CN116724638A

CN116724638A - Method and device for monitoring or transmitting downlink control channel and readable storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN116724638A
Application number: CN202380008835.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 付婷
Original assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-03-30
Filing date: 2023-03-30
Publication date: 2023-09-08

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method, a device, equipment and a readable storage medium for transmitting a downlink control channel, which are applied to the technical field of wireless communication. A method of listening to a downlink control channel, performed by a user equipment, the method comprising: when a first carrier wave of network equipment is in a first period of discontinuous transmission cell DTX of a cell, after hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ-ACK) information containing Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) is sent to the network equipment through the first carrier wave, physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) is monitored, wherein the first period is a period of time when the network equipment does not send part of downlink information under the condition that the carrier wave is set to be in a DTX state.

Description

Method and device for monitoring or transmitting downlink control channel and readable storage medium

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to a method, an apparatus, and a readable storage medium for monitoring or transmitting a downlink control channel.

Background

One power saving approach for a network device includes a cell discontinuous transmission (celldiscontinuous transmission, cellDTX) of the network device, where the network device normally transmits downlink information during an active period of cellDTX, and where the network device does not transmit part of the downlink information, e.g., does not transmit some periodic reference signals, or does not transmit some downlink scheduling signals, during an inactive period of cellDTX.

For a cell configured with a cellDTX function, an inactive period of cellDXT may also be referred to as a first period, an inactive period, etc., where a cellDTX state of a network device may be marked as cellDTX-off; the active period of cellDXT may also be referred to as a second period, an on period, etc., during which the cellDTX state of the network device may be marked as cellDTX-on.

The network device may configure a periodic cell dtx on-off mode including parameters such as time domain period, time domain offset, active period duration, or inactive period duration.

When the user equipment does not properly demodulate the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH, physical Downlink Shared Channel), the user equipment may send a hybrid automatic repeat request Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK, hybrid Automatic Repeat request-Acknowledgement) containing a negative Acknowledgement (NACK, negative Acknowledgement) to the network equipment and wait for the network equipment to send downlink control information (DCI, downlink Control Information) to the user equipment that schedules PDSCH retransmissions. The cell DTX functionality of the network device may affect the network device sending DCI to the user device scheduling PDSCH retransmissions.

Disclosure of Invention

The disclosure provides a method, a device and a readable storage medium for monitoring or receiving a downlink control channel.

In a first aspect, a method for listening to a downlink control channel is provided, which is performed by a user equipment, and the method includes:

transmitting hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information to network equipment through a first carrier, wherein the HARQ-ACK information comprises negative determination (NACK);

monitoring a physical downlink control channel PDCCH;

the first carrier of the network device is in a first period of discontinuous transmission cell DTX of a cell, and the first period is a period of no part of downlink information transmitted by the network device in a DTX state on a set carrier.

In some possible embodiments, the PDCCH includes a PDCCH in which downlink control information DCI for scheduling retransmission is located.

In some possible implementations, the first carrier corresponds to a special cell Spcell or a secondary cell that has been configured with PUCCH resources, where the special cell is a primary cell or a primary secondary cell.

In some possible embodiments, the monitoring PDCCH includes: and monitoring the PDCCH on the first carrier.

In some possible embodiments, the method further comprises: and after a first time, confirming that a first period of the cell DTX where the first carrier is located is ended, wherein the first time is the ending time of the HARQ-ACK information sent by the user equipment.

In some possible embodiments, the monitoring PDCCH includes: monitoring the PDCCH on at least one second carrier, wherein the second carrier and the first carrier are in the same cell group, the second carrier is not in a first period of cell DTX at a second moment, the second moment is after a set duration of the first moment, and the first moment is the ending moment of the HARQ-ACK information sent by the user equipment; or alternatively

And monitoring PDCCH on a third carrier, wherein the third carrier corresponds to a main cell in a cell group where the first carrier is located, and the third carrier is in a first period of the cell DTX.

In some possible embodiments, the cell group where the first carrier is located includes a plurality of other carriers that are not in the first period of cell DTX at the first time, and at least one of the second carriers is determined from the plurality of other carriers.

In some possible embodiments, the determining at least one of the second carriers from the plurality of other carriers includes:

determining a carrier corresponding to a primary cell as the second carrier, wherein the plurality of other carriers comprise the primary cell;

Determining a carrier wave which is not configured with a cell DTX function from the plurality of other carrier waves as the second carrier wave;

determining a carrier wave which is configured with a cell DTX function and does not enable the cell DTX function from the plurality of other carrier waves as the second carrier wave; or alternatively

And determining at least one second carrier according to the sequence from small to large of the identifiers of the cells corresponding to the plurality of other carriers.

In some possible embodiments, the monitoring PDCCH includes:

and monitoring PDCCH in a time window, wherein the starting moment of the time window is after a first moment, and the first moment is the ending moment of the HARQ-ACK information sent by the user equipment.

In a second aspect, a method for transmitting a downlink control channel is provided, which is performed by a network device, and includes:

receiving hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information sent by user equipment through a first carrier, wherein the HARQ-ACK information comprises negative determination (NACK);

transmitting a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) to the user equipment;

In some possible implementations, the sending the PDCCH to the user equipment includes:

and sending the PDCCH to the user equipment through the first carrier.

In some possible implementations, the sending the PDCCH to the user equipment through the first carrier includes:

and transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment in a first period of the cell DTX on the first carrier.

after a first time, terminating a first period of the cell DTX where the first carrier is located, starting a second period of the cell DTX on the first carrier, and sending the PDCCH to the user equipment in the second period;

the first time is the end time of the user equipment transmitting the HARQ-ACK information, and the second time period is the time period of the network equipment normally transmitting downlink information in a DTX state on a set carrier.

transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment through at least one second carrier;

the second carrier and the first carrier are in the same cell group, and the second carrier is not in a first period of cell DTX at a second time, where the second time is after a set duration of the first time, and the first time is an end time of the ue transmitting the HARQ-ACK information.

and sending the PDCCH to the user equipment through a third carrier, wherein the third carrier corresponds to a main cell in a cell group where the first carrier is located, and the third carrier is in a first period of the cell DTX.

In some possible implementations, the sending the PDCCH to the user equipment over a third carrier includes:

and transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment in a first period of the cell DTX on the third carrier.

terminating the first period of the cell DTX on the third carrier wave, and starting the second period of the cell DTX on the third carrier wave;

transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment in the second period;

the second period is a period in which the network device normally transmits downlink information in a DTX state on a set carrier.

and transmitting PDCCH to the user equipment in a time window, wherein the starting moment of the time window is after a first moment, and the first moment is the ending moment of the HARQ-ACK information transmitted by the user equipment.

In a third aspect, there is provided a user equipment comprising:

a transceiver module configured to send hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, information to a network device over a first carrier, the HARQ-ACK information comprising a negative determination, NACK; monitoring a physical downlink control channel PDCCH;

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a network device comprising:

a transceiver module configured to receive hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement HARQ-ACK information sent by a user equipment over a first carrier, the HARQ-ACK information comprising a negative acknowledgement NACK; transmitting a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) to the user equipment;

In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a memory; the memory is used for storing a computer program; the processor is configured to execute the computer program to implement the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a memory; the memory is used for storing a computer program; the processor is configured to execute the computer program to implement the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the second aspect.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided a computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions (or computer programs, programs) which when invoked for execution on a computer, cause the computer to perform any one of the possible designs of the first aspect or the first aspect.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions (or computer programs, programs) which when invoked for execution on a computer, cause the computer to perform any one of the possible designs of the second aspect or the second aspect described above.

In a ninth aspect, there is provided a communication system comprising a user equipment for performing any one of the possible designs of the first aspect and a network equipment for performing any one of the possible designs of the second aspect.

In the disclosure, when a network device is configured with a cell DTX function, after a user device sends HARQ-ACK information containing NACK to the network device through a first carrier when the first carrier of the network device is in a cell DTX-off period, the network device sends a PDCCH carrying scheduling retransmission DCI to the user device through the first carrier, and under the condition that the network device is configured with the cell DTX-off period, it is ensured that downlink data retransmission can be completed, and data transmission quality of the user device is ensured.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the disclosure, illustrate and explain the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the disclosure, and do not constitute an undue limitation on the embodiments of the disclosure. In the drawings:

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the embodiments of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating DTX configuration information in accordance with an example embodiment;

fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of transmitting a downlink control channel according to an example embodiment;

fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of transmitting a downlink control channel according to an example embodiment;

fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of transmitting a downlink control channel according to an example embodiment;

fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of listening to a downlink control channel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

fig. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method of listening to a downlink control channel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

fig. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method of listening to a downlink control channel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment;

fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment;

Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment;

fig. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for listening to a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment;

fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for listening to a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment;

fig. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment;

fig. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be further described with reference to the drawings and detailed description.

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, the same numbers in different drawings refer to the same or similar elements, unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the embodiments of the present disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatus and methods consistent with some aspects of the present disclosure as detailed in the accompanying claims.

The terminology used in the embodiments of the disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the embodiments of the disclosure. As used in this disclosure of embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein refers to and encompasses any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used in embodiments of the present disclosure to describe various information, these information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one type of information from another. For example, the first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, the second information may also be referred to as first information, without departing from the scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. The words "if" and "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "at … …" or "at … …" or "in response to a determination", depending on the context.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar reference numerals refer to the like or similar elements throughout. The embodiments described below by referring to the drawings are exemplary and intended for the purpose of explaining the present disclosure and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

As shown in fig. 1, a method for listening to or transmitting a downlink control channel provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to a wireless communication system 100, which may include, but is not limited to, a network device 101 and a user device 102. User equipment 102 is configured to support carrier aggregation, and user equipment 102 may be connected to multiple carrier elements of network equipment 101, including one primary carrier element and one or more secondary carrier elements.

It should be appreciated that the above wireless communication system 100 is applicable to both low frequency and high frequency scenarios. Application scenarios of the wireless communication system 100 include, but are not limited to, long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD) systems, worldwide interoperability for microwave access (worldwide interoperability for micro wave access, wiMAX) communication systems, cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN) systems, future fifth Generation (5 th-Generation, 5G) systems, new Radio (NR) communication systems, or future evolved public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN) systems, and the like.

The user equipment 102 shown above may be a User Equipment (UE), a terminal, an access terminal, a terminal unit, a terminal station, a Mobile Station (MS), a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile terminal (mobile terminal), a wireless communication device, a terminal proxy, a user equipment, or the like. The user device 102 may be provided with wireless transceiver functionality capable of communicating (e.g., wirelessly communicating) with one or more network devices 101 of one or more communication systems and receiving network services provided by the network devices 101, where the network devices 101 include, but are not limited to, the illustrated base stations.

The user device 102 may be, among other things, a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant) personal digital assistant, a PDA) device, a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a user device in a future 5G network or a user device in a future evolved PLMN network, etc.

The network device 101 may be an access network device (or access network site). The access network device refers to a device that provides a network access function, such as a radio access network (radio access network, RAN) base station, etc. The network device may specifically include a Base Station (BS) device, or include a base station device, a radio resource management device for controlling the base station device, and the like. The network device may also include a relay station (relay device), an access point, a base station in a future 5G network, a base station in a future evolved PLMN network, or an NR base station, etc. The network device may be a wearable device or an in-vehicle device. The network device may also be a communication chip with a communication module.

For example, network device 101 includes, but is not limited to: a next generation base station (gnodeB, gNB) in 5G, an evolved node B (eNB) in LTE system, a radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC), a Node B (NB) in WCDMA system, a radio controller under CRAN system, a base station controller (basestation controller, BSC), a base transceiver station (base transceiver station, BTS) in GSM system or CDMA system, a home base station (e.g., home evolved nodeB, or home node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a transmission point (transmitting and receiving point, TRP), a transmission point (transmitting point, TP), a mobile switching center, or the like.

When the network device performs cellDTX configuration, the network device may perform cellDTX configuration for the carrier. For example: and respectively performing cell DTX configuration for different carriers, namely respectively performing different cell DTX configurations for different carriers. In an example, as shown in fig. 2, different cellDTX configuration information is configured for carrier 1 and carrier 2, respectively.

The ue is in a cell, and when it is in an active period of cellDTX (or referred to as a cellDTX-On period) at a certain moment, it is referred to as the cell being in a cellDTX-On state during the period. When located at a certain moment in a cell dtx inactive period (or called a cell drx-Off period), the cell is said to be in a cell dtx-Off state during that period.

The user equipment may occupy different cells, for example: a Primary Cell (Pcell) and at least one Secondary Cell (Scell) in the Primary Cell group, and a Primary Cell (Primary Secondary Cell, PScell) and at least one Secondary Cell in the Secondary Cell group. Here, the Primary Cell (Pcell) and the Primary and secondary cells (Primary Secondary Cell, PScell) are collectively called a Special Cell (Spcell).

In some possible embodiments, after the ue receives the PDSCH, for example, the dynamically scheduled PDSCH or the SPS PDSCH scheduled in a semi-persistent manner, when the ue does not demodulate the PDSCH correctly, the ue may send HARQ-ACK information including Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) to the network device, monitor a downlink control channel, and wait to receive downlink control information DCI sent by the network device and used for scheduling PDSCH retransmission.

After the network device starts the cellDTX function, a part of downlink channels are not transmitted in the cellDTX-off period of the cell, which may affect the downlink data retransmission after receiving the HARQ-ACK information, so how to complete the downlink data retransmission after the network device starts the cellDTX function is a problem to be solved.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for listening to and transmitting a downlink control channel, and fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for listening to and transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment, and as shown in fig. 3, the method includes steps S301 to S302, specifically:

in step S301, the user equipment sends HARQ-ACK information to the network equipment through the first carrier, where the HARQ-ACK information includes a negative determination NACK.

The first carrier of the network device is in a first period of cell DTX, wherein the first period is a period when the network device does not send part of downlink information when the network device is in a DTX state on a set carrier. For example, the first period is an inactive period of cell DTX, which may be represented by a cell DTX-off period.

In another description, step S301 may be described as: and the user equipment sends the HARQ-ACK information containing NACK to the network equipment through a first carrier wave, wherein the first carrier wave is in a first period of cell DTX at the moment that the user equipment sends the HARQ-ACK information.

In another description, step S301 may be described as: and the user equipment sends HARQ-ACK information to the network equipment through the first carrier when the first carrier of the network equipment is in a first period of cell DTX.

Step S301 further includes: and the network equipment receives the HARQ-ACK information sent by the user equipment through a first carrier.

In some possible embodiments, the first carrier corresponds to a special cell (Spcell) that is a primary cell or a primary secondary cell, or the first carrier corresponds to a secondary cell that has been configured with physical uplink control channel (PUCCH, physical Uplink Control Channel) resources.

In some possible embodiments, the priority corresponding to the NACK is a set priority.

In an example, the priority corresponding to NACK may be the priority of the HARQ-ACK codebook corresponding to NACK, and the priority of the HARQ-ACK codebook includes two types, i.e., high priority and low priority, and the priority is set to be high priority.

In step S302, the ue monitors the PDCCH on a first carrier, and the network device sends the PDCCH to the ue through the first carrier.

In some possible embodiments, when the network device sends the PDCCH to the user equipment through the first carrier, any one of the following first and second modes may be adopted:

mode one: and the network equipment transmits the PDCCH to the user equipment in the first period of the cell DTX on the first carrier.

Correspondingly, the user equipment receives the PDCCH in a first period of the cell DTX on the first carrier.

In this manner one, the network device maintains configuration information of cell DTX on the first carrier, that is, maintains a duration of the first period and the second period on the time axis on the first carrier unchanged, and does not follow a cell DTX function in the first period of the cell DTX (a PDCCH agreed in the cell DTX function to be transmitted in the first period of the cell DTX, which carries downlink control information DCI for scheduling retransmission), but transmits the PDCCH in the first period of the cell DTX in order to ensure that downlink data is retransmitted.

Optionally, when the network device transmits the PDCCH in the first period of the cell DTX, no downlink channel other than the PDCCH is transmitted.

Mode two: and after the network equipment is at the first moment, terminating the first period of the cell DTX where the first carrier is located, starting the second period of the cell DTX on the first carrier, and sending the PDCCH to the user equipment by the network equipment in the second period.

The second period is a period in which the network device normally transmits downlink information in a DTX state on a set carrier. The first time is an end time of the user equipment transmitting the HARQ-ACK information, and in an example, the end time of the network equipment receiving the HARQ-ACK information transmitted by the user equipment may be considered as the first time.

Correspondingly, the user equipment confirms that the first period of the cell DTX where the first carrier is located is ended after the first time, namely, the second period of the cell DTX is started after the first time. The user equipment monitors various other downlink channels, such as downlink channels including various reference signals, in addition to the PDCCH in the second period.

In the second mode, after receiving HARQ-ACK information including NACK sent by the user equipment, the network equipment changes duration time of a first period and a second period on a time axis after a receiving time, that is, closes the first period corresponding to the receiving time in advance, and opens the next second period in advance, so that the network equipment can start to normally send various downlink channels in advance on a first carrier.

The network device normally transmits various downlink channels over the second period of time that is opened in advance, and transmits other downlink channels, such as downlink channels including various reference signals, in addition to the PDCCH.

In some possible embodiments, the network device sends the PDCCH to the user device within a time window, where the starting time of the time window is after the first time, and the duration of the time window is the set window duration.

Optionally, the set window duration is agreed or configured by the network device.

For example, if the protocol agrees that the network device transmits the PDCCH in the time period t after receiving the HARQ-ACK information, the user device listens to the PDCCH in the time period t after the first time.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, when the network device is configured with a cell DTX function, after the user device sends HARQ-ACK information including NACK to the network device through the first carrier when the first carrier of the network device is in a cell DTX-off period, the network device sends a PDCCH carrying scheduling retransmission DCI to the user device through the first carrier, and under the condition that the network device is configured with the cell DTX-off period, it is ensured that downlink data retransmission can be completed, and data transmission quality of the user device is ensured.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the priority corresponding to the NACK is required to be high, so that the NACK with high priority of the network device does not follow the celdtx function in the celdtx-off period, the downlink data retransmission corresponding to the NACK with high priority is preferentially ensured, and the downlink data retransmission corresponding to the NACK with low priority is ignored.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for listening to and transmitting a downlink control channel, and fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for listening to and transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment, and as shown in fig. 4, the method includes steps S401 to S402, specifically:

in step S401, the user equipment sends HARQ-ACK information to the network equipment through the first carrier, where the HARQ-ACK information includes a negative determination NACK.

The content of this step S401 is the same as that of step S301, see S301, and will not be described here again.

In step S402, the ue monitors the PDCCH on at least one second carrier, and the network device sends the PDCCH to the ue through the at least one second carrier.

In some possible implementations, the second carrier is in the same cell group as the first carrier, and the second carrier is not in a first period of cell DTX at a second time, the second time being after a first time length of the first time, the first time being an end time of the user equipment transmitting the HARQ-ACK information.

The first period when the second carrier is not in cell DTX at the second time corresponds to either:

first case: the second carrier is not configured as a cell DTX enabled carrier.

In the second case, the second carrier has been configured with a cell DTX functionality and the cell DTX functionality is not turned on.

Third case: the second carrier is configured with a cell DTX functionality, the cell DTX functionality has been turned on, and the carrier is at a second time during a second period of cell DTX; the second period is a period in which the network device normally transmits downlink information in a DTX state on a set carrier.

After receiving the HARQ-ACK information containing NACK, the network equipment needs to decode the HARQ-ACK information, and then determines the time for transmitting PDCCH according to a scheduling algorithm in the network equipment, wherein the time occupied by the process is related to the product implementation or configuration of the network equipment, and the first time depends on the time occupied by the process. Therefore, the value of the set duration can be determined according to the condition that the network device processes the HARQ-ACK information, and if the set duration is represented by T, when the network device can immediately send the PDCCH after receiving the HARQ-ACK information, t=0; when the network device needs a period of time to transmit the PDCCH, T >0.

When the network device may send the PDCCH immediately after receiving the HARQ-ACK information, if the PDCCH needs to be sent at the first time, it needs to determine a plurality of other carriers in the cell group where the first carrier is located, which are not in the first period of cell DTX at the first time, and determine at least one carrier from the plurality of other carriers as the second carrier.

The user equipment may determine the at least one second carrier from the plurality of carriers by at least one of:

mode one: and determining the carrier corresponding to the main cell as the second carrier, wherein the plurality of other carriers comprise the main cell.

It may be understood that if the plurality of other carriers include a primary cell, determining a carrier corresponding to the primary cell as the second carrier;

mode two: and determining a carrier without the cell DTX function from the plurality of other carriers as the second carrier.

In a third aspect, a carrier in which a cell DTX function is configured and the cell DTX function is not enabled is determined as the second carrier from the plurality of other carriers.

Mode four: and determining the at least one second carrier according to the sequence from small to large of the identifiers of the cells corresponding to the plurality of other carriers.

The method for determining the at least one second carrier by the network device is the same as the method for determining the at least one second carrier by the ue in step S402.

In some possible embodiments, the network device sends the PDCCH to the user device within a time window, where the starting time of the time window is after the first time, and the duration of the time window is the set window duration. In an example, the set window duration is protocol-agreed or configured by the network device.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, when the network device is configured with a cell DTX function, after the user device sends HARQ-ACK information including NACK to the network device through the first carrier when the first carrier of the network device is in a cell DTX-off period, the network device sends a PDCCH carrying scheduling retransmission DCI to the user device through the second carrier in the cell DTX-on period, and under the condition that the network device is configured with the cell DTX-off period, it is ensured that downlink data retransmission can be completed, and data transmission quality of the user device is ensured.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for listening to and transmitting a downlink control channel, and fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for listening to and transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment, and as shown in fig. 5, the method includes steps S501 to S502, specifically:

in step S501, the user equipment sends HARQ-ACK information to the network equipment through the first carrier, where the HARQ-ACK information includes a negative determination NACK.

The content of step S501 is the same as that of step S301, see S301, and will not be described here again.

In step S502, the ue monitors the PDCCH through a third carrier, and the network device sends the PDCCH to the ue through the third carrier.

The third carrier corresponds to a primary cell in a cell group where the first carrier is located, and the third carrier is located in a first period of the cell DTX.

In some possible embodiments, when the network device sends the PDCCH to the user equipment through the third carrier, any one of the following first and second modes may be adopted:

mode one: and the network equipment transmits the PDCCH to the user equipment in the first period of the cell DTX on the third carrier.

Correspondingly, the user equipment receives the PDCCH in a first period of the cell DTX on the third carrier.

In this first mode, the network device maintains configuration information of the cell DTX on the third carrier, that is, maintains the duration of the first period and the second period on the time axis on the third carrier unchanged, and does not follow a cell DTX function in general in the first period of the cell DTX (a PDCCH that is agreed in the cell DTX function to be generally not transmitted in the first period of the cell DTX and carries downlink control information DCI for scheduling retransmission), but transmits the PDCCH in the first period of the cell DTX in order to ensure that downlink data is retransmitted.

Mode two: and after the first time, the network equipment terminates the first period of the cell DTX of the third carrier, starts the second period of the cell DTX of the third carrier, and sends the PDCCH to the user equipment in the second period.

Correspondingly, the user equipment confirms that the first period of the cell DTX where the third carrier is located is ended after the first time, that is, the second period of the cell DTX is started after the first time. The user equipment monitors various other downlink channels, such as downlink channels including various reference signals, in addition to the PDCCH in the second period.

In the second mode, after receiving HARQ-ACK information including NACK sent by the user equipment, the network equipment changes duration time of the first period and the second period on the time axis after the receiving time, that is, closes the first period corresponding to the receiving time in advance, and opens the next second period in advance, so that the network equipment can start to normally send various downlink channels in advance on the third carrier.

In some possible embodiments, the network device sends the PDCCH to the user device within a time window, where a start time of the time window is after a first time, the first time is an end time of the user device sending the HARQ-ACK information, and a duration of the time window is a set window duration. In an example, the set window duration is protocol-agreed or configured by the network device.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, when the network device is configured with a cell DTX function, after the user device sends HARQ-ACK information including NACK to the network device through the first carrier when the first carrier of the network device is in a cell DTX-off period, the network device sends a PDCCH carrying scheduling retransmission DCI to the user device through the third carrier, that is, sends the PDCCH carrying scheduling retransmission DCI to the user device by using a primary cell in a cell group where the first carrier is located, and ensures that downlink data retransmission can be completed and data transmission quality of the user device is ensured under the condition that the network device is configured with the cell DTX-off period.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for listening to a downlink control channel, which is performed by a user equipment, and fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for listening to a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment, and as shown in fig. 6, the method includes steps S601 to S602, specifically:

in step S601, the user equipment sends HARQ-ACK information to the network equipment through the first carrier, where the HARQ-ACK information includes a negative determination NACK.

The content of the step S601 is the same as that of the step S301, see S301, and will not be described here again.

Step S602, the PDCCH is monitored on a first carrier.

The content of the step S602 is the same as the content of the user equipment in the step S302 that monitors the PDCCH on the first carrier, see S302, and will not be repeated here.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for listening to a downlink control channel, which is performed by a user equipment, and fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for listening to a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment, and as shown in fig. 7, the method includes steps S701 to S702, specifically:

In step S701, the user equipment sends HARQ-ACK information to the network equipment through the first carrier, where the HARQ-ACK information includes a negative determination NACK.

The content of step S701 is the same as that of step S301, see S301, and will not be described here again.

Step S702, the PDCCH is monitored on at least one second carrier.

The content of the step S702 is the same as the content of the user equipment in the step S402 for monitoring the PDCCH on at least one second carrier, see S402, and will not be repeated here.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for listening to a downlink control channel, which is performed by a user equipment, and fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for listening to a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment, and as shown in fig. 8, the method includes steps S801 to S802, specifically:

in step S801, the user equipment transmits HARQ-ACK information to the network equipment through the first carrier, where the HARQ-ACK information includes a negative determination NACK.

The content of step S801 is the same as that of S301, see S301, and will not be described here again.

Step S802, the PDCCH is monitored on a third carrier.

The content of the step S802 is the same as the content of the ue in the step S502 that monitors the PDCCH on the third carrier, see S502, and will not be repeated here.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for transmitting a downlink control channel, which is performed by a network device, and fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment, and as shown in fig. 9, the method includes steps S901 to S902, specifically:

step S901, receiving hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement HARQ-ACK information sent by a user equipment through a first carrier, where the HARQ-ACK information includes negative acknowledgement NACK;

In step S902, a PDCCH is transmitted to a user equipment over a first carrier.

The content of step S902 is the same as the content of the network device sending the PDCCH to the user equipment through the first carrier in step S302, see S302, which is not described herein.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for transmitting a downlink control channel, which is performed by a network device, and fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment, and as shown in fig. 10, the method includes steps S1001 to S1002, specifically:

step S1001, receiving hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement HARQ-ACK information sent by a user equipment through a first carrier, where the HARQ-ACK information includes a negative acknowledgement NACK;

Step S1002, sending a PDCCH to the ue through at least one second carrier.

The content of step S1002 is the same as the content of the network device sending the PDCCH to the ue through at least one second carrier in step S402, see S402, which is not described herein.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for transmitting a downlink control channel, which is performed by a network device, and fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting a downlink control channel according to an exemplary embodiment, and as shown in fig. 11, the method includes steps S1101 to S1102, specifically:

step S1101, receiving HARQ-ACK information through a first carrier wave, wherein the HARQ-ACK information comprises negative determination NACK;

In step S1102, a PDCCH is transmitted to the user equipment via a third carrier.

The content of step S1102 is the same as the content of the network device sending the PDCCH to the user equipment through the third carrier in step S502, see S502, which is not described herein.

Based on the same concept as the above method embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a communication apparatus, which may have the functions of the user equipment 102 in the above method embodiments, and is configured to perform the steps performed by the user equipment 102 provided in the above embodiments. The functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by software or hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In one possible implementation, the communication apparatus 1200 shown in fig. 12 may be used as the user equipment 102 according to the above-described method embodiment, and perform the steps performed by the user equipment 102 in the above-described method embodiment.

The communication device 1200 includes a transceiver module 1201 and a processing module 1202.

A transceiver module 1201 configured to send hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, information to the network device over a first carrier, the HARQ-ACK information comprising a negative determination, NACK; monitoring a physical downlink control channel PDCCH;

In some possible implementations, the transceiver module 1201 is further configured to monitor the PDCCH on the first carrier.

In some possible embodiments, the processing module 1202 is configured to confirm that the first period of the cell DTX in which the first carrier is located ends after a first time instant, where the first time instant is an end time instant when the user equipment transmits the HARQ-ACK information.

In some possible embodiments, the transceiver module 1201 is further configured to monitor the PDCCH on at least one second carrier, where the second carrier is in the same cell group as the first carrier, and the second carrier is not in a first period of cell DTX at a second time, where the second time is after a set duration of the first time, and the first time is an end time of the user equipment transmitting the HARQ-ACK information.

In some possible implementations, the processing module 1202 is configured to include, in the cell group where the first carrier is located, a plurality of other carriers that are not in the first period of cell DTX at the first time, and determine at least one of the second carriers from the plurality of other carriers.

In some possible implementations, the processing module 1202 is configured to:

In some possible embodiments, the transceiver module 1201 is further configured to monitor the PDCCH on a third carrier, the third carrier corresponding to a primary cell in a cell group where the first carrier is located, the third carrier being in a first period of the cell DTX.

In some possible implementations, the transceiver module 1201 is further configured to monitor the PDCCH within a time window, where a start time of the time window is after a first time, and the first time is an end time of the user equipment transmitting the HARQ-ACK information.

When the communication device is a user equipment, its structure may also be as shown in fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus 1300 for listening to a downlink control channel in accordance with an example embodiment. For example, apparatus 1300 may be a mobile phone, computer, digital broadcast terminal, messaging device, game console, tablet device, medical device, exercise device, personal digital assistant, or the like.

Referring to fig. 13, apparatus 1300 may include one or more of the following components: a processing component 1302, a memory 1304, a power component 1306, a multimedia component 1308, an audio component 1310, an input/output (I/O) interface 1312, a sensor component 1314, and a communication component 1316.

The processing component 1302 generally controls overall operation of the apparatus 1300, such as operations associated with display, telephone calls, data communications, camera operations, and recording operations. The processing component 1302 may include one or more processors 1320 to execute instructions to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described above. Further, the processing component 1302 can include one or more modules that facilitate interactions between the processing component 1302 and other components. For example, the processing component 1302 may include a multimedia module to facilitate interaction between the multimedia component 1308 and the processing component 1302.

The memory 1304 is configured to store various types of data to support operations at the device 1300. Examples of such data include instructions for any application or method operating on the apparatus 1300, contact data, phonebook data, messages, pictures, videos, and the like. The memory 1304 may be implemented by any type or combination of volatile or nonvolatile memory devices such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic memory, flash memory, magnetic or optical disk.

The power component 1306 provides power to the various components of the device 1300. The power components 1306 may include a power management system, one or more power sources, and other components associated with generating, managing, and distributing power for the device 1300.

The multimedia component 1308 includes a screen between the device 1300 and the user that provides an output interface. In some embodiments, the screen may include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and a Touch Panel (TP). If the screen includes a touch panel, the screen may be implemented as a touch screen to receive input signals from a user. The touch panel includes one or more touch sensors to sense touches, swipes, and gestures on the touch panel. The touch sensor may sense not only the boundary of a touch or slide action, but also the duration and pressure associated with the touch or slide operation. In some embodiments, the multimedia component 1308 includes a front-facing camera and/or a rear-facing camera. The front camera and/or the rear camera may receive external multimedia data when the device 1300 is in an operational mode, such as a shooting mode or a video mode. Each front camera and rear camera may be a fixed optical lens system or have focal length and optical zoom capabilities.

The audio component 1310 is configured to output and/or input audio signals. For example, the audio component 1310 includes a Microphone (MIC) configured to receive external audio signals when the apparatus 1300 is in an operational mode, such as a call mode, a recording mode, and a voice recognition mode. The received audio signals may be further stored in the memory 1304 or transmitted via the communication component 1316. In some embodiments, the audio component 1310 also includes a speaker for outputting audio signals.

The I/O interface 1312 provides an interface between the processing component 1302 and peripheral interface modules, which may be a keyboard, click wheel, buttons, etc. These buttons may include, but are not limited to: homepage button, volume button, start button, and lock button.

The sensor assembly 1314 includes one or more sensors for providing status assessment of various aspects of the apparatus 1300. For example, the sensor assembly 1314 may detect the on/off state of the device 1300, the relative positioning of the components, such as the display and keypad of the apparatus 1300, the sensor assembly 1314 may also detect a change in position of the apparatus 1300 or one of the components of the apparatus 1300, the presence or absence of user contact with the apparatus 1300, the orientation or acceleration/deceleration of the apparatus 1300, and a change in temperature of the apparatus 1300. The sensor assembly 1314 may include a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of nearby objects in the absence of any physical contact. The sensor assembly 1314 may also include a light sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD image sensor, for use in imaging applications. In some embodiments, the sensor assembly 1314 may also include an acceleration sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, a magnetic sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor.

The communication component 1316 is configured to facilitate communication between the apparatus 1300 and other devices, either wired or wireless. The apparatus 1300 may access a wireless network based on a communication standard, such as WiFi,4G or 5G, or a combination thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the communication component 1316 receives broadcast signals or broadcast related information from an external broadcast management system via a broadcast channel. In an exemplary embodiment, the communication component 1316 further includes a Near Field Communication (NFC) module to facilitate short range communications. For example, the NFC module may be implemented based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, infrared data association (IrDA) technology, ultra Wideband (UWB) technology, bluetooth (BT) technology, and other technologies.

In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 1300 may be implemented by one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), digital Signal Processors (DSPs), digital Signal Processing Devices (DSPDs), programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or other electronic elements for executing the methods described above.

Based on the same concept as the above method embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a communication apparatus that may have the function of the network device 101 in the above method embodiments and is used to perform the steps performed by the network device 101 provided in the above embodiments. The functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by software or hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In one possible implementation, the communication apparatus 1400 shown in fig. 14 may be used as the network device 101 according to the above method embodiment, and perform the steps performed by the network device 101 in the above method embodiment.

The communication device 1400 as shown in fig. 14 includes a transceiver module 1401 and a processing module 1402.

The transceiver module 1401 is configured to receive hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement HARQ-ACK information sent by the user equipment over a first carrier, the HARQ-ACK information comprising a negative determination NACK;

transmitting a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) to the user equipment;

In some possible implementations, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to transmit the PDCCH to the user equipment over the first carrier.

In some possible implementations, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to transmit the PDCCH to the user equipment during a first period of the cell DTX on the first carrier.

In some possible embodiments, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to terminate a first period of the cell DTX where the first carrier is located after a first time, turn on a second period of the cell DTX on the first carrier, and send the PDCCH to the user equipment during the second period;

In some possible implementations, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to transmit the PDCCH to the user equipment over at least a second carrier;

In some possible implementations, the cell group where the first carrier is included in a plurality of other carriers that are not in the first period of cell DTX at the first time, and the processing module 1402 is further configured to determine at least one of the second carriers from the plurality of other carriers.

In some possible implementations, the processing module 1402 is further configured to:

In some possible embodiments, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to send the PDCCH to the user equipment via a third carrier, where the third carrier corresponds to a primary cell in a cell group where the first carrier is located, and the third carrier is in a first period of the cell DTX.

In some possible implementations, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to send the PDCCH to the user equipment in a first period of the cell DTX on the third carrier.

In some possible embodiments, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to terminate the first period of cell DTX on the third carrier, and turn on the second period of cell DTX on the third carrier;

transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment in the second period;

In some possible embodiments, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to send a PDCCH to the user equipment within a time window, a start time of the time window being after a first time, the first time being an end time of the user equipment sending the HARQ-ACK information.

When the communication apparatus is the network device 101, its structure may also be as shown in fig. 15. As shown in fig. 15, the apparatus 1500 includes a memory 1501, a processor 1502, a transceiver component 1503, and a power supply component 1506. The memory 1501 is coupled to the processor 1502 and can be used to store programs and data necessary for the communication device 1500 to perform various functions. The processor 1502 is configured to support the communication device 1500 to perform the corresponding functions of the methods described above, which can be implemented by invoking a program stored in the memory 1501. The transceiving component 1503 may be a wireless transceiver operable to support the communication device 1500 in receiving signaling and/or data over a wireless air interface and transmitting signaling and/or data. The transceiver component 1503 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit or a communication unit, and the transceiver component 1503 may include a radio frequency component 1504, which may be a remote radio frequency unit (remote radio unit, RRU), and one or more antennas 1505, where the radio frequency component 1504 may be specifically used for transmitting radio frequency signals and converting radio frequency signals to baseband signals, and the one or more antennas 1505 may be specifically used for radiating and receiving radio frequency signals.

When the communication device 1500 needs to transmit data, the processor 1502 may perform baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and then output a baseband signal to the rf unit, where the rf unit performs rf processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the rf signal in the form of electromagnetic wave through the antenna. When data is transmitted to the communication device 1500, the radio frequency unit receives a radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1502, and the processor 1502 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

Other implementations of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the application disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any adaptations, uses, or adaptations of the embodiments of the disclosure following, in general, the principles of the embodiments of the disclosure and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the disclosure pertains. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims.

It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Industrial applicabilityWhen the network equipment is configured with a cell DTX function, and when a first carrier of the network equipment is in a cell DTX-off period, the user equipment sends HARQ-ACK information containing NACK to the network equipment through the first carrierAfter that, the network device sends the PDCCH carrying the scheduling retransmission DCI to the user device through the first carrier, and the downlink data retransmission can be ensured to be completed under the condition that the network device is configured with a cell DTX-off period, so that the data transmission quality of the user device is ensured.

Claims

1. A method of listening to a downlink control channel, performed by a user equipment, the method comprising:

monitoring a physical downlink control channel PDCCH;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the PDCCH comprises a PDCCH in which downlink control information, DCI, for scheduling retransmissions is located.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first carrier corresponds to a special cell, spcell, or a secondary cell that has been configured with PUCCH resources, the special cell being a primary cell or a primary secondary cell.

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the listening to PDCCH comprises:

and monitoring the PDCCH on the first carrier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

and after a first time, confirming that a first period of the cell DTX where the first carrier is located is ended, wherein the first time is the ending time of the HARQ-ACK information sent by the user equipment.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the listening to PDCCH comprises:

monitoring the PDCCH on at least one second carrier, wherein the second carrier and the first carrier are in the same cell group, the second carrier is not in a first period of cell DTX at a second moment, the second moment is after a first time length of the first moment, and the first moment is the ending moment of the HARQ-ACK information sent by the user equipment; or alternatively

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cell group on which the first carrier is located includes a plurality of other carriers that are not in a first period of cell DTX at the first time, and at least one of the second carriers is determined from the plurality of other carriers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining at least one of the second carriers from the plurality of other carriers comprises:

determining a carrier corresponding to a primary cell as the second carrier, wherein the plurality of other carriers comprise the primary cell; or alternatively

Determining a carrier wave which is not configured with a cell DTX function from the plurality of other carrier waves as the second carrier wave; or alternatively

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring PDCCH in a time window, wherein the starting moment of the time window is after a first moment, and the first moment is the ending moment of the user equipment for transmitting the HARQ-ACK information

10. A method of transmitting a downlink control channel, performed by a network device, the method comprising:

transmitting a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) to the user equipment;

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the PDCCH comprises a PDCCH in which downlink control information, DCI, for scheduling retransmissions is located.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the first carrier corresponds to a special cell, spcell, or a secondary cell that has been configured with PUCCH resources, the special cell being a primary cell or a primary secondary cell.

13. The method of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment comprises:

and sending the PDCCH to the user equipment through the first carrier.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment over the first carrier comprises:

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment over the first carrier comprises:

16. The method of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment comprises:

the second carrier and the first carrier are in the same cell group, and the second carrier is not in a first period of cell DTX at a second time, where the second time is after a first time of the first time, and the first time is an end time of the ue transmitting the HARQ-ACK information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cell group on which the first carrier is located includes a plurality of other carriers that are not in a first period of cell DTX at the first time, and wherein at least one of the second carriers is determined from the plurality of other carriers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining at least one of the second carriers from the plurality of other carriers comprises:

19. The method of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment comprises:

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment over a third carrier comprises:

and transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment in the first period of the cellDTX on the third carrier.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment over a third carrier comprises:

transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment in the second period;

22. The method of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the transmitting the PDCCH to the user equipment comprises:

23. A user equipment, comprising:

24. A network device, comprising:

25. A communication device includes a processor and a memory, wherein,

the memory is used for storing a computer program;

the processor is configured to execute the computer program to implement the method of any one of claims 1-9 or the method of any one of claims 10-22.

26. A computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein which, when invoked for execution on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1-9 or the method of any of claims 10-22.

27. A communication system, comprising:

user equipment for performing the method of any of claims 1-9; and

network device for performing the method according to any of claims 10-22.