WO2024065846A1

WO2024065846A1 - Configuration method and apparatus for multi-time advance group (tag) and time alignment timer (tat)

Info

Publication number: WO2024065846A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/123649
Authority: WO
Inventors: 张振宇
Original assignee: 北京小米移动软件有限公司
Priority date: 2022-09-30
Filing date: 2022-09-30
Publication date: 2024-04-04

Abstract

Disclosed in embodiments of the present application are a configuration method and apparatus for a multi-time advance group (TAG) and a time alignment timer (TAT). The method comprises: a network device configures, for transmission reception points (TRPs), independent TAGs that have a total number of not more than a predetermined threshold, wherein an independent TAG is configured for one TRP, so that each TAG is associated with one TAT. When an M-TRP system supports two TAs, related enhancement is performed on a TAG and a TAT, and uplink and downlink synchronization time of a TRP associated with the TAG is controlled.

Description

A configuration method and device for multiple timing advance groups TAG and time alignment timer TAT

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a configuration method and device for multiple timing advance groups TAG and a time alignment timer TAT.

Background technique

In the related art, in the existing protocol, a group of service cells are associated with the same timing advance group (Time Advance Group, TAG), and all the transmission and reception points (Transmission Reception Point, TRP) in the group of service cells adopt the same timing advance (Timing Advance, TA), and each TAG is configured with a time alignment timer (Time Alignment Timer, TAT) to control the uplink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG. When the terminal device receives the timing advance command (Time Advance Command, TAC) media access control-control element (Medium Access Control Element, MAC-CE), the indicated TA will be used for the service cell corresponding to the TAG and TAT will be turned on. When TAT fails, the user equipment (User Equipment, UE) enters the out-of-sync state. At this time, the terminal device cannot transmit uplink channels or signals except the physical random access channel (Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH). The terminal device initiates random access and obtains the initial TA and restarts TAT.

Therefore, when two TAs are supported in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Multiple-TRP (M-TRP) system, it is an urgent issue to be addressed to enhance TAG and TAT.

Summary of the invention

An embodiment of a first aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs, the method being executed by a network device, and the method including:

Configuring an independent TAG for the transmission reception point TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and

One TAG is configured with one TAT.

In one implementation,

The timing advance command TAC media access control-control unit MAC-CE includes first indication information of TAG, and the first indication information occupies three bits of the TAC MAC-CE;

The predetermined threshold is 8.

In one implementation, the TAC MAC-CE includes the first indication information of the TAG including:

The first two bits of octet 2Oct2 and the last bit of octet 1Oct1 in the TAC MAC-CE are set as the first indication information of the TAG.

In one implementation, the TRP configuring an independent TAG includes:

For the inter-cell multiple transmission and reception point M-TRP, the TAG associated with the TRP in the serving cell serving the user equipment UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the first indication information.

In one implementation, the TRP configuring an independent TAG includes:

For the intra-cell M-TRP within the cell, the TAG associated with the TRP that first establishes an initial connection with the UE in the serving cell serving the UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the first indication information.

In one implementation,

The TAC MAC-CE includes second indication information of the TAG, and the second indication information occupies four bits of the TAC MAC-CE;

The predetermined threshold is 16.

In one implementation, the second indication information including the TAG in the TAC MAC-CE includes:

The first two bits of Oct2 and the last two bits of Oct1 in the TAC MAC-CE are set as the second indication information of the TAG.

In one implementation, the TRP configuring an independent TAG includes:

For the inter-cell M-TRP, the TAG associated with the TRP in the serving cell serving the UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the second indication information.

In one implementation, the TRP configuring an independent TAG includes:

For the intra-cell M-TRP within the cell, the TAG associated with the TRP that first establishes an initial connection with the UE in the serving cell serving the UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the second indication information.

In one implementation, the TRP configuring an independent TAG includes:

For two TRPs serving the UE, a first TAT is configured for a first TRP of the two TRPs, and a second TAT is configured for a second TRP, wherein the first TRP is the TRP that first completes an initial connection with the UE.

In one implementation, the method further includes:

After the first TAT fails and the second TAT has not failed, the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH, physical uplink control channel PUCCH, and sounding reference signal SRS corresponding to the UE are transmitted through the second TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the second TRP.

In one implementation, after the first TAT fails, the method further includes:

In response to the first TRP initiating a random access request, the first TRP obtains a new TA and restarts the first TAT.

In one implementation, the first TRP initiating a random access request includes:

In response to a random access request initiated by the first TRP triggered by a physical downlink control channel PDCCH command.

In one implementation, the method further includes:

If the first TAT fails and the second TAT does not fail, the TA value of the second TRP is used to transmit the PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS corresponding to the UE through the first TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the first TRP.

In one implementation, after the first TAT fails, the method further includes:

In response to the UE re-initiating a random access request with the first TRP and the second TRP, the first TRP and the second TRP respectively obtain new TAs and restart the first TAT and the second TAT.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a network device, the network device comprising:

a processing module, configured to configure an independent TAG for a transmission reception point TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and

One TAG is configured with one TAT.

In one implementation,

The predetermined threshold is 8.

In one implementation, the processing module is further configured to:

In one implementation,

The predetermined threshold is 16.

In one implementation, the processing module is further configured to:

In one implementation, the network device further includes:

The transceiver module is used to transmit the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH, physical uplink control channel PUCCH and sounding reference signal SRS corresponding to the UE through the second TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the second TRP after the first TAT fails and the second TAT does not fail.

In one implementation, after the first TAT becomes invalid, the transceiver module is further used to initiate a random access request in response to the first TRP, and the first TRP obtains a new TA to restart the first TAT.

In one implementation, the transceiver module is further used for:

In an implementation manner, after the first TAT fails, the processing module is further configured to:

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication device, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program stored in the memory so that the device performs the method described in the first aspect.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions, which, when executed, enables a computer to execute the method described in the first aspect above.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a computer program product comprising a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in the first aspect above.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a chip system, which includes at least one processor and an interface, for supporting a communication device to implement the functions involved in the first aspect, for example, determining or processing at least one of the data and information involved in the above method. In one possible design, the chip system also includes a memory, which is used to store computer programs and data necessary for the communication device. The chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in the first aspect above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the background technology, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application or the background technology will be described below.

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of another method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a TAC MAC-CE provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of another method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG6 is a schematic flow chart of another method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG7 is a schematic flow chart of another method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG8 is a schematic flow chart of another method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG9 is a schematic diagram of another TAC MAC-CE provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG10 is a schematic flow chart of another method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG11 is a schematic flow chart of another method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG12 is a schematic flow chart of another method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG13 is a schematic flow chart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG14 is a schematic flow chart of another method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG15 is a flow chart of another method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG16 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed ways

In order to better understand a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs disclosed in an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system to which the embodiment of the present disclosure is applicable is first described below.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication system may include, but is not limited to, a network device and a terminal device. The number and form of devices shown in FIG. 1 are only used as examples and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiment of the present disclosure. In actual applications, two or more network devices and two or more terminal devices may be included. The communication system shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, a network device 11 and a terminal device 12.

It should be noted that the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to various communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) system, fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system, 5G new radio (NR) system, or other future new mobile communication systems.

The network device 11 in the embodiment of the present disclosure is an entity on the network side for transmitting or receiving signals. For example, the network device 101 may be an evolved NodeB (eNB), a transmission point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in an NR system, a base station in other future mobile communication systems, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. The embodiment of the present disclosure does not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the network device. The network device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure may be composed of a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), wherein the CU may also be referred to as a control unit. The CU-DU structure may be used to split the protocol layer of the network device, such as a base station, and the functions of some protocol layers are placed in the CU for centralized control, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers are distributed in the DU, and the DU is centrally controlled by the CU.

The terminal device 12 in the disclosed embodiment is an entity on the user side for receiving or transmitting signals, such as a mobile phone. The terminal device may also be referred to as a terminal device (terminal), a user equipment (UE), a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal device (MT), etc. The terminal device may be a car with communication function, a smart car, a mobile phone (mobile phone), a wearable device, a tablet computer (Pad), a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal device in transportation safety (transportation safety), a wireless terminal device in a smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal device in a smart home (smart home), etc. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device.

It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure. A person skilled in the art can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

In the related art, in the existing protocol, a group of service cells are associated with the same TAG, and all TRPs in the group of service cells adopt the same TA. Each TAG is configured with a TAT to control the uplink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG. When the terminal device receives the TACMAC-CE, the indicated TA will be used for the service cell corresponding to the TAG and the TAT will be turned on. When the TAT fails, the UE enters the out-of-sync state. At this time, the terminal device cannot transmit uplink channels or signals except PRACH. The terminal device initiates random access and obtains the initial TA and restarts the TAT.

Therefore, when two TAs are supported in the MIMOM-TRP system, enhancing TAG and TAT is an issue that needs to be addressed urgently.

A configuration method and device for multiple timing advance groups TAG and time alignment timer TAT provided by the present disclosure are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Please refer to Figure 2, which is a flow chart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device. As shown in Figure 2, the method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

Step S201, configuring an independent TAG for the sending/receiving point TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

When the network device configures each TRP in a cell or a macro cell composed of multiple cells, it configures an independent TAG for each TRP.

The total number of configurable TAGs in the network does not exceed a predetermined threshold. As an example, the predetermined threshold is 8; as another example, the predetermined threshold is 16. The embodiment of the present disclosure does not limit the predetermined threshold.

Step S202: one TAG configures one TAT.

The terminal device can connect to two TRPs for data communication, and each TRP in the network is associated with no more than a predetermined threshold (for example, 8) TAGs. Each TAG is configured with a TAT to control the uplink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

To summarize, the network equipment configures an independent TAG for each TRP in the network, with the total number not exceeding a predetermined threshold. A TRP is configured with an independent TAG, so that each TAG is associated with a TAT. When the –MIMOM-TRP system supports two TAs, the TAG and TAT are enhanced to control the uplink and downlink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

The disclosed embodiments do not limit the number of terminal devices connected to TRPs, nor do they limit the number of TAs supported by the M-TRP system.

Please refer to Figure 3, which is a flow chart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device. As shown in Figure 3, the method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

As shown in FIG. 3 , the configuration method of the multiple timing advance groups TAG and the time alignment timer TAT may include the following steps:

Step S301, the timing advance command TAC media access control-control unit MAC-CE includes the first indication information of TAG, and the first indication information occupies three bits of the TAC MAC-CE.

In the disclosed embodiment, the first indication information of the TAG is configured in the TAC MAC-CE. The first indication information occupies bits of the TAC MAC-CE and is related to a predetermined threshold of the TAG that can be configured in the network.

As an example, the first indication information occupies three bits of TAC MAC-CE, and the total number of TAGs that can be configured in the network is 2 ^{, 3} , or 8.

As another example, the first indication information occupies four bits of the TAC MAC-CE, and the total number of TAGs configurable in the network is 2 to ⁴ or 16. Specifically, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

To facilitate the understanding of TAC MAC-CE, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a TAC MAC-CE provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first indication information of the TAG is the TAG ID shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 is an illustration based on the example that the TAG ID occupies three bits of the TAC MAC-CE, and no specific limitation is given.

Step S302, configure an independent TAG for the TRP, and configure a TAT for one TAG, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

To summarize, the network device configures the first indication information of the TAG in the TAC MAC-CE, and the first indication information occupies three bits of the TAC MAC-CE. Independent TAGs are configured for the TRP, and the total number of TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold (for example, 8). A TAT is configured for one TAG, so that each TAG is associated with a TAT. When the M-TRP system supports two or more TAs, the TAG and TAT are enhanced to control the uplink and downlink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

Please refer to Figure 5, which is a flow chart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device. As shown in Figure 5, the method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

Step S501, sets the first two bits of octet 2Oct2 and the last bit of octet 1Oct1 in the TAC MAC-CE as the first indication information of the TAG.

Assume that the first indication information occupies three bits of TAC MAC-CE. Please continue to refer to Figure 4 to set the first two bits of Oct2 and the last bit of Oct1 in TAC MAC-CE as the first indication information of the TAG.

To facilitate the understanding of TAC MAC-CE, FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a TAC MAC-CE provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first indication information of the TAG is the TAG ID shown in FIG4 . FIG4 is an illustration based on the example that the TAG ID occupies three bits of the TAC MAC-CE, and is not specifically limited. The first two bits of Oct2 and the last bit of Oct1 in the TAC MAC-CE are set as the first indication information of the TAG. It should be noted that Oct1 and Oct2 shown in FIG4 are in parallel, and there is also a way in which Oct1 and Oct2 are connected in series. The embodiment of the present disclosure does not limit the connection method of Oct1 and Oct2.

Step S502, configure an independent TAG for the TRP, and configure a TAT for one TAG, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

The terminal device can connect to two TRPs for data communication, and all TRPs in the network are associated with no more than a predetermined threshold (e.g., 8) TAGs. Each TAG is configured with a TAT to control the uplink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

To summarize, the network device sets the first two bits of Oct2 and the last bit of Oct1 in TAC MAC-CE as the first indication information of TAG, which occupies three bits of TAC MAC-CE. An independent TAG with a total number not exceeding 8 is configured for each TRP in the network. One TRP is configured with an independent TAG, so that each TAG is associated with a TAT. When the M-TRP system supports two or more TAs, the TAG and TAT are enhanced to control the uplink and downlink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

Please refer to FIG. 6 , which is a flow chart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device.

As shown in FIG6 , the method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs may include the following steps:

Step S601: For an inter-cell multiple transmission and reception point M-TRP, a TAG associated with a TRP in a serving cell serving a user equipment UE is defined as a TAG corresponding to a first TAG identifier in the first indication information.

Each TRP is configured with an independent TAG that does not exceed a predetermined threshold, and one of the TAGs can be defined as follows: in response to an inter-cell M-TRP between different cells, in the inter-cell M-TRP, the TAG associated with the TRP in the serving cell serving the UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the first indication information.

The above process is the process of defining a TAG associated with a TRP in a service cell serving a UE. Similarly, when multiple TAGs associated with a TRP need to be defined, the process is the same as defining a TAG associated with a TRP in a service cell serving a UE, and the details are not repeated here.

As an example, the inter-cell M-TRP between cells may include but is not limited to the inter-cell between different macro cells or the inter-cell between cells, which is not limited in the specific embodiments of the present disclosure.

The description of the total number of TAGs that can be configured in the network can be found in the above embodiments, so it will not be described again here.

Step S602: one TAG configures one TAT.

To summarize, the network device responds to the M-TRP of the intra-cell in the cell, and defines the TAG associated with the TRP that first establishes an initial connection with the UE in the service cell serving the UE as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the first indication information. A TRP is configured with an independent TAG, so that each TAG association is associated with a TAT. When the –MIMOM-TRP system supports two TAs, the TAG and TAT are enhanced to control the uplink and downlink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

The method described in FIG. 6 is applicable to the configuration of the first indication information of the TAG in the TAC MAC-CE, where the first indication information occupies three bits of the TAC MAC-CE, and may also be applicable to the configuration of the second indication information of the TAG in the TAC MAC-CE, where the second indication information occupies four bits of the TAC MAC-CE. The implementation method when the network device defines the TRP associated with the TRP in the serving cell serving the UE as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the second indication information in response to the inter-cell M-TRP between cells can refer to step S601. The implementation methods of the two are the same, except that the first indication information occupies three bits of the TAC MAC-CE and the second indication information occupies four bits of the TAC MAC-CE, which will not be described in detail in the embodiments of the present application.

Please refer to FIG. 7 , which is a flow chart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the configuration method of multiple TAGs and TATs may include the following steps:

Step S701, for the intra-cell M-TRP in the cell, the TAG associated with the TRP that first establishes an initial connection with the UE in the serving cell serving the UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the first indication information.

Each TRP is configured with an independent TAG that does not exceed a predetermined threshold, and one of the TAGs can be defined as follows: in response to the M-TRP of the intra-cell in the cell, the TAG associated with the TRP that first establishes an initial connection with the UE in the serving cell serving the UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the first indication information.

As an example, the M-TRP of an intra-cell within a cell may include but is not limited to inter-cells within different macro cells, or inter-cells within a cell, which is not limited in the specific embodiments of the present disclosure.

Step S702: one TAG configures one TAT.

The method described in Figure 7 is applicable to the configuration of the first indication information of the TAG in the TAC MAC-CE, where the first indication information occupies three bits of the TAC MAC-CE, and can also be applicable to the configuration of the second indication information of the TAG in the TAC MAC-CE, where the second indication information occupies four bits of the TAC MAC-CE. The implementation method of the network device defining the TAG associated with the TRP that first establishes an initial connection with the UE in the serving cell serving the UE in response to the M-TRP of the intra-cell in the cell as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the second indication information can be referred to step S701. The implementation methods of the two are the same, except that the first indication information occupies three bits of the TAC MAC-CE and the second indication information occupies four bits of the TAC MAC-CE, which will not be described in detail in the embodiments of the present application.

Please refer to FIG. 8 , which is a flow chart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device.

As shown in FIG8 , the method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs may include the following steps:

Step S801, TAC MAC-CE includes second indication information of TAG, and the second indication information occupies four bits of the TAC MAC-CE.

In the disclosed embodiment, the second indication information of the TAG is configured in the TAC MAC-CE. The second indication information occupies bits of the TAC MAC-CE and is related to a predetermined threshold of the TAG that can be configured in the network.

To facilitate the understanding of TAC MAC-CE, Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a TAC MAC-CE provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first indication information of the TAG is the TAG ID shown in Figure 9. Figure 9 is an illustration based on the example that the TAG ID occupies four bits of the TAC MAC-CE, and no specific limitation is given.

As an example, the second indication information occupies four bits of TAC MAC-CE, and the predetermined threshold of the TAG configurable in the network is 2 to ⁴ to 16. Specifically, the embodiment of the present disclosure does not limit the predetermined threshold.

For the description of TAC MAC-CE, please refer to Figure 4 and related embodiments, so they will not be described in detail here.

Step S802, configure an independent TAG for the TRP, and configure a TAT for one TAG, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

To summarize, the network device configures the second indication information of TAG in TAC MAC-CE, and the second indication information occupies four bits of the TAC MAC-CE. An independent TAG with a total number not exceeding 16 is configured for each TRP in the network. One TRP is configured with an independent TAG, so that each TAG is associated with a TAT. When the M-TRP system supports two or more TAs, the TAG and TAT are enhanced to control the uplink and downlink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

Please refer to FIG. 10 , which is a flowchart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device. The method includes the following steps:

Step S1001, set the first two bits of Oct2 and the last two bits of Oct1 in the TAC MAC-CE as the second indication information of the TAG.

Assume that the second indication information occupies four bits of TAC MAC-CE. Please continue to refer to Figure 9 to set the first two bits of Oct2 and the last bit of Oct1 in TAC MAC-CE as the first indication information of the TAG. For the description of Oct1 and Oct2, please refer to Figure 4 and related descriptions, which will not be repeated here.

Step S1002, configure an independent TAG for the TRP, and configure a TAT for one TAG, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

The total number of configurable TAGs in the network does not exceed a predetermined threshold. As an example, the predetermined threshold is 8; as another example, the predetermined threshold is 16. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the predetermined threshold.

To summarize, the network device sets the first two bits of Oct2 and the last bit of Oct1 in TAC MAC-CE as the first indication information of TAG, which occupies three bits of TAC MAC-CE. An independent TAG is configured for each TRP in the network, and the total number of the TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold. One TRP is configured with an independent TAG, so that each TAG is associated with a TAT. When the M-TRP system supports two or more TAs, the TAG and TAT are enhanced to control the uplink and downlink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

Please refer to FIG. 11 , which is a flowchart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device. The method includes the following steps:

Step S1101, configuring an independent TAG for TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

For instructions on configuring an independent TAG for each TRP, please refer to the detailed description of the above embodiment, so it will not be repeated here.

Step S1102: For two TRPs serving the UE, a first TAT is configured for the first TRP of the two TRPs, and a second TAT is configured for the second TRP, wherein the first TRP is the TRP that completes the initial connection with the UE first.

A TRP can be configured with an independent TAG, and one TAG corresponds to one TAT.

After completing the TAT configuration, the network device configures a first TAT for a first TRP of the two TRPs in response to the two TRPs serving the UE, where the first TRP is the TRP that first completes the initial connection with the UE.

The network device configures a second TAT for the second TRP.

To summarize, the network device completes configuring an independent TAG for each TRP, and the total number of configurable TAGs in the network does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and in response to two TRPs serving the UE, a first TAT is configured for the first TRP of the two TRPs, and a second TAT is configured for the second TRP, wherein the first TRP is the TRP that first completes the initial connection with the UE, the first TRP is associated with the first TAT, and the second TRP is associated with the second TAT. When the M-TRP system supports two or more TAs, relevant enhancements are performed on the TAG and TAT to control the uplink and downlink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

Please refer to FIG. 12 , which is a flowchart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device. The method includes the following steps:

Step S1201, configure an independent TAG for TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

Step S1202: For the two TRPs serving the UE, a first TAT is configured for the first TRP of the two TRPs, and a second TAT is configured for the second TRP, wherein the first TRP is the TRP that completes the initial connection with the UE first.

The network device configures a second TAT for the second TRP.

Step S1203, after the first TAT fails and the second TAT does not fail, the physical uplink shared channel (Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH), physical uplink control channel (Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH), and sounding reference signal (SRS) corresponding to the UE are transmitted through the second TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the second TRP.

An independent TAG is configured for each TRP, and a TAT is configured for each TAG. Assume that the first TRP completes the initial connection with the UE first, and the first TAT of the first TRP fails first. When the first TAT of the first TRP fails, the first TRP cannot transmit PUSCH, PUCCH and sounding reference signal SRS.

The second TRP corresponds to the upload time domain resources, the second TRP maintains the existing TA, and the UE performs PUSCH, PUCCH and SRS transmission accordingly.

To summarize, the network device completes configuring an independent TAG for each TRP, and the total number of configurable TAGs in the network does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and in response to two TRPs serving the UE, a first TAT is configured for the first TRP of the two TRPs, and a second TAT is configured for the second TRP. After the first TAT fails and the second TAT does not fail, the PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS corresponding to the UE are transmitted through the second TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the second TRP. When the M-TRP system supports two or more TAs, relevant enhancements are performed on the TAG and TAT to control the uplink and downlink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

Please refer to Figure 13, which is a flowchart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device. The method includes the following steps:

Step S1301, configure an independent TAG for TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

Step S1302: For the two TRPs serving the UE, a first TAT is configured for the first TRP of the two TRPs, and a second TAT is configured for the second TRP, wherein the first TRP is the TRP that completes the initial connection with the UE first.

Regarding steps S1301 and S1302, please refer to the detailed description of the above embodiment, so they will not be described again here.

Step S1303: After the first TAT fails and the second TAT has not failed, the UE transmits PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS through the second TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the second TRP.

An independent TAG is configured for each TRP, and a TAT is configured for each TAG. Assume that the first TRP completes the initial connection with the UE first, and the first TAT of the first TRP fails first. When the first TAT of the first TRP fails, the first TRP cannot perform PUSCH, PUCCH and SRS transmission.

Step S1304: After the first TAT becomes invalid, in response to the first TRP initiating a random access request, the first TRP obtains a new TA and restarts the first TAT.

The first TRP initiates a random access request, restarts TAT after obtaining a new TA, and maintains TA until TAT expires.

As an example, the first TRP initiating a random access request includes: the UE autonomously initiating a random access request.

As another example, the first TRP is triggered to initiate a random access request through a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) command. The disclosed embodiment does not limit the manner in which the first TRP initiates a random access request.

In summary, the network equipment completes the configuration of an independent TAG for each TRP, and the total number of configurable TAGs in the network does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and in response to the two TRPs serving the UE, the first TRP of the two TRPs is configured with a first TAT, and the second TRP is configured with a second TAT. After the first TAT fails and the second TAT does not fail, the PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS transmission corresponding to the UE are performed through the second TRP in the corresponding upload time domain resources of the second TRP. After the first TAT fails, in response to the first TRP initiating a random access request, the first TRP obtains a new TA and restarts the first TAT. When the M-TRP system supports two or more TAs, relevant enhancements are made to the TAG and TAT to control the uplink and downlink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

Please refer to Figure 14, which is a schematic diagram of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method is executed by a network device. The method includes the following steps:

Step S1401, configure an independent TAG for TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

Step S1402, in response to two TRPs serving the UE, respectively configure a first TAT for the first TRP of the two TRPs and configure a second TAT for the second TRP, wherein the first TRP is the TRP that first completes the initial connection with the UE.

Regarding steps S1401 and S1402, please refer to the detailed description of the above embodiment, so they will not be described again here.

Step S1403: If the first TAT fails and the second TAT does not fail, the TA value of the second TRP is used to transmit the PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS corresponding to the UE through the first TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the first TRP.

The first TAT fails, that is, the first TRP cannot perform PUSCH/PUCCH/SRS transmission, and the second TAT does not fail. The first TRP is configured to adopt the TA value of the second TRP, and the UE performs PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS transmissions corresponding to the UE through the first TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the first TRP until the TAT of the second TRP fails.

To summarize, the network device completes configuring an independent TAG for each TRP, and the total number of configurable TAGs in the network does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and in response to two TRPs serving the UE, a first TAT is configured for the first TRP of the two TRPs, and a second TAT is configured for the second TRP. In response to the failure of the first TAT and the persistence of the second TAT, the TA value of the second TRP is used to perform PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS transmissions corresponding to the UE through the first TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the first TRP. When the M-TRP system supports two or more TAs, relevant enhancements are performed on the TAG and TAT to control the uplink and downlink synchronization time of the service cell associated with the TAG.

Please refer to FIG. 15 , which is a flowchart of a method for configuring multiple TAGs and TATs provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the method is executed by a network device. The method includes the following steps:

Step S1501, configure an independent TAG for TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

Step S1502, in response to two TRPs serving the UE, respectively configure a first TAT for the first TRP of the two TRPs and configure a second TAT for the second TRP, wherein the first TRP is the TRP that first completes the initial connection with the UE.

Step S1503: If the first TAT fails and the second TAT does not fail, the TA value of the second TRP is used to transmit the PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS corresponding to the UE through the first TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the first TRP.

Regarding steps S1501 to S1503, please refer to the detailed description of the above embodiment, so they will not be described again here.

Step S1504: After the first TAT becomes invalid, in response to the UE re-initiating a random access request with the first TRP and the second TRP, the first TRP and the second TRP respectively obtain new TAs to restart the first TAT and the second TAT.

After the first TAT expires, the UE re-initiates a random access request with the first TRP and the second TRP, restarts TAT after obtaining a new TA, and maintains TA until TAT expires.

Corresponding to the multi-TAG and TAT configuration method provided in the embodiments of Figures 2 to 15 above, the present disclosure also provides a network device. Since the network device device provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure corresponds to the multi-TAG and TAT configuration method provided in the embodiments of Figures 2 to 15 above, the implementation method of the multi-TAG and TAT configuration method is also applicable to the network device provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, and will not be described in detail in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG16 is a network device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the network device includes:

The processing module 1601 is configured to configure an independent TAG for the transmission reception point TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and

One TAG is configured with one TAT.

In one implementation,

The predetermined threshold is 8.

In one implementation, the processing module 1601 is further configured to:

In one implementation,

The predetermined threshold is 16.

In one implementation, the processing module 1601 is further configured to:

For two TRPs serving the UE, a first TAT is configured for a first TRP of the two TRPs, and a second TAT is configured for a second TRP, wherein the first TRP is the TRP that completes the initial connection with the UE first.

In one implementation, the network device further includes:

The transceiver module 1602 is used to transmit the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH, physical uplink control channel PUCCH and sounding reference signal SRS corresponding to the UE through the second TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the second TRP after the first TAT fails and the second TAT does not fail.

In one implementation, after the first TAT becomes invalid, the transceiver module 1602 is further used to initiate a random access request in response to the first TRP, and the first TRP obtains a new TA to restart the first TAT.

In one implementation, the transceiver module 1602 is further configured to:

In an implementation manner, after the first TAT fails, the processing module 1601 is further configured to:

Please refer to Figure 17, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. In Figure 17, the communication device 1700 can be a network device, a relay terminal device, a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the network device to implement the above method, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the terminal device to implement the above method. The device can be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiment, and the details can be referred to the description in the above method embodiment.

The communication device 1700 may include one or more processors 1701. The processor 1701 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, etc. For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be used to process the communication protocol and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute a computer program, and process the data of the computer program.

Optionally, the communication device 1700 may further include one or more memories 1702, on which a computer program 1704 may be stored, and the processor 1701 executes the computer program 1704 so that the communication device 1700 performs the method described in the above method embodiment. Optionally, data may also be stored in the memory 1702. The communication device 1700 and the memory 1702 may be provided separately or integrated together.

Optionally, the communication device 1700 may further include a transceiver 1705 and an antenna 1706. The transceiver 1705 may be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit, etc., and is used to implement a transceiver function. The transceiver 1705 may include a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver may be referred to as a receiver or a receiving circuit, etc., and is used to implement a receiving function; the transmitter may be referred to as a transmitter or a transmitting circuit, etc., and is used to implement a transmitting function.

Optionally, the communication device 1700 may further include one or more interface circuits 1707. The interface circuit 1707 is used to receive code instructions and transmit them to the processor 1701. The processor 1701 runs the code instructions to enable the communication device 1700 to perform the method described in the above method embodiment.

The communication apparatus 1700 is a relay terminal device: the processor 1701 is used to execute step S202 in FIG. 2 , step S302 in FIG. 3 , step S402 in FIG. 4 , step S503 in FIG. 5 , etc.

The communication device 1700 is a network device: the transceiver 1705 is used to execute steps such as step S1202 in Figure 12.

In one implementation, the processor 1701 may include a transceiver for implementing the receiving and sending functions. For example, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit, an interface, or an interface circuit. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit for implementing the receiving and sending functions may be separate or integrated. The above-mentioned transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for reading and writing code/data, or the above-mentioned transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for transmitting or delivering signals.

In one implementation, the processor 1701 may store a computer program 1703, which runs on the processor 1701 and enables the communication device 1700 to perform the method described in the above method embodiment. The computer program 1703 may be fixed in the processor 1701, in which case the processor 1701 may be implemented by hardware.

In one implementation, the communication device 1700 may include a circuit that can implement the functions of sending or receiving or communicating in the aforementioned method embodiments. The processor and transceiver described in the present disclosure may be implemented in an integrated circuit (IC), an analog IC, a radio frequency integrated circuit RFIC, a mixed signal IC, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic device, etc. The processor and transceiver may also be manufactured using various IC process technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), P-type metal oxide semiconductor (positive channel metal oxide semiconductor, PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), etc.

The communication device described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal device, but the scope of the communication device described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device may not be limited by FIG. 17. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be:

(1) Independent integrated circuit IC, or chip, or chip system or subsystem;

(2) having a set of one or more ICs, and optionally, the IC set may also include a storage component for storing data and computer programs;

(3) ASIC, such as modem;

(4) Modules that can be embedded in other devices;

(5) Receivers, terminal devices, intelligent terminal devices, cellular phones, wireless devices, handheld devices, mobile units, vehicle-mounted devices, network devices, cloud devices, artificial intelligence devices, etc.;

(6)Others

For the case where the communication device can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the chip structure shown in Figure 18. The chip 1800 shown in Figure 18 includes a processor 1801 and an interface 1803. The number of processors 1801 can be one or more, and the number of interfaces 1803 can be multiple.

Optionally, the chip 1800 further includes a memory 1802, and the memory 1802 is used to store necessary computer programs and data.

Those skilled in the art may also understand that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps listed in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of the two. Whether such functions are implemented by hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design requirements of the entire system. Those skilled in the art may use various methods to implement the functions described for each specific application, but such implementation should not be understood as exceeding the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure also provides a readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

The present disclosure also provides a computer program product, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs. When the computer program is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer program can be transmitted from a website site, computer, server or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (digital subscriber line, DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode to another website site, computer, server or data center. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid state disk (SSD)), etc.

Those skilled in the art can understand that the various numerical numbers such as first and second involved in the present disclosure are only used for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure, but also indicate the order of precedence.

At least one in the present disclosure may also be described as one or more, and a plurality may be two, three, four or more, which is not limited in the present disclosure. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for a technical feature, the technical features in the technical feature are distinguished by "first", "second", "third", "A", "B", "C" and "D", etc., and there is no order of precedence or size between the technical features described by the "first", "second", "third", "A", "B", "C" and "D".

It is further understood that in the present disclosure, "plurality" refers to two or more than two, and other quantifiers are similar thereto. "And/or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and/or B may represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. The character "/" generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. The singular forms "a", "the" and "the" are also intended to include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates other meanings.

It is further understood that the meanings of the words "in response to", "if", "such as" and the like involved in the present disclosure depend on the context and the actual usage scenarios. For example, the word "such as" used herein can be interpreted as "at..." or "when..."

The corresponding relationships shown in the tables in the present disclosure can be configured or predefined. The values of the information in each table are only examples and can be configured as other values, which are not limited by the present disclosure. When configuring the corresponding relationship between the information and each parameter, it is not necessarily required to configure all the corresponding relationships illustrated in each table. For example, in the table in the present disclosure, the corresponding relationships shown in some rows may not be configured. For another example, appropriate deformation adjustments can be made based on the above table, such as splitting, merging, etc. The names of the parameters shown in the titles of the above tables can also use other names that can be understood by the communication device, and the values or representations of the parameters can also be other values or representations that can be understood by the communication device. When implementing the above tables, other data structures can also be used, such as arrays, queues, containers, stacks, linear lists, pointers, linked lists, trees, graphs, structures, classes, heaps, hash tables or hash tables.

Claims

A method for configuring multiple timing advance groups TAG and a time alignment timer TAT, characterized in that the method is performed by a network device, and the method includes:

Configuring an independent TAG for the transmission reception point TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and

One TAG is configured with one TAT.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that

The timing advance command TAC media access control-control unit MAC-CE includes first indication information of TAG, and the first indication information occupies three bits of the TAC MAC-CE;

The predetermined threshold is 8.
The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the TAC MAC-CE includes the first indication information of the TAG including:

The first two bits of octet 2Oct2 and the last bit of octet 1Oct1 in the TAC MAC-CE are set as the first indication information of the TAG.
The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the TRP configured with an independent TAG comprises:

For the inter-cell multiple transmission and reception point M-TRP, the TAG associated with the TRP in the serving cell serving the user equipment UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the first indication information.
The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the TRP configured with an independent TAG comprises:

For the intra-cell M-TRP within the cell, the TAG associated with the TRP that first establishes an initial connection with the UE in the serving cell serving the UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the first indication information.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that

The TAC MAC-CE includes second indication information of the TAG, and the second indication information occupies four bits of the TAC MAC-CE;

The predetermined threshold is 16.
The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the second indication information including TAG in the TAC MAC-CE includes:

The first two bits of Oct2 and the last two bits of Oct1 in the TAC MAC-CE are set as the second indication information of the TAG.
The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the TRP configured with an independent TAG comprises:

For the inter-cell M-TRP, the TAG associated with the TRP in the serving cell serving the UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the second indication information.
The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the one TRP configured with an independent TAG comprises:

For the intra-cell M-TRP within the cell, the TAG associated with the TRP that first establishes an initial connection with the UE in the serving cell serving the UE is defined as the TAG corresponding to the first TAG identifier in the second indication information.
The method of claim 1, wherein the one TRP configured with an independent TAG comprises:

For two TRPs serving the UE, a first TAT is configured for a first TRP of the two TRPs, and a second TAT is configured for a second TRP, wherein the first TRP is the TRP that first completes an initial connection with the UE.
The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the method further comprises:

If the first TAT fails and the second TAT does not fail, the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH, physical uplink control channel PUCCH and sounding reference signal SRS corresponding to the UE are transmitted through the second TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the second TRP.
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that after the first TAT fails, the method further comprises:

In response to the first TRP initiating a random access request, the first TRP obtains a new TA and restarts the first TAT.
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the first TRP initiating a random access request comprises:

In response to a random access request initiated by the first TRP triggered by a physical downlink control channel PDCCH command.
The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the method further comprises:

If the first TAT fails and the second TAT does not fail, the TA value of the second TRP is used to transmit the PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS corresponding to the UE through the first TRP in the upload time domain resources corresponding to the first TRP.
The method according to claim 14, characterized in that after the first TAT fails, the method further comprises:

In response to the UE re-initiating a random access request with the first TRP and the second TRP, the first TRP and the second TRP respectively obtain new TAs and restart the first TAT and the second TAT.
A network device, comprising:

a processing module, configured to configure an independent TAG for a transmission reception point TRP, wherein the total number of configurable TAGs does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and

One TAG configures one TAT.
A communication device, characterized in that the device comprises a processor and a memory, the memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program stored in the memory so that the device performs the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 15.
A computer-readable storage medium is used to store instructions, and when the instructions are executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15 is performed.