RU2779433C2 - Communication method and communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: communication.

SUBSTANCE: method includes: when receiving the first reference signal, using the first beam, determination by a terminal device of availability of the first beam based on the first reference signal and the first threshold value, and then, direct transmission by feedback of availability of the first beam to a network device. Compared to costs of a radio interface in case, when the terminal device transmits by feedback the first beam identifier and power of reception of the first reference signal to the network device, costs of the radio interface in this method can be reduced.

EFFECT: provision of the transmission by a terminal device of a report on measurement of beam quality by feedback.

22 cl, 11 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] This application relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and a communication device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Compared with the fourth generation mobile communication system, the fifth generation mobile communication system uses a higher carrier frequency. A higher carrier frequency indicates more fading of the radio signal. Therefore, in the fifth generation mobile communication system, a beamforming (BF) technology is proposed. With BF technology, a beam with good directivity can be obtained, and the power of the radio signal in the transmit direction can be increased to counteract radio signal attenuation.

[0003] In Release 15 (R15) of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), a beam quality measurement method is provided. Specifically, the base station sends the beam resource configuration information to the terminal device, where the beam resource configuration information is used to notify the terminal device with information such as time-frequency domain resource locations and periodicity of reference signals sent by the base station on different beams. The base station sends reference signals on different beams based on beam resource configuration information. The terminal apparatus may receive reference signals on respective beams, and may feed back a beam quality measurement report to a base station based on reference signals received on different beams, so that the base station knows the communication quality using different beams. In the prior art, there is no associated decision on how the terminal device feeds back the beam quality measurement report to the base station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This application provides a communication method and a communication device to provide a solution in which a terminal device feeds back a beam quality measurement report.

[0005] According to a first aspect, this application provides a communication method. The method, in particular, is as follows: The terminal device receives the first reference signal from the first beam of the network device. The terminal device determines the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal. The terminal device sends the first feedback information to the network device, wherein the first feedback information includes at least the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0006] Compared with the overhead of the air interface and the use of physical uplink resources in the case where the terminal device feeds back the first beam identifier and the reception power of the first reference signal to the network device, when the terminal device receives the first reference signal with the first beam, in this method, the overhead of the air interface can be reduced and the utilization of physical uplink resources can be improved.

[0007] According to a second aspect, this application provides a communication method. The method, in particular, is as follows: The terminal device receives the first reference signal from the first beam of the network device. The terminal device determines the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal. The terminal apparatus sends the first indication information to the network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam. In this embodiment of the present application, compared with the overhead of the air interface and the use of physical uplink resources in the case where the terminal device feeds back the first beam identifier and the reception power of the first reference signal, due to the direct feedback by the beam availability terminal device, the overhead of the radio interface can be reduced and the utilization of physical uplink resources can be improved.

[0008] In an exemplary implementation, the first threshold in the first aspect and the second aspect may be determined by the terminal device, or may be determined by the network device, or may be specified in advance in the protocol and then set in the terminal device and the network device. In this example, if the first threshold is determined by the network device, the terminal device may receive the first configuration information from the network device, the first configuration information including the first threshold. If the first threshold value is determined by the terminal device, the terminal device can send the second indication information to the network device, the second indication information carrying the first threshold, and carrying the second indication information in the first feedback information is not a limitation.

[0009] In a possible implementation, there are one or more first thresholds. If there is one first threshold, there is one part of the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the first threshold. Alternatively, if there are a plurality of first thresholds, there are a plurality of pieces of first indication information, and each piece of first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the corresponding first threshold.

[0010] In an exemplary implementation, the signaling format of the first feedback information is a media access control protocol data unit, wherein the media access control protocol data unit contains a control element, and the control element carries the first indication information. Alternatively, the signaling format of the first feedback information is uplink control information, and the uplink control information carries the first indication information.

[0011] In an exemplary implementation, the terminal device may determine the availability of the first beam as follows: The terminal device determines the quality parameter associated with the first reference signal. If the quality parameter is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the terminal device determines that the first beam is available. Alternatively, if the quality parameter is less than the first threshold, the terminal device determines that the first beam is unavailable. This embodiment of this application is not limited to the following case: If the quality parameter is greater than the first threshold, the terminal device determines that the first beam is available; if the quality parameter is less than or equal to the first threshold value, the terminal device determines that the first beam is unavailable. The quality parameter includes one or more of the following: reference signal reception power, reference signal reception quality, reference signal reception intensity indicator, signal-to-noise plus noise ratio, signal quality indicator, rank indicator, and precoding matrix indicator.

[0012] In an exemplary implementation, the terminal device may receive second configuration information from a network device, wherein the second configuration information is used to indicate an available beam set, and the available beam set may include one or more available beams. In this application, this is not a limitation.

[0013] According to a third aspect, this application further provides a communication method, the method specifically being as follows: The network device generates a first reference signal. The network device sends the first reference signal to the terminal device using the first beam. The network device receives the first feedback information from the terminal device, the first feedback information is determined based on the first reference signal and the first threshold, the first feedback information includes at least the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate availability of the first beam.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect, this application further provides a communication method, the method specifically being as follows: The network device generates a first reference signal. The network device sends the first reference signal to the terminal device using the first beam. The network device receives the first indication information from the terminal device, the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam, and the availability of the first beam is determined based on the first threshold and the first reference signal.

[0015] In an exemplary implementation, the network device sends the first configuration information to the terminal device, the first configuration information including the first threshold value. Alternatively, the first feedback information further includes second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used to indicate the first threshold value. In this embodiment of this application, there is one or more first thresholds. If there is one first threshold, there is one part of the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the first threshold. Alternatively, if there are a plurality of first thresholds, there are a plurality of pieces of first indication information, and each piece of first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the corresponding first threshold.

[0016] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the signaling format of the first feedback information is a media access control protocol data unit, wherein the media access control protocol data unit includes a control element, and the control element carries the first indication information. Alternatively, the signaling format of the first feedback information is uplink control information, and the uplink control information carries the first indication information.

[0017] In an exemplary implementation of this application, a network device may generate a set of available beams based on the first feedback information. The network device sends the second configuration information to the terminal device, wherein the second configuration information is used to indicate the set of available beams. The set of available beams may include one or more available beams.

[0018] According to a fifth aspect, this application provides a communication device applied to a terminal device and including blocks or means (means) configured to perform the steps in the first aspect and the second aspect.

[0019] For example, in the example of this application, the communication device may include a receiving module, a processing module, and a sending module. The receiving module may be configured to receive the first reference signal from the first beam of the network device. The processing module may be configured to determine the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal. The sending module may be configured to send the first feedback information to the network device, wherein the first feedback information includes at least the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0020] As another example, in another example of this application, the communication device may include a receiving module, a processing module, and a sending module. The receiving module is configured to receive the first reference signal from the first beam of the network device. The processing module may be configured to determine the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal. The sending module may be configured to send the first indication information to the network device.

[0021] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the receiving module is further configured to receive first configuration information from the network device, the first configuration information including a first threshold value.

[0022] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the first feedback information further includes second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate the first threshold.

[0023] In an exemplary implementation of this application, there are one or more first thresholds. If there is one first threshold, there is one part of the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the first threshold. Alternatively, if there are a plurality of first thresholds, there are a plurality of pieces of first indication information, and each piece of first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the corresponding first threshold.

[0024] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the signaling format of the first feedback information is a media access control protocol data unit, wherein the media access control protocol data unit includes a control element, and the control element carries the first indication information.

[0025] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the signaling format of the first feedback information is uplink control information, and the uplink control information carries the first indication information.

[0026] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the processing module is specifically configured to: determine a quality parameter associated with the first reference signal; and if the quality parameter is greater than or equal to the first threshold, determining that the first beam is available; or if the quality parameter is less than the first threshold value, determining that the first beam is unavailable.

[0027] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the quality parameter includes one or more of the following: reference signal reception power, reference signal reception quality, reference signal reception strength indicator, signal-to-noise ratio plus noise, signal quality indicator, rank indicator, and indicator precoding matrices.

[0028] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the receiving module is further configured to receive second configuration information from a network device, the second configuration information being used to indicate a set of available beams.

[0029] According to the sixth aspect, this application provides a communication device applied to a network device and includes blocks or means (means) configured to perform the steps in the second aspect and the third aspect.

[0030] For example, in the example of this application, the communication device may include a processing module, a sending module, and a receiving module. The processing module may be configured to generate a first reference signal. The sending module may be configured to send the first reference signal to the terminal device using the first beam. The receiving module is configured to receive the first feedback information from the terminal device, wherein the first feedback information is determined based on the first reference signal and the first threshold value, the first feedback information includes at least the first indication information, and the first indication information used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0031] For example, in another example of this application, the communication device may include a processing module, a sending module, and a receiving module, in particular those described below. The processing module may be configured to generate a first reference signal. The sending module may be configured to send the first reference signal to the terminal device using the first beam. The receiving module may be configured to receive the first indication information from the terminal apparatus, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0032] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the sending module is further configured to send the first configuration information to the terminal device, the first configuration information including a first threshold value.

[0033] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the first feedback information further includes second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate the first threshold value.

[0034] In an exemplary implementation of this application, there are one or more first thresholds. If there is one first threshold, there is one part of the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the first threshold. Alternatively, if there are a plurality of first thresholds, there are a plurality of pieces of first indication information, and each piece of first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the corresponding first threshold.

[0035] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the signaling format of the first feedback information is a media access control protocol data unit, wherein the media access control protocol data unit includes a control element, and the control element carries the first indication information.

[0036] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the signaling format of the first feedback information is uplink control information, and the uplink control information carries the first indication information.

[0037] In an exemplary implementation of this application, the processing module may be further configured to generate a set of available beams based on the first feedback information. The sending module is further configured to send the second configuration information to the terminal device, the second configuration information being used to indicate the set of available beams.

[0038] According to a seventh aspect, this application provides a communication device applied to a terminal device and including at least one processing element and at least one storage element, wherein at least one storage element is configured to store a program and data, and at least one processing element is configured to perform the method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect of this application.

[0039] According to an eighth aspect, this application provides a communication device applied to a network device and including at least one processing element and at least one storage element, wherein at least one storage element is configured to store a program and data, and at least one processing element is configured to perform the method provided in the third aspect or the fourth aspect of this application.

[0040] According to a ninth aspect, this application provides a communication device applied to a terminal device and including at least one processing element (or chip) configured to perform the method in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0041] According to a tenth aspect, this application provides a communication device applied to a network device and including at least one processing element (or chip) configured to perform the method in the fourth aspect or the third aspect.

[0042] The above devices may be network devices or terminal devices, or may be chips or functional modules in network devices or terminal devices.

[0043] According to an eleventh aspect, this application provides a program, wherein the program is used to perform the method in any of the above aspects when executed by a processor.

[0044] According to a twelfth aspect, this application provides a software product, such as a computer-readable storage medium, including a program in any of the above aspects.

[0045] According to a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a mobile communication system, the mobile communication system including a terminal device and a network device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a communication system according to an embodiment of this application;

[0047] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application;

[0048] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a MAC PDU according to an embodiment of this application;

[0049] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application;

[0050] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application;

[0051] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a MAC CE according to an embodiment of this application;

[0052] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application;

[0053] FIG. 8 is a schematic structural representation of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0054] FIG. 9 is another schematic structural representation of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0055] FIG. 10 is a schematic structural representation of a base station according to an embodiment of this application; and

[0056] FIG. 11 is a schematic structural representation of a terminal device according to an embodiment of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0057] The following describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this application.

[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system 100 according to an embodiment of this application. Communication system 100 may include a network device 101 and a terminal device 102.

[0059] The network device 101 may provide a radio access-related service for the terminal device 102 to implement one or more of the following functions: a radio physical layer function, a radio resource control and resource scheduling function, a quality of service (QoS) management function, a radio access control function; and a mobility management function. The terminal device 102 may access the network device 101 using an air interface. In this embodiment of this application, the network device 101 may communicate with the terminal device 102 using a beam.

[0060] This application provides a method for measuring beam quality. In particular, the network device 101 may send the first reference signal to the terminal device 102 using the first beam, and the terminal device 102 may generate a beam quality measurement report of the first beam itself based on the first reference signal received on the first beam, and feed back a beam quality measurement report of the first beam itself to the network device 101.

[0061] As an example of this application, the format of the beam quality measurement report, which refers to the first beam and is fed back by the terminal device 102, may be the following {first beam identifier, first reference signal receive power}. It can be understood that the beam quality measurement report, which refers to the first beam and is fed back by the terminal device 102, includes two parts of the content: the first beam identifier and the strength of the first reference signal received on the first beam. Therefore, the air interface overhead is relatively high.

[0062] For example, the first beam includes a total of 64 beams, and each beam ID occupies 6 bits (log ₂ 64=6). In addition, in 64 paths, the path whose reference signal reception power is the largest occupies 7 bits, and the remaining 63 paths whose reference signal reception powers are to be differentially reported each occupy 4 bits. More specifically, based on the above-determined format for feedback of the beam quality measurement report, when there are 64 beams, the quality measurement report of one beam takes 13 bits, and the quality measurement reports of the remaining 63 beams take 10 bits each. If the terminal device loops back quality measurement reports for 64 beams, a total of 13+10×63=643 bits are occupied. Therefore, the air interface overhead is relatively high.

[0063] Based on the foregoing description, this application provides a communication method. According to the communication method, the overhead associated with the feedback of the beam quality measurement report by the terminal device can be reduced. The basic principle is as follows: When receiving the first reference signal with the first beam, the terminal device determines the availability of the first beam based on the first reference signal and the first threshold, and then directly feedbacks the availability of the first beam to the network device. Compared to the air interface overhead in the case where the terminal device feeds back the first beam identifier and the reception power of the first reference signal to the network device, the air interface overhead in this method can be reduced.

[0064] For ease of understanding, descriptions of the concepts associated with this application are provided for reference using the examples shown below:

[0065] (1) Beam: A beam is a communication resource, and the beam may be a wide beam, a narrow beam, or another type of beam. The technology for beamforming may be beamforming technology or other technology. The beamforming technology may specifically be a digital beamforming technology, an analog beamforming technology, a hybrid digital/analogue beamforming technology, or the like. Different beams can be considered as different communication resources, and the same information or different information can be sent using different beams. Optionally, a plurality of beams having the same or similar communication characteristic can be considered as one beam, and the beam can include one or more antenna ports used to transmit a data channel, a control channel, a sounding signal, and the like. For example, the transmit beam may be a signal strength distribution formed in different directions in space after the signal is transmitted using an antenna, and the receive beam may be a signal strength distribution in different directions in space of a radio signal received from the antenna. It is understood that one or more antenna ports forming a beam may also be considered as one set of antenna ports, a beam may also be referred to as a spatial frequency filter (spatial frequency filter), a transmit beam may also be referred to as a transmit spatial frequency filter, and a reception beam as well. may be referred to as a receive spatial frequency filter.

[0066] (2) The beam steering resource is a resource used for beam steering, and it can also be represented as a resource used for beam quality calculation and measurement. Beam quality includes layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP), layer 1 reference signal received quality (L1-RSRQ), and the like. Specifically, the beam steering resource may include a synchronization signal (SS), a synchronization signal block (SSB), a physical broadcast channel/synchronization signal (SS/PBCH block), a broadcast channel, a demodulation reference a broadcast channel reference, a tracking reference, a downlink measurement reference, a downlink control channel demodulation reference, a downlink shared channel demodulation reference, an uplink reference sounding signal, an uplink random access signal, and the like.

[0067] (3) The beam indication information is used to indicate a beam used for transmission, the beam including at least one of a transmitting beam and a receiving beam. The beam designation information may include at least one of a beam number, a beam steering resource number, an uplink signal resource number, a downlink signal resource number, an absolute beam index, a relative beam index, a logical beam index, an antenna port index, corresponding to the beam, Antenna Port Group Index corresponding to the beam, Downlink Signal Index corresponding to the beam, Time Index of the Downlink Synchronization Signal Block corresponding to the beam, Beam Pair Link (BPL) information, Tx parameter ) corresponding to the beam, the receive parameter (Rx parameter) corresponding to the beam, the transmission weight corresponding to the beam, the weight matrix corresponding to the beam, the vector of weights corresponding to the beam, the receive weight corresponding to the beam, the index of the transmission weight corresponding to the beam , ind the exa of the weight matrix corresponding to the beam, the index of the weight vector corresponding to the beam, the receive weight index corresponding to the beam, the receive codebook corresponding to the beam, the transmit codebook corresponding to the beam, the receive codebook index corresponding to the beam, and the codebook index transmission corresponding to the beam. The downlink signal includes any of a sync signal, a broadcast channel, a broadcast signal demodulation signal, a downlink signal with channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a cell specific reference signal, CS-RS), a user equipment specific reference signal (US-RS), a downlink control channel demodulation reference, a downlink data channel demodulation reference, and a downlink phase noise tracking signal. The uplink signal includes any one of an uplink random access sequence, an uplink reference sounding signal, an uplink control channel demodulation reference, an uplink data channel demodulation reference, and an uplink phase noise tracking signal. Optionally, the network device may further assign a QCL ID to a beam that has a QCL relationship and that is in the beams associated with the frequency resource group. The beam may also be referred to as a transmit spatial filter, the transmit beam may also be referred to as a transmit spatial filter, and the receive beam may also be referred to as a receive spatial filter. The beam indication information may be further represented as a transmission configuration index (transmission configuration index, TCI). The TCI may include a plurality of parameters such as a cell number, a bandwidth portion number, a reference signal identifier, a synchronization signal block identifier, and a QCL type.

[0068] (4) A network device may be a device that resides on a network and that connects a terminal device to a wireless network. The network device is a node in a radio access network and may also be referred to as a base station, or may be referred to as a node (or device) of a radio access network (RAN). Currently, for example, the network device is gNB, transmission reception point (TRP), evolved NodeB (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), node B (NodeB, NB) , base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (for example, home evolved NodeB or home Node B, HNB), baseband unit (BBU), or endpoint access (access point, AP) wireless reliability (wireless fidelity, Wi-fi). Further, in the network structure, the network device may include a centralized unit (CU) node and a distributed unit (DU) node. In this structure, the protocol layer of the eNB in the long term evolution (LTE) system is divided, where some protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, the remaining functions or all protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU, and the DU is centrally controlled by the CU.

[0069] (5) A terminal device, also referred to as user equipment (user equipment, UE), mobile station (mobile station, MS), mobile terminal (mobile terminal, MT), or the like, is a device that enables voice and /or data for the user, for example, a portable device or a vehicle-mounted device that has a wireless connection function. Currently, for example, the terminal device is a mobile phone (mobile phone), tablet computer, laptop computer, PDA, mobile Internet device (MID), wearable device, virtual reality device (virtual reality, VR), augmented reality (AR) device, industrial control wireless terminal, self driving wireless terminal, remote surgery wireless terminal, smart grid wireless terminal , a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, or the like.

[0070] (6) The communication system may be a system of various radio access technologies (RAT), such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA). ), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single carrier frequency division multiple access (FDMA with one carrier, SC-FDMA) , or another system. The terms "system" and "network" can be used interchangeably. A CDMA system may implement radio technologies such as universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA) and CDMA2000. UTRA may include wideband CDMA (wideband CDMA, WCDMA) technology and other variants of CDMA technologies. CDMA2000 may cover the interim standard (IS) 2000 (IS-2000), IS-95 and IS-856. A TDMA system may implement radio technologies such as the global system for mobile communications (GSM). The OFDMA system can implement such radio technologies as evolved universal terrestrial radio access (evolved UTRA, E-UTRA), ultra mobile broadband access (ultra mobile broadband, UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20 and Flash OFDMA. UTRA corresponds to UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and E-UTRA corresponds to an enhanced version of UMTS. 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and various versions developed based on LTE are revisions using E-UTRA UMTS. In addition, the communication system may be further applicable to future-oriented communication technologies. The system architecture and service scenario described in the embodiments of this application are intended to more clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, but are not a limitation of the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. One skilled in the art may be aware that: As network architecture evolves and new service scenarios emerge, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0071] In addition, it should be understood that in the descriptions of this application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used only for distinction and description, but should not be taken to indicate or imply relative importance or indicate or imply some order.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 2, this application provides a communication method procedure. The communication method is mainly used for downlink beam steering of a downlink reference signal. In the procedure shown in FIG. 2, the first reference signal in particular may be a downlink reference signal, and the first beam in particular may be a downlink beam. Step S201 and step S205 may be performed by the network device 101 in the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1, or may be performed by a device such as a chip or chip system that supports the network device in step S201 and step S205. In this embodiment of the present application, an example is used for description in which step S201 and step S205 are performed by the network device. Steps S202-S204 may be performed by the terminal device 102 in the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1, or may be executed by a device such as a chip or chip system that supports the terminal device when implementing steps S202-S204. In this embodiment of this application, an example is used for description in which steps S202-S204 are performed by the terminal device.

[0073] Step S201: The network device sends the first reference signal using the first beam.

[0074] In this embodiment of this application, the first reference signal can be any one or more of the following signals: channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), synchronization signal, broadcast channel, broadcast signal demodulation signal , cell specific reference signal (CS-RS), user equipment specific reference signal (US-RS), tracking reference signal (TRS), control channel demodulation reference a downlink data channel demodulation reference signal, and a downlink phase noise tracking signal.

[0075] Step S202: The terminal apparatus receives the first reference signal with the first beam.

[0076] Step S203: The terminal device determines the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal.

[0077] In this embodiment of this application, the first threshold value may be pre-negotiated by the terminal device and the network device, and may be set in the terminal device. Alternatively, the first threshold value may be determined by the terminal device and then reported to the network device. Alternatively, the first threshold value may be determined by the network device and then reported to the terminal device. In this embodiment of this application, the terminal device may include the first threshold value in the terminal device capability report information, or include the first threshold value in the uplink control information (UCI), or include the first threshold value in the control element to control access to the environment (media access control control element, MAC CE). Then, the terminal apparatus transmits the first threshold via an uplink control channel or via an uplink data channel.

[0078] In this embodiment of the present application, a technique for determining the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference may include, but is not limited to, the following exemplary techniques:

[0079] Example 1: The terminal device determines the quality parameter associated with the first reference signal. If the quality parameter is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the terminal device determines that the first beam is available. Alternatively, if the quality parameter is less than the first threshold, the terminal device determines that the first beam is unavailable.

[0080] Example 2: The terminal device determines the quality parameter associated with the first reference signal. If the quality parameter is greater than the first threshold, the terminal device determines that the first beam is available. Alternatively, if the quality parameter is less than or equal to the first threshold, the terminal apparatus determines that the first beam is unavailable.

[0081] In Example 1 and Example 2 of this application, the quality parameter associated with the first reference signal may include one or more of the following: reference signal received power (RSRP), reception quality of the reference signal (reference signal received quality (RSRQ), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), channel quality indicator (CQI), rank indicator (rank indicator, RI), precoding matrix indicator (PMI), and block error rate (BLER). In this embodiment of the present application, that the beam availability is calculated using one or more of the above quality parameters may be configured for the terminal device and the network device using the network device configuration or a protocol predefined technique.

[0082] It should be noted that in this embodiment of the present application, for parameters such as the reception power of the reference signal, the reception quality of the reference signal, the indicator of the intensity of the reception of the reference signal, the signal-to-noise ratio plus noise, the channel quality indicator, the rank indicator, the indicator precoding matrices, a larger value indicates better beam availability and better channel quality. For the block error rate, a larger value indicates lower beam availability and lower channel quality.

[0083] Optionally, when comparing the first threshold with a quality parameter that is associated with the first reference signal and that is obtained by measurement, the terminal device may scale, based on the transmission power of the first reference signal, the first threshold or quality parameter that is obtained by measurements. For example, the first threshold is set based on the reference that the transmit power is X dBm and the transmit power of the first reference signal is X+y dBm. When comparing the first threshold value with the quality parameter associated with the first reference signal, the terminal device may decrease by the value associated with y the quality parameter obtained by measurement, and then may compare this quality parameter with the first threshold value, or may increase the first threshold value by the value associated with y, and then can compare the quality parameter obtained by measurement with this first threshold value.

[0084] Optionally, the first threshold may be associated with at least one of the following thresholds: beam failure detection threshold, candidate beam threshold, link failure (out of sync) threshold, link synchronization threshold communication (in sync) and a cell reselection event detection threshold.

[0085] Optionally, the first threshold may be different for different beam steering resources. For example, when the beam steering resource is CSI-RS, the first threshold is a; when the beam steering resource is SSB, the first threshold is b.

[0086] In Example 1 and Example 2 of this application, when the quality parameter associated with the first reference signal is the reception power of the reference signal, the reception quality of the reference signal, or the indicator of the reception strength of the reference signal, the terminal apparatus may receive and measure the first reference signal to obtaining a reference signal reception power of the first reference signal itself, a quality of the reference signal reception of the first reference signal itself, or a reference signal reception strength indicator of the first reference signal itself. In this embodiment of the present application, if the terminal device measures the first reference signal to obtain the reference signal reception power of the first reference signal itself, the first threshold value is set using the reference signal reception power as the unit. Similarly, if the terminal device measures the first reference signal to obtain the reception quality of the reference signal of the first reference signal itself, the first threshold value is set using the reception quality of the reference signal as the unit. If the terminal device measures the first reference signal to obtain a reference signal reception strength indicator of the first reference signal itself, the first threshold value is set using the reference signal reception strength indicator as a unit.

[0087] Optionally, in this embodiment of the present application, when the quality parameters associated with the first reference signal are the reception power of the reference signal or the reception quality of the reference signal, the terminal apparatus may receive and measure the first reference signal to obtain the reception power of the reference signal, or the reception quality of the reference signal of the first reference signal itself, and then can measure the reception power of the reference signal or the reception quality of the reference signal of the first reference signal itself. Specifically, if the first reference signal is measured to obtain a reference signal reception power of the first reference signal itself, the terminal apparatus may measure the reference signal reception power of the first reference signal itself to obtain a reference signal reception power indicator of the first reference signal itself. Accordingly, the first threshold value is set using the reference signal reception power indicator as the unit. If the first reference signal is measured to obtain the reception quality of the reference signal of the first reference signal itself, the terminal apparatus may measure the reception quality of the reference signal of the first reference signal itself to obtain a reference signal reception quality indicator of the first reference signal itself. Accordingly, the first threshold value is set using the reference signal reception quality indicator as the unit.

[0088] In this embodiment of this application, when the quality parameter associated with the first reference signal is the signal-to-interference plus noise ratio, the terminal device may receive and measure the first reference signal to obtain the strength of the first reference signal and the strength of the interference signal. The terminal device then obtains a signal-to-interference plus noise ratio based on the intensity of the first reference signal and the intensity of the interference signal. Accordingly, the first threshold value is set using the signal-to-noise ratio plus noise as the unit.

[0089] In this embodiment of this application, when the quality parameters associated with the first reference signal are channel quality indicator (CQI), rank indicator (RI), precoding matrix indicator , PMI) or block error rate (BLER), the terminal device may measure the first reference signal to obtain a channel quality indicator, a rank indicator, a precoding matrix indicator, or a block error rate. For example, if the terminal device measures the first reference signal to obtain a channel quality indicator, the first threshold value is set using the channel quality indicator as the unit of measure. Similarly, if the terminal measures the first reference signal to obtain a rank indicator, the first threshold value is set using the rank indicator as the unit of measure. If the terminal device measures the first reference signal to obtain the precoding matrix indicator, the first threshold value is set using the precoding matrix indicator as the unit. If the terminal device measures the first reference signal to obtain the block error rate, the first threshold value is set using the block error rate as the unit.

[0090] Step S204: The terminal device sends the first feedback information, wherein the first feedback information may include the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0091] In this embodiment of this application, the terminal device may send the first feedback information using the second beam, which is consistent with the first beam. The matching relationship between the first beam and the second beam is preconfigured for the terminal device, and the second beam is the same as or different from the first beam. Specifically, in this embodiment of the present application, the correspondence between the first beam and the second beam is not limited. For example, alternatively, the second beam may be unrelated to the first beam. Alternatively, the terminal device may include the first feedback information in the terminal device capability report information, or include this first feedback information in the uplink control information (UCI), or include the first feedback information in the control element. for medium access control control element (MAC CE). Then, the terminal apparatus transmits the first feedback information via an uplink control channel or via an uplink data channel. In this embodiment of the present application, the technique for sending the first feedback information is not limited.

[0092] In this embodiment of this application, if the first indication information is the first value, this may indicate that the first beam is available; if the first indication information is the second value, it may indicate that the first beam is unavailable. The first value is different from the second value. Each of the first value and the second value may be represented by a single bit (bit), or each may be represented by a plurality of bits. For example, bit 0 can be used to represent that the first beam is unavailable, and bit 1 can be used to represent that the first beam is available. Alternatively, bit 1 may be used to represent that the first path is unavailable, and bit 0 may be used to indicate that the first path is available.

[0093] In the example of this application, the signaling format of the first feedback information may be a media access control protocol data unit (MAC PDU), wherein the MAC PDU may include a control element (CE), and the CE may carry the first indication information.

[0094] For example, in the example of this application, the MAC PDU may include one or more protocol media access control data subunits (MAC sub PDUs), and each MAC sub PDU includes a packet header (subheader) and a MAC CE, wherein the MAC CE can be fixed-sized or variable-sized. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the MAC PDU example, the MAC PDU may include n MAC sub PDUs: MAC sub PDU 1, MAC sub PDU 2, ..., and MAC sub PDU n. MAC sub PDU 1 may include a packet header and MAC CE 1, where MAC CE 1 may be a fixed size. The MAC sub PDU 2 may include a packet header and a MAC CE 2, where the MAC CE 2 may be of variable size. MAC sub PDU n may include a packet header and MAC CE n, where MAC CE n has a variable size.

[0095] In another example of this application, the signaling format of the first feedback information may be uplink control information (UCI), and the UCI may carry the first indication information. For example, in this embodiment of this application, the availability of a total of 64 beams is feedbacked, and the availability of each beam is represented by one bit. In this case, a UCI with a fixed size of 64 bits can be set, in which each bit represents the availability of one beam.

[0096] Step S205: The network device receives the first feedback information.

[0097] From the above descriptions, it can be understood that in this embodiment of the present application, the beam quality measurement report, which refers to the first beam and which is fed back by the terminal device, includes only the first indication information, the first indication information being used for indicating the availability of the first beam. Compared with the radio interface overhead and air interface usage in the previous solution, in which the beam quality measurement report of the first beam itself includes the first beam identifier and the receive power of the first reference signal, in this embodiment, the air interface overhead can be reduced, and the use of the air interface can be improved.

[0098] Optionally, in this embodiment of this application, for the procedure shown in FIG. 2, after step S205, the method may further include the following steps.

[0100] Step S206: The network device sends the second configuration information, wherein the second configuration information is used to indicate an available beam set or a beam control resource set.

[0101] Step S207: The terminal device receives the second configuration information.

[0102] In this embodiment of the present application, the network device may generate an available beam set or a terminal device beam control resource set using the received first feedback information, and then configure an available beam set or a terminal device beam control resource set for the terminal device based on the second configuration information. In this embodiment of this application, the set of available beams or the set of beam management resources may include one or more available beams. For example, in the example of this application, each time the terminal device obtains the availability of one beam through a measurement, the terminal device may feedback the beam availability to the network device. The network device may configure beam availability for the terminal device. Accordingly, the set of available beams includes one available beam. In another example, in the example of this application, after obtaining the availability of multiple beams through measurement, the terminal device may feed back the availability of multiple beams to the network device. The network device may configure the availability of multiple beams for the terminal device. Accordingly, the set of available beams includes a plurality of available beams.

[0103] For example, the network device receives four pieces of first feedback information, and four pieces of first feedback information are used to indicate that the first beam is available, the second beam is unavailable, the third beam is available, and the fourth beam is unavailable, respectively. In this case, the set of available beams of the terminal device may include {first beam, third beam}. Similarly, the terminal device's beam control resource set may also include {first beam, third beam}.

[0104] In this embodiment of this application, after the network device has configured the available beam set for the terminal device, if the serving beam of the terminal device fails, the terminal device can perform beam failure recovery using some beam in the available beam set. For example, still using the previous example. The set of available beams of the terminal device includes {first beam, third beam}. When the terminal device's current serving beam fails, the terminal device may select a first beam or a third beam from the set of available beams to perform beam failure recovery. Compared to the failure recovery success rate in the case where the terminal device selects a beam without any reference information to perform the failure recovery, the beam failure recovery success probability in this case can be improved.

[0105] In this embodiment of this application, after the network device has configured the beam steering resource set for the terminal device, the terminal device can select a beam from the beam steering resource set to listen and measure the beam. Compared with the power consumption and implementation complexity in the case where the terminal device listens and measures all beams (which may include unreachable beams), the power consumption and implementation complexity on the terminal device side can be reduced in this case.

[0106] In this embodiment of this application, the network device can configure the set of available beams or the set of beam management resources for the terminal device based on the second configuration information. Compared to the uplink resource usage and signal acquisition load of the terminal device in the case where the network device configures the available beam set or the beam management resource set for the terminal device without any reference information, in this case, the uplink resource usage can be improved, and the signal detection load of the terminal device is reduced.

[0107] Optionally, in this embodiment of this application, for the procedure shown in FIG. 2, the method may further include the following steps.

[0108] Step S208: The network device sends the third configuration information to the other terminal device, and the third configuration information is used to indicate the set of unreachable beams of the terminal device.

[0109] Step S209: The other terminal device may receive the third configuration information.

[0110] For example, still using the previous example. The network device may receive four pieces of the first feedback information fed back by the terminal device 1 and generate a set of unavailable beams of the terminal device 1. For example, the terminal device 1 sends four pieces of the first feedback information to the network device. These four pieces of first feedback information are used to indicate to the terminal apparatus 1 that the first beam is available, the second beam is unavailable, the third beam is available, and the fourth beam is unavailable, respectively. The network device may generate a set of unavailable beams {second beam, fourth beam} of terminal device 1. In this case, the network device may feedback a set of unavailable beams {second beam, fourth beam} of terminal device 1 to terminal device 2 to instruct the terminal device 2 communicate using the set of unreachable beams of the terminal device 1 so as not to interfere with the terminal device 1.

[0111] It should be noted that the sequence of steps S201-S207 is not limited to the procedure shown in FIG. 2 in this application. For example, the network device may first perform step S206 and then perform step S208, or the network device may first perform step S208 and then perform step S206. In this application, this is not a limitation.

[0112] As shown in FIG. 4, this application provides a communication method procedure. The communication method is mainly used for downlink beam steering of a downlink reference signal. In the procedure shown in FIG. 4, the first reference signal in particular may be a downlink reference signal, and the first beam in particular may be a downlink beam. Step S401 and step S405 may be performed by the network device 101 in the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1, or may be performed by a device such as a chip or chip system that supports the network device in step S401 and step S405. In this embodiment of the present application, an example is used for description in which step S401 and step S405 are performed by the network device. Steps S402-S404 may be performed by the network device 102 in the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1, or may be executed by a device such as a chip or chip system that supports the terminal device when implementing steps S402-S404. In this embodiment of the present application, an example is used for description in which steps S402 to S404 are performed by the terminal device.

[0113] Step S401: The network device sends the first reference signal using the first beam.

[0114] Step S402: The terminal device receives the first reference signal with the first beam.

[0115] Step S403: The terminal device determines the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal.

[0116] Step S404: The terminal apparatus sends the first indication information, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0117] Step S405: The network device receives the first indication information.

[0118] For a specific implementation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, refer to the description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Details are not repeated here.

[0119] Likewise, optionally, after step S405, the method may further include the following steps.

[0120] Step S406: The network device sends the second configuration information, while the second configuration information is used to indicate the set of available beams.

[0121] Step S407: The terminal device receives the second configuration information.

[0122] Similarly, optionally, in this embodiment of this application, the procedure shown in FIG. 4 may further include the following steps.

[0123] Step S408: The network device sends the third configuration information, while the third configuration information is used to indicate the set of unreachable beams of the terminal device.

[0124] Step S409: The other terminal device receives the third configuration information.

[0125] For a specific implementation process of FIG. 4, refer to the description of FIG. 2. Details are not repeated here. Similarly, it should be noted that in this embodiment of the present application, the sequence of steps S401 to S409 is not limited. For example, the network device may first perform step S406 and then perform step S408, or the network device may first perform step S408 and then perform step S406. In this application, this is not a limitation.

[0126] From the above description it is clear that in the embodiments of this application, the first thresholds with FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 may be determined by the terminal device, or may be determined by the network device and then reported to the terminal device, or may be predefined in the protocol and then set in the network device and the terminal device.

[0127] In embodiments of this application, if the first threshold is determined by the network device and then reported to the terminal device, the procedures shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 may further include: sending the network device the first configuration information to the terminal device; and, accordingly, the terminal device receiving the first configuration information sent by the network device, the first configuration information may include the first threshold value. In the embodiments of this application, the specific item of the above step is not limited. For example, the above step may be performed before step S201 or step S401.

[0128] In embodiments of this application, if the first threshold is determined by the terminal device, the terminal device reports the first threshold to the network device. In embodiments of this application, following the procedure shown in FIG. 2, the first feedback information in step S204 may further include second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate the first threshold. For the procedure shown in FIG. 4, the procedure shown in FIG. 4 may further include: sending, by the terminal device, second indication information to the network device; and, accordingly, the network device receiving the second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate the first threshold value.

[0129] In embodiments of this application, the number of first thresholds is not limited. There may be one or more first thresholds. For example, there may be one first threshold value. Accordingly, there is one part of the first indication information in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the above-described first threshold. Alternatively, there may be a plurality of first thresholds. Accordingly, there are a plurality of parts of the first indication information in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4, and each part of the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the corresponding first threshold. Accordingly, after receiving the plurality of pieces of the first indication information, the network device can perform an appropriate operation. For example, when all the plurality of pieces of the first indication information indicate that the first beam is available, the network device performs operation A; when some of the plurality of pieces of the first indication information indicate that the first beam is available, the network device performs operation B; when all the plurality of pieces of the first indication information indicate that the first beam is unavailable, the network device performs operation C. Alternatively, the first indication information may include N pieces of indication information, and the sequence numbers are numbers from 1 to N. In this case, the network the device can perform the first operation when the indication information whose sequence number is 1 indicates that the first beam is available. The network device may perform the second operation when the indication information whose sequence number is 2 indicates the availability of the first beam. By analogy, the network device can perform the Nth operation when the indication information, the sequence number of which is N, indicates the availability of the first beam.

[0130] In the embodiments of this application, an example is used for description, in which there are two first threshold values. For example, there are two first thresholds: a first threshold A and a first threshold B. The first beam is available according to the decision criterion of the first threshold A, and the first beam is unavailable according to the decision criterion of the first threshold B. Accordingly, the terminal apparatus may generate first indication information A and first indication information B. The first indication information A is used to indicate that the first beam is available according to the decision criterion of the first threshold A, and the first indication information B is used to indicate that the first beam is unavailable according to the decision criterion of the first threshold B. After receiving the first of the indication information A and the first indication information B, the network device can perform the corresponding operation, for example, perform the above operation B.

[0131] As shown in FIG. 5, this application provides a communication method procedure. In the procedure shown in FIG. 5, the procedure shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4 is described in detail using an example in which the first reference signal is the CSI resource set. The procedure may specifically include the following steps.

[0132] Step S501: The network device sends the first configuration information.

[0133] In this embodiment of this application, the network device may send all or part of the first configuration information through one or more types of signaling. For example, the network device may send the first configuration information to the terminal device using a downlink channel or resource such as a broadcast channel, a system message, a system message update, a paging message, a downlink control channel, a downlink data channel, or a downlink shared channel, as well as via radio resource control (RRC) signaling, MAC-CE, DCI, or the like.

[0134] In this embodiment of the present application, the first configuration information may include the following contents: reference signal configuration information, beam availability threshold configuration information, and configuration information for beam availability feedback. The reference signal configuration information, the beam availability threshold configuration information, and the configuration information for beam availability feedback will be described in detail below.

[0135] Reference signal configuration information:

[0136] For example, when the reference signal is a CSI-RS, the configuration information of the reference signal may include CSI resource set configuration information, and the CSI resource set may include one or more CSI-RS.

[0137] The CSI resource set configuration information may include:

an identifier for each reference signal, such as a CSI-RS resource ID or synchronization signal block index (SSB index); and

associated information about each CSI-RS resource, such as time-frequency resource location, number of ports, periodicity, and offset.

[0138] In this embodiment of the present application, the reference signal configuration method code may be as follows:

[0139] In this embodiment of this application, one resource set ID can be assigned to each CSI resource set. Each CSI resource set may include one or more resources. Each resource is also provided with its own identifier. The maximum number of resources in a resource set is the maximum number of non-zero cardinality CSI-RS resources (maxNrofNZP-CSI-RS-ResourcesPerSet) in the CSI-RS resource set.

[0140] Beam availability threshold configuration information:

[0141] In this embodiment of this application, one or more threshold values may be configured for a terminal device. Thresholds may be measured using one or more of RSRP, RSRQ, RSSI, SINR, and CQI. In the above one or more thresholds, at least one threshold is associated with a beam failure recovery configuration threshold.

[0142] Configuration information for beam availability feedback: In this embodiment of this application, the configuration information for beam availability feedback may include content, format, and the like that are reported for the beam availability feedback reported resource configuration and the like. The content of the third part is described in detail in step S505.

[0143] Step S502: The terminal device receives the first configuration information.

[0144] Step S503: The network device sends a reference signal based on the configuration information that is related to the reference signal and which is in the first configuration information.

[0145] Step S504: The terminal device receives the reference signal based on the configuration information that is related to the reference signal and which is in the first configuration information, and measures the reference signal.

[0146] In this embodiment of this application, the quality of the beam can be determined by measuring the reference signal. The beam quality may be fed back using one or more of the following parameters: BLER, RSRP, RSRQ, RSSI, SINR, CQI, PMI, and the like.

[0147] Optionally, the network device may also determine how to measure the reference signal. For example, if the network device requires the terminal device to report the RSRP, the terminal device may only measure the RSRP of the terminal device.

[0148] Step S505: The terminal device feeds back a beam availability message.

[0149] In this embodiment of this application, the terminal device may feedback the availability of each beam using one bit. For example, when the beam quality meets the beam availability threshold, the beam availability may be flagged as 1; when the beam quality does not meet the beam availability threshold, the beam availability may be flagged as 0.

[0150] For example, when the entire set of CSI resources may include eight CSI-RS resources, the eight CSI-RS resources are 1, 4, 6, 9, 13, 15, 24, and 63 in descending order of CSI-RSs. The UE measures the resources and determines that the beam quality of the resources whose IDs are 1, 9, 13, and 63 meets the beam availability threshold, and the UE may feedback the 8-bit bitmap {10011001}. Information fed back by the UE indicates that the first, fourth, fifth, and eighth resources, in ascending order of resource identifiers, meet the threshold.

[0151] In this embodiment of this application, the signaling format for beam availability feedback by the terminal device may be a MAC PDU or may be a UCI.

[0152] For example, when the signaling format for beam availability feedback by the UE is a MAC PDU, as shown in FIG. 3, the MAC PDU may include packet headers and MCE CEs, and the one MAC CE that resides in the MAC PDU and that is indicated by one packet subheader is one MAC CE for the beam availability message. When the resource set includes 64 CSI-RSs, in other words, when 64 beams are checked at a time, the MAC-CE may be shown in FIG. 6 as an example. The MAC-CE may include eight octets, where one octet is equal to one byte and includes eight bits. FIG. 6, one small square represents one bit and represents the availability of one beam. MAC-CE shown in FIG. 6 may be a fixed size MAC CE of 64 bits, the value of C may be 1 or 0, and the subscripts C represent resource identifiers sorted in ascending order in the resource set.

[0153] In this embodiment of this application, the signaling format for beam availability feedback by the UE may be UCI, and the UCI may be fixed size or variable size. The fixed size UCI of 64 bits is used as an example. When the beam quality corresponding to an identifier satisfies the threshold, the value of the bit corresponding to that identifier is 1. When the beam quality corresponding to the identifier does not satisfy the threshold, the value of the bit corresponding to the identifier is 0. The first bit represents the identifier of the first resource, sorted in the resource set in ascending order. The second bit represents the identifier of the second resource sorted in the resource set in ascending order. Bits 3 to 64 can be derived by analogy.

[0154] In this embodiment of this application, optionally, the transmission of the beam report of the terminal device can be combined as follows. For example, the beam quality reporting technique is {beam ID #1, beam #1 RSRP}. The 64-bit bitmap in this embodiment of this application may indicate a correlation between another beam and beam #1. For example, "1" indicates high correlation with ray #1 and "0" indicates low correlation with ray #1. In another example, the 64-bit bitmap in this embodiment of this application may indicate the degree of interference generated by the other beam for beam #1. For example, "1" indicates strong interference on path #1, and "0" indicates weak interference on path #1. In other examples, the 64-bit bitmap may also indicate whether the other beam and beam #1 are suitable for forming a multipath transmission channel, whether the other beam and beam #1 are suitable for forming a highly reliable transmission combination, and the like.

[0155] The above-described method can be further naturally extended to the case where the terminal device reports multiple beams with an existing reporting method. For example, the UE reports {beam #1+L1-RSRP of beam #1} and {beam #2+differential L1-RSRP between beam #2 and beam #1}. The 64-bit bitmap in this embodiment can naturally be extended to two 64-bit bitmaps. One 64-bit bitmap corresponds to path #1 and the other corresponds to path #2. The two bitmaps may be reported in groups (with group identifiers) or separately (without group identifiers).

[0156] Optionally, the terminal device may feedback the availability of each beam using M bits. If there are M beam availability thresholds configured at time 501, each bit may correspond to one threshold. For example, when there are two thresholds, two bits may be fed back for each beam, with the first bit indicating whether the beam quality satisfies the first threshold and the second bit indicates whether the beam quality satisfies the second threshold.

[0157] Optionally, the terminal device may feedback the availability of each beam using M bits. For example, the beam quality belongs to one of N intervals, and the UE may feedback using M = {rounded up log ₂ (N)} bits, the interval to which each beam quality belongs. Spacing can be obtained by separation based on absolute beam quality. For example, the RSRP ranges from -100 dBm to -50 dBm in bin 1 and -150 dBm to -100 dBm in bin 2. Alternatively, the bins may be derived by separation based on relative beam quality. For example, the difference between a beam and the strongest beam is in the range of 0 dB to 10 dB in bin 1 and is in the range of 10 dB to 20 dB in bin 2.

[0158] Optionally, the bitmap value may be the size of the resource set, or may be the maximum number of resources that is allowed in the resource set, for example, 64. The bitmap value may be M * the size of the resource set, or may be M * the maximum number of resources that allowed in the resource set. The sequence of resource identifiers corresponding to all bits in the bitmap is configurable, such as in ascending order or descending order.

[0159] In this embodiment of this application, beam availability feedback is not limited to using a bitmap. Alternatively, beam availability may be fed back using an explicit resource identification number, a logical resource identification number, or the like.

[0160] Step S506: The network device receives a beam availability message.

[0161] In this embodiment of this application, after receiving a beam availability message, the network device can update the configuration to use resources more correctly.

[0162] For example, the network device may configure all or some of the available resources (such as resources that are looped back as 1) of the terminal device as a new set of beam steering resources.

[0163] Alternatively, the network device may not configure unavailable resources (such as resources that are looped back as 0) into a new set of beam steering resources.

[0164] Alternatively, the network device may configure all or some of the available resources (such as resources that are looped back as 1) as a new set of available beam resources.

[0165] Alternatively, the network device may not configure unavailable resources (such as resources that are looped back as 0) into a new resource set of available beams.

[0166] Alternatively, the network device may configure all or some of the available resources (such as resources that are looped back as 1) as a set of beam pointers (such as TCI).

[0167] Alternatively, the network device may not configure unavailable resources (such as resources that are looped back as 0) into a set of beam pointers (such as TCI).

[0168] Alternatively, the network may use unavailable resources (such as resources that are looped back as 0) of a terminal device to serve another terminal device such that no interference is generated for the first-mentioned terminal device.

[0169] In this embodiment of the present application, the availability of each beam can be fed back at low cost, and more information is provided on the side of the network device. This helps the spoke-related resources to be correctly configured on the side of the network device.

[0170] This application further provides a communication method procedure. As shown in FIG. 7, the communication method is mainly used for uplink beam steering of an uplink reference signal. In the procedure shown in FIG. 7, the first reference signal in particular may be an uplink reference signal, and the first beam in particular may be an uplink beam. Step S701, step S705, and step S707 may be performed by the terminal device 102 in the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1, or may be performed by a device such as a chip or chip system that supports the terminal device in step S701, step S705, and step S707. In this embodiment of this application, an example is used for description in which step S701, step S705, and step S707 are executed by the terminal device. Step S702, step S703, step S704, and step S706 may be performed by the network device 101 in the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1, or may be performed by a device such as a chip or chip system that supports the network device 102 in step S702, step S703, step S704, and step S706. In this embodiment of this application, an example is used for description in which step S702, step S703, step S704, and step S706 are executed by the network device.

[0171] Step S701: The terminal device sends the first reference signal using the first beam.

[0172] In this embodiment of this application, for a description of the first reference signal, refer to the detailed description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Details are not repeated here.

[0173] Step S702: The network device receives the first reference signal with the first beam.

[0174] Step S703: The network device determines the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal.

[0175] Step S704: The network device sends the first feedback information, wherein the first feedback information may include the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0176] Step S705: The terminal device receives the first feedback information.

[0177] Optionally, step S704 may alternatively be replaced with step S706, and step S705 may alternatively be replaced with step S707.

[0178] Step S706: The network device sends the first indication information, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0179] Step S707: The terminal apparatus receives the first indication information.

[0180] In this embodiment of this application, to know how the network device determines in step S703 the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal, refer to the description of step S203 in FIG. 2. To know how the network device sends the first feedback information in step S704, refer to the description in step S204 in FIG. 2. To know how the network device sends the first indication information in step S706, refer to step S404 in FIG. 4. Details are not repeated here.

[0181] In this embodiment of this application, since the network device directly feeds back the availability of the first beam to the terminal device, compared to the overhead of the air interface in the case where the network device feeds back the first beam identifier and the reception power of the first beam reference signal to the terminal device, the air interface overhead in this embodiment can be reduced.

[0182] Based on the above concept, as shown in FIG. 8, this application further provides a communication device 800, and the communication device 800 may include a transceiver unit 801 and a processing unit 802.

[0183] In the example of this application, the communication device 800 may be applied to a terminal device, the transceiver unit 801 may be configured to perform S202 and S204 in the procedure shown in FIG. 2, and the processing unit 802 is configured to perform the step shown at S203 in the procedure shown in FIG. 2. For example, in particular, the transceiver unit 801 may be configured to receive the first reference signal from the first beam of the network device. The processing unit 802 may be configured to determine the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal. The transceiver unit 801 may be further configured to send the first feedback information to the network device, wherein the first feedback information includes at least the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0184] In another example of this application, the communication device 800 may be applied to a terminal device, the transceiver unit 801 may be configured to perform S402 and S404 in the procedure shown in FIG. 4, and the processing unit 802 is configured to perform the step shown at S403. For example, in particular, the transceiver unit 801 may be configured to receive the first reference signal from the first beam of the network device. The processing unit 802 may be configured to determine the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal. The transceiver unit 801 is further configured to send the first indication information to the network device.

[0185] In another example of this application, the communication device 800 may be applied to a network device, the transceiver unit 801 may be configured to perform S201 and S205 in the procedure shown in FIG. 2, and the processing unit 802 is configured to perform the step of generating the first reference signal. For example, in particular, the processing unit 802 may be configured to generate a first reference signal. The transceiver unit 801 may be configured to: send the first reference signal to the terminal device using the first beam and receive the first feedback information from the terminal device, wherein the first feedback information is determined based on the first reference signal and the first threshold, the first information the feedback includes at least first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0186] In another example of this application, the communication device 800 may be applied to a network device, the transceiver unit 801 may be configured to perform S401 and S405 in the procedure shown in FIG. 4, and the processing unit 802 is configured to perform the step of generating the first reference signal. For example, in particular, the processing unit 802 may generate a first reference signal. The transceiver unit 802 may be configured to: send the first reference signal to the terminal device using the first beam, and receive the first indication information from the terminal device, the first indication information being used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0187] In this embodiment of this application, for a specific description of the communication device 800, refer to the description of the procedure shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4. Details are not repeated here.

[0188] Based on the above concept, as shown in FIG. 9, an embodiment of this application further provides a communication device 900. The communication device 900 may correspond to a network device in the above methods, or may correspond to a terminal device in the above methods. In this document, this is not a limitation.

[0189] The communication device 900 may include a processor 910 and a memory 920. In addition, the device 900 may further include a receiver 940 and a transmitter 950. In addition, the device 900 may include a bus system 930.

[0190] The processor 910, memory 920, receiver 940, and transmitter 950 are connected to each other via a bus system 930. The memory 920 is configured to store the instruction. The processor 910 is configured to: execute an instruction stored in the memory 920 to control the receiver 940 to receive a signal and control the transmitter 950 to send a signal, thereby executing the network device or terminal device steps in the methods described above.

[0191] Receiver 940 and transmitter 950 may be the same physical entity or different physical entities, and together may be referred to as a transceiver. Memory 920 may be integrated with processor 910 or may be located separately from processor 910.

[0192] In an implementation, the functions of receiver 940 and transmitter 950 can be considered to be implemented using a transceiver circuit or a dedicated transceiver chip. Processor 910 may be considered to be implemented using a dedicated processing chip, processing circuit, processor, or general purpose chip.

[0193] In another implementation, the network device or terminal device provided in this embodiment of this application can be considered to be implemented using a computer. In particular, the program code for implementing the functions of processor 910, receiver 940, and transmitter 950 is stored in memory, and the general purpose processor implements the functions of processor 910, receiver 940, and transmitter 950 by executing code stored in memory.

[0194] For concepts, explanations, detailed descriptions and other steps that are involved in the device and related to the technical solution provided in this embodiment of the present invention, refer to the description of these contents in the above method or in another embodiment. The details are not repeated here.

[0195] In the example of this application, the communication device 900 may be applied to a terminal device. The communication device 900 may be configured to perform the steps performed by the terminal device in the procedure shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4. For example, receiver 940 may receive a first reference signal from a first beam of a network device. The processor 910 is configured to determine the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal. The transceiver 950 is configured to send the first feedback information to the network device, wherein the first feedback information includes the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam.

[0196] In another example of this application, the communication device 900 may be applied to a network device. The communication device 900 may be configured to perform the steps performed by the network device in the procedure shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4. For example, transceiver 950 may send a first reference signal to a terminal device using a first beam. The receiver 940 may receive the first feedback information from the terminal device, wherein the first feedback information is determined based on the first reference signal and the first threshold, the first feedback information includes at least the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicating the availability of the first beam.

[0197] Based on the above concept of FIG. 10 is a schematic structural representation of a network device, such as a base station, further provided in this application.

[0198] The base station can be applied to the communication system scenario shown in FIG. 1, and the base station may be the network device shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 FIG. 5 or FIG. 7. The base station may be configured to perform the steps performed by the network device in the procedure shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 FIG. 5 or FIG. 7. In particular, the base station 1000 may include one or more RF units, such as a remote radio unit (RRU) 1001, and one or more radio modem units (baseband unit, BBU) (which may also be referred to as digital units). (digital unit, DU)) 1002. The RRU 1001 may be a transceiver unit, a receiver/transmitter, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, or the like, and may include at least one antenna 10011 and an RF unit 10012. A portion of the RRU 1001 may be configured with capable of receiving and sending a radio frequency signal and performing conversion between the radio frequency signal and the base signal (baseband), for example, is configured to send the first reference signal, the first indication information or the first feedback information in the above embodiments to the user equipment. Part of the BBU 1002 may be configured to: perform basic processing, base station control, and the like. The RRU 1001 and BBU 1002 may be physically co-located or may be physically co-located, ie, as a distributed base station.

[0199] BBU 1002 is a base station control center, may also be referred to as a processing unit, and is configured to perform basic processing functions such as channel coding, multiplexing, modulation, and distribution. For example, the BBU (processing unit) may be configured to control the base station to perform the method in the procedure shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 FIG. 5 or FIG. 7.

[0200] In an example, BBU 1002 may include one or more cards, and multiple cards may jointly support a radio access network (eg, an NR network) of some single access standard, or may separately support radio access networks of different access standards. BBU 1002 may further include a memory 10021 and a processor 10022. The memory 10021 is configured to store instructions and data as needed. For example, the memory 10021 stores an instruction for "receiving the first reference signal, determining the availability of the first beam based on the first reference signal and the first threshold, and sending the first indication information" in the previous embodiments, and the processor 10022 is configured to control the base station to perform the necessary actions. Memory 10021 and processor 10022 are configured to serve one or more boards. In particular, the memory and processor may be placed on each board, or multiple boards may share the same memory and processor. In addition, the necessary circuit can be additionally placed on each board.

[0201] Based on the above concept of FIG. 11 is a schematic structural representation of a terminal device. The terminal device may be applicable to the steps performed by the terminal device in the procedure shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 or FIG. 7. For ease of description, FIG. 11 shows only the main components of the terminal device. As shown in FIG. 11, terminal device 110 may include a processor, memory, and control circuitry, and optionally may further include an antenna and/or input/output device. The processor may be configured to: process the communication protocol and communication data, control the user equipment, execute the software program, and process the data of the software program. The memory may store a software program and/or data. The control circuit may be configured to: perform conversion of the original signal and the RF signal, and process the RF signal. The control circuit together with the antenna may also be referred to as a transceiver, and may be configured to receive and send a radio frequency signal in the form of an electromagnetic wave. An input/output device, such as a touch screen, display, or keyboard, may be configured to receive user input and output data to the user.

[0202] In this embodiment of this application, the processor can read the software program in memory, interpret and execute the software program instruction, and process the software program data. When data is to be sent wirelessly, the processor performs basic processing on the data to be sent and then outputs the basic signal to the RF circuit. After performing RF signal processing on the base signal, the RF circuit sends the RF signal to the external environment using an antenna in the form of an electromagnetic wave. When data is sent to the user device, the RF circuitry receives the RF signal through the use of an antenna, converts the RF signal into a base signal, and outputs the base signal to the processor, and the processor converts the base signal into data and processes the data.

[0203] One skilled in the art will appreciate that for ease of description, in FIG. 11 shows only one memory and only one processor. In actual user equipment, there may be multiple processors and multiple storage devices. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium, a storage device, or the like. In this embodiment of this application, this is not limited.

[0204] In an optional implementation, the processor may include a radio modem processor and a central processing unit. The radio modem processor may be configured to process the communication protocol and communication data. The central processor may be configured to: control the entire user equipment, execute the software program, and process the data of the software program. The processor in FIG. 11 is integrated with the functions of the radio modem processor and the central processing unit. One skilled in the art can appreciate that the radio modem processor and the central processing unit may be independent processors and are interconnected through a technology such as a bus. One skilled in the art will appreciate that user equipment may include multiple radio modem processors to adapt to different network standards, user equipment may include multiple CPUs to improve user equipment processing performance, and user equipment components may be connected via different buses. The radio modem processor can also be expressed as a backend circuit or backend chip. The central processing unit can also be expressed as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The communication protocol and communication data processing function may be built into the processor or may be stored in memory in the form of a software program, and the processor executes the software program to implement the basic processing function.

[0205] For example, in this embodiment of this application, an antenna and a control circuit that have the functions of receiving and sending can be used as the transceiver unit 111 of the terminal device 110, and the processor, which has the processing function, can be considered as the processing unit 112 of the terminal device 110. As shown in FIG. 11, the terminal apparatus 110 may include a transceiver unit 111 and a processing unit 112. The transceiver unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, receiver/transmitter, transceiver, or the like. Optionally, the component that is in the transceiver unit 111 and which is configured to implement the receive function can be considered as a receive unit, and the component that is in the transceiver unit 111 and which is configured to implement the send function can be considered as a send unit. In other words, the transceiver unit 111 includes a receiving unit and a sending unit. For example, the receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiving machine, receiver, receiving circuit, or the like, and the sending unit may also be referred to as a transmitting machine, transmitter, transmitting circuit, or the like.

[0206] It should be understood that the network device and the terminal device in the above device embodiments fully correspond to the network device and the terminal device in the method embodiments, respectively, and the corresponding module or unit performs the corresponding step. For example, the sending module (transmitter) performs the send step in method embodiments, the receive module (receiver) performs the receive step in method embodiments, and the processing module (processor) may perform other steps other than sending and receiving. For the function of a particular module, refer to the respective method embodiments. The sending module and the receiving module may form a transceiver module, and the transmitter and receiver may form a transceiver to jointly implement the functions of receiving and sending. There may be one or more processors.

[0207] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication system including the above-described network device and the above-described terminal device.

[0208] Based on the embodiments described above, an embodiment of this application further provides a computer storage medium. The storage medium stores the software program, and when the software program is read and executed by one or more processors, the method provided in any one or more of the above embodiments can be implemented. Computer storage media may include: any media that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, removable hard drive, read only memory, random access memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0209] Based on the embodiments described above, an embodiment of this application further provides a chip. The chip includes a processor configured to implement a function in any one or more of the embodiments described above, for example, to receive or process information or a message in the methods described above. Optionally, the chip further includes a memory, and the memory is configured to store program instructions and data that are needed and executed by the processor. A microcircuit includes a microcircuit, or may include a microcircuit and other discrete device.

[0210] It should be understood that in embodiments of the present invention, the processor may be a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, "CPU" for short), or the processor may be another general purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC ) and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete logic element or transistorized logic device, a discrete hardware component, or the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or may be any conventional processor or the like.

[0211] The memory may include read-only memory and RAM, and provide instructions and data to the processor. The memory portion may further include non-volatile random access memory.

[0212] The bus system may further include a power bus, a control bus, a status signal bus, and the like in addition to a data bus. However, for clarity, the various types of busbars are referred to in the figures as a busbar system. During implementation, the steps in the methods described above may be implemented using a hardware integrated logic circuit in a processor or with instructions in the form of software. The steps of the methods disclosed with reference to embodiments of the present invention may be performed directly and completed by a hardware processor, or may be performed and completed using a combination of a software module and hardware that resides in the processor. The software module may be located in a storage medium known in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read only memory, programmable read only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and performs the steps in the methods described above using the information from the memory and the processor hardware. Details are not repeated here to avoid repetition. In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "many" means two or more. The term "and/or" describes an associative relationship between associated objects and may indicate three relationships. For example, A and/or B may indicate the following cases: Only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists, where A and B can be singular or plural. The "/" character usually indicates an "or" relationship between related entities. "At least one element (part) of the following" or a similar expression means any combination of these elements, including any combination of individual elements (parts) or multiple elements (parts). For example, at least one (one part) of a, b, or c may indicate: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, and c may be singular or plural.

[0213] One skilled in the art may appreciate that, for purposes of convenient and concise description, the detailed operating process of the aforementioned system, apparatus, and unit should be referred to the corresponding process in the above method embodiments, and the details are not repeated here.

[0214] In several embodiments provided herein, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described are merely examples. For example, the division into blocks is only a logical division into functions, but in actual implementation it may be different. For example, many blocks or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or certain features may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the interconnections or direct links or communication connections shown or described may be implemented using certain interfaces. Indirect connections or communication connections between devices or units can be implemented electrically, mechanically, or take other forms.

[0215] Blocks described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts shown as blocks may or may not be physical blocks, may be located in the same location, or may be distributed over multiple network blocks. Some or all of the blocks may be selected based on actual requirements in order to achieve the objectives of the decisions in the mentioned embodiments.

[0216] In addition, the functional blocks in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units may exist separately physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

[0217] All or some of the above embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to implement the embodiments, said embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. A computer program product includes one or more computer instructions (programs). When computer programs or instructions are downloaded and executed on a computer, procedures or functions according to embodiments of this application are generated in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored on a computer-readable medium or may be transferred from one computer-readable medium to another computer-readable medium. For example, computer instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by wire (for example, using coaxial cable, optical fiber, or digital subscriber line (DSL) ) or wirelessly (eg, infrared, radio and microwave, or the like). A computer-readable medium can be any suitable medium accessible to a computer, or a storage device such as a server or data center that combines one or more suitable media. Suitable media can be magnetic media (eg floppy disk, hard disk or magnetic disk), optical media (eg DVD) or semiconductor media (eg solid state drive (SSD)) or the like.

Claims (50)

1. Communication method, comprising: receiving, by the terminal device, a first reference signal from the first beam of the network device; determining, by the terminal device, a first beam availability based on a first threshold and a first reference, said first threshold being a beam availability threshold; and sending by the terminal device the first feedback information to the network device, wherein the first feedback information contains at least the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: receiving by the terminal device the first configuration information from the network device, wherein the first configuration information comprises a first threshold value. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first feedback information further comprises second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first threshold. 4. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which there is one or more first threshold values; and if there is one first threshold, there is one part of the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the first threshold; or if there are a plurality of first thresholds, there are a plurality of pieces of first indication information, and each piece of first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam according to the decision criterion of the corresponding first threshold. 5. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, wherein the signaling format of the first feedback information is a media access control protocol data unit, the media access control protocol data unit comprises a control element, and the control element carries the first indication information. 6. The method of claim. 1, wherein the determination by the terminal device of the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal comprises: determining, by the terminal device, a quality parameter associated with the first reference signal; and if the quality parameter is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, determining that the first beam is available; or if the quality parameter is less than the first threshold, determining that the first beam is unavailable. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the quality parameter comprises one or more of the following: reference signal reception power, reference signal reception quality, reference signal reception strength indicator, signal-to-noise-plus-noise ratio, signal quality indicator, rank indicator, or precoding matrix indicator. 8. Communication method, comprising: sending, by the network device, a first reference signal to the terminal device using the first beam; and reception by the network device of the first feedback information from the terminal device, wherein the first feedback information is determined based on the first reference signal and the first threshold, wherein said first threshold is a beam availability threshold, the first feedback information contains at least the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: sending, by the network device, first configuration information to the terminal device, wherein the first configuration information comprises a first threshold value. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the signaling format of the first feedback information is a media access control protocol data unit, the media access control protocol data unit comprises a control, and the control carries the first indication information. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: generating, by the network device, a set of available beams based on the first feedback information; and sending, by the network device, second configuration information to the terminal device, wherein the second configuration information is used to indicate the set of available beams. 12. A communication device, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a first reference signal from a first beam of the network device; a processor configured to determine the availability of the first beam based on the first threshold and the first reference signal, wherein said first threshold is a beam availability threshold; and a transmitter configured to send the first feedback information to the network device, wherein the first feedback information comprises at least the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam. 13. The communications device of claim 12, wherein the receiver is further configured to: receiving the first configuration information from the network device, wherein the first configuration information contains the first threshold value. 14. The communication apparatus of claim 12, wherein the signaling format of the first feedback information is a media access control protocol data unit, the media access control protocol data unit comprises a control element, and the control element carries the first indication information. 15. The communications device of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to: determining a quality parameter associated with the first reference signal; and if the quality parameter is greater than or equal to the first threshold, determining that the first beam is available; or if the quality parameter is less than the first threshold value, determining that the first beam is unavailable. 16. The communications device of claim 15, wherein the quality parameter comprises one or more of the following: reference signal reception power, reference signal reception quality, reference signal reception strength indicator, signal-to-noise-plus-noise ratio, signal quality indicator, rank indicator, or precoding matrix indicator. 17. A communication device, comprising: a transmitter configured to send the first reference signal to the terminal device using the first beam; and a receiver configured to receive first feedback information from the terminal device, wherein the first feedback information is determined based on the first reference signal and the first threshold, wherein said first threshold is a beam availability threshold, the first feedback information comprising at least the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the availability of the first beam. 18. Communication device according to claim 17, wherein the transmitter is additionally configured to: sending the first configuration information to the terminal device, wherein the first configuration information contains the first threshold value. 19. The communication apparatus of claim 17, wherein the signaling format of the first feedback information is a media access control protocol data unit, the media access control protocol data unit comprises a control element, and the control element carries the first indication information. 20. The communication device according to claim 17, wherein the communication device further comprises a processor configured to: generating a set of available beams based on the first feedback information; and the transmitter is further configured to: sending the second configuration information to the terminal device, wherein the second configuration information is used to indicate the set of available beams. 21. A storage medium containing a readable storage medium and a computer program, wherein the computer program is configured to implement the encoding method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7. 22. A storage medium containing a readable storage medium and a computer program, wherein the computer program is configured to implement the decoding method according to any one of paragraphs. 8-11.

Images