CN117997468A

CN117997468A - Transmission method and communication device of downlink control information

Info

Publication number: CN117997468A
Application number: CN202211380859.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 高飞; 花梦; 焦淑蓉; 黄秀璇
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-11-04
Filing date: 2022-11-04
Publication date: 2024-05-07
Also published as: WO2024094192A1

Abstract

A method for transmitting downlink control information and a communication device are provided. The method comprises the following steps: the terminal receives first configuration information, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating DCI formats configured by each of the L search space sets; the DCI format configured by each of the L search space sets comprises a DCI format used for scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units and/or a DCI format used for scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units, and L is an integer larger than 1; the terminal may determine, according to the first configuration information, a length after DCI size alignment corresponding to DCI formats configured by the L search space sets, and receive DCI on the L search space sets according to the length after DCI size alignment corresponding to DCI formats configured by the L search space sets.

Description

Transmission method and communication device of downlink control information

Technical Field

The embodiment of the application relates to the technical field of wireless communication, in particular to a transmission method of downlink control information and a communication device.

Background

Carrier aggregation (carrier aggregation, CA) refers to a transmission technique that aggregates two or more carriers together to obtain a larger transmission bandwidth. In CA technology, a base station may schedule multiple uplink carrier units or multiple downlink carrier units simultaneously through a single DCI (single DCI) on one carrier unit.

Scheduling different numbers of uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units may result in SINGLE DCI of different DCI sizes. The larger the number of different DCI sizes, the higher the blind detection complexity of the terminal.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a transmission method and a communication device of downlink control information, which are used for reducing blind detection complexity of a terminal.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for transmitting downlink control information, including: the terminal receives first configuration information, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating DCI formats configured by each of the L search space sets; the DCI format configured by each of the L search space sets includes a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units and/or a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units, and L is an integer greater than 1; the terminal determines the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets according to the first configuration information; and the terminal receives DCI on the L search space sets according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

In the above design, DCI is received according to the aligned lengths of DCI sizes corresponding to DCI formats configured by multiple search space sets, so that the number of SINGLE DCI different lengths can be reduced, blind detection complexity of terminals on multiple search space sets can be reduced, and transmission efficiency of downlink control channels can be effectively improved.

In one possible design, the terminal may also receive second configuration information for configuring at least one of DCI format 0_2, DCI format 1_2, DCI format 0_1, DCI format 1_1. The terminal determines the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information according to the first configuration information and the second configuration information; further, the terminal may receive DCI according to the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information.

For example, when the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2 are configured in the second configuration information, the length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_2 is the same as the length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_0; when the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 are configured in the second configuration information, the length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_1 is the same as the minimum length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the K groups of DCI formats; when the DCI format 0_2, the DCI format 1_2, the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 are configured in the second configuration information, the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_2 is the same as the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_1.

Such a design may be used in a scenario where SINGLE DCI and legacy DCI scheduling one uplink or downlink carrier unit are both scheduled, and control over the number of different lengths of SINGLE DCI and legacy DCI can be achieved, e.g. the sum of the number of different lengths of SINGLE DCI and legacy DCI is controlled within a DCI length budget specified by the protocol.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for transmitting downlink control information, including: the base station sends first configuration information, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating DCI formats configured by each of the L search space sets; the DCI format configured by each of the L search space sets includes a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units and/or a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units, and L is an integer greater than 1; and the base station sends DCI on the L search space sets according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

In one possible design, the base station may also transmit second configuration information for configuring at least one of DCI format 0_2, DCI format 1_2, DCI format 0_1, and DCI format 1_1; the base station determines the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information according to the DCI format configured in each of the L search space sets and the DCI format configured in the second configuration information; and further, transmitting the DCI according to the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information.

For example, when the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2 are configured in the second configuration information, the length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_2 is the same as the length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_0; when the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 are configured in the second configuration information, the length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_1 is the same as the minimum length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the K groups of DCI formats; when the DCI format 0_2, the DCI format 1_2, the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 are configured in the second configuration information, the length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format 1_2 after being aligned is the same as the length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format 1_1 after being aligned.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device may be a terminal, a module or a chip in the terminal, or a device that can be used in a matching manner with the terminal. In one design, the apparatus may include modules corresponding to the methods described in the first aspect, where the modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one design, the apparatus may include a processing unit and a transceiver unit.

The transceiver unit is configured to receive the first configuration information in the first aspect; a processing unit, configured to determine, according to the first configuration information, a length after DCI alignment corresponding to a DCI format configured by the L search space sets; and the processing unit is also used for receiving DCI on the L search space sets by utilizing the transceiving unit according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

In a possible design, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive the second configuration information in the first aspect. The processing unit is further configured to determine, according to the first configuration information and the second configuration information, a length after DCI alignment corresponding to a DCI format configured in the second configuration information; and the processing unit is further used for receiving the DCI by utilizing the receiving and transmitting unit according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device may be a base station, a module or a chip in the base station, or a device that can be used in a matching manner with the base station. In one design, the apparatus may include modules corresponding to the methods described in the second aspect, where the modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one design, the apparatus may include a processing unit and a transceiver unit.

A transceiver unit configured to transmit the first configuration information in the second aspect; and the processing unit is used for transmitting the DCI on the L search space sets by utilizing the transceiving unit according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

In one possible design, the transceiver unit is further configured to send the second configuration information in the second aspect; the processing unit is further configured to determine a length after DCI alignment corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information according to the DCI format configured in each of the L search space sets and the DCI format configured in the second configuration information; and the processing unit is further used for transmitting the DCI by using the transceiving unit according to the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information.

In one possible design of the first to fourth aspects, the DCI formats configured by the L search-space sets are divided into K sets of DCI formats, where each set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats corresponds to a length after aligning DCI sizes, and K is an integer greater than 1 and less than or equal to L. Optionally, there may be a DCI format for scheduling an uplink carrier unit and/or a DCI format for scheduling a downlink carrier unit in a set of DCI formats, where the aligned lengths of DCIs corresponding to different sets of DCI formats are different, and the aligned length of DCIs corresponding to one DCI format is related to the number of uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units scheduled by the aligned length of DCIs corresponding to one DCI format, that is, there may be one or more lengths of aligned DCIs corresponding to one DCI format.

In one possible design of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, K is an integer from 1 to K, and the length after aligning the DCI sizes corresponding to the kth DCI format in the K DCI formats is any one of the following: the DCI size of the DCI format with the largest number of the scheduled uplink carrier units in the kth DCI format; the DCI size of the DCI format with the largest downlink carrier quantity is scheduled in the kth DCI format; and the maximum DCI size corresponding to the DCI format in the kth group of DCI formats. By the design, the DCI with the same aligned length corresponding to the DCI format in the same group can be realized after the DCI formats configured by the plurality of search space sets are grouped.

A detailed description will be given of a DCI format grouping scheme configured by a plurality of search space sets.

In one possible design of any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, K is 2, a number of uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units scheduled by each DCI format in a1 st DCI format of the K sets of DCI formats is less than or equal to N, and a number of downlink carriers scheduled by each DCI format in a2 nd DCI format of the K sets of DCI formats is greater than N; and N is the maximum number of uplink carrier units scheduled by the DCI formats configured by the L search space sets, M is the maximum number of downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI formats configured by the L search space sets, and N is smaller than M.

In one possible design of any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, K is 2, a number of uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units scheduled by each DCI format in a 1 st set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats is less than or equal to I, and a number of uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units scheduled by each DCI format in a2 nd set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats is greater than I; wherein I is equal toRepresenting an upward rounding; and N is the maximum number of uplink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by the L search space sets or the maximum number of downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

In the design, based on the number of the scheduling carrier units, the DCI sizes corresponding to the DCI formats configured by the plurality of search space sets are grouped and aligned, so that the number control of SINGLE DCI with different lengths can be effectively realized, and the blind detection complexity of the terminal is reduced.

In one possible design of any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first configuration information includes DCI format packet identification information corresponding to each of the L search space sets, where the DCI format packet identification information is used to indicate a set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats. The DCI format configured by the one search space set belongs to one set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats. Optionally, DCI format packet identification information corresponding to different search space sets is the same or different. By the design of the DCI format grouping identification information, the terminal is helped to quickly group the DCI formats, and the efficiency of DCI size alignment operation can be improved.

In one possible design of any one of the first to fourth aspects above, L is equal to K, and the L search space sets are in one-to-one correspondence with the K sets of DCIs. Through the design, the terminal can determine that the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format configured by one search space set is aligned to be one length, extra grouping is not needed, and the efficiency of DCI size alignment operation can be improved.

In one possible design of any one of the first to fourth aspects, when one of the L search space sets is configured with a DCI format for scheduling a first number of uplink carrier units and a DCI format for scheduling a second number of downlink carrier units, a difference between the first number and the second number is less than or equal to a preset threshold. By the design, the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the same search space set can be aligned to be a length, and blind detection complexity of terminal equipment in a single search space set can be reduced.

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device comprising a processor for implementing the method described in any one of the possible designs of the first aspect and the above-mentioned first aspect. The processor is coupled to a memory for storing instructions and data, which processor, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, may implement the method of the first aspect and any one of the possible design descriptions of the first aspect.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communications device comprising a processor configured to implement the method described in the second aspect and any one of the possible designs of the second aspect. The processor is coupled to a memory for storing instructions and data, which processor, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, may implement the method of the second aspect and any one of the possible design descriptions of the second aspect.

In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication system comprising a communication device as described in the third or fifth aspect, and in the fourth or sixth aspect.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program which, when run on a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the method provided in any one of the first to second aspects above.

In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a communications apparatus, cause the communications apparatus to perform the method provided in any of the first to second aspects above.

In a tenth aspect, embodiments of the present application also provide a computer readable storage medium having stored therein a computer program or instructions which, when run on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method provided in any of the first to second aspects above.

In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, where the chip is configured to perform the method provided in any one of the first to second aspects. Optionally, the chip is configured to read a computer program stored in a memory, and perform the method provided in any one of the first aspect to the second aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor, configured to support a communication device to implement the method provided in any one of the first aspect to the second aspect. In one possible design, the chip system further includes a memory for storing programs and data for the communication device. The chip system may be formed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

The advantages achieved by any of the above second to twelfth aspects may be referred to the corresponding description in the first aspect.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system;

Fig. 2A to 2B are schematic diagrams of carrier scheduling;

fig. 3 is a flow chart of a transmission method of downlink control information according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 4A to fig. 4D are schematic configurations of a search space set according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a packet alignment operation according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5B is a schematic diagram of DCI format packet according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a flow chart of another method for transmitting downlink control information according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7A to 7D are schematic views illustrating an alignment operation according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

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

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present application refer to at least one (item), indicating one (item) or more (items), as follows. Plural (items) means two (items) or more than two (items). "and/or", describes an association relationship of an association object, and indicates that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may indicate: a exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. The character "/" generally indicates that the context-dependent object is an "or" relationship. In addition, it should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used in embodiments of the present application to describe various objects, these objects should not be limited to these terms. The technical features described in the terms of "first", "second", "third", "a", "B", etc. are not ordered sequentially or in order of magnitude, and these terms are used only to distinguish objects from each other.

The terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof, as used in the following description of embodiments of the application, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not limited to only those listed but may optionally include other steps or elements not listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "such as" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any method or design described herein as "exemplary" or "such as" in embodiments of the application should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other methods or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete fashion.

In embodiments of the present application, the term "communication" may also be described as "data transmission", "information transmission" or "transmission".

Fig. 1 is a schematic architecture diagram of a communication system 1000 to which an embodiment of the application applies. As shown in fig. 1, the communication system comprises a radio access network 100 and a core network 200, and optionally the communication system 1000 may further comprise the internet 300. The radio access network 100 may include at least one radio access network device (e.g., 110a and 110b in fig. 1) and may also include at least one terminal device (e.g., 120a-120j in fig. 1). The terminal equipment is connected with the wireless access network equipment in a wireless mode, and the wireless access network equipment is connected with the core network in a wireless or wired mode. The core network device and the radio access network device may be separate physical devices, or may integrate the functions of the core network device and the logic functions of the radio access network device on the same physical device, or may integrate the functions of part of the core network device and part of the radio access network device on one physical device. The terminal device and the radio access network device may be connected to each other by a wired or wireless method. Fig. 1 is only a schematic diagram, and other network devices may be further included in the communication system, for example, a wireless relay device and a wireless backhaul device may also be included, which are not shown in fig. 1.

The radio access network device and the terminal device according to fig. 1 will be described in detail.

The radio access network device is an access device to which the terminal device accesses the communication system in a wireless manner. The radio access network device may provide radio access services for the terminal device. According to the signal coverage division, the radio access network device may comprise one or more cells, through which the radio access network device provides services to the terminal device. The radio access network device may be a base station (base station), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission and reception point (transmission reception point, TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a fifth generation (5th generation,5G) mobile communication system, a next generation base station in a sixth generation (6th generation,6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc.; the present invention may also be a module or unit that performs a function of a base station part, for example, a Central Unit (CU) or a Distributed Unit (DU). The CU here performs the functions of the radio resource control protocol and the packet data convergence layer protocol (PACKET DATA convergence protocol, PDCP) of the base station, and may also perform the functions of the service data adaptation protocol (SERVICE DATA adaptation protocol, SDAP); the DU performs the functions of the radio link control layer and the medium access control (medium access control, MAC) layer of the base station, and may also perform the functions of a part of the physical layer or the entire physical layer, and for a detailed description of the above protocol layers, reference may be made to the relevant technical specifications of the third generation partnership project (3rd generation partnership project,3GPP). The radio access network device may be a macro base station (e.g. 110a in fig. 1), a micro base station or an indoor station (e.g. 110b in fig. 1), a relay node or a donor node, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device or a radio access network device in a future evolved public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN), etc.

The embodiment of the application does not limit the specific technology and the specific equipment form adopted by the wireless access network equipment. For example, the communication means for implementing the function of the radio access network device may be the radio access network device, or may be a device having a function of a part of the radio access network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the radio access network device to implement the function, for example, a chip system, and the device may be installed in the radio access network device. In the embodiment of the application, the chip system can be composed of chips, and can also comprise chips and other discrete devices. For convenience of description, a base station will be described below as an example of a radio access network device.

The terminal device is a device having a wireless transceiving function, and can transmit a signal to a base station or receive a signal from a base station. The terminal device may communicate with one or more core network devices through a base station. The terminal device may also be referred to as a terminal, a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (MT), etc. The terminal may be widely applied to various scenes, for example, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-device (vehicle to everything, V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (internet of things, IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autopilot, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, and the like. The terminal device can be deployed on land, such as indoor, outdoor, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-built-in or vehicle-mounted mobile devices; the terminal equipment can also be deployed on the water surface (e.g., on a ship, etc.); the terminal device may also be deployed on an air interface, such as an aircraft, balloon, aerial platform, satellite, or the like. Alternatively, the terminal device may provide voice and/or data connectivity to the user. Examples of some terminal devices include: personal communication services (personal communication service, PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phones, wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (personal DIGITAL ASSISTANT, PDA), wireless network cameras, mobile phones (mobile phone), tablet or wireless-enabled computers, notebook computers, palm computers, mobile internet devices (mobile INTERNET DEVICE, MID), wearable devices such as smartwatches, virtual Reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control (industrial control), terminals in internet of vehicles systems, wireless terminals in unmanned (SELF DRIVING), wireless terminals in telemedicine, wireless terminals in smart grid (SMART GRID), wireless terminals in transportation security (transportation safety), wireless terminals in smart cities (SMART CITY), vehicles, airplanes, terminal devices on high-speed rail, smart home devices in smart home (smart home), robots, robotic arms, etc.

The embodiment of the application does not limit the specific technology and the specific equipment form adopted by the terminal equipment. For example, the communication means for realizing the functions of the terminal device may be the terminal device, or may be a device having the functions of the terminal portion, or may be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to realize the functions, for example, a chip system, which may be installed in the terminal device. In the embodiment of the application, the chip system can be composed of chips, and can also comprise chips and other discrete devices. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, a device for implementing a function of a terminal device is described by taking a terminal as an example.

The base station and the terminal may be fixed in position or movable. Base stations and terminals may be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, hand-held or vehicle-mounted; the device can be deployed on the water surface; but also on aircraft, balloons and satellites. The embodiment of the application does not limit the application scenes of the base station and the terminal.

The roles of base station and terminal may be relative, e.g., helicopter or drone 120i in fig. 1 may be configured as a mobile base station, terminal 120i being the base station for those terminals 120j that access radio access network 100 through 120 i; but for base station 110a 120i is a terminal, i.e., communication between 110a and 120i is via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, communication between 110a and 120i may be performed via an interface protocol between base stations, and in this case, 120i is also a base station with respect to 110 a. Thus, both the base station and the terminal may be collectively referred to as a communication device, 110a and 110b in fig. 1 may be referred to as a communication device having base station functionality, and 120a-120j in fig. 1 may be referred to as a communication device having terminal functionality.

Communication can be carried out between the base station and the terminal, between the base station and between the terminal and the terminal through the authorized spectrum, communication can be carried out through the unlicensed spectrum, and communication can also be carried out through the authorized spectrum and the unlicensed spectrum at the same time; communication can be performed through a frequency spectrum of 6 gigahertz (GHz) or less, communication can be performed through a frequency spectrum of 6GHz or more, and communication can be performed using a frequency spectrum of 6GHz or less and a frequency spectrum of 6GHz or more simultaneously. The embodiment of the application does not limit the spectrum resources used by the wireless communication.

In the embodiment of the present application, the functions of the base station may be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the base station, or may be performed by a control subsystem including the functions of the base station. The control subsystem comprising the base station function can be a control center in the application scenarios of smart power grids, industrial control, intelligent transportation, smart cities and the like. The functions of the terminal may be performed by a module (e.g., a chip or a modem) in the terminal, or by a device including the functions of the terminal.

In the application, a base station sends a downlink signal or downlink information to a terminal, and the downlink information is borne on a downlink channel; the terminal sends an uplink signal or uplink information to the base station, and the uplink information is carried on an uplink channel. In order for a terminal to communicate with a base station, it is necessary to establish a radio connection with a cell controlled by the base station. The downlink channels comprise downlink control channels and downlink data channels, and the uplink channels comprise uplink control channels and uplink data channels. As an example, in the embodiment of the present application, the downlink data channel is a physical downlink shared channel (physical downlink SHARE CHANNEL, PDSCH), the downlink control channel is a physical downlink control channel (physical downlink control channel, PDCCH), and the uplink data channel is a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) SHARE CHANNEL. It should be understood that PDSCH, PDCCH and PUSCH are only examples of downlink data channels, downlink control channels and uplink data channels, respectively, and that the data channels and control channels may have different names in different systems and different scenarios, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited in this respect.

Some technical terms in the embodiments of the present application are explained below to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

(1) Downlink control information

The terminal needs the base station scheduling for both the uplink data transmission and the downlink data reception, and the base station can send relevant scheduling information to the terminal. For example, the base station issues the foregoing scheduling information through downlink control information (downlink control information, DCI) carried by the PDCCH, the terminal does not know the exact location of the PDCCH carrying the DCI, and a blind detection (blind detection, BD) operation needs to be performed in a search space set (SEARCH SPACE SET, SS set) within the control resource set (CORESET) to receive the DCI. In the present application, "receiving DCI" may also be referred to as "blind-checking DCI".

The base station may configure the number of PDCCH candidates. For example, the base station may configure a plurality of PDCCH candidates for the terminal. However, not all of the plurality of PDCCH candidates carry DCI that the terminal expects to receive, i.e., not all of the PDCCH candidates carry DCI transmitted to the terminal. Therefore, the terminal needs to attempt decoding of each PDCCH candidate in the search space set to determine whether or not the DCI expected to be received by itself is carried on these PDCCH candidates. The terminal may attempt to decode each PDCCH candidate in the 1 or more search space sets according to corresponding configuration information (e.g., DCI format, etc.), such that the act of attempting to decode may be referred to as blind detection. Optionally, the terminal listens to DCI on a certain PDCCH candidate, which may also be understood as the terminal performing blind detection on a certain PDCCH candidate. Blind detection may also be referred to simply as blind detection.

For example, the terminal expects to receive DCI satisfying the following features: the cyclic redundancy check (cyclic redundancy check, CRC) code of the DCI is masked by a cell-radio network temporary identity (cell-radio network temporary identifier, C-RNTI). The terminal may perform CRC check on each PDCCH candidate in the search space set according to the C-RNTI. If the CRC check is successful, the terminal determines that the DCI expected to be received by itself is decoded on the PDCCH candidate, and if the CRC check is successful, the terminal determines that the DCI expected to be received by itself is not decoded on the PDCCH candidate.

(2) Carrier aggregation

Carrier aggregation (carrier aggregation, CA): refers to a transmission technique in which two or more carriers are aggregated together to obtain a larger transmission bandwidth. Based on carrier aggregation technology, the terminal can utilize several carriers to perform uplink and downlink transmission according to its own capability and bandwidth transmission requirement. Wherein, multiple carriers accessed by the terminal at the same time can belong to the same frequency band or belong to multiple different frequency bands.

Carrier wave: in a wireless communication system, a carrier wave is a radio signal (e.g., electromagnetic wave) with a specific frequency, bandwidth, and format that is transmitted by a base station and is used to carry a body of information. The carrier wave may also be referred to as carrier frequency. One cell in a base station may correspond to one or more carriers. In the embodiment of the present application, taking one carrier corresponding to one cell as an example, in CA technology, a terminal configured with carrier aggregation may be connected to multiple cells at the same time, for example, the terminal may be connected to one primary cell (PRIMARY CELL, PCell) and at least one secondary cell (SCell) at the same time. The terminal can perform uplink and downlink transmission through the carrier corresponding to the PCell and the carrier corresponding to each of the at least one SCell. The PCell and the at least one SCell constitute a set of serving cells (SERVING CELL) for the terminal. In the embodiment of the present application, the carrier is also called a carrier unit (component carrier, CC).

Primary cell (PRIMARY CELL, PCell): refers to a cell in which a terminal performs initial connection establishment or a cell in which radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) connection reestablishment is performed, or refers to a primary cell designated during handover. The PCell is responsible for RRC transmission communication with the terminal. The carrier corresponding to the PCell may be referred to as a primary carrier or as a primary carrier element (primary component carrier, PCC).

Secondary cell (SCell): refers to a cell added through an RRC reconfiguration (RRC connection reconfiguration) message after an initial security activation procedure (initial security activation procedure) for providing additional radio resources to the terminal. The carrier corresponding to the SCell may be referred to as a secondary carrier, or as a secondary carrier element (secondary component carrier, SCC). The base station may configure at least one secondary cell through RRC signaling of the primary cell, and flexibly activate or deactivate the secondary cell through a medium access control element (MAC control element, MAC CE) or DCI.

(3) Carrier scheduling

One carrier may be used for transmission of an uplink data channel or transmission of a downlink data channel, and a carrier used for transmission of the uplink data channel may be simply referred to as an uplink carrier or an uplink carrier unit, and a carrier used for transmission of the downlink data channel may be simply referred to as a downlink carrier or a downlink carrier unit. Embodiments of the present application are described below by taking an uplink carrier unit and a downlink carrier unit as examples. For example, the base station may schedule the terminal to transmit PUSCH on an uplink carrier unit, and schedule the terminal to transmit PDSCH on a physical downlink shared channel on a downlink carrier unit. In the embodiment of the application, the scheduling of the base station for uplink data channel transmission in the uplink carrier unit is simply referred to as the scheduling of the uplink carrier unit, and the scheduling of the base station for downlink data channel transmission in the downlink carrier unit is simply referred to as the scheduling of the downlink carrier unit. The base station may schedule uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units by transmitting DCI.

In the CA scenario, a base station may schedule multiple carriers simultaneously, e.g., multiple uplink carrier units or multiple downlink carrier units. For example, the base station may implement scheduling of multiple carrier elements by transmitting multiple DCIs. One carrier unit of the multiple carrier units may be an uplink carrier unit or a downlink carrier unit, where the multiple carrier units are in one-to-one correspondence with the multiple DCIs, that is, each carrier unit of the multiple carrier units needs one DCI to schedule, or it may be understood that in the present implementation, one DCI is used for scheduling one uplink carrier unit or one downlink carrier unit. According to carrier units for transmitting DCI, two modes of self-carrier scheduling and cross-carrier scheduling can be classified. As shown in (a) of fig. 2A, when the self-carrier scheduling method is used, DCI for scheduling PDSCH or PUSCH transmission on one carrier element is also transmitted on the carrier. If the DCI for scheduling PDSCH1 transmission on CC1 is transmitted on CC1, the DCI for scheduling PDSCH2 transmission on CC2 is transmitted on CC 2. As illustrated in fig. 2A (b), when the cross-carrier scheduling method is used, the base station may transmit DCI for scheduling PDSCH or PUSCH transmissions on one carrier and other carriers, so as to achieve the effect that a plurality of DCIs are transmitted on only one carrier. E.g., transmitting DCI on CC1 that schedules PDSCH1 transmissions on CC1 and DCI on CC2 that schedules PDSCH2 transmissions on CC 2.

As introduced above, the number of DCIs that need to be transmitted, whether self-carrier scheduling or cross-carrier scheduling, is proportional to the number of carriers that are simultaneously used. In one aspect, discrete multi-carrier scheduling may require more control channel resources to carry multiple DCIs than a continuous wideband carrier using the same bandwidth to transmit data. This multiple DCI scheduling approach increases the overhead of the control channel, which is particularly evident in frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) small bandwidth scenarios. On the other hand, based on the current CA mechanism, multi-carrier transmission using multiple DCI schedules, the terminal needs to blindly solve multiple DCIs, and the number of DCIs increases with the increase of the number of carriers, which also increases the complexity of blind solution of the terminal.

Thus, a way of scheduling PDSCH or PUSCH transmissions on multiple carrier elements based on a single DCI has arisen in which a base station may transmit a single DCI on one carrier element, which may be used to schedule multiple carrier elements, either continuous bandwidth carrier elements or discrete carrier elements. As illustrated in fig. 2B, a single DCI is transmitted on CC1 that may schedule transmission of PDSCH1 of CC1 and transmission of PDSCH2 on CC 2. CC1 and CC2 may be continuous wideband carrier elements or discrete discontinuous carrier elements. In this way, discrete multi-carrier scheduling is performed by using a single DCI, and compared with scheduling by using multiple DCIs, especially when there is consistent redundant information such as CRC in multiple DCIs, the overhead of a control channel can be reduced, more downlink resources are released for PDSCH transmission, and the downlink capacity is improved, which is close to the performance of a continuous wideband carrier.

(4) DCI format

From the foregoing description of carrier scheduling, it can be appreciated that there are two types of DCI currently. One type is DCI for scheduling one uplink carrier unit or one downlink carrier unit, which may be referred to as legacy DCI (legacy DCI); another type is a single DCI (Single DCI) for scheduling multiple uplink carrier units or multiple downlink carrier units.

When the conventional DCI is used for uplink and downlink scheduling, the corresponding DCI formats (DCI formats) include DCI format 0_0, DCI format 1_0, DCI format 0_1, DCI format 1_1, DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2. In the foregoing DCI format, the first number (i.e., the number preceding "_") represents either upstream or downstream, e.g., "0" represents upstream and "1" represents downstream. The second digit (i.e., the digit following "_") of "0" can indicate fallback, "1" can indicate non-fallback, and "2" can indicate load compression (compact). For example, DCI format 1_0 represents a fallback DCI format for scheduling downlink data such as PDSCH reception, DCI format 1_1 represents a non-fallback DCI format for scheduling downlink data PDSCH such as reception, and DCI format 0_2 represents a compressed DCI format for scheduling uplink data such as PUSCH transmission. The DCI format 0_0/1_0 is characterized in that most of domain information in DCI adopting the format is not affected by higher-layer parameter configuration, and the bit size of domain information is fixed, so that compared with other DCI formats, the number of information bits (or called load bits) of the DCI format 0_0/1_0 is relatively stable, and a communication link between a base station and a terminal can be kept in a fuzzy period of RRC parameter reconfiguration. It can be appreciated that DCI format 0_0/1_0 is to support basic NR characteristics for better robustness. Characteristics of DCI format 0_1/1_1 the size of most of the domain information in DCI employing this format may be affected by configuration of higher-layer parameters (e.g., RRC parameters) related to different characteristics. It is understood that DCI format 0_1/1_1 is compatible with more NR characteristics for flexibility. The DCI format 0_2/1_2 is characterized in that most of domain information in DCI adopting the format can be directly configured through high-level parameters (such as RRC parameters), so that the information bits of the whole DCI are fewer, the transmission code rate is relatively lower, the transmission reliability is improved, and the DCI can be used for high-reliability communication scenes.

The role of the individual DCI formats and possibly associated radio network temporary identities (radio network temporary identifier, RNTI) of the legacy DCI for uplink scheduling is described below by table 1. It is understood that RNTI is used to scramble or mask DCI. Examples of some RNTIs include: a cell radio network temporary identity (cell-radio network temporary identifier, C-RNTI), a configuration scheduling radio network temporary identity (configured scheduling-RNTI, CS-RNTI), a modulation coding scheme cell radio network temporary identity (modulation coding SCHEME CELL RNTI, MCS-C-RNTI), a temporary cell radio network temporary identity (TC-RNTI), a semi-persistent channel state information cell radio network temporary identity (semi-PERSISTENT CHANNEL STATE information-RNTI, SP-CSI-RNTI), a system message radio network temporary identity (system information-RNTI, SI-RNTI), a paging radio network temporary identity (paging-RNTI, P-RNTI), a random access radio network temporary identity (random access-RNTI, RA-RNTI), a message B radio network temporary identity (messageB-RNTI, msgB-RNTI).

TABLE 1

The DCI format of a single DCI (single DCI) includes a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units and a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units. For example, a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units is represented by DCI format 0_X; DCI format 1_X represents a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units. The value of X may be any number different from the second number in the DCI format of the conventional DCI, for example, X is 5, DCI format 0_X may be alternatively described as DCI format 0_5, and DCI format 0_X may be alternatively described as DCI format 1_5.

It should be further understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the DCI format for scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units is described, which refers to that the DCI format supports scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units, but the DCI format may actually schedule some or all of the maximum number of uplink carrier units supported by the DCI format, for example, DCI format 0_X supports scheduling a maximum of 4 uplink carrier units, and then the number of uplink carrier units that the DCI format 0_X may actually schedule may be one of 1, 2, 3, and 4, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Similarly, in the embodiment of the present application, the DCI format for scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units is described, which refers to that the DCI format supports scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units, but the DCI format may actually schedule some or all of the maximum number of downlink carrier units that the DCI format supports, for example, DCI format 1_X supports scheduling a maximum of 4 downlink carrier units, and then the number of downlink carrier units that the DCI format 0_X may actually schedule may be one of 1, 2, 3, and 4, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

(4) Configuration of search space set and configuration of related cell/carrier unit set

The set of search spaces SS set may be a common set of search spaces SEARCH SPACE SET (CSS set) or a set of user-specific search spaces (UE-SPECIFIC SEARCH SPACE SET, USS set). Wherein the common search space set may be used to transmit a common control channel for transmitting paging (paging), system information, etc., to the terminal device. The set of UE-specific search spaces may be used to send a control channel to the terminal for transmitting certain UE-specific control information. It will be appreciated that the common set of search spaces may also be used for transmitting control channels for transmitting certain UE-specific control information to the terminal, as the embodiment of the application is not limited in this respect. The base station may send configuration information of one search space set to the terminal, where the configuration information may include a starting OFDM symbol for PDCCH listening, a PDCCH listening period, and a control resource set (control resource set, CORESET) associated with the search space set, a corresponding DCI format or DCI formats, and so on. The terminal may receive the PDCCH by listening to the set of search spaces. In the embodiment of the application, the configuration of USS set is mainly related. The base station may also configure, for the search space set SS set for listening to DCI, an association between the SS set and a DCI format schedulable uplink carrier unit or downlink carrier unit through RRC parameters.

Taking the example of configuring multiple USS sets on one cell for SINGLE DCI, it is assumed that the base station configures one UE to monitor SINGLE DCI on the PCell through RRC parameters, and configures SINGLE DCI on the PCell to schedule 4 carrier units, namely cc#1, cc#2, cc#3 and cc#4, at most simultaneously, one carrier unit corresponding to one cell, that is, it can also be understood that SINGLE DCI on the PCell configured by the base station can schedule 4 cells at most simultaneously. The 4 carrier units may form a plurality of carrier unit sets, one carrier unit set including at least one carrier unit, and some examples of carrier unit sets include: { CC#1}, { CC#1, CC#2}, { CC#2, CC#3}, { CC#1, CC#2, CC#3, CC#4}, each USS set of the plurality of USS sets may be associated with at least one set of carrier elements.

The carrier unit includes an uplink carrier unit for uplink information transmission and a downlink carrier unit for downlink information transmission, and the carrier unit set may be divided into an uplink carrier unit set and a downlink carrier unit set. Examples of some uplink carrier unit sets include: { UL CC#1}, { UL CC#1, UL CC#2}, { UL CC#2,UL CC#3,UL CC#4}; examples of some downlink carrier element sets include: { DL CC#1}, { DL CC#1, DL CC#2}, { DL CC#1,DL CC#2,DL CC#3,DL CC#4}. Each USS set of the plurality of USS sets may be associated with at least one set of uplink carrier elements and/or at least one set of downlink carrier elements. For example, assuming that the DCI format of one USS set configuration includes DCI format 0_x, DCI format 0_X may schedule UL cc#1 and UL cc#2 simultaneously, the USS set may be associated with one set of uplink carrier elements { UL cc#1, UL cc#2}. For example, DCI format 0_X may schedule UL cc#1 and UL cc#2 simultaneously, or DCI format 0_X may schedule UL cc#2, UL cc#3 and UL cc#4 simultaneously, then the USS set may associate two sets of uplink carrier elements including { UL cc#1, UL cc#2} and { UL cc#2, UL cc#3 and UL cc#4}. Similarly, assuming that the DCI format of one USS set configuration includes DCI format 1_x, DCI format 1_X may schedule DL cc#1 and DL cc#2 simultaneously, one set of uplink carrier elements that the USS set may be associated with is { DL cc#1, DL cc#2}. For example, DCI format 1_X may schedule DL cc#1 and DL cc#2 simultaneously, or DCI format 0_X may schedule DL cc#1,DL CC#2,DL CC#3 and DL cc#4 simultaneously, then the USS set may associate two downlink carrier element sets including { DL cc#1, DL cc#2} and { DL cc#1,DL CC#2,DL CC#3 and DL cc#4}.

The DCI size SINGLE DCI relates to the maximum number of carrier elements whose corresponding DCI format supports scheduling, e.g., DCI size corresponding to DCI format 1_X supporting up to 4 downlink carrier elements to be scheduled is larger than DCI size corresponding to DCI format 1_X supporting up to 2 downlink carrier elements to be scheduled. The DCI size may be alternatively described as a payload size (payload size) of the DCI or an information bit size (information bit) of the DCI, where the payload size of the DCI is positively correlated with the number of information bits in the DCI, and it is understood that the larger the number of information bits in the DCI, the larger the payload size of the DCI. It can also be understood that the load size of the DCI is positively related to the maximum number of carrier elements scheduled, i.e. the larger the maximum number of carrier elements the DCI supports scheduling, the larger the load size of the DCI. Based on this, it can be known that: if DCI sizes corresponding to DCI formats configured by different USS sets may be different, in a scenario where multiple USS sets are configured on one cell, multiple different DCI sizes may exist on one cell, which results in higher blind detection complexity of the terminal. It can be understood that the load size of the DCI is the load size before the DCI length alignment operation.

(5) Length alignment rules for DCI

To reduce the blind detection complexity caused by different DCI lengths, the NR technique defines a DCI length budget (DCI size budget) "3+1" in the protocol, which refers to: the terminal listens to at most 3 DCI of unicast (unicast) schedule of different length on 1 cell, and listens to the total number of DCI of different length is 4. Wherein, the DCI of unicast scheduling can be scrambled by C-RNTI, CS-RNTI or MCS-C-RNTI, and other RNTI scrambled DCIs occupy 1 DCI size widget except the DCI of unicast scheduling.

The base station may configure the terminal to monitor multiple DCI formats according to higher-layer parameter configuration, such as PDCCH configuration information, where higher-layer parameter configuration corresponding to different DCI formats may cause DCI sizes corresponding to different DCI formats to be different. And under the limitation of the DCI length budget, the base station and the terminal are required to align the DCI sizes corresponding to the DCI formats according to a specific DCI format alignment rule (DCI size alignment), so that the number of different DCI sizes in the same cell is not more than 4, and the number of different DCI sizes of the DCI which is subjected to unicast scheduling such as scrambling by the C-RNTI is not more than 3.

The base station sends the PDCCH configuration information to the terminal equipment, and after passing through the DCI length alignment rule (DCI size alignment), the base station needs to satisfy two conditions of "3+1", otherwise, the UE considers that the PDCCH configuration information is invalid configuration.

Currently, following DCI length alignment rules, there are alignment modes for legacy DCI sizes, as follows: the DCI sizes corresponding to DCI format 0_0 and DCI format 1_0 are aligned to the same length (size), the DCI sizes corresponding to DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1 are aligned to the same length (size), and the DCI sizes corresponding to DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 are aligned to the same length (size). For example, based on the DCI size corresponding to DCI format 1_0, the DCI size corresponding to DCI format 0_0 is adjusted to the DCI size corresponding to DCI format 1_0 by zero padding or puncturing, or it may be understood that the aligned lengths of the DCI sizes corresponding to DCI format 0_0 and DCI format 1_0 are both DCI sizes corresponding to DCI format 1_0. The zero padding mode refers to adding one or more bits of "0" into the DCI to increase the length of the DCI, and the puncturing mode may be puncturing the frequency domain resource allocation (frequency domain resource allocation, FDRA) domain or other domain information in the DCI, so as to reduce the length of the DCI.

A single DCI in the CA scenario may be used to schedule multiple uplink carrier units or multiple downlink carrier units, where the number of scheduled uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units is different, and multiple different DCI sizes may be generated, resulting in higher blind detection complexity for the terminal. And considering that the number of uplink carrier units scheduled by a single carrier and the number of downlink carrier units scheduled may have larger difference, if the alignment mode of the traditional DCI size is adopted, the related zero padding number is larger, the transmission efficiency of the PDCCH is reduced, and more downlink resources are occupied to influence the transmission of a downlink data channel.

Based on this, the embodiment of the application provides an alignment scheme of DCI size for single DCI in CA scene, and aligns the DCI sizes corresponding to DCI formats with the same or similar number of scheduling carrier units, thereby reducing the blind detection complexity of the terminal through DCI size alignment, reducing the number of DCI zero padding required by alignment, improving the transmission efficiency of PDCCH and reducing the occupation of downlink resources. It may be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, the carrier units with the same or similar numbers may be uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units, or may include uplink carrier units and downlink carrier units, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. The following describes in detail the DCI size alignment scheme provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3 illustrates a method for transmitting downlink control information, which mainly includes the following procedures.

S301, a base station determines a DCI format configured by each search space set in L search space sets.

One of the L search space sets may configure a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units and/or a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units. For example, in the CA scenario, it may be appreciated that in S301, the base station configures a single DCI (single DCI) DCI format in each search-space set, including DCI format 0_X and/or DCI format 1_X, where DCI format 0_X represents a DCI format that schedules multiple uplink carrier units and DCI format 1_X represents a DCI format that schedules multiple downlink carrier units.

Alternatively, the set of search spaces may be a set of user-specific search spaces USS set. The base station may configure the DCI format of SINGLE DCI described above for L USS sets on one cell. The cell may be a cell with the most DCI formats (0_0/1_0/0_1/1_1/0_2/1_2) configuring unicast scheduling in the co-scheduling cell, or a primary cell PCell configuring listening SINGLE DCI, or a cell for counting the number of blind detections BD of the terminal and/or the number of times the base station transmits non-overlapping Control Channel Elements (CCEs) CHANNEL ELEMENT.

It is appreciated that when one search space set configures DCI formats 0_X, DCI format 0_X configured by the one search space set may schedule at least one set of uplink carrier units, where the number of uplink carrier units included in different sets of uplink carrier units is different. It may be understood that the one search space set has an association relationship with at least one uplink carrier unit set, and similarly, when the one search space set is configured with the DCI format 1_X, the DCI format 1_X configured with the one search space set may schedule at least one downlink carrier unit set, and the number of downlink carrier units included in different downlink carrier unit sets may be different, so that the one search space set has an association relationship with at least one downlink carrier unit set.

In an alternative embodiment, the DCI format configured by each of the L search space sets may be predefined by a protocol or other manner, and the base station may directly obtain, according to the predefined content, the DCI format configured by each of the L search space sets. In this embodiment, the DCI format configured in each of the L search space sets may also be regarded as a known information, and the base station may not need to perform S301, so S301 is represented by a dashed box in fig. 3 as an optional step.

In another alternative embodiment, the base station may configure the number of carrier units in the uplink carrier unit set or the downlink carrier unit set by itself, and configure the uplink carrier unit set and/or the downlink carrier unit set associated with one search space set.

Example 1: the base station may configure that the maximum number of DCI format scheduling uplink carrier units configured by the L search space sets is different from the maximum number of scheduling downlink carrier units. For example, when L is 3,3 USS sets are denoted as USS#1, USS#2, USS#3. Fig. 4A illustrates a configuration of a search space set, in which DCI format 0_X and DCI format 1_X are configured on uss#1, and an uplink carrier element set= { UL cc#1,UL CC#2,UL CC#3} and a downlink carrier element set= { DL cc#1, DL cc#2} are associated; only DCI format 0_X is configured on uss#2, and one uplink carrier element set= { UL cc#3}; only DCI format 1_X is configured on uss#3, and one downlink carrier element set= { DL cc#1,DL CC#2,DL CC#3,DL CC#4}, is associated. In this case, the maximum number of uplink carrier elements scheduled by the DCI format of the 3 USS set configuration is 3, and the maximum number of downlink carrier elements scheduled by the DCI format of the 3 USS set configuration is 4.

Example 2: the base station may configure the maximum number of DCI format scheduling uplink carrier units configured by the L search space sets to be the same as the maximum number of scheduling downlink carrier units. For example, when L is 3, 3 USS sets are denoted as USS#1, USS#2, USS#3. Fig. 4B illustrates a configuration of a search space set, in which DCI formats 0_X and 1_X are configured on uss#1, and an uplink carrier element set= { UL cc#1, UL cc#2} and a downlink carrier element set= { DL cc#1, DL cc#2} are associated; only DCI format 0_X is configured on uss#2, and one uplink carrier element set= { UL cc#1,UL CC#2,UL CC#3,UL CC#4}; only DCI format 1_X is configured on uss#3, and one downlink carrier element set= { DL cc#1,DL CC#2,DL CC#3,DL CC#4}, is associated. The maximum number of the DCI format scheduled uplink carrier units and the maximum number of the DCI format scheduled downlink carrier units configured by the 3 USS sets are both 4.

Example 3: the base station may configure DCI formats 0_X and 1_X within one set of search spaces, and DCI formats 0_X and 1_X satisfy one or more of the following conditions: the number of uplink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 0_X is the same as or similar to the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 1_X, or the difference between the first number and the second number is less than or equal to a preset threshold, for example, the preset threshold is 1, described as DCI format 0_X scheduling a first number of uplink carrier units and DCI format 1_X scheduling a second number of downlink carrier units; the number of uplink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format 0_X and the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format 1_X are smaller than or equal to a set value; DCI format 0_X and DCI format 1_X schedule the same carrier elements for both uplink and downlink information transmissions.

For example, when L is 3,3 USS sets are denoted as USS#1, USS#2, and USS#3. Fig. 4C illustrates a configuration of a search space set, in which a DCI format 0_X and a DCI format 1_X are configured on uss#1, and an uplink carrier element set= { UL CC #1,UL CC#2,UL CC#3,UL CC#4} and a downlink carrier element set= { DL CC #1,DL CC#2,DL CC#3,DL CC#4} are associated, where DCI format 0_X and DCI format 1_X configured on uss#1 schedule the same carrier elements (cc#1 and cc#2) for uplink information transmission and downlink information transmission. A DCI format 0_X and a DCI format 1_X are configured on uss#2, and an uplink carrier element set= { UL cc#3, UL cc#4} and a downlink carrier element set= { DL cc#1, DL cc#2} are associated, where the number of uplink carrier elements scheduled by DCI format 0_X configured by uss#2 is the same as the number of downlink carrier elements scheduled by DCI format 1_X. And configuring a DCI format 0_X and a DCI format 1_X on the USS#3, and associating an uplink carrier unit set= { UL CC#1} and a downlink carrier unit set= { DL CC#2 and DL CC#4}, wherein the number of uplink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format 0_X configured by the USS#2 is similar to the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format 1_X.

In addition, between uss#1, uss#2, and uss#3 illustrated in fig. 4C, the number of maximum carrier elements scheduled by uss#2 and uss#3 is the same, and the number of maximum carrier elements scheduled by uss#2 and uss#1 is different. In the embodiment of the present application, when only DCI format 0_X is configured in one search space set, the maximum number of carrier units may refer to the maximum number of uplink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 0_X; when only DCI format 1_X is configured for one search space set, the maximum number of carrier units may refer to the maximum number of downlink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 1_X; when one search space set configures DCI formats 0_X and 1_X, the maximum number of carrier elements may refer to the larger value of the maximum number of uplink carriers scheduled by DCI format 0_X and the maximum number of downlink carrier elements scheduled by DCI format 1_X. Or the number of the uplink carrier units and the number of the downlink carrier units can be defined separately. Taking uss#3 as an example, DCI format 0_X corresponding to uss#3 can only schedule data channels on UL cc#1, and DCI format 1_X corresponding to uss#3 can schedule data channels on at least one carrier element of DL cc#1 and DL cc#2. The maximum number of schedulable carriers corresponding to uss#3 may be understood as 1 for the maximum number of uplink carriers scheduled by DCI format 0_X configured by uss#3 and 2 for the maximum number of downlink carriers scheduled by DCI format 1_X configured by uss#3.

In another example, when L is 2, 2 USS sets are denoted as USS#1, USS#2. Fig. 4D illustrates a configuration of a search space set, in which a DCI format 0_X and a DCI format 1_X are configured on uss#1, and an uplink carrier element set= { UL CC #1,UL CC#2,UL CC#3,UL CC#4} and a downlink carrier element set= { DL CC #1,DL CC#2,DL CC#3,DL CC#4} are associated, where DCI format 0_X and DCI format 1_X configured on uss#1 schedule the same carrier elements (cc#1, cc#2, cc#3 and cc#4) for uplink information transmission and downlink information transmission. A DCI format 0_X and a DCI format 1_X are configured on uss#2, two sets of uplink carrier units and two downlink carrier units are associated, that is, the set of uplink carrier units 1= { UL cc#3, UL cc#4}, the set of uplink carrier units 2= { UL cc#1}, the set of downlink carrier units 1= { DL cc#1, DL cc#2}, the set of downlink carrier units 2= { DL cc#2, DL cc#4}, the number of uplink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 0_X configured by uss#2 and the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 1_X are both smaller than a set value, for example, 3, or it can be understood that the number of uplink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 0_X configured by uss#2 is similar to the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 1_X. In addition, the maximum number of carrier elements scheduled by uss#1 and uss#2 illustrated in fig. 4D is different.

S302, the base station sends first configuration information to the terminal.

The first configuration information is used for indicating a DCI format configured by each of the L search space sets, where the DCI format configured by one of the L search space sets includes a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units and/or a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units, or alternatively described as: the DCI formats configured for one of the L sets of search spaces include DCI format 0_X and/or DCI format 1_X.

For example, the first configuration information includes configuration information of L search space sets, and the terminal may determine, according to the configuration information of the L search space sets, which of the resources of each of the L search space sets and DCI formats configured by each of the L search space sets is as follows: DCI only format 0_X; DCI only format 1_X; DCI format 0_X and DCI format 1_X. In an alternative implementation manner, for one search space set in the L search space sets, an association relationship between the one search space set and the configured DCI format scheduled uplink carrier unit set and/or downlink carrier unit set is preconfigured, and the terminal may determine, by itself, the uplink carrier unit set and/or downlink carrier unit set associated with the one search space set according to the DCI format configured by the one search space set in the first configuration information. In another optional implementation manner, the base station may indicate, in the first configuration information, an uplink carrier unit set and/or a downlink carrier unit set scheduled by a DCI format configured by each search space set, for example, the first configuration information includes an identifier of the uplink carrier unit set and/or the downlink carrier unit set associated with each search space set; or the first configuration information may be understood as configuration information including an uplink carrier unit set and/or a downlink carrier unit set, for example, a carrier unit identifier list indicating the uplink carrier unit set and/or the downlink carrier unit set, and a search space set identifier associated with the uplink carrier unit set and/or the downlink carrier unit set. Alternatively, the first configuration information may be implemented using RRC configuration information or RRC configuration parameters.

Optionally, the base station may include DCI format packet identification information corresponding to each of the L search space sets in the first configuration information, where the DCI format packet identification information is used to indicate one set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats. If the DCI format grouping identification information corresponding to one search space set indicates a 1 st DCI format in K sets of DCI formats, it may be understood that the DCI format configured by the search space set belongs to the 1 st DCI format. Optionally, DCI format packet identification information corresponding to different search space sets is the same or different, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application. Alternatively, since the DCI format packet identification information corresponding to the search space set is grouped according to the number of carrier units, it may also be referred to as sizeGroup. As an example, for uss#1, uss#2, uss#3, and uss#1 illustrated in fig. 4C, the DCI format packet identity information sizeGroup corresponding to uss#1 is set to "0", uss#2 and uss#3 are set to a set of DCI formats, and DCI format packet identity information sizeGroup corresponding to uss#2 and uss#3 is set to "1". Through the design, the terminal can quickly determine the DCI format grouping configured by the search space set according to the DCI format grouping identification information (sizeGroup) carried in the first configuration information, and the efficiency of the terminal for executing the alignment of the DCI size is facilitated.

S303, the terminal determines the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets according to the first configuration information.

For example, the terminal determines, according to the first configuration information, a DCI format configured for each of the L search space sets. The terminal device may further determine, according to the first configuration information, the number of uplink carrier units and/or the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by each search space set, where, for example, the terminal may first determine the uplink carrier unit set and/or the downlink carrier unit set associated with each search space set, and further determine the number of uplink carrier units and/or the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by each search space set.

The terminal may divide all DCI formats configured by the L search space sets into K sets of DCI according to DCI formats configured by each of the L search space sets. Each group of DCI formats in the K groups of DCI formats corresponds to the aligned length of one DCI size, and the aligned lengths of DCI sizes corresponding to different groups of DCI formats in the K groups of DCI formats are different. K is an integer greater than 1, for example, based on the DCI length rule described above, the value of K may be one of 2 or 3. As another example, K may be any integer from 2 to L.

Corresponding to the example described in S301, a scheme of aligning DCI sizes corresponding to DCI formats of L search-space sets is described below in terms of different cases where DCI formats are configured in L search-space sets.

Case one: and indicating the maximum number of uplink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format (i.e. DCI format 0_X) configured by the L search space sets by N, wherein M indicates the maximum number of downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format (i.e. DCI format 1_X) configured by the L search space sets, and N is smaller than M.

First, the terminal may divide all DCI formats configured by the L search space sets into K sets of DCI formats according to the value of N, where K is2. The number of uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units scheduled by each DCI format in the 1 st DCI format of the K groups of DCI formats is smaller than or equal to N, and the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by each DCI format in the 2 nd DCI format of the K groups of DCI formats is larger than N. It can be understood that when K is2, the two sets of DCI formats are distinguished by the 1 st set and the 2 nd set in the embodiment of the present application, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the 1 st set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats may be alternatively described as one set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats, and the 2 nd set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats may be alternatively described as another set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats.

Then, the terminal may align the sizes of the DCI in each of the K sets of DCI formats, so that the aligned length of one DCI size corresponding to the kth set of DCI format in the K sets of DCI formats is any one of the following: the DCI size of the DCI format with the largest number of the scheduled uplink carrier units in the kth DCI format; the DCI size of the DCI format with the largest downlink carrier quantity is scheduled in the kth DCI format; and the maximum DCI size corresponding to the DCI format in the kth group of DCI formats. Wherein K is an integer from 1 to K, and when K is 2, the value range of K comprises 1 and 2.

Taking the configuration of the search space set illustrated in fig. 4A as an example, N is 3 and m is 4. The number of downlink carrier elements scheduled by DCI format 1_X configured on uss#1 is 2, the number of uplink carrier elements scheduled by DCI format 0_X configured on uss#2 is 1, DCI format 1_X configured on uss#1 and DCI format 0_X configured on uss#2 are classified into group 1 DCI formats. The number of uplink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 0_X configured on uss#1 is 3, the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 1_X configured on uss#3 is 4, DCI format 0_X configured on uss#1 and DCI format 1_X configured on uss#3 are divided into group 2 DCI formats. As shown in fig. 5A, the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 0_X configured on uss#2 in the 1 st group may be aligned to the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_X configured on uss#1 by a zero padding method; the DCI size corresponding to DCI format 0_X configured on uss#1 in group 2 may be aligned to the DCI size corresponding to DCI format 1_X configured on uss#3 by a zero padding method.

In addition, it can be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, the terminals are not limited to grouping first and then performing the alignment operation in the group. As an alternative implementation manner, the terminal may not perform grouping, but may perform alignment for a DCI size corresponding to a DCI format having a number of scheduled uplink and downlink carrier units less than or equal to N, and perform alignment for a DCI size corresponding to a DCI format having a number of scheduled uplink and downlink carrier units greater than N. Wherein the uplink and downlink carrier units represent uplink carrier units and/or downlink carrier units.

And a second case: and indicating the maximum number of uplink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format (i.e., DCI format 0_X) configured by the L search-space sets with N, and indicating the maximum number of downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format (i.e., DCI format 1_X) configured by the L search-space sets with N equal to M. Alternatively, the second case may be described as: and the maximum number of uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by the L search space sets is N or M.

Firstly, the terminal may divide all DCI formats configured by the L search space sets into K sets of DCI formats according to the value of N, where K is 2. The number of uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units scheduled by each DCI format in the 1 st DCI format of the K groups of DCI formats is smaller than or equal to I, and the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by each DCI format in the 2 nd DCI format of the K groups of DCI formats is larger than I. Alternatively, I is equal toRepresenting a rounded up character.

As an example, fig. 5B illustrates a grouping manner corresponding to each of N times 2 to 4.

For example, when N is 4, I is 2, which means that DCI formats having a number of scheduled uplink carrier elements or a number of scheduled downlink carrier elements of 1 or 2 may be grouped into 1 st group and DCI formats having a number of scheduled uplink carrier elements or a number of scheduled downlink carrier elements of 2 or 3 may be grouped into 2 nd group. As in the configuration of the search space set illustrated in fig. 4B, N is 4. The number of uplink carrier elements scheduled by DCI format 0_X configured on uss#1 and the number of downlink carrier elements scheduled by DCI format 1_X configured on uss#1 are both 2, and DCI format 0_X configured on uss#1 and DCI format 1_X configured on uss#1 are classified into group 1 DCI formats. The number of uplink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 0_X configured on uss#2 is 4, the number of downlink carrier units scheduled by DCI format 1_X configured on uss#3 is 4, DCI format 0_X configured on uss#2 and DCI format 1_X configured on uss#3 are divided into group 2 DCI formats. The numbers in the solid line box or the dashed line box indicate DCI formats or DCI lengths corresponding to carrier units of a scheduling number size, e.g. "4" indicates DCI formats or DCI lengths corresponding to scheduling 4 carrier units.

For example, when N is 3, I is 2, which means that DCI formats having a number of scheduled uplink carrier elements or a number of scheduled downlink carrier elements of 1 or 2 may be grouped into 1 st group and DCI formats having a number of scheduled uplink carrier elements or a number of scheduled downlink carrier elements of 3 may be grouped into 2 nd group.

For example, when N is 2, I is1, which means that DCI formats having a number of scheduled uplink carrier elements or a number of scheduled downlink carrier elements of 1 may be grouped into 1 st group and DCI formats having a number of scheduled uplink carrier elements or a number of scheduled downlink carrier elements of 2 may be grouped into 2 nd group.

Based on the above example, the 1 st group is indicated by a solid line box and the 2 nd group is indicated by a broken line box in fig. 5B.

Optionally, when a specific value is taken for N, it may also be set that the value of I does not conform to I being equal toAnd a predefined or preconfigured value may be adopted, for example, when N is 3, I may be set to 1, which means that DCI formats with the number of scheduled uplink carrier units or the number of scheduled downlink carrier units being 1 may be classified into 1 st group, and DCI formats with the number of scheduled uplink carrier units or the number of scheduled downlink carrier units being 2 or 3 may be classified into 2 nd group.

In addition, it can be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, the terminals are not limited to grouping first and then performing the alignment operation in the group. As an alternative implementation manner, the terminal may not perform grouping, but may perform alignment for a DCI size corresponding to a DCI format with a number of scheduled uplink and downlink carrier units smaller than or equal to I, and perform alignment for a DCI size corresponding to a DCI format with a number of scheduled uplink and downlink carrier units greater than I. Wherein the uplink and downlink carrier units represent uplink carrier units and/or downlink carrier units.

And a third case: the number of carrier elements scheduled for the DCI format configured for each of the l search space sets is the same or similar corresponding to example 3 described in S301.

If there are at least two search space sets with the same maximum carrier unit number in the L search spaces, the terminal may divide DCI formats configured by the at least two search space sets into a group of DCI formats. For example, as shown in fig. 4C, the maximum number of carrier elements of USS #2 is the same as the maximum number of carrier elements of USS #3, and the maximum number of carrier elements of USS #2 is different from the maximum number of carrier elements of USS # 1. The terminal may divide DCI formats configured by uss#2 and uss#3 into one set of DCI formats and DCI formats configured by uss#1 into another set of DCI formats.

If there are not at least two search space sets with the same maximum carrier unit number in the L search spaces, the terminal may consider DCI formats configured for each search space set as a set of DCI formats. I.e. L search space sets are in one-to-one correspondence with K sets of DCI formats, L being equal to K. For example, as shown in fig. 4D, the maximum number of carrier elements of uss#1 and the maximum number of carrier elements of uss#2 are different, and the terminal may divide the DCI format configured by uss#1 into one set of DCI formats and the DCI format configured by uss#2 into another set of DCI formats.

Based on the above grouping, the terminal performs an alignment operation on the DCI sizes corresponding to the DCI formats in each grouping, and the alignment manner of the DCI sizes in one set of DCI formats may be understood by referring to the alignment manner of the kth set of DCI, which is not described in detail in the embodiment of the present application.

S304, the base station determines the aligned length of DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets according to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

The base station may determine a DCI size aligned length corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets by using a DCI size alignment scheme implemented by the terminal in S303. This step may be implemented with reference to S303, which is not described in detail in the embodiment of the present application.

S305, the base station sends DCI on the L search space sets according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets. Correspondingly, the terminal receives DCI on the L search space sets according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, for SINGLE DCI in the CA scene, the quantity of carrier units is scheduled according to the DCI format to realize grouping alignment, so that the blind detection complexity of the terminal can be reduced. The number of the scheduling carrier units is the same or similar and is divided into a group of DCI formats, so that the zero padding number related to alignment operation can be reduced, the transmission efficiency of the PDCCH can be improved, the coverage performance of the PDCCH can be maintained, and the occupation of the PDCCH to downlink resources can be reduced by the design.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, the DCI formats that may include the uplink carrier scheduling unit in the same set of DCI formats may also include the downlink carrier scheduling unit DCI formats, different sets of DCI formats correspond to aligned lengths of different DCI sizes, and one DCI format may have multiple lengths, which is more flexible compared to only one DCI format of the existing conventional DCI.

Considering that scheduling of SINGLE DCI and LEGACY DCI may exist simultaneously in a CA scenario, referring to fig. 6, an embodiment of the present application further provides a DCI transmission method, which mainly includes the following procedures.

S601, a base station sends first configuration information and second configuration information to a terminal.

The first configuration information is used for indicating a DCI format configured by each of the L search space sets. The definition of the first configuration information can be understood with reference to the embodiment described in fig. 3. The present application will not be described in detail.

The second configuration information is used to configure the format LEGACY DCI, e.g., the second configuration information may be used to configure at least one of DCI format 0_2, DCI format 1_2, DCI format 0_1, DCI format 1_1.

S602, the terminal determines the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information according to the first configuration information and the second configuration information.

According to the first configuration information, the terminal device may determine a length after DCI alignment corresponding to DCI formats configured by the L search space sets. The implementation may be specifically described with reference to S303, which is not described in detail in the embodiment of the present application. In the embodiment of the present application, the DCI formats configured by the L search space sets are divided into two sets of DCI formats, and the length of each set of DCI formats in the two sets of DCI formats after aligning the sizes of one DCI is illustrated as an example. Wherein one of the two sets of DCI formats may include DCI format 0_X and/or DCI format 1_X.

Based on the foregoing alignment manner of the conventional DCI sizes, the terminal may determine a length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format 0_0 and the DCI format 1_0 after alignment, e.g., denoted as a first length; one length after the DCI sizes corresponding to the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2 are aligned is recorded as a second length; and one length after the DCI sizes corresponding to DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1 are aligned is denoted as a third length. Wherein the first length is less than the second length, and the second length is less than the third length. Based on this, the terminal device receives the second configuration information, and may also determine that the DCI format configured in the second configuration information corresponds to one of the first length, the second length, or the third length. For example, when the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2 are configured in the second configuration information, the terminal may determine that the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2 correspond to a second length. When the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 are configured in the second configuration information, the terminal may determine that the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 correspond to a third length.

The following description will be made for different cases of the format of the configuration LEGACY DCI in the second configuration information, respectively.

For example, when the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2 are configured in the second configuration information, the terminal may determine that the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2 correspond to a second length. The terminal may align the second length to the first length corresponding to the DCI format 0_0 and the DCI format 1_0, and finally make the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_2 or the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 0_2 be the same as the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_0. As illustrated in fig. 7A, the lengths after the DCI sizes corresponding to the DCI format 1_0 and the DCI format 0_0 are aligned keep the first length unchanged, and the lengths after the DCI sizes corresponding to the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2 are aligned from the second length to the first length, that is, the DCI sizes of the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2 are aligned to the first length by the puncturing method. Fig. 7A also illustrates two lengths of SINGLE DCI after DCI size alignment, denoted as length 1 corresponding to DCI format 0_X/1_X and length 2 corresponding to DCI format 0_X/1_X.

For example, when the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 are configured in the second configuration information, the terminal may determine that the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 correspond to a third length. The terminal may align the third length to the minimum length after the DCI sizes corresponding to the K sets of DCI formats are aligned, and finally make the length after the DCI sizes corresponding to the DCI format 0_2 or the DCI format 1_2 are aligned the same as the minimum length after the DCI sizes corresponding to the K sets of DCI formats are aligned. As shown in fig. 7B, the lengths after DCI sizes corresponding to DCI format 1_0 and DCI format 0_0 are aligned keep the first length unchanged, the length after DCI sizes corresponding to DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1 are aligned from the third length to the minimum length of two lengths after DCI sizes of SINGLE DCI are aligned, that is, DCI sizes of DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1 are aligned to the minimum length by zero padding. For example, the minimum length of two lengths after the DCI sizes of SINGLE DCI are aligned is the length 1 corresponding to DCI format 0_X/1_X.

For another example, when the DCI format 0_2, the DCI format 1_2, the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 are configured in the second configuration information, in an optional implementation manner, the terminal may align the second length to the third length, so that the length after the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 0_2 or the DCI format 1_2 is aligned is the same as the length after the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_1 or the DCI format 0_1 is aligned. As shown in fig. 7C, the length after DCI size alignment corresponding to DCI format 1_0 and DCI format 0_0 keeps the first length unchanged, the length after DCI size alignment corresponding to DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 changes from the second length to the third length corresponding to DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1, that is, the DCI sizes of DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 are aligned to the aforementioned third length by zero padding. Fig. 7C also illustrates two lengths of SINGLE DCI after DCI size alignment. In another alternative embodiment, the terminal may align the second length to the first length in combination with the alignment illustrated in fig. 7A and fig. 7B, and align the third length to the minimum length of the two lengths after DCI size alignment of SINGLE DCI, and finally, as illustrated in fig. 7D, the lengths after DCI size alignment corresponding to DCI format 1_0 and DCI format 0_0 keep the first length unchanged, and the lengths after DCI size alignment corresponding to DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 change from the second length to the first length; the length after DCI size alignment of DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1 corresponds to the third length to be the smallest of two lengths after DCI size alignment of SINGLE DCI. For example, the minimum length of two lengths after the DCI sizes of SINGLE DCI are aligned is the length 1 corresponding to DCI format 0_X/1_X.

The embodiment of the application provides the method, the quantity of different DCI sizes between SINGLE DCI and LEGACY DCI is controlled through alignment, for example, the sum of the quantity of different lengths of the aligned different DCI sizes of SINGLE DCI and LEGACY DCI is not more than 3, the method can ensure SINGLE DCI is introduced on the basis of LEGACY DCI, the rule of DCI alignment length is still satisfied, and the method is compatible with the current protocol specification.

S603, the base station determines the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information according to the DCI format indicated in the first configuration information and the DCI format configured in the second configuration information.

Specifically, the base station may refer to the description in S602, and determine the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information. The embodiments of the present application will not be described in detail.

S604, the base station sends DCI according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information; correspondingly, the terminal receives the DCI according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information. It is to be understood that the DCIs described in S604 and S305 are general concepts and do not indicate that S604 and S305 are the same DCIs.

It will be appreciated that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the base station and the terminal include corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules for performing the respective functions. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the various illustrative elements and method steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware or combinations of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented as hardware or computer software driven hardware depends upon the particular application scenario and design constraints imposed on the solution.

Fig. 8 and 9 are schematic structural diagrams of a possible communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. These communication devices may be used to implement the functions of the terminal or the base station in the above method embodiments, so that the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments may also be implemented. In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device may be one of the terminals 120a to 120j shown in fig. 1, or may be the base station 110a or 110b shown in fig. 1, or may be a module (e.g., a chip) applied to the terminal or the base station.

As shown in fig. 8, the communication apparatus 800 includes a processing unit 810 and a transceiving unit 820. The communication device 800 is configured to implement the functions of the terminal or the base station in the method embodiments shown in fig. 3 and 6.

When the communication device 800 is used to implement the functionality of a terminal in the method embodiment shown in fig. 3: the transceiver unit 820 is configured to receive the first configuration information; the processing unit 810 is configured to determine, according to the first configuration information, a length after DCI size alignment corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets; the processing unit 810 is further configured to receive DCI on the L search space sets by using the transceiver unit 820 according to the aligned lengths of DCI sizes corresponding to DCI formats configured by the L search space sets.

In one possible design, the transceiver unit 820 is further configured to receive second configuration information; the processing unit 810 is configured to determine, according to the first configuration information and the second configuration information, a length after DCI size alignment corresponding to a DCI format configured in the second configuration information; the processing unit 810 is further configured to receive DCI by using the transceiver unit 820 according to the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information.

When the communication device 800 is used to implement the functionality of a base station in the method embodiment shown in fig. 3: the transceiver unit 820 is configured to transmit first configuration information, where the first configuration information is used to indicate a DCI format configured for each of the L search space sets. A processing unit 810, configured to send DCI on the L search space sets by using a transceiver unit 820 according to the aligned lengths of DCI sizes corresponding to DCI formats configured by the L search space sets.

In one possible design, the transceiver unit 820 is further configured to send the second configuration information; the processing unit 810 is configured to determine, according to the DCI format indicated in the first configuration information and the DCI format configured in the second configuration information, a length after DCI size alignment corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information; the processing unit 810 is further configured to receive DCI by using the transceiver unit 820 according to the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information.

For more details on the processing unit 810 and the transceiver unit 820 described above, reference is made to the relevant description in the method embodiment shown in fig. 3.

As shown in fig. 9, the communication device 900 includes a processor 910 and an interface circuit 920. The processor 910 and the interface circuit 920 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 920 may be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a memory 930 for storing instructions executed by the processor 910 or for storing input data required by the processor 910 to execute the instructions or for storing data generated after the processor 910 executes the instructions.

When the communication device 900 is used to implement the method shown in fig. 3, the processor 910 is configured to implement the functions of the processing unit 810, and the interface circuit 920 is configured to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 820.

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

When the communication device is a module applied to a base station, the base station module realizes the functions of the base station in the method embodiment. The base station module receives information from other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the base station, the information being transmitted by the terminal to the base station; or the base station module transmits information to other modules in the base station, such as a radio frequency module or an antenna, which the base station transmits to the terminal. The base station module may be a baseband chip of a base station, or may be a DU or other module, where the DU may be a DU under an open radio access network (open radio access network, O-RAN) architecture.

It is to be appreciated that the Processor in embodiments of the application may be a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, CPU), but may also be other general purpose processors, digital signal processors (DIGITAL SIGNAL processors, DSPs), application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (Field Programmable GATE ARRAY, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, it may be any conventional processor.

The method steps of the embodiments of the present application may be implemented in hardware or in software instructions executable by a processor. The software instructions may be comprised of corresponding software modules that may be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read only memory, programmable read only memory, erasable programmable read only memory, electrically erasable programmable read only memory, registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. The storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC may reside in a base station or terminal. The processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a base station or terminal.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable apparatus. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer program or instructions may be transmitted from one website site, computer, server, or data center to another website site, computer, server, or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that integrates one or more available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium, e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, tape; but also optical media such as digital video discs; but also semiconductor media such as solid state disks. The computer readable storage medium may be volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage medium.

In various embodiments of the application, where no special description or logic conflict exists, terms and/or descriptions between the various embodiments are consistent and may reference each other, and features of the various embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logic.

Claims

1. The transmission method of the downlink control information is characterized by being applied to the terminal equipment and comprising the following steps:

Receiving first configuration information, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating DCI formats configured by each of the L search space sets; the DCI format configured by each of the L search space sets includes a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units and/or a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units, and L is an integer greater than 1;

determining the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets according to the first configuration information;

And receiving DCI on the L search space sets according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the DCI formats configured by the L search space sets are divided into K sets of DCI formats, each set of the K sets of DCI formats corresponding to a DCI size aligned length, K being an integer greater than 1 and less than or equal to L.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein K is an integer from 1 to K, and wherein a length of one DCI size alignment corresponding to a kth DCI format of the K sets of DCI formats is any one of:

The DCI size of the DCI format with the largest number of the scheduled uplink carrier units in the kth DCI format;

The DCI size of the DCI format with the largest downlink carrier quantity is scheduled in the kth DCI format;

And the maximum DCI size corresponding to the DCI format in the kth group of DCI formats.

4. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein K is 2, a number of uplink carrier units or downlink carrier units scheduled by each DCI format in a1 st DCI format of the K sets of DCI formats is less than or equal to N, and a number of downlink carriers scheduled by each DCI format in a2 nd DCI format of the K sets of DCI formats is greater than N; and N is the maximum number of uplink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

5. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein K is 2, the number of uplink carrier elements or downlink carrier elements scheduled by each DCI format in a1 st of the K sets of DCI formats is less than or equal to I, and the number of uplink carrier elements or downlink carrier elements scheduled by each DCI format in a2 nd of the K sets of DCI formats is greater than I; wherein I is equal to Representing an upward rounding; and N is the maximum number of uplink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by the L search space sets or the maximum number of downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

6. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the first configuration information includes DCI format packet identification information corresponding to each of the L sets of search spaces, the DCI format packet identification information being used to indicate a set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats.

7. The method of any of claims 2-6, wherein a difference between the first number and the second number is less than or equal to a preset threshold when one of the L sets of search spaces is configured to schedule DCI formats for a first number of uplink carrier units and DCI formats for a second number of downlink carrier units.

8. The method of any one of claims 2-7, further comprising:

receiving second configuration information, wherein the second configuration information is used for configuring at least one of DCI format 0_2, DCI format 1_2, DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1;

Determining the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information according to the first configuration information and the second configuration information;

and receiving DCI according to the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein,

When the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2 are configured in the second configuration information, the length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_2 is the same as the length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_0;

When the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 are configured in the second configuration information, the length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_1 is the same as the minimum length of the DCI aligned with the DCI size corresponding to the K groups of DCI formats;

When the DCI format 0_2, the DCI format 1_2, the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 are configured in the second configuration information, the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_2 is the same as the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format 1_1.

10. The transmission method of the downlink control information is characterized by comprising the following steps:

transmitting first configuration information, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating DCI formats configured by each of the L search space sets; the DCI format configured by each of the L search space sets includes a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of uplink carrier units and/or a DCI format for scheduling a plurality of downlink carrier units, and L is an integer greater than 1;

And transmitting DCI on the L search space sets according to the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the DCI formats configured by the L search space sets are divided into K sets of DCI formats, each set of the K sets of DCI formats corresponding to a DCI size aligned length, K being an integer greater than 1 and less than or equal to L.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein K is an integer from 1 to K, and wherein a DCI size aligned length corresponding to a kth DCI format of the K DCI formats is any one of:

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein K is 2, a number of uplink carrier elements or downlink carrier elements scheduled by each DCI format in a1 st DCI format of the K sets of DCI formats is less than or equal to N, and a number of downlink carriers scheduled by each DCI format in a2 nd DCI format of the K sets of DCI formats is greater than N; and N is the maximum number of uplink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

14. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein K is 2, the number of uplink carrier elements or downlink carrier elements scheduled by each DCI format in a1 st of the K sets of DCI formats is less than or equal to I, and the number of uplink carrier elements or downlink carrier elements scheduled by each DCI format in a2 nd of the K sets of DCI formats is greater than I; wherein I is equal to Representing an upward rounding; and N is the maximum number of uplink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by the L search space sets or the maximum number of downlink carrier units scheduled by the DCI format configured by the L search space sets.

15. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the first configuration information includes DCI format packet identification information corresponding to each of the L sets of search spaces, the DCI format packet identification information being used to indicate a set of DCI formats in the K sets of DCI formats.

16. The method of any of claims 11-15, wherein a difference between the first number and the second number is less than or equal to a preset threshold when one of the L sets of search spaces is configured to schedule DCI formats for a first number of uplink carrier units and DCI formats for a second number of downlink carrier units.

17. The method of any one of claims 11-16, further comprising:

Transmitting second configuration information for configuring at least one of DCI format 0_2, DCI format 1_2, DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1;

Determining the aligned length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information according to the DCI format indicated in the first configuration information and the DCI format configured in the second configuration information;

And sending the DCI according to the aligned length of the DCI size corresponding to the DCI format configured in the second configuration information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein,

When the DCI format 0_2, the DCI format 1_2, the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1 are configured in the second configuration information, the length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format 1_2 after being aligned is the same as the length of the DCI corresponding to the DCI format 1_1 after being aligned.

19. A communication device comprising means for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 9 or means for performing the method of any one of claims 10 to 18.

20. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that the storage medium has stored therein a computer program or instructions which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 9 or the method of any one of claims 10 to 18.