CN116266782A

CN116266782A - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN116266782A
Application number: CN202111554496.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 罗青全; 张战战
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-12-17
Filing date: 2021-12-17
Publication date: 2023-06-20
Also published as: WO2023109487A1

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and device. The method comprises the following steps: the terminal equipment receives first information from the network equipment, wherein the first information indicates to monitor a first DCI format, and the first DCI format comprises a target information domain; the terminal equipment receives second information from the network equipment, the second information indicates to monitor a second DCI format, the second DCI format is a DCI format with a target information domain removed from the first DCI format, and the second information is loaded in DCI or MAC CE; and the terminal equipment monitors a second DCI format according to the second information. Therefore, when the UE analyzes the DCI in the second DCI format, the analysis time of the UE can be correspondingly reduced, so that the power consumption of the UE is saved; when the network device transmits the DCI of the second DCI format, resources required for transmitting the DCI may be reduced, so that blocking probability of the PDCCH may be reduced (or the PDCCH may be prevented from being blocked), and resource utilization efficiency may be improved.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

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

Background

Currently, some of the information sent by the network device, such as the downlink control information (downlink control information, DCI), has a portion of the information that remains unchanged for a period of time, such as at a millisecond, second or minute granularity. Therefore, if the network device transmits the partially repeated information every time during the communication with the terminal device, unnecessary signaling and resource overhead are caused, and the parsing burden of the terminal device is increased for the terminal device.

Based on the above-mentioned shortcomings, how to optimize the communication process between the network device and the terminal device is a problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a communication method and a communication device, which are used for optimizing a communication process between network equipment and terminal equipment.

In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

the terminal equipment receives first information from the network equipment, wherein the first information indicates a first Downlink Control Information (DCI) format which comprises a target information domain; the terminal equipment receives second information from the network equipment, the second information indicates to monitor a second DCI format, the second DCI format is a DCI format with a target information domain removed from the first DCI format, and the second information is loaded in DCI or a medium access control unit (MAC CE); and the terminal equipment monitors the second DCI format according to the second information under the condition that the second information is effective.

According to the scheme of the application, the terminal equipment can monitor the second DCI format according to the indication of the network equipment, and the second DCI format is reduced in DCI size compared with the first DCI format. Therefore, for the terminal device, when the terminal device parses the DCI in the second DCI format, the parsing time of the terminal device is correspondingly reduced, so that the power consumption of the terminal device is saved, and the communication process between the terminal device and the network device is optimized.

In addition, compared with the loading in the RRC signaling, the loading of the second information in the DCI or the MAC CE has the advantages that on one hand, the effective time delay of the RRC signaling is longer, on the other hand, the cost of the RRC signaling is larger, and on the other hand, the duration of the RRC signaling is longer after the effective time is longer.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the second information is carried in DCI, and after the terminal device sends feedback information for the second information, the second information starts to take effect.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes:

starting a timer by the terminal equipment from the second information to take effect; after the timer is overtime, the second information is invalid, the terminal equipment monitors the first DCI format and stops monitoring the second DCI format.

It should be appreciated that the timer may be started all the time after the timer is started; or after the timer is started, the terminal receives the second information again, and after the second information received again takes effect, the timer can be restarted.

The terminal equipment receives third information from the network equipment, the third information indicates to stop monitoring the second DCI format, and the third information is loaded in DCI or MAC CE; and the terminal equipment monitors the first DCI format according to the third information and stops monitoring the second DCI format.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first information indicates to monitor a plurality of DCI formats, where the plurality of DCI formats includes the first DCI format; the method further comprises the steps of:

and the terminal equipment determines the DCI size of the reduced first DCI format from the plurality of DCI formats according to the second information.

the terminal device receives fourth information from the network device, where the fourth information is used to indicate that at least one information field of all information fields included in the first DCI format is a target information field.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the content indicated by the target information field is configured by the network device through a radio resource control RRC message, or the content indicated by the target information field is included in a last piece of DCI received by the terminal device in the first DCI format; the method further comprises the steps of:

and the terminal equipment determines the scheduling of the network equipment to the terminal equipment according to the monitored DCI of the second DCI format and the target information domain.

in case the second information is validated, the terminal device also listens for the first DCI format.

According to the scheme of the application, if the terminal still monitors the first DCI format under the condition that the second information is effective, when the network equipment needs to send the first DCI format, the network equipment can directly send the DCI with the DCI format as the first DCI format, and the first DCI format does not need to be sent after the second information is invalid or after the third information is sent, so that flexible scheduling of the network equipment according to the wireless environment and service requirements is facilitated.

In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

the network equipment sends first information to the terminal equipment, the first information indicates to monitor a first Downlink Control Information (DCI) format, and the first DCI format comprises a target information domain; the network device sends second information to the terminal device, the second information indicates to monitor a second DCI format, the second DCI format is a DCI format with a target information domain removed from the first DCI format, and the second information is loaded in DCI or a medium access control unit (MAC CE).

According to the scheme of the application, the network device can instruct the terminal device to monitor the second DCI format. When the network device transmits the DCI in the second DCI format, the resources required for transmitting the DCI may be reduced, so that the blocking of the PDCCH may be reduced (or the PDCCH may be prevented from being blocked), the utilization efficiency of the resources is improved, and the communication process between the terminal device and the network device is optimized.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, in a case where the second information is valid, the method further includes:

the network equipment sends first DCI to the terminal equipment, and the DCI format of the first DCI is a second DCI format.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the means for the second information to come into effect includes:

the second information is carried in the DCI, and the second information starts to take effect after feedback information of the terminal equipment for the second information is received.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes:

the network device sends third information to the terminal device, the third information indicates to stop monitoring the second DCI format, and the third information is carried in DCI or MAC CE.

the network device sends fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information is used to indicate that at least one information domain in all information domains included in the first DCI format is a target information domain.

In a third aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising:

a receiving and transmitting unit and a processing unit connected with the receiving and transmitting unit.

A transceiver unit, configured to receive first information from a network device, where the first information indicates to monitor a first downlink control information DCI format, and the first DCI format includes a target information field; the receiving and transmitting unit is further used for receiving second information from the network equipment, the second information indicates to monitor a second DCI format, the second DCI format is a DCI format with a target information domain removed from the first DCI format, and the second information is loaded in DCI or a medium access control unit (MAC CE); and the processing unit is used for monitoring the second DCI format according to the second information under the condition that the second information is effective.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the second information is carried in DCI, and after the transceiver unit sends feedback information for the second information, the second information comes into effect.

With reference to the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the processing unit is further configured to start a timer from the second information coming into effect; and after the timer is overtime, the second information is invalid, and the processing unit is further used for monitoring the first DCI format and stopping monitoring the second DCI format.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive third information from the network device, where the third information indicates that monitoring of the second DCI format is stopped, and the third information is carried in the DCI or the MAC CE; and the processing unit is also used for monitoring the first DCI format according to the third information and stopping monitoring the second DCI format.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first information indicates to monitor a plurality of DCI formats, where the plurality of DCI formats includes the first DCI format; the processing unit is further configured to determine, according to the second information, a DCI size of the reduced first DCI format from the plurality of DCI formats.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive fourth information from the network device, where the fourth information is used to indicate that at least one information field in all information fields included in the first DCI format is a target information field.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the content indicated by the target information field is configured by the network device through a radio resource control RRC message, or the content indicated by the target information field is included in a last piece of DCI received by the terminal device in the first DCI format; and the processing unit is also used for determining the scheduling of the network equipment to the terminal equipment according to the monitored DCI of the second DCI format and the target information domain.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the processing unit is further configured to monitor the first DCI format in a case where the second information is validated.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising:

The receiving and transmitting unit is used for transmitting first information to the terminal equipment, wherein the first information indicates to monitor a first Downlink Control Information (DCI) format, and the first DCI format comprises a target information domain; the transceiver unit is further configured to send second information to the terminal device, where the second information indicates to monitor a second DCI format, where the second DCI format is a DCI format in which the target information field is removed from the first DCI format, and the second information is carried in DCI or a medium access control unit MAC CE.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to send the first DCI to the terminal device, where the second information is validated, and a DCI format of the first DCI is the second DCI format.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the means for the second information to come into effect includes:

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to send third information to the terminal device, where the third information indicates to stop listening to the second DCI format, and the third information is carried in the DCI or the MAC CE.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to send fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information is used to indicate that at least one information field in all information fields included in the first DCI format is a target information field.

In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided that includes a communication interface and a processor. When the communication device is running, the processor executes the computer program or instructions stored in the memory, causing the communication device to perform the method in any one of the possible implementations of the first to second aspects. The memory may be located in the processor or may be implemented by a chip independent of the processor, which is not particularly limited in this application.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided a computer readable storage medium comprising a computer program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of the possible implementations of the first to second aspects.

It is understood that the computer may be a terminal device or a network device as described above.

In a seventh aspect, a chip is provided with processing circuitry for performing the method of any one of the possible implementations of the first to second aspects.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising: a computer program (which may also be referred to as code, or instructions) which, when executed, causes a computer to perform the method of any one of the possible implementations of the first to second aspects.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a system architecture to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable.

Fig. 2 is a schematic interaction diagram of an example of the method proposed in the present application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic interaction diagram of an example of the method proposed in the present application.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided herein.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application may be applied to various third generation partnership project (the 3rd generation partnership project,3GPP) communication systems, for example: long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) systems, e.g., LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD), fifth generation (5th Generation,5G) systems also known as New Radio (NR) systems, future sixth generation (6th Generation,6G) systems, and the like.

Fig. 1 shows a communication system applicable to the embodiment of the present application, where the communication system includes a terminal device and a network device. It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the number of terminal devices and network devices included in the communication system.

The terminal device in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a User Equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user equipment. The terminal device may also be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, a terminal device in a future 6G network or a terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN), etc., to which embodiments of the present application are not limited.

The network device in the embodiment of the present application may be a device for communicating with a terminal device, the network device may also be an evolved base station (evolutional nodeB, eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or may also be a wireless controller in a cloud wireless access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN) scenario, or the network device may be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a network device in a 5G network, a network device in a future 6G network, or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, or the like, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

During actual traffic, it was found that for certain traffic scenarios, some information fields (e.g., more than 40% of the fields) in certain information (e.g., DCI) sent by the network device may remain unchanged at millisecond, second, or to minute time granularity. Thus, the network device may cause unnecessary signaling and resource overhead if the network device transmits the partial information field every time during the communication with the terminal device.

Furthermore, for reduced capability (reduced capability, redCap) UEs, the bandwidth supported by the RedCap UEs is small and the capabilities of the RedCap UEs are limited. Therefore, the RedCap UE is more prone to channel blocking than the NR normal (normal) UE, such as physical downlink control channel (physical downlink control channel, PDCCH) blocking, and insufficient data resources. It should be understood that the method provided in the present application is applicable not only to the RedCap UE but also to the NRnormal UE.

Based on the problems in the prior art, the present application provides a method for reducing signaling overhead of a network device, thereby saving resources, reducing channel blocking, and improving resource utilization efficiency.

For convenience of description, the following description will take network equipment as a base station, terminal equipment as a UE, and some of the above information as DCI as an example.

Fig. 2 shows a method 200 provided herein, the method 200 comprising:

s210, the base station sends first information to the UE. Accordingly, the UE receives the first information.

The first information indicates listening to a first DCI format. The first DCI format includes a target information field #1. It should be appreciated that the first DCI format may include at least one DCI format, without limitation.

Optionally, the first information indicates to monitor a plurality of DCI formats, where the plurality of DCI formats includes the first DCI format.

Alternatively, the first information may be carried in radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) signaling, or other signaling/messages, without limitation. For example, the first information is carried by RRC signaling in RRC connected state.

S220, the base station sends second information to the UE. Accordingly, the UE receives the second information.

The second information indicates listening to a second DCI format, which may be carried in DCI or a medium access control element (MAC CE). The second DCI format is a DCI format with the target information field #1 removed from the first DCI format. That is, the DCI size of the second DCI format is reduced compared to the DCI size of the first DCI format.

It should be understood that the second DCI format obtained after the target information field #1 is removed from the first DCI format is the same DCI format as the first DCI format or a DCI format different from the first DCI format, without limitation.

For example, a DCI format resulting from the removal of one or more information fields from DCI format 1_1 may still be considered to be DCI format 1_1 or a DCI format different from DCI format 1_1 (e.g., referred to as DCI format 1_1_0).

For example, for DCI format 1_1, target information field #1 may be one or more of the following:

a carrier indication field (carrier indicator), a bandwidth part indication field (bandwidth part indicator), a time domain resource allocation field (time domain resource assignment), a virtual resource block to physical resource block mapping manner field (VRB-to-PRB mapping), a physical resource block bundling size indication field (PRB bundling size indicator), a rate matching indication field (rate matching indicator), a transmission configuration indication field (transmission configuration indication), a channel reference signal request field (SRS request), a code block group transmission information field (CBG transmission information), code block group flushing information (CBG flushing out information), and a demodulation reference signal initialization field (DMRS sequence initialization).

Alternatively, the second DCI format may lack one or more information fields as compared to the first DCI format, i.e., the target information field #1 may include one or more information fields.

Alternatively, the second DCI format may be a DCI format obtained by removing a portion of bits of the target information field #1 in the first DCI format. That is, the target information field #1 is not entirely removed, but a part of bits in the target information field #1 is removed. After removing part of the bits of the target information field #1, the DCI size (size) of the second DCI format is reduced compared to the DCI size of the first DCI format. Which bits of the target information field #1 are removed may be preconfigured by the network device or predefined by the protocol.

For example, the bits that can be removed in the target information field #1 are high order bits. For example, if the target information field #1 is changed from 4 bits to 3 bits after the upper bits are removed, the kinds of bit combinations in the target information field #1 are changed from at most 16 kinds to at most 8 kinds.

Optionally, if the DCI size of the first DCI format is reduced, the DCI size of the DCI corresponding to all radio network temporary identities (radio network temporary identifier, RNTI) that scramble the first DCI format is reduced. That is, if the first DCI format is scrambled by the first RNTI and the second RNTI, the UE listens to the second DCI format scrambled by the first RNTI and the second RNTI while listening to the second DCI format.

For example, the first DCI format is DCI format 1_1, DCI format 1_1 may be scrambled by a cell radio network temporary identity (cell radio network temporary identity, C-RNTI), a configuration scheduling radio network temporary identity (confirgued scheduling-radio network tempory identity, CS-RNTI) and a modulation and coding scheme cell radio network temporary identity (modulation and coding scheme-cell radio network tempory identity, MCS-C-RNTI), and after DCI size of DCI format 1_1 is reduced, DCI size of C-RNTI scrambled DCI format 1_1, CS-RNTI scrambled DCI format 1_1, MCS-C-RNTI scrambled DCI format 1_1 is reduced.

The DCI format is scrambled by RNTI, also described as cyclic redundancy check (cyclic redundancy check, CRC) of the DCI format is scrambled by RNTI.

Alternatively, considering that DCI 1_0 and DCI 0_0 in the common search space set (common search space set, csset) or in the UE-specific search space set (UE specific search space set, ussset) or in the common search space set and the specific search space set are DCI size aligned, DCI 1_0 and DCI 0_0 may simultaneously reduce DCI size. I.e. the target information field is removed at the same time. For example, DCI 1_0 includes information field #1, DCI 0_0 includes information field #2, and ue is instructed to listen to DCI 1_0 that does not include information field #1, then for DCI 0_0, ue also listens to DCI 0_0 that does not include information field # 2. Alternatively, after the target information field is removed simultaneously, DCI 1_0 and DCI 0_0 are still DCI size aligned according to DCI size pull Ji Guize, e.g., according to DCI size pull Ji Guize in the existing protocol. The information fields #1, #2 as above are specifically which information fields can be predefined by the network device indication or protocol.

Alternatively, considering that DCI 1_0 and DCI0_0 series are associated with multiple RNTI types, and where DCI size of DCI format scrambled by paging radio network temporary identity (pagingradio network temporary identity, P-RNTI), system information radio network temporary identity (systeminformationradio network temporary identity, SI-RNTI), random access radio network temporary identity (randomaccessradio network temporary identity, RA-RNTI) or temporary cell radio network temporary identity (temporarycellradio network temporary identity, TC-RNTI) is not reduced, even if DCI size of C-RNTI scrambled DCI format is reduced, other RNTI scrambled DCI formats are not reduced in DCI size, so reducing DCI size may not be applicable to DCI 1_0 and/or DCI0_0 series. For example, the scheme of the present application is applicable only to DCI 1_1 and/or DCI 0_1 series.

For simplicity, it should be understood that DCI n_m represents DCI format n_m, where n and m are natural numbers.

As a possible way, before the base station sends the second information to the UE, the base station may determine that DCIsize of the first DCI format needs to be reduced according to one or more of configuration information, service requirement, radio channel environment, and number of UEs in the cell sent by the base station to the UE. On the basis, the base station transmits second information to the UE.

For example, if a bandwidth part (BWP) configured by the base station to the UE is small, the base station may transmit the second information to the UE.

For example, the base station may transmit the second information to the UE when the scheduling policy of the base station for the UE is unchanged for a short time in processing the same service (e.g., video service, voice service).

For example, the base station determines that the channel state changes slowly (e.g. the channel state changes slowly when the UE is in a stationary state) according to the channel state information (channel state information, CSI) reported by the UE, and then the base station may send the second information to the UE.

For example, if the number of UEs in the cell is small, and for each UE, the scheduling policy of the base station for the UE is unchanged for a short time, the base station may send the second information to the UE.

For example, if the number of UEs in the cell is large, and PDCCH blocking occurs, the base station transmits second information to the UEs.

As another possible way, the base station may periodically send the second information to the UE. The network device may configure the listening period of the second information, e.g., by configuring the set of search spaces to configure listening occasions for the second information. For example, the listening period of the second information may be 40ms. The UE may periodically listen for the second information and the network device may choose to send the second information at a listening occasion for the second information.

And S230, the UE monitors the second DCI format according to the second information under the condition that the second information is effective.

Optionally, the method further includes the UE determining the DCI size of the reduced first DCI format from the plurality of DCI formats according to the second information, or RRC message of the base station, or a protocol being followed. That is, the UE determines which DCI format DCI size can be reduced from a plurality of DCI formats.

The plurality of DCI formats are DCI formats to which the UE is instructed to listen.

As one approach, the DCI size of which DCI format of a plurality of DCI formats allows the reduction is preconfigured into the UE. At this time, the UE determines, according to the preconfigured information, that the DCI size of the first DCI format may be reduced, and monitors the second DCI format according to the second information.

As another approach, the DCI size of which DCI format of the plurality of DCI formats allows the reduction is protocol predefined. At this time, the UE determines, according to the protocol that is followed, that the DCI size of the first DCI format may be reduced, and monitors the second DCI format according to the second information.

As another way, the DCI size of which DCI format among the plurality of DCI formats to reduce is determined according to the second information. That is, the second information is also used to indicate the first DCI format from among the plurality of DCI formats. For example, the second information includes 1 bit for determining one DCI format from DCI 1_1 and DCI 0_1 as a DCI format to reduce DCI size, i.e., a first DCI format. The second information further includes 1 bit for indicating whether to reduce DCI size.

Optionally, which information fields the removed target information field #1 is in the second DCI format compared to the first DCI format may also be preconfigured into the UE by RRC signaling, or predefined by a protocol, or indicated by the second information. That is, the second information may also be used to indicate which information fields the second DCI format has removed compared to the first DCI format. For details, see description below.

It is understood that the UE may listen to the second DCI format after the second information is validated.

The manner in which the second information is validated is configured by the network device or predefined by the protocol. Several possible ways of initiating the validation of the second information are described below.

Mode 1:

the second information is carried in the DCI, and the second information becomes effective after the UE transmits feedback information for the second information. The DCI may be used for scheduling data (e.g., for scheduling a physical downlink shared channel (physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH)) or may not be used for scheduling data, without limitation.

Illustratively, the second information is validated immediately after the UE transmits feedback information for the second information.

Illustratively, the second information starts to take effect at the beginning of the next symbol, or the next slot, or the next subframe after the UE transmits feedback information for the second information.

The symbols may be orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM) symbols, or single carrier frequency division multiplexing (singlecarrier frequency division multiplexing, SCFDM) symbols, or other symbols.

For example, one subframe may be 1ms, one subframe may include 2 slots, and one slot may include 6 or 7 symbols in the LTE system. It should be appreciated that in other communication systems (e.g., NR systems), the definition of subframes, slots, symbols may be different from this, e.g., a slot may include 12 or 14 symbols, which is not limiting in this application.

For example, the UE may send hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (hybrid automatic repeat requestacknowledge, HARQ-ACK) feedback for the DCI, and the second information may begin to take effect after the UE has sent the HARQ-ACK feedback for the DCI.

Mode 2:

the second information is carried in DCI, and if the DCI is used to schedule a physical uplink shared channel (physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH), the UE starts to take effect after the PUSCH is transmitted. For example, the second information starts to take effect immediately after PUSCH is transmitted.

Mode 3:

after the UE receives the second information interval duration #a, the second information starts to be validated.

For example, the duration #a of the interval between the start (or end) of the slot where the DCI carrying the second information is located and the start of the slot where the second information starts to take effect.

For example, the second information starts to take effect in an nth slot after the UE receives the second information, where N is a positive integer. N may be predefined by the network device configuration or protocol.

As another example, the duration #a may relate to a duration for which the UE demodulates, decodes, and/or parses the second information. That is, the duration #a is related to the capability of the UE to process the second information, and may be shorter when the capability of the UE to process the second information is stronger; the duration #a may be longer when the UE's capability of processing the second information is weak. Specifically, the duration #a may be predefined by the protocol; or the base station determines the duration #A according to the capability information or the auxiliary information reported by the UE and notifies the duration #A to the UE.

Illustratively, the duration required for the UE to process the second information is 1ms for the capability information reported by the UE, and the assistance information reported by the UE suggests that the duration #a be set to 2ms for the UE. And the base station determines the duration #A to be 1.5ms according to the capability information or the auxiliary information reported by the UE, and notifies the duration #A to the UE.

For another example, the duration #a is related to a subcarrier spacing. For example, the larger the subcarrier spacing, the greater the number of slots corresponding to duration #a.

For another example, the duration #a is related to a start symbol of DCI carrying the second information in the slot. For example, if the DCI carrying the second information is located in the first 3 symbols in the slot, the duration #a is t1, or the second information starts to take effect in the 1 st slot after the UE receives the second information; if the DCI carrying the second information is located at a symbol following the first 3 symbols in the slot, the duration #a is t2, or the second information starts to take effect at the 2 nd slot after the UE receives the second information.

For another example, the second information is carried in the MAC CE, and the second information may be validated in the same manner as the MAC CE. For example, if the MAC CE takes effect after the UE transmits the HARQ-ACK feedback for the MAC CE for 3ms, the second information may also take effect after the UE transmits the HARQ-ACK feedback for the MAC CE for 3 ms.

Optionally, in the case that the second information is valid, the UE may also monitor the first DCI format.

It should be appreciated that the UE may or may not monitor the first DCI format in the event that the second information is in effect. The following is a description of the case.

Case 1:

in the case that the second information is valid, the UE does not monitor the first DCI format.

In this way, the kind of DCI size that the UE listens to may not change or be reduced, without increasing the complexity and power consumption of the UE.

Case 2:

in the case where the second information is in effect, the UE may also listen to the first DCI format if the DCI size budget (widget) is not exceeded, or the capability of the UE is not exceeded. In the case where the second information is valid, the base station may or may not transmit DCI of the first DCI format. It is understood that the meaning of transmitting a certain DCI format as it appears herein is transmitting DCI of a certain DCI format.

Thus, the kind of DCI size monitored by the UE may not change or may increase.

In this case, if the base station needs to transmit DCI in the first DCI format, the base station may directly transmit DCI in the first DCI format, without waiting until the second information fails or after transmitting the third information, which is beneficial to flexible scheduling according to the radio environment and service requirements of the base station. Wherein the third information is described in detail below.

Optionally, after the second information is validated, if the UE listens to the first DCI format, the UE stops listening to the second DCI format even if the second information has not passed a preset time period since the second information is validated or the UE has not received the third information.

Alternatively, in this case, the base station may not configure the UE with the preset duration above.

Whether the UE listens to the first DCI format while the second information is in effect may be preconfigured by the base station, or indicated by dynamic signaling (e.g., indicated by the second information), or predefined by the protocol.

According to the scheme of the application, the UE can monitor a second DCI format according to the instruction of the base station, and the second DCI format is reduced in DCI size compared with the first DCI format. Therefore, for the UE, when the UE parses the DCI of the second DCI format, the parsing time of the UE is correspondingly reduced, thereby saving UE power consumption. For the base station, the base station can send the DCI in the second DCI format, so that resources required for transmitting the DCI can be reduced, the blocking of the PDCCH is reduced (or the PDCCH is prevented from being blocked), and the utilization efficiency of the resources is improved. That is, according to the scheme of the application, the communication process between the network equipment and the terminal equipment is optimized.

In addition, compared with the loading in the RRC signaling, the loading of the second information and the third information in the DCI or the MAC CE has longer effective time delay of the RRC signaling, larger cost of the RRC signaling and longer duration after the RRC signaling is effective, so that the method can reduce time delay, lower signaling cost and improve flexibility of configuring the terminal equipment and scheduling resources by the network equipment.

Optionally, the method 200 further comprises:

s240, in case of failure of the second information, the UE monitors the first DCI format.

Several ways of second information invalidation are described below:

mode a:

after the second information is validated for a preset time period, the second information is invalid, the UE monitors the first DCI format and stops monitoring the second DCI format.

From the second information coming into effect, both the UE and the base station may start a timer, after which the second information tries down. For example, if the timer increases from 0 to a duration #b (an example of a preset duration), the second information is disabled; alternatively, if the timer decreases from the duration #b to 0, the second information is disabled.

Alternatively, the duration #b may be configured by the base station to the UE through an RRC message or predefined by a protocol; alternatively, the second information may include information of the duration #b.

Optionally, during the time that the second information is validated (the timer has not expired), the base station has again transmitted the second information, and the UE and the base station may restart the timer when the retransmitted second information starts to validate. It should be understood that restarting the timer means that the timer is restarted.

Alternatively, different target information fields may be associated with different preset durations. At this time, for each preset duration, the UE and the base station need to maintain a timer.

For example, the first DCI format includes a target information field #1 and a target information field #2, the second information indicates to monitor the second DCI format, and if the second DCI format does not include the target information field #1, the effective duration of the second information is a preset duration #1 after the second information is effective;

if the second DCI format does not include the target information field #2, after the second information is validated, the validation time of the second information is a preset time #2;

if the second DCI format does not include the target information field #1 and the target information field #2, after the second information is validated, the UE and the base station maintain two preset durations. Assuming that the preset time length #1 is smaller than the preset time length #2, in the preset time length #1, the UE monitors a first DCI format which does not comprise the target information field #1 and the target information field #2; after a preset duration #1 (for example, a timer corresponding to the preset duration #1 expires), the UE listens to a first DCI format which does not include the target information field #2 but includes the target information field #1; after a preset duration #2 (e.g., a timer corresponding to the preset duration #2 expires), the UE listens to a first DCI format including a target information field #1 and a target information field # 2.

Mode B:

the base station transmits third information to the UE. Accordingly, the UE receives the third information from the base station.

The third information indicates to stop listening to the second DCI format, the third information being carried in DCI or MAC CE signaling.

The UE may monitor the first DCI format according to the third information and stop monitoring the second DCI format.

It should be appreciated that after the third information is validated, the second information may be considered as invalid. The starting and validating manner of the third information may refer to the starting and validating manner of the second information, which is not described herein.

As a possible manner, before the base station transmits the third information to the UE, the base station may determine that the DCI size of the first DCI format does not need to be reduced according to one or more of configuration information, service requirements, radio channel environment, and the number of UEs in the cell that the base station transmits to the UE. On the basis, the base station transmits third information to the UE.

For example, if the BWP configured by the base station to the UE is large, the base station may transmit third information to the UE.

For example, when the base station changes the scheduling policy of the base station for the UE in a short time during the process of processing multiple services, the base station may send third information to the UE.

For example, if the base station determines that the channel state changes faster according to the CSI reported by the UE, the base station may send third information to the UE.

For example, if the number of UEs in the cell is large, and the scheduling policy of the base station for each UE changes in a short time, the base station may send third information to the UE.

As another possible way, the base station may periodically send third information to the UE. Specifically, reference may be made to periodic transmission of the second information, which is not described in detail.

It should be understood that the manner supported by the UE and the base station may be the manner a and/or the manner B described above, and may be specifically predefined by RRC message configuration or protocol of the base station.

For example, the manners supported by the UE and the base station are manner a and manner B; in the process of timing the timer, if the timer has not timed out, but the UE receives the third information, the timer stops timing, and the UE monitors the first DCI format and stops monitoring the second DCI format.

The second information and the third information are described below.

Case 1:

the second information or the third information may be carried in DCI (e.g., dci#1).

Optionally, the second information and the third information are carried by the same DCI format or by different DCI formats. For example, the second information and the third information correspond to bit a in the same information field, bit a set 1 indicates the second information, i.e. indicates listening to the second DCI format, and bit a set 0 indicates the third information, i.e. indicates stopping listening to the second DCI format.

The DCI carrying the second/third information may be a scheduling DCI, e.g. DCI 1_1/0_1, or a non-scheduling DCI, e.g. DCI 2_0.

As a first possible scenario, the dci#1 includes a first information field for indicating whether or not to reduce the DCI size and a second information field for determining a first DCI format from a plurality of DCI formats.

Alternatively, the dci#1 includes the first information field and does not include the second information field. If the second information field is not included, the UE determines a first DCI format from among a plurality of DCI formats according to preconfigured information of a base station or a protocol to be followed.

For example, the first information field includes 1 bit (denoted as bit #a), and bit #a takes "1" to indicate the reduced DCI size; taking "0" for bit #a means that DCI size is not reduced. The second information field includes 1 bit (denoted as bit #b), where bit #b takes "1" to indicate DCI format 1_1, and bit #b takes "0" to indicate DCI format 0_1, and the meaning of joint characterization of the first information field and the second information field is shown in the following table.

TABLE 1

Bit #A	Bit #B	Meaning of
			0	0	Stop listening for DCI format 0_1_0
0	1	Stop listening DCI format 1_1_0
			1	0	Listening DCI format 0_1_0
1	1	Listening DCI format 1_1_0

DCI format 0_1_0 is a DCI format in which target information field #1 is removed from DCI format 0_1. DCI format 1_1_0 is a DCI format in which target information field #2 is removed from DCI format 1_1. Regarding DCI format 0_1_0 and DCI format 1_1_0, the following description is omitted. The target information field #1 and the target information field #2 may correspond to the same function or different functions, without limitation.

Optionally, if the first information field indicates to reduce the DCI size, if the UE is listening to the first DCI format, the UE listens to the second DCI format according to dci#1; if the UE is listening to the second DCI format, the UE continues to listen to the second DCI format according to DCI #1, and at this time, if the timer above is running, the timer may or may not restart.

Optionally, if the first information field indicates that the DCI size is not reduced, if the UE is listening to the second DCI format, the UE listens to the first DCI format according to dci#1 and stops listening to the second DCI format; if the UE is listening to the first DCI format, the UE continues to listen to the first DCI format according to DCI # 1.

Optionally, the first information field includes 1 bit for indicating whether the preconfigured target information field #1 is reduced. It should be understood that the target information field #1 may include at least 1 information field in the first DCI format.

Optionally, the first information field comprises a plurality of bits.

As an example, the target information field #1, which may be reduced, is divided into a plurality of information field groups, and the base station may configure which information fields are included in one information field group, or configure a group number of the information field. For example, if the base station configures the information field group #1 and the information field group #2, the first information field may include 2 bits, referred to as bit #a1 and bit #a2, corresponding to the information field group #1 and the information field group #2, respectively. Bit #a1 takes "1" to indicate that the second DCI format does not include the information field in the information field group #1, and bit #a1 takes "0" to indicate that the second DCI format includes the information field in the information field group # 1; bit #a2 is similar.

As a second possible scenario, the dci#1 includes a third information field including M bits, where M is greater than or equal to 1, where the M bits are in one-to-one correspondence with M DCI formats, and each of the M bits is used to indicate whether the DCI size of the corresponding DCI format is reduced, e.g., taking a "1" to indicate reduced DCI size and a "0" to indicate non-reduced DCI size.

For example, if the third information field includes 2 bits (denoted as bit #a and bit #b), bit #a corresponds to DCI format 0_1 and bit #b corresponds to DCI format 1_1, the meaning indicated by the third information field is as shown in the following table.

TABLE 2

Bit #A	Bit #B	Meaning of
			0	0	Stop listening DCI format 0_1_0, stop listening DCI format 1_1_0
0	1	Stopping monitoring DCI format 0_1_0, and monitoring DCI format 1_1_0
			1	0	Listening to DCI format 0_1_0, stopping listening to DCI format 1_1_0
1	1	Listening to DCI format 0_1_0, listening to DCI format 1_1_0

In this case, which target information field in the first DCI format is reduced is preconfigured by the base station.

The DCI format of dci#1 may be the same as or different from the first DCI format.

As a third possible scenario, the DCI format of dci#1 is the first DCI format. That is, the DCI format of dci#1 is the same as the first DCI format. In this case, a fourth information field indicating whether or not to reduce the DCI size is included in dci#1.

For example, the UE may determine that the DCI format of dci#1 is DCI format 0_1, and if the fourth information field indicates a reduced DCI size, the dci#1 indicates a listening DCI format 0_1_0; if the fourth information field indicates that the DCI size is not reduced, the dci#1 indicates to stop listening to DCI format 0_1_0.

Optionally, the second DCI format also includes a fourth information field.

For example, dci#1 in the format DCI 0_1 indicates the reduction of DCI size, and after validation, the UE listens to DCI 0_1_0. The DCI 0_1_0 also includes a fourth information field, where the UE may receive dci#2 when the listening format is DCI 0_1_0, the dci#2 is DCI 0_1_0, and the fourth information field in the dci#2 may indicate whether to continue listening to DCI 0_1_0 or stop listening to DCI 0_1_0.

As a fourth possible scenario, assuming that the first DCI format includes N information fields, a fifth information field is included in dci#1, where the fifth information field includes at least N bits, where N bits are one-to-one corresponding to the N information fields, and each of the N bits is used to indicate whether to drop the corresponding information field. For example, a bit of "1" indicates that the corresponding information field is removed, and a bit of "0" indicates that the corresponding information field is not removed.

The N information fields may be all information fields that may occur in the first DCI format described in the existing protocol. That is, even if the higher layer signaling configures the number of bits of a certain information field included in the first DCI format to be 0, the N information fields include the information field, i.e., the information field is also counted in counting N.

Alternatively, the N information fields may determine an information field that may occur for all information fields in which the first DCI format may occur. That is, if the higher layer signaling configures the number of bits of a certain information field included in the first DCI format to be 0, the N information fields do not include the information field.

As some special cases, optionally, for DCI formats of DCI formats 0_0, 0_1, 0_2, 1_0, 1_1, 1_2, the N information fields may not include an information field for determining whether the DCI format is used for scheduling uplink data or downlink data.

Optionally, the N information fields may not include other information fields, and specifically may be configured by the base station or predefined by a protocol.

In this case, the DCI format of dci#1 is a third DCI format, for example. The third DCI format may be one that the protocol newly introduces. For example, the third DCI format is referred to as DCI format 3_2, or other names, without limitation.

For example, the first DCI format includes 12 information fields (denoted as information field #1 to information field # 12), and the fifth information field includes 12 bits, where the nth bit corresponds to information field #n, where n is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 12. Then bit 0 indicates that information field #n is included in the second DCI format, and bit 1 indicates that information field #n is not included in the second DCI format. When all of the 12 bits included in the fifth information field are set to 0, it means that the second DCI format is not (or is stopped) listened to.

In this case, another example, dci#1 further includes a sixth information field for determining a first DCI format from among a plurality of DCI formats. The sixth information field is functionally identical to the second information field above.

The base station may configure the DCI size of the third DCI format to the UE, or configure the number of bits of the fifth information field in the third DCI format, or the number of bits of the fifth information field is determined by a rule predefined by the protocol.

For example, the DCI formats that the fifth information field can correspond to include DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1, the number of information fields included in DCI format 0_1 is N1, and the number of information fields included in DCI format 1_1 is N2, and then the number of bits of the fifth information field is equal to max { N1, N2}. The sixth information field is used to indicate which of DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1 is specific to the first DCI format. Wherein, the determination modes of N1 and N2 refer to the determination mode of the parameter N.

In order not to increase the type of DCI size monitored by the UE, the third DCI format may be pulled up according to DCI pull Ji Guize in the existing protocol, so that the newly introduced third DCI format does not increase the type of DCI size monitored by the UE, and does not exceed the DCI size widget, and does not increase the complexity of the UE. For example, the DCI size of the third DCI format may be pulled up with the DCI size of the C-RNTI or other RNTI-scrambled DCI format. For example, the DCI size of the third DCI format is pulled up with the DCI size of DCI format 2_0 or with the DCI size of DCI 1_1/0_1.

The CRC of the third DCI format may be scrambled by a third RNTI, which may be an RNTI newly introduced for the third DCI format, e.g., referred to as a size-reduce-RNTI, for the purpose of distinguishing the third DCI format from the existing DCI format.

In this case, another example, if the first DCI format is specifically which DCI format has been preconfigured by the base station to the UE or has been specified by a protocol, the sixth information field described above may not be included in dci#1.

Optionally, in this case, before the base station transmits dci#1 to the UE, the base station may determine, according to one or more of configuration information, traffic requirements, radio channel environment, and the number of UEs in the cell transmitted by the base station to the UE, a target information field #1 in the first DCI format, in other words, which information fields can be removed in the first DCI format.

For example, the BWP configured by the base station to the UE is bwp#a, and the target information domain #1 includes information domain #a; the BWP configured by the base station to the UE is bwp#b, and the target information domain #1 includes information domain #b.

For example, in the process of processing the service #a, the scheduling policy of the base station for the UE is unchanged in a short time, and the target information domain #1 includes the information domain #a; in the process of processing the service #B, the scheduling strategy of the base station for the UE is unchanged in a short time, and the target information domain #1 comprises the information domain #B.

For example, if the PDCCH is blocked to a degree #a, the target information field #1 includes an information field #a; the PDCCH is blocked to a degree #b, and the target information field #1 includes an information field #a and an information field #b.

It should be understood that the target information field #1 in the first DCI format may be changed according to configuration information transmitted from the base station to the UE, traffic demand, radio channel environment, and the number of UEs in the cell.

Case 2:

the second information or the third information may be carried in a MAC CE (e.g., MAC CE # 1).

Reference may be made in particular to the first possible case, the second possible case, the fourth possible case in case 1 above. That is, the MAC CE #1 may include the first information field and the second information field, or include the third information field, or include the fifth information field (optionally, include the sixth information field), which will not be described herein.

Optionally, if it is not determined which target information field is reduced according to the fourth possible scenario described above, the method further includes S250:

s250, the base station sends fourth information to the UE. Accordingly, the UE acquires fourth information from the base station.

The fourth information is used to indicate that at least one information field of all information fields included in the first DCI format is a target information field #1. In other words, the fourth information is used to indicate which information fields in the first DCI format the removed target information field #1 is specifically.

In an example, assuming that the first DCI format includes N information fields, the fourth information includes at least N bits, where the N bits are in one-to-one correspondence with the N information fields, and each bit of the N bits is used to indicate whether to remove the corresponding information field.

For the N information fields, reference is made to the description above, and no further description is given here.

As one way, the fourth information is carried in RRC signaling, or other signaling/messages, without limitation.

For example, the fourth information is carried in the same RRC signaling as the first information above.

Optionally, before the base station sends the fourth information to the UE, the base station may determine, according to one or more of configuration information, service requirement, radio channel environment, and the number of UEs in the cell sent by the base station to the UE, the target information field #1 in the first DCI format, in other words, which information fields can be removed in the first DCI format.

It should be understood that the target information field #1 includes at least one information field in the first DCI format.

Optionally, in the case where the second information is validated, the method 200 further includes:

s260, the base station transmits the first DCI to the UE. Accordingly, the UE receives the first DCI.

The DCI format of the first DCI is a second DCI format. That is, the target information field #1 is not included in the first DCI.

S270, the UE determines the scheduling of the base station to the UE according to the monitored first DCI and the target information field # 1.

It should be understood that the complete information of the first DCI characterization is composed of the first DCI and the content indicated by the target information field # 1.

Several ways in which the UE obtains the content indicated by the target information field #1 are described below.

Mode 1:

the content indicated by the target information field #1 is configured by the base station through an RRC message, or the content indicated by the target information field #1 is predefined for a protocol.

At this time, the UE acquires the content indicated by the target information field #1 according to the configuration information or according to the specification of the protocol.

Mode 2:

the content indicated by the target information field #1 is contained in the second DCI, where the format received by the UE is the last DCI of the first DCI format before the second DCI is validated.

At this time, the UE acquires the content indicated by the target information field #1 from the second DCI.

For example, for the third DCI format described above, if the dci#1 of the third DCI format indicates that the monitored second DCI format does not include the information field #a, the second DCI is the last piece of DCI including the information field #a received by the UE before the second information is validated, and the format of the second DCI is the first DCI format or the first DCI format lacking other information fields than the information field #a.

Mode 3:

the content indicated by the target information field #1 is contained in the second information, i.e., DCI #1 or MAC CE # 1. That is, dci#1 or MAC ce#1 simultaneously indicates the value of target information field #1 when it is instructed to listen to the second DCI format.

For example, when the first DCI format is used to indicate whether the first DCI format (i.e. indicates its own format) decreases the DCI size, as described above, when the UE receives the dci#1, the dci#1 is the first DCI format, the second information included in the dci#1 indicates to monitor the second DCI format, after validating, the UE monitors the second DCI format, the UE receives the dci#2, the dci#2 is the second DCI format, the dci#2 does not include the target information field #1, and then the value of the target information field #1 that is absent in the dci#2 is determined according to the value of the target information field #1 that is included in the dci#1, i.e. the UE determines the complete DCI/scheduling information in combination with the value of the target information field #1 and the dci#2 in the dci#1.

It should be appreciated that step S270 may precede step S260.

The method 200 is directed to removing the target information field #1 in the existing first DCI format to obtain a second DCI format. In addition, in the process of communicating with the terminal device, for some DCI formats, the existing information fields in the DCI formats may not meet the communication requirements of the network device due to the change of the wireless environment and the service requirements. Based on this, the present application proposes a method 300, where the method 300 aims at adding the target information field #2 to the existing first DCI format to obtain a fourth DCI format. As shown in fig. 3, the method 300 includes:

S310, the base station sends first information to the UE. Accordingly, the UE receives the first information.

The first information indicates listening to a first DCI format. Wherein, the first DCI format does not include the target information field #2.

S320, the base station transmits fifth information to the UE. Accordingly, the UE receives the fifth information.

The fifth information, which may be carried in the DCI or MAC CE, indicates listening to the fourth DCI format. The fourth DCI format is a DCI format obtained after the target information field #2 is newly added to the first DCI format. That is, the DCI size of the fourth DCI format is increased compared to the DCI size of the first DCI format.

As a possible way, before the base station transmits the fifth information to the UE, the base station may determine that the DCI size of the first DCI format needs to be increased according to one or more of traffic requirements and radio channel environments. On the basis, the base station transmits fifth information to the UE.

For example, for service #a, an information field needs to be newly added for service #a, and the base station transmits fifth information to the UE.

Optionally, the target information field #2 includes at least 1 information field, and different information fields represent different meanings and functions. That is, the fourth DCI format may be newly added with one information field, or a plurality of information fields, as compared to the first DCI format.

And S330, the UE monitors a fourth DCI format according to the fifth information.

Optionally, the method further comprises the UE determining to increase the DCI size of the first DCI format from the plurality of DCI formats. The process may refer to S230.

Alternatively, the number of bits, corresponding meaning and function, bit positions in the first DCI format, etc. corresponding to the newly added target information field #2 may be preconfigured into the UE or predefined by a protocol, as compared to the first DCI format.

Alternatively, the number of bits of the fourth DCI format may be preconfigured into the UE or predefined by the protocol.

The start-up manner of the fifth information may refer to the start-up manner of the second information.

Optionally, in the case that the fifth information is valid, the UE may also monitor the first DCI format.

According to the method of the application, if the information fields of the existing DCI format cannot meet the requirement of the network equipment, the network equipment can add some information fields in the existing DCI format and instruct the terminal equipment to monitor the DCI format after some information fields are added. That is, the network device can dynamically adjust the DCI size of the DCI format according to the wireless environment, service requirements, etc., so as to improve the flexibility of the network device in transmitting the DCI format and optimize the communication process between the terminal device and the network device. In this way, the first DCI format with smaller DCI size can be adopted most of the time of communication, so that resource overhead can be reduced, UE power consumption can be saved, and according to the fifth information, the DCI size of the first DCI format can be dynamically increased, thereby improving flexibility of resource scheduling.

Optionally, the method 300 further includes:

and S340, if the fifth information fails, the UE monitors the first DCI format and stops monitoring the fourth DCI format.

As one way, after a preset period of time passes from the start of the validation of the fifth information, the fifth information is disabled, and the UE monitors the first DCI format and stops monitoring the fourth DCI format.

Alternatively, the base station transmits sixth information to the UE. The sixth information indicates to stop listening to the fourth DCI format. The UE may monitor the first DCI format according to the sixth information and stop monitoring the fourth DCI format.

The start-up manner of the sixth information may refer to the start-up manner of the second information/third information.

The implementation manners of the fifth information and the sixth information may refer to the implementation manners of the second information and the third information, and will not be described in detail.

Optionally, in the case that the fifth information is validated, the method 300 further includes:

s350, the base station transmits the third DCI to the UE. Accordingly, the UE receives the third DCI.

The DCI format of the third DCI is a fourth DCI format. That is, the target information field #2 is included in the third DCI.

According to the foregoing method, fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, where the communication device includes a transceiver unit 401 and a processing unit 402.

Wherein the transceiver unit 401 may be used to implement a corresponding communication function. The transceiver unit 401 may also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit. The processing unit 402 may be used for performing processing operations.

Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a storage unit, where the storage unit may be used to store instructions and/or data, and the processing unit 402 may read the instructions and/or data in the storage unit, so that the apparatus implements the actions of the apparatus in the foregoing method embodiments.

As a first design, the device may be the terminal device in the foregoing embodiment, or may be a component (such as a chip) of the terminal device.

The transceiver unit and the processing unit may be configured to implement the related operations of the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments.

As a second design, the device may be a network device in the foregoing embodiment, or may be a component (such as a chip) of the network device.

The transceiver unit and the processing unit may be configured to implement the relevant operations of the network device in the foregoing method embodiments.

It should be understood that the specific process of each unit performing the corresponding steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and is not described herein for brevity.

It should also be understood that the apparatus herein is embodied in the form of functional units. The term "unit" herein may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (e.g., a shared, dedicated, or group processor, etc.) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that support the described functionality. In an alternative example, it may be understood by those skilled in the art that the apparatus may be specifically configured to perform the first network element in the foregoing embodiment of the method and each flow and/or step corresponding to the first network element, or the apparatus may be specifically configured to be configured to perform the network management network element in the foregoing embodiment of the method and each flow and/or step corresponding to the network management network element, which are not repeated herein for avoiding repetition.

The communication device has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the device in the method. The functions may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions; for example, the transceiver unit may be replaced by a transceiver (e.g., a transmitting unit in the transceiver unit may be replaced by a transmitter, a receiving unit in the transceiver unit may be replaced by a receiver), and other units, such as a processing unit, etc., may be replaced by a processor, to perform the transceiver operations and related processing operations in the various method embodiments, respectively.

The transceiver 401 may be a transceiver circuit (e.g., may include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing unit may be a processing circuit.

It should be noted that the apparatus in fig. 4 may be the apparatus in the foregoing method embodiment, and may also be a chip or a chip system, for example: system on chip (SoC). The receiving and transmitting unit can be an input and output circuit and a communication interface; the processing unit is an integrated processor or microprocessor or integrated circuit on the chip. And are not limited herein.

The embodiment of the application further provides a communication device, as shown in fig. 5, including: a processor 501 and a communication interface 502. The processor 501 is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 503 or to read data stored in the memory 503 to perform the methods in the method embodiments above. Optionally, the processor 501 is one or more. The communication interface 502 is used for reception and/or transmission of signals. For example, the processor 501 is configured to control the communication interface 502 to receive and/or transmit signals.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 5, the communication device further comprises a memory 503, the memory 503 being for storing computer programs or instructions and/or data. The memory 503 may be integral with the processor 501 or may be separate. Optionally, the memory 503 is one or more.

Optionally, the processor 501, the communication interface 502 and the memory 503 are connected to each other by a bus 504; bus 504 may be a peripheral component interconnect standard (peripheral component interconnect, PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (extended industry standard architecture, EISA) bus, among others. The bus 504 may be classified into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in fig. 5, but not only one bus or one type of bus.

For example, the processor 501 is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 503 to implement the relevant operations of the network device in the above method embodiments.

As another example, the processor 501 is configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in the memory 503 to implement the relevant operations of the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

It should be appreciated that the processors referred to in the embodiments of the present application (e.g., processor 501) may be central processing units (central processing unit, CPU), network processors (network processor, NP) or a combination of CPU and NP. The processor may further comprise a hardware chip. The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (programmable logic device, PLD), or a combination thereof. The PLD may be a complex programmable logic device (complex programmable logic device, CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (field-programmable gate array, FPGA), general-purpose array logic (generic array logic, GAL), or any combination thereof.

It should also be appreciated that the memory referred to in embodiments of the present application (e.g., memory 503) may be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically Erasable EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be random access memory (random access memory, RAM) which acts as an external cache.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, specific working procedures of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to corresponding procedures in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not repeated herein.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative, e.g., the division of elements is merely a logical functional division, and there may be additional divisions of actual implementation, e.g., multiple elements or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not performed. Alternatively, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed with each other may be an indirect coupling or communication connection via some interfaces, devices or units, which may be in electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate units may or may not be physically separate, and units shown as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed over a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit.

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be embodied essentially or in a part contributing to the prior art or in a part of the technical solution, in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium, including several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods of the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a U-disk, a removable hard disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a random access Memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, or other various media capable of storing program codes.

The foregoing is merely specific embodiments of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think about changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and the changes or substitutions are intended to be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

the terminal equipment receives first information from network equipment, wherein the first information indicates to monitor a first Downlink Control Information (DCI) format, and the first DCI format comprises a target information domain;

the terminal equipment receives second information from the network equipment, the second information indicates to monitor a second DCI format, the second DCI format is a DCI format in which the target information domain is removed from the first DCI format, and the second information is loaded in DCI or a medium access control unit (MAC CE);

and the terminal equipment monitors the second DCI format according to the second information under the condition that the second information is effective.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the substrate comprises,

the second information is carried in DCI, and after the terminal equipment sends feedback information aiming at the second information, the second information starts to take effect.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

the method further comprises the steps of:

starting a timer by the terminal equipment from the second information to take effect;

and after the timer is overtime, the second information is invalid, the terminal equipment monitors the first DCI format and stops monitoring the second DCI format.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

the method further comprises the steps of:

the terminal equipment receives third information from the network equipment, wherein the third information indicates to stop monitoring the second DCI format, and the third information is carried in DCI or MAC CE;

and the terminal equipment monitors the first DCI format according to the third information and stops monitoring the second DCI format.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein,

the first information indicates monitoring of a plurality of DCI formats, wherein the plurality of DCI formats comprise the first DCI format;

the method further comprises the steps of:

and the terminal equipment determines the DCI size of the first DCI format from the plurality of DCI formats according to the second information.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, further comprising:

the terminal device receives fourth information from the network device, where the fourth information is used to indicate that at least one information field in all information fields included in the first DCI format is the target information field.

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

The content indicated by the target information domain is configured by the network equipment through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, or the content indicated by the target information domain is contained in the last DCI which is received by the terminal equipment and has the format of the first DCI format;

the method further comprises the steps of: and the terminal equipment determines the scheduling of the network equipment to the terminal equipment according to the monitored DCI of the second DCI format and the target information field.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, further comprising:

and under the condition that the second information is effective, the terminal equipment also monitors the first DCI format.

9. A method of communication, comprising:

the network equipment sends first information to the terminal equipment, wherein the first information indicates to monitor a first Downlink Control Information (DCI) format, and the first DCI format comprises a target information domain;

the network device sends second information to the terminal device, the second information indicates to monitor a second DCI format, the second DCI format is a DCI format in which the target information field is removed from the first DCI format, and the second information is carried in DCI or a media access control unit (MAC CE).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein in the event that the second information is validated, the method further comprises:

the network device sends first DCI to the terminal device, wherein the DCI format of the first DCI is the second DCI format.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein,

the second information is validated in a manner comprising:

the second information is carried in DCI, and after feedback information of the terminal equipment aiming at the second information is received, the second information starts to take effect.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9-11, further comprising:

and the network equipment sends third information to the terminal equipment, the third information indicates to stop monitoring the second DCI format, and the third information is carried in DCI or MAC CE.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9-12, wherein the method further comprises:

the network device sends fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information is used to indicate that at least one information field in all information fields included in the first DCI format is the target information field.

14. A communication device comprising means for performing the method of any of claims 1-13.

15. A communication device, comprising: a communication interface and a processor for executing a computer program or instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method of any of claims 1-13.

16. A computer readable storage medium comprising a computer program or instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1-13.

17. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1-13.