Patent Description:
As a quantity of mobile terminals and a data amount required by a user increase, bandwidth of a frequency band below <NUM> currently cannot meet a requirement for an increasing communication data amount. Therefore, using a high frequency band (<NUM> to <NUM> or a higher frequency band) having rich bandwidth resources as a backhaul frequency band and an access frequency band will become a trend. However, compared with a frequency band below <NUM>, a large path loss is one of distinct features of the high frequency band. To ensure a particular transmission distance, a high frequency beam needs to be relatively narrow to achieve a relatively large gain. However, because a coverage area of a narrow beam system is limited, to obtain a maximum antenna gain, a base station (Base Station, BS for short) end and user equipment (User Equipment, UE for short) need to perform narrow beam scanning and alignment before data transmission, so as to implement normal communication between the BS and the UE.

In a scanning and alignment phase in the prior art, a fixed timeslot used for periodic scanning needs to be configured in each subframe. In addition, traversing needs to be performed in all directions during each scanning, so that an optimal combination of a transmit beam and a receive beam can be selected, to implement subsequent data transmission. For example, a transmit end has four different beams (Z1-Z4), and each beam carries corresponding beam information of the beam. Scanning of the four beams is completed in an initial phase of each subframe, and each beam occupies a timeslot, for example, <NUM>. Therefore, the first <NUM> of each subframe is used for beam scanning and alignment, and remaining <NUM> is used for data transmission. A receive end also has four beams (RX1-RX4), and a scanned beam is changed in each subframe, that is, <NUM>. In this case, a total of <NUM> is required to complete scanning of all <NUM> beam combinations of the receive beams and the transmit beams. The receive end demodulates beam information of the beams at the transmit end, and then feeds back, in a data transmission phase, information about an optimal combination of a transmit beam and a receive beam to the transmit end (for example, the transmit beam is Z3, and the receive beam is R2). The transmit end performs sending in the data transmission phase by using the beam Z3, and the receive end performs receiving by using the beam R2. Because in the whole process, a fixed timeslot used for scanning needs to be configured in each subframe, and traversing needs to be performed in all directions during each scanning, a lot of time is spent, and a large quantity of resources are occupied.

<CIT> relates to method of operating base station and terminal in cellular telecommunication system for operating multiple beams. <CIT> relates to apparatus and method for beamforming in wireless communication system. <CIT> relates to apparatus and method for operating resources in communication system. <CIT> relates to apparatus and method for beam selecting in beamformed wireless communication system.

A technical problem to be resolved in implementations of the present disclosure is to provide a communication method, a base station, and user equipment, to resolve a problem that narrow beam communication requires a long scanning time and occupies a large quantity of resources.

The following beneficial effects are achieved by implementing the implementations of the present disclosure:.

As beam information carried when a base station sends data to first UE is also sent to second UE, when the base station and the first UE perform scanning and alignment in a next subframe, some or all of scheduled beams may not be scanned repeatedly any longer. This helps to reduce a scanning time, and reduce time-frequency resources occupied during scanning. In addition, as the second UE can receive the beam information when the base station and the first UE perform data transmission, the second UE can learn, according to the beam information, an accessible beam, thereby facilitating quick access of the second UE.

The implementations of the present disclosure may be applied to a high-frequency wireless cellular transmission system, or may be applied to an <NUM>. 11ad Wireless Gigabit (Wireless Gigabit, WiGig for short) system. That is, a communication method, a base station, and user equipment described in the implementations of the present disclosure may be applied to a scenario in which a base station and user equipment perform beam communication. In addition, the user equipment is user equipment that can be covered by a transmit beam of the base station. The user equipment may be an activated user, that is, a user that has accessed a transmit beam of the base station, or may be an inactivated user, that is, a user that has not accessed any transmit beam of the base station. According to the method in the implementations of the present disclosure, efficiency of performing, by a base station, scanning and alignment together with an activated user, that is, a user that has accessed a beam, can be improved, and a time for accessing a system by an inactivated user, that is, a user that has not accessed a beam, can be reduced. The following provides detailed descriptions with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic flowchart of a first implementation of a communication method according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, the method includes the following steps.

A base station performs beam scanning and alignment together with first user equipment in a first subframe, to determine a beam that is used for sending data in the first subframe.

A quantity of beams used for sending data is greater than or equal to <NUM>.

If the quantity of beams that are used for sending data in the first subframe is greater than <NUM>, and the beam used for sending data is switched from a first beam to a second beam, when beam information is being sent, the beam information carried in a time-frequency resource needs to be switched to beam information of the second beam. Likewise, if the beam used for sending data is switched from the second beam to a third beam, when the beam information is being sent, the beam information carried in the time-frequency resource is switched to beam information of the third beam.

When sending data to the first user equipment by using the beam, the base station sends beam information of the beam used for sending data.

The beam information includes at least identification information of the beam and a synchronization signal.

The synchronization signal is used by second user equipment to synchronize with the base station.

The identification information of the beam is used by the first user equipment and the second user equipment to identify the beam sent by the base station.

Optionally, the identification information of the beam may be a simple beam number, or may be another code used for identifying the beam. This is not limited in this implementation of the present disclosure.

The first user equipment is user equipment that has accessed the base station, and the first user equipment already can perform data transmission with the base station. The second user equipment is user equipment that is to access the base station. The second user equipment may determine, after receiving one or more pieces of beam information, which beam is an optimal access beam, and feed back information about the optimal beam to the base station. Then, the base station may schedule a beam to the second user equipment according to the information about the optimal beam, so that the second user equipment can also perform data communication with the base station.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic flowchart of a second implementation of a communication method according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, the method includes the following steps.

A base station performs beam scanning and alignment together with first user equipment in a first subframe, to determine a beam that is used for sending data in the first subframe.

Optionally, the first subframe may be a subframe in which the base station performs scanning and alignment together with the first UE for the first time, or may be a subframe in any time domain in a scanning and alignment phase.

Beam scanning and alignment may be performed periodically. An object of scanning and alignment may include UE that has accessed a beam and UE that has not accessed a beam. Beam scanning for the UE that has accessed a beam is to determine whether the beam needs to be switched, and beam scanning for the UE that has not accessed a beam is to enable the access.

Optionally, if no beam used for transmitting data is scheduled before a first subframe period, the base station needs to scan, in the first subframe, all beams that can be used for transmitting data. After synchronizing with the base station, the UE identifies a corresponding beam number, that is, beam identification information, by demodulating the beam information, and may optionally obtain beam quality information of the beam by means of demodulation. The beam quality information is used to indicate channel status quality corresponding to the beam. The beam quality information herein may include but is not limited to any one or more of the following:
a signal-to-noise ratio (Signal-to-Noise Ratio, SNR for short), a signal to interference plus noise ratio (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio, SINR), or signal energy.

When sending data to the first user equipment by using the beam, the base station sends beam information of the beam used for sending data.

Perform beam scanning and alignment together with the first user equipment and second user equipment in a second subframe.

A scanned beam does not include at least a beam that is scheduled for sending data in the first subframe. The second subframe is a next subframe of the first subframe.

That is, in a scanning phase of the second subframe, all or some beams that have been scheduled in a transmission phase of the first subframe are not repeatedly scanned any longer. This can reduce a scanning time.

Likewise, if a beam used for transmitting data is scheduled before the first subframe period, the base station may scan, in the first subframe, at least one beam that is not scheduled for sending data in a last subframe. However, in a next subframe of the second subframe, that is, a third subframe, the base station needs to scan, in the first subframe and the second subframe, at least one beam that is not scheduled for sending data in the first subframe and the second subframe.

For example, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> are respectively a schematic structural diagram of a frame used for scanning and alignment and data transmission, and a schematic structural diagram of a frame used for scanning and alignment and data transmission according to an implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, high-frequency narrow beam communication generally includes a scanning and alignment phase and a data transmission phase. The scanning and alignment phase is used for narrow beam scanning and alignment, and each beam carries corresponding beam information. In the data transmission phase, communication is performed by using a beam obtained after scanning and alignment. If scanning needs to be performed in a total of eight directions, beam switching needs to be performed for eight times in each subframe. If there are <NUM> orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM for short) symbols in each beam that are used for sending beam information for scanning, <NUM> OFDM symbols need to be fixedly allocated to each subframe in this process.

However, in this implementation of the present disclosure, referring to <FIG>, traversing is performed in all eight directions in the first subframe period, <NUM> OFDM symbols are allocated for scanning, and beams of numbers <NUM> to <NUM> are sent in a data transmission phase of the first subframe. The same as a beam sent in a scanning phase, beam information is inserted into all the beams of numbers <NUM> to <NUM>. Therefore, not all beams of numbers <NUM> to <NUM> need to be scanned in a scanning phase of the second subframe, only beams of numbers <NUM> to <NUM> need to be scanned, and only <NUM> OFDM symbols need to be allocated for beam scanning, so that overheads are reduced. Likewise, beams of numbers <NUM> to <NUM> are sent in a data transmission phase of the second subframe. Therefore, only beams of numbers <NUM> to <NUM> need to be scanned in a scanning phase of the third subframe, and only six OFDM symbols need to be allocated. Certainly, some beams that are scheduled for sending data in the first subframe may also be scanned in the second subframe. A scanning time can be reduced compared with that in the prior art, provided that not all the beams are scanned.

In conclusion, when each beam is being sent, information about the beam is inserted into a time-frequency resource block, so that there is no need to traverse all beams in each subframe period. This reduces a time spent on scanning and alignment, decreases a quantity of beam switching times, and ensures that all the beams can be transmitted periodically, thereby facilitating subsequent access of a new user. A scanning period is dynamically adjusted with reference to a historical beam sending status, and there is no need to configure a fixed scanning period. This can greatly reduce a timeslot length occupied by a scanning period in an entire frame structure, thereby reducing resource overheads.

Optionally, the beam used for sending data may be a single beam, or may be two or more beams.

If the quantity of beams used for sending data is greater than <NUM>, when beam information is being sent, the beam information carried in a time-frequency resource may be switched to beam information of a currently used beam according to the currently used beam, so as to ensure that when performing communication with the base station, the UE can accurately receive the beam information of the currently used beam.

A frame in an LTE architecture is used as an example. A schematic structural diagram of a frame that is used in an LTE architecture for carrying beam information in this implementation of the present disclosure may be shown in <FIG>. One frame includes several subframes, each subframe includes several timeslots, and the beam information may be carried in a timeslot.

For the synchronization information and the beam identification information included in the beam information,
the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information may be located in different fields in a same subframe or located in a same field in a same subframe. When the synchronization signal and the identification information are located in different fields, that is, the two are set independently for the first UE to obtain step by step, specifically, the first user equipment may first synchronize with a transmit end of the base station by using the synchronization signal, and then obtain the beam identification information by means of demodulation. Synchronization signals of all beams may be the same or different, and identification information of all beams differ from each other.

Alternatively, the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information may be located in a same field in a same subframe. That is, the synchronization information and the beam identification information may be set together for the first user equipment to obtain simultaneously. For example, one sequence may be used for detection of both the synchronization signal and the beam identification information. The first UE obtains the synchronization signal and the beam identification information by means of demodulation at a time.

Specifically, when the beam information is being stored, the beam information may be stored in a preset fixed resource block; or
a storage location of the beam information is indicated by the base station.

Referring to <FIG> are respectively corresponding to schematic diagrams of time-frequency resource setting in a first to a fourth implementation manners of storing beam information. <FIG> show a scenario in which the beam information is stored in a preset fixed resource block, and may include the following cases:.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in a multi-carrier system, preset contiguous or non-contiguous frequency resources are selected to store the beam information. As shown in <FIG>, a horizontal coordinate represents a time, a vertical coordinate represents a frequency, a crossed stripe represents beam identification information, and a unidirectional oblique stripe represents a synchronization signal. In a process of sending data on a beam <NUM> to a beam <NUM>, synchronization signals and beam identification information both are stored in contiguous frequency bands. As shown in <FIG>, a horizontal coordinate represents a time, a vertical coordinate represents a frequency, a crossed stripe represents beam identification information, and a unidirectional oblique stripe represents a synchronization signal. In a process of sending data on a beam <NUM> to a beam <NUM>, synchronization signals and beam identification information both are stored in non-contiguous frequency bands.

Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, in a single carrier system, the beam information is stored in different time segments. A unidirectional oblique stripe represents a synchronization signal, a crossed stripe represents beam identification information, and a blank part is a data part. Beam information of a beam <NUM> and beam information of a beam <NUM> are sequentially stored in different time segments. The first UE first receives a synchronization signal for synchronization, and then obtains beam identification information by means of demodulation.

Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, the beam information is stored in a data field. The first field in the data field identifies beam identification information, the next field indicates a packet length, and the last field indicates a modulation scheme. A location of the beam identification information in the data field may be fixed, or may be notified by the base station to the first UE.

Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, a storage location of the beam information is indicated by the base station. A crossed stripe represents beam identification information, and an oblique stripe is a synchronization signal. A storage location of beam information corresponding to each of a beam <NUM> to a beam <NUM> may be indicated randomly. The base station determines the storage location and then notifies the first UE.

Specifically, the base station may notify in advance a time-frequency resource location or a data field location for storing beam information corresponding to each beam. The beam information is dynamically stored at a specific location in a beam switching process in a scanning and alignment phase and a data transmission phase, so as to facilitate receiving and demodulation by the first UE. A manner, mentioned herein, of notifying the first UE by the base station may be notifying the first UE by using a low-frequency communication channel or may be another existing manner. This is not limited in this implementation of the present disclosure.

The foregoing storage manner is applicable to a case in which the synchronization signal and the beam identification information are set independently, and is also applicable to a case in which the two are set together.

Receive beam selection information reported by the second user equipment.

After scanning and alignment are completed, the UE device reports detected information, to help the base station end to complete resource scheduling (which may include beam resource scheduling and idle time domain resource scheduling) and access of a new user. A reporting manner may be a random access process in a Long Term Evolution (Long Term Evolution, LTE for short) technology, or may be conventional low frequency network access. This is not limited in this implementation of the present disclosure.

The beam selection information is generated by the second user equipment according to the beam information sent by the base station and the demodulated beam quality information, and includes beam identification information of an optimal beam and beam quality information of the optimal beam, where the optimal beam is obtained after the second user equipment performs comparison according to the beam quality information.

Allocate a beam to the second user equipment according to the beam selection information, and perform data transmission with the second user equipment.

After the first UE and the base station complete data transmission, if the second UE wants to connect to a system at this time, the second UE may generate the beam selection information according to the beam information sent by the base station. The beam selection information is generated by the second user equipment according to the beam information sent by the base station and the demodulated beam quality information, and includes beam identification information of an optimal beam and beam quality information of the optimal beam, where the optimal beam is obtained after the second user equipment performs comparison according to the beam quality information.

Then, the base station allocates a beam to the second user equipment according to the beam selection information, and performs data transmission with the second user equipment.

Specific application scenarios may be divided into two types. To show a beam quality comparison process, third UE is introduced and is described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, and <FIG> and <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> are a schematic flowchart of a first implementation of access of a new user in a communication method according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, for scheduling for UE located in coverage of two beams, it is assumed that UE1 has accessed a beam <NUM>, UE2 has accessed a beam <NUM> (the UE1 and the UE2 are activated users), UE3 is an inactivated user, and the UE3 is located in coverage of both the beam <NUM> and the beam <NUM>. It is desired that an optimal UE3 access process is implemented without adding a beam.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the method includes the following steps.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> are a schematic flowchart of a second implementation of access of a new user in a communication method according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, for scheduling for UE located in coverage of two beams, it is assumed that UE1 has accessed a beam <NUM>, UE2 has accessed a beam <NUM> (the UE1 and the UE2 are activated users), UE3 is an inactivated user, and the UE3 is located in a coverage area of the beam <NUM> but is not located in a coverage area of the beam <NUM>. It is desired that an optimal UE3 access process is implemented without adding a beam.

According to the manners described in <FIG> and <FIG>, and <FIG> and <FIG>, a message carrying beam information is sent, in a phase in which data is transmitted to UE1 and UE2, to UE3 that has not accessed a beam, so that quick access of an inactivated user can be implemented. Because no additional beam information needs to be sent, resource overheads are reduced and access efficiency of a new user is improved.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic flowchart of a third implementation of a communication method according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, the method includes the following steps.

When a base station performs beam scanning and alignment together with user equipment in a first subframe, determine a beam that is used for sending data in the first subframe.

The first subframe may be a subframe in which the base station performs scanning and alignment together with the first UE for the first time, or may be a subframe in any time domain in a scanning and alignment phase.

When the base station sends data to the user equipment, receive beam information sent by the base station when the base station sends the data by using the beam.

Synchronize with the base station according to the synchronization signal.

Identify, according to the identification information of the beam, the beam sent by the base station.

Optionally, the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information are located in different fields in a same subframe or located in a same field in a same subframe.

That is, the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information may be set independently for the user equipment to obtain step by step; or
the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information may be set together for the user equipment to obtain simultaneously.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic flowchart of a fourth implementation of a communication method according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, the method includes the following steps.

When a base station performs beam scanning and alignment together with user equipment in a first subframe, determine a beam that is used for sending data in the first subframe.

When the base station sends data to the user equipment, receive beam information sent by the base station when the base station sends the data by using the beam.

Synchronize with the base station according to the synchronization signal.

Identify, according to the identification information of the beam, the beam sent by the base station.

Perform beam scanning and alignment together with the base station in a second subframe.

Report beam selection information to the base station.

The beam selection information is generated by the user equipment according to the beam information sent by the base station and demodulated beam quality information, and includes beam identification information of an optimal beam and beam quality information of the optimal beam, where the optimal beam is obtained after the user equipment performs comparison according to the beam quality information.

Perform data transmission with the base station by using a beam allocated by the base station to the user equipment according to the beam selection information.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic composition diagram of a first implementation of a base station according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, the base station includes:.

That is, the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information are set independently for the first user equipment or the second user equipment to obtain step by step; or
the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information are set together for the first user equipment or the second user equipment to obtain simultaneously.

Optionally, the beam information is stored in a preset fixed resource block; or
the beam information is stored at a storage location specified by the base station.

Optionally, that the beam information is stored in a preset fixed resource block specifically includes:.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic composition diagram of a second implementation of a base station according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, the base station includes: a beam scanning unit <NUM> and a sending unit <NUM>.

The beam scanning unit <NUM> is configured to perform beam scanning and alignment together with first user equipment in a first subframe, to determine a beam that is used for sending data in the first subframe.

Optionally, if no beam used for transmitting data is scheduled before a first subframe period, the base station needs to scan, in the first subframe, all beams that can be used for transmitting data. After synchronizing with the base station, the UE identifies a corresponding beam number, that is, beam identification information, by demodulating the beam information, and may optionally obtain beam quality information of the beam by means of demodulation. The beam quality information is used to indicate channel status quality corresponding to the beam. The beam quality information herein may include but is not limited to any one or more of the following:
an SNR, an SINR, or signal energy.

The sending unit <NUM> is configured to send data to the first user equipment by using the beam, and send beam information of the beam.

Optionally, the base station further includes a receiving unit <NUM> and an allocation unit <NUM>.

The beam scanning unit <NUM> is further configured to:
perform beam scanning and alignment together with the first user equipment and the second user equipment in a second subframe, where a scanned beam does not include at least a beam that is scheduled for sending data in the first subframe, and the second subframe is a next subframe of the first subframe.

In a scanning phase of the second subframe, all or some beams that have been scheduled in a transmission phase of the first subframe are not repeatedly scanned any longer. This can reduce a scanning time.

Likewise, if a beam has been scheduled for transmitting data before the first subframe period, the base station may scan, in the first subframe, at least one beam that is not scheduled for sending data in a last subframe. In a next subframe of the second subframe, that is, a third subframe, the base station needs to scan, in the first subframe and the second subframe, at least one beam that is not scheduled for sending data in the first subframe and the second subframe.

The beam used for sending data may be a single beam, or may be two or more beams.

Optionally, the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information may be located in different fields in a same subframe or located in a same field in a same subframe.

That is, the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information are set independently (located in different fields) for the first user equipment or the second user equipment to obtain step by step; or
the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information are set together (located in a same field) for the first user equipment or the second user equipment to obtain simultaneously.

For example, the synchronization signal and the identification information may be set independently for the first UE to obtain step by step. Specifically, the first user equipment may first synchronize with a transmit end of the base station by using the synchronization signal, and then obtain the beam identification information by means of demodulation. Synchronization signals of all beams may be the same or different, and identification information of all beams differ from each other.

Alternatively, the synchronization information and the beam identification information may be set together for the first user equipment to obtain simultaneously. For example, one sequence may be used for detection of both the synchronization signal and the beam identification information. The first UE obtains the synchronization signal and the beam identification information by means of demodulation at a time.

The receiving unit <NUM> is configured to receive beam quality information that is obtained by the first user equipment and the second user equipment by means of demodulation according to the beam information sent by the base station.

Optionally, the receiving unit <NUM> is further configured to receive beam selection information reported by the second user equipment, where the beam selection information is generated by the second user equipment according to the beam information sent by the base station and the demodulated beam quality information, and includes beam identification information of an optimal beam and beam quality information of the optimal beam, where the optimal beam is obtained after the second user equipment performs comparison according to the beam quality information.

The allocation unit <NUM> is configured to allocate a beam to the second user equipment according to the beam selection information, and perform data transmission with the second user equipment.

It should be noted that, the beam scanning unit <NUM>, the sending unit <NUM>, the receiving unit <NUM>, and the allocation unit <NUM> may exist independently, or may be disposed in an integrated manner. In this implementation, the beam scanning unit <NUM>, the sending unit <NUM>, the receiving unit <NUM>, or the allocation unit <NUM> may be disposed independent of a processor of the base station in a hardware form, and may be disposed as a microprocessor; or may be built into a processor of the base station in a hardware form; or may be stored in a memory of the base station in a software form, so that the processor of the base station invokes and performs operations corresponding to the beam scanning unit <NUM>, the sending unit <NUM>, the receiving unit <NUM>, and the allocation unit <NUM>.

For example, in the second implementation (the implementation shown in <FIG>) of the base station in the present disclosure, the beam scanning unit <NUM> may be a processor of the base station. Functions of the sending unit <NUM>, the receiving unit <NUM>, and the allocation unit <NUM> may be built into the processor, or may be set independent of the processor, or may be stored in a memory in a software form, and the processor invokes and implements the functions of the units. This is not limited in this implementation of the present disclosure. The processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a single-chip microcomputer, or the like.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic composition diagram of a third implementation of a base station according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, the base station includes:
a receiver <NUM>, a transmitter <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>, where the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, and the processor <NUM> are connected to a bus, the memory <NUM> stores a group of program code, and the processor <NUM> is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory <NUM> to perform the following operations:.

Optionally, the processor <NUM> is further configured to:
perform beam scanning and alignment together with the first user equipment and the second user equipment in a second subframe, where a scanned beam does not include at least a beam that is scheduled for sending data in the first subframe, and the second subframe is a next subframe of the first subframe.

Optionally, the receiver <NUM> is configured to receive beam quality information that is obtained by the first user equipment and the second user equipment by means of demodulation according to the beam information sent by the base station, where the first user equipment is user equipment that has accessed the base station, and the second user equipment is user equipment that is to access the base station.

Optionally, the receiver <NUM> is configured to receive beam selection information reported by the second user equipment, where the beam selection information is generated by the second user equipment according to the beam information sent by the base station and the demodulated beam quality information, and includes beam identification information of an optimal beam and beam quality information of the optimal beam, where the optimal beam is obtained after the second user equipment performs comparison according to the beam quality information.

The processor <NUM> is further configured to allocate a beam to the second user equipment according to the beam selection information, and instruct the receiver <NUM> and the transmitter <NUM> to perform data transmission with the second user equipment.

Optionally, if the quantity of beams that are used for sending data in the first subframe is greater than <NUM>, and the beam used for sending data is switched from a first beam to a second beam, when the beam information is being sent, the beam information carried in a time-frequency resource is switched to beam information of the second beam.

Optionally, the beam information is stored in a preset fixed resource block; or
the processor <NUM> is further configured to indicate a storage location of the beam information.

That the beam information is stored in a preset fixed resource block includes:.

An implementation of the present disclosure further provides a computer storage medium, and the computer storage medium stores a program. When the program runs, some or all of the steps recorded in either of the first or the second implementation of the communication method in the present disclosure are included.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic composition diagram of a first implementation of user equipment according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, the user equipment includes:.

That is, the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information are set independently for the processor to obtain step by step; or
the synchronization signal and the identification information in the beam information are set together for the processor to obtain simultaneously.

It should be noted that, the user equipment in this implementation of the present disclosure may be user equipment that has accessed the base station or user equipment that has not accessed the base station. When the user equipment has accessed the base station, the user equipment may perform data transmission with the base station according to a currently allocated beam, and reduce, during beam scanning and alignment, a quantity of beams that are scanned each time to increase a time for beam scanning and alignment, and may further report beam quality information, so that the base station performs more optimized beam scheduling. When the user equipment has not accessed the base station, the user equipment may receive, when the base station sends data to other user equipment that has accessed the base station, beam information sent by the base station, and obtain beam quality information by means of demodulation. After comparison, the user equipment reports beam identification information (such as a beam number) of a beam having best quality for the user equipment, and beam quality information of the beam. Therefore, the base station can reduce a time for performing beam scanning and alignment together with the user equipment, and directly allocate a beam with relatively good quality to the user equipment, so as to implement quick access of the user equipment that has not accessed the base station.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic composition diagram of a second implementation of user equipment according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, the user equipment includes:.

Optionally, the user equipment further includes a reporting unit <NUM>.

The beam scanning unit <NUM> is further configured to:
perform beam scanning and alignment together with the base station in a second subframe, where a scanned beam does not include at least a beam that is scheduled for sending data in the first subframe, and the second subframe is a next subframe of the first subframe.

The reporting unit <NUM> is configured to report beam selection information to the base station, where the beam selection information is generated by the user equipment according to the beam information sent by the base station and demodulated beam quality information, and includes beam identification information of an optimal beam and beam quality information of the optimal beam, where the optimal beam is obtained after the user equipment performs comparison according to the beam quality information.

The receiving unit <NUM> is further configured to perform data transmission with the base station by using a beam allocated by the base station to the user equipment according to the beam selection information.

It should be noted that, the beam scanning unit <NUM>, the receiving unit <NUM>, the synchronization unit <NUM>, the identifying unit <NUM>, and the reporting unit <NUM> may exist independently, or may be disposed in an integrated manner. In this implementation, the beam scanning unit <NUM>, the receiving unit <NUM>, the synchronization unit <NUM>, the identifying unit <NUM>, or the reporting unit <NUM> may be disposed independent of a processor of the user equipment in a hardware form, and may be disposed as a microprocessor; or may be built into a processor of the user equipment in a hardware form; or may be stored in a memory of the user equipment in a software form, so that the processor of the user equipment invokes and performs operations corresponding to the beam scanning unit <NUM>, the receiving unit <NUM>, the synchronization unit <NUM>, the identifying unit <NUM>, and the reporting unit <NUM>.

For example, in the second implementation (the implementation shown in <FIG>) of the user equipment in the present disclosure, the beam scanning unit <NUM> may be a processor of the user equipment. Functions of the receiving unit <NUM>, the synchronization unit <NUM>, the identifying unit <NUM>, and the reporting unit <NUM> may be built into the processor, or may be set independent of the processor, or may be stored in a memory in a software form, and the processor invokes and implements the functions of the units. This is not limited in this implementation of the present disclosure. The processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a single-chip microcomputer, or the like.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic composition diagram of a third implementation of user equipment according to the present disclosure. In this implementation, the user equipment includes:
a receiver <NUM>, a transmitter <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>, where the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, and the processor <NUM> are connected to a bus, the memory <NUM> stores a group of program code, and the processor <NUM> is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory <NUM> to perform the following operations:.

Optionally, the processor <NUM> is further configured to:
perform beam scanning and alignment together with the base station in a second subframe, where a scanned beam does not include at least a beam that is scheduled for sending data in the first subframe, and the second subframe is a next subframe of the first subframe.

Optionally, the transmitter <NUM> is configured to report beam selection information to the base station, where the beam selection information is generated by the processor according to the beam information sent by the base station and demodulated beam quality information, and includes beam identification information of an optimal beam and beam quality information of the optimal beam, where the optimal beam is obtained after the processor performs comparison according to the beam quality information.

The receiver <NUM> and the transmitter <NUM> are further configured to perform data transmission with the base station by using a beam allocated by the base station to the user equipment according to the beam selection information.

An implementation of the present disclosure further provides a computer storage medium, and the computer storage medium stores a program. When the program runs, some or all of the steps recorded in either of the third or the fourth implementation of the communication method in the present disclosure are included.

It should be noted that the implementations in this specification are all described in a progressive manner, each implementation focuses on a difference from other implementations, and for same or similar parts in the implementations, reference may be made to these implementations. An apparatus implementation is basically similar to a method implementation, and therefore is described briefly; for related parts, reference may be made to related descriptions in the method implementation.

According to the description of the foregoing implementations, the present disclosure has the following advantages:.

When each beam is being sent, beam information of the beam is inserted into a time-frequency resource block, so that there is no need to traverse all beams in each subframe period. This reduces a time spent on scanning and alignment, and decreases a quantity of beam switching times. A scanning period is dynamically adjusted with reference to a historical beam sending status, and there is no need to configure a fixed scanning period. This can greatly reduce a timeslot length occupied by a scanning period in an entire frame structure, reduce resource overheads, and ensure that all beams can be transmitted periodically. User equipment that has not accessed the base station can obtain the beam information when user equipment that has accessed the base station performs data transmission with the base station. This facilitates subsequent quick access of a new user.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or some of the steps of the method implementations may be implemented by a program instructing relevant hardware. The program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. When the program runs, the steps of the method implementations are performed. The foregoing storage medium includes: any medium that can store program code, such as a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.

Claim 1:
A communication method, comprising:
sending (S202), by a base station, data to a first user equipment in a first subframe of a beam, and sending, in the first subframe simultaneously with the data, beam information of the beam used for sending the data, wherein the beam information comprises identification information of the beam and a synchronization signal, wherein the synchronization signal is used to facilitate a second user equipment to synchronize with the base station; characterised by
performing (S203), by the base station, beam scanning and alignment together with the first user equipment and the second user equipment in a second subframe, wherein a scanned beam does not include at least the beam used for sending data in the first subframe, and the second subframe is a next subframe of the first subframe.