Patent Description:
Carrier aggregation (Carrier Aggregation, CA for short) means that a quantity of carriers used in a communication process is not limited to only one, and communication is performed simultaneously on one primary component carrier and several secondary component carriers. Cells in which UE that has a carrier aggregation function aggregates are classified into one primary cell and several secondary cells.

In the prior art, user equipment (User Equipment, UE for short) usually reports channel status information (channel status information, CSI) of all cells to a base station by using a physical uplink control channel (physical uplink control channel, PUCCH for short) of a primary cell. Specifically, when the UE receives, at a subframe N, a secondary cell activation command sent by the base station, the UE starts at a preset time (N+<NUM>) to send a CSI report carrying CSI of an activated secondary cell to the base station. For an inactive secondary cell, a time at which the UE obtains valid CSI may vary with tracking states of the inactive secondary cell by the UE. It is possible that the UE has not obtained a valid CSI measurement value for a CSI report in the beginning of the preset time. In this case, the UE needs to fill the CSI with a special measurement value, so as to inform the base station that the UE has not obtained a valid measurement value. The UE does not start to fill a normal CSI measurement value until the UE starts to obtain a valid CSI measurement value.

Because CSI of all cells are reported to a base station by using a PUCCH of a primary cell, PUCCH loads of the primary cell are excessively high. Therefore, introduction of a PUCCH to a secondary cell is currently discussed in 3GPP, so that some secondary cells report CSI reports to a base station by using the PUCCH of a secondary cell. However, the secondary cell to which a PUCCH is introduced may be in an inactive state. In this case, it cannot be ensured that the secondary cell starts CSI reporting at a preset time. Therefore, reliability of a system is decreased. <CIT> discusses a wireless communication method for a user terminal and a wireless base station involving carrier aggregation. The method comprises a step in which the user equipment generates channel state information for cells in either Physical Uplink Control Channel Format <NUM> or Format <NUM> on the basis of the number of cells used in the carrier aggregation, and a step in which the generated channel state information is fed back using a resource configured by the wireless base station on the Physical Uplink Control Channel of a primary cell at a predetermined timing in accordance with the Physical Uplink Control Channel format.

The present invention is set out in the independent claims whereas preferred embodiments and further implementations are outlined in the dependent claims, description and figures.

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or in the prior art more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of the present invention, and persons of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely some but not all of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

<FIG> is a schematic flowchart of Embodiment <NUM> of a method for determining a reporting time of channel status information CSI according to the present invention. This embodiment of the present invention provides a method for determining a reporting time of channel status information CSI, and this embodiment is executed by UE. As shown in <FIG>, the method according to this embodiment may include the following steps.

Step <NUM>. UE receives a configuration message sent by a base station, and determines, according to the configuration message, a type of a PUCCH that is used by a secondary cell to report a CSI report.

In this embodiment, the type of the PUCCH includes a PUCCH of a primary cell and a PUCCH of a secondary cell. After receiving the configuration message sent by the base station, the UE determines, according to the configuration message, which secondary cells report CSI reports by using the PUCCH of the primary cell and which secondary cells report CSI reports by using the PUCCH of the secondary cell.

For example, the base station configures for the UE multiple cells, for example, <NUM> cells: a cell <NUM>, a cell <NUM>, a cell <NUM>, a cell <NUM>, a cell <NUM>, a cell <NUM>, a cell <NUM>, and a cell <NUM>. The cell <NUM> is a primary cell, the rest cells are secondary cells, and the cell <NUM> and the cell <NUM> have been configured with a PUCCH. It is assumed that CSI reports of the cell <NUM>, the cell <NUM>, the cell <NUM>, and the cell <NUM> are carried by a PUCCH of the primary cell, that is, the PUCCH of the cell <NUM>, and that CSI reports of the cell <NUM>, the cell <NUM>, the cell <NUM>, and the cell <NUM> are carried by a PUCCH of a secondary cell, that is, the PUCCH of the cell <NUM>.

Step <NUM>. The UE receives a secondary cell activation command that is sent by the base station and that carries a cell identity.

In this embodiment, after the secondary cell activation command sent by the base station is received, the UE activates a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity carried in the secondary cell activation command. It should be noted that, the secondary cell activation command may carry one or more cell identities, that is, the UE may activate one or more secondary cells according to the secondary cell activation command.

Step <NUM>. The UE determines, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report and the secondary cell activation command, an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

In this embodiment, after determining the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report, and activating a corresponding secondary cell according to a secondary cell activation command, the UE determines application times of CSI reports of activated secondary cells according to different types of PUCCHs that are used by the secondary cells to report CSI reports.

According to the method for determining an application time of a CSI report provided in this embodiment of the present invention, UE receives a configuration message sent by a base station and determines, according to the configuration message, a type of a PUCCH that is used by a secondary cell to report a CSI report; and the UE receives a secondary cell activation command that is sent by the base station and that carries a cell identity, and determines, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report and the secondary cell activation command, an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity. Because UE determines an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell according to a type of a PUCCH that is used by a secondary cell to report a CSI report, a prior-art phenomenon is avoided that it cannot be ensured that a secondary cell applies a CSI report at a preset time, and reliability of a system is improved.

In Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention, according to the foregoing method embodiment, optionally, the determining, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report and the secondary cell activation command, an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity includes:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a primary cell, starting, by the UE at a preset time point after the secondary cell activation command is received, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

Specifically, the UE determines, according to the secondary cell identity that is carried in the secondary cell activation command, a secondary cell that needs to be activated, and determines, according to a type of a PUCCH that is used, by the secondary cell that needs to be activated, to report a CSI report, that the type of the PUCCH that is used, by the secondary cell that needs to be activated, to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a primary cell. In this case, the UE starts, at the preset time point after the secondary cell activation command is received, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity. That the UE starts to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity includes that the CSI report of the secondary cell is carried in both a CSI report at a current time point corresponding to the application time and subsequent CSI reports. In a specific implementation process, the preset time point may be set according to actual needs or a time at which the UE receives the secondary cell activation command. For example, if the UE receives the secondary cell activation command at subframe N, the preset time point may be set to a time point corresponding to subframe (N+<NUM>), that is, the UE starts at subframe (N+<NUM>) to report the CSI report of the secondary cell. Selection of a specific value of the preset time point is not particularly limited herein in this embodiment of the present invention.

In Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention, according to the foregoing method embodiment, optionally, the determining, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report and the secondary cell activation command, an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity includes:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, and the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is a secondary cell including a PUCCH, starting, by the UE after the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is activated and after a preset time point after the secondary cell activation command is received, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity; or, if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, the secondary cell is a secondary cell including a PUCCH, and the secondary cell is in an active state, starting, after a preset time point after the secondary cell activation command is received, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

Specifically, a secondary cell that needs to be activated is determined according to a cell identity, of the secondary cell, that is carried in the secondary cell activation command, a type of a PUCCH that is used, by the secondary cell that needs to be activated, to report a CSI report is determined to be a PUCCH of a secondary cell according to the type of the PUCCH that is used, by the secondary cell that needs to be activated, to report the CSI report, and the secondary cell that needs to be activated is a secondary cell including a PUCCH. In this case, the secondary cell needs to complete secondary cell timing synchronization after receiving an activation command, and time spent in completing the synchronization varies depending on a channel condition of the secondary cell or a status, of the secondary cell, measured by the UE. As a result, the UE completes activation at different time points. Therefore, the UE needs to determine whether the secondary cell including the PUCCH has been activated at the preset time point. If the secondary cell including the PUCCH has been activated at the preset time point, the UE starts, at the preset time point, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity. If the secondary cell including the PUCCH has not been activated at the preset time point, the UE starts, after the preset time point and after the secondary cell including the PUCCH is activated, to apply a CSI report of the secondary cell including the PUCCH. For example, if the UE receives the secondary cell activation command at subframe N, and the preset time point is set to a time point corresponding to subframe (N+<NUM>), and it is found by determining that the secondary cell including the PUCCH has not been activated at the time point (N+<NUM>), and that the secondary cell including the PUCCH is activated at a time point (N+<NUM>), the UE starts at subframe (N+<NUM>) to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell. If it is found by determining that the secondary cell including the PUCCH has been activated at the time point (N+<NUM>), the UE starts at subframe (N+<NUM>) to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell. That the UE starts to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity includes that the CSI report of the secondary cell is carried in both a CSI report at a current time point corresponding to the application time and subsequent CSI reports. In a specific implementation process, the preset time point may be set according to actual needs or a time at which the UE receives the secondary cell activation command, and a preset time period may be set according to actual needs or experience. Selection of specific values of the preset time point and the preset time period is not particularly limited herein in this embodiment of the present invention.

In Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention, according to the foregoing method embodiment, optionally, the determining, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report and the secondary cell activation command, an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity includes:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, and the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is a secondary cell including a PUCCH, starting, by the UE after the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is activated and after the UE sends a channel sounding reference signal (Sounding Reference Signal, SRS for short) to the base station, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

Specifically, the UE starts to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell after activating the secondary cell and after sending the SRS signal to the base station, so that the base station determines, according to the received SRS signal, whether the secondary cell has been activated, and starts to receive, according to the SRS signal, a CSI report sent by the UE. That the UE starts to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity includes that the CSI report of the secondary cell is carried in both a CSI report at a current time point corresponding to the application time and subsequent CSI reports.

In Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention, according to the foregoing method embodiment, optionally, the determining, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report and the secondary cell activation command, an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity includes:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, and the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is a secondary cell including a PUCCH, starting, by the UE after the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is activated and after the UE sends a preamble to the base station, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

In Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention, according to the foregoing method embodiment, optionally, the determining, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report and the secondary cell activation command, an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity includes:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, and the secondary cell is not configured with a PUCCH, determining, by the UE, whether a secondary cell including a PUCCH is in an active state; and if the secondary cell including the PUCCH is in an active state, starting, by the UE at a preset time point after the secondary cell activation command is received, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity; or if the secondary cell including the PUCCH is in an inactive state, determining, by the UE according to an application time of a CSI report of the secondary cell including the PUCCH, the application time of the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

Specifically, if the UE determines that the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity reports CSI by using a PUCCH of a secondary cell, the UE needs to determine a status of the secondary cell including the PUCCH. If the UE learns that the secondary cell including the PUCCH is in an active state, in this case, similar to the case in which the CSI report is reported by using a PUCCH of a primary cell, the UE starts, at a preset time point after the secondary cell activation command is received, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell. That the UE starts to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity includes that the CSI report of the secondary cell is carried in both a CSI report at a current time point corresponding to the application time and subsequent CSI reports. If the UE learns that the secondary cell including the PUCCH is in an inactive state, in this case, the UE needs to determine the application time of the CSI report of the secondary cell according to an application time of a CSI report of the secondary cell including the PUCCH. In actual application, the application time of the CSI report of the secondary cell including the PUCCH is the same as the application time of the CSI report of the secondary cell. Preferably, that the UE determines whether the secondary cell including the PUCCH is in an active state may be performed when the UE receives the secondary cell activation command that is sent by the base station and that carries the cell identity.

According to the method for determining an application time of a CSI report provided in this embodiment of the present invention, UE receives a configuration message sent by a base station and determines, according to the configuration message, a type of PUCCH that is used by a secondary cell to report a CSI report; and the UE receives a secondary cell activation command that is sent by the base station and that carries a cell identity, and determines, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report and the secondary cell activation command, an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity. Because UE determines an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell according to a type of a PUCCH that is used by a secondary cell to report a CSI report, a prior-art phenomenon is avoided that it cannot be ensured that a secondary cell applies a CSI report at a preset time, and reliability of a system is improved.

Optionally, the UE starts, at a preset time point after the secondary cell activation command is received, a deactivation timer of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity; or
the UE performs, after a preset time point after the secondary cell activation command is received, at least one of the following operations: sending a listening reference signal to the base station, sending a scheduling request signal to the base station, or listening to a physical downlink control channel.

In addition, because a secondary cell to which a PUCCH is introduced may be configured to transmit a CSI report or a hybrid automatic repeat request (Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest, HARQ for short) feedback of at least one secondary cell, if the secondary cell to which a PUCCH is introduced is deactivated, the secondary cell is unable to transmit the CSI report or the HARQ feedback. However, another secondary cell that uses the PUCCH may be in an active state. Therefore, data transmission performance is affected.

To resolve this problem, in Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention, according to the foregoing method embodiment, optionally, the method may further include the following:.

The UE receives a configuration message sent by a base station, and determines, according to the configuration message, identity information of at least one second secondary cell that uses a PUCCH of a first secondary cell to transmit a CSI report and/or an HARQ feedback. The UE receives a secondary cell activation command sent by the base station, where the activation command is used to activate the first secondary cell and/or the at least one second secondary cell; the UE activates the first secondary cell and/or the at least one second secondary cell according to the secondary cell activation command; the UE deactivates the first secondary cell when a first condition of deactivating the first secondary cell is met; and the UE deactivates the at least one second secondary cell when a second condition of deactivating the at least one second secondary cell is met.

Specifically, the configuration message may carry identity information of the first secondary cell, an identity of at least one second secondary cell, and mapping relationship information. For example, one information element may be used to indicate identities of which second secondary cells are corresponding to the identity information of the first secondary cell. For example, an identity of the first secondary cell is <NUM>, and the identities of second secondary cells that use the PUCCH of the first secondary cell are <NUM> and <NUM>. For another example, one information element may be used to indicate an identity of a first secondary cell used by an identity of each second secondary cell. As illustrated below, an identity of a second secondary cell is <NUM>, and an identity of a corresponding first secondary cell is <NUM>; an identity of a second secondary cell is <NUM>, and an identity of a corresponding first secondary cell is <NUM>; or the like. For another example, one information element may be used to indicate information about a second secondary cell that uses the PUCCH of the first secondary cell. As illustrated below, identities of second secondary cells that use the PUCCH of the first secondary cell are <NUM> and <NUM>. There may be one or more first secondary cells. A specific quantity of first secondary cells is not limited in the present invention.

In addition, the first condition includes at least one of the following: The UE receives a deactivation command that is used to deactivate the first secondary cell; a first deactivation timer of the first secondary cell expires; or all the second secondary cells are deactivated or meet a deactivation condition.

The second condition is: The UE receives a deactivation command that is used to deactivate the at least one second secondary cell, a second deactivation timer of the at least one second secondary cell expires, the first secondary cell meets the first condition of deactivation, or the first secondary cell is deactivated.

It should be noted that the first condition and the second condition may be used separately or in combination.

Further, when the UE deactivates the first secondary cell, the UE further needs to deactivate all the second secondary cells.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, it can be ensured that a secondary cell to which a PUCCH is introduced and a cell that uses the PUCCH are deactivated simultaneously. This reduces a performance loss caused by a failure in synchronization and ensures data transmission performance.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment <NUM> of an apparatus for determining an application time of a CSI report according to the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the apparatus for determining an application time of a CSI report according to this embodiment of the present invention includes a receiving module <NUM> and a determining module <NUM>.

The receiving module <NUM> is configured to receive a configuration message sent by a base station; the determining module <NUM> is configured to determine, according to the configuration message received by the receiving module, a type of a physical uplink control channel PUCCH that is used by a secondary cell to report a CSI report; the receiving module <NUM> is further configured to receive a secondary cell activation command that is sent by the base station and that carries a cell identity; and the determining module <NUM> is further configured to determine, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report and the secondary cell activation command, an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

Optionally, the determining module <NUM> is specifically configured to:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a primary cell, start, at a preset time point after the receiving module <NUM> receives the secondary cell activation command, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

Optionally, the determining module <NUM> is specifically configured to:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, and the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is a secondary cell including a PUCCH, start, after the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is activated and after a preset time point after the receiving module <NUM> receives the secondary cell activation command, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

The apparatus for determining an application time of a CSI report according to this embodiment may be configured to execute the technical solution of the method for determining an application time of a CSI report provided in any embodiment of the present invention. An implementation principle and a technical effect of the apparatus are similar to those of the method, and are not further described herein.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment <NUM> of an apparatus for determining an application time of a CSI report according to the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, based on the embodiment shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a sending module <NUM>.

The sending module <NUM> is configured to send a channel sounding reference signal SRS to the base station.

The determining module <NUM> is specifically configured to:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, and the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is a secondary cell including a PUCCH, start, after the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is activated and after the sending module <NUM> sends the channel sounding reference signal SRS to the base station, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

The sending module <NUM> is configured to send a preamble to the base station.

The determining module <NUM> is specifically configured to:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, and the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is a secondary cell including a PUCCH, start, after the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is activated and after the sending module <NUM> sends the preamble to the base station, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment <NUM> of an apparatus for determining an application time of a CSI report according to the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, based on the embodiment shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a judging module <NUM>.

The judging module <NUM> is configured to determine whether the secondary cell including the PUCCH is in an active state.

The determining module <NUM> is specifically configured to:.

Optionally, the application time of the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity includes that the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is carried in a CSI report at a current time point corresponding to the application time and subsequent CSI reports.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment <NUM> of an apparatus for determining an application time of a CSI report according to the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, based on the embodiment shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a starting module <NUM>, a processing module <NUM>, and a sending module <NUM>.

The starting module <NUM> is configured to start, at a preset time point after the receiving module receives the secondary cell activation command, a deactivation timer of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

The processing module <NUM> is configured to trigger, after the preset time point after the receiving module <NUM> receives the secondary cell activation command, the following module to perform at least one of the following operations: the sending module <NUM> is configured to send a listening reference signal to the base station, the sending module <NUM> is configured to send a scheduling request signal to the base station, or the processing module <NUM> is configured to listen to a physical downlink control channel.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment <NUM> of UE according to the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the UE provided in this embodiment of the present invention includes a receiver <NUM> and a processor <NUM>.

The receiver <NUM> is configured to receive a configuration message sent by a base station; the processor <NUM> is configured to determine, according to the configuration message received by the receiver <NUM>, a type of a physical uplink control channel PUCCH that is used by a secondary cell to report a CSI report; the receiver <NUM> is configured to receive a secondary cell activation command that is sent by the base station and that carries a cell identity; and the processor <NUM> is configured to determine, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell to report the CSI report and the secondary cell activation command, an application time of a CSI report of a secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

The UE provided in this embodiment may be configured to execute the technical solution of the method for determining an application time of a CSI report provided in any embodiment of the present invention. An implementation principle and a technical effect of the UE are similar to those of the method, and are not further described herein.

Optionally, the processor <NUM> is specifically configured to:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a primary cell, start, at a preset time point after the receiver <NUM> receives the secondary cell activation command, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

Optionally, the processor <NUM> is specifically configured to:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, and the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is a secondary cell including a PUCCH, start, after the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is activated and after a preset time point after the receiver <NUM> receives the secondary cell activation command, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment <NUM> of UE according to the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, based on the embodiment shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the UE further includes a transmitter <NUM>.

The transmitter <NUM> is configured to send a channel sounding reference signal SRS to a base station.

The processor <NUM> is specifically configured to:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, and the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is a secondary cell including a PUCCH, start, after the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is activated and after the transmitter <NUM> sends the channel sounding reference signal SRS to the base station, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

Optionally, the transmitter <NUM> is configured to send a preamble to the base station.

The processor <NUM> is specifically configured to:
if a type of a PUCCH that is used by the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity to report the CSI report is a PUCCH of a secondary cell, and the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is a secondary cell including a PUCCH, start, after the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity is activated and after the transmitter <NUM> sends the preamble to the base station, to apply the CSI report of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity.

The processor <NUM> is further configured start, at a preset time point after a receiver <NUM> receives the secondary cell activation command, a deactivation timer of the secondary cell corresponding to the cell identity; or
the processor <NUM> is further configured to trigger, after a preset time point after the receiver <NUM> receives the secondary cell activation command, the transmitter <NUM> and/or the processor <NUM> to perform at least one of the following operations: the transmitter <NUM> is configured to send a listening reference signal to the base station, the transmitter <NUM> is configured to send a scheduling request signal to the base station, or the processor <NUM> is configured to listen to a physical downlink control channel.

It may be clearly understood by persons skilled in the art that, for the purpose of convenient and brief description, division of the foregoing function modules is used as an example for illustration. In actual application, the foregoing functions can be allocated to different function modules and implemented according to a requirement, that is, an inner structure of an apparatus is divided into different function modules to implement all or some of the functions described above. For a detailed working process of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, reference may be made to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not further described herein.

For example, the described apparatus embodiments are merely examples. For example, the module or unit division is merely logical function division and may be other division in actual implementation. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be indirect couplings or communication connections between some interfaces, apparatuses, and units, and may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate. Parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, and may be located in one position or distributed on a plurality of network units.

Claim 1:
A method for determining a reporting time of a channel status information, CSI, report, for user equipment, UE, comprising:
receiving a configuration message from a base station,
determining, according to the configuration message, identity information of at least one secondary cell that uses a PUCCH of a secondary cell to transmit a CSI report;
receiving a secondary cell activation command from the base station to activate the at least one secondary cell; and
determining, according to the type of the PUCCH that is used to transmit the CSI report of the at least one secondary cell and the secondary cell activation command, the reporting time of the CSI report of the at least one secondary cell;
wherein determining the reporting time of the CSI report of the at least one secondary cell comprises:
if the type of the PUCCH that is used to transmit the CSI report of the at least one secondary cell is a PUCCH of a secondary cell which is in an active state, starting after a preset time point after the secondary cell activation command is received, to report the CSI report of the at least one secondary cell; or
if the type of the PUCCH that is used to transmit the CSI report of the at least one secondary cell is a PUCCH of a secondary cell which is not in an active state, starting after the at least one secondary cell is activated and after a preset time point after the secondary cell activation command is received, to report the CSI report of the at least one secondary cell.