Patent Description:
At present, a Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) communication system supports Carrier Aggregation (CA) function and supports cross-carrier scheduling between Component Carriers (CCs), that is, scheduling data channels of other carriers through a control channel of a carrier.

In the Fifth generation mobile communication technology (<NUM>) CA system, a cross-carrier scheduling technology which is similar to that in the LTE-A is introduced. However, when <NUM> CA system adopts the cross-carrier scheduling technology which is similar to that in the LTE-A, there will be some problems. Specifically, the bandwidth of <NUM> system is much larger than that of the LTE-A, and a control channel responsible for data scheduling is much more complex than that in the LTE-A system, which may include a two-layer structure of a common control channel and a UE-specific control channel. If a complete common control channel and a UE-specific control channel are sent in each carrier, the overhead of control channels may be very large, and adopting cross-carrier scheduling will excessively increase the burden of a control channel of the main carrier. Based on this, it is urgent to put forward a method to solve this problem.

<CIT> discloses that a mobile station receives a downlink control structure in a first carrier, where the downlink control structure indicates that control information for the mobile station is on a second, different carrier. The mobile station decodes the control information in the second carrier, where the control information specifies resource allocation of a wireless link for the mobile station.

<CIT> discloses techniques for supporting operation on multiple carriers. In an aspect, a carrier indicator (CI) field may be used to support cross-carrier assignment. The CI field may be included in a grant sent on one carrier and may be used to indicate another carrier on which resources are assigned. In one design, a cell may determine a first carrier on which to send a grant to a UE, determine a second carrier on which resources are assigned to the UE, set a CI field of the grant based on the second carrier and a CI mapping for the first carrier, and send the grant to the UE on the first carrier. The UE may receive the grant on the first carrier from the cell and may determine the second carrier on which resources are assigned to the UE based on the CI field of the grant and the CI mapping for the first carrier.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for transmitting information, a network device, and a terminal device, as defined in the appended claims, which can save overhead of a common control channel.

Technical solutions in examples of the present disclosure are described below with reference to drawings in the examples of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that the technical solutions of the examples of the present disclosure may be applied to various communication systems, for example, current communication systems such as a Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, an LTE Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) system, an LTE time Division Duplex (TDD) system, and a Universal Mobile Communication system (UMTS), and especially to a future <NUM> system or a <NUM> New Radio (NR) prototype system.

It should also be understood that in the examples of the present disclosure, a network-side device may also be referred to as a network device or a base station, etc., and the base station may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in GSM or CDMA, a base station (NodeB) in WCDMA, an evolution base station (eNB or NodeB) in LTE, or a base station device in a future <NUM> network, etc., and this is not restricted in the present disclosure.

It should also be understood that in the examples of the present disclosure, a terminal device may communicate with one or more Core Networks via a Radio Access Network (RAN), and the terminal device may be referred to as an access terminal, User Equipment (UE), a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile platform, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent or a user apparatus. The terminal device may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device or a computing device with a wireless communication function, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an on-board device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a future <NUM> network, etc..

In the claimed invention, a method for transmitting information is provided, which includes: sending, by a network device, first configuration information to a terminal device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

In an example of the present disclosure, a network device may indicate configuration information of resources of other carriers (such as a second carrier) through a channel on a first carrier (such as a first control channel), and send relevant configuration information (such as first configuration information) to a terminal device. Thus the network device does not need to transmit a common control channel on each carrier, so as to save the overhead of the common control channel. Correspondingly, the terminal device may receive the first configuration information sent by the network device through the first control channel of a carrier to obtain the configuration information of multiple carriers, so as to avoid a detection for a common control channel on the multiple carriers, reduce the complexity of the terminal device and save the power of the terminal device.

In an example of the present disclosure, the first carrier and the second carrier are different carriers, such as a low-frequency carrier and a high-frequency carrier. For example, with the method for transmitting information according to the example of the present disclosure, a problem of insufficient coverage of the common control channel on the high-frequency carrier can be solved by sending configuration information of the high-frequency carrier through the common control channel on the low-frequency carrier. Therefore, with the technical solution of the example of the present disclosure, the coverage capability of the common control channel of the high-frequency carrier can further be equivalently improved.

The first configuration information indicates at least slot structure information, and may indicate other various configuration information of resources of the second carrier, such as reserved resources, and resource pool information. It should be understood that the first configuration information may include various configuration information of the resources of the second carrier, and this is not restricted in the present disclosure.

The first control channel is a common control channel. In some possible implementation modes, the second control channel may be a UE-specific control channel. That is, the network device may indicate relevant configuration of the UE-specific control channel on the second carrier through the common control channel on the first carrier.

In some possible implementation modes, the first configuration information may include at least one of index information of a time domain scheduling unit in which the second control channel is located, information of a resource used by the second control channel, and information of a numerology used by the second control channel.

In some possible implementation modes, the first control channel and the second control channel may adopt different carriers.

Optionally, the numerology adopted by the second control channel may be indicated in the information of a resource used by the second control channel, or it may be indicated by a network device through other implicit forms.

In some possible implementation modes, the first configuration information is resource configuration information of resources on the second carrier.

In the claimed invention, the first configuration information includes: structural information of a time domain scheduling unit within the resources of the second carrier.

The first configuration information includes structural information of a time slot within time-frequency resources of the second carrier, where the structure of the time slot within the resources of the second carrier includes an uplink resource part and a downlink resource part. The structure of the time slot within the resources of the second carrier may further include a length of a protection period GAP, etc..

It should be understood that the information included in the first configuration information may be sent through the same configuration information or may be sent in different configuration information, and this is not restricted in the present disclosure.

In some possible implementation modes, the first control channel may further carry indication information used for indicating an index of the time slot corresponding to the first configuration information.

In the claimed invention, a method for receiving information is provided, which includes:
receiving, by a terminal device, first configuration information sent by a network device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

The terminal device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device through the first control channel on the first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating the configuration on the second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different, therefore the overhead of common control channel can be saved, and electric energy of the terminal device can be saved. In other words, the terminal device can receive the first configuration information sent by the network device through the first control channel of a carrier to obtain configuration information of multiple carriers, so as to avoid a detection for a common control channel on the multiple carriers, reduce the complexity of the terminal device, and save the power of the terminal device.

In an example of the present disclosure, the first carrier and the second carrier are different carriers, such as a low-frequency carrier and a high-frequency carrier. For example, with the method for transmitting information according to the example of the present disclosure, a problem of insufficient coverage of the common control channel on high-frequency carrier can be solved by sending configuration information of the high-frequency carrier through the common control channel on the low-frequency carrier. Therefore, with the technical solution of the example of the present disclosure, the coverage capability of the common control channel of the high-frequency carrier can further be equivalently improved.

In some possible implementation modes, the first configuration information is configuration information of a second control channel on the second carrier.

The first control channel is a common control channel. In some possible implementation modes, the second control channel is a UE-specific control channel of the terminal device.

In some possible implementation modes, the first configuration information includes at least one of index information of a time domain scheduling unit in which the second control channel is located, information of a resource used by the second control channel, and information of a numerology used by the second control channel.

In some possible implementation modes, the first configuration information is resource configuration information of resources of the second carrier.

The first configuration information includes structure information of a time slot within resources of the second carrier.

In some possible implementation modes, the first control channel carries indication information used for indicating a number of a time domain scheduling unit corresponding to the first configuration information.

In the claimed invention, the time domain scheduling unit includes a time slot. In unclaimed illustrative implementation modes, the time domain scheduling unit includes mini-slot, or a sub-frame.

In some possible implementation modes, the first control channel and the second control channel adopt different carriers.

In some possible implementation modes, the numerology used by the second control channel includes at least one of following parameters: a subcarrier interval, a width of minimum frequency domain scheduling unit, a length of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, a length of minimum time domain scheduling unit, and a length of Cyclic Prefix (CP).

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a scene. It should be understood that the scene in <FIG> is introduced as an example for sake of understanding, which does not constitute a limitation on the present disclosure. In <FIG>, a terminal device <NUM>, a terminal device <NUM>, a terminal device <NUM> and a base station <NUM> are shown.

As shown in <FIG>, the terminal device <NUM> may communicate with the base station <NUM>, the terminal device <NUM> may communicate with the base station <NUM>, and the terminal device <NUM> may communicate with the base station <NUM>. Alternatively, the terminal device <NUM> may communicate with the terminal device <NUM>. Alternatively, as another case, the terminal device <NUM> communicates with the base station <NUM>. Here, for the communication between the terminal device and the base station or the communication between the terminal device and the terminal device, a UE-specific control channel of the terminal device may be indicated through a Common control channel.

However, in the prior art, if the <NUM> CA system adopts a cross-carrier scheduling technology which is similar to that in the LTE-A, there will be some problems: the control channel responsible for data scheduling in the <NUM> system may be far more complex than that in LTE-A system, accordingly, the overhead of the common control channel may be larger, and a channel burden of another carrier will be increased when transmitting with the other carrier, which may result in some waste of channel resources. In addition, as the common control channel needs to broadcast to all users, it is much difficult to improve coverage capability of the common control channel by using beamforming technology, which results in a problem of insufficient coverage of the common control channel on high-frequency carriers. In addition, correspondingly, the terminal device further needs to search for the common control channel at multiple positions, thus the complexity of the terminal device is increased and the power consumption of the terminal device is relatively large.

Therefore, in the claimed invention, the network device or terminal device in the unclaimed example of the present disclosure tries to indicate control information of other multiple carriers (such as a UE-specific control channel) through a common control channel of a carrier, so as to save the overhead of the common control channel. Furthermore, the problem of insufficient coverage of common control channel on high-frequency carriers can be improved.

<FIG> shows a schematic flowchart of a method <NUM> for transmitting information according to the claimed invention of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> may be performed by a network device, for example, the network device may be the base station <NUM> in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the method <NUM> includes the act S210.

In S210, a network device sends first configuration information to a terminal device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

Specifically, the network device may indicate configuration information of resources of other carriers (such as the second carrier) through a channel (such as the first control channel) on the first carrier, and send relevant configuration information (such as the first configuration information) to the terminal device. In this way, the network device does not need to transmit a common control channel on each carrier, and the overhead of the common control channel is saved. Correspondingly, the terminal device may receive the first configuration information sent by the network device through the first control channel of a carrier to obtain configuration information of multiple carriers, so as to avoid a detection of the common control channel on the multiple carriers, reduce the complexity of the terminal device and save the power of the terminal device.

Here, the first carrier and the second carrier are different carriers, such as a low-frequency carrier and a high-frequency carrier. For example, with the method for transmitting information according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the problem of insufficient coverage of a common control channel on the high-frequency carriers can be solved by sending the configuration information of the high-frequency carriers through the common control channel on the low-frequency carrier. Therefore, with the technical solution of the aspect of the present disclosure, the coverage capability of the common control channels on the high-frequency carriers can be further equivalently improved.

The first configuration information indicates at least slot structure information, and may indicate various configuration information of resources of the second carrier, such as reserved resources, and resource pool information. It should be understood that the first configuration information may include various configuration information of the resources of the second carrier, which are not restricted in the present disclosure.

Optionally, as an example, the first configuration information may be configuration information of a second control channel of resources of the second carrier. In other words, the first configuration information may indicate a related configuration of the second control channel of time-frequency resources of the second carrier.

The first control channel is a common control channel. Optionally, the second channel may be a UE-specific control channel. That is, the network device may indicate the relevant configuration of the UE-specific control channel on the second carrier through the common control channel on the first carrier.

Optionally, the first configuration information may include at least one of index information of a time domain scheduling unit in which the second control channel is located, information of a resource used by the second control channel, and information of a numerology used by the second control channel.

In the claimed invention, the time domain scheduling unit is a time slot. Optionally, in an unclaimed example of the present disclosure, the time domain scheduling unit may be specifically a mini-slot, or a sub-frame.

In an example of the present disclosure, the first control channel and the second control channel may adopt different carriers. That is, the carrier adopted by the common control channel and the carrier adopted by the UE-specific control channel of the terminal may be different.

Optionally, the numerology adopted by the second control channel may be indicated in the information of a resource used by the second control channel, or it may also be indicated by the network device through other implicit forms.

Therefore, in the method for transmitting information according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device through the first control channel on the first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating the configuration on the second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different, and the overhead of the common control channel can be saved.

Optionally, as an example, the first configuration information may be configuration information of resources on the second carrier.

The first configuration information includes: structural information of a time slot within resources of the second carrier.

The first configuration information includes structural information of a time slot within time-frequency resources of the second carrier, wherein, the structure of the time slot within the resources of the second carrier includes an uplink resource part and a downlink resource part. The structure of the time slot within the resources of the second carrier may further include a length of a protection period GAP.

Alternatively, for another example, the first configuration information may include reserved resource information of the time-frequency resources of the second carrier. This example is not part of the claimed invention.

Alternatively, for another example, the first configuration information may include resource pool information within the time-frequency resources of the second carrier. This example is not part of the claimed invention.

The above describes related examples of the first configuration information. Optionally, the first control channel may further carry indication information used for indicating an index of the time slot corresponding to the first configuration information.

That is, when the network device sends the configuration information through the first control channel, that the configuration information is to be sent to which time domain scheduling unit (such as to which sub-frame, time slot or mini-slot) may further be specified. In specific implementation, the network device may indicate the time domain scheduling unit corresponding to the configuration information to the terminal device by carrying the index of the time domain scheduling unit in the first configuration information. Alternatively, if several mini-slots are connected in series to form a time slot, an index of each mini-slot in the time slot may also be indicated, and this is not restricted in the present disclosure. Herein, the implementation in which the time domain scheduling unit is a sub-frame or a mini-slot is not part of the claimed invention.

It should be understood that in an example of the present disclosure, the first configuration information is only taken as an example for explanation, and multiple pieces of configuration information may be introduced in practice, and this is not restricted in the present disclosure.

It should also be understood that the information included in the first configuration information may be sent through the same configuration information or may be sent in different configuration information, and this is not restricted in the present disclosure.

It should also be understood that in examples of the present disclosure, the introduction of the serial numbers "first" and "second". is only used for distinguishing different objects, for example, to distinguish different "channels" or to distinguish different " carriers", which does not constitute limitation on the present disclosure.

A method for transmitting information according to an aspect of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to an example in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, represents a common control channel on carrier <NUM>, and □ represents a UE-specific control channel. Here, the common control channel on carrier <NUM> may be understood as the first control channel described above. The network device may indicate the UE-specific control channel on other carrier (such as carrier <NUM>) through the common control channel on carrier <NUM>. Of course, the network device may also indicate the UE-specific control channel on carrier <NUM> through the common control channel on carrier <NUM>. Each of multiple pieces of indication information shown in <FIG> may be understood as the first configuration information described above. Optionally, the network device may further indicate other configuration information (not shown) on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> in <FIG>, which are not restricted in the present disclosure.

Therefore, with the method for transmitting information according to the aspect of the present disclosure, it is not needed to transmit a common control channel on each carrier, thus the overhead of the common control channel may be obviously saved. Correspondingly, the terminal device may receive the first configuration information sent by the network device through the first control channel of a carrier to obtain configuration information of multiple carriers, so as to avoid a detection of a common control channel on the multiple carriers, reduce the complexity of the terminal device, and save the power of the terminal device.

In the following, a method for transmitting information according to an aspect of the present disclosure will be described with reference to an example in <FIG>, some similar concepts in <FIG> and <FIG> will not be described in detail for sake of conciseness. As shown in <FIG>, <IMG> represents a common control channel on carrier <NUM>, and <IMG> represents a UE-specific control channel such as UE-specific control channels corresponding to multiple time-frequency units on carrier <NUM>. The network device may indicate the UE-specific control channels of multiple time-frequency scheduling units (such as time-frequency scheduling unit <NUM>, time-frequency scheduling unit <NUM>, time-frequency scheduling unit <NUM>, and time-frequency scheduling unit <NUM>) on carrier <NUM> through the common control channel on carrier <NUM>. Optionally, multiple pieces indication information in <FIG> may be understood as the first configuration information previously mentioned.

In the following, a method for transmitting information according to an aspect of the present disclosure will be described with reference to an example in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, <IMG> represents a common control channel on carrier <NUM>. In <FIG>, other various configuration information on carrier <NUM>, which is not limited to a UE-specific control channel, may be indicated by the network device through the common control channel on carrier <NUM>. Optionally, the indication information in <FIG> may be understood as the first configuration information previously mentioned.

In the following, a method for transmitting information according to an aspect of the present disclosure will be described with reference to an example in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, <IMG> represents a common control channel on carrier <NUM>. In <FIG>, other various configuration information in each time-frequency scheduling unit (such as time-frequency scheduling unit <NUM>, time-frequency scheduling unit <NUM>, time-frequency scheduling unit <NUM>, and time-frequency scheduling unit <NUM>) on carrier <NUM>, which is not limited to a UE-specific control channel, may be indicated by the network device through the common control channel on carrier <NUM>. Optionally, various indication information in <FIG> may be understood as the first configuration information previously mentioned.

It should be understood that the examples in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> are introduced herein only for the convenience of understanding the technical solutions of aspects of the present disclosure by those skilled in the art, which does not constitute limitation on the present disclosure.

In the following, a method for transmitting information according to another unclaimed aspect of the present disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG> shows an illustrative flow chart of a method <NUM> for transmitting information according to another aspect of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> may be performed by a network device, for example, the network device may be the base station <NUM> in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the method <NUM> includes the act S510.

In S510, a network device sends first configuration information to a terminal device through system information on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on the second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

In an example of the present disclosure, the system information may be understood as system broadcast information.

The difference from the previous aspects is that, in this aspect, the first control channel and the second control channel are not distinguished, but the related configuration information is sent to the terminal device through the system information. Alternatively, it may also be understood that the "system information" in the aspect of the present disclosure may correspond to the "first control channel" in the preceding method <NUM>, and the "control channel" in the aspect of the present disclosure may correspond to the "second control channel" in the preceding method <NUM>.

Specifically, the network device may send the first configuration information to the terminal device through the system information on the first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating the configuration on the second carrier, and the first carrier is different from the second carrier. In this way, the network device does not need to send all of system information on each carrier, which saves the overhead of the system information. Correspondingly, the terminal device may receive the first configuration information sent by the network device through the system information on the first carrier, so as to obtain configurations of multiple carriers according to the first configuration information, thus avoiding the detection of the system information of the multiple carriers, reducing the complexity of the terminal device, and saving the power of the terminal device.

Optionally, as an example, the first configuration information is configuration information of a control channel on the second carrier.

Optionally, as an example, the first configuration information includes at least one of index information of a time domain scheduling unit in which the control channel is located, information of a resource used by the control channel, and information of a numerology used by the control channel.

Optionally, as an example, the time domain scheduling unit includes a time slot, mini-slot, or a sub-frame.

Optionally, as an example, the first configuration information may be resource allocation information of resources on the second carrier.

Optionally, as an example, the system information carries indication information used for indicating an index of the time slot corresponding to the first configuration information.

Here, concepts or terms appeared in this aspect are similar to those in the previous aspect, and will not be repeated for sake of conciseness.

Therefore, with the method for transmitting information according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the network device sends the first configuration information to the terminal device through system information on the first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating the configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier is different from the second carrier, the network device does not need to send all of system information on each carrier, thus saving the overhead of the system information.

Now, a method for transmitting information according to an unclaimed aspect of the present disclosure will be described with reference to an example in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>,<IMG> represents system broadcast information (located within the resources of carrier <NUM>) and<IMG> represents a control channel corresponding to each carrier (such as carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>). Here, the network device may transmit control channels of other carriers (such as carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>) to the terminal device through system broadcast information. Optionally, the network device may further send other configuration information (such as the first configuration information) to the terminal device through the system broadcast information, and this is not restricted in the present disclosure. Similarly, the indication information in <FIG> may also be understood as the first configuration information or other configuration information.

In the following, a method for transmitting information according to an unclaimed aspect of the present disclosure will be described with reference to an example in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, <IMG> represents system broadcast information (located in the resources using subcarrier interval f1), and <IMG> represents a control channel corresponding to a time domain scheduling unit (such as time domain scheduling unit <NUM>, time domain scheduling unit <NUM>, time domain scheduling unit <NUM>, time domain scheduling unit <NUM>, or time domain scheduling unit <NUM>) in each carrier (such as carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM>). Here, the network device may transmit control channels of time domain scheduling units of other carriers to the terminal device through the system broadcast information. Optionally, the network device may send other configuration information (such as the first configuration information) to the terminal device through system broadcast information, and this is not restricted in the present disclosure. Similarly, multiple pieces of indication information in <FIG> may also be understood as the first configuration information or other configuration information.

In this example, the network device sends first configuration information (i.e., indication information) to the terminal device through system broadcast information on the first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating the configuration within the resources of the second carrier, and the first carrier is different from the second carrier, and the overhead of common control channel can be saved.

The methods according to aspects of the present disclosure have been described above from a network device side. Next, a method according to an aspect of the present disclosure will be described from a terminal device side. For the sake of conciseness, the concepts or terms same as or similar to those on the network device side will not be repeated.

<FIG> shows a schematic flowchart of a method <NUM> for transmitting information according to the claimed invention of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> may be performed by a terminal device, for example, the terminal device may be the terminal device <NUM>, or the terminal device <NUM>, or the terminal device <NUM> in <FIG>. The method <NUM> may correspond to the preceding method <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the method <NUM> includes the act S710.

In S710, a terminal device receives first configuration information sent by a network device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

In the claimed invention, the terminal device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device through the first control channel on the first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating the configuration on the second carrier, the first carrier is different from the second carrier. The terminal device can receive the first configuration information sent by the network device through the first control channel of a carrier to obtain configuration information of multiple carriers, so as to avoid a detection of a common control channels on the multiple carriers, reduce the complexity of the terminal device, and save the power of the terminal device.

Optionally, as an example, the first configuration information is configuration information of a second control channel on the second carrier.

The first control channel is a common control channel. Optionally, as an example, the second control channel is a UE-specific control channel of the terminal device.

Optionally, as an example, the first configuration information includes at least one of index information of a time domain scheduling unit in which the second control channel is located, information of a resource used by the second control channel, and information of a numerology used by the second control channel.

Optionally, as an example, the first configuration information is resource configuration information of resources of the second carrier.

Optionally, as an example, the first control channel carries indication information used for indicating an index of the time slot corresponding to the first configuration information.

In the claimed invention, the time domain scheduling unit is a time slot. Optionally, as an unclaimed example, the time domain scheduling unit includes a mini-slot, or a sub-frame.

Optionally, as an example, the numerology used by the second control channel includes at least one of the following parameters:
a subcarrier interval, a width of minimum frequency domain scheduling unit, a length of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, a length of minimum time domain scheduling unit, and a length of Cyclic Prefix (CP).

Therefore, the terminal device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device through the first control channel on the first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating the configuration on the second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different, so that the overhead of common control channel can be saved, the complexity of the terminal device can be reduced, and the power of the terminal device can be saved.

<FIG> shows a schematic flowchart of a method <NUM> for transmitting information according to an unclaimed spect of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> may be performed by a terminal device, for example, the terminal device may be the terminal device <NUM>, or the terminal device <NUM>, or the terminal device <NUM> in <FIG>. The method <NUM> may correspond to the preceding method <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the method <NUM> includes the act S810.

In S810, a terminal device receives first configuration information sent by a network device through system information on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

In an example of the present disclosure, the terminal device may receive the first configuration information sent by the network device through the system information on the first carrier, so as to obtain configurations of multiple carriers according to the first configuration information, thus avoiding the detection of system information of the multiple carriers, reducing the complexity of the terminal device, and saving the power of the terminal device.

Optionally, as an example, the time domain scheduling unit includes a time slot, a mini-slot, or a sub-frame.

Optionally, as an example, the first configuration information is resource allocation information of resources of the second carrier.

Optionally, the numerology used by the control channel includes at least one of the following parameters:
a subcarrier interval, a width of frequency domain scheduling unit, a length of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, a length of minimum domain scheduling unit, and a length of cyclic prefix (CP).

Therefore, the terminal device may receive the first configuration information sent by the network device through the system information on the first carrier, so as to obtain the configurations of multiple carriers according to the first configuration information, thus avoiding a detection of system information of the multiple carriers, reducing the complexity of the terminal device, and saving the power of the terminal device.

Now, a network device according to the claimed invention of the present disclosure will be described. <FIG> shows a network device <NUM> according to an aspect of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the network device <NUM> includes a sending module <NUM>.

The sending module <NUM> is used for sending first configuration information to a terminal device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

The network device <NUM> according to the claimed invention of the present disclosure performs the method <NUM> for transmitting information according to the claimed invention of the present disclosure, and the above and other operations and/or functions of various units in the network device <NUM> are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows of the various methods mentioned above, which will not be described here in detail for sake of conciseness.

The network device <NUM> according to the aspect of the present disclosure sends first configuration information to a terminal device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different. The network device <NUM> does not need to transmit a common control channel on each carrier, thus saving the overhead of common control channel.

<FIG> shows a network device <NUM> according to another unclaimed aspect of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the network device <NUM> includes a sending module <NUM>.

The sending module <NUM> is used for sending first configuration information to a terminal device through system information on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

The network device <NUM> according to the aspect of the present disclosure may perform the method <NUM> for transmitting information according to the aspect of the present disclosure, and the above and other operations and/or functions of various units in the network device <NUM> are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows of the various methods mentioned above, which will not be described here in detail for sake of conciseness.

Therefore, the network device <NUM> according to the aspect of the present disclosure sends the first configuration information to a terminal device through system information on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating the configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different. The network device does not need to send all of system information on each carrier, thus saving the overhead of the system information.

Now, a terminal device according to an aspect of the present disclosure will be described. <FIG> shows a terminal device <NUM> according to the claimed invention of the present disclosure. For sake of conciseness, some similar terms, definitions or concepts will not be repeated. As illustrated in <FIG>, the terminal device <NUM> includes a receiving module <NUM>.

The receiving module <NUM> is used for receiving first configuration information sent by a network device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

The receiving module <NUM> is further used for: receiving the first configuration information sent by the network device through the first control channel on the first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is resource configuration information of resources of the second carrier.

The terminal device <NUM> according to the claimed invention of the present disclosure performs the method <NUM> for transmitting information according to the claimed invention of the present disclosure, and the above and other operations and/or functions of various units in the terminal device <NUM> are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows of the various methods mentioned above, which will not be described here in detail for sake of conciseness.

Therefore, the terminal device <NUM> according to the aspect of the present disclosure receives first configuration information sent by a network device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating the configuration on the second carrier, and the first carrier is different from the second carrier, and the overhead of common control channel can be saved and the power of the terminal device can be saved.

<FIG> shows a terminal device <NUM> according to an unclaimed aspect of the present disclosure. For sake of conciseness, some similar terms, definitions or concepts will not be repeated. As illustrated in <FIG>, the terminal device <NUM> includes a receiving module <NUM>.

The receiving module <NUM> is used for receiving first configuration information sent by a network device through system information on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

The terminal device <NUM> according to the aspect of the present disclosure may perform the method <NUM> for transmitting information according to the aspect of the present disclosure, and the above and other operations and/or functions of various units in the terminal device <NUM> are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows of the various methods mentioned above, which will not be described here in detail for sake of conciseness.

Therefore, the terminal device <NUM> according to the aspect of the present disclosure receives the first configuration information sent by a network device through the system information on the first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating the configuration on the second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different. The terminal device may receive the first configuration information sent by the network device through the system information on the first carrier, so as to obtain configurations of multiple carriers according to the first configuration information, thus avoiding a detection of the system information of the multiple carriers, reducing the complexity of the terminal device, and saving the power of the terminal device.

<FIG> shows a structure of a network device provided according to an aspect of the present disclosure, which includes at least one processor <NUM> (e.g., CPU), at least one network interface <NUM> or another communication interface, and a memory <NUM>. Optionally, the network device may also include a receiver <NUM> and a transmitter <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is used for executing an executable module, such as a computer program, stored in the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may include high-speed Random Access Memory (RAM) or non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk memory. Communication connection with at least one of other network elements is realized through at least one network interface <NUM> (which may be wired or wireless). Receiver <NUM> and transmitter <NUM> are used for transmitting various signals or information.

In some examples, the memory <NUM> stores a program <NUM> that may be executed by the processor <NUM> for implementing a method of a network device side of an aspect of the present disclosure described above.

In an example of the present disclosure, the transmitter <NUM> sends first configuration information to a terminal device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

<FIG> shows a structure of a network device provided according to another unclaimed aspect of the present disclosure, which includes at least one processor <NUM> (e.g., CPU), at least one network interface <NUM> or another communication interface, and a memory <NUM>. Optionally, the network device may also include a receiver <NUM> and a transmitter <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is used for executing an executable module, such as a computer program, stored in the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may include high-speed Random Access Memory (RAM) or non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk memory. Communication connection with at least one of other network elements is realized through at least one network interface <NUM> (which may be wired or wireless). Receiver <NUM> and transmitter <NUM> are used for transmitting various signals or information.

In some examples, the memory <NUM> stores a program <NUM>, which may be executed by the processor <NUM> for implementing a method of a network device side of an aspect of the present disclosure described above.

In an example of the present disclosure, the transmitter <NUM> sends first configuration information to a terminal device through system information on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

<FIG> shows a structure of a terminal device provided according to the claimed invention of the present disclosure, which includes at least one processor <NUM> (e.g., CPU), at least one network interface <NUM> or another communication interface, and a memory <NUM>. Optionally, the terminal device may also include a receiver <NUM> and a transmitter <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is used for executing an executable module, such as a computer program, stored in the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may include high-speed Random Access Memory (RAM) or non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk memory. Communication connection with at least one of other network elements is realized through at least one network interface <NUM> (which may be wired or wireless). Receiver <NUM> and transmitter <NUM> are used for transmitting various signals or information.

In some examples, the memory <NUM> stores a program <NUM> that can be executed by the processor <NUM> for implementing a method of a terminal device side of an aspect of the present disclosure described above.

In an example of the present disclosure, the receiver <NUM> receives first configuration information sent by a network device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

<FIG> shows a structure of a terminal device provided according to an unclaimed aspect of the present disclosure, which includes at least one processor <NUM> (e.g., CPU), at least one network interface <NUM> or another communication interface, and a memory <NUM>. Optionally, the terminal device may also include a receiver <NUM> and a transmitter <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is used for executing executable modules, such as computer programs, stored in the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may include high-speed Random Access Memory (RAM) or non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk memory. Communication connection with at least one of other network elements is realized through at least one network interface <NUM> (which may be wired or wireless). Receiver <NUM> and transmitter <NUM> are used for transmitting various signals or information.

In some examples, the memory <NUM> stores a program <NUM> that can be executed by the processor <NUM> for implementing a method of the terminal device side of an aspect of the present disclosure described above.

In an example of the present disclosure, the receiver <NUM> receives first configuration information sent by a network device through system information on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different.

It should be understood that in various examples of the present disclosure, values of sequence numbers in the above-mentioned processes do not imply an order of execution, and an order of execution of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on an implementation process of the example of the present disclosure.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the exemplary elements and algorithm acts described in connection with the examples disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of examples of the present disclosure.

Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that for convenience and conciseness of description, corresponding processes in the aforementioned method examples may be referred to for the specific working processes of the system, device, and unit described above, which are not repeated here.

In several examples provided according to the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus examples described above are only illustrative, for example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and there may be other division manners in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. On the other hand, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interface, apparatus or unit, and may be electrical, mechanical or in other forms.

The unit described as a separate component may or may not be physically separated, and the component shown as a unit may or may not be a physical unit, i.e., it may be located in one place or may be distributed over multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to practical needs to achieve a purpose of examples.

In addition, various functional units in various examples of the present disclosure may be integrated in one processing unit, or various units may be physically present separately, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) for transmitting information, comprising:
sending, by a network device, first configuration information to a terminal device through a first control channel on a first carrier, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a configuration on a second carrier, and the first carrier and the second carrier are different (S210);
characterized in that the first control channel is a common control channel, and the first configuration information comprises information of a structure of a time slot within resources of the second carrier, wherein the structure of the time slot within the resources of the second carrier includes an uplink resource part and a downlink resource part.