CN116963115A

CN116963115A - Communication method, device, system and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN116963115A
Application number: CN202210585953.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘云; 李强; 薛丽霞
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-04-16
Filing date: 2022-05-26
Publication date: 2023-10-27

Abstract

A communication method, device, system and storage medium relate to wireless communication systems. The method comprises the following steps: the network device determines configuration information and transmits the configuration information. The configuration information is used for indicating N associated resources, wherein the N associated resources comprise a first resource and a second resource; wherein the first resource corresponds to a first physical random access channel PRACH resource, and the second resource corresponds to a second PRACH resource; n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. By configuring a plurality of associated resources, uplink signals can be sent on a plurality of PRACH resources corresponding to the plurality of associated resources, so as to enhance uplink coverage in the random access process.

Description

Communication method, device, system and storage medium

The present application claims priority from chinese patent application No. 202210400399.7 entitled "PRACH transmission method using multiple beams, network device, terminal device", filed on 4/16 of 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communications method, apparatus, system, and storage medium.

Background

In a communication system, there are downlink transmission from a network device to a terminal and uplink transmission from a terminal to a network device, and studies on coverage enhancement are mainly focused on how to improve coverage of uplink transmission.

In a wireless communication system, a terminal accesses a network device through a random access (random access channel, RACH) procedure. How to improve uplink coverage in the random access process is a technical problem to be solved at present.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method, a device, a system and a storage medium, which are used for enhancing uplink coverage in a random access process.

In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, applied to a network device, the method including: the network device determines configuration information, which the network device sends. The configuration information is used for indicating N associated resources, and the N associated resources comprise a first resource and a second resource; the first resource corresponds to a first physical random access channel PRACH resource, and the second resource corresponds to a second PRACH resource; n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2.

It is understood that the N associated resources are N associated beams.

In the above implementation manner, the configuration information indicates N associated resources, where a first resource of the N associated resources corresponds to a first PRACH resource and a second resource corresponds to a second PRACH resource, and since the PRACH resource is used for transmitting an uplink signal in a random access process by a terminal, by configuring a plurality of associated resources, the uplink signal can be sent on a plurality of PRACH resources corresponding to the plurality of associated resources, so as to enhance uplink coverage in the random access process.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and the network equipment receives the first signal sent by the terminal on the first PRACH resource and receives the second signal sent by the terminal on the second PRACH resource.

In the implementation manner, the terminal may send the uplink signal on a plurality of PRACH resources corresponding to the plurality of associated resources in the random access process, so as to enhance uplink coverage in the random access process.

In one possible implementation, the first resource further corresponds to a third PRACH resource. Optionally, in one possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and the network equipment receives a third signal sent by the terminal on the third PRACH resource.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the network device combines the at least two signals based on the received at least two signals of the terminal to obtain a signal gain, thereby enhancing uplink coverage.

In one possible implementation, the first PRACH resource includes a first time domain resource, a first frequency domain resource, and a first code domain resource.

In one possible implementation, the first code domain resource includes a first preamble sequence.

In one possible implementation, the N associated resources include N associated Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) resources; alternatively, the N associated resources include N associated channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resources; or, the N associated resources include N1 SSB resources and N2 CSI-RS resources, where n=n1+n2, and N1 and N2 are positive integers greater than or equal to 1.

In the above implementation manner, the N associated resources may be all SSB resources (beams), or all CSI-RS resources (beams), or part of SSB resources (beams) are partially CSI-RS resources (beams), so as to provide a flexible configuration method.

In one possible implementation, when the N associated resources include SSB resources, the configuration information includes an index of the SSB resources, thereby providing a way to explicitly indicate the associated SSB resources.

In one possible implementation, when the N associated resources include SSB resources, the configuration information includes PRACH resource location information corresponding to the SSB resources. Because the SSB resource has a corresponding relation with the PRACH resource, the associated SSB resource can be determined through the PRACH resource position information, thereby providing a way for implicitly indicating the associated SSB resource.

In one possible implementation, when the N associated resources include CSI-RS resources, the configuration information includes an index of the CSI-RS resources, thereby providing a way of explicitly indicating the associated CSI-RS resources.

In a possible implementation manner, when the N associated resources include CSI-RS resources, the configuration information includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate a combination manner of the N CSI-RS resources, so that signaling overhead may be saved.

In a possible implementation manner, the configuration information further includes indication information of the first code domain resource.

In one possible implementation manner, the indication information of the first code domain resource includes: an index or index range of the first code domain resource.

In a second aspect, a communication method is provided and applied to a terminal, and the method includes: and the terminal receives the configuration information from the network equipment, sends a first signal on a first PRACH resource according to the configuration information, and sends a second signal on a second PRACH resource. The configuration information is used for indicating N associated resources, and the N associated resources comprise first resources and second resources; the first resource corresponds to a first physical random access channel PRACH resource, and the second resource corresponds to a second PRACH resource; n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2.

It is understood that the N associated resources are N associated beams.

In one possible implementation, the first resource further corresponds to a third PRACH resource. Optionally, the method further comprises: and on the third PRACH resource, the terminal transmits a third signal.

In one possible implementation, the terminal sends a first signal on the first PRACH resource, including: and if the N associated resources meet the first requirement, the terminal sends a first signal on the first PRACH resource. Because the first PRACH resource meets the first requirement, the terminal sends the signal on the first PRACH resource, so that the signal performance can be improved, and the possibility of accessing the network equipment can be further improved.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: acquiring at least two signal strength values, wherein the at least two signal strength values are used for indicating the signal strength of signals received on the N associated resources; the N associated resources satisfy a first requirement, comprising: and determining that the N associated resources meet a first requirement according to the at least two signal strength values and a set threshold value.

In the above implementation manner, whether the N associated resources meet the first requirement is determined according to the received signal strength on different resources and the set threshold, for example, if the received signal strength is greater than the set threshold, the N associated resources meet the first requirement, so that the performance of the signal sent by the terminal can be improved, and the possibility of accessing the network device can be further improved.

In one possible implementation, the signal strength value is used to indicate an equivalent signal strength; the signal strength value is determined from a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and a number of signal repetitions of the signals received on the N associated resources.

In one possible implementation, the first PRACH resource includes a first time domain resource, a first frequency domain resource, and a first code domain resource. Optionally, the first code domain resource includes a first preamble sequence.

In one possible implementation, the N associated resources include N associated SSB resources; or, the N associated resources include N associated CSI-RS resources; or, the N associated resources include N1 SSB resources and N2 associated CSI-RS resources, where n=n1+n2, and N1 and N2 are positive integers greater than or equal to 1.

In one possible implementation, when the N associated resources include SSB resources, the configuration information includes an index of the SSB resources.

In one possible implementation, when the N associated resources include SSB resources, the configuration information includes PRACH resource location information corresponding to the SSB resources.

In one possible implementation, when the N associated resources include CSI-RS resources, the configuration information includes an index of the CSI-RS resources.

In one possible implementation, when the N associated resources include CSI-RS resources, the configuration information includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate a combination of the N CSI-RS resources.

In a third aspect, a communication system is provided, the communication system comprising a network device (such as a base station) for performing the method of any of the first aspects and a terminal (such as a handset) for performing the method of any of the second aspects.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a network device comprising: a processor, a memory, and a computer program; the computer program is stored on the memory, which when executed by the processor causes the network device to perform the method according to any of the first aspect above.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a terminal comprising: a processor, a memory, and a computer program; the computer program is stored on the memory, which when executed by the processor causes the terminal to perform the method according to any of the second aspects above.

In a sixth aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided, comprising a computer program, which when run on an electronic device causes the electronic device to perform the method according to any of the first aspects or to perform the method according to any of the second aspects.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided a computer program product which, when run on an electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform the method according to any of the first aspects or to perform the method according to any of the second aspects.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a chip comprising: a memory for storing a computer program; a processor; when the processor invokes and runs the computer program from the memory, the electronic device on which the chip is mounted is caused to perform the method according to any one of the first aspect or the second aspect.

The advantages of the second aspect to the eighth aspect are described above with reference to the advantages of the first aspect, and the description is not repeated.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a four-step random access procedure;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a mapping relationship between PRACH RO and SSB resources in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method implemented at a network side according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a transmission mode of three SSB beams as associated beams in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a transmission manner of using a partial CSI-RS beam corresponding to one SSB beam as an associated beam in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a correspondence between SSB beams and PRACH resources in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of an associated CSI-RS beam set in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a communication method implemented by a terminal side according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of correspondence between SSB beams, CSI-RC beams and PRACH resources in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. The terminology used in the following examples is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. As used in the specification of the application and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," "the," and "the" are intended to include, for example, "one or more" such forms of expression, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. It should also be understood that in embodiments of the present application, "one or more" means one, two, or more than two; "and/or", describes an association relationship of the association object, indicating that three relationships may exist; for example, a and/or B may represent: a alone, a and B together, and B alone, wherein A, B may be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the context-dependent object is an "or" relationship.

Reference in the specification to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" or the like means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in one or more embodiments of the application. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," and the like in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not all embodiments" unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless expressly specified otherwise.

The plurality of the embodiments of the present application is greater than or equal to two. It should be noted that, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used for distinguishing between the descriptions and not necessarily for indicating or implying a relative importance, or alternatively, for indicating or implying a sequential order.

In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following description will describe application scenarios of the present application, where the network architecture and the service scenario described in the embodiments of the present application are for more clearly describing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application, and as a person of ordinary skill in the art can know that, with the appearance of a new service scenario, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are applicable to similar technical problems.

A communication system suitable for use in embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the communication system shown in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 1, the communication system 100 includes: a terminal 101 and a network device 102. Interaction between terminal 101 and network device 102 may be via an air interface. The air interface may be referred to as the Uu (UTRAN-to-UE) interface, where UTRAN is an acronym for UMTS terrestrial radio access network, universal mobile telecommunications system (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS) terrestrial radio access network.

In a wireless communication system, in order for a terminal 101 to establish a connection with a network device 102 and request the network device 102 to allocate corresponding resources to the terminal 101 for normal traffic transmission, the terminal 101 generally needs to perform random access to the network device 102 first, that is, the terminal 101 accesses the network device 102 through a random access procedure.

After the terminal 101 accesses the network device 102, uplink transmission and downlink transmission can be performed between the terminal 101 and the network device 102. The uplink transmission refers to that the terminal 101 sends control information and/or data to the network device 102 through an air interface (such as Uu interface); the downlink transmission refers to the network device 102 sending port control information and/or data to the terminal 101 over an air interface, such as the Uu interface.

A network device having a device capable of providing a terminal with a random access function or a chip that can be provided to the device, the device including but not limited to: an evolved Node B (eNB), a radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC), a Node B (Node B, NB), a base station controller (base station controller, BSC), a base transceiver station (base transceiver station, BTS), a home base station (e.g., home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a remote radio unit (remote radio unit, RRU), an Access Point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (wireless fidelity, WIFI) system, a wireless relay Node, a wireless backhaul Node, a transmission point (transmission and reception point, TRP or transmission point, TP), etc., may also be 5G, e.g., a new communication protocol (new radio, NR) of 5G, a gNB in a system, or a transmission point (TRP or TP), a base station or a group of antenna panels (including multiple antenna panels) in a 5G system, or may also be a network Node constituting a gNB or transmission point, such as a BBU, or a Distributed Unit (DU), etc. The network device may also be a base band pool (BBU pool) and RRU in the context of a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access netowrk, CRAN), or a base station (gNB) in future wireless communication systems.

A terminal, also called User Equipment (UE), mobile Station (MS), mobile Terminal (MT), etc., is a device that provides voice and/or data connectivity to a user. For example, the terminal includes a handheld device having a wireless connection function, an in-vehicle device, and the like, and one example of such an in-vehicle device is a vehicle terminal (vehicle UE). Currently, the terminal may be: a mobile phone, a tablet, a notebook, a palm, a mobile internet device (mobile internet device, MID), a wearable device, a Virtual Reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in unmanned (self driving), a wireless terminal in teleoperation (remote medical surgery), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation security (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), or a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), and the like. In other embodiments, the terminal may also be an in-vehicle communication module or other embedded communication module.

In the following, some terms in the embodiments of the present application will be explained first to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

(1) Beam:

the fifth generation mobile communication system (5th generation,5G) can transmit data using high frequency communication, i.e., using high frequency band signals. A major problem with high frequency communications is that the signal energy drops sharply with transmission distance, resulting in a short signal transmission distance. To overcome this problem, the high frequency communication adopts an analog beam technique, and the signal energy is concentrated in a small angle range by weighting the antenna array to form a signal similar to a light beam (called an analog beam, simply called a beam), thereby increasing the transmission distance. And adopting wave beams for transmission between the network equipment and the terminal.

A beam is a communication resource. The beam may be a wide beam, or a narrow beam, or other type of beam. The technique of forming the beam may be a beamforming technique or other technical means. The beamforming technique may be specifically a digital beamforming technique, an analog beamforming technique, a hybrid digital beamforming technique, a hybrid analog beamforming technique, or the like. Different beams may be considered different resources.

The beams may be referred to as spatial filters (spatial domain filter), spatial filters (spatial domain parameter), spatial parameters (spatial parameter), spatial settings (spatial domain setting), spatial settings (spatial setting), quasi-co-location (QCL) information, QCL hypotheses, or QCL indications, among others. The beam may be indicated by a transmit configuration indication state (transmission configuration indicator state) parameter or by a spatial relationship (spatial relationship) parameter. Therefore, in the present application, the beam may be replaced by a spatial filter, a spatial parameter, a spatial setting, QCL information, a QCL hypothesis, a QCL indication, a TCI-state (including an uplink TCI-state, a downlink TCI-state), or a spatial relationship. The terms are also equivalent to each other. The beam may be replaced with other terms representing a beam and the application is not limited thereto.

The beam used to transmit the signal may be referred to as a transmit beam (transmission beam, tx beam), spatial transmit filter (spatial domain transmission filter), spatial transmit filter (spatial transmission filter), spatial transmit parameter (spatial domain transmission parameter), spatial transmit parameter (spatial transmission parameter), spatial transmit setting (spatial domain transmission setting), or spatial transmit setting (spatial transmission setting).

The beam used to receive the signal may be referred to as a receive beam (Rx beam), a spatial receive filter (spatial domain reception filter), a spatial receive filter (spatial reception filter), spatial receive parameters (spatial domain reception parameter) or spatial receive parameters (spatial reception parameter), spatial receive settings (spatial domain reception setting), or spatial receive settings (spatial reception setting).

The transmit beam may refer to a distribution of signal strengths formed in spatially different directions after signals are transmitted through the antennas, and the receive beam may refer to a distribution of signal strengths of wireless signals received from the antennas in spatially different directions.

Multiple beams having the same or similar communication characteristics may be considered one beam. One or more antenna ports may be included in a beam for transmitting data channels, control channels, reference signals, etc., such as may be used for transmitting random access signals in embodiments of the present application. One or more antenna ports forming a beam may also be considered as a set of antenna ports.

The beams generally correspond to resources, one for each beam in the embodiment of the application. For example, one synchronization signal block (synchronization signal block, SSB) resource in the embodiment of the present application corresponds to one SSB beam; for another example, one "channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource" corresponds to one "CSI-RS beam".

One beam may be uniquely identified with an index of the beam.

(2)SSB：

The 5G NR incorporates a synchronization signal/physical broadcast channel block (synchronization system/physical broadcast channel block, SS/PBCH block), which may be referred to simply as SSB. The network device transmits multiple SSBs in a scanning manner in one cycle, with different SSBs corresponding to different spatial directions (e.g., to different beams). The number of SSBs is configured to the terminal by the network device through a system message, and the NR supports three SSB numbers of 4, 8, 64. In general, the higher the frequency point, the more SSBs, and the narrower the beam to transmit SSBs.

In the random access process, the terminal measures the reference signal received power (reference signal receiving power, RSRP) of the SSB sent by the network device, and when the RSRP measurement result of a certain SSB is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the terminal can select the random access resource mapped by the SSB to execute the random access (random access channel, RACH) process.

(3)CSI-RS：

In the 5G NR system, mobility management, beam management, etc. functions may be implemented through CSI-RS, for example, a network device (such as a base station) may send CSI-RS, and a terminal may obtain a weight of analog beamforming by scanning the CSI-RS.

There is a correspondence between SSB beams and CSI-RS beams, and one SSB beam may correspond to multiple CSI-RS beams, for example, one SSB beam corresponds to 4 CSI-RS beams.

The random access procedure is described below.

(1) Several scenarios triggering random access:

scene 1: the terminal initiates a radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) connection establishment. When the terminal changes from the idle state to the connected state, the terminal initiates random access.

Scene 2: terminal RRC connection reestablishment. When the radio connection fails, the terminal needs to reestablish the RRC connection, and random access is initiated.

Scene 3: when the terminal performs cell switching, the terminal initiates random access in a target cell.

Scene 4: downstream data arrives. When the terminal is in a connection state, the network equipment has downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal, but finds out that the uplink of the terminal is out of step, and the network equipment controls the terminal to initiate random access. The network equipment maintains an uplink timer, and if the uplink timer is overtime and the network equipment does not receive a response signal of the terminal, the network equipment considers that the terminal is out of step in uplink.

Scene 5: the upstream data arrives. When the terminal is in a connection state, the terminal has uplink data to be transmitted to the network equipment, but finds that the terminal is in an uplink out-of-step state, and the terminal initiates random access. The terminal maintains an uplink timer, and if the uplink timer times out, the terminal does not receive a command of a network device adjustment value (such as a time advance TA (timing advance)), the terminal considers that the uplink is out of step.

(2) Four-step random access scheme (4-step RA).

By way of example, fig. 2 shows a conventional four-step random access scheme (4-step RA). Optionally, before the terminal performs random access, the network device configures the terminal, including but not limited to configuration: a set of preamble sequences and a physical random access channel (physical random access channel, PRACH) time-frequency resource for transmitting message 1 (Msg 1).

The four-step random access method comprises the following steps:

at S201: the terminal sends a message 1 (Msg 1) to the network device on PRACH time-frequency resources, and the network device receives a message 1 from the terminal on PRACH resources accordingly. The message 1 contains a random access preamble (random access preamble), which includes a preamble sequence (also called preamble) selected by the terminal from the preamble sequence set.

At S202: the network device sends a message 2 (Msg 2) to the terminal according to the message 1, and the terminal receives the message 2 from the network device accordingly. The message 2 includes an identification (radom access preamble identifier, RAPID) of the preamble sequence received by the network device and an uplink grant for scheduling the message 3, such as a physical uplink shared channel (physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH) resource for scheduling the message 3.

For example, a random access response (random access response, RAR) is included in the message 2. Before the network device sends message 2 to the terminal, it needs to send downlink control information (downlink control information, DCI) for scheduling message 2. The network device determines a radio network temporary identity (radio network temporary identifier, RNTI) for scrambling the DCI, which may be, for example, a random access radio network temporary identity (random access radio network temporary identifier, RA-RNTI), based on the time frequency resource of message 1. The network device carries the received identification of the preamble and the uplink grant for scheduling message 3 in message 2 and sends to the terminal. Message 2 is carried in a physical downlink shared channel (physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH), and a scrambling sequence for scrambling the PDSCH may be generated from the RA-RNTI. When receiving the message 2, the terminal determines the RA-RNTI by the same method, uses the RA-RNTI to descramble the received DCI, and receives the PDSCH according to the received DCI to acquire the message 2.

At S203: the terminal sends a message 3 (Msg 3) to the network device on the resources allocated by the network device, and the network device receives the message 3 from the terminal accordingly.

In this step, the terminal sends a message 3 to the network device on the PUSCH resources allocated by the network device.

For example, if the terminal parses the identity of the preamble sequence sent by itself in the received message 2, the preamble sequence sent by itself is considered to be received by the network device. The terminal may send message 3 according to the uplink grant carried in message 2. Optionally, the message 3 includes demodulation reference signals (demodulation reference signal, DMRS), and random access data, e.g. control plane data and/or user plane data, including an identification (UE-ID) of the terminal.

At S204: the network device sends a message 4 to the terminal (Msg 4, accordingly, the terminal receives the message 4 from the network device.

Message 4 may also be understood as a contention resolution (contention resolution) message.

For example, since a plurality of terminals send the message 3 on the same time-frequency resource, interference may occur, the network device demodulates the message 3 sent by one of the terminals and sends the message 4 to the terminal, where the message 4 includes the demodulated identifier of the terminal, and the message 4 is used to indicate the terminal that completes the random access procedure. Optionally, the message 4 may carry control plane data and/or user plane data.

All terminals sending the message 3 receive the message 4, the terminals match the identification of the terminals in the message 4 with the identification of the terminals, and the terminals successfully matched are terminals successfully accessed randomly.

If the terminal does not receive the message 2 corresponding to the terminal in the preset time window (such as the RAR window), the message 1 can be retransmitted.

A PRACH time-frequency resource may be referred to as a physical random access channel Occasion (PRACH RO, where RO is an acronym of policy, instant).

In 5G NR, there is a mapping relationship between PRACH RO and SSB resources. The time division may be between PRACH ROs to which different SSB resources are mapped, for example SSB1 maps to PRACH RO1 and SSB2 maps to and PRACH RO2 as shown in fig. 3.

In the LTE-M1 standard, PRACH repetition is employed to promote uplink coverage. The repetition number varies according to different levels, for example, as shown in table 1, level 1 indicates that PRACH is not repeated, the repetition number corresponding to level 2 may reach 4 times, and the repetition number corresponding to level 3 may reach 32 times.

Table 1: PRACH repetition number corresponding to each layer

However, only PRACH repetition is relied upon to obtain gain on a single beam, and in some scenarios, higher gain cannot be obtained. For example, if a terminal is located between coverage areas of two beams and PRACH is repeatedly transmitted by only one of the beams, the PRACH gain obtained by the terminal is not significant.

To this end, the embodiment of the application provides a communication method, and a device and a system for implementing the method, which are used for enhancing uplink coverage in a random access process.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to a fourth generation (4th generation,4G) communication system, such as long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE), a fifth generation (5th generation,5G) communication system, such as a 5G New Radio (NR), or various future communication systems, such as a sixth generation (6th generation,6G) communication system.

The method and the device provided by the embodiment of the application are based on the same or similar technical conception, and because the principle of solving the problems by the method and the device is similar, the implementation of the device and the method can be mutually referred, and the repeated parts are not repeated.

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

Referring to fig. 4, a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

As shown in fig. 4, the process may include the steps of:

s401: the network device (e.g., base station) determines configuration information.

The configuration information is used for indicating N associated resources, and N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. The N associated resources include a first resource corresponding to a first PRACH resource and a second resource corresponding to a second PRACH resource. It will be appreciated that PRACH resources are also referred to as PRACH ROs.

In one possible implementation, the mapping relationship between any one of the N associated resources and the PRACH resource may be a one-to-one relationship, that is, one resource corresponds to one PRACH resource, for example, a first resource of the N associated resources corresponds to a first PRACH resource.

In another possible implementation manner, the mapping relationship between any one of the N associated resources and the PRACH resource may also be a one-to-many relationship, that is, one resource corresponds to a plurality of PRACH resources, for example, a first resource of the N associated resources corresponds to not only the first PRACH resource but also a third PRACH resource. Of course, the first resource may also correspond to a greater number of PRACH resources, such as a fourth PRACH resource, and so on, which are not listed here.

It should be noted that, although the description is given by taking the first resource and the second resource out of the N associated resources as an example in this flow, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the N associated resources may include not only the first resource and the second resource, but also more resources, and correspondingly, PRACH resources corresponding to the N associated resources may include not only the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource, but also more PRACH resources, for example, the N associated resources may include corresponding to M (M is a positive integer greater than 2) PRACH resources. In the process, the related configuration method described by taking the first resource, the second resource, the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource as examples is applicable to the situation that the N related resources correspond to the M PRACH resources.

In one possible implementation, the N associated resources may include N associated SSB resources, such as N associated SSB beams. By way of example, fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a transmission scheme of three SSB beams as associated beams. As shown, tx SSB1, tx SSB2, and Tx SSB3 represent three different beams of transmitted SSB, respectively. Configuring the three Tx SSB wave beam correlation at the base station side; on the terminal side, the terminal transmits a preamble sequence on PRACH resources corresponding to the three associated Tx SSB beams. The terminal receives the preamble sequence according to three SSB reception beams (Rx SSB1, rx SSB2, and Rx SSB3 as shown in the figure) corresponding to the three associated Tx SSB beams. The parameters of the reception beam on the PRACH are determined by the parameters of the previous transmission beam, for example, the signal transmitted by SSB1 indicates that the signal is received on a certain resource, and on this resource, the reception beam used is determined according to the transmission beam of SSB 1. It will be appreciated that the terminal transmitting on the above-mentioned resource means that the terminal defaults to the association of the receive beam on the resource with the transmit beam of SSB 1. SSB receive beams may be determined based on SSB transmit beams, e.g., rx SSB1 based on Tx SSB1, rx SSB2 based on Tx SSB2, and Rx SSB3 based on Tx SSB3, where the "determining" behavior is specific to an implementation.

In another possible implementation, the N associated resources may include N associated CSI-RS resources, such as N associated CSI-RS beams.

Optionally, the N associated CSI-RS resources may include N CSI-RS resources corresponding to one SSB resource, where the N CSI-RS resources may be all or part of all CSI-RS resources corresponding to the SSB. Taking an example that one SSB resource corresponds to 4 CSI-RS resources, where the 4 CSI-RS resources are respectively represented as CSI-RS1, CSI-RS2, CSI-RS3 and CSI-RS 4, configuring the CSI-RS resource corresponding to the SSB as an associated CSI-RS resource may include the following cases:

case 1: the 4 CSI-RS resources (including CSI-RS1, CSI-RS2, CSI-RS3, and CSI-RS 4) corresponding to the SSB may be configured as 4 associated CSI-RS resources.

Case 2: 3 CSI-RS resources among the 4 CSI-RS resources corresponding to the SSB may be configured as 3 associated CSI-RS resources. For example, the 3 associated CSI-RS resources may include CSI-RS1, CSI-RS2, CSI-RS3, or CSI-RS1, CSI-RS2, CSI-RS 4, or CSI-RS1, CSI-RS3, or CSI-RS2, CSI-RS3, CSI-RS 4.

Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a transmission manner of a partial CSI-RS beam corresponding to one SSB beam as an associated beam. As shown, the SSB beams correspond to 4 CSI-RS beams, denoted CSI-RS1, CSI-RS2, CSI-RS3, and CSI-RS 4, respectively. Configuring three CSI-RS transmitting beams (Tx CSI-RSs 1-4 shown in the figure) to be associated at a base station side; on the terminal side, the terminal transmits a preamble sequence on PRACH resources corresponding to the three associated Tx CSI-RS beams. Optionally, the three associated Tx CSI-RS beams configured at the base station side are transmission beams, and at the terminal side, the terminal transmits the preamble sequence on the PRACH RO corresponding to the three associated Tx CSI-RS reception beams according to three CSI-RS reception beams (as shown in Rx CSI-RS 1-4) corresponding to the three associated Tx CSI-RS beams. The parameters of the reception beam on the PRACH are determined by the parameters of the previous transmission beam, for example, the signal transmitted by the CSI-RS2 indicates that the signal is received on a certain resource, and on this resource, the adopted reception beam is determined according to the transmission beam of the CSI-RS 2. It will be appreciated that the terminal transmitting on the above-mentioned resources means that the terminal defaults to the association of the reception beam on the resources with the transmission beam of the CSI-RS. The CSI-RS receive beam may be determined based on the CSI-RS transmit beam, e.g., rx CSI-RS1 based on Tx CSI-RS1, rx CSI-RS2 based on Tx CSI-RS2, and Rx CSI-RS3 based on Tx CSI-RS3, where the "determining" behavior is specific.

Case 3: 2 CSI-RS resources among the 4 CSI-RS resources corresponding to the SSB may be configured as 2 associated CSI-RS resources. For example, the 2 associated CSI-RS resources may include CSI-RS 1, CSI-RS 2, or CSI-RS 1, CSI-RS 3, or CSI-RS 1, CSI-RS 4, or CSI-RS 2, CSI-RS 3, or CSI-RS 2, CSI-RS 4, or CSI-RS 3, CSI-RS 4.

Optionally, the N associated CSI resources may include CSI-RS resources corresponding to a plurality (at least two) of SSB resources, respectively. For example, the N associated CSI resources may include one or more CSI-RS resources corresponding to a first SSB resource and one or more CSI-RS resources corresponding to a second SSB.

In another possible implementation manner, the N associated resources may include both SSB resources and CSI-RS resources, for example, the N associated resources include N1 SSB resources and N2 CSI-RS resources, where n=n1+n2, and N1 and N2 are positive integers greater than or equal to 1.

Optionally, SSB resources corresponding to the N2 CSI-RS resources are different SSB resources from the N1 SSB resources. For example, the N associated resources may include SSB resource 1, and further include CSI-RS resource 1, CSI-RS resource 2, and CSI-RS resource 3 corresponding to SSB resource 2; for another example, the N associated resources may include SSB resource 1, SSB resource 2, and CSI-RS resource 1 and CSI-RS resource 2 corresponding to SSB resource 3.

In one possible implementation, the PRACH resources may include time domain resources of the PRACH and frequency domain resources of the PRACH. Taking the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource as examples, the first PRACH resource may include a first time domain resource and a first frequency domain resource, and the second PRACH resource may include a second time domain resource and a second frequency domain resource.

Optionally, the time domain resource of the PRACH may include a symbol, a slot, etc. occupied by the PRACH. Optionally, the time domain resources of the PRACH may include subcarriers occupied by the PRACH, physical resource blocks (physical resource block, PRBs), and so on.

Optionally, the PRACH resources corresponding to the N associated resources may be frequency division multiplexed, time division multiplexed, or both. For example, the time-frequency resources of the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource may include the following:

case 1: the first time domain resource location of the first PRACH resource does not overlap with the second time domain resource location of the second PRACH resource, and the first frequency domain location of the first PRACH resource does not overlap with the second frequency domain location of the second PRACH resource. That is, the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource are both time division multiplexed and frequency division multiplexed.

Case 2: the first time domain resource location of the first PRACH resource does not overlap with the second time domain resource location of the second PRACH resource, and the first frequency domain location of the first PRACH resource is the same as the second frequency domain location of the second PRACH resource. That is, the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource are time division multiplexed.

Case 3: the first time domain resource location of the first PRACH resource is the same as the second time domain resource location of the second PRACH resource, and the first frequency domain location of the first PRACH resource does not overlap with the second frequency domain location of the second PRACH resource. That is, the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource are frequency division multiplexed.

In one possible implementation, the PRACH resources may also include code domain resources of the PRACH. Taking the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource as examples, the first PRACH resource may further include a first code domain resource, and the second PRACH resource may further include a second code domain resource. Alternatively, the code domain resource of the PRACH may include a preamble sequence (preamble).

Optionally, the first code domain resource corresponding to the first PRACH resource and the code domain resource corresponding to the second PRACH resource belong to the same code domain resource set, in other words, the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource correspond to the same code domain resource set. Taking a code domain resource as a preamble sequence (preamble) as an example, the first PRACH and the second PRACH correspond to the same preamble sequence set, and the preamble sequence set includes at least one preamble sequence. The set of preambles may be a subset of the preambles and independent of the preambles used by other access methods in order to avoid interference with the preambles used by other access methods. Optionally, the index values of the preambles in the set of preambles are consecutive. The terminal may select one preamble sequence from the set of preamble sequences and transmit the selected preamble sequence on the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource.

For example, the network device may configure a preamble sequence packet, the preamble sequence included in the preamble sequence packet being a subset of the preamble sequence set. Taking the N associated resources as examples, corresponding to M PRACH resources, the M PRACH resources are all associated with the preamble sequence packet, that is, the code domain resources of the M PRACH resources are respectively the preamble sequences in the preamble sequence packet. Correspondingly, the terminal may select one preamble sequence from the preamble sequence packet according to the preamble sequence packet associated with the M PRACH resources, and may transmit the selected preamble sequence on the time-frequency resources of the M PRACH resources. Since the N associated resources correspond to the M PRACH resources, transmitting the selected preamble sequence on the M PRACH resources is equivalent to transmitting the selected preamble sequence using the N associated resources.

In a possible implementation manner, taking a first PRACH resource corresponding to the first resource as an example, the configuration information includes indication information of a first code domain resource of the first PRACH resource, for example, the configuration information includes indication information of a preamble sequence associated with the first PRACH resource, which is used to indicate one or more preamble sequences associated with the first PRACH resource. It may be appreciated that, for other PRACH resources (such as the second PRACH resource) corresponding to the N associated resources, the configuration information may also include indication information of code domain resources of the other PRACH resources.

In a possible implementation manner, in the configuration information, the indication information of the first code domain resource of the first PRACH resource includes an index of the first code domain resource. For example, the configuration information includes an index of a preamble sequence in a preamble sequence packet associated with the first PRACH resource.

In another possible implementation manner, in the configuration information, the indication information of the first code domain resource of the first PRACH resource includes an index range of the first code domain resource. For example, the configuration information includes an index range of a preamble sequence in a preamble sequence packet associated with the first PRACH resource. In one example, the index range is indicated by an index of the start preamble sequence and an index of the stop preamble sequence; in another example, the index range is indicated by the index of the starting preamble sequence and the number of preamble sequences.

In another possible implementation, the configuration information does not directly indicate the index or the index range of the preamble in the preamble packet, but indirectly indicates through other information, from which the terminal may determine or calculate the index or the index range of the preamble in the preamble packet.

In one possible implementation, when the N associated resources include SSB resources, the configuration information includes an index of the SSB resources. For example, if the N associated resources include N SSB resources, the configuration information includes indexes of the N SSB resources, so that the terminal may determine corresponding N associated SSB beams according to the indexes of the N SSB resources.

In another possible implementation manner, when the N associated resources include SSB resources, the configuration information includes PRACH resource location information corresponding to the SSB resources. For example, if the N associated resources include N SSB resources, the configuration information includes resource location information of M PRACH resources corresponding to the N SSB resources, so that the terminal may determine the corresponding N associated SSB beams according to the resource locations of the M PRACH resources.

Taking the N associated resources including N SSB beams and the N associated SSB beams corresponding to N PRACH ROs as an example, indicating the N associated SSB beams by PRACH resource location information may include the following cases:

case 1: the configuration information includes a time-frequency location of each of the N PRACH ROs. Since each of the N PRACH ROs corresponds to one SSB beam, the N SSB beams may be indicated to be associated in this manner.

Case 2: the configuration information includes a time domain range of N PRACH ROs and a first frequency domain location. In this way, it may be indicated that the time domain is within the time domain range and that SSB beams corresponding to PRACH ROs with frequency domain being the first frequency domain location are associated.

For example, the configuration information may include indication information (such as SSB-perRACH-occidionandbb-preambiserssb=one) for indicating that the SSB beam corresponds to the PRACH RO one-to-one, and indication information (such as msg 1-fdm=two) for indicating that the PRACH RO adopts a frequency division multiplexing manner, as shown in fig. 7, in this case, if the configuration information includes frequency domain location information of the PRACH RO 1, PRACH RO 3, PRACH RO 5, and PRACH RO 7 may be indicated, that is, the corresponding SSB beam 1, SSB beam 3, SSB beam 5, and SSB beam 7 are associated beams. The terminal may determine a frequency domain location of the PRACH RO 1 according to the configuration information, and determine SSB beam association corresponding to the PRACH RO of the frequency domain location.

Further, the configuration information may further include a preamble sequence index range 40 to 50, and PRACH resources corresponding to the associated SSB beam 1, SSB beam 3, SSB beam 5, SSB beam 7 are associated with the preamble sequence index range 40 to 50.

Case 3: the configuration information includes time domain starting positions of the N PRACH ROs and a first frequency domain position. In this way, it may be indicated that the time domain is associated with the time domain starting position and the SSB beam corresponding to the PRACH RO after the time domain starting position and with the frequency domain being the first frequency domain position.

Case 4: the configuration information includes a time domain location of a certain PRACH RO within the access resource period. In this way, it may be indicated that, in the access resource period, the time domain is at and after the time domain position of the PRACH RO, and the frequency domain position is associated with the SSB beam corresponding to the PRACH RO. Alternatively, the PRACH RO may be the first PRACH RO in the access resource period.

For example, the length of one access resource period may be 160 ms, and a plurality of PRACH ROs may be included in the 160 ms, each having a different reference number to distinguish.

Case 5: the configuration information includes a frequency domain location of a certain PRACH RO within the access resource period. In this way, it may be indicated that the access resource period is within a time domain range, and that the frequency domain location is associated with the SSB beam corresponding to the frequency domain location corresponding to the PRACH RO. Alternatively, the PRACH RO may be the first PRACH RO in the access resource period.

Case 6: the configuration information includes a time domain location and a frequency domain location of a certain PRACH RO within the access resource period. In this way, it may be indicated that, in the access resource period, the time domain is at the time domain position and thereafter, and the frequency domain position is associated with the SSB beam corresponding to the PRACH RO of the frequency domain position. Alternatively, the PRACH RO may be the first PRACH RO in the access resource period.

It should be noted that the above are only examples of indicating the associated SSB resource by the resource location information of the PRACH resource in the configuration information, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

In one possible implementation, when the N associated resources include CSI-RS resources, the configuration information includes an index of the CSI-RS resources. For example, if the N associated resources include N CSI-RS resources, the configuration information includes indexes of the N CSI-RS resources, so that the terminal may determine the corresponding N associated SSB beams according to the indexes of the N CSI-RS resources.

Optionally, in order to reduce signaling overhead, when the N associated resources include CSI-RS resources, the configuration information includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate a combination manner of CSI-RS resources, and the terminal may obtain indexes of CSI-RS resources corresponding to each PRACH resource according to the indication information. Considering that the number of CSI-RS resources is large (for example, up to 32 CSI-RS resources may be obtained), correspondingly, the combination manner of CSI-RS resources and PRACH resources may also be large, and the combination manner of using the indication information to indicate the associated CSI-RS resources may reduce signaling overhead compared with the manner of including the index of CSI-RS resources in the configuration information.

Taking 5 cases where each of the 4 PRACH ROs may correspond to one of the 4 CSI-RS beams, or not correspond to any beam, as an example, the 4 CSI beams are respectively CSI-RS1,CSI-RS2, CSI-RS3, CSI-RS4, the 4 PRACH ROs are ROs 1_1, ROs 2_1, ROs 3_1, and ROs 4_1, respectively. In the case that one CSI beam corresponds to one PRACH RO one by one, there are 120 possible combinations of CSI-RS beams and PRACH ROs in total (5 |=120) in the above 5 cases. Each combination may be indicated by a value of the indication information. In case one CSI beam may correspond to more than one PRACH RO, then in the above 5 cases, there are a total of 625 possible combinations of CSI-RS beams and PRACH ROs (5 ⁴ =625). Each combination may be indicated by a value of the indication information. The terminal may determine, according to the value of the indication information, an index of a CSI-RS beam corresponding to each PRACH RO, for example, according to the value of the indication information, it is determined that the beam on PRACH RO1_1 is CSI-RS1, the beam on PRACH RO2_1 is CSI-RS2, the beam on PRACH RO3_1 is CSI-RS3, and the beam on PRACH RO4_1 is CSI-RS4.

As shown in fig. 8, the configuration information includes configuration information of 3 groups of associated CSI-RS beams (referred to as an associated beam group 1, an associated beam group 2 and an associated beam group 3, respectively), where the indication information 1 is used to indicate a combination manner of CSI-RS beams in the associated beam group 1, the indication information 2 is used to indicate a combination manner of CSI-RS beams in the associated beam group 2, and the indication information 3 is used to indicate a combination manner of CSI-RS beams in the associated beam group 3.

The combination mode of the CSI-RS wave beams indicated by the indication information 1 is as follows: the 4 PRACH ROs corresponding to the associated 4 CSI-RS beams correspond in turn to the following beams: CSI-RS beam 1, CSI-RS beam 2, CSI-RS beam 3, CSI-RS beam 4. The terminal may determine that the 4 PRACH ROs include PRACH RO1_1, PRACH RO2_1, PRACH RO3_1, and PRACH RO4_1 according to the time domain and/or frequency domain location information of the PRACH RO, and determine that PRACH RO1_1 corresponds to CSI-RS beam 1, PRACH RO2_1 corresponds to CSI-RS beam 2, PRACH RO3_1 corresponds to CSI-RS beam 3, and PRACH RO4_1 corresponds to CSI-RS beam 4 according to the indication information.

The combination mode of the CSI-RS wave beams indicated by the indication information 2 is as follows: the 2 PRACH ROs corresponding to the associated 2 CSI-RS beams correspond in turn to the following beams: CSI-RS beam 2, CSI-RS beam 3. The terminal may determine that the 2 PRACH ROs include PRACH RO2_1 and PRACH RO2 according to the time domain and/or frequency domain location information of the PRACH RO, and determine that the PRACH RO2_1 corresponds to CSI-RS beam 2 and the PRACH RO2_2 corresponds to CSI-RS beam 3 according to the indication information.

The combination mode of the CSI-RS wave beams indicated by the indication information 3 is as follows: the 2 PRACH ROs corresponding to the associated 2 CSI-RS beams correspond in turn to the following beams: CSI-RS beam 4, CSI-RS beam 1. The terminal may determine that the 2 PRACH ROs include PRACH RO2_3 and PRACH RO2_4 according to the time domain and/or frequency domain location information of the PRACH RO, and determine that the PRACH RO2_3 corresponds to CSI-RS beam 4 and the PRACH RO2_4 corresponds to CSI-RS beam 1 according to the indication information.

Further, the configuration information may further include a preamble sequence index range, for example, the preamble sequence index range is 45-50, and the index range of the preamble sequence corresponding to each associated beam group is 45-50, and the terminal may select one preamble sequence from the range and send the preamble sequence on the PRACH RO corresponding to one of the associated beam groups. For example, the terminal may transmit a preamble sequence with index 43 on PRACH RO1_1, PRACH RO2_1, PRACH RO3_1, and PRACH RO4_1 corresponding to the associated beam group 1.

S402: the network device sends the configuration information.

In this step, the network device may send the configuration information over a broadcast channel, e.g., the network device may send the configuration information in a system message block (system information block, SIB) or other broadcast message. Correspondingly, the terminal can receive the configuration information sent by the network equipment through the broadcast channel, and obtain the associated N resources according to the configuration information.

In the flow shown in fig. 4, the configuration information indicates N associated resources, where a first resource of the N associated resources corresponds to a first PRACH resource and a second resource corresponds to a second PRACH resource, and since the PRACH resource is used for transmitting an uplink signal in a random access process by a terminal, by configuring a plurality of associated resources, the uplink signal can be sent on a plurality of PRACH resources corresponding to the plurality of associated resources, so as to enhance uplink coverage in the random access process.

In one possible implementation manner, the flow shown in fig. 4 may further include the following steps:

s403: and the network equipment receives signals on PRACH resources corresponding to the N associated resources.

Optionally, the signal is a random access signal, such as message 1 (Msg 1) in a four-step random access mode (4-step RA). In the random access process, the terminal can determine N associated resources according to the received configuration information, and send random access signals on PRACH resources corresponding to the N associated resources, and correspondingly, the network device can receive the random access signals sent by the terminal on PRACH resources corresponding to the N associated resources.

Taking the PRACH resources corresponding to the N associated resources as an example, where the PRACH resources include the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource, the network device may receive a first signal sent by the terminal on the first PRACH resource, and receive a second signal sent by the terminal on the second PRACH resource. If the terminal transmits signals on more PRACH resources (the PRACH resources are PRACH resources corresponding to the N associated resources), the network device may receive signals transmitted by the terminal on each of the PRACH resources. For example, if the first one of the N resources further corresponds to a third PRACH resource, the terminal may further send a third signal on the third PRACH resource. Correspondingly, the network device may also receive a third signal sent by the terminal on the third PRACH resource.

s404: the network equipment combines at least two signals sent by the received terminal based on the at least two signals to obtain the gain after the signals are combined.

Taking the case that the N associated resources include the first resource and the second resource as an example, the network device receives the first signal on the first PRACH resource corresponding to the first resource, receives the second signal on the second PRACH resource corresponding to the second resource, and combines the first signal and the second signal to obtain a gain caused by combining the received signals on the associated resources.

For example, taking an example that a base station configures N SSB beams to be associated, a terminal may send random access signals on a plurality of PRACH ROs corresponding to the N associated SSB beams. Correspondingly, the network device may receive the random access signals sent by the terminal on the plurality of PRACH ROs, and combine the random access signals sent by the terminal and received from the plurality of PRACH resources. The base station may combine random access signals based on the same preamble sequence among random access signals received from the plurality of PRACH resources in consideration of the random access signals that may be received from different terminals on the plurality of PRACH resources.

Referring to fig. 9, a schematic diagram of a communication method implemented at a terminal side according to an embodiment of the present application is provided.

As shown, the method may include the steps of:

s901: the terminal receives configuration information from the network device.

The configuration information is used for indicating N associated resources, and the N associated resources comprise a first resource and a second resource; the first resource corresponds to a first PRACH resource, and the second resource corresponds to a second physical random access channel PRACH resource; n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2.

The description of the N related resources, the description of the PRACH resources corresponding to the N related resources, and the content and the transmission manner included in the configuration information may refer to the related content in fig. 4, which is not repeated here.

S902: and the terminal transmits a first signal on the first PRACH resource and transmits a second signal on the second PRACH resource.

Optionally, the first signal and the second signal are random access signals, such as message 1 (Msg 1) in a four-step random access mode (4-step RA). In the random access process, the terminal can determine N associated resources according to the received configuration information, and send a random access signal on PRACH resources corresponding to the N associated resources.

Optionally, the configuration information includes a first code domain resource range of the first PRACH resource and a second code domain resource range corresponding to the second PRACH resource, where the first code domain resource range and the second code domain resource range are the same, such as the same preamble sequence packet. Correspondingly, the terminal selects a preamble sequence from the preamble sequence group, and sends random access signals on the first PRACH resource and the second PRACH resource according to the preamble sequence.

The terminal accesses, for example, on a plurality of associated resources (beams) indicated by the configuration information, the preamble sequence used being a sequence within said preamble sequence packet. And the terminal sends signals by adopting the preamble sequences in the single packet on PRACH RO corresponding to the plurality of associated resources, and the preamble sequences sent on the resources are associated with each other. For example, if the terminal acquires that the preamble sequence range corresponding to the associated beam group is 40 to 45 in S901, the access request (Msg 1) is transmitted using the sequences within the preamble sequence range 40 to 45 on the PRACH RO corresponding to the associated beam group, for example, the preamble sequence 43 is randomly selected from the preamble sequence group, and the access request is transmitted using the preamble sequence 43 on the PRACH RO. The terminal randomly selects the sequence from the preamble sequence group, so that the collision with the sequences selected by other terminals can be avoided.

In one possible implementation, if the N associated resources meet a first requirement, the terminal sends a first signal on the first PRACH resource and/or sends a second signal on the second PRACH resource.

Optionally, the first resource may also correspond to a third PRACH resource. In this case, optionally, the process may further include the following steps: the terminal transmits a third signal, an example of which is a random access signal, on the third PRACH resource.

In one possible implementation manner, the terminal may determine whether the N associated resources meet the first requirement by adopting the following method: and acquiring at least two signal strength values, wherein the at least two signal strength values are used for indicating the signal strength of the signals received on the N associated resources, and determining that the N associated resources meet the first requirement according to the at least two signal strength values and a set threshold value. Illustratively, the means for obtaining at least two signal strength values may include: and receiving signals sent by the network equipment on the N associated resources, and measuring to obtain the signal strength of the received signals.

It can be understood that, there is a correspondence between the transmission resources (beams) at the network side and the reception resources (beams) at the terminal side, if the N associated resources (beams) are the transmission resources (beams) at the network side, and accordingly, the terminal can receive the signals sent by the network device on the reception resources (beams) corresponding to the transmission resources (beams), so "the signal strength of the signals received on the N associated resources" in the above procedure can be understood as: and the signal strength of the signals received on the receiving resources corresponding to the N associated sending resources.

Optionally, if the at least two signal strength values are greater than or equal to the set threshold, the terminal determines that the N associated resources meet the first requirement.

Alternatively, the signal strength value may be RSRP or a received signal strength indication (received signal strength indicator, RSSI).

In one possible implementation, the signal strength value is used to indicate an equivalent signal strength. The signal strength value is determined from RSRP of signals received on the N associated resources and a number of signal repetitions. In other words, the terminal may obtain RSRP of signals received on the N associated resources, and determine the equivalent signal strength of the signals received on the N associated resources according to RSRP received on each resource and the number of signal repetitions. And when judging whether the N associated resources meet the first requirement or not, if the equivalent signal strength is determined to be greater than or equal to the set threshold, judging that the N associated resources meet the first requirement.

Optionally, for example, N signals are received on the associated N resources (beams), and the determining manner of equivalent signal strengths of the N signals may include the following manner 1 or manner 2:

mode 1: the number of repetitions of the N received signals on the N associated resources (beams) is a single, in which case the equivalent signal strength of the N received signals satisfies the following equation (1):

wherein "equivalent RSRP" is the equivalent signal strength of N signals received on the associated N resources, RSRP _i Is the RSRP of the received signal on the i-th resource (beam) of the N resources (beams).

Mode 2: the number of repetitions of the N received signals on the N associated resources (beams) is greater than 1, in which case the equivalent signal strength of the N received signals satisfies the following equation (2):

wherein "equivalent RSRP" is the equivalent signal strength of N signals received on the associated N resources, RSRP _i RSRP, K for the received signal on the i-th resource (beam) of said N resources (beams) _i Indicating the number of repetitions of the ith resource (beam). Since the reference signal on one resource (beam) may correspond to a plurality of uplink PRACH ROs, the plurality of uplink PRACH ROs are calculated to be within an equivalent RSRP, for example, the RSRP of the terminal receiving SSB1 is-60 dBm, and only one corresponding PRACH RO, i.e., the repetition number is 1, does not bring about gain (10 log ₁₀ 1=0 dBm); SRSP of-61 dBm for SSB2 reception<60dBm, 4 PRACH RO's, which give a gain of 6dB (10 log ₁₀ 4=6 dB), resulting in an equivalent RSRP of-57 dBm, which is greater than the equivalent RSRP-60dBm of SSB 1.

In one possible implementation, the sequence of PRACH length multiplication may be interpreted as an increase in "repetition number". The number of PRACH ROs may reflect the duration of a PRACH RO from one side, which needs to be calculated into the equivalent RSRP if some PRACH ROs are multiple times longer than others. For example, in the above example, there are 4 PRACH ROs corresponding to the received SSB2, and these 4 PRACH ROs may bring about a gain of 6 dB.

In one possible implementation, the resources configured by the network device may include, in addition to the N associated resources (e.g., the N associated beams), one or more other resources (beams) that have no association. In this case, the terminal may obtain the received signal strength values on the N associated resources and the received signal strength values on the resources having no association relationship, and then determine which one or more resources satisfy the requirement according to the set criteria, and transmit a signal (such as a random access signal) on the resources satisfying the requirement.

Optionally, if the N associated resources are judged to meet the requirement according to the set criteria, a signal is sent on PRACH resources corresponding to the N associated resources. Optionally, if one or more resources in the resources which are not associated with each other are judged to meet the requirement according to the set criteria, a signal is sent on the PRACH resource corresponding to the resource which meets the requirement. The signal is transmitted on resources (beams) above a set threshold. Optionally, if the received signal strength corresponding to the N associated resources is determined to be the largest according to the set criteria, a preamble sequence is randomly selected from the preamble sequence packet, and a signal is sent on the PRACH resource corresponding to the N associated resources (i.e., the preamble sequence is sent), so as to avoid collision with other terminals. Optionally, if the received signal strength corresponding to one resource in the resources which are not associated with each other is judged to be the largest according to the set criteria, a signal is sent on the PRACH resource corresponding to the resource.

The following is a specific example. One example may be as shown in fig. 10: the base station is configured with an SSB beam, a CSI-RS beam 1, a CSI-RS beam 2, a CSI-RS beam 3 and a CSI-RS beam 4, wherein the CSI-RS beam 3 and the CSI-RS beam 4 are associated. The correspondence between each beam and PRACH RO may be as shown.

In this example, for a signal that is repeatedly transmitted multiple times on a single beam, the equivalent signal strength may satisfy the following equation:

equivalent rsrp=rsrp_1 (dBm) +10log measured ₁₀ (number of repetitions) (dB).

For a single transmitted signal on multiple beams, its equivalent signal strength satisfies equation (1) above.

For signals transmitted multiple times on multiple beams, the equivalent signal strength satisfies the above equation (2).

The terminal receives SSB signals on PRACH RO1_1 and PRACH RO1_2, that is, the repetition number of the SSB signals is 2, and the equivalent signal strength rsrp_ssb' corresponding to the SSB beam is: rsrp_ssb' =rsrp_ssb+3 dB. Where rsrp_ssb is the measured RSRP.

The terminal receives the CSI-RS signal on the PRACH RO2_4, the repetition number of the signal is 1, and the equivalent signal strength RSRP_csi1' corresponding to the CSI-RS beam 1 is: rsrp_csi1' =rsrp_csi1. Wherein rsrp_csi1 is the RSRP measured on CSI-RS beam 1.

The terminal receives the CSI-RS signals on the PRACH RO1_3 and the PRACH RO1_4, the repetition number of the signals is 2, and the equivalent signal strength RSRP_csi2' corresponding to the CSI-RS beam 2 is as follows: rsrp_csi2' =rsrp_csi2+3 dB. Where rsrp_csi2 is the signal strength measured on CSI-RS beam 2.

The terminal receives the CSI-RS signals on the PRACH RO2_2 and the PRACH RO2_3, and the repetition number of the signals is 1, and the equivalent signal strength RSRP_csi3/4' corresponding to the CSI-RS beam 3 and the CSI-RS beam 4 is as follows: rsrp_csi3/4' = [ rsrp_csi3 (w) +rsrp_csi4 (w) ] dB. Where rsrp_csi3 is the RSRP measured on CSI-RS beam 3, rsrp_csi4 is the RSRP measured on CSI-RS beam 4, and w is the abbreviation for Watt, i.e. the unit of power.

The terminal compares the equivalent signal strengths of the PRACH ROs, selects the PRACH RO where the beam with the equivalent signal strength greater than the threshold is located, and initiates random access (e.g. sends Msg 1) on the PRACH RO. For example, if the equivalent signal strength of each resource is: and if the RSRP_csi2'> RSRP_ssb' > threshold > RSRP_csi3/4'> RSRP_csi1', the terminal initiates random access on the PRACH RO corresponding to the RSRP_csi2 'or the RSRP_ssb' higher than the threshold or initiates random access (such as sending Msg 1) on the PRACH RO corresponding to the CSI-RS2 with the highest equivalent signal strength.

In the above procedure, the gain of PRACH access resources may be harvested by calculating the best access opportunity for the equivalent RSRP determination signal.

Based on the same technical conception, the embodiment of the application also provides network equipment. The network device may perform the flow performed by the network device of fig. 4.

As shown in fig. 11, the network device may include: a processing unit 1101, a receiving unit 1102, and a transmitting unit 1103. The receiving unit 1102 and the transmitting unit 1103 are coupled with the processing unit 1101, respectively.

The receiving unit 1102 is configured to determine configuration information, where the configuration information is used to indicate N associated resources, and the N associated resources include a first resource and a second resource; the first resource corresponds to a first physical random access channel PRACH resource, and the second resource corresponds to a second PRACH resource; n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. The sending unit 1103 is configured to send the configuration information.

Optionally, the receiving unit 1102 is configured to: receiving a first signal sent by a terminal on the first PRACH resource; and receiving a second signal sent by the terminal on the second PRACH resource.

Optionally, the processing unit 1101 is further configured to: and combining the at least two signals based on the received at least two signals of the terminal.

It should be noted that, the above network device can implement the method steps in the method embodiment and achieve the same technical effects, and the parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those of the method embodiment in this embodiment are not described in detail herein.

Based on the same technical conception, the embodiment of the application also provides a terminal. The terminal may perform the flow performed by the terminal in fig. 4 or fig. 9.

As shown in fig. 12, the network device may include: a processing unit 1201, a receiving unit 1202, and a transmitting unit 1203. The receiving unit 1202 and the sending unit 1203 are coupled to the processing unit 1201, respectively.

The receiving unit 1202 is configured to receive configuration information from a network device, where the configuration information is configured to indicate N associated resources, and the N associated resources include a first resource and a second resource; the first resource corresponds to a first physical random access channel PRACH resource, and the second resource corresponds to a second PRACH resource; n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. The sending unit 1203 is configured to send a first signal on the first PRACH resource and send a second signal on the second PRACH resource.

Optionally, the sending unit 1203 is specifically configured to: and if the N associated resources meet the first requirement, the terminal sends a first signal on the first PRACH resource.

Optionally, the processing unit 1201 is further configured to: acquiring at least two signal strength values, wherein the at least two signal strength values are used for indicating the signal strength of signals received on the N associated resources; and determining that the N associated resources meet a first requirement according to the at least two signal strength values and a set threshold value.

Optionally, the signal strength value is used to indicate an equivalent signal strength; the signal strength value is determined from RSRP of signals received on the N associated resources and a number of signal repetitions.

It should be noted that, the above terminal can implement the method steps in the method embodiment and achieve the same technical effects, and the parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those of the method embodiment in this embodiment are not described in detail herein.

For ease of understanding, only the structures required by communications device 1300 to perform the methods of the present application are shown in fig. 13, and the present application is not limited to communications devices that may be provided with additional components. The communications apparatus 1300 can be configured to perform the steps performed by a network device or terminal in the method embodiments described above. The communications device 1300 may include a communications interface 1301, a memory 1302, and a processor 1303. The communication interface 1301 may be used for communication by a communication apparatus, such as for transmitting or receiving signals. The memory 1302 is coupled to the processor 1303 and is operable to store programs and data necessary for the communications device 1300 to perform various functions. The processor 1303 is configured to support the communication apparatus 1300 to perform the processing functions performed by the network device or the terminal in the above-described method. The above memory 1302 and the processor 1303 may be integrated or independent.

The communication interface 1301 may be, for example, a communication port, such as a communication port (or interface) between network elements for communication. The communication interface 1301 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit or a communication unit. The processor 1303 may be implemented by a processing chip or a processing circuit. The communication interface 1301 may perform information reception or transmission in a wireless manner or a wired manner.

In addition, according to the actual use requirement, the communication device provided by the embodiment of the application can include a processor, and the processor invokes an external transceiver and/or a memory to realize the functions or steps or operations. The communication device may also include a memory that is invoked by the processor and executes a program stored in the memory to perform the functions or steps or operations described above. Alternatively, the communication device may also include a processor and a transceiver (or a communication interface), where the processor invokes and executes a program stored in an external memory to perform the functions or steps or operations described above. Alternatively, the communication device may include a processor, memory, and transceiver.

Based on the same concept as the above method embodiments, in an embodiment of the present application, a computer readable storage medium is further provided, on which a program instruction (or called a computer program, an instruction) is stored, where the program instruction when executed by a processor causes the computer to perform an operation performed by a network device or a terminal in any one of possible implementation manners of the above method embodiments, method embodiments.

Based on the same conception as the above method embodiments, the present application also provides a computer program product comprising program instructions which, when being invoked by a computer for execution, may cause the computer to implement the operations performed by the network device or the terminal in any one of the possible implementation manners of the above method embodiments.

Based on the same conception as the above method embodiments, the present application also provides a chip or a chip system, the chip being coupled with the transceiver for implementing the operations performed by the network device or the terminal in any one of the possible implementations of the above method embodiments. The chip system may include the chip, as well as components including memory, communication interfaces, and the like.

Based on the same concept as the method embodiment, the embodiment of the application also provides a communication system, which comprises a network device and a terminal.

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

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

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

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.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present application without departing from the scope of the application. Thus, it is intended that the present application also include such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A communication method applied to a network device, the method comprising:

determining configuration information, wherein the configuration information is used for indicating N associated resources, and the N associated resources comprise a first resource and a second resource; the first resource corresponds to a first physical random access channel PRACH resource, and the second resource corresponds to a second PRACH resource; n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

And sending the configuration information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a first signal sent by a terminal on the first PRACH resource;

and receiving a second signal sent by the terminal on the second PRACH resource.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first resource further corresponds to a third PRACH resource.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the method further comprises:

and receiving a third signal sent by the terminal on the third PRACH resource.

5. The method according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that the method further comprises:

and combining the at least two signals based on the received at least two signals of the terminal.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein,

the first PRACH resource includes a first time domain resource, a first frequency domain resource, and a first code domain resource.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first code domain resource comprises a first preamble sequence.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein,

The N associated resources comprise N associated synchronous signal block SSB resources; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the N associated resources comprise N associated channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resources; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the N associated resources include N1 SSB resources and N2 CSI-RS resources, where n=n1+n2, and N1, N2 are positive integers greater than or equal to 1.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration information comprises an index of SSB resources when the N associated resources comprise SSB resources.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein when the N associated resources comprise SSB resources, the configuration information comprises PRACH resource location information corresponding to the SSB resources.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration information comprises an index of the CSI-RS resources when the N associated resources comprise CSI-RS resources.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein when the N associated resources include CSI-RS resources, the configuration information includes indication information, the indication information being used to indicate a combination of the N CSI-RS resources.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the configuration information further comprises indication information of the first code domain resources.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the indication of the first code domain resource comprises: an index or index range of the first code domain resource.

15. A communication method applied to a terminal, the method comprising:

receiving configuration information from a network device, the configuration information being used to indicate N associated resources, the N associated resources including a first resource and a second resource; the first resource corresponds to a first physical random access channel PRACH resource, and the second resource corresponds to a second PRACH resource; n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

on the first PRACH resource, the terminal transmits a first signal;

and on the second PRACH resource, the terminal transmits a second signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first resource further corresponds to a third PRACH resource.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

and on the third PRACH resource, the terminal transmits a third signal.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15-17, wherein the terminal transmitting a first signal on the first PRACH resource comprises:

and if the N associated resources meet the first requirement, the terminal sends a first signal on the first PRACH resource.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

acquiring at least two signal strength values, wherein the at least two signal strength values are used for indicating the signal strength of signals received on the N associated resources;

the N associated resources satisfy a first requirement, comprising:

and determining that the N associated resources meet a first requirement according to the at least two signal strength values and a set threshold value.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the signal strength value is used to indicate an equivalent signal strength; the signal strength value is determined according to the reference signal received power RSRP and the number of signal repetitions of the signals received on the N associated resources.

21. The method of any of claims 15-20, wherein the first PRACH resource comprises a first time domain resource, a first frequency domain resource, and a first code domain resource.

22. The method according to any one of claims 15-21, wherein,

the N associated resources include N1 SSB resources and N2 associated CSI-RS resources, where n=n1+n2, N1, N2 are positive integers greater than or equal to 1.

23. A communication system comprising a network device for performing the method of any of claims 1-14 and a terminal for performing the method of any of claims 15-22.

24. A network device, comprising: a processor, a memory, and a computer program; the computer program is stored on the memory, which when executed by the processor causes the network device to perform the method of any of claims 1-14.

25. A terminal, comprising: a processor, a memory, and a computer program; the computer program is stored on the memory, which when executed by the processor causes the terminal to perform the method of any of claims 15-22.

26. A computer readable storage medium comprising a computer program which, when run on an electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-14 or to perform the method of any one of claims 15-22.

27. A computer program product, characterized in that it, when run on an electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-14 or to perform the method of any one of claims 15-22.

28. A chip, comprising: a memory for storing a computer program; a processor; when the processor invokes and runs the computer program from the memory, the electronic device on which the chip is mounted is caused to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-14 or to perform the method according to any one of claims 15-22.