CN116326129A

CN116326129A - bWP activating method and communication device

Info

Publication number: CN116326129A
Application number: CN202180068122.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 于莹洁; 黄宗浩; 黄甦; 王艺
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-01-15
Filing date: 2021-03-19
Publication date: 2023-06-23
Also published as: WO2022151411A1; WO2022151581A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a BWP activation method and a communication device. The method comprises the following steps: receiving configuration information from an access network device, the configuration information comprising an activation period and an activation duration of BWP; periodically activating the BWP according to an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP; the activation period is used for indicating a time interval between two adjacent times of activating the BWP, and the activation duration is used for indicating a duration of maintaining an activated state after the BWP is activated. Based on this scheme, the terminal device may periodically activate BWP based on the configured BWP activation period and activation duration, implement autonomous handoff of the BWP, may reduce signaling of the BWP handoff by the access network device, and reduce processing of signaling by the terminal device. Therefore, the method can reduce the air interface overhead during BWP switching and reduce the energy consumption of the terminal equipment.

Description

bWP activating method and communication device

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from the chinese patent office filed at 2021, 01 and 15, application number PCT/CN2021/072295, application name "activation method of BWP and communication device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The embodiment of the application relates to the technical field of wireless communication, in particular to a BWP (broadband wireless communication) activating method and a communication device.

Background

Since the New Radio (NR) system has a large bandwidth, the terminal device operates with excessive power consumption under the entire bandwidth, and thus a bandwidth part (BWP) defines that the operating bandwidth of the terminal device may be smaller than the system bandwidth. For example, a plurality of BWP may be configured for the terminal device, and the terminal device reduces power consumption by switching between different BWP.

Currently, it is common for an access network device to send signaling to a terminal device, which switches back and forth between different BWP based on the signaling. The method has larger air interface overhead and larger energy consumption of the terminal equipment because the terminal equipment needs to process the signaling frequently.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a BWP activation method and a communication device, which are used for reducing air interface overhead and reducing energy consumption of terminal equipment during BWP switching.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for activating BWP, where the method may be performed by a terminal device, or may be performed by a component (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system) of the terminal device, and the method includes: receiving configuration information from an access network device, the configuration information comprising an activation period and an activation duration of BWP; periodically activating the BWP according to an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP; the activation period is used for indicating a time interval between two adjacent times of activating the BWP, and the activation duration is used for indicating a duration of maintaining an activated state after the BWP is activated.

Based on the above scheme, the terminal device may periodically activate BWP based on the configured BWP activation period and activation duration, implement autonomous handoff of the BWP, and may reduce signaling of the BWP handoff by the access network device and reduce processing of signaling by the terminal device. Therefore, the method can reduce the air interface overhead during BWP switching and reduce the energy consumption of the terminal equipment.

In one possible implementation, the first activation time of the BWP is related to the configuration information.

Based on this scheme, the first activation time of BWP is indicated by the configuration information, and the first activation time of BWP is not required to be indicated by additional signaling, so that the air interface overhead can be reduced.

In one possible implementation, the configuration information further includes first indication information, where the first indication information indicates that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on.

In one possible implementation, a first message from the access network device is received, the first message indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on, a first activation time of the BWP being related to the first message.

In one possible implementation, the first message contains second indication information indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on.

In a possible implementation method, the first message includes identification information of the BWP and index information of a cell, where the index information of the cell indicates a cell corresponding to the BWP.

In one possible implementation, the configuration information further includes first time information for indicating a duration of the BWP first activated from the first time or for indicating a point of time when the BWP first activated.

Based on this scheme, by indicating the time of first activating BWP to the terminal device through the first time information, flexible configuration of the time of first activating BWP can be achieved.

In one possible implementation method, the first time is a time when the first message is received, or is a preset or preconfigured reference time point.

In one possible implementation, a second message from the access network device is received, the second message indicating to shut down periodic activation of the BWP.

Based on this scheme, the access network device may instruct to turn off the periodic activation of BWP when the terminal device does not need to use the BWP, so that the power consumption of the terminal device may be reduced.

In one possible implementation, the second message includes third indication information indicating to turn off the periodic activation of the BWP.

In a possible implementation method, the configuration information further includes a length of a first period and a first time length, where the first time length is used to indicate a length of a time window that allows the BWP to be periodically activated in one first period; the periodically activating the BWP according to an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP, including: the BWP is periodically activated within the time window of the first period according to an activation period of the BWP, the activation duration, the first period, and the first duration.

Based on the above scheme, the time range of activating BWP is reduced through the first period and the first duration, so that normal execution of other services can not be affected.

In one possible implementation, the starting position of the time window is the same as the starting position of the first period; or, the starting position of the time window is separated from the starting position of the first period by a first distance, and the first distance is preset or preconfigured.

In a possible implementation, the configuration information further includes a size of a first period and a number of times the BWP is periodically activated in one first period.

In one possible implementation method, the BWP first activation time is a start time of the first period; or, the BWP first activation time is separated from the start time of the first period by a second duration, and the second duration is preset or preconfigured.

In a possible implementation, the configuration information further includes the number of the first periods.

In one possible implementation, after the activation duration has arrived, the BWP in the activated state before the BWP is activated is re-activated.

In one possible implementation, the configuration information is carried in an RRC reconfiguration message or an RRC release message.

In one possible implementation, the BWP is a BWP in an RRC inactive state; alternatively, the BWP is a BWP in an RRC idle state.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for activating BWP, where the method may be performed by an access network device, or may be performed by a component (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system) of the access network device, and the method includes: generating configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP; transmitting the configuration information to a terminal device, the configuration information being used for the terminal device to periodically activate the BWP; the activation period is used for indicating a time interval between two adjacent times of activating the BWP, and the activation duration is used for indicating a duration of maintaining an activated state after the BWP is activated.

In one possible implementation, a first message is sent to the terminal device, the first message indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on, a first activation time of the BWP being related to the first message.

In one possible implementation, a second message is sent to the terminal device, the second message indicating to turn off the periodic activation of the BWP.

In a possible implementation method, the configuration information further includes a length of a first period and a first time length, where the first time length is used to indicate a length of a time window in which the BWP is allowed to be periodically activated in one first period.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, where the apparatus may be a terminal device, and may also be a chip for a terminal device. The apparatus has the function of implementing each possible implementation method of the first aspect. The functions can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, where the apparatus may be an access network device, and may also be a chip for the access network device. The apparatus has the function of implementing each possible implementation method of the second aspect. The functions can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communications apparatus comprising a processor coupled to a memory for storing a program or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to implement each of the possible implementations of the first or second aspects described above. The memory may be located within the device or may be located external to the device. And the processor includes one or more.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communications device comprising means for performing the steps of the possible implementations of the first or second aspects described above.

In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device, including a processor and an interface, where the processor is configured to control the interface to communicate with other devices, and perform each possible implementation method of the first aspect or the second aspect. The processor includes one or more.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause each of the possible implementations of the first or second aspects described above to be performed.

In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product which, when run on a computer, causes each of the possible implementations of the first or second aspects described above to be performed.

In a tenth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a chip system, including a processor, where the processor is coupled to a memory, and the memory is configured to store a program or instructions, where the program or instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the chip system to implement each possible implementation method of the first aspect or the second aspect. The memory may be located within the system-on-chip or may be located outside the system-on-chip. And the processor includes one or more.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a BWP activation method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating BWP autonomous switching;

fig. 4 is a format example diagram of a MAC CE;

fig. 5 is a format example diagram of a MAC CE;

fig. 6 (a) is a diagram illustrating BWP autonomous switching example;

fig. 6 (b) is a diagram illustrating BWP autonomous switching example;

fig. 7 (a) is a diagram illustrating BWP autonomous switching example;

fig. 7 (b) is a diagram illustrating BWP autonomous switching example;

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

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. The wireless communication system includes an access network device and one or more terminal devices.

In the wireless communication system, the access network device can provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area through an integrated or external antenna device. One or more terminal devices located within the communication coverage area of the access network device may access the access network device. An access network device may manage one or more cells (cells). Each cell has an identification, also called cell identity (cell ID).

The terminal device and the access network device are aware of the predefined configuration of the wireless communication system, including the system supported radio access technologies (radio access technology, RAT), and the system specified radio resource configurations, such as the basic configuration of the frequency bands and carriers of the radio, etc. A carrier is a range of frequencies that meets system specifications. This range of frequencies may be determined by the center frequency of the carrier (denoted carrier frequency) and the bandwidth of the carrier. The predefined configuration of these systems may be determined as part of the standard protocols of the wireless communication system or by the interaction between the terminal device and the access network device. The content of the relevant standard protocol may be pre-stored in the memories of the terminal device and the access network device or embodied as hardware circuits or software codes of the terminal device and the access network device.

In the wireless communication system, the terminal device and the access network device support one or more of the same RAT, such as NR, long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE), or RAT of future evolution system. Specifically, the terminal device and the access network device adopt the same air interface parameters, coding scheme, modulation scheme and the like, and communicate with each other based on radio resources specified by the system.

The terminal equipment in the embodiment of the application is equipment with a wireless receiving and transmitting function, and can be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on the water surface (such as ships, etc.); but may also be deployed in the air (e.g., on aircraft, balloon, satellite, etc.). The terminal device may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer (pad), a computer with a wireless transceiving function, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in unmanned driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote medical (remote medium), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation security (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), a User Equipment (UE), a sensor with a communication function, and the like.

An access network device, which is a device that provides a wireless communication function for a terminal device, includes, but is not limited to: next generation base stations (g nodeB, gNB), evolved node B (eNB), radio network controllers (radio network controller, RNC), node B (NB), base station controllers (base station controller, BSC), base transceiver stations (base transceiver station, BTS), home base stations (e.g., home evolved nodeB, or home node B, HNB), baseBand units (BBU), transmission points (transmitting and receiving point, TRP), transmission points (transmitting point, TP), mobile switching centers, and the like in the fifth generation (5th generation,5G).

The terms or nouns used in the embodiments of the present application are explained first below.

1. BWP (BWP)

Since the NR system bandwidth is large, the terminal device operates under the entire bandwidth and power consumption is excessive, and thus BWP defines that the operating bandwidth of the terminal device may be smaller than the system bandwidth. For example, a plurality of BWP may be configured for the terminal device, and the terminal device reduces power consumption by switching between different BWP.

For example, for uplink or downlink communication, 4 BWP are configured on a certain carrier of the terminal device, but only one BWP is active at the same time, i.e. the terminal device is actually operating on one BWP. The terminal device configures at most 4 BWP for each of uplink and downlink communications, and only one uplink BWP and one downlink BWP are active at the same time. In time division duplexing (Time Division Duplexing, TDD), the uplink BW and downlink BWP are configured in pairs with the same BWP index and center frequency point, but the bandwidths and subcarrier spacings may be different.

When there is a bandwidth switch demand, BWP switch is required. For example, there are three modes of BWP switching, respectively:

in one aspect, radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) signaling based

This approach is used to let the terminal device switch from the currently active BWP to the new BWP after RRC reconfiguration or Secondary Cell (SCell) activation. The switching delay is typically 10-24 milliseconds (ms).

Mode two, based on downlink control information (downlink control information, DCI)

For example, the DCI format 0_1 for uplink is triggered, and the DCI format 1_1 for downlink is triggered. The switching delay is typically 1-2.5ms.

Mode three, timer-based

If the terminal device does not transmit and receive data for a long time, the timer is timed out, thereby triggering the terminal device to switch from the current working BWP to the smaller BWP, so as to save energy consumption. For example, the duration of the timer may be configured by bwp-InactivityTimer. The switching delay is typically 1-2.5ms.

2. Carrier aggregation (Carrier Aggregation, CA)

CA is to aggregate 2 or more component carriers (Component Carrier, CC) together to support a larger transmission bandwidth. One Cell (Cell) corresponds to one CC.

When CA is used, a plurality of BWP may be configured for the terminal device on one CC, and identification information of the BWP on different CCs may be the same or different. Therefore, when there are a plurality of CCs, one BWP may be indicated jointly using index information of a cell and identification information of the BWP.

It should be noted that only one BWP can be activated at the same time on one CC, but BWP on multiple CCs can be activated at the same time. For example, BWP1 on CC-1 and BWP2 on CC-2 are activated simultaneously.

Currently, the BWP switching manners used by the terminal device are generally classified into two manners, that is, signaling triggering (such as the first manner or the second manner) or timer triggering (such as the third manner), each switching needs the access network device to send signaling to the terminal device or start the timer, which causes a large overhead of air interface resources and a large energy consumption of the terminal device.

However, some services of the terminal device have periodicity, and some specific type of BWP may be used, and if the first or second mode is adopted, signaling needs to be frequently sent to the terminal device, so that the terminal device is triggered to switch back and forth between different BWP, resulting in larger air interface signaling.

The terminal device is illustratively in data communication with a 20MHz bandwidth and transmits the positioning signal with a 100MHz bandwidth, 20MHz being BWP1 and 100MHz being BWP2. In order to save the terminal device as much energy as possible, the terminal device periodically transmits a positioning signal on BWP2 and the terminal device expects to stay in BWP2 as short as possible. The terminal device needs to switch from BWP1 to BWP2, and switch back from BWP2 to BWP1 after transmitting the positioning signal. If the first or second mode is adopted, the switching between BWP1 and BWP2 can be achieved by frequently sending RRC signaling or DCI, which not only occupies air interface resources, but also causes an increase in energy consumption due to the need of frequent signaling processing of the terminal device.

To this end, the present embodiments provide a BWP activation method, which may be performed by a terminal device or a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) for the terminal device.

In the following, an example of the terminal device executing the method is described, and referring to fig. 2, the BWP activation method provided in the embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

in step 201, the terminal device receives configuration information from the access network device, the configuration information comprising an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP.

Alternatively, the configuration information may be carried in an RRC message (e.g., an RRC reconfiguration (reconfiguration) message, or an RRC release (release) message, etc.).

In step 202, the terminal device periodically activates BWP according to the activation period and the activation duration of BWP.

Wherein the activation period is used to indicate the time interval between two adjacent activations of BWP, i.e. the use of the BWP is periodic. For example, the terminal device periodically transmits a positioning signal (e.g., a sounding reference signal (sounding reference signal, SRS)) to the access network device using the BWP, and needs to switch to the BWP originally used, i.e., reactivate the BWP in an activated state before the BWP is activated, after each time the positioning signal is transmitted.

The activation duration is used to indicate the duration of time that the active state is maintained after BWP is activated.

Optionally, after the BWP is activated, the BWP in the activated state before the BWP is activated is re-activated after the activation duration has arrived. I.e. to switch back to the BWP in the active state before the BWP is activated.

Illustratively, five BWP are configured for the terminal device, wherein BWP1 to BWP4 are normal BWP, and each handover is triggered to switch to the BWP or to switch from the BWP to other BWP based on RRC signaling, or based on DCI, or based on a timer. Wherein BWP5 is a BWP with an autonomous switching function defined in the embodiment of the present application, the BWP has an activation period of T1 and an activation duration of L1. I.e. the BWP5 is switched by the terminal device from the currently active BWP (e.g. any of BWP1 to BWP 4) to the BWP5 every T1 duration, i.e. the currently active BWP is deactivated, and BWP5 is then activated, and the BWP5 remains activated for a continuous L1 duration after each activation. BWP5 remains active for the L1 duration, and it is understood that the operation bandwidth of the terminal device is BWP5 for the L1 duration.

Referring to fig. 3, a BWP autonomous switching example diagram is shown. BWP5 is a BWP with autonomous switching function, and each time after the period T1 arrives, the terminal device switches its operating bandwidth from the current BWP (e.g., BWP1 or BWP 2) to BWP5, without performing switching based on signaling sent by the access network device, which can reduce air interface resource overhead and power consumption of the terminal device. And, after the terminal device operates on BWP5 for the duration of L1, it automatically switches to BWP (e.g., BWP1 or BWP 2) in an active state before BWP5 is activated, so that it is not necessary to perform switching based on signaling sent by the access network device, and the air-interface resource overhead and the power consumption of the terminal device can be further reduced.

It should be noted that, the switching between the normal BWP (BWP 1 or BWP2 as shown in fig. 3) may be performed based on the signaling or the triggering of the timer. For example, referring to fig. 3, if the terminal device does not transceive data on BWP1 for a certain period of time, the timer times out, triggering the terminal device to switch from BWP1 to BWP2 based on a preconfigured or predefined policy.

As an implementation method, in this embodiment of the present application, the BWP with autonomous handover function (e.g., BWP5 in fig. 3) may be an RRC inactive (inactive) BWP, and the configuration information of step 201 may be carried by an RRC release message. In step 202, the terminal device periodically activates the BWP in the inactive RRC state according to the activation period and the activation duration of the BWP in the configuration information, so as to implement autonomous switching of the BWP, thereby enabling the terminal device to implement uplink data or uplink signal transmission in the inactive RRC state, and ensuring transmission of necessary information.

As yet another implementation method, in this embodiment of the present application, the BWP with autonomous handover function (such as BWP5 in fig. 3) may also be an RRC idle (idle) BWP, and the configuration information of step 201 may be carried by an RRC release message. In step 202, the terminal device periodically activates the BWP in the RRC idle state according to the activation period and the activation duration of the BWP in the configuration information, so as to implement autonomous switching of the BWP, thereby enabling the terminal device to implement transmission of uplink data or uplink signals in the RRC idle state, and ensuring transmission of necessary information.

In the above scheme, the first activation time of the BWP may further be configured.

By way of example, several different configurations are given below to inform the terminal device of the first activation time of BWP.

The implementation method one, before the above step 202, the access network device further sends a first message to the terminal device, where the first message indicates that the periodic activation of BWP is turned on, and the first activation time of BWP is related to the first message.

That is, the access network device indicates the first activation time of the BWP to the terminal device through a first message other than the configuration information. Thus, the terminal device turns on the periodic activation of BWP according to the first message. Or it is understood that the first message instructs the terminal device to turn on the functionality of the periodic activation of BWP or that the first message instructs the terminal device to activate the BWP for the first time.

As an implementation, the first message itself (e.g., by the name of the first message) may be used to indicate the periodic activation of the on BWP. As another implementation method, an indication information may be carried in the first message (the indication information is also referred to as second indication information in the embodiment of the present application), where the indication information may be used to indicate that the periodic activation of BWP is turned on.

As an implementation method, after receiving the first message, the terminal device immediately activates the BWP for the first time according to the first message or the second indication information carried by the first message. For example, the terminal device starts to activate the BWP for the first time after parsing the first message and acquiring the name of the first message. For another example, the terminal device starts to activate the BWP for the first time after parsing the first message and acquiring the second indication information. For another example, the terminal device starts to activate BWP at a first time domain resource after the time domain resource where the terminal device is located when receiving the first message. It is further understood that the difference between the time domain resource where the first message is received and the time position where BWP is first activated is at least greater than or equal to the BWP switch preparation time. The BWP switch preparation time may be preset, or preconfigured.

As another implementation method, the first message carries first time information, where the first time information is used to indicate a duration of the first activation of the BWP from the first time, where the first time is a time when the first message is received, or is a preset or configured reference time point. That is, the terminal device, after receiving the first message, activates the BWP for the first time at a specific time (the duration of the time from the first time is specified by the first time information). Alternatively, the first time information is used to indicate a point in time when the BWP is first activated, i.e. the first time information indicates an absolute point in time, after receiving the first message, the terminal device first activates the BWP at a specific moment (the moment being specified by the first time information).

Optionally, in the CA scenario, the first message may further carry BWP identification information and cell index information, where the cell index information indicates a cell corresponding to the BWP. I.e. a BWP is indicated jointly by the index information of the cell and the identification information of the BWP. Or the BWP indicated by the identification information of the BWP is understood to be the BWP on the Component Carrier (CC) corresponding to the cell indicated by the index information of the cell. Wherein one cell corresponds to one component carrier.

The implementation method one indicates to turn on the periodic activation of BWP through the first message. Accordingly, the access network device may instruct to switch off the periodic activation of BWP by sending a second message to the terminal device. I.e. when the terminal device receives the second message from the access network device, the periodically activated function of the BWP is turned off. For example, when the terminal device is currently operating on the BWP with autonomous switching function, the terminal device may switch to the BWP in the active state (BWP 1 or BWP2 shown in fig. 3) immediately before the BWP is activated after receiving the second message, or switch to the BWP in the active state before the BWP is activated after the duration of the activation of the BWP is reached, and the BWP with autonomous switching function is not activated again after the activation period of the BWP is reached until receiving the message for indicating the periodic activation of the BWP is started again. For another example, the terminal device is not currently operating on the BWP with autonomous switching function, and remains operating on the current BWP (BWP 1 or BWP2 as shown in fig. 3) after receiving the second message, and does not activate the BWP again after the subsequent activation period of the BWP with autonomous switching function arrives, until receiving again the message indicating to turn on the periodic activation of the BWP.

As an implementation, the second message itself (e.g., by the name of the second message) may be used to indicate the periodic activation of the off BWP. As another implementation method, an indication information may be carried in the second message (the indication information is also referred to as third indication information in the embodiment of the present application), where the indication information may be used to indicate to turn off the periodic activation of BWP.

Alternatively, the first message may be a medium access control element (medium access control control element, MAC CE).

A specific implementation manner of the MAC CE is given below by taking the first message as an example of the MAC CE.

The implementation form of the MAC CE is as follows:

example 1, the mac CE contains 1 bit of indication information for indicating turning on or turning off the periodic activation of BWP.

For example, the indication information is "0" for indicating the periodic activation of the BWP is turned on; the indication information is "1" for indicating the periodic activation of the off BWP. For another example, the indication information is "1" for indicating the periodic activation of the BWP is turned on; the indication information is "0" for indicating the periodic activation of the off BWP.

This example 1 is applicable to an application scenario where only 1 BWP with an autonomous switching function is configured for a terminal device, and the BWP with an autonomous switching function is preconfigured or predefined, and thus identification information of the BWP may not be carried in the MAC CE.

Example 2, the mac CE contains 8 bits of information, specifically:

-indication information occupying 1 bit for indicating a periodic activation of BWP on or a periodic activation of BWP off;

identification information of BWP (e.g. BWP ID), occupying 2 bits for indicating BWP; wherein 2 bits may be used to indicate one of 4 different BWP with autonomous switching function;

index information of the cell (e.g. SCell Index), occupying 5 bits for indicating the cell. Wherein, the index information of a cell indicates the BWP on the CC corresponding to one cell in combination with the identification information of the BWP. When the index information of the cell is not configured (e.g., the 5 bits are null), it indicates that there is only one CC or a default CC.

For example, referring to fig. 4, a format example diagram of the MAC CE corresponding to this example 2 is shown. The MAC CE includes indication information, identification information of BWP, and index information of a cell.

Based on the method of this example 2, one MAC CE may instruct to turn on/off the periodic activation of one BWP. If it is required to instruct to turn on/off the periodic activation of the plurality of BWP, it may be to transmit a plurality of MAC CEs to the terminal device, respectively instruct to turn on/off the periodic activation of the different BWP.

It should be noted that only one BWP on the same CC is in an active state, but a plurality of BWP on different CCs may be in an active state.

Example 3, the mac CE contains 8*N bits of information, where N is an integer greater than 1, for indicating the periodic activation of on/off multiple BWP. Wherein each 8 bits is used to indicate the periodic activation of one BWP on/off, the format of the information contained in each 8 bits may be referred to the description of example 2 above.

For example, referring to fig. 5, a format example diagram of the MAC CE corresponding to this example 3 is shown. The MAC CE includes 24 bits, each 8 bits including one indication information, one identification information of BWP, and one index information of a cell. The first 8 bits indicate periodic activation of on/off BWP a, the second 8 bits indicate periodic activation of on/off BWP B, and the third 8 bits indicate periodic activation of on/off BWP C.

It should be noted that, if the plurality of BWP indicated by the MAC CE belong to the same CC, the activation times of the plurality of BWP cannot overlap, that is, only one BWP is in an active state at the same time on one CC. The activation periods of the plurality of BWP may be the same or different. The duration of activation of the plurality of BWP may be the same or different.

If the plurality of BWP indicated by the MAC CE belong to different CCs, the activation times of the plurality of BWP may overlap, i.e., on different CCs, two or more BWP may be in an active state at the same time. The activation periods of the plurality of BWP may be the same or different. The duration of activation of the plurality of BWP may be the same or different.

Example 4, two MAC CEs, one for indicating periodic activation of the BWP on and the other for indicating periodic activation of the BWP off.

This example 4 is a variant implementation of the above example 1, in which the periodic activation of the on/off BWP is not required to be indicated by the indication information, but is indicated by the name of the MAC CE. The name of the MAC CE may be indicated by a MAC sub header (sub header) in a MAC sub protocol packet (Protocol data unit, PDU).

Example 5, two MAC CEs each contain 8 bits of information, one for indicating periodic activation of BWP on and the other for indicating periodic activation of BWP off. The formats of the two MAC CEs are:

index information of the cell (e.g. SCell Index), occupying 5 bits for indicating the cell. Wherein, the index information of a cell indicates the BWP on the CC corresponding to one cell in combination with the identification information of the BWP. When the index information of the cell is not configured (e.g., the 5 bits are empty), it indicates that there is only one CC or a default CC;

-reserving 1 bit.

This example 5 is a variant implementation of the above example 2, in which the periodic activation of on/off BWP is not required to be indicated by the indication information, but is indicated by the name of the MAC CE.

Example 6, two MAC CEs each containing 8*N bits of information, one for indicating to turn on periodic activation of multiple BWP and the other for indicating to turn off periodic activation of multiple BWP. Both MAC CEs contain 8*N bits of information, where N is an integer greater than 1. Wherein each 8 bits is used to indicate the periodic activation of one BWP on/off, the format of the information contained in each 8 bits may be referred to the description of example 2 above.

This example 6 is a variant implementation of the above example 3, in which the periodic activation of the on/off BWP is not required to be indicated by the indication information, but is indicated by the name of the MAC CE.

The terminal device may immediately turn on or off the periodic activation of the corresponding BWP after receiving any one of the above-described examples 1 to 6, or may turn on or off the periodic activation of the corresponding BWP based on pre-configured or pre-defined time information (e.g., may be an absolute time or a relative time period from receipt of the MAC CE), or may turn on or off the periodic activation of the corresponding BWP based on time information received from the MAC CE (e.g., may be an absolute time or a relative time period from receipt of the MAC CE), or may also turn on or off the periodic activation of the corresponding BWP based on time information received from the above-described step 201 (e.g., may be an absolute time or a relative time period from receipt of the MAC CE).

In the above examples 1 to 6, one MAC CE is used to indicate the periodic activation of the on BWP and the other MAC CE is used to indicate the periodic activation of the off BWP. As another implementation method, the periodic activation of BWP may be indicated by one MAC CE, and time information for turning off the periodic activation of BWP may be indicated. For example, in the above-mentioned MAC CE for indicating the periodic activation of the BWP to be turned on, time information for indicating the periodic activation to be turned off may be further carried, for example, the number of periods may be carried, so that the periodic activation of the BWP is turned off after the periodic activation reaches the number of periods, and for example, the duration of turning on the periodic activation function may be further carried, so that the periodic activation of the BWP is turned off after the duration reaches.

It should be noted that, the time information (such as the number of periods, the duration of turning on the periodic activation function, etc.) for indicating the turning-off periodic activation may be carried in the MAC CE or may be carried in the configuration information of step 201.

In the second implementation method, the first activation time of BWP is related to the configuration information of step 201.

The terminal device starts periodic activation of BWP according to the configuration information. Or it is understood that the configuration information instructs the terminal device to turn on the function of the periodic activation of the BWP or that the configuration information instructs the terminal device to activate the BWP for the first time.

As an implementation, the configuration information itself (e.g., by the name of the configuration information) may be used to indicate the periodic activation of the on BWP. As another implementation method, an indication information may be carried in the configuration information (the indication information is also referred to as first indication information in the embodiment of the present application), where the indication information may be used to indicate that the periodic activation of BWP is turned on.

As a first implementation method, after receiving the configuration information, the terminal device immediately activates the BWP for the first time according to the configuration information or the indication information carried by the configuration information.

As a second implementation method, the configuration information further carries second time information, where the second time information is used to indicate a duration of the first activation of the BWP from the second time, and the second time is a time when the configuration information is received, or is a preset or preconfigured reference time point. That is, the terminal device, upon receiving the configuration information, activates the BWP for the first time at a specific time (the time length from the second time is specified by the second time information). Alternatively, the second time information is used to indicate a time point when the BWP is first activated, i.e. the second time information indicates an absolute time point, and after receiving the configuration information, the terminal device first activates the BWP at a specific time (the time is specified by the second time information).

As a third implementation method, the configuration information further carries a length of a first period and a first duration, where the first duration is used to indicate a length of a time window in which the BWP is allowed to be periodically activated in one first period. The length of the first duration may be less than the length of the first period. Optionally, the configuration information further carries the number of first periods. After receiving the configuration information, the terminal device may determine, according to the first period, a first activation time of the BWP. Such as taking the starting position of the first start of the first period as the first activation time of BWP (e.g. refer to the BWP autonomous switching example diagram shown in fig. 6 (a)). For another example, a time position separated from the start position of the first start of the first period by a set distance is taken as the first activation time of BWP (for example, refer to the BWP autonomous switching example diagram shown in fig. 6 (b)). The starting position of the first start of the first period may be predefined, preconfigured, carried by the configuration information of step 201, or notified by another message. And, based on the implementation method, since the first period and the first duration are configured in addition to the activation period and the activation duration of the BWP, the terminal device may perform periodic activation of the BWP within a time window indicated by the first duration of each first period, and may not perform periodic activation of the BWP outside the time window indicated by the first duration of each first period. Or it is understood that by configuring the first period and the first period, the time range of the periodic activation of the BWP with the autonomous switching function is narrowed, thereby realizing that the periodic activation of the BWP with the autonomous switching function is performed within a specific time window, while other normal traffic is performed outside other time windows. For example, referring to fig. 6 (a) or 6 (b), after the first period and the first period are configured, if the activation period of BWP5 is reached within the time window indicated by the first period, BWP5 is activated, and if the activation period of BWP5 is reached outside the time window indicated by the first period, BWP5 is not activated. It should be noted that the starting position of the time window indicated by the first time period in the first period may be the same as the starting position of the first period (for example, refer to fig. 6 (a)), or the starting position of the time window may be a first distance from the starting position of the first period (for example, refer to fig. 6 (b)), where the first distance is preset or preconfigured. It can be understood that, based on this implementation method, step 202 is specifically: the BWP is periodically activated within a time window of the first period according to an activation period, an activation duration, the first period, and the first duration of the BWP.

It should be noted that, the length of the first period and the first time length in the third implementation method may also be carried in the first message in the first implementation method. I.e. the configuration information of step 201 carries not the length of the first period and the first duration, but the length of the first period and the first duration in the first message. Optionally, the first message may also carry the number of first periods. For the length of the first period, the first duration, and the meaning and the usage method of the number of the first periods, reference may be made to the specific description in the third implementation method, which is not repeated.

As a fourth implementation method, the configuration information also carries the length of the first period and the number of BWP periodic activations in one first period. Optionally, the configuration information further carries the number of first periods. After receiving the configuration information, the terminal device may determine, according to the first period, a first activation time of the BWP. Such as taking the starting position of the first start of the first period as the first activation time of BWP (e.g. refer to the BWP autonomous switching example diagram shown in fig. 7 (a)). For another example, a time position separated from the start position of the first start of the first period by a set distance (also referred to as a second duration in the embodiment of the present application) is taken as the first activation time of BWP (for example, refer to the BWP autonomous switching example diagram shown in fig. 7 (b)). The starting position of the first start of the first period may be predefined, preconfigured, carried by the configuration information of step 201, or notified by another message. Also, based on the implementation method, since the first period and the number of BWP periodic activations within one first period are configured in addition to the activation period and the activation duration of the BWP, the terminal device may perform the periodic activation of the BWP by the number of BWP periodic activations within each first period. Or it is understood that by configuring the first period and the number of periodic activations of BWP within one first period, the number of periodic activations of BWP with autonomous switching function is reduced. For example, referring to fig. 7 (a) or 7 (b), after the first period and the number of BWP periodic activations within one first period (for example, the number of configuration is 1) are configured, only one BWP5 is activated within each first period, and in the case where the first period and the number of BWP periodic activations within one first period are not configured, the number of BWP5 is doubled. It can be understood that, based on this implementation method, step 202 is specifically: the BWP is periodically activated in the first period according to an activation period of the BWP, an activation duration, the first period, and the number of times the BWP is periodically activated in one first period.

It should be noted that, the length of the first period and the number of BWP periodic activations in one first period in the fourth implementation method may also be carried in the first message in the first implementation method. I.e. the configuration information of step 201 carries not the length of the first period and the number of BWP periodic activations in one first period, but the length of the first period and the number of BWP periodic activations in one first period in the first message. Optionally, the first message may also carry the number of first periods. For the length of the first period, the number of BWP periodic activations in one first period, and the meaning and usage method of the number of first periods, reference may be made to the specific description in the fourth implementation method, which is not repeated.

The implementation method of the configuration information of step 201 is described below with reference to a specific example. It will be appreciated that other implementation methods for the configuration information in step 201 are possible, and the present invention is not limited in any way.

For example, at most 4 uplink BWP are currently defined and configured by the terminal device, if an uplink BWP with an autonomous switching function provided in the embodiment of the present application needs to be newly added on this basis, the uplink BWP may be newly added by the following definition:

Wherein, the initial BWP is configured by the initial uplink BWP, and is used for the UE to receive the remaining minimum system information (Remaining minimum system information, RMSI), other system information (Other system information, OSI) to initiate random access, etc.; the special BWP is configured by an uplink BWP-ToAddModList and used for data service transmission; the first actionuplinkbwp-Id is used to configure the first active BWP. uplink BWP-ToReleaseList indicates the additional upstream BWP to be released. The PUSCH-ServingCellConfig indicates uplink physical shared channel (Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH) related parameters exclusive to non-BWP. The carrier switching contains relevant parameters for SRS carrier switching configuration. The meaning of the individual parameters in the above configuration items except for Autonomos-BWP-r 17 can also be referred to the relevant description in the standard 3GPP TS 38.331.

Autonomos-BWP-r 17 is a newly added BWP with Autonomous switching function, the BWP-Uplink contains configuration information of the BWP, and SetupRelease { } represents parameter reference, similar to function call in programming language.

As an implementation method, the BWP ID may be extended from 4 to 5. Under the implementation method, BWP-Uplink is defined as follows:

wherein maxNrofBWPs expands from 4 to 5.

As another implementation method, a BWP ID may be redefined to specifically describe the BWP with the switching function. Under the implementation method, BWP-Uplink is defined as follows:

wherein BWP-Autonomos-Id is the ID of the BWP with the switching function.

maxNrof AutonomousBWPs is greater than or equal to 1.

The BWP with the switching function may be defined by the above-described manner of extending the BWP ID or the manner of redefining the BWP ID.

Further, taking the example that the configuration information in step 201 carries the BWP activation period, the BWP activation duration and the time information for indicating the first activation of the BWP, the configuration parameters of the BWP may be configured as follows:

BWP-UplinkCommon::＝ SEQUENCE{

genericParameters BWP,

}

wherein genericParameters contains parameters to be configured for each BWP, including: subcarrier spacing, cyclic Prefix (CP) and frequency domain location and bandwidth of BWP.

Wherein, BWP-SwitchTimer is used to indicate that BWP is activated for the first time within a certain period of time after receiving the configuration information, and in an alternative embodiment, the period of time takes on one of 1 to 60. BWP-transmission duration is used to indicate the duration of activation of BWP, which in an alternative embodiment takes on one of 1 to 24. BWP-TransmissionPeriod is used to indicate the length of the BWP activation period, which in an alternative embodiment takes on the value of one of 5,8, 10, 12, … …. The unit of the values of the three parameters can be any one of time domain symbols, time slots, microseconds, milliseconds, seconds, minutes, hours and the like. The units of the values of the three parameters may be different from each other or the same, and the present application is not limited thereto.

Referring to fig. 8, a schematic diagram of a communication device is provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device is configured to implement the steps corresponding to the terminal device or the access network device in the foregoing embodiments, and as shown in fig. 8, the communication device 800 includes a transceiver 810 and a processing unit 820.

In a first embodiment, the communication device is configured to implement each step of the corresponding terminal device in each of the above embodiments:

a transceiver unit 810 for receiving configuration information from an access network device, the configuration information comprising an activation period and an activation duration of a BWP; a processing unit 820 for periodically activating the BWP according to an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP; the activation period is used for indicating a time interval between two adjacent times of activating the BWP, and the activation duration is used for indicating a duration of maintaining an activated state after the BWP is activated.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 810 is further configured to receive a first message from the access network device, where the first message indicates that the periodic activation of the BWP is turned on, and a first activation time of the BWP is related to the first message.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 810 is further configured to receive a second message from the access network device, where the second message indicates to switch off the periodic activation of the BWP.

In a possible implementation method, the configuration information further includes a length of a first period and a first time length, where the first time length is used to indicate a length of a time window that allows the BWP to be periodically activated in one first period; processing unit 820 is specifically configured to periodically activate the BWP within the time window of the first period according to the activation period of the BWP, the activation duration, the first period and the first duration.

In a possible implementation, the processing unit 820 is further configured to, after the activation duration has arrived, re-activate the BWP in the activated state before the BWP is activated.

In a second embodiment, the communication device is configured to implement each step of the corresponding access network device in each embodiment described above:

a processing unit 820 for generating configuration information including an activation period and an activation duration of BWP; a transceiver unit 810, configured to send the configuration information to a terminal device, where the configuration information is used for the terminal device to periodically activate the BWP; the activation period is used for indicating a time interval between two adjacent times of activating the BWP, and the activation duration is used for indicating a duration of maintaining an activated state after the BWP is activated.

Optionally, processing unit 820 may also periodically communicate with the terminal device on the BWP according to the activation period and the activation duration of the BWP. It is to be understood that the method for determining the BWP activation time by the processing unit 820 is the same as or similar to the method for determining the BWP activation time by the terminal device, and will not be described herein.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 810 is further configured to send a first message to the terminal device, where the first message indicates that the periodic activation of the BWP is turned on, and a first activation time of the BWP is related to the first message.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 810 is further configured to send a second message to the terminal device, where the second message indicates to turn off the periodic activation of the BWP.

In one possible implementation, the configuration information is carried in a radio resource control RRC reconfiguration message or an RRC release message.

Optionally, the communication device may further include a storage unit, where the storage unit is configured to store data or instructions (which may also be referred to as codes or programs), and the respective units may interact or be coupled with the storage unit to implement the corresponding methods or functions. For example, the processing unit 820 may read data or instructions in a storage unit, so that the communication device implements the method in the above-described embodiment.

It should be understood that the above division of units in the communication device is merely a division of logic functions, and may be fully or partially integrated into one physical entity or may be physically separated. And the units in the communication device may all be implemented in the form of software calls via the processing element; or can be realized in hardware; it is also possible that part of the units are implemented in the form of software, which is called by the processing element, and part of the units are implemented in the form of hardware. For example, each unit may be a processing element that is set up separately, may be implemented integrally in a certain chip of the communication device, or may be stored in a memory in the form of a program, and the function of the unit may be called and executed by a certain processing element of the communication device. Furthermore, all or part of these units may be integrated together or may be implemented independently. The processing element described herein may in turn be a processor, which may be an integrated circuit with signal processing capabilities. In implementation, each step of the above method or each unit above may be implemented by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in a processor element or in the form of software called by a processing element.

In one example, the unit in any of the above communication devices may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as: one or more specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), or one or more microprocessors (digital singnal processor, DSP), or one or more field programmable gate arrays (field programmable gate array, FPGA), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. For another example, when the unit in the communication device may be implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler, the processing element may be a general purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU) or other processor that may invoke the program. For another example, the units may be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

Referring to fig. 9, a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application is provided, which is configured to implement the operation of the terminal device or the access network device in the above embodiment. As shown in fig. 9, the communication apparatus includes: processor 910 and interface 930, processor 910 is coupled to interface 930. The interface 930 is used to enable communication with other devices. Interface 930 may be a transceiver or an input-output interface. The interface 930 may be, for example, an interface circuit. Optionally, the communication device further comprises a memory 920 for storing instructions executed by the processor 910 or for storing input data required by the processor 910 to execute instructions or for storing data generated after the processor 910 executes instructions.

The method performed by the terminal device or the access network device in the above embodiment may be implemented by the processor 910 calling a program stored in a memory (which may be the memory 920 in the terminal device or the access network device, or an external memory). That is, the terminal device or the access network device may include a processor 910, and the processor 910 may perform the method performed by the terminal device or the access network device in the above method embodiment by calling a program in a memory. The processor here may be an integrated circuit with signal processing capabilities, such as a CPU. The terminal device or access network device may be implemented by one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods. For example: one or more ASICs, or one or more microprocessor DSPs, or one or more FPGAs, etc., or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. Alternatively, the above implementations may be combined.

In particular, the functions/implementation of the transceiver unit 810 and the processing unit 820 in fig. 8 may be implemented by the processor 910 in the communication apparatus 900 shown in fig. 9 invoking computer executable instructions stored in the memory 920. Alternatively, the functions/implementation procedure of the processing unit 820 in fig. 8 may be implemented by the processor 910 in the communication apparatus 900 shown in fig. 9 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 920, the functions/implementation procedure of the transceiver unit 810 in fig. 8 may be implemented by the interface 930 in the communication apparatus 900 shown in fig. 9, and exemplary, the functions/implementation procedure of the transceiver unit 810 may be implemented by the processor calling program instructions in the memory to drive the interface 930.

When the communication device is a chip applied to the terminal equipment, the terminal equipment chip has the function of realizing the terminal equipment in the embodiment of the method. The terminal device chip receives information from other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the terminal device, the information being from other terminal devices or access network devices; alternatively, the terminal device chip sends information to other modules (e.g., radio frequency modules or antennas) in the terminal device, which the terminal device sends to other terminal devices or network devices.

When the communication device is a chip applied to the access network equipment, the access network equipment chip has the function of realizing the access network equipment in the embodiment of the method. The access network device chip receives information from other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the access network device, the information being from a terminal device or other access network device; alternatively, the access network device chip sends information to other modules (e.g., radio frequency modules or antennas) in the access network device, where the information is sent by the access network device to the terminal device or other access network devices.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that: the first, second, etc. numbers referred to in this application are merely for convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application, but also to indicate the sequence. "and/or", describes an association relationship of an association object, and indicates that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may indicate: a exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. The character "/" generally indicates that the context-dependent object is an "or" relationship. "at least one" means one or more. At least two means two or more. "at least one," "any one," or the like, refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). For example, at least one of a, b, or c (species ) may represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, wherein a, b, c may be single or plural. "plurality" means two or more, and the like.

It should be understood that, in various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the foregoing processes do not mean the order of execution, and the order of execution of the processes should be determined by the functions and internal logic of the processes, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.

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

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, produces a flow or function in accordance with embodiments of the present application, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatus. The computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another, for example, by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device including one or more servers, data centers, etc. that can be integrated with the available medium. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a Solid State Disk (SSD)), or the like.

The various illustrative logical blocks and circuits described in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the general purpose processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in the embodiments of the present application may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software element executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software cells may be stored in random access Memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), flash Memory, read-Only Memory (ROM), EPROM Memory, EEPROM Memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. In an example, a storage medium may be coupled to the processor such that 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.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

In one or more exemplary designs, the functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination of the three. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on the computer-readable medium. Computer readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media that facilitate transfer of computer programs from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. For example, such computer-readable media may include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to carry or store program code in the form of instructions or data structures and other data structures that may be read by a general purpose or special purpose computer, or a general purpose or special purpose processor. Further, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium, e.g., if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source via a coaxial cable, fiber optic computer, twisted pair, digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or wireless such as infrared, radio, and microwave, and is also included in the definition of computer-readable medium. The disks (disks) and disks include compact disks, laser disks, optical disks, digital versatile disks (English: digital Versatile Disc; DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disk where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while disks usually reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above may also be included within the computer-readable media.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that in one or more of the examples described above, the functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, these functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

The foregoing embodiments have been provided for the purpose of illustrating the technical solution and advantageous effects of the present application in further detail, and it should be understood that the foregoing embodiments are merely illustrative of the present application and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, and any modifications, equivalents, improvements, etc. made on the basis of the technical solution of the present application should be included in the scope of the present application. The foregoing description of the specification may enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the content of the application, and any modifications may be made based on the disclosure as will be apparent to the person skilled in the art, and the basic principles described herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention of the application. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and designs described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Although the present application has been described in connection with specific features and embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that various modifications and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are merely exemplary illustrations of the present application as defined in the appended claims and are considered to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present application. 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 include such modifications and variations as well.

Claims

A method for activating a bandwidth portion BWP, comprising:

receiving configuration information from an access network device, the configuration information comprising an activation period and an activation duration of BWP;

periodically activating the BWP according to an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP;

the activation period is used for indicating a time interval between two adjacent times of activating the BWP, and the activation duration is used for indicating a duration of maintaining an activated state after the BWP is activated.
The method of claim 1, wherein a first activation time of the BWP is related to the configuration information.
The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the configuration information further comprises first indication information indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on.
The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a first message is received from the access network device, the first message indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on, a first activation time of the BWP being related to the first message.
The method of claim 4, wherein the first message contains second indication information indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on.
The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the first message contains identification information of the BWP and index information of a cell indicating a cell to which the BWP corresponds.
The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the configuration information further comprises first time information for indicating a length of time from the first time when the BWP is first activated or for indicating a point of time when the BWP is first activated.
The method of claim 7, wherein the first time is a time at which the first message is received or a preset or preconfigured reference point in time.
The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising:

a second message is received from the access network device, the second message indicating to shut down periodic activation of the BWP.
The method of claim 9, wherein the second message includes third indication information indicating to turn off periodic activation of the BWP.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the configuration information further comprises a length of a first period and a first time length, the first time length being used to indicate a length of a time window within one first period in which the BWP is allowed to be periodically activated;

the periodically activating the BWP according to an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP, including:

the BWP is periodically activated within the time window of the first period according to an activation period of the BWP, the activation duration, the first period, and the first duration.
The method of claim 11, wherein a starting position of the time window is the same as a starting position of the first period; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the starting position of the time window is separated from the starting position of the first period by a first distance, and the first distance is preset or preconfigured.
The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information further comprises a size of a first period and a number of times the BWP is periodically activated in one first period.
The method of claim 13, wherein the BWP first activation time is a start time of the first period; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the BWP first activation time is separated from the start time of the first period by a second duration, which is preset or preconfigured.
The method of any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the configuration information further comprises a number of the first periods.
The method of any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising:

after the activation duration arrives, the BWP in an activated state before the BWP is activated is re-activated.
The method according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the configuration information is carried in a radio resource control, RRC, reconfiguration message or an RRC release message.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the BWP is a BWP in an RRC inactive state; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the BWP is a BWP in the RRC idle state.
A method for activating a bandwidth portion BWP, comprising:

generating configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP;

transmitting the configuration information to a terminal device, wherein the configuration information is used for the terminal device to periodically activate the BWP;

the activation period is used for indicating a time interval between two adjacent times of activating the BWP, and the activation duration is used for indicating a duration of maintaining an activated state after the BWP is activated.
The method of claim 19, wherein a first activation time of the BWP is related to the configuration information.
The method of claim 19 or 20, wherein the configuration information further comprises first indication information indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on.
The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

a first message is sent to the terminal device, the first message indicating that a periodic activation of the BWP is turned on, a first activation time of the BWP being related to the first message.
The method of claim 22, wherein the first message contains second indication information indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on.
The method of claim 22 or 23, wherein the first message contains identification information of the BWP and index information of a cell indicating the cell to which the BWP corresponds.
The method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the configuration information further comprises first time information for indicating a length of time from the first time when the BWP is first activated or for indicating a point of time when the BWP is first activated.
The method of claim 25, wherein the first time is a time at which the first message is received or a preset or preconfigured reference point in time.
The method of any one of claims 19 to 26, further comprising:

and sending a second message to the terminal equipment, wherein the second message indicates to turn off the periodic activation of the BWP.
The method of claim 27, wherein the second message includes third indication information indicating to turn off periodic activation of the BWP.
The method according to any one of claims 19 to 28, wherein the configuration information further comprises a length of a first period and a first time length, the first time length being used to indicate a length of a time window within one first period in which the BWP is allowed to be periodically activated.
The method of claim 29, wherein a starting position of the time window is the same as a starting position of the first period; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the starting position of the time window is separated from the starting position of the first period by a first distance, and the first distance is preset or preconfigured.
The method of claim 19, wherein the configuration information further comprises a size of a first period and a number of times the BWP is periodically activated in one first period.
The method of claim 31, wherein the BWP first activation time is a start time of the first period; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the BWP first activation time is separated from the start time of the first period by a second duration, which is preset or preconfigured.
The method of any of claims 29 to 32, wherein the configuration information further comprises a number of the first periods.
The method according to any of claims 19 to 33, wherein the configuration information is carried in a radio resource control, RRC, reconfiguration message or an RRC release message.
The method according to any one of claims 19 to 34, wherein the BWP is a BWP in an RRC inactive state; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the BWP is a BWP in the RRC idle state.
A communication device, comprising:

a transceiver unit, configured to receive configuration information from an access network device, where the configuration information includes an activation period and an activation duration of a BWP;

a processing unit for periodically activating the BWP according to an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP;

the activation period is used for indicating a time interval between two adjacent times of activating the BWP, and the activation duration is used for indicating a duration of maintaining an activated state after the BWP is activated.
The apparatus of claim 36, wherein a first activation time of the BWP is related to the configuration information.
The apparatus of claim 36 or 37, wherein the configuration information further comprises first indication information indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on.
The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to receive a first message from the access network device, the first message indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is to be turned on, a first activation time of the BWP being related to the first message.
The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first message includes second indication information indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on.
The apparatus of claim 39 or 40, wherein the first message includes identification information of the BWP and index information of a cell indicating a cell to which the BWP corresponds.
The apparatus of any one of claims 39 to 41, wherein the configuration information further comprises first time information for indicating a length of time from a first time when the BWP is first activated or for indicating a point of time when the BWP is first activated.
The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first time is a time when the first message is received or a preset or preconfigured reference point in time.
The apparatus according to any of claims 36 to 43, wherein the transceiving unit is further configured to receive a second message from the access network device, the second message indicating to shut down periodic activation of the BWP.
The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the second message includes third indication information indicating to turn off periodic activation of the BWP.
The apparatus of any one of claims 36 to 45, wherein the configuration information further comprises a length of a first period and a first time length, the first time length being used to indicate a length of a time window within one first period that allows periodic activation of the BWP;

the processing unit is specifically configured to periodically activate the BWP within the time window of the first period according to an activation period of the BWP, the activation duration, the first period and the first duration.
The apparatus of claim 46, wherein a starting position of the time window is the same as a starting position of the first period; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the starting position of the time window is separated from the starting position of the first period by a first distance, and the first distance is preset or preconfigured.
The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the configuration information further comprises a size of a first period and a number of times the BWP is periodically activated in one first period.
The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the BWP first activation time is a start time of the first period; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the BWP first activation time is separated from the start time of the first period by a second duration, which is preset or preconfigured.
The apparatus of any one of claims 46 to 49, wherein the configuration information further comprises a number of the first periods.
The apparatus of any one of claims 36 to 50, the processing unit further configured to, after the activation duration has arrived, re-activate BWP in an activated state before the BWP is activated.
The apparatus according to any of claims 36 to 51, wherein the configuration information is carried in a radio resource control, RRC, reconfiguration message or an RRC release message.
The apparatus of any one of claims 36 to 52, wherein the BWP is a BWP in an RRC inactive state; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the BWP is a BWP in the RRC idle state.
A communication device, comprising:

a processing unit for generating configuration information, the configuration information including an activation period and an activation duration of the BWP;

a transceiver unit, configured to send the configuration information to a terminal device, where the configuration information is used for the terminal device to periodically activate the BWP;

the activation period is used for indicating a time interval between two adjacent times of activating the BWP, and the activation duration is used for indicating a duration of maintaining an activated state after the BWP is activated.
The apparatus of claim 54, wherein a first activation time of the BWP is related to the configuration information.
The apparatus of claim 54 or 55, wherein the configuration information further comprises first indication information indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on.
The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the transceiving unit is further to send a first message to the terminal device, the first message indicating to turn on periodic activation of the BWP, a first activation time of the BWP being related to the first message.
The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the first message includes second indication information indicating that periodic activation of the BWP is turned on.
The apparatus of claim 57 or 58, wherein the first message includes identification information of the BWP and index information of a cell indicating a cell to which the BWP corresponds.
The apparatus of any one of claims 57-59, wherein the configuration information further comprises first time information indicating a length of time from a first time when the BWP is first activated or indicating a point of time when the BWP is first activated.
The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the first time is a time when the first message is received or a preset or preconfigured reference point in time.
The apparatus of any one of claims 54 to 61, wherein the transceiving unit is further to send a second message to the terminal device, the second message indicating to shut down periodic activation of the BWP.
The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the second message includes third indication information indicating to turn off periodic activation of the BWP.
The apparatus of any one of claims 54 to 63, wherein the configuration information further comprises a length of a first period and a first time length, the first time length being used to indicate a length of a time window within one first period in which the BWP is allowed to activate periodically.
The apparatus of claim 64, wherein a starting position of the time window is the same as a starting position of the first period; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the starting position of the time window is separated from the starting position of the first period by a first distance, and the first distance is preset or preconfigured.
The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the configuration information further comprises a size of a first period and a number of times the BWP is periodically activated in one first period.
The apparatus of claim 66, wherein said BWP first activation time is a start time of said first period; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the BWP first activation time is separated from the start time of the first period by a second duration, which is preset or preconfigured.
The apparatus of any one of claims 64 to 67, wherein the configuration information further comprises a number of the first periods.
An apparatus according to any one of claims 54 to 68, wherein the configuration information is carried in a radio resource control, RRC, reconfiguration message or an RRC release message.
The apparatus of any one of claims 54 to 69, wherein the BWP is a BWP in an RRC inactive state; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

The BWP is a BWP in the RRC idle state.
A communication device, comprising: a processor coupled to a memory for storing a program or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 18 or to perform the method of any one of claims 19 to 35.
A communication device, comprising: a processor and an interface;

the processor being for controlling the apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 18, or to perform the method of any one of claims 19 to 35;

the processor is also configured to control the interface to communicate with other devices.
A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program or instructions, which when executed cause the method of any of claims 1 to 35 to be performed.
A computer program product, characterized in that the computer program product comprises a computer program which, when run, causes the method of any one of claims 1 to 35 to be performed.