RU2798026C1 - Communication method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: communication technologies.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to communication method and device. The technical result is to increase the efficiency of using network resources, so that the terminal device receives the indicator information used by the network device to indicate the terminal device to operate in the idle BWP in the secondary cell, the terminal device can determine the specific BWP in which the terminal device should operate and perform the corresponding operation. The method includes: the network device generates the pointer information and sends the pointer information to the terminal device, where the pointer information is used to direct the terminal device to operate in a non-idle BWP in the first secondary cell. The terminal device is then allowed, according to the indicator information, to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is the non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell. Thus, upon receiving the indicator information used by the network device to indicate the terminal device to operate in the idle BWP in the secondary cell, the terminal device can determine the specific BWP in which the terminal device should operate and operate in the corresponding BWP.

EFFECT: increased efficiency of using network resources.

36 cl, 10 dwg

Description

Cross-reference to related application

This application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201911089858.9 filed with the National Intellectual Property Office of China on November 8, 2019 and entitled "COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS", which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

The field of technology to which the invention belongs

The present application relates generally to the field of communication technologies and, in particular, to a communication method and device.

State of the art

With the development of communication technologies, carrier aggregation (CA) has been introduced into the standard. A plurality of component carriers (CCs) may be configured for one terminal device. One of the CCs corresponds to a primary cell (PCell), which is a cell in which the terminal device establishes an initial connection, a cell in which the terminal device re-establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection, or a primary cell specified in the handover process. PCell is responsible for the RRC communication with the terminal device. The physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) information can only be carried in the PCell. The remaining CCs correspond to secondary cells (secondary cell, SCell).

When a CA is configured for a terminal device, the network device may indicate, in the PCell, to the terminal device whether to perform idle operation in the SCell. If the network device instructs the terminal device to perform idle operation, the terminal device does not monitor the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) information in the corresponding SCell.

The new radio of the 5th generation (5 generation, 5G) (new radio, NR) supports the "bandwidth part" (BWP) technology, that is, it supports transmission between the network device and the terminal device, occupying part of the bandwidth. On a single carrier (cell), a network device can configure multiple BWPs for a terminal device, so the terminal device can support multiple types of services. Based on this, the specific way in which the network device instructs the terminal device to perform dormant operation can be as follows: configuring a dormant BWP (dormant BWP) in SCell, and then indicating, in PCell using 1 bit (bit), to the terminal device switch between dormant BWP and non-dormant BWP in SCell. For example, "1" indicates a switch from a dormant BWP to a non-dormant BWP, and "0" indicates a switch from a non-dormant BWP to a dormant BWP.

However, the current standard only stipulates that the network device indicates the idle operation of the terminal device using the pointer information, but the specific nature of the work performed by the terminal device after the terminal device receives the pointer information remains unclear.

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus such that when a terminal device receives indicator information used by a network device to instruct the terminal device to operate in an idle BWP in a secondary cell, the terminal device can determine the particular BWP in which the terminal device should operate and execute the corresponding operation.

According to a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method. The method includes: the terminal device receives indicator information from the network device, where the indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell; and the terminal device is allowed, according to the indicator information, to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

According to the above method, upon receiving the indicator information used by the network device to indicate the terminal device to operate in the dormant BWP in the secondary cell, the terminal device can determine the specific BWP in which the terminal device should operate and operate in the corresponding BWP.

In an exemplary embodiment, the specific manner in which the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP may be as follows: the terminal device switches from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first The BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell. Thus, the terminal device can operate in a specific BWP.

In an exemplary embodiment, the specific manner in which the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP may be as follows: the terminal device switches from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first The BWP is the BWP that is configured by the network device and to which the terminal device must switch. Thus, the terminal device can operate in a specific BWP.

In an exemplary embodiment, the specific manner in which the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP may be as follows: the terminal device switches from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP until the switch. for the fourth BWP. Thus, the terminal device can operate in a specific BWP.

In an exemplary embodiment, the specific manner in which the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP may be as follows: the terminal device switches from the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the first BWP communicates with the fifth BWP. Thus, the terminal device can operate in a specific BWP.

In an exemplary implementation, the specific manner in which the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP may be as follows: when the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, the terminal device keeps the terminal device running in the first BWP. Thus, the terminal device can operate in a specific BWP.

According to a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method. The method may include: the network device generates indicator information, where the indicator information is used to indicate the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell; and the network device sends the pointer information to the terminal device to allow the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

According to the above method, upon receiving the indicator information used by the network device to indicate the terminal device to operate in the dormant BWP in the secondary cell, the terminal device can determine the specific BWP in which the terminal device should operate and operate in the corresponding BWP.

According to a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method. The method may include: the terminal device receives the first configuration information from the network device, where the first configuration information is used to configure or direct the terminal device to receive the downlink control information, the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes as follows: at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information, or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to start a continuous tracking period timer in the first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, and the second indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to perform an idle operation in the secondary cell; and the terminal apparatus monitors or does not monitor the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information. Thus, a particular behavior is determined as to whether the terminal device monitors the downlink control information.

In a possible design, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information, the terminal device receives the second configuration information from the network device, and the second configuration information is used to configure that the category of the indicator information included in downlink control information includes first pointer information. Alternatively, the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information by default.

In an exemplary embodiment, the terminal device monitors the first downlink control information; and when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal apparatus to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal apparatus starts the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle and monitors the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle and does not monitor the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle. . Thus, a particular behavior is determined as to whether the terminal device monitors the downlink control information.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information, the terminal apparatus monitors the first downlink control information; and when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device starts the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, monitors the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the primary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle, and determines, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle and does not monitor the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle. . Thus, specific behavior is determined as to whether the terminal device monitors the downlink control information when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information, the terminal apparatus monitors the first downlink control information; the terminal device starts the continuous tracking period timer in the first DRX cycle and monitors the PDCCH in the primary cell during the continuous monitoring period in the first DRX cycle; and the terminal device determines, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle. Thus, specific behavior is determined as to whether the terminal apparatus monitors the downlink control information when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the terminal apparatus does not keep track of the first downlink control information. Thus, a particular behavior is determined as to whether the terminal device monitors the downlink control information when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes neither the first indicator information nor the second indicator information.

According to a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method. The method may include: the network device sends the first configuration information to the terminal device, where the first configuration information is used to configure or direct the terminal device to receive the downlink control information, the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes as follows: at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information, or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to start an on duration timer in the first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, and the second indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to perform an idle operation in the secondary cell; and the network device sends or does not send the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information. Thus, the terminal apparatus can determine specific behavior regarding whether or not to monitor the downlink control information.

According to a fifth aspect, the present application further provides a terminal device. The terminal device has the function of implementing the terminal device in the exemplary method in the first aspect or the third aspect. The function may be implemented in hardware, or may be implemented in hardware running corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to a function.

In a possible execution, the structure of the terminal device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit. These blocks may perform respective functions in the method example in the first aspect or the third aspect. For more information, please refer to the detailed description of the exemplary method. Details are not described here.

In a possible implementation, the structure of the terminal device includes a transceiver and a processor and, if necessary, may further include a memory. The transceiver is configured to send and receive data, as well as communicate and interact with another device in the system. The processor is configured to support the terminal device while performing the corresponding function of the terminal device in the method in the first aspect or the third aspect. The memory is connected to the processor and the memory stores the program instructions and data needed by the terminal device.

According to a sixth aspect, the present application further provides a network device. The network device has the function of implementing the network device in the example method in the second aspect or the fourth aspect. The function may be implemented in hardware, or may be implemented in hardware running corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to a function.

In a possible implementation, the network device structure includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit. These blocks may perform respective functions in the method example in the second aspect or the fourth aspect. For more information, please refer to the detailed description of the exemplary method. Details are not described here.

In a possible implementation, the structure of the network device includes a transceiver and a processor and, if necessary, may further include a memory. The transceiver is configured to send and receive data, as well as communicate and interact with another device in the system. The processor is configured to support the network device while performing the corresponding function of the network device in the method in the second aspect or the fourth aspect. The memory is connected to the processor and the memory stores the program instructions and data needed by the network device.

According to the seventh aspect, the present application further provides a communication system. The communication system includes a terminal device and a network device mentioned in at least one of the previous embodiments. In addition, the network device in the communication system can perform any method performed by the network device in the above methods, and the terminal device in the communication system can perform any method performed by the terminal device in the above methods.

According to the eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, and the computer-executable instructions, when called by the computer, are used to enable the computer to perform any of the above methods.

According to a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product including instructions. When the computer program product is run on the computer, the computer may perform any of the above methods.

According to the tenth aspect, the present application provides a chip. The chip is connected to the memory and configured to read and execute program instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the architecture of a communication system according to the present application;

fig. 2 is a flow chart of a communication method according to the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the type of switching BWP according to the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic representation of another type of BWP switching according to the present application;

fig. 5 is a flowchart of another communication method according to the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic representation of the location of the first downlink control information according to the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device according to the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a network device according to the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device according to the present application; And

fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a network device according to the present application.

Detailed description of the invention

Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a detailed description of the present application.

Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device such that when a terminal device receives indicator information used by a network device to indicate a terminal device to operate in a dormant BWP in a secondary cell, the terminal device can determine the particular BWP in which the terminal device should operate, and perform the appropriate operation. The method and device in the present application are based on the same invention idea. The method and device have similar principles for solving problems. Thus, for the implementation of the device and the method can be made mutual reference to each other. The details of the repeating parts are not described.

In the descriptions of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely for distinction and description, and should not be understood as an indication or meaning of relative importance, or as an indication or meaning of order.

In the description of the present application, the term "at least one" refers to one or more, and "many" refers to two or more.

Next, for a clearer description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the communication method and apparatus according to the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1 shows the architecture of an exemplary communication system to which the communication method according to an embodiment of the present application is applicable. The communication system architecture includes a network device and a terminal device.

A network device is a device that has a wireless transceiver function or a chip that can be housed in a network device. Network device includes, but is not limited to: gNB, radio network controller (RNC), node B (NodeB, NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS ), a home base station, such as a home evolved NodeB or home NodeB (home evolved NodeB or home NodeB, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), an access point (AP) in a near field wireless communication system actions (Wireless Fidelity, WiFi), wireless relay node, wireless transport network node or transceiver point (transmission and reception point, TRP or transmission point, TP). Alternatively, the network device may be a network node such as a baseband unit (BBU) or a distributed unit (DU) that forms a gNB or transmitting point.

In some deployment scenarios, a gNB may include a centralized unit (CU) and a DU. The gNB may further include a radio unit (RU). CU implements some gNB functionality and DU implements some gNB functionality. For example, the CU implements the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) layer and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and the DU implements the radio link control (RLC) functions, the media access control layer ( media access control, MAC) and physical (physical, PHY) layer. The information in the RRC layer eventually becomes the information in the PHY layer or is converted from the information in the PHY layer. Thus, in such an architecture, higher layer signaling, such as RRC layer signaling or PDCP layer signaling, can be considered as sent by the DU or sent by the DU and RU. It is understood that the network device may be a CU node, a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU may be classified as a network device in the access network RAN, or the CU may be classified as a network device in the core network CN. This example is not limiting.

A terminal device may also be referred to as user equipment (user equipment, UE), access terminal, user equipment, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile console, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device. The terminal device in the embodiments of the present application may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer (Pad), a computer having a wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device. ), wireless terminal in industrial control system, wireless terminal in self-driving system, wireless terminal in remote medical system, wireless terminal in smart grid, wireless terminal in transport safety system, a wireless terminal in a smart city system, a wireless terminal in a smart home system, etc. The application scenario is not limited to the embodiments of the present application. In the present application, a terminal device having a wireless transceiver function and a chip that can be housed in the terminal device is collectively referred to as a terminal device.

It should be noted that the communication system shown in FIG. 1 may be, but not limited to, a 5th Generation (5G) system, such as new radio access technology (NR). If necessary, the method presented in the embodiments of the present application is further applicable to various future communication systems, for example, a 6G system or other communication network.

Carrier aggregation (CA) is now standardized. A plurality of component carriers (CC) may be configured for one terminal device. One of the CCs corresponds to a primary cell (PCell), which is a cell in which the terminal device establishes an initial connection, a cell in which the terminal device re-establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection, or a primary cell specified in the handover process. PCell is responsible for the RRC communication with the terminal device. The physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) information can only be carried in the PCell. The remaining CCs correspond to secondary cells (secondary cell, SCell).

When a CA is configured for a terminal device, the network device may indicate, in PCell, to the terminal device whether to perform idle operation in the SCell. If the terminal device is instructed to operate in idle mode, the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH in the corresponding SCell. The specific method is as follows: a dormant BWP (dormant BWP) is configured in SCell. Then, in the PCell cell, the terminal device is indicated, using the 1st bit, to switch between the dormant BWP and the non-dormant BWP in the SCell. For example, "1" indicates that the terminal device is performing dormancy behavior in SCell, such as switching from a dormant BWP to a non-dormant BWP, and "0" indicates that the terminal device is performing non-dormancy behavior. -dormancy behavior) in SCell, for example, switches from a non-dormant BWP to a dormant BWP. Of course, another case for the 1st bit is also possible. In the present application, this example is not a limitation.

In particular, a 1-bit pointer in PCell has the following two possibilities:

The first possibility is: when the connected mode (CONNECTED mode, C) - discontinuous reception (DRX) is not configured for the terminal device, or C-DRX is configured for the terminal device and is within the active time (Active time) C- DRX, the pointer may be transmitted in downlink control information (DCI) format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1.

The second possibility is that when the C-DRX is configured for the terminal device and the indication is before the continuous tracking period (OnDuration), the indication may be transmitted in 3_0 DCI format.

Typically, the network device may send the PDCCH up to DRX OnDuration. The DCI format corresponding to the PDCCH may be 3_0. The DCI format may also be referred to by another name (for example, format 2_6). In the present application, this example is not a limitation. The PDCCH may carry a wake-up indicator to indicate whether the PDCCH needs to be monitored in the C-DRX cycle after the PDCCH. If the terminal device is instructed not to wake up, regardless of the specific number of cells configured for the terminal device, the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH in each cell. In addition, the 3_0 DCI format may additionally indicate dormancy behavior in the SCell, and in particular indicate the SCells that need to monitor the PDCCH and the SCells that do not need to monitor the PDCCH. The rest mode pointer does not affect PCell.

Currently, idle operation is implemented based on BWP switching. However, the current standard only stipulates that the network device indicates the idle operation of the terminal device using the pointer information, but the specific nature of the work performed by the terminal device after the terminal device receives the pointer information remains unclear. Based on this, the present application provides a communication method for determining the specific nature of the work performed by the terminal device after receiving, by the terminal device from the network device, indicator information indicating that the terminal device needs to operate in a non-idle BWP.

Below, with reference to specific embodiments, a detailed description of the communication method presented in the embodiments of the present application.

The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application is applicable to the communication system shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the specific method procedure may include the following steps.

Step 201: The network device generates indicator information, where the indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to operate in a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

Step 202: The network device sends the pointer information to the terminal device.

Specifically, the specific method in which the network device sends the pointer information to the terminal device may be as follows: the network device sends the pointer information to the terminal device in the primary cell.

Step 203: The terminal device is allowed, according to the indicator information, to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is the non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

In particular, in the present application, the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH signal in the dormant BWP and monitors the PDCCH signal in the non-dormant BWP.

For example, that the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP may have the following five cases.

Case a1: The terminal device switches from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is the idle BWP or the non-idle BWP currently used by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell. The first active BWP is the specific BWP. When the secondary cell is configured for the terminal device, the first active BWP in the secondary cell may be configured for the terminal device to determine the particular BWP to be used when the terminal device operates in the secondary cell for the first time.

In the case of a1, the network device configures the first active BWP in the first secondary cell, where the first active BWP is the BWP to which the terminal device is to switch, as long as the terminal device receives the pointer information. Regardless of whether the terminal device is currently operating in the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, as long as the terminal device is not operating in the first active BWP, the terminal device switches to and operates in the particular BWP in the first secondary cell. cell.

Case a2: The terminal device switches from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the BWP that is configured by the network device and to which the terminal device is to switch.

In case a2, the network device configures the specific BWP (which is the first BWP herein) in the first secondary cell, where the specific BWP is the BWP to which the terminal device is to switch, as long as the terminal device receives the pointer information. Regardless of whether the terminal device is currently operating in the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, as long as the terminal device is not operating in the configured specific BWP, the terminal device switches to and operates in the specific BWP in the first secondary cell. cell.

Case a3: The terminal device switches from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP before switching to the fourth BWP.

Case a4: The terminal device switches from the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the first BWP is communicating with the fifth BWP.

For example, there are multiple BWP pairs in the first secondary cell, and each BWP pair communicates with each other. More specifically, each pair of BWPs is one dormant BWP and one non-dormant BWP that interact with each other. When receiving the pointer information, the terminal device only switches between the two BWPs that are communicating with each other.

Case a5: When the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, the terminal device keeps the terminal device running in the first BWP.

In particular, in the case of a5, a possible scenario is that the first BWP is neither the first active BWP in the first secondary cell, nor the BWP that is configured by the network device and to which the terminal device is to switch. The method in case 5a is only used in this scenario. Another possible scenario is that no matter which BWP the first BWP is, since the first BWP is a non-dormant BWP, the method in case a5 can be used.

Accordingly, in the above five possible cases, the network device separately performs the following operations.

In case a1, the network device determines that the terminal device switches from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is the idle BWP or the non-idle BWP currently used by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell.

In case a2, the network device determines that the terminal device switches from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the BWP that is configured by the network device and to which the terminal device should switch.

In case a3, the network device determines that the terminal device switches from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP before switching to the fourth BWP.

In case a4, the network device determines that the terminal device switches from the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the first BWP is communicating with the fifth BWP.

In case a5, when the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, the network device determines that the terminal device supports the operation of the terminal device in the first BWP.

It should be noted that the above only describes the case where the indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to operate in the non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell. It should be understood that the first secondary cell is an example used to describe the communication method presented in this application. During a particular implementation, the pointer information is used to indicate to the terminal device to operate in the dormant BWP in one or more secondary cells, or to operate in the dormant BWP in one or more secondary cells. To be precise, the first secondary cell is any one of one or more secondary cells. When the pointer information is used to direct the terminal device to operate in a non-idle BWP in any of one or more secondary cells, a communication method using the first secondary cell as an example may be used.

According to the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present application, upon receiving the indicator information used by the network device to instruct the terminal device to operate in the non-idle BWP in the secondary cell, the terminal device can determine the specific BWP in which the terminal device should operate and operate in the corresponding bwp.

Based on the above embodiment, the general idea of the communication method presented in the present application can be understood as follows:

The network device indicates that the terminal device needs to switch to a non-dormant BWP in a particular SCell. For example, if the terminal device is operating in BWP 1 when the pointer is received, several of the following cases are possible.

If BWP 1 is the dormant BWP, the terminal device switches to and operates in BWP 2 after receiving the pointer, where BWP 2 is the BWP used when the terminal device switches from the dormant BWP, such as the first active BWP defined (default) a non-dormant BWP that is configured by the network device, or an active BWP used by the terminal device before the terminal device switches to the dormant BWP.

If BWP 1 is a non-dormant BWP but is not the BWP in use when the terminal device switches from the dormant BWP, the terminal device switches to and operates in BWP 2 after receiving the pointer, where BWP 2 is the BWP in use when the terminal device switches with a dormant BWP, such as the first active BWP or a non-dormant default BWP configured by the network device; or the terminal device is still running in BWP 1.

If BWP 1 is a non-dormant BWP and is the BWP used when the terminal device switches from the dormant BWP, the terminal device is still operating in BWP 1.

Based on the previous description, the following specific example is used to describe the communication method provided in the present application. To describe it, an example is used in which the terminal device is a UE.

For example, multiple BWPs may be configured for UEs in one cell. It is assumed that there are many non-idle BWPs in one SCell. The following uses a specific example to describe which BWP the UE should switch to when the UE receives a pointer in PCell indicating that the UE needs to monitor the PDCCH in the SCell (ie, it needs to operate in a non-idle BWP).

For example, it is assumed that four BWPs are configured for the UE at a given time, where BWP 1, BWP 2, and BWP 3 are normal BWPs (i.e., BWPs in which PDCCHs need to be monitored, namely non-dormant BWPs), and BWP 4 is dormant. BWP (that is, a BWP that does not need to monitor the PDCCH). Initially, the UE is running in BWP 2, and at the first time, the UE is instructed in PCell and must switch to the idle BWP (ie, BWP 4).

At the second time, the UE receives the indication in the PCell and must switch from the dormant BWP. In this case, to determine the specific BWP to which the UE switches from BWP 4, the following three solutions are possible:

Solution 1: The UE switches to BWP 1 and BWP 1 is the first active BWP (in the traditional technology, there is necessarily one first active BWP in one SCell, and after SCell activation, the UE operates in the first active BWP).

Solution 2: The UE switches to BWP 2, that is, to the active BWP (non-idle BWP) used by the UE before the UE switches to the inactive BWP (BWP 4).

Solution 3: The UE switches to BWP 3, and BWP 3 is the BWP that is configured by the network device and that is used when the UE switches from the dormant BWP, that is, the BWP that is configured by the network device and to which the UE should switch.

For example, the switching process described above is shown in FIG. 3.

In another example, four normal BWPs (non-dormant BWPs) are configured for the UE and are BWP 1, BWP 2, BWP 3, and BWP 4. In addition to this, four dormant BWPs are further configured for the UE, which are BWP 5, BWP 6, BWP 7 and BWP 8, which correspond to BWP 1, BWP 2, BWP 3, and BWP 4, respectively. BWP 5. When the active BWP of the UE is BWP 5, if the UE receives the pointer from the network device and needs to switch to the dormant BWP, the UE switches to BWP 1. In other words, the UE switches to the non-dormant BWP interacting with the current dormant BWP.

As another example, when the UE is operating in a non-idle BWP, if the UE receives, in PCell, an indication indicating that the UE needs to monitor the PDCCH in the SCell, then whether the UE should switch between BWPs is specifically described below.

It is assumed that four BWPs are currently configured for the UE, where BWP 1, BWP 2, and BWP 3 are normal BWPs (i.e., BWPs in which PDCCHs need to be monitored, namely, non-dormant BWPs), and BWP 4 is a dormant BWP (then there is a BWP that does not need to monitor the PDCCH). BWP 1 is the BWP used when the UE switches from the dormant BWP to SCell (or the first active BWP in decision 1 in the previous example, or the BWP configured by the network side in decision 3 in the previous example).

If the current active BWP of the UE is BWP 2, when the UE receives an indication in PCell and needs to switch from the idle BWP to SCell, the behavior of the UE can be implemented using the following two solutions:

Solution 1: UE switches from BWP 2 to BWP 1.

In this decision, it can be directly specified that the pointer in PCell is used to switch only between a dormant BWP (BWP 4) and a particular dormant BWP (BWP 1).

Solution 2: Maintain BWP 2 as the active BWP.

In this solution, the UE may keep the active BWP unchanged to avoid the delay caused by the BWP switch.

In particular, the switching process described above is shown in FIG. 4.

An embodiment of the present application further provides another communication method applicable to the communication system shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 5, the specific method procedure may include the following steps.

Step 501: The terminal device receives the first configuration information from the network device, where the first configuration information is used to configure or direct the terminal device to receive the downlink control information.

The category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information, or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include any of the first indicator information, nor the second pointer information.

For example, there may be the following scenarios in which the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information.

In the first scenario, the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes at least the first indicator information.

In the second scenario, the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information.

In the third scenario, the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information.

In the fourth scenario, the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information may be any case in the previous three scenarios, the three cases may exist randomly, and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information is not limited.

The first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and the second indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to perform the idle operation in the secondary cell.

Step 502: The terminal device monitors or does not monitor the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information.

Step 503: The network device sends or does not send the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information.

It should be understood that the sequence of steps 502 and 503 is merely an example, and the sequence of the two steps is not limited in the present application.

In a further implementation, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information, the terminal device receives the second configuration information from the network device, and the second configuration information is used to configure that the category of the indicator information included in downlink control information includes first pointer information. Alternatively, the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information by default.

In the example, the terminal device monitors the first downlink control information; and when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal apparatus to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal apparatus starts the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle and monitors the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle and does not monitor the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle. .

Accordingly, the network device sends the first downlink control information to the terminal device; and when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the network device sends a PDCCH to the terminal device in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the network device does not send a PDCCH to the terminal device in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

In another example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information, the terminal apparatus monitors the first downlink control information; and when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device starts the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, monitors the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the primary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle, and determines, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle and does not monitor the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle. .

Accordingly, when the first pointer information is used to direct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the network device can send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the primary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle, and determine the second pointer information based on whether the network device can send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the network device does not send a PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; and the network device sends the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

That the network device determines the second indicator information based on whether the network device can send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle can be represented specifically as follows: When the network device can send PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle, the network device determines that the second indicator information is used to indicate that the network can send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first cycle DRX. For example, the network device may determine that the second pointer information is "1". When the network device does not send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell within the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle, the second indicator information is used to indicate that the network device cannot send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell within the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle. For example, the network device may determine that the second pointer information is "0".

In yet another example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information, the terminal apparatus monitors the first downlink control information; the terminal device starts the continuous tracking period timer in the first DRX cycle and monitors the PDCCH in the primary cell during the continuous monitoring period in the first DRX cycle; and the terminal device determines, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle.

Accordingly, the network device sends the PDCCH to the terminal device in the primary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; the network device determines the second indicator information based on whether the network device can send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; and the network device sends the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

In particular, the specific case in which the network device determines the second indicator information based on whether the network device can send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle is similar to the case in the previous example (namely, in the other example above). You can use reciprocal references, and this document does not repeat the details.

In yet another example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the terminal apparatus does not keep track of the first downlink control information.

Accordingly, the network device does not send the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

In a further implementation, the time of sending the first downlink control information is before the start time of the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle, for example, as shown in FIG. 6.

According to the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present application, a specific behavior is determined as to whether the terminal device monitors the downlink control information.

Based on the above embodiment, when the downlink control information is in the 3_0 DCI format, and the 3_0 DCI format indicates a wakeup state and a dormancy state (that is, when the category of the indicator information included in the DCI 3_0 format may be the first pointer information and second pointer information), the following four combinations of pointer functions are possible:

Combination 1: awakening + inactivity.

Combination 2: wake up only.

Combination 3: only inaction.

Combination 4: no awakening or inactivity.

The behavior of the UE in combination 1 and combination 2 at a given point in time is relatively common and is not described in detail.

For combination 3, the UE has two types of possible behavior.

When the pattern is an invalid pattern, that is, when the UE is configured to track DCI, the UE needs to receive at least a DCI wake-up indicator.

When the combination is a valid combination, the behavior of the UE should be that snooping should always be performed in the UE's PCell during the OnDuration period, and whether snooping is performed in the SCell is determined based on a particular indicator.

For combination 4, the UE also has two types of possible behavior.

When the combination is an invalid combination, that is, when the UE is configured with DCI tracking capability, at least one pointer function must be configured for the UE.

When the combination is a valid combination and this case is configured for the UE, even if the UE is configured to track DCI, the UE may not track DCI.

Based on the previous embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a terminal device. The terminal device is used in the communication system shown in FIG. 1. The terminal device may be configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 2 or fig. 5. Referring to FIG. 7, the terminal device may include a processing unit 701 and a transceiver unit 702.

In an embodiment, when the terminal device implements the function of the terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 2, details can be as follows.

The transceiver unit 702 is configured to receive indicator information from the network device, where the indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell.

The processing unit 701 is configured to allow, according to the indicator information, the terminal apparatus to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

In an example where the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the processing unit 701 is specifically configured to switch from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is a dormant BWP or a non-dormant BWP. The BWP is currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell.

In another example, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the processing unit 701 is specifically configured to switch from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the idle BWP or the non-idle BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is The BWP that is configured by the network device and to which the terminal device is to switch.

In another example, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the processing unit 701 is specifically configured to switch from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP before switching to the fourth bwp.

In another example, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the processing unit 701 is specifically configured to switch from the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell and the first BWP interacts with the fifth BWP.

In yet another example, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the processing unit 701 is specifically configured to: when the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, to keep the terminal device running in the first BWP. The first BWP is neither the first active BWP in the first secondary cell nor the BWP configured by the network device to which the terminal device is to switch.

In a specific implementation, when receiving the pointer information from the network device, the transceiver unit 702 is specifically configured to receive the pointer information from the network device in the primary cell.

In an embodiment, when the terminal device implements the function of the terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 5, details can be as follows.

The transceiver unit 702 is configured to receive the first configuration information from the network device, where the first configuration information is used to configure or instruct the terminal device to receive the downlink control information.

The category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information, or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include any of the first indicator information, nor the second pointer information.

The first pointer information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to start a continuous tracking period timer "on duration" in the first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, and the second pointer information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to perform an idle operation in the secondary cell.

The processing unit 701 is configured to monitor or not monitor the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information.

In an example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information, the transceiver unit 702 is further configured to receive the second configuration information from the network device, where the second configuration information is used to configure that the information category the indicator included in the downlink control information included the first indicator information; or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information by default.

In another example, the processing unit 701 is further configured to: monitor the first downlink control information; and when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal apparatus to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and monitor the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and not to PDCCH snooping in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

In yet another example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information, the processing unit 701 is further configured to: track the first downlink control information; and when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal apparatus to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, monitor the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the primary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first a DRX cycle and determining, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and not to PDCCH snooping in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

In an example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information, the processing unit 701 is further configured to: track the first downlink control information; starting a continuous tracking period timer in the first DRX cycle and tracking the PDCCH in the primary cell during the continuous monitoring period in the first DRX cycle; and determining, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle.

In another example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the processing unit 701 is further configured not to keep track of the first downlink control information.

In a specific implementation, the time of sending the first downlink control information is before the start time of the on duration period in the first DRX cycle.

Based on the previous embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a network device. The network device is used in the communication system shown in FIG. 1. The network device may be configured to implement the communication method shown in FIG. 2 or fig. 5. Referring to FIG. 8, the network device may include a processing unit 801 and a transceiver unit 802.

In an embodiment, when the network device implements the network device function in the communication method shown in FIG. 2, details can be as follows.

The processing unit 801 is configured to generate pointer information, where the pointer information is used to direct the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell.

The transceiver unit 802 is configured to send indicator information to the terminal device to allow the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

In the example, the processing unit 801 is further configured to determine that the terminal device switches from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell.

In another example, the processing unit 801 is further configured to determine that the terminal device switches from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the dormant BWP or non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the BWP that is configured network device and to which the terminal device must switch.

In another example, the processing unit 801 is further configured to determine that the terminal device switches from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP before switching to the fourth BWP.

In yet another example, the processing unit 801 is further configured to determine that the terminal device is switching from the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the first BWP is communicating with the fifth BWP.

In another example, the processing unit 801 is further configured to: when the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, determining whether the terminal device supports the operation of the terminal device in the first BWP. The first BWP is neither the first active BWP in the first secondary cell nor the BWP configured by the network device to which the terminal device is to switch.

In a further implementation, when sending the pointer information to the terminal device, the transceiver unit 802 is specifically configured to send the pointer information to the terminal device in the primary cell.

In another embodiment, when the network device implements the network device function in the communication method shown in FIG. 5, details can be as follows.

The transceiver unit 802 is configured to send the first configuration information to the terminal device, where the first configuration information is used to configure or instruct the terminal device to receive downlink control information.

The category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information, or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include any of the first indicator information, nor the second pointer information.

The first pointer information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to start a continuous tracking period timer "on duration" in the first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, and the second pointer information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to perform an idle operation in the secondary cell.

The processing unit 801 is configured to send or not send the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information.

In an example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information, the transceiver unit 802 is further configured to send the second configuration information to the terminal apparatus, where the second configuration information is used to configure that the information category the indicator included in the downlink control information included the first indicator information; or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information by default.

In another example, the transceiver unit 802 is further configured to: send the first downlink control information to the terminal device; and when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, sending the PDCCH to the terminal device in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, not sending a PDCCH to the terminal device in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

In another example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information, if the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device to start the continuous tracking period timer in the first DRX cycle, the transceiver block 802 further configured to send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the primary cell within the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle, and the processing unit 801 is further configured to determine the second indicator information based on whether the network device sends the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell in during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or if the first indicator information is used to tell the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the transceiver unit 802 is further configured to not send the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; and the transceiver unit 802 is further configured to send the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

In yet another example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information, the transceiver unit 802 is further configured to send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the primary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; the processing unit 801 is further configured to determine the second indicator information based on whether the network device sends the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; and the transceiver unit 802 is further configured to send the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

In yet another example, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the transceiver unit 802 is further configured to not send the first downlink control information to the terminal apparatus. .

In a further implementation, the time of sending the first downlink control information is before the start time of the on duration period in the first DRX cycle.

It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the division into blocks is an example and is simply a division into logical functions. During the actual implementation, there may be another way to split. The functional blocks in embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units may physically exist on its own, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The integrated block may be implemented as hardware or may be implemented as a software functional block.

When an integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as a standalone product, the integrated unit may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solutions of the present application to a large extent, or part contributing to the conventional technology, or all or some of the technical solutions can be implemented as a software product. The computer program product is stored on a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computing device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) or a processor to perform all or some of the steps of the methods described in embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes any storage medium on which program code can be stored, such as a USB flash drive, removable hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM) , magnetic disk or CD.

Based on the previous embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a terminal device. The terminal device is configured to implement the function of a terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 2 or fig. 5. Referring to FIG. 9, terminal device 900 includes a transceiver 901 and a processor 902.

Processor 902 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (network processor, NP), or a combination of CPU and NP. Processor 902 may further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination of the two. The PLD can be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof. The processor 902 may implement the above function in hardware or in hardware executing appropriate software.

The transceiver 901 and the processor 902 are connected to each other. Optionally, transceiver 901 and processor 902 are connected to each other via bus 904. Bus 904 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, or the like. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of presentation, the bus in FIG. 9 is represented by only one thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one tire or only one type of tire.

If necessary, the terminal device may further include a memory 903, and the memory 903 is configured to store a program or the like. In particular, the program may include program code, and the program code includes computer operating instructions. Memory 903 may include RAM and may further include non-volatile memory, such as at least one memory on a magnetic disk. The processor 902 executes the application program stored in the memory 903 to implement the above function to implement the communication method shown in FIG. 2 or fig. 5.

In an embodiment, when the terminal device implements the communication method shown in FIG. 2, the transceiver 901 may perform send and receive operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and the processor 902 may perform operations other than the send and receive operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. For specific descriptions related thereto, see the related descriptions in the previous embodiments. In this document, the details are not re-described.

In another embodiment, when the terminal device implements the communication method shown in FIG. 5, the transceiver 901 may perform send and receive operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and the processor 902 may perform operations other than the send and receive operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. For specific descriptions related thereto, see the related descriptions in the previous embodiments. In this document, the details are not re-described.

Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a network device. The network device is configured to implement the function of a network device in the communication method shown in FIG. 2 or fig. 5. Referring to FIG. 10, network device 1000 includes a transceiver 1001 and a processor 1002.

Processor 1002 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (network processor, NP), or a combination of CPU and NP. The processor 1002 may further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination of the two. The PLD can be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof. The processor 1002 may implement the above function in hardware or in hardware executing appropriate software.

The transceiver 1001 and the processor 1002 are connected to each other. Optionally, the transceiver 1001 and the processor 1002 are connected to each other via a bus 1004. The bus 1004 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, or the like. . The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of presentation, the bus in FIG. 10 is represented by only one thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

If necessary, the network device may further include a memory 1003, and the memory 1003 is configured to store a program or the like. In particular, the program may include program code, and the program code includes computer operating instructions. Memory 1003 may include RAM and may further include non-volatile memory, such as at least one memory on a magnetic disk. The processor 1002 executes the application program stored in the memory 1003 to implement the above function to implement the communication method shown in FIG. 2 or fig. 5.

In an embodiment, when the network device implements the communication method shown in FIG. 2, the transceiver 1001 may perform send and receive operations performed by the network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and the processor 1002 may perform operations other than the send and receive operations performed by the network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. For specific descriptions related thereto, see the related descriptions in the previous embodiments. In this document, the details are not re-described.

In another embodiment, when the network device implements the communication method shown in FIG. 5, the transceiver 1001 may perform send and receive operations performed by the network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and the processor 1002 may perform operations other than the send and receive operations performed by the network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. For specific related descriptions, refer to the related descriptions in the previous embodiments. In this document, the details are not re-described.

With reference to the previous description, the present application provides the following embodiments.

Embodiment 1: The communication method includes:

receiving, by the terminal device, indicator information from the network device, where the indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell; And

allowing, by the terminal device according to the indicator information, the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is the non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 2: In the method of Embodiment 1, allowing a terminal device to operate in the first BWP includes:

switching by the terminal device from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently used by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 3: In the method of Embodiment 1, allowing the terminal device to operate in the first BWP includes:

switching by the terminal device from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the BWP that is configured by the network device and to which the terminal device is to switch.

Embodiment 4: In the method of Embodiment 1, allowing a terminal device to operate in the first BWP includes:

switching by the terminal device from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP before switching to the fourth BWP.

Embodiment 5: In the method of Embodiment 1, allowing a terminal device to operate in the first BWP includes:

switching by the terminal device with the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the first BWP is communicating with the fifth BWP.

Embodiment 6: In the method of Embodiment 1, allowing a terminal device to operate in the first BWP includes:

when the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, maintaining the operation of the terminal device in the first BWP.

Embodiment 7: In the method of Embodiment 6, the first BWP is neither the first active BWP in the first secondary cell nor the BWP that is configured by the network device to which the terminal device is to switch.

Embodiment 8: In the method according to any of Embodiments 1 to 7, receiving, by a terminal device, pointer information from a network device includes:

receiving, by the terminal device, the pointer information from the network device in the primary cell.

Embodiment 9: The communication method includes:

generating, by the network device, indicator information, where the indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell; And

sending, by the network device, pointer information to the terminal device to allow the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is the non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 10: In the method of Embodiment 9, the method further includes:

determining, by the network device, that the terminal device switches from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is the idle BWP or the non-idle BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 11: In the method of Embodiment 9, the method further includes:

determining, by the network device, that the terminal device switches from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the BWP that is configured by the network device and to which switch terminal device.

Embodiment 12: In the method of Embodiment 9, the method further includes:

determining, by the network device, that the terminal device switches from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the idle BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP before switching to the fourth BWP.

Embodiment 13: In the method of Embodiment 9, the method further includes:

determining, by the network device, that the terminal device switches from the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the first BWP is communicating with the fifth BWP.

Embodiment 14: In the method of Embodiment 9, the method further includes:

when the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, determining, by the network device, that the terminal device supports operation of the terminal device in the first BWP.

Embodiment 15: In the method of Embodiment 14, the first BWP is neither the first active BWP in the first secondary cell nor the BWP that is configured by the network device to which the terminal device is to switch.

Embodiment 16: In the method according to any one of embodiments 9-15, sending, by a network device, pointer information to a terminal device includes:

sending, by the network device, the pointer information to the terminal device in the primary cell.

Embodiment 17: The terminal device includes:

a transceiver unit configured to receive the indicator information from the network device, where the indicator information is used to indicate the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell; And

a processing unit configured, according to the indicator information, to allow the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 18: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 17, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the processing unit is specifically configured to:

switching from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 19: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 17, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the processing unit is specifically configured to:

switching from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the BWP that is configured by the network device and for which the terminal device is to switch.

Embodiment 20: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 17, when allowing the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, the processing unit is specifically configured to:

switching from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the idle BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP until switching to the fourth BWP.

Embodiment 21: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 17, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the processing unit is specifically configured to:

switching from the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the first BWP is communicating with the fifth BWP.

Embodiment 22: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 17, when allowing the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, the processing unit is specifically configured to:

when the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, keeping the terminal device running in the first BWP.

Embodiment 23: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 22, the first BWP is neither the first active BWP in the first secondary cell nor the BWP that is configured by the network device to which the terminal device is to switch.

Embodiment 24: In the terminal apparatus according to any one of Embodiments 17 to 23, when the indicator information is received from the network apparatus, the transceiver unit is specifically configured to:

receiving the pointer information from the network device in the primary cell.

Embodiment 25: The network device includes:

a processing unit configured to generate pointer information, where the pointer information is used to direct the terminal apparatus to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell; And

a transceiver unit configured to send indicator information to the terminal device to enable the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 26: In the network device according to Embodiment 25, the processing unit is further configured to:

determining that the terminal device switches from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is the idle BWP or the non-idle BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 27: In the network device according to Embodiment 25, the processing unit is further configured to:

determining that the terminal device switches from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the BWP that is configured by the network device and to which the terminal device is to switch.

Embodiment 28: In the network device according to Embodiment 25, the processing unit is further configured to:

determining that the terminal device switches from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the idle BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP before switching to the fourth BWP.

Embodiment 29: In the network device according to Embodiment 25, the processing unit is further configured to:

determining that the terminal device switches from the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the first BWP is communicating with the fifth BWP.

Embodiment 30: In the network device according to Embodiment 25, the processing unit is further configured to:

when the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, determining whether the terminal device supports operation of the terminal device in the first BWP.

Embodiment 31: In the network device according to Embodiment 30, the first BWP is neither the first active BWP in the first secondary cell nor the BWP that is configured by the network device to which the terminal device is to switch.

Embodiment 32: In the network device according to any one of embodiments 25 to 31, when sending pointer information to the terminal device, the transceiver unit is specifically configured to:

sending the pointer information to the terminal device in the primary cell.

Embodiment 33: The terminal device includes:

a transceiver configured to send and receive data; And

a processor configured to allow the terminal device to execute the method according to any one of embodiments 1-8.

Embodiment 34: The network device includes:

a transceiver configured to send and receive data; And

a processor configured to enable the network device to execute the method according to any one of embodiments 9-16.

Embodiment 35: The communication system includes a network device and a terminal device.

The network device is configured to: generate indicator information and send the indicator information to the terminal device, where the indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell.

The terminal device is configured to allow, according to the indicator information, the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, where the first BWP is a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 36: In the communication system of Embodiment 35, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the terminal device is specifically configured to:

switching from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 37: In the communication system according to Embodiment 35 or Embodiment 36, the network device is further configured to:

determining that the terminal device switches from the second BWP to the first BWP, where the second BWP is the idle BWP or the non-idle BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the first active BWP in the first secondary cell.

Embodiment 38: In the communication system of Embodiment 35, when allowing the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, the terminal device is specifically configured to:

switching from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the BWP that is configured by the network device and for which the terminal device is to switch.

Embodiment 39: In the communication system according to Embodiment 35 or Embodiment 38, the network device is further configured to:

determining that the terminal device switches from the third BWP to the first BWP, where the third BWP is the dormant BWP or the non-dormant BWP currently in use by the terminal device, and the first BWP is the BWP that is configured by the network device and to which the terminal device is to switch.

Embodiment 40: In the communication system of Embodiment 35, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the terminal device is specifically configured to:

switching from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the idle BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP until switching to the fourth BWP.

Embodiment 41: In the communication system according to Embodiment 35 or Embodiment 40, the network device is further configured to:

determining that the terminal device switches from the fourth BWP to the first BWP, where the fourth BWP is the idle BWP in the first secondary cell, and the terminal device operates in the first BWP before switching to the fourth BWP.

Embodiment 42: In the communication system of Embodiment 35, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the terminal device is specifically configured to:

switching from the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the first BWP is communicating with the fifth BWP.

Embodiment 43: In the communication system of Embodiment 35 or Embodiment 42, the network device is further configured to:

determining that the terminal device switches from the fifth BWP to the first BWP, where the fifth BWP is the dormant BWP in the first secondary cell, and the first BWP is communicating with the fifth BWP.

Embodiment 44: In the communication system of Embodiment 35, when the terminal device is allowed to operate in the first BWP, the terminal device is specifically configured to:

when the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, keeping the terminal device running in the first BWP.

Embodiment 45: In the communication system of Embodiment 35 or Embodiment 44, the network device is further configured to:

when the terminal device is currently using the first BWP, determining whether the terminal device supports operation of the terminal device in the first BWP.

Embodiment 46: In the communication system of Embodiment 44 or Embodiment 45, the first BWP is neither the first active BWP in the first secondary cell nor the BWP that is configured by the network device to which the terminal device is to switch.

Embodiment 47: In the communication system according to any one of embodiments 35 to 46, when receiving indicator information from a network device, the terminal device is specifically configured to:

receiving the pointer information from the network device in the primary cell.

Embodiment 48: The communication method includes:

receiving, by the terminal device, the first configuration information from the network device, where the first configuration information is used to configure or instruct the terminal device to receive downlink control information, where

the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information, or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include any of the first indicator information, no second pointer information; And

the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether or not to start the continuous tracking period timer "on duration" in the first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, and the second indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to perform the idle operation in the secondary honeycomb; And

tracking or not tracking, by the terminal device, the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information.

Embodiment 49: In the method of Embodiment 48, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information, the method further includes:

receiving, by the terminal device, second configuration information from the network device, where the second configuration information is used to configure that a category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information; or

the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information by default.

Embodiment 50: In the method of Embodiment 48 or Embodiment 49, the method further includes:

tracking, by the terminal device, the first downlink control information; And

when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, starting, by the terminal device, the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and monitoring the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or

when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and the PDCCH does not snoop in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle .

Embodiment 51: In the method of Embodiment 48, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information, the method further includes:

tracking, by the terminal device, the first downlink control information; And

when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device starts the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, snooping the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the primary cell during the continuous monitoring period. tracking in the first DRX cycle and determining, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or

when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous tracking period timer in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device not starting the continuous tracking period timer in the first DRX cycle, and not tracking the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous monitoring period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 52: In the method of Embodiment 48, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information, the method further includes:

tracking, by the terminal device, the first downlink control information;

starting, by the terminal device, a continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle and monitoring the PDCCH in the primary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; And

determining, by the terminal device, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 53: In the method of Embodiment 48, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the method further includes:

lack of tracking, by the terminal device, of the first downlink control information.

Embodiment 54: In the method according to any one of embodiments 48-53, the time of sending the first downlink control information is before the start time of the on duration period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 55: The communication method includes:

sending, by the network device, the first configuration information to the terminal device, where the first configuration information is used to configure or instruct the terminal device to receive downlink control information, where

the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information, or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include any of the first indicator information, no second pointer information; And

the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether or not to start the continuous tracking period timer "on duration" in the first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, and the second indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to perform the idle operation in the secondary honeycomb; And

sending or not sending, by the network device, the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information.

Embodiment 56: In the method of Embodiment 55, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information, the method further includes:

sending, by the network device, second configuration information to the terminal device, where the second configuration information is used to configure that the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information; or

the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information by default.

Embodiment 57: In the method of Embodiment 55 or Embodiment 56, the method further includes:

sending, by the network device, the first downlink control information to the terminal device; And

when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, sending, by the network device, a PDCCH to the terminal device in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or

when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, no sending, by the network device, of the PDCCH to the terminal device in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 58: In the method of Embodiment 55, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information, the method further includes:

when the first pointer information is used to direct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, sending, by the network device, a PDCCH to the terminal device in the primary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle, and determining the second pointer information based on whether the network device sends the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, no sending, by the network device, of the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; And

sending, by the network device, the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

Embodiment 59: In the method of Embodiment 55, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information, the method further includes:

sending, by the network device, the PDCCH to the terminal device in the primary cell within the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle;

determining, by the network device, the second indicator information based on whether the network device sends the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; And

sending, by the network device, the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

Embodiment 60: In the method of Embodiment 55, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the method further includes:

not sending, by the network device, the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

Embodiment 61: In the method according to any one of embodiments 55-60, the time of sending the first downlink control information is before the start time of the on duration period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 62: The terminal device includes:

a transceiver unit configured to receive the first configuration information from the network device, where the first configuration information is used to configure or instruct the terminal device to receive downlink control information, where

the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information, or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include any of the first indicator information, no second pointer information; And

the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether or not to start the continuous tracking period timer "on duration" in the first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, and the second indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to perform the idle operation in the secondary honeycomb; And

a processing unit configured to monitor or not monitor the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information.

Embodiment 63: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 62, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information,

the transceiver unit is further configured to receive the second configuration information from the network device, where the second configuration information is used to configure that the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information; or

the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information by default.

Embodiment 64: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 62 or Embodiment 63, the processing unit is further configured to:

tracking the first downlink control information; And

when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal apparatus to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and monitor the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or

when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and not to monitor the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 65: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 62, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information, the processing unit is further configured to:

tracking the first downlink control information; And

when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, monitor the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the primary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first cycle DRX and determining, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or

when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and not to PDCCH snooping in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 66: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 62, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information, the processing unit is further configured to:

tracking the first downlink control information;

starting a continuous tracking period timer in the first DRX cycle and tracking the PDCCH in the primary cell during the continuous monitoring period in the first DRX cycle; And

determining, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 67: In the terminal device according to Embodiment 62, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the processing unit is further configured to:

not tracking the first downlink control information.

Embodiment 68: In the terminal device according to any one of embodiments 62-67, the time of sending the first downlink control information is before the start time of the on duration period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 69: The network device includes:

a transceiver unit configured to send the first configuration information to the terminal device, where the first configuration information is used to configure or instruct the terminal device to receive downlink control information, where

the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information, or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include any of the first indicator information, no second pointer information; And

the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether or not to start the continuous tracking period timer "on duration" in the first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, and the second indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to perform the idle operation in the secondary honeycomb; And

a processing unit configured to send or not send the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information.

Embodiment 70: In the network device according to Embodiment 69, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information,

the transceiver unit is further configured to send the second configuration information to the terminal device, where the second configuration information is used to configure that the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information; or

the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information by default.

Embodiment 71: In the network device according to Embodiment 69 or Embodiment 70, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

sending the first downlink control information to the terminal device; And

when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, sending the PDCCH to the terminal device in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or

when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, not sending a PDCCH to the terminal device in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 72: In the network device according to Embodiment 69, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information,

if the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the transceiver unit is further configured to send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the primary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle, and the processing unit is further configured to determining second indicator information based on whether the network device sends the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or if the first indicator information is used to tell the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, the transceiver unit is further configured not to send the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; And

the transceiver unit is further configured to send the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

Embodiment 73: In the network device according to Embodiment 69, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information,

the transceiver unit is further configured to send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the primary cell within the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle;

the processing unit is further configured to send the second indicator information based on whether the network device sends the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; And

the transceiver unit is further configured to send the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

Embodiment 74: In the network device of Embodiment 69, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

not send the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

Embodiment 75: In the network device according to any one of embodiments 69-74, the time of sending the first downlink control information is before the start time of the on duration period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 76: The terminal device includes:

a transceiver configured to send and receive data; And

a processor configured to allow the terminal device to execute the method according to any one of embodiments 48-54.

Embodiment 77: The network device includes:

a transceiver configured to send and receive data; And

a processor configured to enable execution, by the network device, of the method according to any one of embodiments 55-61.

Embodiment 78: The communication system includes a network device and a terminal device.

The terminal device is configured to receive the first configuration information from the network device, where the first configuration information is used to configure or direct the terminal device to receive the downlink control information.

The category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes at least one of the first indicator information or the second indicator information, or the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include any of the first indicator information, nor the second pointer information.

The first pointer information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to start a continuous tracking period timer "on duration" in the first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, and the second pointer information is used to indicate to the terminal device whether to perform an idle operation in the secondary cell.

The terminal apparatus is further configured to monitor or not monitor the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information.

The network device is further configured to send or not send the first downlink control information based on the first configuration information and the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information.

Embodiment 79: In the communication system of Embodiment 78, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information, the terminal device is further configured to:

receiving second configuration information from the network device, where the second configuration information is used to configure that a category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information; or

the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information by default.

Embodiment 80: In the communication system of Embodiment 78 or Embodiment 79, the terminal device is further configured to:

tracking the first downlink control information; And

when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal apparatus to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and monitor the PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or

when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and no PDCCH tracking in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 81: In the communication system according to any of embodiments 78-80, the network device is further configured to:

sending the first downlink control information to the terminal device; And

when the first indicator information is used to direct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, sending the PDCCH to the terminal device in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; or

when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, not sending a PDCCH to the terminal device in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 82: In the communication system of Embodiment 78, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information, the terminal device is further configured to:

tracking the first downlink control information; And

when the first indicator information is used to instruct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, monitor the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the primary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first cycle DRX and determining, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or

when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, and not to PDCCH snooping in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 83: In the communication system according to Embodiment 78 or Embodiment 82, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the first indicator information and the second indicator information, the network device is further configured to:

when the first pointer information is used to direct the terminal device to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, send the PDCCH to the terminal device in the primary cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle, and determine the second pointer information based on whether the network device sends PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; or, when the first indicator information is used to indicate to the terminal device not to start the continuous snooping period timer in the first DRX cycle, not sending a PDCCH in each cell during the continuous snooping period in the first DRX cycle; And

sending the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

Embodiment 84: In the communication system of Embodiment 78, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information, the terminal device is further configured to:

tracking the first downlink control information;

starting a continuous tracking period timer in the first DRX cycle and tracking the PDCCH in the primary cell during the continuous monitoring period in the first DRX cycle; And

determining, based on the second indicator information, whether to monitor the PDCCH in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 85: In the communication system according to Embodiment 78 or Embodiment 84, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes the second indicator information, the network device is further configured to:

sending the PDCCH to the terminal device in the primary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle;

determining second indicator information based on whether the network device sends the PDCCH to the terminal device in the secondary cell during the continuous tracking period in the first DRX cycle; And

sending the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

Embodiment 86: In the communication system of Embodiment 78, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information includes neither the first indicator information nor the second indicator information, the terminal device is further configured to:

do not track the first downlink control information.

Embodiment 87: In the communication system of Embodiment 78 or Embodiment 86, when the category of the indicator information included in the downlink control information does not include either the first indicator information or the second indicator information, the network device is further configured to:

not send the first downlink control information to the terminal device.

Embodiment 88: In the communication system according to any of embodiments 78-87, the time of sending the first downlink control information is before the start time of the on duration period in the first DRX cycle.

Embodiment 89: A chip is provided, wherein the chip is connected to a memory and configured to read and execute program instructions stored in the memory to implement the method according to any of Embodiments 1-16 or Embodiments 48-61.

Embodiment 90: A computer-readable storage medium is provided, where the computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, and the computer-executable instructions, when called by the computer, are used to enable the computer to perform the method according to any one of embodiments 1-16 or embodiments 48- 61 implementation.

Embodiment 91: A computer program product is provided, including instructions where, when the computer program product is run on the computer, the computer is allowed to execute the method according to any one of Embodiments 1-16 or Embodiments 48-61.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Thus, the present application may take the form of hardware-only embodiments, software-only embodiments, or combination of software or hardware embodiments. Moreover, the present application may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer storage media (including, but not limited to, disk memory, CD-ROM, optical memory, and the like) that includes program code, used by the computer.

The present application has been described with reference to flow charts and/or flowcharts of a method, apparatus (system), and computer program product according to embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that computer program instructions may be used to implement each process and/or each block in the flowcharts and/or block diagrams and the combination of processes and/or blocks in the flowcharts and/or block diagrams. These computer program instructions may be provided to a general purpose computer, a specialized computer, an embedded processor, or a processor of another programmable data processing device to create a machine such that the instructions executed by the computer or processor of another programmable data processing device create a device to implement a particular function in one or multiple processes in flowcharts and/or in one or more blocks in flowcharts.

Alternatively, these computer program instructions may be stored in computer readable memory, which may cause the computer or other programmable processing device to function in a certain way, such that the instructions stored in computer readable memory produce an artifact that includes the command device. The command device implements a particular function in one or more processes in flowcharts and/or in one or more blocks in flowcharts.

These computer program instructions may alternatively be downloaded to a computer or other programmable processing device such that a series of operations and steps are performed on the computer or other programmable device in order to perform the computer-implemented processing. Thus, instructions executable on a computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing a particular function in one or more processes in flowcharts and/or in one or more blocks in flowcharts.

It is clear that the person skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations in the embodiments of the present application, without going beyond the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The present application is intended to cover these modifications and variations of the embodiments of the present application, provided that they fall within the scope of protection defined by the following claims and equivalent technologies.

Claims (80)

1. Communication method, comprising: receiving, by the terminal device, pointer information from the network device; determining, by the terminal device, based on the indicator information whether to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell; And if the terminal device determines that it should not perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, and the portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in which the terminal device is currently operating in the target secondary cell is a non-idle BWP, maintaining, the terminal device , in the target secondary cell, of operation in the BWP in which the terminal device is currently operating; And if the terminal device determines that it should not perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, and the BWP in which the terminal device is currently operating in the target secondary cell is the idle BWP, switch, the terminal device, to the first BWP in the target secondary cell and operation in the first BWP, the first BWP being the non-dormant BWP in the target secondary cell; wherein the first BWP is the BWP used by the terminal device when the terminal device switches from the dormant BWP and the first BWP is configured by the network device. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device receiving the pointer information from the network device comprises: receiving, by the terminal device, downlink control information (DCI) from the network device, wherein the DCI contains pointer information. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the DCI format comprises DCI format 2_6, DCI format 0_1, or DCI format 1_1. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein Discontinuous Connected Mode Reception (C-DRX) is not configured for the terminal device, or C-DRX is configured for the terminal device, and the DCI send time is within active time, and the DCI format comprises format 0_1 DCI or format 1_1 DCI. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein Discontinuous Connected Mode Reception (C-DRX) is configured for the terminal device and the DCI send time precedes the OnDuration duration, and the DCI format comprises DCI format 2_6. 6. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-5, in which the size of the pointer information is 1 bit. 7. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, in which the pointer information is sent in the primary cell. 8. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7, wherein the method further comprises: if the terminal device decides to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, switching, by the terminal device, to the idle BWP and operation in the idle BWP. 9. Communication method, comprising: generating, by the network device, pointer information; sending, by the network device, the indicator information to the terminal device such that the terminal device determines, based on the indicator information, whether to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell; And if the pointer information instructs the terminal device not to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, and the bandwidth portion (BWP) in which the terminal device is currently operating in the target secondary cell is a non-idle BWP, determining, the network device, that the terminal device in the target secondary cell operates in the BWP in which the terminal device is currently operating; And if the pointer information instructs the terminal device not to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, and the BWP in which the terminal device is currently operating in the target secondary cell is the idle BWP, determining, by the network device, that the terminal device switches to a first BWP in the target secondary cell, and operating in the first BWP, the first BWP being a non-dormant BWP in the target secondary cell; wherein the method further comprises: configuring, by the network device, a first BWP for the terminal device, wherein the first BWP is the BWP used by the terminal device when the terminal device switches from the idle BWP. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein sending, by the network device, the pointer information to the terminal device comprises: sending, by the network device, downlink control information (DCI) to the terminal device, the DCI containing pointer information. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the DCI format comprises DCI format 2_6, DCI format 0_1, or DCI format 1_1. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein Discontinuous Connected Mode Reception (C-DRX) is not configured for the terminal device, or C-DRX is configured for the terminal device, and the DCI send time is within active time, and the DCI format comprises format 0_1 DCI or format 1_1 DCI. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein discontinuous connected mode reception (C-DRX) is configured for the terminal device, and the DCI send time is before the OnDuration duration, and the DCI format comprises DCI format 2_6. 14. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 9-13, in which the size of the pointer information is 1 bit. 15. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 9-14, in which the pointer information is sent in the primary cell. 16. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 9-15, wherein the method further comprises: if the pointer information instructs the terminal device to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, determining, by the network device, that the terminal device switches to the idle BWP and operation in the idle BWP. 17. Terminal device, containing: a transceiver configured to receive pointer information from the network device; And a processor configured to: determine, based on the indicator information, whether to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell; And if the processor determines that it should not perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, and the portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in which the terminal device is currently operating in the target secondary cell is a non-idle BWP, maintaining, in the target secondary cell , work in BWP, in which the terminal device is currently operating; And if the processor determines not to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell and the BWP in which the terminal device in the target secondary cell is currently operating is the idle BWP, switch to the first BWP in the target secondary cell and operate in a first BWP, the first BWP being a non-dormant BWP in the target secondary cell; wherein the first BWP is the BWP used by the terminal device when the terminal device switches from the dormant BWP and the first BWP is configured by the network device. 18. The terminal device of claim 17, wherein, upon receiving the indicator information from the network device, the transceiver is specifically configured to: receiving downlink control information (DCI) from the network device, wherein the DCI contains pointer information. 19. The terminal device of claim 18, wherein the DCI format comprises DCI format 2_6, DCI format 0_1, or DCI format 1_1. 20. The terminal device of claim 19, wherein intermittent connected mode reception (C-DRX) is not configured for the terminal device, or C-DRX is configured for the terminal device, and the DCI send time is within active time, and the DCI format contains DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1. 21. The terminal device of claim 19, wherein discontinuous connected mode reception (C-DRX) is configured for the terminal device and the DCI send time is before the OnDuration duration, and the DCI format comprises DCI format 2_6. 22. Terminal device according to any one of paragraphs. 17-21, in which the size of the pointer information is 1 bit. 23. Terminal device according to any one of paragraphs. 17-22, in which the pointer information is sent in the primary cell. 24. Terminal device according to any one of paragraphs. 17-23, wherein the processor is further configured to: if the processor decides to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, switch to the idle BWP and operate in the idle BWP. 25. Network device, containing: a processor configured to generate pointer information; And a transceiver configured to send the indicator information to the terminal device such that the terminal device determines, based on the indicator information, whether to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell in which the processor is further configured to: if the pointer information instructs the terminal device not to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, and the bandwidth portion (BWP) in which the terminal device is currently operating in the target secondary cell is a non-idle BWP, the definitions that the terminal device continues to operate in the target secondary cell in the BWP in which the terminal device is currently operating; And if the pointer information indicates the terminal device should not perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, and the BWP in which the terminal device is currently operating in the target secondary cell is the idle BWP, determining that the terminal device switches to the first BWP in the target secondary cell, and operating in the first BWP, the first BWP being the non-dormant BWP in the target secondary cell; wherein the processor is further configured to: configuring a first BWP for the terminal device, wherein the first BWP is the BWP used by the terminal device when the terminal device switches from the dormant BWP. 26. The network device of claim 25, wherein, when sending the indicator information to the terminal device, the transceiver is specifically configured to: sending downlink control information (DCI) to the terminal apparatus, the DCI containing pointer information. 27. The network device of claim 26, wherein the DCI format comprises DCI format 2_6, DCI format 0_1, or DCI format 1_1. 28. The network device of claim 27, wherein discontinuous connected mode reception (C-DRX) is not configured for the terminal device, or C-DRX is configured for the terminal device, and the DCI send time is within active time, and the DCI format contains DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1. 29. The network device of claim 27, wherein discontinuous connected mode reception (C-DRX) is configured for the terminal device, and the DCI send time is before the OnDuration duration, and the DCI format contains DCI format 2_6. 30. Network device according to any one of paragraphs. 25-29, in which the size of the pointer information is 1 bit. 31. Network device according to any one of paragraphs. 25-30, in which the pointer information is sent in the primary cell. 32. Network device according to any one of paragraphs. 25-31, wherein the processor is further configured to: if the indicator information instructs the terminal device to perform idle operation in the target secondary cell, determining that the terminal device switches to the idle BWP and operating in the idle BWP. 33. Communication method, comprising: receiving, by the terminal device, indicator information from the network device, the indicator information being used to indicate to the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell; And allowing, by the terminal device according to the indicator information, the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, the first BWP being a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell; wherein the first BWP is the BWP used by the terminal device when the terminal device switches from the dormant BWP and the first BWP is configured by the network device. 34. Communication method, comprising: generating, by the network device, pointer information, the pointer information being used to point the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell; And sending, by the network device, pointer information to the terminal device to allow the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, the first BWP being the non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell; wherein the method further comprises: configuring, by the network device, a first BWP for the terminal device, wherein the first BWP is the BWP used by the terminal device when the terminal device switches from the idle BWP. 35. Terminal device, containing: a transceiver configured to receive pointer information from the network device, the pointer information being used to point the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell; And a processor configured to allow, according to the indicator information, the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, the first BWP being a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell; wherein the first BWP is the BWP used by the terminal device when the terminal device switches from the dormant BWP and the first BWP is configured by the network device. 36. Network device containing: a processor configured to generate pointer information, the pointer information being used to point the terminal device to operate in a non-idle portion of the bandwidth (BWP) in the first secondary cell; And a transceiver configured to send indicator information to the terminal device to enable the terminal device to operate in the first BWP, the first BWP being a non-dormant BWP in the first secondary cell; wherein the processor is further configured to: configuring a first BWP for the terminal device, wherein the first BWP is the BWP used by the terminal device when the terminal device switches from the dormant BWP.

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