WO2025241978A1 - Communication method and related apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication method and a related apparatus. In the method, a first terminal device can determine, on the basis of first visibility information, the remaining service duration of a network device, which corresponds to an RS for beam failure detection, for providing services to the first terminal device, wherein the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure. In other words, visibility information at a regional granularity or visibility information at a terminal device granularity can be used for determining the remaining service duration of the network device, and the remaining service duration can be used for beam failure recovery. By means of the method, a terminal device can perform beam failure recovery on the basis of visibility information at a regional granularity or visibility information at a terminal device granularity, so that situations of beam failure recovery being frequently triggered due to signal blockage of a network device can be avoided or reduced, and thus the efficiency of beam management can be improved.

Description

A communication method and related apparatus

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410645193.X, filed on May 22, 2024, entitled "A Communication Method and Related Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and related apparatus.

Background Technology

Wireless communication can be a transmission communication between two or more communication nodes that does not propagate through conductors or cables. These communication nodes typically include network devices and terminal devices. Traditional network devices can be fixed to a location on the ground, such as the terrestrial base station belonging to a terrestrial network (TN) cell. The beam management process of a TN cell (e.g., determining whether a beam failure event has occurred, and selecting a target beam from multiple candidate beams) is based on the signal reception strength of the signal received by the terminal device from the network device.

With the development of communication technology, network equipment may not be fixed in a certain place on the ground. For example, the network equipment may be a high-speed mobile device belonging to a non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell, including but not limited to satellite equipment such as low-Earth orbit satellites, medium-Earth orbit satellites, and high-Earth orbit satellites.

However, unlike the ground base stations to which TN cells belong, the satellite equipment to which NTN cells belong may move at high speeds. At a certain moment, the reference signal reception strength of an NTN cell is strong, but this does not mean that the reference signal reception strength of the NTN cell will remain strong at one or more subsequent moments. This makes the beam management process of TN cells no longer applicable.

Summary of the Invention

This application provides a communication method and related equipment for improving beam management efficiency.

This application provides a communication method applicable to a terminal device, for example, executed by the terminal device, or executed by a component (e.g., processor, circuit, chip, or chip system) in the terminal device, or executed by a logic module or software implementing all or part of the terminal device's functions. For ease of explanation, this application uses a first terminal device as an example. In this method, the first terminal device acquires first visibility information, which indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device; based on the first visibility information, the first terminal device determines the remaining service duration for the network device corresponding to a first reference signal (RS) to provide services to the first terminal device; wherein the first RS is an RS used for beam failure detection (BFD), and the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure.

Based on the above scheme, the first visibility information acquired by the first terminal device is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a specific terminal device. This specific terminal device may include any terminal device located within a first geographical area, or the first terminal device itself. Subsequently, the first terminal device can determine, based on the first visibility information, the remaining service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure detection, and this remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure. In other words, visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level can be used to determine the remaining service duration of the network device, and this remaining service duration can be used for beam failure recovery. In this way, the terminal device can perform beam failure recovery based on visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level, which can avoid or reduce the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal obstruction of the network device, thereby improving beam management efficiency.

It should be understood that the network device corresponding to an RS can be understood as the network device that provides or transmits the RS. Optionally, the resources of the RS can be configured by the network device itself or by other network devices; this is not limited here.

It should be understood that region-level visibility information refers to the visibility information configured for each region in one or more regions, while terminal device-level visibility information refers to the visibility information configured for each terminal device in one or more terminal devices.

It should be noted that visibility information indicates the degree of obstruction in the transmission path of signals between network devices and terminal devices, and this obstruction reflects the communication quality. In particular, because NTN communication has a relatively small incident spread angle, signal obstruction between the network device corresponding to the NTN cell and the terminal device located on the ground has a significant impact on signal transmission quality. Therefore, the communication device can use visibility information to determine (or select) one or more network devices with higher communication quality for communication with the terminal device, thereby improving communication efficiency. This can be achieved, for example, through one or more of the following examples.

For example, terminal devices can select network devices that are not blocked (or have only minor blockage) based on signal obstruction, which can reduce unnecessary switching and reselection and improve communication efficiency.

For example, terminal devices or network devices can predict the timing of signal interruptions based on signal obstruction and prepare/switch to network devices with higher communication quality in advance to improve communication efficiency.

For example, terminal devices can communicate with network devices of higher quality at reasonable locations and/or in appropriate postures based on signal obstruction, which can improve the success rate of signal transmission and thus enhance communication efficiency.

For example, terminal devices can select unobstructed (or less obstructed) network devices for positioning based on signal obstruction, which can improve positioning accuracy and enable related communication services through higher positioning accuracy, thereby improving communication efficiency.

In this application, visibility information can be replaced with other terms, such as visibility information of NTN communication, occlusion information, occlusion information of NTN communication, NTN transmission environment information, long-term link quality information, or NTN transmission path information, etc.

For example, the visibility information includes any of the following:

Information 1 indicates that the transmission path of the communication signal is a visible path;

Information 2 indicates that the transmission path of the communication signal is an invisible path;

Information 3 indicates that the transmission path of the communication signal is a line-of-sight (LOS) path; or

Information 4 indicates that the transmission path of the communication signal is a non-line of sight (NLOS) path.

Optionally, generally speaking, the fewer obstructions on the communication path between two communication devices, the higher the communication quality between them; conversely, the more obstructions on the communication path between two communication devices, the lower the communication quality. Therefore, the order of the four communication qualities indicated by the above four indications from high to low can be: communication quality indicated by information 1 (or communication quality indicated by information 2), communication quality indicated by information 3, and communication quality indicated by information 4.

Optionally, the communication quality indicated by the visibility information can be the expected, anticipated, or predicted communication quality. That is, the visibility information is used to indicate the expected, anticipated, or predicted communication quality between network devices located within that spatial angular range and terminal devices located within that geographical area.

Optionally, the first terminal device can obtain the first visibility information in various ways. For example, the first terminal device can obtain the first visibility information based on instructions from other devices (such as terminal devices, network devices, etc.), which can reduce implementation complexity. Alternatively, the first terminal device can determine the first visibility information through information obtained by its own information acquisition module (such as a camera, microphone, antenna, radar, sensor, etc.).

Optionally, visibility information may carry an identifier of a region or an identifier of a terminal device. For example, if the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical region, and the terminal device located within the first geographical region includes the first terminal device, then the first visibility information may include an identifier of the first geographical region; in this case, the visibility information can be understood as region-level visibility information. As another example, if the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a first terminal device, then the first visibility information may include an identifier of the first terminal device; in this case, the visibility information can be understood as terminal device-level visibility information.

It should be noted that the remaining service duration of a network device providing services to a terminal device can be understood as the time interval between the current time and the time when the network device stops providing services to the terminal device, or the time interval between the start time and the end time of the network device providing services to the terminal device, or the time interval between the end time and the latest time when the measurement was started.

Optionally, the termination time of the network device's service to the terminal device can also be understood as the cutoff time of the network device's service to the terminal device, that is, the network device will stop (or suspend) the service provided to the terminal device at the cutoff time.

Optionally, the remaining service duration can be replaced with other terms, such as remaining serviceable duration, remaining available duration, remaining communication duration, or remaining communication duration.

In the above scheme, the first terminal device can determine the remaining service duration of the network device corresponding to the first RS to provide services to the first terminal device based on the first visibility information. It can be understood that the visibility information can be used to determine the remaining service duration.

For example, first visibility information can be used to select/determine a first time period, wherein the first time period may include one or more visible time periods, or one or more time periods indicated by the visibility information with communication quality better than a threshold (i.e., excluding a second time period, which may include invisible time periods, or time periods indicated by the visibility information with poor communication quality). Furthermore, within this first time period, the total duration of time periods satisfying one or more of the following conditions, starting from the current time, can be the remaining service duration:

Condition 1. The duration during which the expected elevation angle is greater than the elevation angle threshold;

Condition 2. The duration for which the expected signal reception strength is greater than the threshold;

Condition 3. The expected channel transmission loss (which can be determined based on parameters such as the relative position, distance, and frequency between the terminal device and the network device) is less than the threshold for a certain duration.

It is understood that the parameters involved in conditions 1 to 3 above (such as the expected elevation angle, expected signal reception strength, expected channel transmission loss, etc.) can be determined based on the ephemeris information of the network device. During the time period in which one or more of the above conditions are met, the network device can provide services (or provide better services) to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the remaining service duration for the network device to provide services to the terminal device can be determined based on one or more of the above conditions.

It should be noted that the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure. This can be understood as: the remaining service duration is used for preemptive recovery before beam failure; or, it can be understood as: the remaining service duration can be used to determine whether the current beam (i.e., the beam corresponding to the first RS) is about to fail; or, the remaining service duration can be a period of time before the network device terminates its service to the terminal device. In other words, the remaining service duration for beam failure recovery can be replaced by: the remaining service duration being used for beam failure determination, determining whether a beam is about to fail, triggering beam failure recovery, or determining whether a beam failure event has occurred, etc.

In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving second configuration information, the second configuration information being used to configure the first RS.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can receive the first RS for beam failure detection based on the configuration of the network device, so that the terminal device can realize the beam failure detection process based on the configuration of the network device.

In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving indication information for indicating a first threshold; wherein the remaining service duration and the first threshold are used for beam failure recovery.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can receive indication information for indicating the first threshold, so that the first terminal device can perform beam failure recovery based on the remaining service time and the first threshold.

Optionally, the first threshold can be pre-configured by the standard/protocol.

In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: if the remaining service duration is less than or equal to the first threshold, the first terminal device sends a beam recovery request message.

Based on the above scheme, if the remaining service time is less than or equal to the first threshold, the first terminal device can determine that the beam corresponding to the first RS is about to fail or has already failed (or the service provided by the network device corresponding to the first RS to the first terminal device is about to fail or has already failed). To this end, the first terminal device can send a beam recovery request message to restore the communication beam.

Optionally, the beam recovery request information may include information sent by the terminal device during the beam failure recovery (BFR) process, such as a link recovery request (LRR), a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) sending an indication of BFR, or a random access request.

In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving first configuration information, the first configuration information being used to configure L RSs, where N is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection (CBD); wherein the beam recovery request information is associated with a second RS, the second RS being an RS used for beam fault recovery; the second RS being an RS determined from the L RSs based on the first visibility information.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can also receive first configuration information for configuring L RSs for candidate beam detection, and the first terminal device can determine a second RS from the L RSs based on the first visibility information. In other words, visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level can be used to determine the RS for beam failure recovery. In this way, the terminal device can select/determine the target beam based on visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level (i.e., select/determine the RS for beam failure recovery from one or more RSs for candidate beam detection), which can avoid or reduce the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal blockage of network devices, and improve beam management efficiency.

It should be understood that the beam recovery request information is associated with the second RS, which can be understood as the second RS being used to determine the beam recovery request information. For example, the terminal device can send the beam recovery request information based on the second RS.

In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving first indication information, the first indication information indicating that the RS for beam fault recovery meets a first condition, the first condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the other RSs.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative overpass service time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the cumulative overpass service time of the network devices corresponding to the other RSs; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative over-the-top service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS for beam fault recovery from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, based on the instructions of the network device.

Optionally, the first condition can be pre-configured by the standard/protocol.

Optionally, the first indication information and the first configuration information may be carried in the same message/signaling, or the first indication information and the second configuration information described below may be carried in the same message/signaling.

It should be noted that the service duration can be determined based on the first visibility information. For example, for a first terminal device, the service duration for which the network device provides services to the first terminal device can be understood as the time interval between the start and end times during the process in which the first visibility information indicates that the network device is visible to the first terminal device (or the first visibility information indicates that the communication quality of the network device providing services to the first terminal device is better than a threshold).

Accordingly, the first terminal device can determine the serviceable duration for a network device corresponding to an RS to provide services to the first terminal device based on the first visibility information. For example, the first visibility information can be used to select/determine a third time period, wherein the third time period may include one or more visible time periods, or one or more time periods whose communication quality indicated by the visibility information is better than a threshold (i.e., excluding a fourth time period, which may include invisible time periods, or time periods whose communication quality indicated by the visibility information is poor). In addition, within the third time period, the total duration of time periods that satisfy one or more conditions can be the serviceable duration, and the one or more conditions may include one or more of conditions 1 to 3 described above.

Optionally, service duration can be replaced with other terms, such as effective service time, effective service duration, effective communication duration, or effective communication duration.

Similarly, the cumulative overpass service duration can be determined based on the first visibility information. For example, for a first terminal device, the cumulative overpass service duration for which the network device provides services to the first terminal device can be understood as the total duration of one or more time periods (optionally, different time periods may be discontinuous) included in the process of the network device being overpassed relative to the first terminal device, as indicated by the first visibility information.

Accordingly, the first terminal device can determine the cumulative overpass service duration for a network device corresponding to an RS to provide services to the first terminal device based on the first visibility information. For example, the first visibility information can be used to select/determine a fifth time period, wherein the fifth time period can include a fifth time period in which the network device is in the process of overpassing relative to the first terminal device, and the total duration of one or more time periods included in the fifth time period (optionally, different time periods may be discontinuous). In addition, within the fifth time period, the total duration of time periods that satisfy one or more conditions can be the cumulative overpass service duration, and the one or more conditions may include one or more of conditions 1 to 3 described above.

Optionally, the cumulative service duration over the top can be replaced with other terms, such as cumulative service time over the top, cumulative effective service duration over the top, cumulative communication duration over the top, or cumulative communicable duration over the top.

In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving second indication information, the second indication information indicating that the RS for beam failure recovery meets a second condition, the second condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the expected signal strength of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold when the network device is located in the spatial angle region over the first terminal device; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the signal strength of the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS with the stronger expected signal strength from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection as the RS for beam fault recovery based on the instructions of the network device, thereby improving the communication quality of communication based on the RS used for beam fault recovery.

It should be noted that the expected signal strength can be determined based on the first visibility information. For example, for a first terminal device, the expected signal strength of the signal sent by the network device to the first terminal device can be understood as the expected signal strength of the signal sent by the network device to the terminal device at a certain time in the future (or a certain time period), or the strength of the signal received by the terminal device at a certain time in the future.

For example, the first terminal device can determine, based on the first visibility information, that a network device and the first terminal device will be visible to each other at a future time (or a certain time period) (or, the communication quality indicated by the first visibility information is better than a threshold). Furthermore, the first terminal device can receive a first signal strength of the network device's signal at the current time (or a historical time), and correspondingly, the first terminal device can predict a second signal strength of the network device at the aforementioned future time (or a certain time period) based on the first signal strength, i.e., the second signal strength is the expected signal strength.

Optionally, in the process of the first terminal device predicting the second signal strength based on the first signal strength, the basis for the prediction may include the aforementioned first visibility information, the path loss change information between the network device and the first terminal device (e.g., determined by the relative position between the network device and the first terminal device), the equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) information of the satellite where the network device is located, etc.

Optionally, the above signal strength can be the reference signal receiving power (RSRP).

Optionally, the signal strength mentioned above can be replaced with other parameters used to characterize signal reception quality, such as reference signal receiving quality (RSRQ).

In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the L RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving third indication information, the third indication information indicating at least one of the following:

In this group of K RSs, the RSs used for beam failure recovery and the RSs used for beam failure detection are different RSs within the same group, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold.

In the K groups of RSs, if the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to other RSs in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection is less than the threshold, then the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are RSs in different groups, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold; or

In the K groups of RSs, if the available service time or the cumulative available service time of the network device corresponding to any RS is less than the threshold, the RS used for beam failure recovery is the RS corresponding to the network device with the longest available service time or the longest cumulative available service time.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can, based on the instructions of the network device, prioritize selecting/determining the RS for beam failure recovery from the RS for candidate beam detection in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection. Since different network devices corresponding to different RSs in the same group may be related, in this way, the terminal device is enabled to perform recovery operations between satellite beams that are easy to establish inter-satellite links, thereby reducing inter-satellite interaction overhead.

Optionally, the one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; different RSs within the same group of the K groups of RSs can be correlated, for example, the K groups of RSs satisfy any of the following:

Within these K groups of RSs, the network devices corresponding to different RSs within the same group have the same track, while the network devices corresponding to RSs in different groups have different tracks.

Within these K groups of RSs, the network device trajectories corresponding to different RSs within the same group are the same, while the network device trajectories corresponding to RSs in different groups are different; or

In the K groups of RS, the distance between network devices corresponding to different RS within the same group is less than the threshold, while the distance between network devices corresponding to RS in different groups is greater than the threshold.

A second aspect of this application provides a communication method applicable to a network device, for example, executed by the network device, or executed by a component (e.g., processor, circuit, chip, or chip system) of the network device, or executed by a logic module or software implementing all or part of the functions of the network device. For ease of explanation, this application uses a network device as an example. In this method, the network device determines a first RS (Signal Range), which is used for beam failure detection; wherein, first visibility information is used to determine the remaining service duration for the network device corresponding to the first RS to provide services to the first terminal device, the first RS being the RS used for beam failure detection, and the remaining service duration being used for beam recovery before beam failure; wherein, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, the terminal device located within the first geographical area including the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device; the network device transmits the first RS.

Based on the above scheme, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a specific terminal device. The specific terminal device may include any terminal device located within a first geographical area, or the first terminal device itself. Furthermore, after the network device sends the first RS (Real Signal) following beam failure detection, the first terminal device can determine the remaining service duration of the network device corresponding to the first RS to provide service to the first terminal device based on the first visibility information. This remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure. In other words, visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level can be used to determine the remaining service duration of the network device, which can be used for beam failure recovery. In this way, the terminal device can perform beam failure recovery based on visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level, avoiding or reducing the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal obstruction of the network device, thus improving beam management efficiency.

In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes: the network device sending second configuration information for configuring the first RS.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can receive the first RS for beam failure detection based on the configuration of the network device, so that the terminal device can realize the beam failure detection process based on the configuration of the network device.

In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes: the network device sending indication information for indicating a first threshold; wherein the remaining service duration and the first threshold are used for beam failure recovery.

Based on the above scheme, the network device can send indication information to the first terminal device to indicate the first threshold, so that the first terminal device can perform beam failure recovery based on the remaining service time and the first threshold.

In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes: the network device sending first configuration information for configuring L RSs, where N is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; wherein the beam recovery request information corresponding to the beam failure recovery is associated with a second RS, the second RS being an RS used for beam failure recovery; the second RS is an RS determined among the L RSs based on the first visibility information.

Based on the above scheme, the network device can also send first configuration information for configuring L RSs for candidate beam detection to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device can determine a second RS from the L RSs based on the first visibility information. In other words, visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level can be used to determine the RS for beam failure recovery. In this way, the terminal device can select/determine the target beam based on visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level (i.e., select/determine the RS for beam failure recovery from one or more RSs for candidate beam detection), which can avoid or reduce the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal blockage of the network device, and improve beam management efficiency.

In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes: the network device sending first indication information, the first indication information indicating that the RS for beam fault recovery meets a first condition, the first condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the other RSs.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative overpass service time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the cumulative overpass service time of the network devices corresponding to the other RSs; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative over-the-top service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS for beam fault recovery from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, based on the instructions of the network device.

In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes: the network device sending second indication information indicating that the RS used for beam failure recovery meets a second condition, the second condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the expected signal strength of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold when the network device is located in the spatial angle region over the first terminal device; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the signal strength of the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS with the stronger expected signal strength from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection as the RS for beam fault recovery based on the instructions of the network device, thereby improving the communication quality of communication based on the RS used for beam fault recovery.

In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the L RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the method further includes: the network device sending third indication information, the third indication information indicating at least one of the following:

In this group of K RSs, the RSs used for beam failure recovery and the RSs used for beam failure detection are different RSs within the same group, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold.

In the K groups of RSs, if the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to other RSs in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection is less than the threshold, then the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are RSs in different groups, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold; or

In the K groups of RSs, if the available service time or the cumulative available service time of the network device corresponding to any RS is less than the threshold, the RS used for beam failure recovery is the RS corresponding to the network device with the longest available service time or the longest cumulative available service time.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can, based on the instructions of the network device, prioritize selecting/determining the RS for beam failure recovery from the RS for candidate beam detection in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection. Since different network devices corresponding to different RSs in the same group may be related, in this way, the terminal device is enabled to perform recovery operations between satellite beams that are easy to establish inter-satellite links, thereby reducing inter-satellite interaction overhead.

Optionally, the one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the K groups of RSs satisfy any of the following:

Within these K groups of RSs, the network devices corresponding to different RSs within the same group have the same track, while the network devices corresponding to RSs in different groups have different tracks.

Within these K groups of RSs, the network device trajectories corresponding to different RSs within the same group are the same, while the network device trajectories corresponding to RSs in different groups are different; or

In the K groups of RS, the distance between network devices corresponding to different RS within the same group is less than the threshold, while the distance between network devices corresponding to RS in different groups is greater than the threshold.

A third aspect of this application provides a communication method applicable to a terminal device, for example, executed by the terminal device, or executed by a component (e.g., a processor, circuit, chip, or chip system) in the terminal device, or executed by a logic module or software implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. For ease of explanation, this application uses a first terminal device as an example. In this method, the first terminal device acquires first visibility information, which indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device; the first terminal device receives first configuration information, which configures L RSs, where N is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; based on the first visibility information, the first terminal device determines a second RS from the L RSs, the second RS being an RS used for beam fault recovery.

Based on the above scheme, the first visibility information acquired by the first terminal device is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a specific terminal device. This specific terminal device may include any terminal device located within a first geographical area, or the first terminal device itself. Subsequently, the first terminal device can determine a second RS among the L RSs based on the first visibility information. In other words, visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level can be used to determine the RS for beam failure recovery. In this way, the terminal device can select/determine the target beam based on visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level (i.e., select/determine the RS for beam failure recovery from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection), which can avoid or reduce the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal blockage of network devices, thereby improving beam management efficiency.

In one possible implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving first indication information, the first indication information indicating that the RS for beam fault recovery meets a first condition, the first condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the other RSs.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative overpass service time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the cumulative overpass service time of the network devices corresponding to the other RSs; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative over-the-top service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS for beam fault recovery from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, based on the instructions of the network device.

In one possible implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving second indication information, the second indication information indicating that the RS for beam failure recovery meets a second condition, the second condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the expected signal strength of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold when the network device is located in the spatial angle region over the first terminal device; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the signal strength of the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS with the stronger expected signal strength from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection as the RS for beam fault recovery based on the instructions of the network device, thereby improving the communication quality of communication based on the RS used for beam fault recovery.

In one possible implementation of the third aspect, the L RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving third indication information, the third indication information indicating at least one of the following:

In this group of K RSs, the RSs used for beam failure recovery and the RSs used for beam failure detection are different RSs within the same group, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold.

In the K groups of RSs, if the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to other RSs in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection is less than the threshold, then the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are RSs in different groups, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold; or

In the K groups of RSs, if the available service time or the cumulative available service time of the network device corresponding to any RS is less than the threshold, the RS used for beam failure recovery is the RS corresponding to the network device with the longest available service time or the longest cumulative available service time.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can, based on the instructions of the network device, prioritize selecting/determining the RS for beam failure recovery from the RS for candidate beam detection in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection. Since different network devices corresponding to different RSs in the same group may be related, in this way, the terminal device is enabled to perform recovery operations between satellite beams that are easy to establish inter-satellite links, thereby reducing inter-satellite interaction overhead.

Optionally, the one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the K groups of RSs satisfy any of the following:

Within these K groups of RSs, the network devices corresponding to different RSs within the same group have the same track, while the network devices corresponding to RSs in different groups have different tracks.

Within these K groups of RSs, the network device trajectories corresponding to different RSs within the same group are the same, while the network device trajectories corresponding to RSs in different groups are different; or

In the K groups of RS, the distance between network devices corresponding to different RS within the same group is less than the threshold, while the distance between network devices corresponding to RS in different groups is greater than the threshold.

A fourth aspect of this application provides a communication method applicable to a network device, for example, executed by the network device, or executed by a component (e.g., a processor, circuit, chip, or chip system) of the network device, or executed by a logic module or software implementing all or part of the functions of the network device. For ease of explanation, this application uses a network device as an example. In this method, the network device determines first configuration information, which is used to configure L RSs, where N is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; the network device transmits the first configuration information; wherein first visibility information is used to determine a second RS among the L RSs, the second RS being an RS used for beam fault recovery; the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, the terminal device located within the first geographical area including the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a first terminal device.

Based on the above scheme, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a specific terminal device. This specific terminal device may include any terminal device located within a first geographical area, or the first terminal device itself. Furthermore, after the network device sends L RSs for candidate beam detection, the first terminal device can determine a second RS from among these L RSs based on the first visibility information. In other words, visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level can be used to determine the RS for beam failure recovery. In this way, the terminal device can select/determine the target beam based on the visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level (i.e., select/determine the RS for beam failure recovery from one or more RSs for candidate beam detection), which can avoid or reduce the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal blockage of the network device, thereby improving beam management efficiency.

In one possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: the network device sending first indication information, the first indication information indicating that the RS for beam fault recovery meets a first condition, the first condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the other RSs.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative overpass service time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the cumulative overpass service time of the network devices corresponding to the other RSs; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative over-the-top service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS for beam fault recovery from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, based on the instructions of the network device.

In one possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: the network device sending second indication information indicating that the RS used for beam failure recovery meets a second condition, the second condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the expected signal strength of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold when the network device is located in the spatial angle region over the first terminal device; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the signal strength of the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS with the stronger expected signal strength from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection as the RS for beam fault recovery based on the instructions of the network device, thereby improving the communication quality of communication based on the RS used for beam fault recovery.

In one possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the L RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the method further includes: the network device sending third indication information, the third indication information indicating at least one of the following:

In this group of K RSs, the RSs used for beam failure recovery and the RSs used for beam failure detection are different RSs within the same group, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold.

In the K groups of RSs, if the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to other RSs in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection is less than the threshold, then the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are RSs in different groups, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold; or

In the K groups of RSs, if the available service time or the cumulative available service time of the network device corresponding to any RS is less than the threshold, the RS used for beam failure recovery is the RS corresponding to the network device with the longest available service time or the longest cumulative available service time.

Based on the above scheme, the first terminal device can, based on the instructions of the network device, prioritize selecting/determining the RS for beam failure recovery from the RS for candidate beam detection in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection. Since different network devices corresponding to different RSs in the same group may be related, in this way, the terminal device is enabled to perform recovery operations between satellite beams that are easy to establish inter-satellite links, thereby reducing inter-satellite interaction overhead.

Optionally, the one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the K groups of RSs satisfy any of the following:

Within these K groups of RSs, the network devices corresponding to different RSs within the same group have the same track, while the network devices corresponding to RSs in different groups have different tracks.

Within these K groups of RSs, the network device trajectories corresponding to different RSs within the same group are the same, while the network device trajectories corresponding to RSs in different groups are different; or

In the K groups of RS, the distance between network devices corresponding to different RS within the same group is less than the threshold, while the distance between network devices corresponding to RS in different groups is greater than the threshold.

The fifth aspect of this application provides a communication device, which is a terminal device, or a component of a terminal device (e.g., a processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. In this fifth aspect and its possible implementations, the example of the communication device being executed by a terminal device will be used for illustration.

The device includes a processing unit; the processing unit is configured to acquire first visibility information, which indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device; the processing unit is further configured to determine, based on the first visibility information, the remaining service duration for the network device corresponding to a first reference signal (RS) to provide services to the first terminal device; wherein the first RS is an RS used for beam failure detection (BFD), and the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure.

In the fifth aspect of this application, the constituent modules of the communication device can also be used to perform the steps executed in various possible implementations of the first aspect and achieve the corresponding technical effects. For details, please refer to the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

The sixth aspect of this application provides a communication device that is a network device, or a component of a network device (e.g., a processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of a network device. In the sixth aspect and its possible implementations, the example of the communication device being a network device is described.

The device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit. The processing unit is used to determine a first RS (Real Signal), which is used for beam failure detection. First visibility information is used to determine the remaining service duration of the network device corresponding to the first RS to provide services to the first terminal device. The first RS is an RS used for beam failure detection, and the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure. The first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, where the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device. Alternatively, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device. The transceiver unit is used to transmit the first RS.

In the sixth aspect of this application, the constituent modules of the communication device can also be used to perform the steps executed in various possible implementations of the second aspect and achieve the corresponding technical effects. For details, please refer to the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

The seventh aspect of this application provides a communication device, which is a terminal device, or a component of a terminal device (e.g., a processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. In the seventh aspect and its possible implementations, the example of the communication device being executed by a terminal device is described.

The device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit. The processing unit is configured to acquire first visibility information, which indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device. The transceiver unit is configured to receive first configuration information, which configures L RSs, where N is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection. The processing unit is further configured to determine a second RS among the L RSs based on the first visibility information, wherein the second RS is an RS used for beam fault recovery.

In the seventh aspect of this application, the constituent modules of the communication device can also be used to perform the steps executed in various possible implementations of the third aspect and achieve the corresponding technical effects. For details, please refer to the third aspect, which will not be repeated here.

The eighth aspect of this application provides a communication device that is a network device, or a component of a network device (e.g., a processor, circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of a network device. In the eighth aspect and its possible implementations, the example of the communication device being a network device is described.

The device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit; the processing unit is used to determine first configuration information, which configures L RSs, where L is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; the transceiver unit is used to transmit the first configuration information; wherein first visibility information is used to determine a second RS among the L RSs, the second RS being an RS used for beam fault recovery; the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, the terminal device located within the first geographical area including the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a first terminal device.

In the eighth aspect of this application, the constituent modules of the communication device can also be used to perform the steps executed in various possible implementations of the fourth aspect and achieve the corresponding technical effects. For details, please refer to the fourth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

The ninth aspect of this application provides a communication device including at least one processor coupled to at least one memory; the at least one memory is used to store a program or instructions; the at least one processor is used to execute the program or instructions to enable the device to implement the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first to fourth aspects.

The tenth aspect of this application provides a communication device including at least one logic circuit and an input/output interface; the logic circuit is used to perform the method described in any of the possible implementations of the first to fourth aspects described above.

The eleventh aspect of this application provides a communication system, which includes the aforementioned terminal equipment and network equipment.

The twelfth aspect of this application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, perform the method as described in any possible implementation of any of the first to fourth aspects described above.

The thirteenth aspect of this application provides a computer program product (or computer program) that, when executed by a processor, performs the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first to fourth aspects described above.

The fourteenth aspect of this application provides a chip or chip system including at least one processor for supporting a communication device in implementing the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first to fourth aspects.

In one possible design, the chip or chip system may further include at least one memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. The chip or chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices. Optionally, the chip or chip system may also include interface circuitry that provides program instructions and/or data to the at least one processor.

The technical effects of any of the design methods in aspects five through fourteen can be found in the technical effects of the different design methods in aspects one through four above, and will not be repeated here.

Attached Figure Description

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the communication system provided in this application;

Figures 2a to 2d are some schematic diagrams of the satellite communication process provided in this application;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the satellite communication process in the 5G system provided in this application;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the communication method provided in this application;

Figures 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams illustrating some applications of the communication method provided in this application;

Figure 7 is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided in this application;

Figures 8 to 11 are some schematic diagrams of the communication device provided in this application.

Detailed Implementation

First, some terms used in the embodiments of this application will be explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

(1) Terminal device: can be a wireless terminal device that can receive network device scheduling and instruction information. The wireless terminal device can be a device that provides voice and/or data connectivity to the user, or a handheld device with wireless connection function, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem.

Terminal devices can be various communication kits with wireless communication capabilities (kits may include, for example, antennas, power supply modules, cables, and Wi-Fi modules). Terminal devices can also be communication modules with satellite communication capabilities, satellite phones or components thereof, and very small aperture terminals (VSATs). Terminal devices can be mobile terminal devices, such as mobile phones (or "cellular" phones), computers, and data cards. For example, they can be portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-embedded, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices that exchange voice and/or data with a wireless access network. Examples include personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablets, and computers with wireless transceiver capabilities. Wireless terminal equipment can also be referred to as a system, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station (MS), remote station, access point (AP), remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, user agent, subscriber station (SS), customer premises equipment (CPE), terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile terminal (MT), drone, etc. Terminal equipment can also be wearable devices and next-generation communication systems, such as terminal equipment in 6G communication systems or terminal equipment in future public land mobile networks (PLMNs). Of course, the terminal device in this application may also refer to a chip, modem, system-on-a-chip (SoC) or communication platform that may include radio frequency (RF) components, etc., that is mainly responsible for related communication functions.

(2) Network equipment: This can be equipment in a wireless network. For example, network equipment can be a RAN node (or device) that connects terminal devices to the wireless network, and can also be called a base station. Currently, some examples of RAN equipment include: base station, evolved NodeB (eNodeB), gNB (gNodeB) in 5G communication systems, transmission reception point (TRP), evolved Node B (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), Node B (NB), home base station (e.g., home evolved Node B, or home Node B, HNB), base band unit (BBU), or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point (AP), etc. In addition, in a network structure, network equipment can include centralized unit (CU) nodes, distributed unit (DU) nodes, or RAN equipment including CU nodes and DU nodes.

Optionally, RAN nodes can also be macro base stations, micro base stations or indoor stations, relay nodes or donor nodes, or radio controllers in cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenarios. RAN nodes can also be servers, wearable devices, vehicles, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, the access network equipment in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be a roadside unit (RSU).

In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, with each RAN node performing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs). CUs and DUs can be separate entities or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs).

In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an open access network (open RAN, O-RAN, or ORAN) system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

Communication between access network devices and terminal devices follows a specific protocol layer structure. This protocol layer may include a control plane protocol layer and a user plane protocol layer. The control plane protocol layer may include at least one of the following: radio resource control (RRC) layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, radio link control (RLC) layer, media access control (MAC) layer, or physical (PHY) layer, etc. The user plane protocol layer may include at least one of the following: service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, PDCP layer, RLC layer, MAC layer, or physical layer, etc.

The correspondence between network elements and their achievable protocol layer functions in the ORAN system can be found in Table 1 below.

Table 1

Network devices can be other devices that provide wireless communication functions for terminal devices. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or form of the network device. For ease of description, the embodiments of this application are not limited.

Network equipment may also include core network equipment, such as the Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Serving Gateway (S-GW), Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), and Public Data Network Gateway (PDN Gateway) in 4G networks; and access and mobility management function (AMF), user plane function (UPF), or session management function (SMF) in 5G networks. Furthermore, this core network equipment may also include other core network equipment in 5G networks and next-generation networks of 5G networks.

In this embodiment of the application, the network device mentioned above can also be a network node with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, which can provide AI services to terminals or other network devices. For example, it can be an AI node, computing power node, RAN node with AI capabilities, core network element with AI capabilities, etc. on the network side (access network or core network).

In this application embodiment, the device for implementing the function of the network device can be the network device itself, or it can be a device capable of supporting the network device in implementing that function, such as a chip system, which can be installed in the network device. In the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment, the example of a network device being used to implement the function of the network device is used to describe the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment.

(3) Configuration and Pre-configuration: In this application, both configuration and pre-configuration are used. Configuration refers to the network device sending configuration information or parameter values of some parameters to the terminal device through messages or signaling, so that the terminal device can determine the communication parameters or resources during transmission based on these values or information. Pre-configuration is similar to configuration; it can be parameter information or parameter values that the network device and the terminal device have negotiated in advance, or it can be parameter information or parameter values that the network device or the terminal device uses as specified by the standard protocol, or it can be parameter information or parameter values that are pre-stored in the network device or the terminal device. This application does not limit this.

Furthermore, these values and parameters can be changed or updated.

(4) The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of this application can be used interchangeably. "At least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And/or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and/or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, "at least one of A, B and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC. And, unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the order, sequence, priority or importance of multiple objects.

(5) In the embodiments of this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which may include sending directly through the air interface or sending indirectly through the air interface by other units or modules. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which may include receiving directly from YY through the air interface or receiving indirectly from YY through the air interface by other units or modules. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface.

In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via buses, wiring, or interfaces.

It is understandable that information may undergo necessary processing, such as encoding and modulation, between the source and destination, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar statements in this application can be interpreted in a similar way and will not be elaborated further.

(6) Geographical region. In the embodiments of this application, a geographic region may be replaced with a region. Herein, a region is fixed relative to the Earth, or it can be understood as a geographic area that is fixed relative to the Earth.

For example, a region may have at least one of the following attributes: shape, outline, size, radius, area, geographic location, etc. Furthermore, a "region" may also have an altitude attribute, meaning a region can be understood as a geographic area at a given altitude or within a given altitude range. For instance, a region may refer to a geographic area on the ground with an elevation of 0 km or within a range of 0 km ± 2 km, or a geographic area at a certain average altitude, or a geographic area at a specific altitude, such as an elevation of 10 km or within a range of 10 km ± 3 km.

Alternatively, the aforementioned region fixed relative to the Earth can also be referred to as a "wave position," "geographic region," etc. Of course, other names are also possible, and this application does not specifically limit the name of the region fixed relative to the Earth.

In one possible implementation, the shapes, outlines, sizes, radii, and areas of different regions may be the same or different. The geographical locations of the different regions may differ. The different regions may or may not overlap.

In one possible implementation, the region being fixed relative to the Earth can be understood as follows: the region's outline, size, or geographical location remains unchanged; for example, the region's outline, size, or geographical location does not change over time. Alternatively, the region being fixed relative to the Earth can be understood as follows: the region's outline and the points within it can be described using a fixed Earth coordinate system, or the coordinates of each point on the region's outline in the fixed Earth coordinate system remain constant.

In one possible implementation, the shape of the region can be a regular hexagon, or other shapes such as a regular pentagon, a circle, an ellipse, etc. Alternatively, the shape of the region can also be irregular, without restriction.

For example, the shape of a region can be defined by a protocol or by a network device. Regions defined by different network devices can have the same or different shapes. The same network device can also define multiple region shapes. Similarly, the size, radius, and area of a region can also be defined by a protocol or by a network device. Regions defined by different network devices can have the same or different sizes, radii, or areas. The same network device can also define multiple region sizes, multiple region radii, or multiple region areas.

In one possible implementation, the Earth's surface can be divided into multiple regions, and these regions can be indexed (e.g., numbered). Terminal devices and network devices can agree on the numbering method for these regions (e.g., starting from 1 or 0) and the correspondence between regions and indexes. Alternatively, the protocol can define the numbering method for these regions and the correspondence between regions and indexes. Based on the region indexes, information such as the region's geographical location can be determined.

Optionally, the multiple regions can completely cover the Earth's surface, such that any location on the Earth's surface belongs to a certain region; or, the multiple regions can also cover part of the geographical location on Earth, for example, the multiple regions may not cover the Earth's South Pole and/or North Pole, that is, the South Pole and/or North Pole may not exist in the region.

Optionally, the method of dividing the network into multiple zones can be defined by a protocol or by the network device. Different network devices can define the same or different division methods. The same network device can also define multiple division methods.

As a first possible method of partitioning, the Earth's surface can be divided using a latitude and longitude grid with a granularity, for example, a latitude and longitude grid with a granularity of 1 degree. If only this discretization method is used, the globe can be divided into 360×360＝129600 regions. Terminal devices and network devices can define the indexes of these 129600 regions as 0,1,…,129599, or they can also define them as 1,2,…,129600.

Optionally, when introducing the altitude attribute of a geographic region, multiple grids can be defined to divide the Earth's surface. For example, a grid at an altitude of 0 km or within a range of 0 km ± 2 km can be divided into 1-degree latitude and longitude grids, generating 129,600 regions. At an altitude of 10 km or within a range of 10 km ± 3 km, another 1-degree latitude and longitude grid can be used, generating yet another 129,600 regions. When indexing these grids, the index range of a single-layer grid needs to be expanded. For example, the total index could be 0, 1, ..., 129599, 129600, 129601, ..., 259199, where the first 129,600 indices represent the grid index at an altitude of 0 km, and the last 129,600 indices represent the grid index at an altitude of 10 km.

For example, the granularity of the latitude and longitude grid can be determined based on the type of network device. For instance, a relatively small granularity can be used for discretization when the network device is a LEO satellite, and a relatively large granularity can be used when the network device is a GEO satellite.

As a second possible method of division, the Earth's surface can be divided using latitude and longitude grids of various granularities. For example, a portion of the Earth's surface or a portion of its administrative region can be divided using a latitude and longitude grid with a granularity of 1 degree, while another portion of the surface or administrative region can be divided using a latitude and longitude grid with a granularity of 2 degrees.

Alternatively, by introducing the altitude attribute of a geographic region, the Earth's surface can be divided using a latitude and longitude grid with a granularity of 1 degree at an altitude of 0 km, and the Earth's surface can be divided using a latitude and longitude grid with a granularity of 2 degrees at an altitude of 10 km.

As a third possible method of division, the Earth's surface can be divided by administrative regions. For example, a township-level administrative region could be considered as a region.

As a fourth possible division method, for GEO satellites, the projection of one of the GEO satellite's beams onto the ground can be considered as a region. Since GEO satellites are stationary relative to the Earth, the projection of the GEO satellite's beams onto the ground can be considered fixed relative to the Earth.

In practical applications, the Earth's surface can be divided using a combination of different methods. For example, a portion of the Earth's surface or a part of its administrative region can be divided using a latitude and longitude grid with a granularity of 1, while another portion of the surface or administrative region can be divided according to its administrative region.

In one possible implementation, when the Earth's surface is divided into multiple regions, different levels of region division can be applied to the same surface area. For example, for a given surface area, a first level of region division can be performed using a 10-degree granularity latitude and longitude grid, a second level using a 6-degree granularity grid, and a third level using a 1-degree granularity grid. In this case, within the surface area, the number of regions at the first level is greater than the number at the second level, and the number of regions at the second level is greater than the number at the third level. Furthermore, in this scenario, each level of region can be individually numbered.

(7) In the embodiments of this application, "instruction" may include direct instruction and indirect instruction, as well as explicit instruction and implicit instruction. The information indicated by a certain piece of information (as described below, the instruction information) is called the information to be instructed. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly indicate the information to be instructed by indicating other information, where there is an association between the other information and the information to be instructed; or it can only indicate a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts of the information to be instructed are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction can be implemented by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol predefined) arrangement order of various information, thereby reducing the instruction overhead to a certain extent. This application does not limit the specific method of instruction. It is understood that for the sender of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to indicate the information to be instructed; for the receiver of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to determine the information to be instructed.

In this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. In the various embodiments of this application, and the various methods/designs/implementations within each embodiment, unless otherwise specified or logically conflicting, the terminology and/or descriptions between different embodiments and between the various methods/designs/implementations within each embodiment are consistent and can be mutually referenced. The technical features in different embodiments and the various methods/designs/implementations within each embodiment can be combined to form new embodiments, methods, or implementations based on their inherent logical relationships. The following descriptions of the embodiments of this application do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

This application can be applied to long-term evolution (LTE) systems, new radio (NR) systems, or new wireless vehicle-to-everything (NR V2X) systems; it can also be applied to systems with hybrid LTE and 5G networks; or device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, or drone communication systems; or communication systems supporting multiple wireless technologies, such as those supporting LTE and NR technologies; or non-terrestrial communication systems, such as satellite communication systems and high-altitude communication platforms. Alternatively, this communication system can also be applied to narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) systems or other communication systems, wherein the communication system includes network devices and terminal devices, with the network devices acting as configuration information sending entities and the terminal devices acting as configuration information receiving entities. Specifically, in this communication system, one entity sends configuration information to another entity and sends data to or receives data from another entity; the other entity receives the configuration information and, based on the configuration information, sends data to or receives data from the entity that sent the configuration information. This application can be applied to terminal devices in a connected or active state, as well as to terminal devices in an inactive or idle state.

Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system 1000 used in the embodiments of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include an Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (110a and 110b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 110), and may also include at least one terminal (120a-120j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and/or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). The terminal 120 is wirelessly connected to the RAN node 110, and the RAN node 110 is wirelessly or wiredly connected to the core network 200. The core network equipment in the core network 200 and the RAN node 110 in the RAN 100 can be independent and different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device integrating the logical functions of the core network equipment and the logical functions of the RAN node. Terminals can be connected to each other, as can RAN nodes, via wired or wireless means.

It should be noted that the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application are applicable to terrestrial communication systems. Alternatively, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application are applicable to communication systems that integrate terrestrial and satellite communication, which can also be called non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication systems. For example, RAN100 in Figure 1 may include a terrestrial base station, wherein the terrestrial base station may include a TN cell (i.e., the signal of the TN cell can be transmitted and received through the terrestrial base station); and RAN100 in Figure 1 may also include a non-terrestrial base station, taking a satellite as an example, the satellite may include an NTN cell (i.e., the signal of the NTN cell can be transmitted and received through the satellite). The terrestrial communication system may be, for example, a long term evolution (LTE) system, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a 5G communication system, or a new radio (NR) system, or a communication system that is the next step in the development of 5G communication systems, etc., and is not limited here.

Compared to traditional mobile communication systems, satellite communication offers advantages such as wider coverage, communication costs independent of transmission distance, and the ability to overcome natural geographical barriers like oceans, deserts, and mountains. To overcome the shortcomings of traditional communication networks, satellite communication can serve as an effective supplement. It is generally believed that non-terrestrial network communication has different channel characteristics compared to terrestrial network communication, such as large transmission delays and Doppler frequency offsets. For example, the round-trip time (RTT) of GEO satellite communication is 238–270 milliseconds (ms), while that of LEO satellite communication is 8 ms–20 ms. Based on orbital altitude, satellite communication systems can be classified into three types: geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite communication systems (also known as geosynchronous orbit satellite systems); medium orbit (MEO) satellite communication systems; and low orbit (LEO) satellite communication systems.

GEO satellites, also known as geostationary orbit satellites, orbit at an altitude of 35,786 kilometers. Their main advantages are relative stationary position and large coverage area. However, GEO satellites also have significant drawbacks: their large distance from Earth necessitates larger antennas; their transmission latency is relatively high, around 0.5 seconds, failing to meet the demands of real-time services; and their orbital resources are relatively scarce, resulting in high launch costs and an inability to provide coverage to polar regions. MEO satellites, orbiting at altitudes between 2,000 and 35,786 km, can achieve global coverage with a relatively small number of satellites, but their transmission latency is higher than that of LEO satellites, and they are primarily used for positioning and navigation. Furthermore, satellites orbiting at altitudes between 300 and 2,000 km are called Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. LEO satellites are lower in altitude than MEO and GEO satellites, resulting in lower data propagation latency, lower power loss, and relatively lower launch costs. Therefore, LEO satellite communication networks have made significant progress and attracted considerable attention in recent years.

In one possible implementation, satellite equipment can be categorized into transparent mode and regenerative mode based on its operating mode.

The two modes will be illustrated below using the implementation methods shown in Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d.

In the transparent transmission mode implementation shown in Figure 2a, the satellite and the gateway station (i.e., the NTN Gateway in Figure 2a) act as relays, specifically the Remote Radio Unit shown in Figure 2a. Communication between the terminal equipment and the gNB requires this relay process. In other words, in transparent transmission mode, the satellite has a relay forwarding function.

For example, in the transparent transmission mode implementation shown in Figure 2b, when the satellite (including GEO satellites, MEO satellites, LEO satellites, etc.) operates in transparent transmission mode, the satellite has a relay forwarding function. The gateway station (or signaling station) has the function of a base station or part of the function of a base station; in this case, the gateway station can be regarded as a base station. Alternatively, the base station can be deployed separately from the gateway station, in which case the delay of the feeder link includes two parts: the delay from the satellite to the gateway station and the delay from the gateway station to the gNB.

Optionally, the transparent transmission mode can be used as an example where the gateway station and gNB are together or in close proximity. For cases where the gateway station and gNB are far apart, the feeder link delay can be calculated by adding the delay from the satellite to the gateway station and the delay from the gateway station to the gNB.

As shown in Figure 2c, in the regeneration mode implementation, the satellite and the gateway station (i.e., the NTN Gateway in Figure 2c) act as gNBs and can communicate with the terminal devices. In other words, in regeneration mode, the satellite has the functions of a base station or some of the functions of a base station, and in this case, the satellite can be regarded as a base station.

For example, in the regeneration mode implementation shown in Figure 2d, when the satellite (including GEO satellites, MEO satellites, LEO satellites, etc.) is working in regeneration mode, compared with the implementation shown in Figure 2b, the satellite has the function of a base station or part of the function of a base station. In this case, the satellite can be regarded as a base station (i.e., an airborne base station).

Alternatively, in Figures 2b and/or 2d, the satellite can be implemented in other ways, such as by a drone or a high-altitude platform as shown in the figures.

It should be noted that NTN and terrestrial network base stations can be interconnected through a shared core network. They can also achieve more timely assistance and interconnection through interfaces defined between base stations. In NR, the interface between base stations is called the Xn interface, and the interface between the base station and the core network is called the NG interface. In a converged network, both NTN nodes and terrestrial nodes can achieve interoperability and collaboration through these interfaces.

Furthermore, satellites acting as network devices can transmit ephemeris information so that the recipient of this ephemeris information (e.g., a terminal device, its base station, or other satellites) can determine relevant information about the satellite's orbit based on the ephemeris information. As one implementation example, the ephemeris information may include one or more of the information in Table 2 below. Alternatively, the terminal device may obtain one or more of the information in Table 2 through pre-configuration.

Table 2

It should be noted that in practical applications, the last parameter in Table 2, the time of near-Earth, _tp, can be replaced with the true anomaly angle or the mean anomaly angle, and the effect is the same, as shown in Table 3.

Table 3

It should be noted that this application can be applied to long term evolution (LTE) systems, new radio (NR) systems, or future communication networks/systems.

Taking 5G as an example, a 5G satellite communication system architecture is shown in Figure 3. Ground terminal equipment accesses the network through the 5G New Radio interface, while 5G base stations are deployed on satellites and connected to the ground core network via wireless links. Simultaneously, wireless links exist between satellites to facilitate signaling interaction and user data transmission between base stations. The devices and interfaces in Figure 3 are described below:

5G Core Network: This includes services such as user access control, mobility management, session management, user security authentication, and billing. It consists of multiple functional units, which can be divided into control plane and data plane functional entities. The Access and Mobility Management Unit (AMF) is responsible for user access management, security authentication, and mobility management. The User Plane Unit (UPF) is responsible for managing user plane data transmission and traffic statistics. The Session Management Function (SMF) is mainly used for session management in the mobile network, such as session establishment, modification, and release.

Ground station: Responsible for forwarding signaling and service data between satellite base stations and the 5G core network.

5G New Radio: The wireless link between a terminal and a base station.

Xn interface: The interface between 5G base stations, mainly used for signaling interactions such as handover.

NG interface: The interface between 5G base stations and 5G core networks, mainly used for exchanging non-access stratum (NAS) signaling of the core network and user service data.

Furthermore, network devices in terrestrial network communication systems and satellites in NTN communication systems can be uniformly considered as network devices. The apparatus used to implement the functions of a network device can be a network device itself; it can also be an apparatus capable of supporting the network device in implementing that function, such as a chip system, which can be installed within the network device. In the following description of the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application, a satellite is used as an example to illustrate the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application. It is understood that when the methods provided by the embodiments of this application are applied to terrestrial network communication systems, the actions performed by the satellite can be applied to the base station or network device for execution.

In this application embodiment, the device for implementing the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself; it can also be a device capable of supporting the terminal device in implementing the functions, such as a chip system, which can be installed in the terminal device. In this application embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. In the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment, the device for implementing the functions of the terminal device is a terminal or UE as an example to describe the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment.

In addition, the aforementioned satellites can be geostationary satellites, non-geostationary satellites, artificial satellites, low-Earth orbit satellites, medium-Earth orbit satellites, and high-Earth orbit satellites, etc., which are not specifically limited here.

The foregoing content describes various wireless communication scenarios involved in this application. It should be understood that the above content is merely an illustrative description of the scenarios in which this application can be applied, and this application can also be applied to other application scenarios, which are not limited here. The wireless communication process involved in this application will be described below.

In the communication systems shown in Figures 1/2a/2b/2c/2d/3, traditional network equipment can be fixed at a certain location on the ground, such as the ground base station to which a terrestrial network (TN) cell belongs. The beam management process of the TN cell (e.g., determining whether a beam failure event has occurred in the current beam, and selecting a target beam from multiple candidate beams) is based on the received strength of a reference signal received by the terminal equipment, which originates from the network equipment.

With the development of communication technology, network equipment may not be fixed in a certain place on the ground. For example, the network equipment may be a high-speed mobile device belonging to a non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell, including but not limited to satellite equipment such as low-Earth orbit satellites, medium-Earth orbit satellites, and high-Earth orbit satellites.

However, unlike the ground base stations to which TN cells belong, the satellite equipment to which NTN cells belong may move at high speeds. At a certain moment, the reference signal reception strength of an NTN cell is strong, but this does not mean that the reference signal reception strength of the NTN cell will remain strong at one or more subsequent moments. This makes the beam management process of TN cells no longer applicable.

To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a communication method and related apparatus, which will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Please refer to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the communication method provided in this application. The method includes the following steps.

It should be understood that the methods shown in Figure 4 and Figure 7 below are illustrated using different communication devices (such as a first terminal device, network device, etc.) as examples of the execution subjects of the interaction steps, but this application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction steps. For example, in the implementation of Figure 4 or Figure 7, the interaction steps can be executed by a communication device, or by a chip, chip system, processor, circuit, logic module, or software that supports the communication device to implement the interaction steps.

Optionally, in Figures 4 and 7 below, the network device can be an access network device, which can be an ORAN network element.

For example, the network device may include O-CU, O-DU, and O-RU; in step S400 or S700 below, the O-RU can be controlled to send the first visibility information through the O-CU and/or O-DU.

For example, the network device may include O-CU, O-DU, and O-RU; in step S702 below, the O-CU and/or O-DU can be used to control the O-RU to send the first configuration information.

S400. The network device sends first visibility information, and correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first visibility information. The first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between the network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between the network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device.

Optionally, step S400 is optional. In other words, the first terminal device can obtain the first visibility information in multiple ways.

For example, the first terminal device can obtain first visibility information based on instructions from other devices (such as terminal devices, network devices, etc.), which can reduce the implementation complexity of the first terminal device.

For example, in step S401, the first terminal device determines the first visibility information by obtaining information from its own information acquisition module (such as camera, microphone, antenna, radar, sensor, etc.).

Optionally, steps S400 and S401 can be implemented in one of them, that is, the first terminal device can obtain the first visibility information based on one of these two steps.

Optionally, both steps S400 and S401 can be executed. If the first visibility information received by the first terminal device in step S400 is inconsistent with the first visibility information obtained by the first terminal device in step S401, the first terminal device may arbitrarily discard/ignore one of them, or the first terminal device may discard/ignore one of them based on the instruction of the network device; no limitation is made here.

Optionally, visibility information may carry the identifier of the area or the identifier of the terminal device.

For example, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angular intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical region. If the terminal device within the first geographical region includes the first terminal device itself, the first visibility information may include an identifier of the first geographical region. In this case, the visibility information can be understood as regionally granular visibility information.

For example, if the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device and a first terminal device located within one or more spatial angular intervals, the first visibility information may include the identifier of the first terminal device. In this case, the visibility information can be understood as terminal device-level visibility information.

It should be noted that visibility information indicates the degree of obstruction in the transmission path of signals between network devices and terminal devices, and this obstruction reflects the communication quality. In particular, because NTN communication has a relatively small incident spread angle, signal obstruction between the network device corresponding to the NTN cell and the terminal device located on the ground has a significant impact on signal transmission quality. Therefore, the communication device can use visibility information to determine (or select) one or more network devices with higher communication quality for communication with the terminal device, thereby improving communication efficiency. This can be achieved, for example, through one or more of the following examples.

For example, terminal devices can select network devices that are not blocked (or have only minor blockage) based on signal obstruction, which can reduce unnecessary switching and reselection and improve communication efficiency.

For example, terminal devices or network devices can predict the timing of signal interruptions based on signal obstruction and prepare/switch to network devices with higher communication quality in advance to improve communication efficiency.

For example, terminal devices can communicate with network devices of higher quality at reasonable locations and/or in appropriate postures based on signal obstruction, which can improve the success rate of signal transmission and thus enhance communication efficiency.

For example, terminal devices can select unobstructed (or less obstructed) network devices for positioning based on signal obstruction, which can improve positioning accuracy and enable related communication services through higher positioning accuracy, thereby improving communication efficiency.

In this application, visibility information can be replaced with other terms, such as visibility information of NTN communication, occlusion information, occlusion information of NTN communication, NTN transmission environment information, long-term link quality information, or NTN transmission path information, etc.

For example, the visibility information includes any of the following:

Information 1 indicates that the transmission path of the communication signal is a visible path;

Information 2 indicates that the transmission path of the communication signal is an invisible path;

Information 3 indicates that the transmission path of the communication signal is a line-of-sight (LOS) path;

Information 4 indicates that the transmission path of the communication signal is a non-line of sight (NLOS) path.

Optionally, generally speaking, the fewer obstructions on the communication path between two communication devices, the higher the communication quality between them; conversely, the more obstructions on the communication path between two communication devices, the lower the communication quality. Therefore, the order of the four communication qualities indicated by the above four indications from high to low can be: communication quality indicated by information 1 (or communication quality indicated by information 2), communication quality indicated by information 3, and communication quality indicated by information 4.

Optionally, the communication quality indicated by the visibility information can be the expected, anticipated, or predicted communication quality. That is, the visibility information is used to indicate the expected, anticipated, or predicted communication quality between network devices located within that spatial angular range and terminal devices located within that geographical area.

It should be noted that LOS paths and NLOS paths can be identified in one or more of the following ways.

Method 1: Signal strength.

In this context, the communication signal transmitted by the signal transmitter based on a certain transmit power has a received signal strength that is greater than the received signal strength that would be greater if the same communication signal were transmitted via a non-linear communication (NLOS) path. In other words, the first communication device can determine whether the transmission path of the reference signal is an LOS path or an NLOS path based on the received signal strength of the reference signal.

For example, if the received signal strength of a reference signal is greater than a certain threshold, the first communication device can determine that the reference signal is transmitted through the LOS path.

For example, if the received signal strength of a reference signal is less than a certain threshold, the first communication device can determine that the reference signal is transmitted through the NLOS path.

Optionally, the threshold can be configured by the network device, pre-configured, or an expected value determined based on the signal reception strength of a reference point.

Method 2: Signal transmission distance.

In this context, the communication signal transmitted by the signal transmitter based on a certain transmit power has a transmission distance via a LOS path that is generally less than or equal to the transmission distance via an NLOS path. In other words, the first communication device can determine whether the transmission path of the reference signal is an LOS path or an NLOS path based on the signal attenuation information of the received reference signal.

Optionally, the terminal device can determine the signal attenuation information through a variety of parameters, such as one or more of the signal transmission parameters configured in the network device, the ephemeris information of the satellite base station, atmospheric transmission compensation information, and reference point information.

Method 3: Signal offset information, such as signal timing offset rate, signal frequency drift rate, etc.

In this context, the communication signal transmitted by the signal transmitter based on a certain transmit power has a signal drift that is generally less than or equal to the signal drift that is generated when the communication signal is transmitted through a LOS path. In other words, the first communication device can determine whether the transmission path of the reference signal is an LOS path or an NLOS path based on the signal drift information corresponding to the received reference signal.

Optionally, the terminal device can determine the signal drift information through a variety of parameters, such as one or more of the following: signal transmission parameters configured by the network device, ephemeris information of the satellite base station, atmospheric transmission compensation information, and reference point information.

To facilitate understanding, the following example uses visibility information to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angular intervals and a terminal device located within one or more geographical regions, along with some implementation examples. In the following example, one or more spatial angular intervals are considered as N sub-intervals, and one or more geographical regions are considered as M sub-regions. The visibility information includes P pieces of information, and correspondingly, each of these P first pieces of information indicates a communication quality. In these P first pieces of information, any one of the pieces of information indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one of the N sub-intervals contained in the spatial angular interval and a terminal device located within one of the M sub-regions contained in the geographical region. N, M, and P are all positive integers.

It should be understood that the P first sub-information pieces are used to indicate the P communication quality, which can be understood as a one-to-one correspondence between the P first sub-information pieces and the P communication quality, or that the p-th first sub-information piece among the P first sub-information pieces is used to indicate the p-th communication quality among the P communication quality, where p is from 1 to P.

Optionally, the visibility information may also include at least one of the following information A through information E.

Information A. N second sub-information pieces, each of which is used to indicate one of the N sub-intervals.

Information B.M third sub-information, each of which is used to indicate one of the M sub-regions.

Information C.X fourth sub-information, which are used to indicate the confidence level of X first sub-information among P first sub-information, where X is less than or equal to P.

Information D.Y fifth sub-information, which are used to indicate the time information of Y first sub-information among P first sub-information as valid information, where Y is less than or equal to P.

Information E.Z sixth sub-information, which are used to indicate the difference between the communication quality indicated by the Z first sub-information in the P first sub-information and the communication quality of the reference point, where Z is less than or equal to P.

Specifically, the first communication device can also obtain more information through at least one of the above methods, which can help the first communication device quickly identify one or more network devices communicating with the first terminal device.

Optionally, at least one of the above information A to information E may be carried in other messages/signaling/information that are different from visibility information.

Alternatively, at least one of the above information A through information E may be pre-configured.

For example, if the visibility information does not carry information A, the spatial regions corresponding to the P first sub-informations contained in the visibility information can be pre-configured, such as the spatial region where the satellite base station transmitting the visibility information is located.

For example, if the visibility information does not carry information B, the geographical regions corresponding to the P first sub-information contained in the visibility information can be pre-configured, such as the spatial region where the terminal device receiving the visibility information is located.

For example, if visibility information does not carry information C, the P first sub-information pieces contained in the visibility information can implicitly indicate the confidence level of each first sub-information piece in a sequential order.

For example, if the visibility information does not carry information D, the start time when the P first sub-information contained in the visibility information is valid can be the time when the terminal device receives the visibility information, and the duration for which the P first sub-information is valid can be pre-configured.

For example, if the visibility information does not carry information E, the difference between the communication quality indicated by the P first sub-information contained in the visibility information and the communication quality of the pre-configured reference point is below a threshold.

It should be noted that visibility information can indicate the relationship between spatial angle ranges, visibility information, and geographical regions in various ways, such as tables, formulas, and different field meanings. The following will use the example of visibility information indicating this relationship in the form of a table to illustrate the relationship.

As an example, visibility information, as shown in Table 4, indicates the relationship between spatial angle intervals, visibility information, and geographical regions. In Table 4, the first column contains information A from the preceding text, the second column contains "P first sub-information items" from the preceding text, and the third column contains information C.

Table 4

In Table 4, the first column corresponds to "Spatial Angle Range," the second column to "Visibility Information," and the third column to "Geographic Region." Information from different columns within the same row indicates a relationship between the information in those columns. The visibility information in the second column is explained using visibility as an example (e.g., a value of "1" indicates visibility, and a value of "0" indicates invisibility). For example, the first row indicates that the visibility information between a network device located in "Spatial Region #1" and a terminal device located in "Geographic Region #1" is "Visible (value 1)," indicating high communication quality. Conversely, the second row indicates that the visibility information between a network device located in "Spatial Region #2" and a terminal device located in "Geographic Region #1" is "Invisible (value 0)," indicating low communication quality.

Optionally, the descriptions of the spatial angle intervals in Table 4 can be discretized into different intervals, as shown in Table 5.

Table 5

In Table 5, the azimuth and zenith angles can be determined using the east-north-up (ENU) coordinate system, which can also be called the station center coordinate system.

In one example, within the ENU coordinate system, taking the Earth as an ellipsoid, a rectangular coordinate system can be formed with the location of the terminal device as the station center (i.e., the origin O of the coordinate system), the z-axis coinciding with the normal to the ellipsoid (positive, i.e., celestial direction); the y-axis coinciding with the minor semi-axis of the ellipsoid (i.e., north direction); and the x-axis coinciding with the major semi-axis of the Earth ellipsoid (i.e., east direction). Correspondingly, for the connection line between the ground-based terminal device and the satellite base station in the air, the zenith angle can be the angle between the connection line and the z-axis, and the azimuth angle can be the angle between the projection of the connection line onto the ground and the x-axis (or y-axis).

Optionally, in addition to the azimuth and zenith angles shown in Table 5, other information can be used to configure spatial angle intervals. For example, coordinate parameters of a spatial region can be configured in a geocentric coordinate system with the Earth's center as the center. Another example is configuring the indexes and identifiers corresponding to the aforementioned azimuth, zenith angles, and coordinate parameters. Yet another example is configuring a specific geographic region (e.g., this geographic region can be configured using wave position, region index, region number, etc., as described in the previous terminology introduction), and then configuring the spatial range at a certain altitude above that geographic region as the spatial region represented by the spatial angle interval.

Optionally, the descriptions of the geographical regions in Table 4 can be discretized into different intervals, as shown in Table 6.

Table 6

Optionally, in addition to the longitude, latitude, and altitude intervals shown in Table 6, other information can be used to configure the geographic region. For example, if the geographic region is circular, the coordinates of a configured reference point can be used as the center, and the configured length value can be used as the diameter or radius of the circle. Similarly, if the geographic region is rectangular, the coordinates of the four vertices of the rectangle can be configured. Furthermore, the geographic region can also be a regular shape such as a hexagon, pentagon, or ellipse, or an irregular shape, and the coordinates of the outline of the regular or irregular shape can be configured. Additionally, the geographic region can be configured using wave position, region index, region number, etc., as described in the previous terminology introduction.

For example, taking a device located in a certain geographical area as a UE, generally, the higher the altitude of the UE, the fewer the obstructions between the UE and the satellite base station. Therefore, under the same latitude and longitude coordinates, the higher the altitude of the UE, the more sky range can be seen. Thus, the description of the "altitude range" shown in Table 6 can also be in the form of ">x (x is a real number) m.

As another example, the visibility information in Table 4 is implemented in other forms. For example, in Table 7 below, the visibility information is illustrated by the example of "whether it is LOS" (for example, a value of "1" indicates LOS, and a value of "0" indicates NLOS).

Table 7

For example, the first row of information in Table 7 indicates that the visibility information between the network device located in "Spatial Region #1" and the terminal device located in "Geographic Region #1" is "LOS (value is 1)", which indicates a high communication quality. Similarly, the second row indicates that the visibility information between the network device located in "Spatial Region #2" and the terminal device located in "Geographic Region #1" is "NLOS (value is 0)", which indicates a low communication quality.

As another example, Table 4 may also include the information C described above, as shown in the last column of Table 8 below.

Table 8

For example, the first row of Table 8 indicates that the visibility information between the network device located in "Spatial Region #1" and the terminal device located in "Geographic Region #1" is "visible (value 1)", and the confidence level of this visibility information is 1, indicating that the confidence level of this visibility information is high. Similarly, the third row of Table 8 indicates that the visibility information between the network device located in "Spatial Region #3" and the terminal device located in "Geographic Region #1" is "visible (value 1)", and the confidence level of this visibility information is 0, indicating that the confidence level of this visibility information is low.

As another example, Table 4 may also include the information D described above, as shown in the last column of Table 9 below.

Table 9

For example, the first row of Table 9 indicates that the visibility information between a network device located in "Spatial Region #1" and a terminal device located in "Geographic Region #1" is valid for "1 day," meaning that the visibility information will expire after 1 day. Similarly, the fourth row of Table 9 indicates that the visibility information between a network device located in "Spatial Region #1" and a terminal device located in "Geographic Region #2" is valid for "1 year," meaning that the visibility information will expire after 1 year.

As another example, Table 4 may also include the information D described above, as shown in the last two columns of Table 10 below.

Table 10

For example, the information in the third row of Table 10 indicates that the visibility information between the network device located in "Spatial Region #3" and the terminal device located in "Geographic Region #1" is "NLOS (value is 2)", and that during communication in the frequency domain resources corresponding to [1GHz～3GHz], the additional loss of the terminal device compared to the terminal device located at the reference point is 10dB.

For example, the fourth row of Table 10 indicates that the visibility information between the network device located in "Spatial Region #4" and the terminal device located in "Geographic Region #2" is "NLOS (value is 2)". Furthermore, during communication in the frequency domain resources corresponding to 6 GHz and above, the additional loss of this terminal device compared to the terminal device located at the reference point is 20 dB.

It should be understood that when M is 1, the aforementioned visibility information is the first visibility information used to indicate a location at one or more spatial angles. An example of implementing communication quality (i.e., regional granularity) between network devices within a degree interval and terminal devices located in the first geographical region.

It should be understood that in the examples in Tables 4, 7, 8, and 9 above, the column indicating the geographic region is replaced with the terminal device, which represents the first visibility. The information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device and a first terminal device located within one or more spatial angular intervals (i.e., the terminal device). Example of implementation at the granular level.

S402. The first terminal device determines, based on the first visibility information, the remaining service duration for the network device corresponding to the first reference signal (RS) to provide services to the first terminal device; wherein, the first RS is an RS used for beam failure detection (BFD), and the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure.

It should be understood that the network device corresponding to an RS can be understood as the network device that provides or transmits the RS. Optionally, the resources of the RS can be configured by the network device itself or by other network devices; this is not limited here.

It should be noted that the remaining service duration of a network device providing services to a terminal device can be understood as the time interval between the current time and the time when the network device stops providing services to the terminal device, or the time interval between the start time and the end time of the network device providing services to the terminal device, or the time interval between the end time and the latest time when the measurement was started.

Optionally, the termination time of the network device's service to the terminal device can also be understood as the cutoff time of the network device's service to the terminal device, that is, the network device will stop (or suspend) the service provided to the terminal device at the cutoff time.

Optionally, the remaining service duration can be replaced with other terms, such as remaining serviceable duration, remaining available duration, remaining communication duration, or remaining communication duration.

In the above scheme, the first terminal device can determine the remaining service duration of the network device corresponding to the first RS to provide services to the first terminal device based on the first visibility information. It can be understood that the visibility information can be used to determine the remaining service duration.

For example, first visibility information can be used to select/determine a first time period, wherein the first time period may include one or more visible time periods, or one or more time periods indicated by the visibility information with communication quality better than a threshold (i.e., excluding a second time period, which may include invisible time periods, or time periods indicated by the visibility information with poor communication quality). Furthermore, within this first time period, the total duration of time periods satisfying one or more of the following conditions, starting from the current time, can be the remaining service duration:

Condition 1. The duration during which the expected elevation angle is greater than the elevation angle threshold;

Condition 2. The duration for which the expected signal reception strength is greater than the threshold;

Condition 3. The expected channel transmission loss (which can be determined based on parameters such as the relative position, distance, and frequency between the terminal device and the network device) is less than the threshold for a certain duration.

It is understood that the parameters involved in conditions 1 to 3 above (such as the expected elevation angle, expected signal reception strength, expected channel transmission loss, etc.) can be determined based on the ephemeris information of the network device. During the time period in which one or more of the above conditions are met, the network device can provide services (or provide better services) to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the remaining service duration for the network device to provide services to the terminal device can be determined based on one or more of the above conditions.

It should be noted that the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure. This can be understood as: the remaining service duration is used for preemptive recovery before beam failure; or, it can be understood as: the remaining service duration can be used to determine whether the current beam (i.e., the beam corresponding to the first RS) is about to fail; or, the remaining service duration can be a period of time before the network device terminates its service to the terminal device. In other words, the remaining service duration for beam failure recovery can be replaced by: the remaining service duration being used for beam failure determination, determining whether a beam is about to fail, triggering beam failure recovery, or determining whether a beam failure event has occurred, etc.

In one possible implementation of the method shown in Figure 4, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving second configuration information, which is used to configure the first RS. In other words, the first terminal device can receive the first RS for beam failure detection based on the configuration of the network device, enabling the terminal device to implement the beam failure detection process based on the configuration of the network device.

Optionally, in the method shown in Figure 4, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving indication information for indicating a first threshold; wherein the remaining service duration and the first threshold are used for beam failure recovery. In other words, the first terminal device can receive indication information for indicating the first threshold, so that the first terminal device can perform beam failure recovery based on the remaining service duration and the first threshold.

For example, the first threshold can be 100 milliseconds, 500 milliseconds, 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 5 seconds, or 10 seconds, or the first threshold can be other time values.

Optionally, the first threshold can be pre-configured by the standard/protocol.

Optionally, if the remaining service duration is less than or equal to the first threshold, the first terminal device may determine that the beam corresponding to the first RS is about to or has already failed (or the service provided by the network device corresponding to the first RS to the first terminal device is about to or has already been interrupted). To this end, the first terminal device may send a beam recovery request message to restore the communication beam.

Optionally, the beam recovery request information may include information sent by the terminal device during the beam failure recovery (BFR) process, such as a link recovery request (LRR), a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) sending an indication of BFR, or a random access request.

Based on the method shown in Figure 4, the first visibility information acquired by the first terminal device is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a specific terminal device. This specific terminal device may include any terminal device located within a first geographical area, or the first terminal device itself. Subsequently, in step S402, the first terminal device can determine, based on the first visibility information, the remaining service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure detection, and this remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure. In other words, visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level can be used to determine the remaining service duration of the network device, and this remaining service duration can be used for beam failure recovery. In this way, the terminal device can perform beam failure recovery based on visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level, which can avoid or reduce the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal obstruction of the network device, thereby improving beam management efficiency.

As an example, consider the scenarios shown in Figures 5 and 6. In Figure 5, there are four terminal devices located at different positions within a certain ground area: UE#1, UE#2, UE#3, and UE#4. In this example, the interval between the different UEs is 5 meters (m). When the network device is a satellite, as described above regarding visibility information, signal transmission between the satellite and the UEs is easily affected by signal obstruction. Furthermore, for the same satellite, the visibility information differs at different locations on the ground.

Figure 6 illustrates the signal obstruction between the same satellite and the four terminal devices shown in Figure 5. In Figure 6, taking the ground area as a circular region, the gray-filled area represents the invisible area corresponding to the network device, while the non-gray-filled area represents the visible area. This example demonstrates that in the ground area, the visibility information of terminal devices spaced 5 meters apart often varies significantly. In other words, a strong reference signal reception strength in an NTN cell at a given moment does not guarantee that the strong signal reception strength will remain strong at subsequent moments. This leads to frequent beam recovery processes in beam management based solely on signal reception strength (e.g., determining whether a beam failure event has occurred, or selecting a target beam from multiple candidate beams). Because the selected beam may be obstructed again within a short period, beam recovery becomes frequent, resulting in beam interruptions and unnecessary overhead, ultimately impacting communication efficiency.

In the method shown in Figure 4, the terminal device can perform beam failure recovery based on visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level. This can avoid or reduce the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal blockage of network devices, thereby improving beam management efficiency.

In one possible implementation of the method shown in Figure 4, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving first configuration information, the first configuration information being used to configure L RSs, where N is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection (CBD); wherein the beam recovery request information is associated with a second RS, the second RS being an RS used for beam fault recovery; the second RS is an RS determined from the L RSs based on the first visibility information.

Specifically, the first terminal device can also receive first configuration information for configuring L RSs for candidate beam detection, and the first terminal device can determine a second RS among the L RSs based on first visibility information. In other words, visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level can be used to determine the RS for beam failure recovery. In this way, the terminal device can select/determine the target beam based on visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level (i.e., select/determine the RS for beam failure recovery from one or more RSs for candidate beam detection), which can avoid or reduce the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal blockage of network devices, and improve beam management efficiency.

It should be understood that the beam recovery request information is associated with the second RS, which can be understood as the second RS being used to determine the beam recovery request information. For example, the terminal device can send the beam recovery request information based on the second RS.

In one possible implementation, before determining the RS for beam fault recovery, the method may further include: the first terminal device receiving first indication information indicating that the RS for beam fault recovery satisfies a first condition, the first condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the other RSs.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold (e.g., the threshold is 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 2 minutes, or the threshold can be other time values).

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative overpass service time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the cumulative overpass service time of the network devices corresponding to the other RSs; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative over-the-top service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold (e.g., the threshold is 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 2 minutes, or the threshold can be other time values).

Thus, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS (i.e., the second RS) for beam fault recovery from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, based on the instructions of the network device.

Optionally, the first condition can be pre-configured by the standard/protocol.

Optionally, the first indication information and the first configuration information may be carried in the same message/signaling, or the first indication information and the second configuration information described below may be carried in the same message/signaling.

It should be noted that the service duration can be determined based on the first visibility information. For example, for a first terminal device, the service duration for which the network device provides services to the first terminal device can be understood as the time interval between the start and end times during the process in which the first visibility information indicates that the network device is visible to the first terminal device (or the first visibility information indicates that the communication quality of the network device providing services to the first terminal device is better than a threshold).

Accordingly, the first terminal device can determine the serviceable duration for a network device corresponding to an RS to provide services to the first terminal device based on the first visibility information. For example, the first visibility information can be used to select/determine a third time period, wherein the third time period may include one or more visible time periods, or one or more time periods whose communication quality indicated by the visibility information is better than a threshold (i.e., excluding a fourth time period, which may include invisible time periods, or time periods whose communication quality indicated by the visibility information is poor). In addition, within the third time period, the total duration of time periods that satisfy one or more conditions can be the serviceable duration, and the one or more conditions may include one or more of conditions 1 to 3 described above.

Optionally, service duration can be replaced with other terms, such as effective service time, effective service duration, effective communication duration, or effective communication duration.

Similarly, the cumulative overpass service duration can be determined based on the first visibility information. For example, for a first terminal device, the cumulative overpass service duration for which the network device provides services to the first terminal device can be understood as the total duration of one or more time periods (optionally, different time periods may be discontinuous) included in the process of the network device being overpassed relative to the first terminal device, as indicated by the first visibility information.

Accordingly, the first terminal device can determine the cumulative overpass service duration for a network device corresponding to an RS to provide services to the first terminal device based on the first visibility information. For example, the first visibility information can be used to select/determine a fifth time period, wherein the fifth time period can include a fifth time period in which the network device is in the process of overpassing relative to the first terminal device, and the total duration of one or more time periods included in the fifth time period (optionally, different time periods may be discontinuous). In addition, within the fifth time period, the total duration of time periods that satisfy one or more conditions can be the cumulative overpass service duration, and the one or more conditions may include one or more of conditions 1 to 3 described above.

Optionally, the cumulative service duration over the top can be replaced with other terms, such as cumulative service time over the top, cumulative effective service duration over the top, cumulative communication duration over the top, or cumulative communicable duration over the top.

In one possible implementation, before determining the RS for beam failure recovery, the method may further include: the first terminal device receiving second indication information indicating that the RS for beam failure recovery meets a second condition, the second condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the expected signal strength of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold when the network device is located in the spatial angle region over the first terminal device; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the signal strength of the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Therefore, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS with the stronger expected signal strength from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection as the RS for beam fault recovery (i.e., the second RS) based on the instructions of the network device, thereby improving the communication quality of communication based on the RS used for beam fault recovery.

It should be noted that the expected signal strength can be determined based on the first visibility information. For example, for a first terminal device, the expected signal strength of the signal sent by the network device to the first terminal device can be understood as the expected signal strength of the signal sent by the network device to the terminal device at a certain time in the future (or a certain time period), or the strength of the signal received by the terminal device at a certain time in the future.

For example, the first terminal device can determine, based on the first visibility information, that a network device and the first terminal device will be visible to each other at a future time (or a certain time period) (or, the communication quality indicated by the first visibility information is better than a threshold). Furthermore, the first terminal device can receive a first signal strength of the network device's signal at the current time (or a historical time), and correspondingly, the first terminal device can predict a second signal strength of the network device at the aforementioned future time (or a certain time period) based on the first signal strength, i.e., the second signal strength is the expected signal strength.

Optionally, in the process of the first terminal device predicting the second signal strength based on the first signal strength, the basis for the prediction may include the aforementioned first visibility information, the path loss change information between the network device and the first terminal device (e.g., determined by the relative position between the network device and the first terminal device), the equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) information of the satellite where the network device is located, etc.

Optionally, the above signal strength can be the reference signal receiving power (RSRP).

Optionally, the signal strength mentioned above can be replaced with other parameters used to characterize signal reception quality, such as reference signal receiving quality (RSRQ).

In one possible implementation, the L RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; before determining the RSs used for beam fault recovery, the method may further include: the first terminal device receiving third indication information, the third indication information indicating at least one of the following:

In this group of K RSs, the RSs used for beam failure recovery and the RSs used for beam failure detection are different RSs within the same group, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold.

In the K groups of RSs, if the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to other RSs in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection is less than the threshold, then the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are RSs in different groups, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold; or

In the K groups of RSs, if the available service time or the cumulative available service time of the network device corresponding to any RS is less than the threshold, the RS used for beam failure recovery is the RS corresponding to the network device with the longest available service time or the longest cumulative available service time.

Thus, the first terminal device can, based on the instructions of the network device, prioritize selecting/determining the RS for beam failure recovery from the RS for candidate beam detection within the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection. Since different network devices corresponding to different RSs within the same group may be related, this enables the terminal device to perform recovery operations between satellite beams where inter-satellite links can be easily established, thereby reducing inter-satellite interaction overhead.

Optionally, the first instruction information, the second instruction information, and the third instruction information mentioned above may be carried in the same message/signaling/information or in different messages/signaling/information; no limitation is made here.

Optionally, the one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; different RSs within the same group of the K groups of RSs can be correlated, for example, the K groups of RSs satisfy any of the following:

Within these K groups of RSs, the network devices corresponding to different RSs within the same group have the same track, while the network devices corresponding to RSs in different groups have different tracks.

Within these K groups of RSs, the network device trajectories corresponding to different RSs within the same group are the same, while the network device trajectories corresponding to RSs in different groups are different; or

In the K groups of RS, the distance between network devices corresponding to different RS within the same group is less than the threshold, while the distance between network devices corresponding to RS in different groups is greater than the threshold.

Thus, one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection can be grouped using any of the above methods to improve the flexibility of the scheme implementation.

Please refer to Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of another implementation of the communication method provided in this application. The method includes the following steps.

S700. The network device sends first visibility information, and correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first visibility information. The first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between the network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between the network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device.

It should be understood that step S700 is an optional step. The implementation process of step S700 can be referred to step S400 and related descriptions above.

Similarly, the first terminal device can obtain the first visibility information through other means. For example, in step S701, the first terminal device determines the first visibility information through information obtained by its own information acquisition module (e.g., camera, microphone, antenna, radar, sensor, etc.).

Optionally, steps S700 and S701 can be implemented in one of them, that is, the first terminal device can obtain the first visibility information based on one of these two steps.

Optionally, both steps S700 and S701 can be executed. If the first visibility information received by the first terminal device in step S700 is inconsistent with the first visibility information obtained by the first terminal device in step S701, the first terminal device may arbitrarily discard/ignore one of them, or the first terminal device may discard/ignore one of them based on the instruction of the network device; no limitation is made here.

S702. The network device sends first configuration information, and correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first configuration information. The first configuration information is used to configure L RSs, where N is a positive integer; and the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection.

S703. Based on the first visibility information, the first terminal device determines a second RS among the L RSs, the second RS being the RS used for beam fault recovery.

Based on the scheme shown in Figure 7, the first visibility information acquired by the first terminal device is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a specific terminal device. This specific terminal device may include any terminal device located within a first geographical area, or the first terminal device itself. Subsequently, in step S703, the first terminal device can determine a second RS among the L RSs based on the first visibility information. In other words, visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level can be used to determine the RS for beam failure recovery. In this way, the terminal device can select/determine the target beam based on visibility information at the region level or at the terminal device level (i.e., select/determine the RS for beam failure recovery from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection), which can avoid or reduce the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal blockage of network devices, thereby improving beam management efficiency.

Similarly, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 above, in the method shown in Figure 7, the terminal device can select/determine the target beam based on visibility information at the region granularity or visibility information at the terminal device granularity (i.e., select/determine the RS for beam failure recovery from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection). This can avoid or reduce the frequent triggering of beam failure recovery due to signal blockage of network devices, thereby improving beam management efficiency.

In one possible implementation, the method shown in Figure 7 further includes: the first terminal device receiving first indication information, the first indication information indicating that the RS for beam fault recovery meets a first condition, the first condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the other RSs.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative overpass service time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the cumulative overpass service time of the network devices corresponding to the other RSs; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative over-the-top service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Thus, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS (i.e., the second RS) for beam fault recovery from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, based on the instructions of the network device.

In one possible implementation, the method shown in Figure 7 further includes: the first terminal device receiving second indication information, the second indication information indicating that the RS used for beam failure recovery meets a second condition, the second condition including one of the following:

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the expected signal strength of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold when the network device is located in the spatial angle region over the first terminal device; or

In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the signal strength of the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Therefore, the first terminal device can select/determine the RS with the stronger expected signal strength from one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection as the RS for beam fault recovery (i.e., the second RS) based on the instructions of the network device, thereby improving the communication quality of communication based on the RS used for beam fault recovery.

In one possible implementation, the L RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving third indication information, the third indication information indicating at least one of the following:

In this group of K RSs, the RSs used for beam failure recovery and the RSs used for beam failure detection are different RSs within the same group, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold.

In the K groups of RSs, if the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to other RSs in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection is less than the threshold, then the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are RSs in different groups, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold; or

In the K groups of RSs, if the available service time or the cumulative available service time of the network device corresponding to any RS is less than the threshold, the RS used for beam failure recovery is the RS corresponding to the network device with the longest available service time or the longest cumulative available service time.

Thus, the first terminal device can, based on the instructions of the network device, prioritize selecting/determining the RS for beam failure recovery from the RS for candidate beam detection within the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection. Since different network devices corresponding to different RSs within the same group may be related, this enables the terminal device to perform recovery operations between satellite beams where inter-satellite links can be easily established, thereby reducing inter-satellite interaction overhead.

Optionally, the one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the K groups of RSs satisfy any of the following:

Within these K groups of RSs, the network devices corresponding to different RSs within the same group have the same track, while the network devices corresponding to RSs in different groups have different tracks.

Within these K groups of RSs, the network device trajectories corresponding to different RSs within the same group are the same, while the network device trajectories corresponding to RSs in different groups are different; or

In the K groups of RS, the distance between network devices corresponding to different RS within the same group is less than the threshold, while the distance between network devices corresponding to RS in different groups is greater than the threshold.

It should be noted that the terminology and implementation methods involved in the method shown in Figure 7 can be found in the method shown in Figure 4 above and its possible implementation process.

Please refer to Figure 8. This application embodiment provides a communication device 800, which includes a transceiver unit 802 and a processing unit 801.

It should be understood that the communication device 800 can perform the functions of any communication device (e.g., terminal device or network device) in the above method embodiments, and therefore can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of this application, the communication device 800 can be any communication device in the above method embodiments, or it can be an integrated circuit or component, such as a chip, inside any communication device in the above method embodiments.

In one possible implementation, when the device 800 is used to execute the method performed by the first terminal device in the aforementioned embodiments, the processing unit 801 is used to acquire first visibility information, which is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device; the processing unit 801 is further used to determine, based on the first visibility information, the remaining service duration for the network device corresponding to the first reference signal (RS) to provide services to the first terminal device; wherein the first RS is an RS used for beam failure detection (BFD), and the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure.

In another possible implementation, when the device 800 is used to execute the method performed by the network device in the aforementioned embodiments, the processing unit 801 is used to determine first configuration information; the processing unit 801 is used to determine a first RS, the first RS being used for beam failure detection; wherein, first visibility information is used to determine the remaining service duration of the network device corresponding to the first RS providing services to the first terminal device, the first RS being an RS used for beam failure detection, and the remaining service duration being used for beam recovery before beam failure; wherein, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, the terminal device located within the first geographical area including the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device; the transceiver unit 802 is used to transmit the first RS.

In another possible implementation, when the device 800 is used to execute the method performed by the first terminal device in the aforementioned embodiments, the processing unit 801 is used to acquire first visibility information, which is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located in one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located in a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located in the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located in one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device; the transceiver unit 802 is used to receive first configuration information, which is used to configure L RSs, where L is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; the processing unit 801 is also used to determine a second RS among the L RSs based on the first visibility information, wherein the second RS is an RS used for beam fault recovery.

In another possible implementation, when the device 800 is used to execute the method performed by the network device in the foregoing embodiments, the processing unit 801 is used to determine first configuration information, which is used to configure L RSs, where L is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; the transceiver unit 802 is used to transmit the first configuration information; wherein first visibility information is used to determine a second RS among the L RSs, the second RS being an RS used for beam fault recovery; the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located in one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located in a first geographical area, the terminal device located in the first geographical area including the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located in one or more spatial angle intervals and a first terminal device.

It should be noted that the information execution process and corresponding technical effects of the unit of the above-mentioned communication device 800 can be specifically described in the method embodiments shown above in this application, and will not be repeated here.

Please refer to Figure 9, which is another schematic structural diagram of the communication device 900 provided in this application. The communication device 900 includes at least an input/output interface 901. The communication device 900 can be a chip or an integrated circuit.

Optionally, the communication device also includes logic circuitry 902.

In Figure 8, the transceiver unit 802 can be a communication interface, which can be the input/output interface 901 in Figure 9. The input/output interface 901 can include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the communication interface can also be a transceiver circuit, which can include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit.

Optionally, the logic circuit 902 is used to acquire first visibility information, which is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device; the logic circuit 902 is further used to determine, based on the first visibility information, the remaining service duration for the network device corresponding to the first reference signal (RS) to provide services to the first terminal device; wherein, the first RS is an RS used for beam failure detection (BFD), and the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure.

Optionally, logic circuit 902 is used to determine first configuration information; logic circuit 902 is used to determine a first RS, the first RS being used for beam failure detection; wherein, first visibility information is used to determine the remaining service duration of the network device corresponding to the first RS providing services to the first terminal device, the first RS being an RS used for beam failure detection, and the remaining service duration being used for beam recovery before beam failure; wherein, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between network devices located within one or more spatial angle intervals and terminal devices located within a first geographical area, the terminal devices located within the first geographical area including the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between network devices located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device; the input/output interface 901 is used to transmit the first RS.

Optionally, the logic circuit 902 is used to acquire first visibility information, which indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information indicates the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and the first terminal device; the input/output interface 901 is used to receive first configuration information, which configures L RSs, where L is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; the logic circuit 902 is further used to determine a second RS among the L RSs based on the first visibility information, wherein the second RS is an RS used for beam fault recovery.

Optionally, the logic circuit 902 is used to determine first configuration information, which is used to configure L RSs, where L is a positive integer; wherein the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; the input/output interface 901 is used to send the first configuration information; wherein first visibility information is used to determine a second RS among the L RSs, the second RS being an RS used for beam fault recovery; the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, the terminal device located within the first geographical area including the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a first terminal device.

The logic circuit 902 and the input/output interface 901 can execute the method executed by any of the communication devices (e.g., terminal devices or network devices) in the aforementioned method embodiments and achieve the corresponding beneficial effects, which will not be elaborated here.

In one possible implementation, the processing unit 801 shown in FIG8 can be the logic circuit 902 in FIG9.

Optionally, the logic circuit 902 can be a processing device, the functions of which can be partially or entirely implemented in software.

Optionally, the processing apparatus may include a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor reads and executes the computer program stored in the memory to perform the corresponding processing and/or steps in any of the method embodiments.

Optionally, the processing device may consist of only a processor. A memory for storing computer programs is located outside the processing device, and the processor is connected to the memory via circuitry/wires to read and execute the computer programs stored in the memory. The memory and processor may be integrated together or physically independent of each other.

Optionally, the processing device may be one or more chips, or one or more integrated circuits. For example, the processing device may be one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), system-on-chips (SoCs), central processing units (CPUs), network processors (NPs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontroller units (MCUs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other integrated chips, or any combination of the above chips or processors.

Please refer to Figure 10, which shows the communication device 1000 involved in the above embodiments provided in the embodiments of this application. Specifically, the communication device 1000 can be the communication device that serves as a terminal device in the above embodiments.

The present invention provides a possible logical structure diagram of the communication device 1000, which may include, but is not limited to, at least one processor 1001 and a communication interface 1002.

Further optionally, the device may also include at least one of a memory 1003 and a bus 1004. In the embodiments of this application, the at least one processor 1001 is used to control the operation of the communication device 1000.

Furthermore, the processor 1001 can be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field-programmable gate array, or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application. The processor can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, etc. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

It should be noted that the communication device 1000 shown in Figure 10 can be used to implement the steps implemented by the terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiments and to achieve the corresponding technical effects of the terminal device. The specific implementation of the communication device shown in Figure 10 can be referred to the description in the aforementioned method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

Please refer to Figure 11, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device involved in the above embodiments provided in the embodiments of this application. The communication device can specifically be the network device in the above embodiments, and the structure of the communication device can be referred to the structure shown in Figure 11.

The communication device includes at least one processor 1111 and at least one network interface 1114.

Optionally, the communication device further includes at least one memory 1112, at least one transceiver 1113, and one or more antennas 1115. The processor 1111, memory 1112, transceiver 1113, and network interface 1114 are connected, for example, via a bus. In this embodiment, the connection may include various interfaces, transmission lines, or buses, etc., and this embodiment is not limited thereto. The antenna 1115 is connected to the transceiver 1113. The network interface 1114 is used to enable the communication device to communicate with other communication devices through a communication link. For example, the network interface 1114 may include a network interface between the communication device and core network equipment, such as an S1 interface. The network interface may also include a network interface between the communication device and other communication devices (e.g., other network devices or core network equipment), such as an X2 or Xn interface.

The processor 1111 is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process data from the software programs, for example, to support the actions described in the embodiments of the communication device. The communication device may include a baseband processor and a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU is primarily used to control the entire terminal device, execute software programs, and process data from the software programs. The processor 1111 in Figure 11 can integrate the functions of both a baseband processor and a CPU. Those skilled in the art will understand that the baseband processor and CPU can also be independent processors interconnected via technologies such as buses. Those skilled in the art will understand that a terminal device may include multiple baseband processors to adapt to different network standards, and multiple CPUs to enhance its processing capabilities. Various components of the terminal device can be connected via various buses. The baseband processor can also be described as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The CPU can also be described as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The function of processing communication protocols and communication data can be built into the processor or stored in memory as a software program, which is then executed by the processor to implement the baseband processing function.

The memory is primarily used to store software programs and data. The memory 1112 can exist independently or be connected to the processor 1111. Optionally, the memory 1112 can be integrated with the processor 1111, for example, integrated into a single chip. The memory 1112 can store program code that executes the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and its execution is controlled by the processor 1111. The various types of computer program code being executed can also be considered as drivers for the processor 1111.

Figure 11 shows only one memory and one processor. In actual terminal devices, there may be multiple processors and multiple memories. Memory can also be called storage medium or storage device, etc. Memory can be a storage element on the same chip as the processor, i.e., an on-chip storage element, or it can be a separate storage element; this application does not limit this.

Transceiver 1113 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between a communication device and a terminal. Transceiver 1113 can be connected to antenna 1115. Transceiver 1113 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, one or more antennas 1115 can receive radio frequency signals. The receiver Rx of transceiver 1113 is used to receive the radio frequency signals from the antennas, convert the radio frequency signals into digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals, and provide the digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals to processor 1111 so that processor 1111 can perform further processing on the digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals, such as demodulation and decoding. In addition, the transmitter Tx in transceiver 1113 is also used to receive the modulated digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals from processor 1111, convert the modulated digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals into radio frequency signals, and transmit the radio frequency signals through one or more antennas 1115. Specifically, the receiver Rx can selectively perform one or more stages of downmixing and analog-to-digital conversion on the radio frequency signal to obtain a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The order of these downmixing and IF conversion processes is adjustable. The transmitter Tx can selectively perform one or more stages of upmixing and digital-to-analog conversion on the modulated digital baseband signal or digital IF signal to obtain a radio frequency signal. The order of these upmixing and IF conversion processes is also adjustable. The digital baseband signal and the digital IF signal can be collectively referred to as digital signals.

The transceiver 1113 can also be called an interface unit, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver device, interface module, etc. Optionally, the device in the interface unit that implements the receiving function can be regarded as the receiving unit, and the device in the interface unit that implements the transmitting function can be regarded as the transmitting unit. That is, the interface unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit can also be called a receiver, input port, receiving circuit, etc., and the transmitting unit can be called a transmitter, transmitter, or transmitting circuit, etc.

It should be noted that the communication device shown in Figure 11 can be used to implement the steps implemented by the network device in the aforementioned method embodiments and to achieve the corresponding technical effects of the network device. The specific implementation of the communication device shown in Figure 11 can be referred to the descriptions in the aforementioned method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a computer, the processor performs the method as described in any possible implementation of a communication device (e.g., a terminal device or a network device) in the foregoing method embodiments.

This application also provides a computer program product (or computer program) including instructions. When the instructions in the computer program product are executed by a processor, the processor performs a method that may be implemented by any of the communication devices (e.g., terminal devices or network devices) described in the above method embodiments.

This application also provides a chip system including at least one processor for implementing the functions involved in any possible implementation of the communication device (e.g., terminal device or network device) in the above method embodiments.

Optionally, the chip system further includes interface circuitry that provides program instructions and/or data to the at least one processor. In one possible design, the chip system may also include a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the terminal device. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete components.

In one possible design, the chip system may further include a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for any of the communication devices described in the above method embodiments. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete components.

This application also provides a communication system, the network system architecture of which includes the terminal device and network device in any of the above embodiments.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are illustrative; for instance, the division of units is a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be an indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units through some interfaces, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into a processing module, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated units can be implemented in hardware or as software functional units. If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the essential contribution of the technical solution of this application, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

The above description is merely a specific implementation of the embodiments of this application, but the protection scope of the embodiments of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the embodiments of this application should be included within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of the embodiments of this application should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

Claims (28)

A communication method, characterized in that it includes: Obtain first visibility information, which is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a first terminal device. Based on the first visibility information, the remaining service duration for the network device corresponding to the first reference signal RS to provide services to the first terminal device is determined; wherein, the first RS is an RS used for beam failure detection, and the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises: Receive indication information for indicating a first threshold; wherein the remaining service duration and the first threshold are used for beam failure recovery. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the method further comprises: If the remaining service duration is less than or equal to the first threshold, a beam recovery request is sent. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the method further comprises: Receive first configuration information, which is used to configure L RSs, where L is a positive integer; wherein, the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; The beam recovery request information is associated with a second RS, which is an RS used for beam fault recovery; the second RS is the RS determined among the L RSs based on the first visibility information. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the method further comprises: Receive a first indication message, the first indication message indicating that the RS for beam fault recovery meets a first condition, the first condition including one of the following: In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the other RSs. In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative overpass service time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the cumulative overpass service time of the network devices corresponding to the other RSs; or In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative over-the-top service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the method further comprises: Receive a second indication message, the second indication message indicating that the RS used for beam failure recovery meets a second condition, the second condition including one of the following: In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the expected signal strength of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold when the network device is located in the overhead spatial angle region of the first terminal device; or In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the signal strength of the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the L RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the method further includes: Receive a third indication message, which indicates at least one of the following: In the K groups of RS, the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are different RS within the same group, and the serviceable time or over-the-top cumulative serviceable time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold. In the K groups of RSs, if the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to other RSs in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection is less than the threshold, then the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are RSs in different groups, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold; or In the K groups of RSs, if the available service time or the cumulative available service time of the network device corresponding to any RS is less than the threshold, the RS used for beam failure recovery is the RS corresponding to the network device with the longest available service time or the longest cumulative available service time. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the method further comprises: Receive second configuration information, which is used to configure the first RS. A communication method, characterized in that it includes: A first RS is determined, which is used for beam failure detection; wherein, the first visibility information is used to determine the remaining service duration of the network device corresponding to the first RS to provide services to the first terminal device, the first RS is an RS used for beam failure detection, and the remaining service duration is used for beam recovery before beam failure; Wherein, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a first terminal device. Send the first RS. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the method further comprises: Send indication information to indicate a first threshold; wherein the remaining service duration and the first threshold are used for beam failure recovery. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the method further comprises: Send first configuration information, which is used to configure L RSs, where N is a positive integer; wherein, the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; The beam recovery request information corresponding to the beam failure recovery is associated with the second RS, which is an RS used for beam failure recovery; the second RS is the RS determined among the L RSs based on the first visibility information. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the method further comprises: Send a first indication message, the first indication message indicating that the RS used for beam fault recovery meets a first condition, the first condition including one of the following: In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the other RSs. In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative overpass service time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the cumulative overpass service time of the network devices corresponding to the other RSs; or In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative over-the-top service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the method further comprises: Send a second indication message, the second indication message indicating that the RS used for beam failure recovery meets a second condition, the second condition including one of the following: In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the expected signal strength of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold when the network device is located in the overhead spatial angle region of the first terminal device; or In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the signal strength of the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the L RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the method further includes: Send a third indication message, the third indication message indicating at least one of the following: In the K groups of RS, the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are different RS within the same group, and the serviceable time or over-the-top cumulative serviceable time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold. In the K groups of RSs, if the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to other RSs in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection is less than the threshold, then the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are RSs in different groups, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold; or In the K groups of RSs, if the available service time or the cumulative available service time of the network device corresponding to any RS is less than the threshold, the RS used for beam failure recovery is the RS corresponding to the network device with the longest available service time or the longest cumulative available service time. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the method further comprises: Send second configuration information, which is used to configure the first RS. A communication method, characterized in that it includes: Obtain first visibility information, which is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, wherein the terminal device located within the first geographical area includes the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a first terminal device. Receive first configuration information, which is used to configure L RSs, where N is a positive integer; wherein, the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; Based on the first visibility information, a second RS is determined from the L RSs, and the second RS is the RS used for beam fault recovery. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the method further comprises: Receive a first indication message, the first indication message indicating that the RS for beam fault recovery meets a first condition, the first condition including one of the following: In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the other RSs. In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative overpass service time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the cumulative overpass service time of the network devices corresponding to the other RSs; or In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative over-the-top service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the method further comprises: Receive a second indication message, the second indication message indicating that the RS used for beam failure recovery meets a second condition, the second condition including one of the following: In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the expected signal strength of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold when the network device is located in the overhead spatial angle region of the first terminal device; or In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the signal strength of the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the L RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the method further includes: Receive a third indication message, which indicates at least one of the following: In the K groups of RS, the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are different RS in the same group, and the serviceable time or over-the-top cumulative serviceable time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold. In the K groups of RSs, if the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to other RSs in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection is less than the threshold, then the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are RSs in different groups, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold; or In the K groups of RSs, if the available service time or the cumulative available service time of the network device corresponding to any RS is less than the threshold, the RS used for beam failure recovery is the RS corresponding to the network device with the longest available service time or the longest cumulative available service time. A communication method, characterized in that it includes: First configuration information is determined, which is used to configure L RSs, where N is a positive integer; wherein, the L RSs are used for candidate beam detection; Send the first configuration information; wherein, the first visibility information is used to determine a second RS among the L RSs, the second RS being an RS for beam fault recovery; the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a terminal device located within a first geographical area, the terminal device located within the first geographical area including the first terminal device; or, the first visibility information is used to indicate the communication quality between a network device located within one or more spatial angle intervals and a first terminal device. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the method further comprises: Send a first indication message, the first indication message indicating that the RS used for beam fault recovery meets a first condition, the first condition including one of the following: In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the other RSs. In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative overpass service time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the cumulative overpass service time of the network devices corresponding to the other RSs; or In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the cumulative over-the-top service duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the method further comprises: Send a second indication message, the second indication message indicating that the RS used for beam failure recovery meets a second condition, the second condition including one of the following: In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the expected signal strength of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold when the network device is located in the overhead spatial angle region of the first terminal device; or In one or more RSs used for candidate beam detection, the signal strength of the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to a threshold. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the L RSs used for candidate beam detection correspond to K groups of RSs, where K is a positive integer; the method further includes: Send a third indication message, the third indication message indicating at least one of the following: In the K groups of RS, the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are different RS in the same group, and the serviceable time or over-the-top cumulative serviceable time of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold. In the K groups of RSs, if the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to other RSs in the same group as the RS used for beam failure detection is less than the threshold, then the RS used for beam failure recovery and the RS used for beam failure detection are RSs in different groups, and the serviceable duration or cumulative over-the-top serviceable duration of the network device corresponding to the RS used for beam failure recovery is greater than or equal to the threshold; or In the K groups of RSs, if the available service time or the cumulative available service time of the network device corresponding to any RS is less than the threshold, the RS used for beam failure recovery is the RS corresponding to the network device with the longest available service time or the longest cumulative available service time. A communication device, characterized in that it includes a module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 23. A communication device, characterized in that it includes at least one processor, said at least one processor being configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 23. The communication device according to claim 25 is characterized in that the communication device is a chip or a chip system. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 23. A computer program product, characterized in that it includes a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a computer, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 23.