction switching position is located in the last Q symbols of the downlink slot. By this method, the network device can determine the time slot where the transmission direction switching position is located, thereby facilitating subsequent scheduling. The third indication information may be greater than 1 bit, for example, 2 bits, where the state of the bit is 00, and indicates that the transmission direction switching position is located in Q symbols at the beginning of the uplink time slot; when the state of the bit is 01, the last Q symbols of the downlink time slot at the transmission direction switching position are indicated; when the state of the bit is 10, Q symbols indicating that the transmission direction switching position is located at the middle position in one slot are indicated.

Step 604, the terminal device determines at least one of a time unit between two adjacent time slots and transmission direction switching information according to the first time slot format indicated by the configuration information, where the time unit is not used for uplink transmission or downlink reception. The following steps can also be replaced:

and the terminal equipment determines at least one of a time unit and transmission direction switching information in the first time slot according to the first time slot format indicated by the configuration information, wherein the time unit is not used for uplink transmission or downlink reception. The transmission direction switching information in the first time slot is not 0, and the method is the same as the above method, and will not be described herein.

In the embodiments provided in the present application, the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application are described from the perspective of interaction between the respective devices. In order to implement the functions in the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application, the network device or the terminal device may include a hardware structure and/or a software module, and implement the functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. Some of the functions described above are performed in a hardware configuration, a software module, or a combination of hardware and software modules, depending on the specific application of the solution and design constraints.

The division of the modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic, which is merely a logic function division, and other division manners may be implemented in practice. In addition, each functional module in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated in one processor, or may exist alone physically, or two or more modules may be integrated in one module. The integrated modules may be implemented in hardware or in software functional modules.

As with the above concept, as shown in fig. 13, the embodiment of the present application further provides an apparatus 1300 for implementing the functions of the network device or the terminal device in the above method. For example, the apparatus may be a software module or a system on a chip. In the embodiment of the application, the chip system may be formed by a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices. The apparatus 1300 may include: a processing module 1301 and a communication module 1302.

In this embodiment of the present application, the communication module may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, and may include a sending unit and/or a receiving unit, which are configured to perform the steps of sending and receiving by the network device or the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiment, respectively.

The following describes in detail the communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application with reference to fig. 13 to 14. It should be understood that the descriptions of the apparatus embodiments and the descriptions of the method embodiments correspond to each other, and thus, descriptions of details not described may be referred to the above method embodiments, which are not repeated herein for brevity.

The communication module may also be referred to as a transceiver, transceiving means, etc. The processing module may also be referred to as a processor, a processing board, a processing module, a processing device, etc. Alternatively, the device for implementing the receiving function in the communication module 1302 may be regarded as a receiving unit, and the device for implementing the transmitting function in the communication module 1302 may be regarded as a transmitting unit, i.e. the communication module 1302 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The communication module may also be referred to as a transceiver, transceiver circuitry, or the like. The receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiver, or receiving circuit, among others. The transmitting unit may also sometimes be referred to as a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

The communication apparatus 1300 performs the functions of the network device in the flow shown in fig. 3 in the above embodiment:

the processing module is used for determining first time slot format combination information according to one or more of the service type of the terminal equipment, the capability information of the terminal equipment and the threshold information; the service type is associated with at least one time slot format, the capability information of the terminal equipment indicates the quantity information of the time slot formats supported by the terminal equipment, and the threshold information indicates at least one time slot format meeting the threshold information;

And the receiving and transmitting module is used for transmitting the first information determined by the processing module to the terminal equipment, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information.

In a possible implementation manner, the first timeslot format combination information includes at least one of the following: the method comprises the steps of corresponding time slot formats of a time slot format index, the maximum number of the time slot formats and a value set of the time slot format index.

In a possible implementation, the first information further indicates a configuration of a slot format of the one or more slots.

In a possible implementation manner, the threshold information includes one or more of a first threshold, a second threshold and a third threshold;

In a possible implementation manner, the threshold information is determined according to a first parameter;

the first parameter includes at least one of:

Subcarrier spacing SCS, radio frequency adjustment duration, timing advance TA or bandwidth part BWP switching duration.

The communication apparatus 1300 performs the functions of the terminal device in the flow shown in fig. 3 in the above embodiment:

and the receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving first information from the network equipment, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information determined by the processing module.

In a possible implementation manner, the first timeslot format combination information includes at least one of the following: the time slot format index corresponds to the time slot format, the maximum number of the time slot formats and the value set of the time slot format index.

The communication apparatus 1300 performs the functions of the terminal device in the flow shown in fig. 6 in the above embodiment:

a transceiver module, configured to receive configuration information from a network device, where the configuration information indicates a first slot format;

and the processing module is used for determining at least one of a time unit and transmission direction switching information between two adjacent time slots according to the first time slot format received by the receiving and transmitting module, wherein the time unit is not used for uplink transmission or downlink reception.

In a possible implementation manner, the time length of the time unit is greater than or equal to the radio frequency adjustment duration of the terminal device, or a timing advance TA, or a bandwidth part switching duration;

or the time length of the time unit is larger than or equal to the sum of at least two of the radio frequency adjustment time length, the timing advance and the bandwidth part switching time length of the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is specifically configured to determine, in a first manner or a second manner, a positional relationship in which the time unit is located in the two adjacent time slots, and a duration of the time unit.

In a possible implementation manner, the first manner is: when the adjacent two time slots comprise the first time slot and a second time slot positioned behind the first time slot, and a downlink symbol is converted into an uplink symbol between the adjacent two time slots, the last M symbols of the first time slot are used as the time units, and M is a positive integer;

the second mode is as follows: when the adjacent two time slots include the first time slot and a third time slot located before the first time slot, and there is an uplink to downlink conversion or a downlink to uplink conversion between the adjacent two time slots, the first M symbols of the first time slot are used as the time units, and M is a positive integer.

In a possible implementation manner, the transmission direction switching information includes:

the transmission symbol directions are the same, and the transmission direction switching information is 0 or 1; or, the transmission symbol directions are different, the transmission direction switching information is O, and O is greater than or equal to 1.

The communication apparatus 1300 performs the functions of the network device in the flow shown in fig. 6 in the above embodiment:

the processing module is used for determining configuration information, wherein the configuration information indicates a first time slot format; the first time slot format may determine at least one of a time unit between two adjacent time slots, which is not used for uplink transmission or downlink reception, and transmission direction switching information; and the communication module is used for sending the configuration information to the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the duration of the time unit is greater than or equal to the radio frequency adjustment duration of the terminal device, or the timing advance TA, or the bandwidth part switching duration; or the duration of the time unit is greater than or equal to the sum of at least two of the radio frequency adjustment duration, the timing advance and the bandwidth part switching duration of the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the duration of the time unit is determined according to the first manner or the second manner.

In one possible implementation manner, the first manner is: when two adjacent time slots include a first time slot and a second time slot located after the first time slot, and there is a conversion from a downlink symbol to an uplink symbol between the two adjacent time slots, the last M symbols of the first time slot are used as time units, and M is a positive integer.

In a possible implementation manner, the second manner is: when the adjacent two time slots comprise a first time slot and a third time slot positioned before the first time slot, and the uplink is converted into the downlink or the downlink is converted into the uplink, the first M symbols of the first time slot are used as time units, and M is a positive integer.

In one possible implementation, the transmission direction switching information indicates the number of uplink and downlink switching, and the transmission direction switching information is 0 or 1.

As shown in fig. 14, an apparatus 1400 provided in an embodiment of the present application, where the apparatus shown in fig. 14 may be an implementation of a hardware circuit of the apparatus shown in fig. 13. The communication device may be adapted to perform the functions of the terminal device or the network device in the above-described method embodiments in the flowcharts shown above. For convenience of explanation, fig. 14 shows only major components of the communication apparatus.

As shown in fig. 14, communication device 1400 includes a processor 1410 and an interface circuit 1420. The processor 1410 and the interface circuit 1420 are coupled to each other. It is to be appreciated that the interface circuit 1420 may be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1400 may also include a memory 1430 for storing instructions to be executed by the processor 1410 or for storing input data required by the processor 1410 to execute instructions or for storing data generated after the processor 1410 executes instructions.

When the communication apparatus 1400 is used to implement the methods shown in fig. 3 to 6, the processor 1410 is used to implement the functions of the processing module 1301, and the interface circuit 1420 is used to implement the functions of the communication module 1302.

When the communication device is a chip applied to the terminal equipment, the terminal equipment chip realizes the functions of the terminal equipment in the embodiment of the method. The terminal device chip receives information from other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the terminal device, and the information is sent to the terminal device by the network device; alternatively, the terminal device chip sends information to other modules (e.g., radio frequency modules or antennas) in the terminal device, which is sent by the terminal device to the network device.

When the communication device is a chip applied to the network equipment, the network equipment chip realizes the functions of the network equipment in the embodiment of the method. The network device chip receives information from other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the network device, and the information is sent to the network device by the terminal device; alternatively, the network device chip sends information to other modules (e.g., radio frequency modules or antennas) in the network device, which the network device sends to the terminal device.

It is to be appreciated that the processor in embodiments of the present application may be a central processing module (Central Processing Unit, CPU), but may also be other general purpose processors, digital signal processors (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), application specific integrated circuits (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (Field Programmable Gate Array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, it may be any conventional processor.

The processor in embodiments of the present application may be in random access Memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), flash Memory, read-Only Memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically Erasable Programmable EPROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC may reside in a network device or terminal device. The processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a network device or terminal device.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present application without departing from the scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof, the present application is intended to cover such modifications and variations.

Claims

A method of communication, comprising:

the network equipment determines first time slot format combination information according to one or more of the service type of the terminal equipment, the capability information of the terminal equipment and the threshold information; the service type is associated with at least one time slot format, the capability information of the terminal equipment indicates the quantity information of the time slot formats supported by the terminal equipment, and the threshold information indicates at least one time slot format meeting the threshold information;

The network device sends first information to the terminal device, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information.
The method of claim 1, wherein the first slot format combination information comprises at least one of: the method comprises the steps of corresponding time slot formats of a time slot format index, the maximum number of the time slot formats and a value set of the time slot format index.
The method of claim 1, wherein the first information further indicates a configuration of a slot format of the one or more slots.
A method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the threshold information comprises one or more of a first threshold, a second threshold and a third threshold;

any of the at least one slot format satisfying the threshold information satisfies one or more of:

the number of the uplink symbols is larger than or equal to the first threshold value; the number of the downlink symbols is larger than or equal to the second threshold value; the flexible number of symbols is greater than or equal to the third threshold.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the threshold information is determined according to a first parameter;

The first parameter includes at least one of:

subcarrier spacing SCS, radio frequency adjustment duration, timing advance TA or bandwidth part BWP switching duration.
A method of communication, comprising:

the terminal equipment determines first time slot format combination information according to one or more of the service type of the terminal equipment, the capability information of the terminal equipment and threshold information; the service type is associated with at least one time slot format, the capability information of the terminal equipment indicates the quantity information of the time slot formats supported by the terminal equipment, and the threshold information indicates at least one time slot format meeting the threshold information;

the terminal equipment receives first information from the network equipment, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information.
The method of claim 6, wherein the first slot format combination information comprises at least one of: the method comprises the steps of corresponding time slot formats of a time slot format index, the maximum number of the time slot formats and a value set of the time slot format index.
The method of claim 6, wherein the first information further indicates a configuration of a slot format of the one or more slots.
The method of any of claims 6-8, wherein the threshold information comprises one or more of a first threshold, a second threshold, and a third threshold;

any of the at least one slot format satisfying the threshold information satisfies one or more of:

the number of the uplink symbols is larger than or equal to the first threshold value; the number of the downlink symbols is larger than or equal to the second threshold value; the flexible number of symbols is greater than or equal to the third threshold.
The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the threshold information is determined from a first parameter;

the first parameter includes at least one of:

subcarrier spacing SCS, radio frequency adjustment duration, timing advance TA or bandwidth part BWP switching duration.
A method of communication, comprising:

the terminal equipment receives configuration information from the network equipment, wherein the configuration information indicates a first time slot format;

and the terminal equipment determines at least one of a time unit and transmission direction switching information between two adjacent time slots according to the first time slot format, wherein the time unit is not used for uplink transmission or downlink reception.
The method according to claim 11, wherein the time length of the time unit is greater than or equal to a radio frequency adjustment duration of the terminal device, or a timing advance TA, or a bandwidth part switching duration;

Or the time length of the time unit is larger than or equal to the sum of at least two of the radio frequency adjustment time length, the timing advance and the bandwidth part switching time length of the terminal equipment.
The method of claim 11, wherein the terminal device determines, in the first manner or the second manner, a positional relationship in which the time unit is located in the adjacent two time slots, and a duration of the time unit.
The method of claim 13, wherein the first manner is:

when the adjacent two time slots include the first time slot and a second time slot located after the first time slot, and there is a downlink symbol between the adjacent two time slots that is converted into an uplink symbol, the last M symbols of the first time slot are used as the time units, and M is a positive integer.
The method of claim 13, wherein the second mode is: when the adjacent two time slots include the first time slot and a third time slot located before the first time slot, and there is an uplink to downlink conversion or a downlink to uplink conversion between the adjacent two time slots, the first M symbols of the first time slot are used as the time units, and M is a positive integer.
The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the transmission direction switching information includes:

the transmission symbol directions are the same, and the transmission direction switching information is 0 or 1; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the transmission symbol directions are different, the transmission direction switching information is O, and O is more than or equal to 1.
A communication device, comprising:

the processing module is used for determining first time slot format combination information according to one or more of the service type of the terminal equipment, the capability information of the terminal equipment and the threshold information; the service type is associated with at least one time slot format, the capability information of the terminal equipment indicates the quantity information of the time slot formats supported by the terminal equipment, and the threshold information indicates at least one time slot format meeting the threshold information;

and the receiving and transmitting module is used for transmitting the first information determined by the processing module to the terminal equipment, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information.
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first slot format combination information comprises at least one of: the method comprises the steps of corresponding time slot formats of a time slot format index, the maximum number of the time slot formats and a value set of the time slot format index.
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first information further indicates a configuration of a slot format of the one or more slots.
The apparatus of any one of claims 17-19, wherein the threshold information comprises one or more of a first threshold, a second threshold, and a third threshold;

any of the at least one slot format satisfying the threshold information satisfies one or more of:

the number of the uplink symbols is larger than or equal to the first threshold value; the number of the downlink symbols is larger than or equal to the second threshold value; the flexible number of symbols is greater than or equal to the third threshold.
The apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the threshold information is determined according to a first parameter;

the first parameter includes at least one of:

subcarrier spacing SCS, radio frequency adjustment duration, timing advance TA or bandwidth part BWP switching duration.
A communication device, comprising:

the processing module is used for determining first time slot format combination information according to one or more of the service type of the terminal equipment, the capability information of the terminal equipment and the threshold information; the service type is associated with at least one time slot format, the capability information of the terminal equipment indicates the quantity information of the time slot formats supported by the terminal equipment, and the threshold information indicates at least one time slot format meeting the threshold information;

And the receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving first information from the network equipment, wherein the first information indicates that the time slot format of one or more time slots is the time slot format corresponding to the first time slot format combination information determined by the processing module.
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first slot format combination information comprises at least one of: the method comprises the steps of corresponding time slot formats of a time slot format index, the maximum number of the time slot formats and a value set of the time slot format index.
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first information further indicates a configuration of a slot format of the one or more slots.
The apparatus of any one of claims 22-24, wherein the threshold information comprises one or more of a first threshold, a second threshold, and a third threshold;

any of the at least one slot format satisfying the threshold information satisfies one or more of:

the number of the uplink symbols is larger than or equal to the first threshold value; the number of the downlink symbols is larger than or equal to the second threshold value; the flexible number of symbols is greater than or equal to the third threshold.
A communication device, comprising:

A transceiver module, configured to receive configuration information from a network device, where the configuration information indicates a first slot format;

and the processing module is used for determining at least one of a time unit and transmission direction switching information between two adjacent time slots according to the first time slot format received by the receiving and transmitting module, wherein the time unit is not used for uplink transmission or downlink reception.
The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a time length of the time unit is greater than or equal to a radio frequency adjustment duration of the terminal device, or a timing advance TA, or a bandwidth part switching duration;

or the time length of the time unit is larger than or equal to the sum of at least two of the radio frequency adjustment time length, the timing advance and the bandwidth part switching time length of the terminal equipment.
The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to determine, in the first manner or the second manner, a positional relationship in which the time unit is located in the two adjacent time slots, and a duration of the time unit.
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first manner is: when the adjacent two time slots comprise the first time slot and a second time slot positioned behind the first time slot, and a downlink symbol is converted into an uplink symbol between the adjacent two time slots, the last M symbols of the first time slot are used as the time units, and M is a positive integer;

The second mode is as follows: when the adjacent two time slots include the first time slot and a third time slot located before the first time slot, and there is an uplink to downlink conversion or a downlink to uplink conversion between the adjacent two time slots, the first M symbols of the first time slot are used as the time units, and M is a positive integer.
The apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein the transmission direction switching information includes:

the transmission symbol directions are the same, and the transmission direction switching information is 0 or 1; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the transmission symbol directions are different, the transmission direction switching information is O, and O is more than or equal to 1.
A communication device comprising a processor and a memory:

the processor for executing a computer program or instructions stored in the memory, which when executed by the processor, performs the method of any one of claims 1 to 5, 6 to 10 or 11 to 16.
A readable storage medium comprising a computer program or instructions which, when executed by a communication device, performs the method of any of claims 1 to 5, 6 to 10 or 11 to 16.
A chip comprising a processor coupled to a memory for executing a computer program or instructions stored in the memory, which when executed by the processor, performs the method of any one of claims 1 to 5, 6 to 10 or 11 to 16.
A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions which, when read and executed by a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 5, 6 to 10 or 11 to 16.