WO2024207948A1 - Communication method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus, capable of improving the reception performance of reduced capability eRedCap terminal devices. The method comprises: acquiring a first offset value; and when a first difference is smaller than a first threshold and/or a second difference is smaller than the first threshold, sending first information to a first network device. The first offset value is a dedicated offset value of a first-type terminal device, the first difference is a difference between a cell selection reception level value Srxlev of a first cell and the first offset value, and the second difference is a difference between a cell selection quality value Squal of the first cell and the first offset value; the first information indicates that the first network device repeatedly sends a message 4Msg4 or a message BMsgB in a random access procedure, and the first network device is a network device to which the first cell belongs.

Description

A communication method and device

This application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on April 7, 2023, with application number 202310417664.7 and application name “A Communication Method and Device”, all contents of which are incorporated by reference in this application.

Technical Field

The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and in particular, to a communication method and device.

Background Art

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) R18 defines enhanced reduced capability (eRedCap) terminals. The maximum baseband bandwidth that an eRedCap terminal can support is 5 mega Hertz (MHz), and the maximum RF bandwidth that it can support is 20 MHz.

After the eRedCap terminal is introduced, a high-order modulation coding scheme (MCS) needs to be adopted so that the information sent on the initial downlink bandwidth part (BWP) of the baseband bandwidth can be successfully received by the eRedCap terminal.

However, using high-order MCS will degrade the reception performance of the eRedCap terminal.

Summary of the invention

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus that can improve the receiving performance of a reduced-capability (enhanced reduced capability, eRedCap) terminal device.

In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device, or by a component of the terminal device, such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system of the terminal device, or by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The method includes: obtaining a first offset value, the first offset value being a dedicated offset value for a first type of terminal device; sending a first message to a first network device when a first difference value is less than a first threshold value, and/or a second difference value is less than the first threshold value; wherein the first difference value is a difference between a cell selection reception level value (cell selection reception level value, Srxlev) of a first cell and the first offset value, and the second difference value is a difference between a cell selection quality value (cell selection quality value, Squal) of the first cell and the first offset value; the first message indicates that the first network device repeatedly sends a message (message, Msg) 4 or MsgB in a random access (random access, RA) process, and the first network device is a network device to which the first cell belongs.

Based on this solution, the terminal device can determine whether it is necessary to enhance Msg4 or MsgB (i.e., whether to send a first message indicating repeated sending of Msg4 or MsgB to the first network device) according to the size relationship between the first difference and the second difference and the first threshold, respectively. When the first difference is less than the first threshold, and/or the second difference is less than the first threshold, the receiving performance of the terminal device in the first cell is poor, and therefore, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device so that the first network device can send at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB to the terminal device, so as to improve the performance of the terminal device in receiving Msg4 or MsgB, thereby increasing the probability of success of the RA process.

In one possible design, the terminal device obtains the first offset value, including: the terminal device receives system information of a first cell from a first network device, and the system information of the first cell may include the first offset value.

In one possible design, the terminal device may be a first type of terminal device.

In one possible design, the communication method may further include: the terminal device receives at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB from the first network device.

Based on this possible design, the terminal device can receive at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB from the first network device, which improves the performance of the terminal device in receiving Msg4 or MsgB, thereby increasing the probability of success of the RA process.

In one possible design, the first threshold may be carried in system information of the first cell.

In one possible design, the first offset value is used to determine the position of the terminal device in the first coverage area of the first network device. The first coverage area includes a first range and a second range. The first coverage area is an area in the coverage area of the first network device where the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0. Wherein, when the first difference is less than the first threshold value, and/or the second difference is less than the first threshold value, the terminal device is located in the second range; when the first difference is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, and the second difference is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the terminal device is located in the first range.

In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first network device, or by a component of the first network device, such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system of the first network device, or by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first network device. The method includes: receiving first information from a terminal device, the first information instructing the first network device to repeatedly send Msg4 or MsgB in a random access process; and sending at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB to the terminal device.

Based on this solution, the first network device can determine that Msg4 or MsgB needs to be enhanced according to the indication of the first information, and The instruction of a message is to repeatedly send Msg4 or MsgB to the terminal device to improve the performance of the terminal device in receiving Msg4 or MsgB, thereby increasing the probability of success of the RA process.

In one possible design, the communication method may further include: the first network device sends a first offset value to the terminal device, the first offset value is a dedicated offset value for the first type of terminal device, and the terminal device is a first type of terminal device.

In one possible design, the first network device sending the first offset value to the terminal device includes: the first network device sending system information of the first cell, and the system information of the first cell may include the first offset value.

In one possible design, the first network device sends a first offset value to a terminal device, including: sending system information of a first cell to the terminal device, the system information of the first cell including the first offset value, and the first network device is a network device to which the first cell belongs.

In one possible design, the first offset value is used to determine the position of the terminal device in the first coverage area of the first network device. The first coverage area includes a first range and a second range. Wherein, when the first difference is less than the first threshold value, and/or the second difference is less than the first threshold value, the terminal device is located in the second range; when the first difference is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, and the second difference is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the terminal device is located in the first range.

Among them, the technical effects brought about by any possible design of the second aspect can refer to the technical effects brought about by the corresponding design in the above-mentioned first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device, or by a component of the terminal device, such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system of the terminal device, or can be implemented by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The method includes: obtaining a fourth threshold, the fourth threshold including a first sub-threshold and a second sub-threshold; when the Srxlev of the first cell is less than the first sub-threshold, and/or the Squal of the first cell is less than the second sub-threshold, sending first information to the first network device, wherein the first information indicates that the first network device repeatedly sends Msg4 or MsgB in the random access process.

Based on this scheme, the terminal device determines the size relationship between the Srxlev of the first cell and the first sub-threshold, and/or the size relationship between the Squal of the first cell and the second sub-threshold, and determines whether it is necessary to enhance Msg4 or MsgB (i.e., whether to send the first information indicating the repeated sending of Msg4 or MsgB to the first network device). When the Srxlev of the first cell is less than the first sub-threshold, and/or the Squal of the first cell is less than the second sub-threshold, the receiving performance of the terminal device in the first cell is poor. Therefore, the terminal device needs to send the first information to the first network device, instructing the first network device to repeatedly send Msg4 or MsgB, so that the first network device can send at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB to the terminal device, so as to improve the performance of the terminal device in receiving Msg4 or MsgB, thereby increasing the probability of success of the RA process.

In one possible design, the terminal device obtains the fourth threshold, including: the terminal device receives system information of a first cell from a first network device, and the system information of the first cell includes the fourth threshold.

In one possible design, the communication method may further include: the terminal device receives at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB from the first network device.

Based on this possible design, the terminal device can receive at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB from the first network device, which improves the performance of the terminal device in receiving Msg4 or MsgB, thereby increasing the probability of success of the RA process.

In combination with at least one of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect, in one possible design, the first information may be carried in any one of Msg1, Msg3, and MsgA of the RA process.

In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device, or by a component of the terminal device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the terminal device, or by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The method includes: receiving system information of a second cell from a second network device, the system information indicating whether the second cell supports access of a second type of terminal device, and/or the system information of the second cell also indicates the carrier bandwidth of the second cell, the maximum bandwidth supported by the second type of terminal device is greater than or equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first type of terminal device, and the terminal device is a first type of terminal device; initiating random access in the second cell when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal device, and/or when the carrier bandwidth is less than or equal to a second threshold, the second threshold is the maximum bandwidth supported by the first type of terminal device.

Based on this solution, the terminal device determines whether the second network device is a second-type network device (i.e., whether the second cell supports access by second-type terminal devices) and/or the carrier bandwidth of the second cell through the system information of the second cell, and when the second network device is a second-type network device (i.e., the second cell supports access by second-type terminal devices) and/or the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to the second threshold, the second cell can be determined as a resident cell during the cell selection process, and RA can be initiated to the second cell. The first-type terminal device (i.e., the terminal device) is enabled to access the second-type network device (i.e., the second network device).

In one possible design, the terminal device initiates random access in the second cell, including: the terminal device sends second information to the second network device, where the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device is a second-category terminal device.

Based on this possible design, since the second network device supports access of the second type of terminal device, and the terminal device is a first type of terminal device, the terminal device indicates to the second network device that the terminal device is a second type of terminal device through the second information, and the second network device indicates to the second network device through the second information that the terminal device is a second type of terminal device. The terminal device is identified as a second type of terminal device, and the terminal device access is supported, so that the first type of terminal device (i.e., the terminal device) can access the second type of network device (i.e., the second network device).

In one possible design, the second information may be a type identifier of the second category of terminal equipment.

In one possible design, when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment, random access is initiated in the second cell, including: when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment and the baseband processing bandwidth of the terminal equipment is less than or equal to a second threshold, random access is initiated in the second cell.

In one possible design, the second information is carried in any one of Msg1, Msg3, and MsgA of the RA process.

In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device, or by a component of the terminal device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the terminal device, or by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The method includes: determining the capability information of the terminal device, the capability information indicating that the terminal device can work in a second-class cell, the second-class cell supports access by a second-class terminal device; the carrier bandwidth of the second-class cell is less than or equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first-class terminal device, and the terminal device is a first-class terminal device; sending the capability information to a third network device.

Based on this solution, the terminal device sends capability information to the third network device to inform the third network device that the terminal device can work in the second type of network device, so that when the third network device determines the target cell, it can include the cell in the second type of network device (such as the fourth cell) in the determination range, and then can determine the cell in the second type of network device as the target cell, so that the terminal device can switch to the second type of network device, thereby enabling the first type of terminal device to access the second type of network device.

In one possible design, after the terminal device sends capability information to the third network device, the communication method also includes: the terminal device receives information about a fourth cell from the third network device, the fourth cell is a second type cell, and the fourth cell allows the terminal device to access; and performs cell switching according to the information of the fourth cell.

In one possible design, the capability information may include a first parameter, where the first parameter is greater than or equal to a third threshold.

In one possible design, the first parameter may be the maximum number of supported layers. Modulation order The product of the scaling factors f ^(j) .

In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing various methods. The communication device may be a terminal device in the first aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, or the fifth aspect, or a device included in the terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system; or, the communication device may be the first network device in the second aspect, or a device included in the first network device, such as a chip or a chip system. The communication device includes a module, unit, or means corresponding to the implementation method, and the module, unit, or means may be implemented by hardware, software, or by executing the corresponding software implementation by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

In some possible designs, the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module may be used to implement the processing function in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof. The transceiver module may include a receiving module and a sending module, respectively used to implement the receiving function and the sending function in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof.

In some possible designs, the transceiver module may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver or a communication interface.

In a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, and when the processor executes the instructions, the communication device executes the method described in any aspect. The communication device can be the terminal device in the first aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, or the fifth aspect, or a device included in the terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system; or the communication device can be the first network device in the second aspect, or a device included in the first network device, such as a chip or a chip system.

In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a communication interface; the communication interface is used to communicate with a module outside the communication device; the processor is used to execute a computer program or instruction so that the communication device executes the method described in any aspect. The communication device can be the terminal device in the first aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, or the fifth aspect, or a device included in the terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system; or the communication device can be the first network device in the second aspect, or a device included in the first network device, such as a chip or a chip system.

In a ninth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: at least one processor; the processor is used to execute a computer program or instruction stored in a memory so that the communication device performs the method described in any aspect. The memory may be coupled to the processor, or may be independent of the processor. The communication device may be a terminal device in the first aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, or the fifth aspect, or a device included in the terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system; or the communication device may be the first network device in the second aspect, or a device included in the first network device, such as a chip or a chip system.

In some possible designs, the communication device includes a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data.

In some possible designs, when the device is a chip system, it can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

It can be understood that when the communication device provided in any one of the fourth to seventh aspects is a chip, the sending action/function of the communication device can be understood as outputting or sending information, and the receiving action/function of the communication device can be understood as inputting or receiving information.

In a tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein a computer program or instruction is stored in the computer-readable storage medium. When the method is run on a communication device or a computer, the communication device or the computer can execute the method described in any one aspect.

In an eleventh aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a communication device or a computer, enables the communication device or the computer to execute the method described in any one of the aspects.

Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the sixth to eleventh aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by different design methods in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth aspects, and will not be repeated here.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a flowchart of a cell selection provided by the present application;

FIG2 is a flowchart of a random access provided by the present application;

FIG3 is a flowchart of another random access provided by the present application;

FIG4 is a flowchart of another random access provided by the present application;

FIG5 is a flowchart of another random access provided by the present application;

FIG6 is a flowchart of a cell switching provided by the present application;

FIG7 is a schematic diagram of bandwidth of a network device provided by the present application;

FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a mobile communication system used in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided by the present application;

FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided by the present application;

FIG11 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by the present application;

FIG12 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

FIG13 is a diagram showing a division of a coverage area of a first network device provided in the present application;

FIG14 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

FIG15 is a diagram showing another division of the coverage area of the first network device provided in the present application;

FIG16 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

FIG17 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

FIG18 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided by the present application;

FIG19 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "/" indicates that the objects associated with each other are in an "or" relationship, for example, A/B can represent A or B; "and/or" in this application is merely a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist, for example, A and/or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural.

In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more than two. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

In addition, in order to clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the same or similar items with substantially the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art can understand that words such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and words such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily limit them to be different.

In the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete way for easy understanding.

It is understood that the "embodiment" mentioned throughout the specification means that the specific features, structures or characteristics related to the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Therefore, the various embodiments in the entire specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, these specific features, structures or characteristics can be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner. It is understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence number of each process does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiment of the present application.

It can be understood that in the present application, "when" and "if" both mean that corresponding processing will be carried out under certain objective circumstances, and do not limit the time, nor do they require any judgment action when implementing, nor do they mean the existence of other limitations.

It can be understood that some optional features in the embodiments of the present application may not rely on other features in some scenarios, such as the solution on which they are currently based, and may be implemented independently to solve corresponding technical problems and achieve corresponding effects. Correspondingly, the device provided in the embodiment of the present application can also realize these features or functions accordingly, which will not be described in detail here.

It can be understood that in the present application, "used for indication" can include direct indication and indirect indication, and can also include explicit indication and implicit indication. When describing "a certain indication information is used to indicate A" or "indication information of A", it can include that the indication information directly indicates A or indirectly indicates A, but it does not mean that the indication information must carry A. The information indicated by a certain information is called information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated, such as but not limited to, the information to be indicated can be directly indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where there is an association relationship between the other information and the information to be indicated. It is also possible to indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of specific information can be realized by means of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, stipulated by the protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, the common parts of each information can also be identified and uniformly indicated to reduce the indication overhead caused by indicating the same information separately. In addition, the specific indication method can also be various existing indication methods, such as but not limited to the above indication methods and various combinations thereof. The specific details of various indication methods can refer to the prior art, and will not be repeated herein. As described above, it can be seen that, for example, when it is necessary to indicate multiple information of the same type, different indication methods may appear. In the specific implementation process, the required indication method can be selected according to specific needs. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the selected indication method. In this way, the indication method involved in the embodiment of the present application should be understood to cover various methods that can enable the party to be indicated to know the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can be sent together as a whole, or it can be divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately, and the sending period or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in this application. Among them, the sending period or sending time of these sub-information can be pre-defined, for example, pre-defined according to the protocol, or it can be configured by the transmitting device by sending configuration information to the receiving device.

In this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can refer to each other. In this application, if there is no special description or logical conflict between the various embodiments, the terms and/or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other, and different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships. The implementation methods of this application described below do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, a brief introduction to the related technologies of the present application is first given as follows.

1. Community selection:

Cell selection refers to the process in which when a terminal device is turned on or enters a coverage area from a blind area, the terminal device searches for all radio frequency (RF) channels within a preset frequency band and selects a suitable cell to reside in among the cells corresponding to the frequency band.

Optionally, cell selection belongs to radio resource management (RRM). RRM is an essential mechanism in cellular mobile communication systems, which can assist new radio (NR) in achieving load balancing, providing users with a better experience and improving overall system performance.

The states of radio resource control (RRC) include RRC-IDLE, RRC-CONNECTED and RRC-INACTIVE. In RRC-IDLE, RRM includes the cell selection process.

Exemplarily, as shown in FIG1 , the process of cell selection may include steps S101-S105:

S101. The terminal device scans all RF channels in a preset frequency band to determine a frequency point in the preset frequency band.

Optionally, the RRC layer of the terminal device can send a frequency scanning request to the physical (PHY) layer; wherein the frequency scanning request carries a preset frequency band. The PHY layer scans all RF channels in the preset frequency band, obtains one or more frequency points, and reports the one or more frequency points to the RRC layer. The RRC layer constructs a frequency point list in descending order of signal strength (and/or signal quality) according to the signal strength (and/or signal quality) corresponding to each frequency point.

Exemplarily, the PHY layer may determine the frequency point of the received signal as a frequency point among the one or more frequency points according to whether a signal from the RF channel is received; or, the PHY layer may determine the frequency point whose received signal strength in the preset frequency band is greater than or equal to the signal strength threshold as a frequency point among the one or more frequency points according to the relationship between the signal strength (and/or signal quality) of the received signal and the signal strength threshold. In this case, it can be considered that there may be a cell around the one or more frequency points.

Optionally, the preset frequency band may be an NR frequency band.

Optionally, if the terminal device has stored historical information, step S101 may not be performed. The historical information may include one or more frequency points in the frequency band, measurement control information of historical cells, or cell parameters of historical cells, etc. The historical cells are candidate cells detected by the terminal device or cells where the terminal device has resided before the current cell selection.

S102. The terminal device searches for a cell at a frequency point with the strongest signal strength (and/or signal quality) to obtain system information of a candidate cell, where the candidate cell is a cell at the frequency point.

Optionally, the cell search process may include the following two steps:

Step 1: The terminal device receives the primary synchronization signal at the frequency with the strongest signal strength (and/or signal quality). signal (PSS) and secondary synchronization signal (SSS) to obtain the identifier (ID) of the candidate cell.

Step 2: The terminal device uses the PSS and SSS to obtain frame synchronization and time slot synchronization with the candidate cell, thereby obtaining the system information of the candidate cell.

S103: The terminal device parses system information, wherein the system information includes system parameters of the candidate cell.

S104. The terminal device measures the signal strength and signal quality of the candidate cell.

Exemplarily, signal strength can be determined by reference signal received power (reference signal received power, RSRP), and signal quality can be determined by reference signal received quality (reference signal received quality, RSRQ).

S105. If the candidate cell satisfies a cell selection criterion (also referred to as an S criterion, a dwelling condition, etc.), the candidate cell is determined as a target cell. For ease of description, the cell selection criterion is referred to as an S criterion below.

The S criterion is that the cell selection reception level value (cell selection reception level value, Srxlev) is greater than 0, and the cell selection quality value (cell selection quality value, Squal) is greater than 0.

Among them, Srxlev can satisfy the following relationship (1), and Squal can satisfy the following relationship (2):
Srxlev＝Q _rxlevmeas -(Q _rxlevmin +Q _{rxlevminoffset} )-P _compensation -Qoffset _temp (1)
Squal＝Q _qualmeas -(Q _qualmin +Q _{qualminoffset} )-Qoffset _temp (2)

The parameters involved in the above formula may be shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Exemplarily, Q _rxlevmeas may be RSRP, and Q _qualmeas may be RSRQ.

Optionally, Q _rxlevmeas and Q _qualmeas may also be collectively referred to as cell measurement values.

Optionally, all parameters in relation (1) and relation (2) except the cell measurement value can be obtained from system information, or in other words, the system parameters of the candidate cell in step S103 include the parameters in relation (1) and relation (2) except the cell measurement value.

2. Random access (RA):

After the target cell is determined in the cell selection process, the terminal device needs to initiate RA to the target cell. Only after the RA is successful can a connection be established with the target cell.

Optionally, the types of RA may include contention-based random access (CBRA) and contention-free random access (CFRA). Furthermore, the types of RA may include four-step random access (4-step RA) and two-step random access (4-step random access, 2-step RA).

As a first example, in the case where RA is CBRA and 4-step RA, illustratively, as shown in FIG2 , the RA process may include steps S201-S204:

S201. The terminal device sends a message (message, Msg) 1 to the base station (hereinafter referred to as the base station) to which the target cell belongs through a physical random access channel (physical random access channel, PRACH). Correspondingly, the base station receives Msg1 from the terminal device. Msg1 includes a first preamble. Optionally, Msg1 can also be called a random access request message, or a random access preamble message.

Optionally, before step S201, the terminal device may obtain configuration information of the PRACH from the system information, and further, the terminal device may also obtain the first preamble code from the system information.

Optionally, the base station may broadcast multiple preamble codes, and the terminal device may select any one of the multiple preamble codes as the first preamble code.

S202, the base station sends Msg2 to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives Msg2 from the base station. Msg2 indicates a random access response (RAR). Optionally, Msg2 can be called a RAR message.

Optionally, Msg2 may include RAR, which includes the identifier of the preamble, temporary cell-radio network temporay identifier (TC-RNTI), timing advance (TA), uplink grant (UL grant), etc.

S203. The terminal device uses the resources of UL grant to send Msg3 to the base station on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). Correspondingly, the base station receives Msg3 from the terminal device. Msg3 includes the identifier of the terminal device. Optionally, Msg3 can be called a transmission scheduling message, or it can also be called an RRC connection establishment request (RRC connection request) message. Alternatively, it can also be an RRC reestablishment request (RRCReestablishmentRequest) or an RRC resume connection request (RRCResumeReuqest), or an RRC setup connection request (RRCSetupRequest).

Optionally, Msg3 can be scrambled by TC-RNTI.

Step S204, the base station sends Msg4 to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives Msg4 from the base station. Msg4 indicates a first identifier, which is an identifier of the terminal device that successfully competes. Optionally, Msg4 can be called a contention resolution message, or can also be called an RRC connection setup message.

Optionally, when the first identifier is the same as the identifier of the terminal device, Msg4 can be used as a mark of RRC connection establishment (connection setup), which is equivalent to Msg4 indicating RRC connection establishment; when the first identifier is different from the identifier of the terminal device, Msg4 can be used as a mark of RRC connection failure, which is equivalent to Msg4 indicating RRC connection establishment failure.

Optionally, after step S204, when the identifier of the terminal device is the same as the first identifier, the RA process may include step S205:

S205. The terminal device sends a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) to the base station as a response to Msg4.

As a second example, in the case where RA is CFRA and 4-step RA, illustratively, as shown in FIG3 , before step S202, the RA process may include steps S206-S207:

S206: The base station sends the second preamble and the configuration information of the first PRACH to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second preamble and the configuration information of the first PRACH from the base station.

S207, the terminal device sends Msg1 to the base station via the first PRACH. Correspondingly, the base station receives Msg1 from the terminal device. At this time, Msg1 includes the second preamble. That is, the base station specifies the preamble (second preamble) to the terminal device, and the terminal device initiates RA using the specified preamble.

It should be noted that in the second example, there is no need to execute steps S201, S203-S204, that is, when RA is CFRA and 4-step RA, the RA process includes steps S206-S207, S202.

As a third example, in the case where RA is CBRA and 2-step RA, illustratively, as shown in FIG4 , the RA process may include steps S401-S402:

S401, the terminal device sends MsgA to the base station. Correspondingly, the base station receives MsgA from the terminal device. MsgA includes a third preamble code and an identifier of the terminal device. Optionally, MsgA may also be called a random access request message, or may also be called a random access preamble message.

Exemplarily, the third preamble code may be sent on the PRACH. The identifier of the terminal device may be sent on the PUSCH.

Optionally, before step S401, the RA process may further include step S400:

S400, the base station sends a third preamble and PUSCH resources to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the third preamble and PUSCH resources from the base station. That is, the base station specifies a preamble (third preamble) and PUSCH resources to the terminal device, and the terminal device initiates RA using the specified preamble and sends a payload on the specified PUSCH.

S402: The base station sends MsgB to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives MsgB from the base station. MsgB indicates the RAR and the first identifier. Optionally, MsgB can be called a contention resolution message, or can also be called an RRC connection establishment message, or can also be called an RRC connection establishment message. It can be called a random access response message.

Optionally, MsgB indicates that RAR can refer to the relevant description in the above step S202, and MsgB indicates that the first identifier can refer to the relevant description in the above step S204, which will not be repeated in this application.

As a fourth example, in the case where RA is CFRA and 2-step RA, illustratively, as shown in FIG5 , after step S400, the RA process may include steps S403-S404:

S403: The terminal device sends MsgA to the base station. Correspondingly, the base station receives MsgA from the terminal device. MsgA includes a third preamble.

S404: The base station sends MsgB to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives MsgB from the base station, wherein MsgB indicates RAR.

Optionally, MsgB indicates that RAR may refer to the relevant description in the above step S202, which will not be repeated herein.

It should be noted that in this fourth example, there is no need to execute steps S401-S402, that is, when RA is CFRA and 2-step RA, the RA process includes steps S400 and S403-S404.

3. Cell handover:

Exemplarily, in a fifth generation (5G) or NR system, the cell switching process may include steps S601-S609 as shown in FIG6 :

Step S601: The source base station of the terminal device (also referred to as the serving base station before the handover) may send a measurement configuration to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the measurement configuration from the source base station.

Optionally, the measurement configuration may include a measurement object (such as a serving cell or a neighboring cell), a triggering event for measurement reporting, and the like.

Exemplarily, the triggering event may include event A1, event A2, event A3, event A4, event A5, etc. Among them, event A1 is that the signal quality of the serving cell is greater than the first preset threshold; event A2 is that the signal quality of the serving cell is less than the second preset threshold; event A3 is that the signal quality of the neighboring cell is greater than the signal quality of the serving cell; event A4 is that the signal quality of the neighboring cell is greater than the third preset threshold; event A5 is that the signal quality of the serving cell is less than the second preset threshold, and the signal quality of the neighboring cell is greater than the third preset threshold.

Step S602: The terminal device measures the measurement object according to the received measurement configuration.

Optionally, if the measurement result of a measurement object measured by the terminal device within a certain time period meets the triggering event of measurement reporting, the terminal device will be triggered to report.

Optionally, when the measurement result of a cell meets the triggering event of measurement reporting within a certain time period, the identifier of the cell can be added to the triggered cell list (cells triggered list).

Exemplarily, the certain time period is configured by the source base station. The certain time period may also be referred to as a trigger time (time to trigger, TTT).

The measurement result is measured by layer 1 (such as the PHY layer) and obtained after filtering by layer 3 (such as the RRC layer).

Step S603: The terminal device sends a measurement report to the source base station. Correspondingly, the source base station receives the measurement report from the terminal device.

Step S604: After receiving the measurement report, the source base station determines the target cell based on the measurement report.

For example, the source base station evaluates the measurement results in the measurement report and then determines the target cell.

Step S605: The source base station sends a handover request to the target base station to which the target cell belongs. Correspondingly, the target base station receives the handover request from the source base station.

Exemplarily, the handover request includes information required for handover such as an identifier of the target cell.

Step S606: The target base station performs admission control.

Optionally, admission control can be understood as determining whether the terminal device is supported to access the target base station.

In the case where the terminal device is supported to access the target base station, S607 is executed:

S607: The target base station sends a handover confirmation message to the source base station. Correspondingly, the source base station receives the handover confirmation message from the target base station.

Exemplarily, the handover confirmation information includes RRC reconfiguration information related to the target cell (such as an identifier of the target cell, etc.).

Step S608: The source base station forwards the handover confirmation information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the handover confirmation information from the source base station.

Step S609: The terminal device performs switching according to the switching confirmation information.

Exemplarily, the terminal device may perform RRC reconfiguration according to the RRC reconfiguration information. After the RRC reconfiguration is completed, the terminal device sends information indicating that the RRC reconfiguration is successful to the target base station. Correspondingly, the target base station receives the information indicating that the RRC reconfiguration is successful from the terminal device. At this point, it can be considered that the handover of the terminal device on the radio access network (RAN) side is successful.

Optionally, the switching in this application generally refers to the switching of network device control and terminal device control in the RRC connection state, cell change, etc.

4. Reduced capability (RedCap):

RedCap is a 5G technology defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardization organization. RedCap, also known as lightweight 5G, can reduce the cost and power consumption of terminal devices by reducing the bandwidth of terminal devices, the number of transmitting and receiving antennas, and the order of modulation coding scheme (MCS).

In 3GPP release 17 (R17, or Rel-17), in order to further reduce the complexity and cost of terminal equipment, the R17 RedCap device type (also referred to as R17 RedCap device, such as R17 RedCap terminal equipment, etc.) is defined. The maximum bandwidth supported by the R17 RedCap terminal equipment in the low-frequency band (i.e., frequency range 1 (FR1)) is 20 megahertz (MHz), and the maximum bandwidth supported in the millimeter wave high-frequency band (i.e., FR2) is 100MHz.

In 3GPP rel-17, downlink information such as system information block (SIB) 1, other system information (OSI), RAR, Msg4, etc. can be sent in the initial downlink bandwidth part (BWP). Among them, the initial downlink BWP is about 10MHz, and the size of the initial downlink BWP is 24 physical resource blocks (PRBs).

In addition, during the random access process, the terminal device can carry a logical channel identifier (LCID)(s) in either Msg3 or MsgA. The base station can identify the R17 RedCap terminal device by LCID(s).

Alternatively, the terminal device may send Msg1 or MsgA at a specific PRACH opportunity, and/or, either Msg1 or MsgA carries a specific preamble, and the base station may identify the R17 RedCap terminal device through the PRACH opportunity and/or the specific preamble. That is, the specific PRACH opportunity and/or the specific preamble are used to identify the RedCap terminal device. Optionally, the specific PRACH opportunity and/or the specific preamble may be preconfigured by the base station.

In 3GPP R18, the RedCap device type is further defined. The maximum baseband bandwidth supported by R18 RedCap devices (also referred to as R18 RedCap devices, such as R18 RedCap terminal devices, etc.) is 5MHz, and the maximum RF bandwidth supported is 20MHz. R18 RedCap devices can also be called enhanced reduced capability (eRedCap) devices, such as eRedCap terminal devices, etc., and this application does not impose any restrictions.

For example, compared with R17 RedCap terminal equipment, R18 RedCap terminal equipment has lower complexity and lower cost. For example, R18 RedCap terminal equipment has lower bandwidth in frequency range 1 (RF1), such as the baseband (BB) bandwidth of R18 RedCap terminal equipment for uplink data transmission channel and downlink data transmission channel (including unicast and broadcast) is 5MHz, and the RF bandwidth of R18 RedCap terminal equipment for uplink and downlink transmission is 20MHz.

For example, in frequency range 1 (RF1), R18 RedCap terminal devices have a lower data rate than R17 RedCap terminal devices, for example, the first parameter restriction, i.e., the maximum number of supported layers Modulation order The constraints on the scaling factor f ^(j) are: f ^(j) The product of the three is not less than 3.2. For R17 RedCap terminal equipment, The product of f ^(j) is not less than 4.

For example, compared with the capabilities of the R17 RedCap terminal device, the capabilities of the R18 RedCap terminal device or the eRedCap terminal device are lower, for example, the baseband processing bandwidth of the R18 RedCap terminal device or the eRedCap terminal device is smaller than the baseband processing bandwidth of the R18 RedCap terminal device.

Since the initial downlink BWP is approximately 10 MHz, the size of the initial downlink BWP is 24 PRBs; therefore, as shown in Figure 7, the downlink information sent by the base station in the initial downlink BWP needs to be scheduled within 5 MHz to be received by the R18 RedCap terminal device.

At present, the use of high-order MCS enables the downlink information sent by the initial downlink BWP to be scheduled within 5MHz, thereby ensuring that the downlink information can be successfully received by the R18 RedCap terminal device.

However, this method causes the transmission performance of the terminal equipment at the edge of the cell coverage area to be reduced, so that the terminal equipment cannot receive MsgA or Msg4 from the base station, which leads to RA failure.

Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the terminal device can determine the size relationship between the first difference and the second difference and the first threshold value respectively according to the first offset value. When the first difference is less than the first threshold value, or the second difference is less than the first threshold value, the terminal device can indicate to the first network device that MsgA or Msg4 needs to be enhanced, thereby improving the receiving performance of the terminal device.

The technical solution of the embodiment of the present application can be used in various communication systems, and the communication system can be a 3GPP communication system, for example, a 4th generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE) system, a 5G system such as a NR system, a satellite communication system, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) system, or a system of LTE and 5G hybrid networking, or a device-to-device (D2D) communication system, a machine-to-machine (M2M) communication system, an Internet of Things (IoT), a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system, a wireless local area network (WLAN), and a communication system that will evolve in the future. The communication system can also be a non-3GPP communication system without limitation.

The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication scenarios, for example, one or more of the following communication scenarios: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC), machine type communication (MTC), massive machine type communication (mMTC), D2D, and IoT and other communication scenarios.

The above-mentioned communication systems and communication scenarios applicable to the present application are only examples, and the communication systems and communication scenarios applicable to the present application are not limited to Here, the communication system and communication scenario provided in this application do not impose any limitation on the solution of this application, and are uniformly described here and will not be repeated below.

Referring to Fig. 8, an exemplary communication system provided by the present application is shown. The communication system includes at least one network device and at least one terminal device. Optionally, different terminal devices can communicate with each other.

In the communication system shown in FIG. 8 , at least one network device is network device 1 , and at least one terminal device is terminal device 1 , terminal device 2 , terminal device 3 , and terminal device 4 .

Optionally, the communication system may be in the following three forms:

In a first implementation form, as shown in (a) of Fig. 9, the communication system includes a first network device and a terminal device, wherein the first network device and the terminal device are first-type devices.

Optionally, the first network device may also be referred to as a first-category network device, and a cell in the first-category network device may be referred to as a first-category cell. The terminal device may also be referred to as a first-category terminal device.

Exemplarily, the first type of device may be an R18 RedCap device. Therefore, the first network device may be referred to as an R18 RedCap network device, and the first type of terminal device may be referred to as an R18 RedCap terminal device.

In a second implementation form, as shown in (b) of Fig. 9, the communication system includes a second network device and a terminal device, wherein the second network device is a second type of device and the terminal device is a first type of device.

Optionally, the second type of device may include a second type of network device and a second type of terminal device. In this case, the second type of network device may also be referred to as a second type of network device. The maximum bandwidth supported by the second type of terminal device is greater than or equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first type of terminal device.

Optionally, the cell in the second category of network equipment can be called a second category cell. The carrier bandwidth of the second category cell is less than or equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first category terminal device. Optionally, the maximum bandwidth supported by the first category terminal device may include the maximum baseband bandwidth supported by the first category terminal device, or may also include the maximum radio frequency bandwidth supported by the first category terminal device. Wherein, in the case where the maximum bandwidth supported by the first category terminal device includes the maximum baseband bandwidth supported by the first category terminal device, the maximum bandwidth supported by the second category terminal device is greater than the maximum bandwidth supported by the first category terminal device; in the case where the maximum bandwidth supported by the first category terminal device includes the maximum radio frequency bandwidth supported by the first category terminal device, the maximum bandwidth supported by the second category terminal device is equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first category terminal device.

Exemplarily, the maximum baseband bandwidth supported by the terminal device may be the maximum baseband bandwidth in FR1, or the maximum baseband bandwidth in FR2, and the maximum radio frequency bandwidth supported by the terminal device may be the maximum radio frequency bandwidth in FR1, or the maximum radio frequency bandwidth in FR2.

Optionally, the second type of device belongs to the third type of device, that is, the second type of device is a part of the third type of device. Taking the second type of network device and the third type of network device as an example, the second type of network device is a network device in which the carrier bandwidth of the cell in the third type of network device is less than or equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first type of terminal device.

Exemplarily, when the third category of equipment is an R17 RedCap equipment and the first category of equipment is an R18 RedCap equipment, since the maximum bandwidth supported by the R18 RedCap terminal equipment is 5 MHz, the second category of network equipment is a network device in which the carrier bandwidth of the cell in the R17 RedCap network device is less than or equal to 5 MHz.

In a third implementation form, as shown in (c) of FIG9 , the communication system includes a third network device, a fourth network device, and a terminal device. The third network device and the terminal device are first-class devices, and the third network device is a service network device of the terminal device, and the fourth network device is a second-class device, and the fourth network device is a target network device of the terminal device.

Optionally, the first category of devices and the second category of devices may refer to the relevant descriptions in (a) of FIG. 9 and (b) of FIG. 9 above, and this application will not elaborate on them here.

Optionally, the network device is a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects the terminal device to the wireless network, and can be an evolutionary base station (evolutional Node B, eNB or eNodeB) in LTE or evolved LTE system (LTE-Advanced, LTE-A), such as a traditional macro base station eNB and a micro base station eNB in a heterogeneous network scenario; or it can be a radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC) or it can be a node B (node B, NB); or it can be a base station controller (base station controller, BSC); or it can be a base transceiver station (base transceiver station, BTS); or it can be a home base station (for example, home evolved nodeB, or home node B, HNB); or it can be a base band unit (base band unit, BBU) or it can be a next-generation node in a 5G system. Point B (next generation node B, gNodeB or gNB); or it can be a next generation base station in a 6G system; or it can be a transmission reception point (transmission reception point, TRP); or it can be a base station in a future evolved public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN); or it can be a broadband network service gateway (broadband network gateway, BNG), an aggregation switch or a non-3GPP access device; or it can be a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN); or it can be an access node (access point, AP) in a WiFi system; or it can be a wireless relay node or a wireless backhaul node; or it can be a device that implements a base station function in IoT, a device that implements a base station function in V2X, a device that implements a base station function in D2D, or a device that implements a base station function in M2M, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

Exemplarily, the base station in the embodiment of the present application may include various forms of base stations, such as: a macro base station, a micro base station (also called a small station), Indoor station, relay station, access point, donor node, etc., the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

Optionally, in a specific implementation, a network device may refer to a module or unit that performs some functions of a base station. For example, a central unit (CU), or a network device may be composed of a CU and a distributed unit (DU). CU and DU may be divided according to the protocol layer of the wireless network. For example, the functions of the RRC protocol layer, the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer are set in the CU, while the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the MAC layer, and the PHY layer are set in the DU.

It can be understood that the division of CU and DU processing functions according to this protocol layer is only an example, and they can also be divided in other ways, and this application does not make any specific limitations on this.

In some embodiments, the CU may be composed of a CU control plane (CU control plane, CU-CP) and a CU user plane (CU user plane, CU-UP).

Optionally, the terminal device may refer to a user-side device with wireless transceiver functions, which can send signals to network devices or receive signals from network devices. The terminal device may also be called user equipment (UE), terminal, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station (MS), remote station, remote terminal, mobile terminal (MT), user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device, etc. The terminal can be widely used in various scenarios, for example, it can be a wireless terminal in IoT, D2D, M2M, MTC, 5G network, or future evolved PLMN. The terminal device can be deployed in the air (such as on airplanes, balloons and satellites, etc.).

Exemplarily, the terminal device can be a drone, a helicopter, a robotic arm, an IoT device (e.g., a sensor, an electric meter, a water meter, etc.), a V2X device, a station (ST) in a WLAN, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, a mobile Internet device (MID) handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a wearable device (also called a wearable smart device), a tablet computer or a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) device, or a wearable device. Wireless terminals in the fields of virtual reality (VR), industrial control (industrial control), self driving (self driving), remote medical (remote medical), smart grid (smart grid), transportation safety (transportation safety), smart city (smart city), smart home (smart home), smart home control system (SCS), office automation (OA), drones with UAV to UAV (U2U) communication capabilities, etc.

In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the network device may also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the network device, or may also be performed by a control subsystem including the network device function. Among them, the control subsystem including the network device function may be a control center in the above-mentioned application scenarios such as smart grid, industrial control, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The functions of the terminal device may also be performed by a module (such as a chip or a modem) in the terminal device, or may also be performed by a device including the terminal device function.

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

Optionally, the relevant functions of the terminal device or network device involved in the present application can be implemented by the communication device 100 in Figure 10. Referring to Figure 10, the communication device 100 includes one or more processors 1001. Further, the communication device 100 may also include a communication bus 1002 and at least one communication interface (Figure 10 is only exemplary, and the communication device 100 includes a communication interface 1004 and a processor 1001 as an example for explanation). Optionally, the communication device 100 may also include a memory 1003.

Processor 1001 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the present application, or a processing core for processing data (such as computer program instructions). The processor may be a single-CPU processor or a multi-CPU processor.

In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 1001 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG. 10 .

The communication bus 1002 may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, FIG. 10 is represented by only one thick line, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus. The communication bus 1002 is used to connect different components in the communication device 100 so that different components in the communication device 100 can communicate and interact with each other.

The communication interface 1004 may be a transceiver module for communicating with other devices or a communication network, such as Ethernet, RAN, WLAN, etc. For example, the communication interface 1004 may be a device such as a transceiver or a transceiver. The communication interface 1004 may also be a transceiver circuit located in the processor 1001, for implementing signal input and signal output of the processor.

The memory 1003 may be a device with a storage function. For example, it may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store the desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory may exist independently and be connected to the processor via the communication bus 1002. The memory may also be integrated with the processor.

The memory 1003 is used to store computer-executable instructions for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 1001. The processor 1001 is used to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1003, thereby implementing the method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Alternatively, optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the processor 1001 may also perform processing-related functions in the method provided in the following embodiments of the present application, and the communication interface 1004 is responsible for communicating with other devices or communication networks, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application code, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 100 may further include an output device 1005 and an input device 1006. The output device 1005 communicates with the processor 1001 and may display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 1005 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device 1006 communicates with the processor 1001 and may receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 1006 may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

It should be noted that the composition structure shown in FIG. 10 does not constitute a limitation on the communication device. In addition to the components shown in FIG. 10 , the communication device may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is understandable that in the embodiment of the present application, the network device can perform some or all of the steps in the embodiment of the present application, and these steps or operations are only examples, and the embodiment of the present application can also perform other operations or various operations. In addition, each step can be performed in a different order presented in the embodiment of the present application, and it is possible not to perform all the operations in the embodiment of the present application.

Referring to FIG. 11 , a communication method provided by the present application is shown in the case where the value of the first offset value can be greater than or equal to 0. The communication method includes the following steps:

S1101. The terminal device obtains a first offset value, where the first offset value is a dedicated offset value for a first type of terminal device.

Optionally, the first offset value may be predefined, for example, the first offset value is predefined by a protocol, or the first offset value may be preconfigured by the first network device.

Optionally, in the case where the first network device preconfigures the first offset value, as shown in FIG12 , before step S1101, the communication method may further include step S1100:

S1100. The first network device sends system information of the first cell. Accordingly, the terminal device receives the system information of the first cell from the first network device. The system information of the first cell includes a first offset value. That is, the first offset value may be carried in the system information of the first cell, for example, the first offset value may be carried in SIB1.

Optionally, the system information of the first cell may be carried in a broadcast message of the first cell. Exemplarily, the first network device sends the broadcast message of the first cell in a broadcast form, so that the terminal device can receive the broadcast message of the first cell, thereby obtaining the first offset.

Optionally, after step S1101, the terminal device may determine the magnitude relationship between the first difference and the first threshold. The first difference is the difference between the Srxlev of the first cell and the first offset value, or the first difference is the difference between the Srxlev of the first cell and the first offset value. That is, the first difference may be a positive number, or a negative number, or 0.

The first cell is a cell in the first network device, that is, the first network device is a network device to which the first cell belongs.

Optionally, the Srxlev of the first cell may be determined according to the relationship (1) in the above step S105.

Optionally, the first threshold may be predefined, for example, the first threshold may be predefined by a protocol. Alternatively, the first threshold may be preconfigured by the first network device. Alternatively, the first threshold may be a default value. For example, the first threshold may be 0 by default.

Exemplarily, when the first threshold is preconfigured by the first network device, the first threshold may be carried in the system information of the first cell.

Exemplarily, the first difference may satisfy the following relationship (3):
First difference = _Qrxlevmeas - ( _Qrxlevmin + _{Qrxlevminoffset} ) - _{Pcompensation} - Qoffset _temp - Qoffset _eRedCap
(3)

Wherein, Qoffset _eRedCap represents the first offset value. The parameters except Qoffset _eRedCap in relation (3) can refer to the relevant description of relation (1) above, and the present application will not repeat them here.

Optionally, after step S1101, the terminal device may determine the magnitude relationship between the second difference and the first threshold. The second difference is the difference between the Squal of the first cell and the first offset value. Alternatively, the second difference is the difference between the Squal of the first cell and the first offset value. In other words, the second difference may be a positive number, or a negative number, or 0.

Optionally, the Squal of the first cell may be determined according to the relationship (2) in the above step S105.

Exemplarily, the first difference may satisfy the following relationship (4):
The second difference=Q _qualmeas -(Q _qualmin +Q _{qualminoffset} )-Qoffset _temp -Qoffset _eRedCap (4)

Wherein, Qoffset _eRedCap represents the first offset value. The parameters except Qoffset _eRedCap in relation (4) can refer to the relevant description in the above relation (2), and the present application will not repeat them here.

S1102: When the first difference is less than the first threshold value, and/or the second difference is less than the first threshold value, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device. Accordingly, the first network device receives the first information from the terminal device. The first information indicates that the first network device repeatedly sends Msg4 or MsgB in the random access process.

Optionally, when the first difference is less than the first threshold, and/or the second difference is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device, including: when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than the first threshold, and/or when the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device.

Exemplarily, when the first difference is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device, including: when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device.

When the second difference is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device, including: when the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device.

When the first difference is less than the first threshold and the second difference is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device, including: when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than the first threshold, and the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device.

Optionally, the first offset value is used to determine the position of the terminal device in the first coverage area of the first network device. The coverage area of the first network device includes a first range and a second range. The first coverage area is an area in the coverage area of the first network device where the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0. Wherein, when the first difference is less than the first threshold value, and/or the second difference is less than the first threshold value, the terminal device is located in the second range; when the first difference is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, and the second difference is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the terminal device is located in the first range. That is, the first offset value can be used to distinguish between the first range and the second range in the first coverage area.

Optionally, the first offset value is used to determine the position of the terminal device in the coverage area of the first network device, including: the first offset is used to determine the first difference, and the first difference is used to determine the position of the terminal device in the coverage area of the first network device. That is, the first difference is first calculated according to the first offset, and then the position of the terminal device in the coverage area of the first network device is determined according to the first difference.

Exemplarily, when the first threshold is the default value of 0, the first coverage area can be as shown in Figure 13. When the first difference is greater than or equal to 0, and the second difference is greater than or equal to 0, the terminal device can be considered to be in the first range of the first coverage area, and the area surrounded by the dotted circle in Figure 13 is the first range; when the first difference is less than 0, or the second difference is less than 0, the terminal device can be considered to be in the second range of the first coverage area, that is, the terminal device is at the edge of the first coverage area, and the area in the implementation circle of Figure 13 except the area surrounded by the dotted circle is the second range.

Therefore, step S1102 can also be understood as the terminal device sending the first information to the first network device when the terminal device is in the second range of the coverage area of the first network device, that is, the terminal device is at the edge of the coverage area of the first network device.

Optionally, the first information may be carried in any one of Msg1, Msg3 and MsgA in the RA process.

Exemplarily, when RA is CBRA and 4-step RA, the first information can be carried in Msg1 or Msg3; when RA is non-contention random access (CFRA) and 4-step RA, the first information can be carried in Msg1 or Msg3; when RA is 2-step RA, the first information can be carried in MsgA.

Optionally, step S1102 may also be that when the first difference is less than threshold A and/or the second difference is less than threshold B, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device.

Optionally, when the first difference is less than threshold A, and/or the second difference is less than threshold B, the terminal device sends first information to the first network device, including: when Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than threshold A, and/or when Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is less than threshold B, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device.

Exemplarily, the situation where the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than the threshold A, and/or the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is less than the threshold B is similar to the situation where the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than the first threshold, and/or the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is less than the first threshold. For details, please refer to the situation where the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than the first threshold. The case where the difference is smaller than the first threshold, and/or the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is smaller than the first threshold is not described in detail here.

Optionally, threshold A and threshold B may be the same or different. Exemplarily, when threshold A and threshold B are the same, threshold A and threshold B may be the first threshold.

Optionally, the terminal device may also instruct the first network device to repeatedly send part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB, where the part of the information is necessary information for the RA process. Alternatively, the terminal device may instruct the first network device not to repeatedly send another part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB except the part of the information. Exemplarily, the part of the information may also be referred to as emergency information, and the other part of the information may be referred to as non-emergency information. The non-emergency information may be non-emergency configuration information, such as a non-emergency dedicated partial bandwidth (BWP) configuration. The non-emergency dedicated BWP configuration may be a newly added BWP configuration.

Exemplarily, the terminal device instructs the first network device to repeatedly send part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB, or instructs the first network device not to repeatedly send another part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB, which can be implemented in the following two ways:

In a possible implementation, the first information may also be used to instruct the first network device to repeatedly send part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB, or the first information may also be used to instruct the first network device not to repeatedly send another part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB.

In another possible implementation, the terminal device may further send second indication information to the first network device, and correspondingly, the first network device receives the second indication information from the terminal device. The second indication information is used to instruct the first network device to repeatedly send part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB, or the second indication information may also be used to instruct the first network device not to repeatedly send another part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB.

Optionally, the second indication information may be carried in any one of Msg1, Msg3 and MsgA of the RA process. Optionally, after step S1102, as shown in FIG12, the communication method may further include step S1103:

S1103: The first network device sends at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB to the terminal device according to the first information. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB from the first network device.

Optionally, the first network device sends at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB to the terminal device, which can be understood as the first network device enhancing Msg4 or MsgB so that the terminal device can successfully receive Msg4 or MsgB. That is, the first network device repeatedly sends Msg4 or MsgB to the terminal device.

Optionally, when the terminal device further instructs the first network device to repeatedly send part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB, or instructs not to repeatedly send another part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB,

The first network device sends at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB to the terminal device according to the first information, including: the first network device sends partial information in at least one Msg4 or partial information in at least one MsgB to the terminal device according to the first information.

Alternatively, the first network device sends at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB to the terminal device according to the first information, including: the first network device sends partial information in at least one Msg4 or partial information in at least one MsgB to the terminal device according to the first information and the second indication information.

Optionally, another part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB can be carried in an RRC reconfiguration message.

Based on this optional scheme, the terminal device can send the first information, or the first information and the second indication information, to the first network device, so that the first network device can send part of the information in Msg4 or MsgB to the terminal device according to the first information, or the first information and the second indication information, thereby reducing the resources occupied by Msg4 or MsgB repeatedly sent by the first network device.

Optionally, the first network device repeatedly sends Msg4 or MsgB to the terminal device, including the first network device repeatedly sending Msg4 or MsgB to the terminal device within a first quantity threshold or within a first time range.

Exemplarily, the first quantity threshold and the first time range may be predefined by the first network device. For example, the first network device may predefine the number of times to repeatedly send Msg4 or MsgB (i.e., the first quantity threshold); or, the first network device may predefine the time range for repeatedly sending Msg4 or MsgB (i.e., the first time range), and exemplarily, the time range may be 5 seconds (second, s), that is, the first network device may repeatedly send Msg4 or MsgB within 5s. Optionally, when the first network device receives a response message from the terminal device within the 5s, the first network device stops sending Msg4 or MsgB. The response message is a response of the terminal device to receiving Msg4 or MsgB. For example, the response message may be Msg5, or may be an RRC connection establishment completion message or an uplink confirmation message, such as an uplink confirmation message may be a HARQ-ACK or an automatic repeat request acknowledgment message (automatic repeat request acknowledgment, ARQ-ACK).

The communication method provided by the present application can determine the relative position of the terminal device itself in the coverage area of the first network device according to the size relationship between the first difference and the second difference and the first threshold respectively. When the terminal device is in the outer circle of the coverage area of the first network device, that is, the first difference is less than the first threshold, or the second difference is less than the first threshold, at this time, the terminal device is far away from the first network device, and the receiving performance of the terminal device is poor. Therefore, the terminal device can instruct the first network device to repeatedly send Msg4 or MsgB (that is, send the first information) so that the first network device can send at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB to the terminal device to improve the terminal device. The performance of receiving Msg4 or MsgB, thereby increasing the probability of success of the RA process. In the communication method shown in Figure 11 above, the value of the first offset value is greater than or equal to 0. In fact, the present application also supports the value of the first offset value being less than or equal to 0. The case where the value of the first offset value is less than or equal to 0 is introduced below. Exemplarily, when the value of the first offset value is less than or equal to 0, the communication method includes the following steps:

Step 11, wherein step 11 is the same as step S1101, and for details, please refer to the relevant description in step S1101, which will not be repeated here.

Step 12: When the first sum is less than the first threshold value, and/or the second sum is less than the first threshold value, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first information from the terminal device.

The first sum is the sum of the Srxlev of the first cell and the first offset value, or the first difference is the sum of the Srxlev of the first cell and the first offset value. That is, the first sum can be a positive number, a negative number, or zero.

The second sum is the sum of the Squal of the first cell and the first offset value. Alternatively, the second sum is the sum of the Squal of the first cell and the first offset value. That is, the second sum may be a positive number, a negative number, or zero.

Exemplarily, the first difference may satisfy the following relationship (5):
First sum = _Qrxlevmeas - ( _Qrxlevmin + _{Qxxlevminoffset} ) - _{Pcompensation} - Qoffset _temp + Qoffset _eRedCap

(5)

Among them, the parameters in relationship (5) can refer to the relevant description of the above relationship (3), and this application will not repeat them here.

Exemplarily, the first difference may satisfy the following relationship (6):
The second difference=Q _qualmeas -(Q _qualmin +Q _{qualminoffset} )-Qoffset _temp +Qoffset _eRedCap (6)

Among them, the parameters in relationship (6) can refer to the relevant description in the above relationship (4), and this application will not repeat them here.

Optionally, when the first sum is less than the first threshold, and/or the second sum is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device, including: when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first sum is less than the first threshold, and/or when the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second sum is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device.

Exemplarily, when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first sum is less than the first threshold, and/or when the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second sum is less than the first threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device, which is similar to the process in which the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than the first threshold, and/or when the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is less than the first threshold. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the terminal device sending the first information to the first network device when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than the first threshold, and/or when the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is less than the first threshold, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, when the first sum is less than the first threshold value, and/or the second sum is less than the first threshold value, the terminal device is located in the second range in the first coverage range; when the first sum is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, and the second sum is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the terminal device is located in the first range in the first coverage range. Exemplarily, the first coverage range can refer to the relevant description in FIG. 13 above, which will not be repeated here.

In addition to the above two communication methods, the present application also provides a communication method, as shown in FIG14 , which may include the following steps:

S1401: The terminal device obtains a fourth threshold value. The fourth threshold value may include a first sub-threshold value and a second sub-threshold value.

Optionally, the fourth threshold is used to determine the position of the terminal device in the first coverage area of the first network device. Optionally, the fourth threshold can be called a second offset value. The fourth threshold is greater than or equal to 0.

Optionally, the fourth threshold may be preconfigured by the first network device. Exemplarily, the fourth threshold may be carried in the system information of the first cell. Optionally, the fourth threshold may also be referred to as a receiving threshold, which is not limited in the present application.

Exemplarily, before step S1401, the communication method may further include step S1400:

S1400. The first network device sends system information of the first cell. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the system information of the first cell from the first network device. The system information of the first cell includes a fourth threshold. That is, the fourth threshold may be carried in the system information of the first cell, for example, the fourth threshold may be carried in SIB1.

Optionally, the system information of the first cell may be carried in a broadcast message of the first cell. Exemplarily, the first network device sends the broadcast message of the first cell in a broadcast form, so that the terminal device can receive the broadcast message of the first cell, thereby acquiring the fourth threshold.

Optionally, the first sub-threshold and the second sub-threshold may be the same or different.

Optionally, when the first sub-threshold and the second sub-threshold are the same, it can be considered that the fourth threshold includes the first sub-threshold, or the fourth threshold includes the fourth sub-threshold.

Optionally, when the first sub-threshold and the second sub-threshold are the same, the first offset value in Figure 11 can be used as the fourth threshold. That is, when the first sub-threshold and the second sub-threshold are the same, the operation performed in step S1401 is the same as the operation performed in step S1101.

Optionally, after step S1401, the terminal device may determine the relationship between Srxlev of the first cell and the first sub-threshold.

Optionally, the Srxlev of the first cell may be determined according to the relationship (1) in the above step S105.

Optionally, after step S1401, the terminal device may determine the relationship between Squal of the first cell and the second sub-threshold.

Optionally, the Squal of the first cell may be determined according to the relationship (2) in the above step S105.

S1402: When the Srxlev of the first cell is less than the first sub-threshold, and/or the Squal of the first cell is less than the second sub-threshold, the terminal device sends a first message to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first message from the terminal device. The first message indicates that the first network device repeatedly sends Msg4 or 4MsgB in the RA process.

Optionally, when the Srxlev of the first cell is less than the first sub-threshold and/or the Squal of the first cell is less than the second sub-threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device, including: when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the Srxlev of the first cell is less than the first sub-threshold, and/or the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the Squal of the first cell is less than the second sub-threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device.

Exemplarily, when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the Srxlev of the first cell is less than the first sub-threshold, and/or the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the Squal of the first cell is less than the second sub-threshold, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device, which is similar to the process in which the terminal device sends the first information to the first network device when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than the first threshold, and/or the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is less than the first threshold. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the terminal device sending the first information to the first network device when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than 0 and the first difference is less than the first threshold, and/or the Squal of the first cell is greater than 0 and the second difference is less than the first threshold, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, when the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than or equal to the first sub-threshold, and the Squal of the first cell is greater than or equal to the second sub-threshold, the terminal device can be considered to be in the third range of the first coverage area of the first network device; when the first difference is less than the first threshold, or the second difference is less than the first threshold, the terminal device can be considered to be in the fourth range of the first coverage area of the first network device, that is, the terminal device is at the edge of the first coverage area. The first coverage area is the same as the first coverage area in the above step S1102, and the details can be referred to the relevant description of the first coverage area in the above step S1102, which will not be repeated here.

Exemplarily, the first coverage area can be as shown in Figure 15. When the Srxlev of the first cell is greater than or equal to the first sub-threshold, and the Squal of the first cell is greater than or equal to the second sub-threshold, the terminal device can be considered to be in the third range of the coverage area of the first network device, and the area surrounded by the dotted circle in Figure 15 is the third range; when the Srxlev of the first cell is less than the first sub-threshold, and/or the Squal of the first cell is less than the second sub-threshold, the terminal device can be considered to be in the fourth range of the coverage area of the first network device, and the area in the implementation circle of Figure 15 except the area surrounded by the dotted circle is the fourth range.

Optionally, the third range may be the same as or different from the first range, and the fourth range may be the same as or different from the second range.

Optionally, step S1402 is similar to the above step S1102, and reference may be made to the relevant description of the above step S1102, which will not be repeated in this application.

Optionally, after step S1402, step S1103 may also be executed.

In the communication method provided by the present application, the terminal device can determine the relative position of the terminal device itself in the coverage area of the first network device according to the size relationship between the Srxlev of the first cell and the Squal of the first cell and the fourth threshold of the coverage range of the first cell, and when the terminal device is in the first range of the coverage area of the first network device, that is, when the Srxlev of the first cell is less than the first sub-threshold, or when the Squal of the first cell is less than the second sub-threshold, at this time, the terminal device is far away from the first network device, and the receiving performance of the terminal device is poor. Therefore, the terminal device can instruct the first network device to repeatedly send Msg4 or MsgB (i.e., send the first information), so that the first network device can send at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB to the terminal device, so as to improve the performance of the terminal device in receiving Msg4 or MsgB, thereby improving the probability of success of the RA process.

In addition to the solutions shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 14 above, when the terminal device is a first-category terminal device and the first network device is a first-category network device, the present application further provides a communication method, and the communication method includes the following steps:

Step 1: The terminal device sends first information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first information from the terminal device. The first information is used to instruct the first network device to repeatedly send Msg4 or MsgB in the random access process.

Alternatively, the first information in step 1 may also be used to indicate that the terminal device is a first-category terminal device. In other words, the terminal device informs the first network device that the terminal device is a first-category terminal device.

Exemplarily, the process of the terminal device sending the first information to the first network device can refer to the relevant description of the process of the terminal device sending the first information to the first network device in FIG. 11 above, and the present application will not elaborate on it here.

Step 2: Step 2 is the same as step 1103. For the specific implementation process, please refer to the relevant description of step S1103, which will not be repeated in this application.

Based on this solution, when the terminal device is a first-class terminal device and the first network device is a first-class network device, due to the first-class The capability of the terminal device is lower than that of the second type of terminal device. Therefore, the terminal device sends the first information to enable the first network device to repeatedly send Msg4 or MsgB in the random access process to improve the performance of the first type of terminal device in receiving Msg4 or MsgB, thereby increasing the probability of success of the RA process.

The above is an explanation of sending the first information. The following is an introduction to the access of the terminal device to the second type of network device. The terminal device is a first type of terminal device. Exemplarily, the access of the terminal device to the second type of network device can be implemented based on the following two scenarios:

Scenario 1: During cell selection and random access.

Exemplarily, taking the second network device as a second type of network device as an example, the terminal device may initiate RA to the second cell in the second network device.

Referring to FIG. 16 , a communication method provided by the present application may include the following steps:

S1601. The second network device sends system information of the second cell to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the system information of the second cell from the second network device. The system information of the second cell indicates whether the second cell supports access of a second type of terminal device, and/or the system information of the second cell further indicates a carrier bandwidth of the second cell.

Optionally, the carrier bandwidth may also be referred to as the transmission bandwidth, or may also be referred to as the channel bandwidth, which is not limited in this application.

Optionally, the system information of the second cell indicates whether the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment, which can be implemented in the following two signaling ways:

In a first possible implementation, the system information of the second cell may include a first field, and the first field indicates whether the second cell supports access by a second type of terminal device. Different values of the first field can be understood as first indication information, that is, the first indication information indicates whether the second cell supports access by a second type of terminal device.

Optionally, the first indication information indicating whether the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal device can also be understood as the first indication information indicating the type of the second network device. Wherein, when the first indication information indicates that the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal device, it indicates that the second network device is a second type of network device. When the first indication information indicates that the second cell does not support access of the second type of terminal device, it indicates that the second network device is a device other than the second type of network device. This application is described by taking the second type of network device as the second type of network device, that is, the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal device as an example.

Exemplarily, the first indication information may be represented by 1 bit. When the value of the 1 bit is a first value, it may indicate that the second cell supports access by a second type of terminal device; when the value of the 1 bit is a second value, it may indicate that the second cell does not support access by a second type of terminal device. Optionally, the first value may be 1, and correspondingly, the second value is 0; or the first value may be 0, and correspondingly, the second value is 1.

Alternatively, the first indication information may indicate whether the second cell supports access by the second type of terminal device by enumeration. For example, if the first indication information is allowed, it indicates that the second cell supports access by the second type of terminal device; if the first indication information is not allowed, it indicates that the second cell does not support access by the second type of terminal device.

In a second possible implementation, whether the second cell supports access by the second type of terminal device is indicated by whether the system information of the second cell carries the first field. Wherein, if the system information of the second cell carries the first field, it indicates that the second cell supports access by the second type of terminal device; if the system information of the second cell does not carry the first field, it indicates that the second cell does not support access by the second type of terminal device.

Exemplarily, the first field may be the intraFreqReselectionRedCap-r17 field.

In a third possible implementation, whether the second cell supports access by the second type of terminal equipment is indicated by whether the system information of the second cell carries the first field, and different values of the first field, or different indication information in the first field. Wherein, when the system information of the second cell does not carry the first field, or when the system information of the second cell carries the first field and the first field includes the third indication information, it indicates that the second cell does not support access by the second type of terminal equipment; when the system information of the second cell carries the first field and the first field includes the fourth indication information, it indicates that the second cell supports access by the second type of terminal equipment.

Exemplarily, the third indication information may be not allowed, and correspondingly, the fourth indication information may be allowed. Alternatively, the third indication information may be a second value, and correspondingly, the fourth indication information may be a first value.

Optionally, the system information of the second cell may also include the carrier bandwidth of the second cell.

Step S1602: When the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal device, and/or the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to the second threshold, the terminal device initiates RA in the second cell. The second threshold is the maximum bandwidth supported by the first type of terminal device. That is, step S1602 may include the following three possible implementations:

In a first possible implementation, when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment, the terminal equipment initiates RA in the second cell.

Optionally, when the second cell supports access of second-type terminal devices, the terminal device initiates RA in the second cell, including: when the second cell supports access of second-type terminal devices and the baseband processing bandwidth of the terminal device is less than or equal to a second threshold, the terminal device initiates RA in the second cell.

For example, taking the device type of the first type of terminal device as R18 RedCap, the maximum bandwidth supported by the R18 RedCap terminal device is 5MHz, that is, the second threshold is 5MHz. In other words, if the baseband processing bandwidth of the terminal device is less than or equal to 5MHz and the second cell supports the access of the second type of terminal device, the terminal device can initiate RA in the second cell.

In a second possible implementation, when the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to the second threshold, the terminal device initiates RA in the second cell.

For example, taking the device type of the first type of terminal device as R18 RedCap, the maximum bandwidth supported by the R18 RedCap terminal device is 5MHz, that is, the second threshold is 5MHz. In other words, when the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to 5MHz, the terminal device can initiate RA in the second cell.

In a third possible implementation, when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment and the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to the second threshold, the terminal equipment initiates RA in the second cell.

Exemplarily, taking the device type of the first category terminal device as R18 RedCap, the maximum bandwidth supported by the R18 RedCap terminal device is 5MHz, that is, the second threshold is 5MHz. That is to say, when the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to 5MHz and the second cell supports access of the second category terminal device, the terminal device can initiate RA in the second cell. Optionally, the terminal device initiates RA in the second cell, including: the terminal device sends second information to the second network device. Correspondingly, the second network device receives the second information from the terminal device. The second information is used to indicate that the terminal device is a second category terminal device. The second network device can identify the device type of the terminal device through the second information.

Optionally, the second information indicates that the terminal device is a second-category terminal device, which does not mean that the actual device type of the terminal device is a second-category terminal device. In fact, the actual device type of the terminal device is a first-category terminal device, and the purpose of the terminal device sending the second information to the second network device is to make the second network device believe that the terminal device is a second-category terminal device, that is, the terminal device disguises its device type as a second-category terminal device, that is, the second information is used for the terminal device to disguise itself as a second-category terminal device.

Optionally, the second information may be a type identifier of the second type of terminal device. For example, the second information may be an LCID corresponding to the R17 RedCap device type.

Optionally, the second information is carried in any one of Msg1, Msg3 and MsgA in the RA process.

Optionally, before the terminal device initiates RA in the second cell, the communication method may further include step S1603:

Step S1603: The terminal device determines whether the second cell meets the S criterion.

Optionally, step S1603 is similar to the above-mentioned step S105, and reference may be made to the relevant description of the above-mentioned step S105, which will not be elaborated in this application.

Optionally, when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment, and/or the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to the second threshold, the terminal equipment initiates random access in the second cell, including: when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment, and/or the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to the second threshold, and the second cell also needs to meet the S criterion, the terminal equipment initiates random access in the second cell. That is, when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment and the second cell meets the S criterion, the terminal equipment initiates random access in the second cell; or, when the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to the second threshold and the second cell meets the S criterion, the terminal equipment initiates random access in the second cell; or, when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment, the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to the second threshold, and the second cell meets the S criterion, the terminal equipment initiates random access in the second cell.

Based on scenario one, the terminal device determines whether the second network device is a second-class network device (i.e., whether the second cell supports access by second-class terminal devices) and/or the carrier bandwidth of the second cell through system information of the second cell from the second network device, and when the second network device is a second-class network device (i.e., the second cell supports access by second-class terminal devices) and the carrier bandwidth of the second cell is less than or equal to the second threshold, the second cell can be determined as a resident cell during the cell selection process. This enables the first-class terminal device (i.e., the terminal device) to access the second-class network device (i.e., the second network device).

Scenario 2: During cell switching.

For example, the third network device is a first-type network device, and the third network device is a service network device of the terminal device, and the fourth network device is a second-type network device, and the terminal device can switch from the third network device to the fourth network device. That is, the terminal device can access the fourth network device.

Referring to FIG. 17 , a communication method provided by the present application may include the following steps:

S1701. The terminal device determines capability information, wherein the capability information indicates that the terminal device can work in a second type of cell, the second type of cell supports access by second type of terminal devices, and the carrier bandwidth of the second type of cell is less than or equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first type of terminal devices.

For example, taking the device type of the first type of terminal equipment as R18 RedCap and the device type of the second type of network equipment as R17 RedCap, the second type of cell is a cell in the R17 RedCap network device whose carrier bandwidth is less than or equal to 5 MHz.

Optionally, the capability information may include a first parameter, wherein the first parameter is greater than or equal to a third threshold. Alternatively, the capability information may include a maximum peak rate related parameter supported by the terminal device, wherein the maximum peak rate related parameter supported by the terminal device includes a maximum supported Number of layers Modulation order Scaling factor f ^(j) where Modulation order The product of the scaling factors f ^(j) is greater than or equal to a third threshold, and the third threshold is the minimum peak data rate reduction supported by the second type of terminal equipment.

Exemplarily, when the second type of terminal device is an R17RedCap terminal device, the first parameter supported by the second type of terminal device is greater than or equal to 4, and the third threshold may be 4. Alternatively, when the second type of terminal device is an R17RedCap terminal device, the constraint of the first parameter of the second type of terminal device is greater than or equal to 4.

Optionally, the first parameter supported by the second type of terminal device is greater than or equal to the third threshold, which can be understood as the constraint of the second type of terminal device on the first parameter is greater than or equal to the third threshold.

Since the terminal device is a first-category terminal device, the first parameter supported by the first-category terminal device is greater than or equal to 3.2, that is, at this time, the first parameter supported by the terminal device is greater than or equal to 3.2. Therefore, the terminal device can relax the first parameter supported by it to be greater than or equal to 4, so that the terminal device can access the second-category cell.

Optionally, the terminal device may relax the first parameter it supports to be greater than or equal to 4, including: when the carrier bandwidth of the cell or the baseband processing bandwidth of the terminal device is within the frequency range of FR1, the terminal device may relax the first parameter it supports to be greater than or equal to 4.

Optionally, the first parameter, or the constraint of the first parameter, can be determined in the following two ways:

In a possible implementation, the first parameter can be based on the maximum number of supported layers. Modulation order The scaling factor f ^(j) is determined, for example, by the product of the three. That is, the terminal device can calculate The product of f ^(j) determines the first parameter.

Optional, f ^(j) can be indicated by higher-level parameters (such as RRC parameters).

For example, It can be indicated by the maximum number of layers (maxNumberMIMO-LayersPDSCH) of PDSCH transmission supported by multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, the maximum number of layers (maxNumberMIMO-LayersCB-PUSCH) of code book-based PUSCH (code book physical uplink shared channel, CB-PUSCH) transmission supported by MIMO technology, and the maximum number of layers (maxNumberMIMO-LayersNonCB-PUSCH) of non-code book-based PUSCH (noncode book physical uplink shared channel, NonCB-PUSCH) transmission supported by MIMO technology.

It can be indicated by the modulation order supported by the downlink (downlink, DL) (supportedModulationOrderDL) and the modulation order supported by the uplink (uplink, UL) (supportedModulationOrderUL).

f ^(j) can be a scaling factor (scalingFactor) or a scaling factor (scalingFactor-1024QAM-FR1) based on a low frequency band and a 1024 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulation method.

Optionally, the terminal device can adjust The value of at least one item in f ^(j) is large enough to ensure that the peak information rate is greater than or equal to the third threshold.

In another possible implementation manner, the first parameter may be set by the terminal device.

Optionally, the terminal device may set the first parameter to a default value. For example, taking the device type of the first type of terminal device as R18 RedCap and the device type of the second type of network device as R17 RedCap as an example, the default value may be set to 4, or the default value may be set to any value greater than 4, and this application does not make any specific restrictions.

S1702: The terminal device sends capability information to the third network device. Correspondingly, the third network device receives the capability information from the terminal device.

Optionally, the terminal device sends capability information to the third network device, including: when the carrier bandwidth of the cell or the baseband processing bandwidth of the terminal device is within the frequency range of FR1, the terminal device sends capability information to the third network device. Optionally, when the third network device receives the capability information, it can be considered that the terminal device is able to access the second type of network device. Therefore, when determining the target cell, the third network device can include the cell in the second type of network device in the determination range, that is, the third network device can determine the fourth cell as the target cell. Among them, the fourth cell is a cell in the fourth network device, the second type of cell includes the fourth cell, and the fourth cell allows the terminal device to access. Optionally, after step S1702, the communication method may also include steps S1703-S1704:

S1703: The third network device sends information about the fourth cell to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the information about the fourth cell from the third network device.

S1704. The terminal device sends an RRC reconnection request to the fourth cell based on the information of the fourth cell.

Exemplarily, the RRC reestablishment request (RRC reestablishment request) can also be an RRC resume request (RRC resume request) or an RRC establishment request (RRC setup request).

Based on scenario two, the terminal device sends capability information to the third network device, informing the third network device that it can work in the second type of network device, so that when the third network device determines the target cell, it can include the cell in the second type of network device (such as the fourth cell) in the determination range, and then can determine the cell in the second type of network device as the target cell, so that the terminal device can switch to the second type of network device, thereby enabling the terminal device to access the second type of network device.

It can be understood that in each of the above embodiments, the methods and/or steps implemented by the network device (such as the first network device, the second network device, the third network device, or the fourth network device) can also be implemented by components that can be used for the network device (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit, a logic module, or software such as a chip or a circuit); the methods and/or steps implemented by the terminal device can also be implemented by components that can be used for the terminal device (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit, a logic module, or software such as a chip or a circuit).

The above mainly introduces the scheme provided by the present application. Accordingly, the present application also provides a communication device, which is used to implement the above various methods. The communication device can be a terminal device in the above method embodiment, or a device including the above terminal device, or a component that can be used for a terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system; or, the communication device can be a network device in the above method embodiment, or a device including the above network device, or a component that can be used for a network device, such as a chip or a chip system. The communication device may include a module or unit for implementing the data transmission method above. The following only describes the main steps of the scheme. For specific details, please refer to the previous method embodiment, which will not be repeated below.

It is understandable that, in order to realize the above functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and/or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the communication device according to the above method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation.

Communication Device Figure 18 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 180. The communication device 180 includes a processing module 1801 and a transceiver module 1802. The communication device 180 can be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned network device or terminal device.

In some embodiments, the communication device 180 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 18 ) for storing program instructions and data.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1802 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit for implementing a sending and/or receiving function. The transceiver module 1802 may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver or a communication interface.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1802 may include a receiving module and a sending module, which are respectively used to execute the receiving and sending steps performed by the network device or terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiment, and/or used to support other processes of the technology described in this document; the processing module 1801 may be used to execute the processing steps (such as determination, generation, etc.) performed by the network device or terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiment, and/or used to support other processes of the technology described in this document.

When the communication device 180 is used to implement the functions of the above terminal device:

In some embodiments, the processing module 1801 is used to obtain a first offset value, wherein the first offset value is a dedicated offset value for a first type of terminal device. The transceiver module 1802 is used to send first information to a first network device; wherein the first difference value is the difference between Srxlev of the first cell and the first offset value, and the second difference value is the difference between Srxlev of the first cell and the first offset value; the first information indicates that the first network device repeatedly sends Msg4 or MsgB in the RA process, and the first network device is a network device to which the first cell belongs.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is also used for the terminal device to receive system information of the first cell from the first network device, where the system information includes a first offset value.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is further configured to receive at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB from the first network device.

In some other embodiments, the processing module 1801 is used to obtain a fourth threshold, where the fourth threshold includes a first sub-threshold and a second sub-threshold. The transceiver module 1802 is used to send first information to a first network device, where the first information indicates that the first network device repeatedly sends Msg4 or MsgB in a random access process, and the first network device is a network device to which the first cell belongs.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is further configured to receive system information of the first cell from the first network device, where the system information includes a fourth threshold.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is further configured to receive at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB from the first network device.

In some other embodiments, the transceiver module 1802 is used to receive system information of a second cell from a second network device, the system information indicating whether the second cell supports access of a second type of terminal device, and the system information also indicates a carrier bandwidth of the second cell, the maximum bandwidth supported by the second type of terminal device is greater than or equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first type of terminal device, and the terminal device is a first type of terminal device. When the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal device and the carrier bandwidth is less than or equal to a second threshold, the processing module 1801 is used to initiate random access in the second cell, and the second threshold is the maximum bandwidth supported by the first type of terminal device.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is further used to send second information to the second network device, where the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device is a second type of terminal device.

In some other embodiments, the processing module 1801 is used to determine the capability information of the terminal device, the capability information indicates that the terminal device can work in the second type of cell, the second type of cell supports the access of the second type of terminal device; the carrier bandwidth of the second type of cell is less than or equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first type of terminal device, and the terminal device is the first type of terminal device. The transceiver module 1802 is used to send the capability information to the third network device.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is further used to receive information about a fourth cell from a third network device, where the second type of cell includes the fourth cell, and the fourth cell allows terminal devices to access; the processing module 1801 is further used to perform cell switching according to the information about the fourth cell.

When the communication device 180 is used to implement the function of the first network device:

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1802 is also used to receive first information from a terminal device, where the first information indicates that the first network device repeatedly sends message 4 Msg4 or message BMsgB in a random access process; the transceiver module 1802 is also used to send at least one Msg4 or at least one MsgB to the terminal device.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is further used to send system information of the first cell to the terminal device, where the system information of the first cell includes a first offset value, and the first network device is a network device to which the first cell belongs.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is further used to send a first offset value to the terminal device, where the first offset value is a dedicated offset value for the first type of terminal device.

Among them, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.

In the present application, the communication device 180 may be presented in the form of dividing various functional modules in an integrated manner. The "module" here may refer to a specific application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and a memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and/or other devices that can provide the above functions.

In some embodiments, when the communication device 180 in Figure 18 is a chip or a chip system, the function/implementation process of the transceiver module 1802 can be implemented through the input and output interface (or communication interface) of the chip or the chip system, and the function/implementation process of the processing module 1801 can be implemented through the processor (or processing circuit) of the chip or the chip system.

Since the communication device 180 provided in this embodiment can execute the above method, the technical effects that can be obtained can refer to the above method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

As a possible product form, the network device or terminal device described in the embodiments of the present application can also be implemented using the following: one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), programmable logic devices (PLD), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuits, or any combination of circuits that can perform the various functions described throughout the present application.

As a possible product form, the network device or terminal device described in the embodiments of the present application can also be implemented using the following: one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), programmable logic devices (PLD), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuits, or any combination of circuits that can perform the various functions described throughout the present application.

As another possible product form, the network device or terminal device of the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by a general bus architecture. For ease of explanation, refer to Figure 19, which is a structural diagram of a communication device 190 provided in an embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 190 includes a processor 1901 and a transceiver 1902. The communication device 190 can be a terminal device, or a chip or chip system therein; or, the communication device 190 can be a network device, or a chip or module therein. Figure 19 only shows the main components of the communication device 190. In addition to the processor 1901 and the transceiver 1902, the communication device may further include a memory 1903, and an input and output device (not shown in Figure 19).

Optionally, the processor 1901 is mainly used to process the communication protocol and communication data, and to control the entire communication device, execute the software program, and process the data of the software program. The memory 1903 is mainly used to store the software program and data. The transceiver 1902 may include a radio frequency circuit and an antenna. The radio frequency circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signals and radio frequency signals and processing radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as touch screens, display screens, keyboards, etc., are mainly used to receive data input by users and output data to users.

Optionally, the processor 1901, the transceiver 1902, and the memory 1903 may be connected via a communication bus.

When the communication device is turned on, the processor 1901 can read the software program in the memory 1903, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be sent wirelessly, the processor 1901 performs baseband processing on the data to be sent, and outputs the baseband signal to the RF circuit. The RF circuit performs RF processing on the baseband signal and then sends the RF signal outward in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1901. The processor 1901 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

In another implementation, the RF circuit and antenna may be provided independently of the processor performing baseband processing, for example, in a distributed field. In the scenario, the RF circuit and antenna can be independent of the communication device and arranged remotely.

In some embodiments, in terms of hardware implementation, those skilled in the art may conceive that the above-mentioned communication device 180 may take the form of the communication device 190 shown in FIG. 19 .

As an example, the function/implementation process of the processing module 1801 in FIG18 can be implemented by the processor 1901 in the communication device 190 shown in FIG19 calling the computer execution instructions stored in the memory 1903. The function/implementation process of the transceiver module 1802 in FIG18 can be implemented by the transceiver 1902 in the communication device 190 shown in FIG19.

In some embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which includes a processor for implementing a method in any of the above method embodiments.

As a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory. The memory is used to store necessary computer programs and data. The computer program may include instructions, and the processor may call the instructions in the computer program stored in the memory to instruct the communication device to execute the method in any of the above method embodiments. Of course, the memory may not be in the communication device.

As another possible implementation, the communication device also includes an interface circuit, which is a code/data read/write interface circuit, which is used to receive computer execution instructions (computer execution instructions are stored in a memory, may be read directly from the memory, or may pass through other devices) and transmit them to the processor.

As another possible implementation manner, the communication device further includes a communication interface, and the communication interface is used to communicate with a module outside the communication device.

It can be understood that the communication device can be a chip or a chip system. When the communication device is a chip system, it can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium on which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a computer, the functions of any of the above method embodiments are implemented.

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

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, for the sake of convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above may refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

It is understood that the systems, devices and methods described in the present application can also be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, i.e., they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed over multiple network units. The components shown as units may or may not be physical 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 into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, 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 instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may 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 may be any available medium that a computer can access or may contain one or more servers, data centers and other data storage devices that can be integrated with the medium. 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 DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid state disk (SSD)), etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the computer may include the aforementioned device.

Although the present application is described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, in the process of implementing the present application for which protection is sought, those skilled in the art may understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments by reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "one" or "an" does not exclude multiple components. A single processor or other unit may implement several functions listed in a claim. Certain measures are recorded in mutually different dependent claims. But that doesn’t mean these measures can’t be combined to good effect.

Although the present application has been described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments thereof, it is obvious that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are merely exemplary illustrations of the present application as defined by the appended claims, and are deemed to have covered any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents within the scope of the present application. Obviously, a person skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims (20)

A communication method, characterized in that the method comprises: Obtain a first offset value, where the first offset value is a dedicated offset value for a first type of terminal device; When the first difference is less than the first threshold, and/or the second difference is less than the first threshold, sending first information to the first network device; Among them, the first difference is the difference between the cell selection reception level value Srxlev of the first cell and the first offset value, and the second difference is the difference between the cell selection quality value Squal of the first cell and the first offset value; the first information indicates that the first network device repeatedly sends message 4Msg4 or message BMsgB in the random access process, and the first network device is the network device to which the first cell belongs. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that obtaining the first offset value comprises: System information of the first cell is received from the first network device, where the system information includes the first offset value. The method according to claim 1 or 2 is characterized in that the first threshold is carried in the system information of the first cell. The method according to any one of claims 1-3 is characterized in that the first information is carried in any one of message 1Msg1, message 3Msg3 and message AMsgA of the random access process. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the method further comprises: Receive at least one of the Msg4 or at least one of the MsgB from the first network device. A communication method, characterized in that the method comprises: Receiving first information from a terminal device, wherein the first information instructs the first network device to repeatedly send message 4Msg4 or message BMsgB in a random access process; Send at least one of the Msg4 or at least one of the MsgB to the terminal device. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the method further comprises: A first offset value is sent to the terminal device, where the first offset value is a dedicated offset value for a first type of terminal device, and the terminal device is a first type of terminal device. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the sending the first offset value to the terminal device comprises: System information of a first cell is sent to the terminal device, where the system information of the first cell includes the first offset value, and the first network device is a network device to which the first cell belongs. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8 is characterized in that the first information is carried in any one of message 1Msg1, message 3Msg3 and message AMsgA of the random access process. A communication method, characterized in that the method comprises: Receive system information of a second cell from a second network device, the system information indicating whether the second cell supports access of second-category terminal devices, and/or the system information further indicates a carrier bandwidth of the second cell, the maximum bandwidth supported by the second-category terminal devices is greater than or equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first-category terminal devices, and the terminal device is a first-category terminal device; when the second cell supports access of the second-category terminal devices, and/or the carrier bandwidth is less than or equal to a second threshold, initiate random access in the second cell, the second threshold being the maximum bandwidth supported by the first-category terminal devices. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the initiating random access in the second cell comprises: Send second information to the second network device, where the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device is the second type of terminal device. The method according to claim 11 is characterized in that, when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment, random access is initiated in the second cell, including: when the second cell supports access of the second type of terminal equipment and the baseband processing bandwidth of the terminal equipment is less than or equal to the second threshold, random access is initiated in the second cell. The method according to claim 11 or 12 is characterized in that the second information is carried in any one of message 1Msg1, message 3Msg3 and message AMsgA of the random access process. A communication method, characterized in that the method comprises: Determine capability information of a terminal device, where the terminal device is a first-category terminal device, and the capability information indicates that the terminal device can operate in a second-category cell, and the second-category cell supports access by second-category terminal devices; and the carrier bandwidth of the second-category cell is less than or equal to the maximum bandwidth supported by the first-category terminal device; The capability information is sent to the third network device. The method according to claim 14 is characterized in that the capability information includes a first parameter, and the first parameter is greater than or equal to a third threshold. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that after sending the capability information to the third network device, The method further comprises: receiving information about a fourth cell from the third network device, where the fourth cell is a cell of the second type and the fourth cell allows the terminal device to access; Cell switching is performed according to the information of the fourth cell. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the first parameter is the maximum number of supported layers Modulation order The product of the scaling factors f ^(j) . A communication device, characterized in that the communication device includes a processor; the processor is used to run a computer program or instruction so that the communication device executes the method described in any one of claims 1 to 5, or so that the communication device executes the method described in any one of claims 6 to 9, or so that the communication device executes the method described in any one of claims 10 to 13, or so that the communication device executes the method described in any one of claims 14 to 17. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions or programs, and when the computer instructions or programs are run on a computer, the method described in any one of claims 1 to 5 is executed, or the method described in any one of claims 6 to 9 is executed, or the method described in any one of claims 10 to 13 is executed, or the method described in any one of claims 14 to 17 is executed. A computer program product, characterized in that the computer program product includes computer instructions; when part or all of the computer instructions are run on a computer, the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 5 is executed, or the method as described in any one of claims 6 to 9 is executed, or the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 13 is executed, or the method as described in any one of claims 14 to 17 is executed.