Patent ID: 12206541

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

To improve uplink channel estimation precision, this application provides a communication method. The following further describes in detail this application with reference to accompanying drawings. It should be understood that a specific operation method in a method embodiment described below may also be applied to an apparatus embodiment or a system embodiment.

As shown inFIG.1, a measurement feedback method provided in embodiments of this application may be applied to a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system may include a terminal device101and a network device102.

It should be understood that the foregoing wireless communication system is applicable to both a low-frequency scenario (sub 6G) and a high-frequency scenario (above 6G). An application scenario of the wireless communication system includes but is not limited to a fifth generation system, a new radio (NR) communication system, a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN) system, or the like.

The terminal device101shown above may be user equipment (UE), a terminal, an access terminal, a terminal unit, a terminal station, a mobile station (MS), a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless communication device, a terminal agent, a terminal device, or the like. The terminal device101may have a wireless transceiver function. The terminal device101can perform communication (for example, wireless communication) with one or more network devices in one or more communication systems, and accept a network service provided by the network device. The network device herein includes but is not limited to the network device102shown in the figure.

The terminal device101may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, a handheld device having a wireless communication function, a computing device, another processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal apparatus in a future 5G network, a terminal apparatus in a future evolved PLMN, or the like.

In addition, the terminal device101may be deployed on land, including an indoor or outdoor device, a handheld device, or a vehicle-mounted device. Alternatively, the terminal device101may be deployed on water (for example, on a ship). Alternatively, the terminal device101may be deployed in air (for example, on an aircraft, a balloon, or a satellite). The terminal device101may be specifically a mobile phone, a tablet computer (pad), a computer having a wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine (remote medical), a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, or the like. The terminal device101may alternatively be a communication chip having a communication module, a vehicle having a communication function, a vehicle-mounted device (for example, an in-vehicle communication apparatus or an in-vehicle communication chip), or the like.

The network device102may be an access network device (or referred to as an access network site). The access network device is a device, for example, a radio access network (RAN) base station, that provides a network access function. The network device102may specifically include a base station (BS), or include a base station, a radio resource management device configured to control the base station, and the like. The network device101may further include a relay station, an access point, a base station in a future 5G network, a base station in a future evolved PLMN, an NR base station, or the like. The network device102may be a wearable device or a vehicle-mounted device. Alternatively, the network device102may be a chip having a communication module.

For example, the network device102includes but is not limited to a next generation NodeB (gNodeB, gNB) in 5G, an evolved NodeB (eNB) in an LTE system, a radio network controller (RNC), a radio controller in a CRAN system, a base station controller (BSC), a home base station (for example, a home evolved NodeB, or a home NodeB, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a transmission point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a mobile switching center, or the like. The network device101may further include a base station in a future 6G or newer mobile communication system.

In addition, as shown inFIG.2, a communication system provided in this embodiment of this application may include at least one network device201. The communication system200may further include at least one terminal device, for example, terminal devices202to207shown inFIG.2. The terminal devices202to207may be movable or secured. The network device201may communicate with one or more of the terminal devices202to207through a radio link. Each network device may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area, and may communicate with a terminal device located in the coverage area.

It should be understood that the network device201may include the network device102shown inFIG.1. The terminal devices202to207may include the terminal device101shown inFIG.1.

Optionally, direct communication may be implemented between any two or more terminal devices. For example, direct communication between terminal devices may be implemented by using a device-to-device (D2D) technology. As shown in the figure, direct communication between the terminal devices205and206and between the terminal devices205and207may be implemented by using the D2D technology. The terminal device206and the terminal device207may separately or simultaneously communicate with the terminal device205.

Alternatively, the terminal devices205to207may separately communicate with the network device201. For example, the terminal device may directly communicate with the network device201. For example, the terminal devices205and206in the figure may directly communicate with the network device201, or may indirectly communicate with the network device201. For example, the terminal device207in the figure communicates with the network device201by using the terminal device206.

The following uses the communication system shown inFIG.1as an example to describe a channel sounding manner in a conventional technology.

The channel sounding manner may include uplink channel sounding performed based on an uplink pilot signal (or referred to as an uplink sounding reference signal), and downlink channel sounding performed based on a downlink pilot signal (or referred to as a downlink sounding reference signal).

The typical downlink channel sounding is performed based on a downlink channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS). To be specific, the terminal device101measures, based on a CSI resource configuration sent by the network device102, a CSI-RS signal sent by the network device102, to obtain a downlink channel characteristic, and the terminal device101reports the downlink channel characteristic to the network device102based on a CSI reporting configuration sent by the network device102.

The uplink channel sounding is generally performed based on the uplink sounding reference signal (SRS). To be specific, the network device102sends an SRS configuration to the terminal device101, the terminal device101sends an SRS based on the SRS configuration, and the network device102measures the SRS sent by the terminal device101, to obtain an uplink channel characteristic.

In this embodiment of this application, the SRS is used as an example. The SRS may also be replaced with a CSI-RS, a demodulation reference signal (demodulation reference resource, DMRS), a time domain/frequency domain/phase tracking reference signal, or the like. The CSI-RS may be used for obtaining channel information, to perform CSI measurement on a reported known signal. The DMRS may be used as a known signal for channel estimation during receiving of a shared channel or a control channel.

The following describes terms used in the present invention.

Sounding Reference Signal

UE generates an SRS on a specific physical resource based on a preset known sequence and sends the SRS. A base station side may obtain a channel matrix through estimation by using the received SRS on the specific physical resource based on the known sequence, to perform uplink data scheduling or perform downlink data scheduling by using channel reciprocity. For example, in a conventional technology, a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence is used for generating the SRS. The SRS may be located on one or more OFDM symbols in one slot, and may occupy all subcarriers in a system bandwidth, or may occupy a part of the subcarriers in the system bandwidth in a comb form, so that utilization of network resources is improved.

The SRS may be periodically sent in time domain. A transmit periodicity and offset are usually defined, and the SRS is periodically sent at a periodic time domain position. The SRS may alternatively be sent aperiodically in time domain. In this case, DCI signaling needs to indicate a transmit moment of the SRS, and the SRS is sent instantaneously at a periodic time domain position.

An SRS resource defines a time-frequency code domain resource used for sending the SRS. Specifically, the following parameters are configured for each SRS resource.

Index value of an SRS resource: When a plurality of SRS resources are configured, the SRS resources are distinguished by using index values.

Quantity of SRS ports: Usually, the quantity of SRS ports may be a quantity of transmit antennas of UE. In this case, each SRS port corresponds to one transmit antenna of the UE, and each SRS port may correspond to one spatial domain precoding vector of the transmit antenna, that is, may correspond to one spatial beamforming manner. Usually, SRS signals of a plurality of SRS ports on one SRS resource occupy a same time-frequency resource, and are multiplexed in a code division manner. For example, SRS signals of different SRS ports use different cyclic shifts (CSs).

Time domain position occupied by an SRS: configuration information of a time domain periodicity or offset.

The configuration information indicates a transmit bandwidth and a frequency hopping bandwidth of the SRS.

CS value is also referred to as a cyclic shift value, which is a quantity of bits for a cyclic shift of a sequence in time domain. On a same time-frequency resource, different SRS signals or different SRS ports may avoid mutual interference in an orthogonal manner of code division multiplexing. The orthogonal manner may be implemented through a cyclic shift. When a delay spread of a channel is small, a CS can basically implement code division orthogonality. A receiving end may cancel, through a specific operation, a signal using another CS and reserve only a signal using a specific CS, to implement code division multiplexing.

Transmit Bandwidth of an SRS

The transmit bandwidth of the SRS refers to a sounding bandwidth of the SRS, that is, a frequency domain range in which channel estimation is performed based on the SRS. A channel corresponding to the transmit bandwidth may be estimated by using a subcarrier carrying the SRS. The SRS may be carried only on a part of subcarriers in the transmit bandwidth for estimating the entire transmit bandwidth. Subsequently, the transmit bandwidth of the SRS may be referred to as an SRS bandwidth for short.

Further, the transmit bandwidth of the SRS may correspond to frequency domain resources occupied by the SRS at a same moment or different moments. For example, when a frequency hopping mode of the SRS is configured, the SRS needs a plurality of moments to scan a complete transmit bandwidth. Only a part of the transmit bandwidth is scanned at each moment, and the part of the bandwidth is a frequency hopping bandwidth. For example, if the transmit bandwidth of the SRS is 272 RBs and the frequency hopping mode is not configured, the SRS occupies 272 RBs in one OFDM symbol. For another example, if the transmit bandwidth of the SRS is 272 RBs, the frequency hopping mode is configured, and a quantity of frequency hopping times is 4, the SRS occupies 68 RBs in one OFDM symbol, in other words, the frequency hopping bandwidth is 68 RBs, the SRS occupies 272 RBs in four OFDM symbols, and frequency domain resources occupied by the OFDM symbols do not overlap.

System Bandwidth

The system bandwidth indicates a frequency domain range in which a base station and a terminal device communicate with each other to receive and send a signal. The system bandwidth in embodiments of this application may be understood as one carrier (component carrier, CC), one bandwidth part (bandwidth part, BWP), or the like. One CC may include a plurality of BWPs.

Number of a Subcarrier

To define a position of a subcarrier, subcarriers are numbered in the present invention, and subcarriers with different numbers (or referred to as frequency domain numbers) have different frequency domain positions. Usually, a group of subcarriers may be consecutively numbered in ascending order or descending order of frequencies. A subcarrier is numbered relative to a specific frequency domain range. For example, a number of a specific subcarrier in a system bandwidth, or a number of a subcarrier relative to the system bandwidth means that a number of a subcarrier with a highest frequency or a lowest frequency in the system bandwidth is denoted as 0, and subcarriers in the system bandwidth are sequentially numbered in descending order or ascending order of frequencies. Therefore, the number of the specific subcarrier in the system bandwidth is determined.

Frequency Domain Start Position

A frequency domain start position of an SRS bandwidth is a largest value or a smallest value in numbers of subcarriers included in the SRS bandwidth, and the number may be a number relative to a system bandwidth.

A frequency domain start position of a frequency hopping bandwidth is a largest value or a smallest value in numbers of subcarriers included in the frequency hopping bandwidth, and the number may be a number relative to the system bandwidth.

Frequency Domain Position of a Resource Element (Resource Element, RE)

The frequency domain position of the resource element is a difference between a number of a subcarrier occupied by the resource element in a system bandwidth and a frequency domain start position of an SRS bandwidth, or is a difference between the number of the subcarrier occupied by the resource element in the system bandwidth and a frequency domain start position of a frequency hopping bandwidth. In this application, the number of the subcarrier occupied by the resource element may be referred to as a number of the resource element for short.

In a current solution for sending an SRS, SRSs are arranged in an equi-spaced comb manner in frequency domain. For example, as shown inFIG.3, a frequency domain resource occupies mSRSRBs, and a comb degree is KTC. In this case, the frequency domain is divided into KTCgroups of resources, a quantity of pilots in each group is MSCSRS=mSRSNscRB/KTC, and NscRBis a quantity of subcarriers in each RB.

A plurality of ports (the port may be one transmit antenna of one terminal device, and the plurality of ports may be a plurality of transmit antennas from a plurality of terminal devices) send an SRS signal on one comb (one group of frequency domain resources with a same shadow, in other words, the plurality of ports occupy a same frequency domain resource), and the SRS signal is multiplexed through code division.

The following uses MscSRSpilots as an example to describe a maximum quantity of ports supported by one comb for code division multiplexing. As shown inFIG.4, a port multiplexing capability is determined by a property of a partial discrete Fourier transform (DFT) matrix corresponding to a pilot.

A transform relationship between a frequency domain channel and a delay domain channel on mSRSNscRBpilots of a frequency domain resource is determined by a DFT matrixFwhose side length is mSRSNscRB, and the delay domain channel may be solved based on the frequency domain channel and the matrixF.

Further, if MscSRSpilot resources are selected from mSRSNscRBpilot resources, and it is expected to solve the delay domain channel by using a receive pilot on the MS s pilot resources, a partial DFT matrix F (for example, F1, F2, . . . , or FKTC) corresponding to the MscSRSpilot resources needs to be studied.

Each pilot corresponds to one row of the DFT matrixF, MscSRSrows of the DFT matrixFcorresponding to MscSRSpilots form the partial DFT matrix F, and a property of F determines a port multiplexing capability on the MscSRSpilot resources.

If the MscSRSpilot resources are uniformly extracted from KTCcombs of the mSRSNscRBpilot resources, as shown inFIG.4, F is a matrix of MscSRS×mSRSNscRB, and each column of F may be considered as a base with a length MscSRS, and is sequentially divided into KTCgroups, where each group has MscSRSbases. The MscSRSbases of each group are completely orthogonal, but corresponding columns of different groups are completely linearly related. For example, a first column of F1 is completely linearly related to a first column of F2, and a second column of F1 is completely linearly related to a second column of F2. Therefore, when a plurality of ports are multiplexed, only MscSRSbases are available (another base is linearly related to the bases of this group, in other words, the another base cannot be distinguished mathematically from the bases of this group). Assuming that a maximum delay spread of each port is L, a maximum quantity of multiplexed ports is

MscSRSL.

It can be learned that when SRS pilot resources are uniformly extracted, only the MscSRSbases are available, and the maximum quantity of multiplexed ports is

MscSRSL,
which results in a limited port multiplexing capability.

If the MscSRSpilot resources are non-uniformly extracted from the mSRSNscRBpilot resources, in other words, a frequency domain position of an SRS is obtained in a non-uniform extraction manner, a phenomenon that corresponding columns of different groups are completely linearly related in a conventional technology does not occur, that is, mSRSNscRBbases formed by mSRSNscRBcolumns are all available. Assuming that the maximum delay spread of each port is L, a maximum quantity of multiplexed ports is

mSRS⁢NscRBL.
It can be learned that, in comparison with the conventional technology, more ports may be multiplexed on a same frequency domain resource for an SRS whose frequency domain resources are non-uniformly distributed.

Because a length of the mSRSNscRBbases is MscSRS, in other words, a quantity of the bases is greater than a length of the bases, the mSRSNscRBbases cannot be completely orthogonal, that is, are a group of non-orthogonal bases. Actually, positions of the MscSRSpilot resources may be designed (the positions of the pilot resources determine F), so that columns of F are orthogonal as much as possible.

An embodiment of this application provides a communication method, to send an SRS based on non-uniformly distributed pilot resources. Therefore, more ports are multiplexed on a same frequency domain resource, and a port multiplexing capability is improved.

The communication method may be implemented by a first communication apparatus or a second communication apparatus. The first communication apparatus may include a terminal device or a component (for example, a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system) in the terminal device. The terminal device herein is, for example, the terminal device101shown inFIG.1. The second communication apparatus may include a network device or a component (for example, a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system) in the network device. The network device herein is the network device102shown inFIG.1.

As shown inFIG.5, the method may include the following steps.S101: A terminal device and a network device determine a second resource element set from a first resource element set (or determine a second resource element set in a first resource element set), where frequency domain positions of all resource elements in the second resource element set are distributed at unequal intervals.

In other words, when a first signal is sent based on the resource elements in the second resource element set, frequency domain positions of the first signal are distributed at unequal intervals. The first resource element set may include all resource elements in a first signal bandwidth range. The second resource element set includes a set of non-uniformly distributed resource elements obtained based on the first resource element set. For example, the second resource element set is a set of resource elements obtained through non-uniform extraction from the first resource element set. The first signal herein is, for example, an SRS or another uplink reference signal. A first signal bandwidth may be a transmit bandwidth of the first signal. For example, in this application, an SRS bandwidth is a transmit bandwidth of an SRS.

The first resource element set is a set of resource elements that are on a first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM) symbol and that belong to the transmit bandwidth of the first signal. Alternatively, the first resource element set is a set of resource elements that are on all OFDM symbols in a first OFDM symbol group and that belong to the transmit bandwidth of the first signal, where the first OFDM symbol group includes a plurality of OFDM symbols.

For example, the first signal is an SRS. The first resource element set is a set of resource elements that are on a first OFDM symbol and that belong to an SRS bandwidth. Alternatively, the first resource element set is a set of resource elements that are on all OFDM symbols in a first OFDM symbol group and that belong to the SRS bandwidth, where the first OFDM symbol group includes a plurality of OFDM symbols.

Optionally, resource elements in the first resource element set may be distributed on the first OFDM symbol. For example, as shown inFIG.6, a first resource element set includes resource elements in an SRS bandwidth range on a first OFDM symbol, and a second resource element set may include a plurality of resource elements non-uniformly distributed in the first resource element set. A distribution manner of the first resource element set shown inFIG.6may be referred to as a non-frequency hopping manner.

As shown inFIG.6, a frequency domain position of each resource element in the second resource element set is indicated by I0, I1, . . . , . . . , or IM-1. For example, a number of a subcarrier occupied by each resource element in the second resource element set is indicated by I0, I1, . . . , . . . , or IM-1, or a difference between the number of the subcarrier occupied by each resource element in the second resource element set and a number of a reference subcarrier is indicated by I0, I1, . . . , . . . , or IM-1. Resource elements in the second resource element set are non-uniformly distributed, or resource elements respectively indicated by I0, I1, . . . , . . . , or IM-1are non-uniformly distributed, or I0, I1, . . . , . . . , or IM-1are not in an arithmetic progression.

Optionally, resource elements in the first resource element set may be distributed on a plurality of OFDM symbols. When the resource elements are distributed on the plurality of OFDM symbols, the plurality of OFDM symbols may be referred to as a first OFDM symbol group, and the plurality of OFDM symbols may be located in a same time unit. It should be understood that in this application, the time unit may be a slot (slot), or may include some slots or a plurality of slots. A distribution manner of a first resource element set shown inFIG.7may be referred to as a first frequency hopping manner.

For another example, as shown inFIG.7, resource elements in the first resource element set may be distributed in a frequency domain range of SRS bandwidths on N OFDM symbols, where N≥2, Lqindicates a number of a qthOFDM symbol in the N OFDM symbols. When the N OFDM symbols belong to a same slot, the number may be a number of each OFDM symbol in the slot, for example, Lq=q+q0, and q0is a positive integer. When the N OFDM symbols belong to at least two different slots, the number may be a number of a slot in which each OFDM symbol is located and a number of the OFDM symbol in the slot. OFDM symbols L0and L1to LN-1are a first OFDM symbol group, where each OFDM symbol corresponds to one frequency hopping bandwidth, and each frequency hopping bandwidth includes one or more resource elements. Optionally, frequency domain ranges of frequency hopping bandwidths of different OFDM symbols are not repeated. To be specific, a number of a subcarrier occupied by a resource element in a frequency hopping bandwidth of any OFDM symbol in the first OFDM symbol group is different from a number of a subcarrier occupied by a resource element in a frequency hopping bandwidth of another OFDM symbol in the first OFDM symbol group. For example, each OFDM symbol includes at least one resource element in a frequency hopping bandwidth corresponding to the OFDM symbol, and a union set of resource elements in frequency hopping bandwidths of all OFDM symbols in the first OFDM symbol group includes a second resource element set.

As shown inFIG.7, a frequency domain position of each resource element in the second resource element set is indicated by I0,0, I0,1, . . . , I0,M0−1, I1,0, I1,1, . . . , I1,M1−1, IN-1,0, . . . , IN-1,MN-1−2, or IN-1,MN-11. Frequency domain positions respectively indicated by I0,0, I0,1, . . . , I0,M0−1, I1,0, I1,1, . . . , I1,M1−1, IN-1,0, . . . , IN-1,MN-1−2, and IN-1,MN-1−1(that is, frequency domain positions of resource elements in the second resource element set) are non-uniformly distributed, or I0,0, I0,1, . . . , I0,M0−1, I1,0, I1,1, . . . , I1,M1−1, IN-1,0, . . . , IN-1,MN-1−2, and IN-1,MN-1−1are not in an arithmetic progression. It should be understood that, that I0,0, I0,1, . . . , I0,M0−1, I1,0, I1,1, . . . , I1,M1−1, IN-1,0, . . . , IN-1,MN-1−2, and IN-1,MN-1-1are non-uniformly distributed means that after being sorted in ascending order or descending order, they are not in the arithmetic progression.

I0,0, I0,1, . . . , and I0,M0−1belong to an OFDM symbol L0, I1,0, I1,1, . . . , and I1,M1−1belong to an OFDM symbol L1, and IN-1,0, . . . , IN-1,MN-1−2, and IN-1,MN-1−1belong to an OFDM symbol LN-1.

For the terminal device, the terminal device may obtain a non-uniformly distributed second resource element set based on the first resource element set in a specified manner, or may determine the second resource element set based on frequency domain information of a resource element in the second resource element set from the network device. The frequency domain information may indicate a relative frequency domain position of the resource element in the second resource element set in the transmit bandwidth of the first signal, or indicate a frequency domain position of the resource element in a system. Optionally, a manner of obtaining the non-uniformly distributed second resource elements based on the first resource element set is not specifically limited in this application.S102: The terminal device and the network device determine a first sequence of a first uplink port of the terminal device on each of the resource elements in the second resource element set based on the frequency domain positions of all the resource elements in the second resource element set. For the terminal device, the first sequence may also be referred to as a transmit sequence, and for the network device, the first sequence may be referred to as a receiving sequence.

Optionally, a first sequence determined by the terminal device is the same as a first sequence determined by the network device.

For example, forFIG.6, a first sequence sent through a first uplink port on a second resource element set may be determined based on frequency domain positions respectively indicated by I0, I1, . . . , and IM-1. ForFIG.7, a first sequence sent through a first uplink port on a second resource element set included in a plurality of OFDM symbols may be determined based on frequency domain positions respectively indicated by I0,0, I0,1, . . . , I0,M0−1, I1,0, I1,1, . . . , I1,M1−1, IN-1,0, . . . , IN-1,MN-1−2, and IN-1,MN-1−1.S103: The terminal device sends the first signal on each of the resource elements in the second resource element set based on the first sequence. The first signal includes an SRS, a CSI-RS, a DMRS, or another uplink reference signal.

In other words, the terminal device sends the first sequence or a signal corresponding to the first sequence on each of the resource elements in the second resource element set.S104: The network device receives the first signal on each of the resource elements in the second resource element set based on the first sequence.

In other words, the network device receives the first sequence or the signal corresponding to the first sequence on each of the resource elements in the second resource element set.

For example,FIG.6is used as an example to describe a process of sending and receiving a first sequence. As shown inFIG.6, a terminal device may map a first sequence to M subcarriers I0, I1, . . . , and IM-1, to generate a first signal carried on the M subcarriers, and send the first signal by using a radio frequency. The first signal is, for example, an SRS or another uplink reference signal. Each subcarrier may be in a mapping relationship with a subsequence of the first sequence. In this application, the subsequence may be a part of the first sequence. Correspondingly, the network device receives, based on the first sequence, the first signal that is sent by the terminal and that is carried on the subcarriers I0, I1, . . . , and IM-1.

It should be understood that the foregoing subcarrier mapping process or step is merely an example for description. In an actual process of sending the first signal, other processing may be performed. This is not specifically limited in this application.

According to the foregoing method, the terminal device and the network device may determine a transmit sequence of each uplink transmit port on the second resource element set based on a frequency domain position of each resource element in the second resource element set, to send and receive an SRS on a non-uniform pilot resource. In comparison with a solution of sending the SRS on a uniform pilot resource, this can improve a port multiplexing capability.

In an implementation, the method may further include S105: The network device performs channel estimation based on the first signal. Optionally, the network device performs data demodulation based on the first signal. The first signal is sent on the resource element in the second resource element set based on the first sequence.

Optionally, the network device may also first obtain the first sequence, and then receive the first signal based on the first sequence. To distinguish this from descriptions that the first sequence is sent by the terminal side, the first sequence herein may be referred to as a local first sequence. It should be understood that the step of obtaining the first sequence and the step of receiving the first signal may be interchanged.

In an alternative step, the network device may not obtain the first sequence, but store, generate, or determine a local sequence. After receiving the first signal, the network device determines, based on the local sequence and the first signal, the first sequence sent by the terminal side. It should be understood that the local sequence may be a plurality of sequences, for example, a plurality of sequence sets that may be determined by the terminal as the first sequence. The network device performs comparison with the plurality of sequences based on the received first signal, and determines that the first signal is one of the plurality of sequences. It should be understood that the local sequence may not be completely the first sequence, for example, only the first several items in the first sequence may be stored, provided that the first sequence corresponding to the first signal sent by the terminal device can be determined.

Further, based on S101and S102, the terminal device may further determine a mapping relationship between the first sequence of the first uplink port and the resource element in the second resource element set based on position indication information of a reference subcarrier, and send the first signal based on a first sequence of each uplink port and a mapping relationship between a first sequence of each port and a resource element. For example, the first signal is an SRS. The reference subcarrier is, for example, a first subcarrier (or any other subcarrier) of an SRS bandwidth. The position indication information of the reference subcarrier may indicate a number of the first subcarrier in a system bandwidth.

Correspondingly, the network device receives, based on the first sequence and the mapping relationship between the first sequence and the resource element in the second resource element set, the first signal sent through the first uplink port.

Similarly, the terminal device may determine, in a traversal manner, a transmit sequence of each uplink port and/or a mapping relationship between the transmit sequence and the resource element in the second resource element set. Therefore, when sending first signals through a plurality of uplink ports, the network device may determine, in a similar manner, transmit sequences of all uplink ports and/or a mapping relationship between the transmit sequence and the resource element in the second resource element set, to receive the first signals sent through all the uplink ports.

The following describes, based on distribution manners of frequency domain resources shown inFIG.6andFIG.7, a method for sending a first signal according to an embodiment of this application. InFIG.6andFIG.7, a first signal SRS is used as an example for description. When the first signal is another uplink reference signal, a method for sending the first signal may be implemented with reference toFIG.6andFIG.7.

As shown inFIG.6, when a non-frequency hopping solution is used, in other words, when all resource elements in a first resource element set belong to a same OFDM symbol, it is assumed that a bandwidth of the first resource element set is an SRS bandwidth, where the SRS bandwidth is mRB, that is, mNscRBresource elements (resource elements, REs). After a non-uniformly distributed second resource element set is obtained based on the first resource element set, a set of frequency domain positions (where the set of frequency domain positions may be referred to as a first frequency domain position set) of resource elements in the obtained second resource element set is represented as I. Therefore, forFIG.6, I is frequency domain information. As shown inFIG.6, I={I0, I1. . . IM-1}. It should be understood that the resource elements in the second resource element set are non-uniformly distributed, or values of I0, I1, . . . , . . . , and IM-1are not in an arithmetic progression.

A first sequence r(p)(k) of a first uplink port on a kthresource element in the second resource element set satisfies the following formula:
r(p)(k)=r(α,I)(k).  (Formula 1)

r(α,I)(k)=ewj⁢α⁢Ik+ΔC⁢r_(k),
andr(k) is a base sequence. I is the first frequency domain position set, including the frequency domain positions of all the resource elements in the second resource element set. Ikis a kthelement in the first frequency domain position set, or Ikindicates a kthfrequency domain position in the first frequency domain position set, or Ikindicates a frequency domain position of the kthresource element in the second resource element set. k=0, . . . , or M−1, w=1 or w=−1, Δ is a constant, for example, 0, C is an integer greater than or equal to 1, p is the first uplink port, and a is a cyclic shift value.

It should be understood that the kthresource element in the second resource element set is a kthresource element obtained through sorting all the resource elements in the second resource element set in descending order or ascending order of frequency domain.

It should be noted that the foregoingr(k) may be determined by using v (orr(k) is related to v), where v is a number of a base sequence,r(k) may be written asrv(k), and r(α,I)(k) may be written as rv(α,I)(k). Alternatively, the foregoingr(k) may be determined by using u and v (orr(k) is related to u and v), where u is a number of a group, v is a number of a base sequence in the group,r(k) may be written asru,v(k), and r(α,I)(k) may be written as ru,v(α,I)(k). It should be understood that the foregoing examples do not constitute a limitation on the solutions of the present invention, and the base sequencerr(k) may be determined by using another parameter.

It should be noted that the foregoing I may be determined by using {A0, A1, . . . , Ab-1}, which are a total of B parameters. These parameters are parameters used for determining I, B is an integer greater than or equal to 1, I may be written as IA0, A1, . . . , AB-1, Ikmay be written as IA0, A1, . . . , AB-1, k, and M may be written as MA0, A1, . . . , AB-1. In this application, {A0, A1, . . . , AB-1} may be referred to as parameters used for determining I, and the parameters used for determining I may be used for determining I.

In a possible example, in Formula 1, when the first signal is an SRS, α satisfies:

α=2⁢π⁢nSRScsnSRScs,max.(Formula⁢2)

nSRScs∈{0,1, . . . ,nSRScs,max−1}. Values of nSRScsand/or nSRScs,maxmay be indicated by the network device. nSRScs,maxmay be a maximum code division value.

It is assumed that a start position of the transmit bandwidth of the first signal is nstart. In other words, a frequency domain position of a first resource element in the first resource element set in the system bandwidth is nstart. Optionally, a first signal aIk+nstart(p)corresponding to a resource element whose number is Ik+nstart(or a subcarrier occupied by the resource element whose number is Ik+nstart) in the second resource element set satisfies:
aIk+nstart(p)=β×r(p)(k),andk=0, . . . ,orM−1.  (Formula 3)

β is a scaling coefficient. A correspondence between the resource element whose number is Ik+nstartand a sequence aIk+nstart(p)may be that the sequence aIk+nstart(p)is carried on the resource element whose number is Ik+nstart, or the sequence aIk+nstart(p)is mapped to the resource element whose number is Ik+nstart.

It should be understood that, in S103, the first uplink port of the terminal device sends, on each resource element in the second resource element set, a first signal corresponding to a resource element determined according to Formula 3. In addition, if the terminal device sends the first signal through a plurality of uplink ports, for a manner of determining a signal sent through another uplink port other than the first uplink port, refer to the manner of determining a signal sent through the first uplink port.

Correspondingly, in S104, the network device receives, on each resource element in the second resource element set, the first signal sent by the terminal device through the first uplink port, where a first signal corresponding to each resource element satisfies Formula 3. In addition, if the terminal device sends the first signal through the plurality of uplink ports, the network device may receive first signals respectively sent through the plurality of uplink ports. For a manner of determining a signal sent through another uplink port, refer to the manner of determining a signal sent through the first uplink port.

In this application, the system bandwidth is, for example, a bandwidth part (bandwidth part, BWP). It should be understood that, on a resource element that does not belong to the second resource element set, transmit power of the first signal of the first uplink port is zero. In other words, a mapping relationship between the first sequence (or the first signal) and the resource element in the second resource element set satisfies Formula 3.

The foregoing I, C, Δ, α, nSRScs, u, v, A0, A1, . . . , and AB-1are configured for the first uplink port. Optionally, one or more parameters of I, C, Δ, α, nSRScs, u, v, A0, A1, . . . , and AB-1corresponding to different first uplink ports may be different. In other words, when the first uplink port is a pithport of the plurality of uplink ports of the terminal device, one or more parameters of I, C, Δ, α, nSRScs, u, v, A0, A1, . . . , and AB-1may have a subscript i, which are parameters corresponding to the pithport.

It should be noted that the scaling coefficient β may be determined by using one or more of an amplitude scaling parameter, a power control parameter, and a quantity of transmitted pilots, and the scaling coefficient β may be different for different uplink ports.

In the example shown inFIG.6, at least one of I, the parameter used for determining I, α, or nSRScsmay be sent by the network device to the terminal device. For example, the network device may send I and/or the parameter used for determining I to the terminal device, and/or the network device may send α or nSRScsto the terminal device.

When all resource elements in the first resource element set belong to the plurality of OFDM symbols in the first OFDM symbol group shown inFIG.7, a bandwidth of the first resource element set may be an SRS bandwidth, where the SRS bandwidth is mRB, that is, mNscRBREs. It should be understood that each OFDM symbol in the first OFDM group corresponds to one frequency hopping bandwidth, and the frequency hopping bandwidth is within the SRS bandwidth, and nstartis a frequency domain start position of the SRS bandwidth.

After a non-uniformly distributed second resource element set is obtained based on the first resource element set shown inFIG.7, a set of frequency domain positions (the set of frequency domain positions may be referred to as a first frequency domain position set) of resource elements in the second resource element set is represented as I. As shown inFIG.7, I={I0,0, I0,1, . . . , I0,M0−1, I1,0, I1,1, . . . , I1,M1−1, IN-1,0, . . . , IN-1,Mn-1−2, IN-1,MN-1−1}. Iq,kmay indicate a frequency domain position of a kthresource element in a resource element set corresponding to a qthOFDM symbol in the first OFDM symbol group, q=0, . . . , or N−1, and k=0, . . . , or Mq−1. In other words, a resource element set corresponding to the qthOFDM symbol belongs to the second resource element set, or the resource element corresponding to the qthOFDM symbol is a subset of the second resource element set. It should be understood that the resource elements in the second resource element set are non-uniformly distributed in frequency domain.

In addition, Iqis a set of frequency domain positions of resource elements corresponding to the qthOFDM symbol, as shown inFIG.7, and r(p)(k,q).

Optionally, a first sequence r(p)(k,q) of the first uplink port on the kthresource element on the qthOFDM symbol satisfies:
r(p)(k,q)=r(α,Jq)(k).  (Formula 4)

r(α,Iq)(k)=ewj⁢α⁢Iq,k+ΔC⁢r_(k+kstart,q),q∈{0,1,…,N-1},
r(k) is a base sequence, Iqis a set of frequency domain positions of resource elements corresponding to the qthOFDM symbol, kstart,qis a start position of a sequence of the first uplink port on a qthsymbol, w=1 or w=−1, Δ is a constant, for example, o, C is an integer greater than or equal to 1, p is the first uplink port, and α is a cyclic shift value.

It should be understood that the kthresource element in the qthOFDM symbol refers to a kthresource element obtained through sorting resource elements on the qthsymbol belonging to the second resource element set in descending or ascending order of frequency domain.

It should be noted that the foregoingr(k) may be determined by using v (orr(k) is related to v), where v is a number of a base sequence,r(k) may be written asrv(k), and r(α,Iq)(k) may be written as rv(α,Iq)(k). Alternatively, the foregoingr(k) may be determined by using u and v (or is related to u and v), where u is a number of a group, v is a number of a base sequence in the group,r(k) may be written asru,v(k), and r(α,Iq)(k) may be written as ru,v(α,Iq)(k). It should be understood that the foregoing examples do not constitute a limitation on the solutions of the present invention, and the base sequencerr(k) may be determined by using another parameter.

It should be noted that the foregoing Iqmay be determined by using {A0, A1, . . . , AB-1}, which are a total of B parameters. These parameters are parameters used for determining Iq, B is an integer greater than or equal to 1, Iqmay be written as IAq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1, Iq,kmay be written as IAq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1, k, and Mqmay be written as MAq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1. In this application, {A0, A1, . . . , AB-1} may be referred to as parameters used for determining Iq, and the parameters used for determining Iqmay be used for determining Iq.

Optionally, when the first signal is an SRS, α in Formula 4 satisfies:

α=2⁢π⁢nSRScsnSRScs,max,and⁢nSRScs∈{0,1,…,nSRScs,max-1}.(Formula⁢5)

The foregoing Iq, C, Δ, α, nSRScs, u, v, and Aq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1are configured for the first uplink port. Optionally, one or more parameters of Iq, C, Δ, α, nSRScs, u, v, and Aq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1corresponding to different first uplink ports may be different. In other words, when the first uplink port is a pithport of the plurality of uplink ports of the terminal device, one or more parameters of Iq, C, Δ, α, nSRScs, u, v, and Aq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1may have a subscript i, representing parameters corresponding to the pithport.

Optionally, if one or more parameters of Iq, Aq0, Aq1, . . . , and AqB-1are the same for all q=0, . . . , or N−1, a subscript q may be removed.

Optionally, in S103and/or S104, when the resource elements in the first resource element set are distributed in a frequency domain range of SRS bandwidths of N OFDM symbols, each OFDM symbol corresponds to a subsequence segment of the first sequence. In other words, a part of the first signal is sent on a resource element on each OFDM symbol based on a part of the first sequence. In the N OFDM symbols, parts of the first sequence respectively corresponding to at least two OFDM symbols are not completely the same. The network device may perform joint processing, for example, perform joint channel estimation, on parts of the first signal respectively corresponding to the at least two of the N OFDM symbols, to improve channel estimation precision. N≥2.

For example, when the first resource element set shown inFIG.7is used, the first sequence may be divided into R segments, and a uthsequence segment in the R segments of the first sequence may be carried on a qthOFDM symbol in the first OFDM symbol group. If a length of a tthsegment is St, and t=0, . . . , or R−1, kstart,qmay satisfy:
kstart,q=Σt=0u-1St.  (Formula 6)

In addition/Alternatively, Mqmay satisfy:
Mq=Su.  (Formula 7)

Optionally, when the second resource element set is determined in the manner shown inFIG.7, a first signal aIq,k+nstart,Lq(p)corresponding to a resource element (or a subcarrier corresponding to the resource element) whose number is Iq,k+nstarton the qthOFDM symbol satisfies:
aIq,k+nstart,Lq(p)=β×r(p)(k,q),k=0, . . . ,orMq−1,andq=0,1, . . . ,orN−1.  (Formula 8)

β is a scaling coefficient. It should be understood that, on a resource element that does not belong to the second resource element set, transmit power of the first signal of the first uplink port is zero. In other words, a mapping relationship between the first sequence (or the first signal) and the resource element in the second resource element set satisfies Formula 8.

It should be understood that, in S103, the first uplink port of the terminal device sends, on each resource element in the second resource element set, a first signal corresponding to a resource element determined according to Formula 8. In addition, if the terminal device sends the first signal through a plurality of uplink ports, for a manner of determining a signal sent through another uplink port other than the first uplink port, refer to the manner of determining a signal sent through the first uplink port.

Correspondingly, in S104, the network device receives, on each resource element in the second resource element set, the first signal sent by the terminal device through the first uplink port, where a first signal corresponding to each resource element satisfies Formula 8. In addition, if the terminal device sends the first signal through the plurality of uplink ports, the network device may receive first signals respectively sent through the plurality of uplink ports. For a manner of determining a signal sent through another uplink port, refer to the manner of determining a signal sent through the first uplink port.

It should be noted that the scaling coefficient β may be determined by using one or more of an amplitude scaling parameter, a power control parameter, and a quantity of transmitted pilots, and the scaling coefficient β may be different for different uplink ports or may be different for different OFDM symbols.

In the example shown inFIG.7, at least one of Iq, the parameter used for determining Iq, α, or nSRScsmay be sent by the network device to the terminal device. For example, the network device may send Iqand/or the parameter used for determining Iqto the terminal device, and/or the network device may send α or nSRScsto the terminal device.

Similar to the procedure shown inFIG.5, a procedure shown inFIG.8shows another communication method according to an embodiment of this application. The method may include the following steps.S201: A terminal device and a network device determine a plurality of second resource element sets from a first resource element set, where frequency domain positions of all resource elements in each second resource element set are distributed at unequal intervals. In other words, when a first signal is sent, frequency domain resources of the first signal are non-uniformly distributed. In other words, when the first signal is sent based on the resource elements in the second resource element set, the frequency domain resources of the first signal are non-uniformly distributed.

The first resource element set is a set of resource elements that are on a plurality of (for example, N, N≥2) second OFDM symbols and that belong to a first signal bandwidth, and each second OFDM symbol corresponds to one second resource element set. The N second OFDMs may be located in a same time unit. It should be understood that in this application, the time unit may be a slot (slot), or may include some slots or a plurality of slots. The first signal herein is, for example, an SRS or another uplink reference signal. The first signal bandwidth may be a transmit bandwidth of the first signal.

For example, the first signal is an SRS. As shown inFIG.9, a number of a qthOFDM symbol in the N second OFDM symbols is indicated by Lq. When the N second OFDM symbols belong to a same slot, the number may be a number of each second OFDM symbol in the slot. When the N second OFDM symbols belong to at least two different slots, the number may be a combination of a number of a slot in which each second OFDM symbol is located and a number of the second OFDM symbol in the slot. Each second OFDM symbol corresponds to one frequency hopping bandwidth, the frequency hopping bandwidth is within an SRS bandwidth, two frequency hopping bandwidths corresponding to any two second OFDM symbols do not overlap in frequency domain, and a second resource element set corresponding to each second OFDM symbol belongs to a frequency hopping bandwidth corresponding to the second OFDM symbol. For example, resource elements in any second resource element set shown inFIG.9are non-uniformly distributed.

As shown inFIG.9, frequency domain position information of a kthresource element in a second resource element set on the qthsecond OFDM symbol is Iq,k, q=0, . . . , or N−1, and k=0, . . . , or Mq−1. I0,0, I0,1, . . . , and I0,M0−1belong to a second OFDM symbol L0, and a set formed by them is denoted as I0. I1,0, I1,1, . . . , and I1,M1−1belong to a second OFDM symbol L1, and a set formed by them is denoted as I1. IN-1,0, . . . , IN-1,MN-1−2, and IN-1,MN-1−1belong to a second OFDM symbol LN-1, and a set formed by them is denoted as IN-1.

The terminal device may obtain a non-uniformly distributed second resource element set from the first resource element set in a specified manner, or may determine the second resource element set based on frequency domain information of the resource elements in the second resource element set from the network device. The network device may obtain the non-uniformly distributed second resource element set from the first resource element set in a specified manner, and send the frequency domain information of the resource elements in the second resource element set to the terminal. A manner of obtaining the non-uniformly distributed second resource element set based on the first resource element set is not specifically limited in this application.S202: The terminal device and the network device determine, based on frequency domain positions of all resource elements in any second resource element set, a first sequence of a first uplink port on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set. For the terminal device, the first sequence may also be referred to as a transmit sequence, and for the network device, the first sequence may be referred to as a receiving sequence.

Optionally, a first sequence determined by the terminal device is the same as a first sequence determined by the network device.S203: The terminal device sends the first signal on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set based on the first sequence.

In other words, the terminal device sends the first sequence on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set. The first signal is, for example, an SRS.S204: The network device receives the first signal on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set based on the first sequence.

In other words, the network device receives the first sequence on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set.

It should be understood that the SRS shown above may be replaced with a DMRS or another uplink reference signal.

For example, for a process of sending and receiving the first sequence, refer to the foregoing descriptions of S103and S104.

According to the foregoing method, the terminal device determines, based on a frequency domain position of each resource element in any second resource element set of the plurality of second resource element sets, a transmit sequence of an uplink transmit port on the any second resource element set, to send the SRS on a non-uniform pilot resource. In comparison with a solution of sending the SRS on a uniform pilot resource, this can improve a port multiplexing capability.

It should be understood that the steps shown in S202to S204may also be separately performed in different second resource element sets, to implement sending of a plurality of first sequences and a plurality of first signals. In other words, the steps shown in S202to S204may be separately performed in a plurality of second resource element sets. For example, based on the plurality of second resource element sets obtained in S201, the terminal device and the network device may determine at least two second resource element sets from the plurality of second resource element sets, and determine, for a first second resource element set of the at least two second resource element sets, a first sequence of a first uplink port on each of resource elements in the first second resource element set. Further, the terminal device sends an uplink signal on each of the resource elements in the first second resource element set based on the first sequence, and the network device receives the uplink signal on each of the resource elements in the first second resource element set based on the first sequence. Similarly, the terminal device and the network device may further determine, for an mthsecond resource element set in the at least two second resource element sets, a first sequence of a first uplink port (or another uplink port) on each of resource elements in the mthsecond resource element set, where m is a positive integer. Further, the terminal device may send an uplink signal on each of the resource elements in the mthsecond resource element set based on the first sequence, and the network device may receive the uplink signal on each of the resource elements in the mthsecond resource element set based on the first sequence.

In an implementation, the method may further include S2o5: The network device performs channel estimation based on the first signal. Optionally, the network device performs data demodulation based on the first signal. The first signal is sent on the resource element in the second resource element set based on the first sequence.

Optionally, the network device may also first obtain the first sequence, and then receive the first signal based on the first sequence. To distinguish this from descriptions that the first sequence is sent by the terminal side, the first sequence herein may be referred to as a local first sequence. It should be understood that the step of obtaining the first sequence and the step of receiving the first signal may be interchanged.

In an alternative step, the network device may not obtain the first sequence, but store, generate, or determine a local sequence. After receiving the first signal, the network device determines, based on the local sequence and the first signal, the first sequence sent by the terminal side. It should be understood that the local sequence may be a plurality of sequences, for example, a plurality of sequence sets that may be determined by the terminal as the first sequence. The network device performs comparison with the plurality of sequences based on the received first signal, and determines that the first signal is one of the plurality of sequences. It should be understood that the local sequence may not be completely the first sequence, for example, only the first several items in the first sequence may be stored, provided that the first sequence corresponding to the first signal sent by the terminal device can be determined.

Further, based on S201and S202, the terminal device may further determine a mapping relationship between the first sequence of the first uplink port and the resource element in the second resource element set based on position indication information of a reference subcarrier, and send the first signal based on a first sequence of each uplink port and a mapping relationship between a first sequence of each port and a resource. The reference subcarrier is, for example, a first subcarrier of a frequency hopping bandwidth corresponding to a second OFDM symbol. The position indication information of the reference subcarrier may indicate a number of the first subcarrier in a system bandwidth.

Correspondingly, the network device receives, based on the first sequence and the mapping relationship between the first sequence and the resource element, the first signal sent through the first uplink port.

Similarly, the terminal device may determine, in a traversal manner, a transmit sequence of each uplink port and/or a mapping relationship between the transmit sequence and the resource element. Therefore, when sending first signals through a plurality of uplink ports, the network device may determine, in a similar manner, transmit sequences of all uplink ports and/or a mapping relationship between the transmit sequence and the resource element, to receive the first signals sent through all the uplink ports.

The following uses an example in which the first signal is an SRS to describe, based on a distribution manner of frequency domain resources shown inFIG.9, a method for sending the first signal according to an embodiment of this application.

As described above, Iq,kis a frequency domain position of a kthresource element in a second resource element set corresponding to a qthsecond OFDM symbol. In other words, Iq,kindicates the frequency domain position of the kthresource element in the second resource element set corresponding to the qthsecond OFDM symbol.

In addition, Iqis a set of frequency domain positions of resource elements in the second resource element set corresponding to the qthsecond OFDM symbol, and Iq={Iq,0, Iq,1. . . Iq,Mq−1}. That is, forFIG.9, Iqis frequency domain information.

Optionally, a first sequence of a first uplink port on the kthresource element on the qthsecond OFDM symbol satisfies:
r(p)(k,q)=rq(αq,Iq)(k).  (Formula 9)

rq(αq,Iq)(k)=ewj⁢α⁢Iq,k+ΔqCq⁢r_q(k),q∈{0,1,…,N-1},
rq(k) is a base sequence, and p is the first uplink port. w=1 or w=−1, Δqis a constant, Cqis an integer greater than or equal to 1, and αqis a cyclic shift value corresponding to the qthsecond OFDM symbol.

It should be understood that the kthresource element on the qthsecond OFDM symbol refers to a qthresource element obtained through sorting the resource elements in the second resource element set corresponding to the qthsecond OFDM symbol in descending or ascending order of frequency domain.

It should be noted that the foregoingrq(k) may be determined by using v (orrq(k) is related to v), where v is a number of a base sequence,rq(k) may be written asrvq(k), and rq(αq,Iq)(k) may be written as rvq(αq,Iq)(k). Alternatively, the foregoingrq(k) may be determined by using u and v (orrq(k) is related to u and v), where u is a number of a group, v is a number of a base sequence in the group,rq(k) may be written asruq,vq(k), and rq(αq,Iq)(k) may be written as

ruq,vq(αq,Iq)(k).
It should be understood that the foregoing examples do not constitute a limitation on the solutions of the present invention, and the base sequencerq(k) may be determined by using another parameter.

It should be noted that the foregoing Iqmay be determined by using {A0, A1, . . . , AB-1}, which are a total of B parameters. B is an integer greater than or equal to 1, Iqmay be written as IAq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1, Iq,kmay be written as IAq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1,k, and Mqmay be written as MAq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1. In this application, {A0, A1, . . . , AB-1} may be referred to as parameters used for determining Iq, and the parameters used for determining Iqmay be used for determining Iq.

When the first signal is an SRS, αqin Formula 9 may satisfy:

αq=2⁢π⁢nSRScs,qnSRScs,max,and⁢nSRScs,q∈{0,1,…,nSRScs,max-1}.

Optionally, when the second resource element set is determined in the manner shown inFIG.9, a first signal aIq,k+nstart,q,Lq(p)corresponding to a resource element (or a subcarrier occupied by the resource element) whose number is Iq,k+nstart,qon the qthOFDM symbol satisfies:
aIq,k+nstart,q,Lq(p)=β×r(p)(k,q),k=0, . . . ,orMq−1,andq=0,1, . . . ,orN−1.   (Formula 10)

β is a scaling coefficient, p is the first uplink port, and Lqindicates a number of the qthsecond OFDM symbol in a plurality of second OFDM symbols. In other words, a mapping relationship between the first sequence (or the first signal) and the resource element in the second resource element set satisfies Formula 10.

It should be understood that in S203, the first uplink port of the terminal device sends, on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set, the first signal corresponding to each of the resource elements determined according to Formula 10. In addition, if the terminal device sends the first signal through a plurality of uplink ports, for a manner of determining a signal sent through another uplink port other than the first uplink port, refer to the manner of determining a signal sent through the first uplink port.

Correspondingly, in S204, the network device receives, on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set, the first signal sent by the terminal device through the first uplink port, where the first signal corresponding to each of the resource elements satisfies Formula 10. In addition, if the terminal device sends the first signal through the plurality of uplink ports, the network device may receive first signals respectively sent through the plurality of uplink ports. For a manner of determining a signal sent through another uplink port, refer to the manner of determining a signal sent through the first uplink port.

It should be understood that, on a resource element that does not belong to the second resource element set, transmit power of the first signal of the first uplink port is zero.

The foregoing Iq, Cq, Δq, αq, nSRScs,q, uq, vq, nstart,q, and Aq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1are configured for the first uplink port. Optionally, one or more parameters of Iq, Cq, Δq, αq, nSScs,q, uq, ug, vq, nstart,q, and Aq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1corresponding to different first uplink ports may be different. In other words, when the first uplink port is a piport of the plurality of uplink ports of the terminal device, one or more parameters of Iq, Cq, Δq, αq, nSRScs,q, uq, vq, nstart,q, and Aq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1may have a subscript i, representing parameters corresponding to the pithport.

Optionally, if one or more parameters of Iq, Cq, Δq, αq, nSRScs,q, uq, vq, nstart,q, and Aq0, Aq1, . . . , AqB-1are the same for all q=0, . . . , or N−1, a subscript q may be removed.

It should be noted that the scaling coefficient β may be determined by using one or more of an amplitude scaling parameter, a power control parameter, and a quantity of transmitted pilots, and the scaling coefficient β may be different for different uplink ports or may be different for different OFDM symbols.

In the example shown inFIG.9, at least one of Iq, the parameter used for determining Iq, αq, or nSRScs,qmay be sent by the network device to the terminal device. For example, the network device may send Iqand/or the parameter used for determining Iqto the terminal device, and/or the network device may send αqor nSRScs,qto the terminal device.

The following describes communication apparatuses for implementing the foregoing methods in embodiments of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, all the foregoing content may be used in the following embodiments. Repeated content is not described again.

FIG.10is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. For example, the communication apparatus is a terminal device woo shown inFIG.10.

The terminal device1000includes a processing module1010and a transceiver module1020. For example, the terminal device1000may be a network device, or may be a chip used in the terminal device, or another combined device, component, or the like that has a function of the terminal device. When the terminal device1000is a terminal device, the transceiver module1020may be a transceiver, and the transceiver may include an antenna, a radio frequency circuit, and the like; and the processing module1010may be a processor, for example, a baseband processor, and the baseband processor may include one or more central processing units (central processing units, CPUs). When the terminal device1000is the component that has the function of the terminal device, the transceiver module1020may be a radio frequency unit, and the processing module1010may be a processor, for example, a baseband processor. When the terminal device1000is a chip system, the transceiver module1020may be an input/output interface of a chip (for example, a baseband chip), and the processing module1010may be a processor of the chip system, and may include one or more central processing units. It should be understood that, in this embodiment of this application, the processing module low may be implemented as a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module1020may be implemented as a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

For example, the processing module1010may be configured to perform all operations except the sending and receiving operations, for example, S101, S102, S201, and S202, performed by the terminal device in the embodiment shown inFIG.5orFIG.8, and/or configured to support another process of the technology described in this specification, for example, generate a message, information, and/or signaling sent by the transceiver module1020, and process a message, information, and/or signaling received by the transceiver module1020. The transceiver module1020may be configured to receive and/or send a message, information, and/or signaling, for example, may be configured to receive frequency domain information. For example, for the first resource element set shown inFIG.6, the transceiver module1020may be configured to receive I; for the first resource element set shown inFIG.7, the transceiver module1020may be configured to receive Iq; and for the first resource element set shown inFIG.9, the transceiver module1020may be configured to receive I.

In addition, the transceiver module1020may be one functional module. The functional module can implement both a sending operation and a receiving operation. For example, the transceiver module1020may be configured to perform all the sending operations and receiving operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiment shown inFIG.5orFIG.8. For example, when a sending operation is performed, it may be considered that the transceiver module1020is a sending module. When a receiving operation is performed, it may be considered that the transceiver module1020is a receiving module. Alternatively, the transceiver module1020may include two functional modules. The transceiver module1020may be considered as a general term of the two functional modules, and the two functional modules are respectively a sending module and a receiving module. The sending module is configured to implement a sending operation. For example, the sending module may be configured to perform all the sending operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiment shown inFIG.5orFIG.8. The receiving module is configured to implement a receiving operation. For example, the receiving module may be configured to perform all the receiving operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiment inFIG.5orFIG.8.

Specifically, when performing the method shown inFIG.5, the processing module1010may determine a second resource element set from a first resource element set, and determine, based on frequency domain positions of all resource elements in the second resource element set, a first sequence of a first uplink port on each of the resource elements. The transceiver module1020may be configured to send a first signal on each of the resource elements based on the first sequence.

For descriptions of the first resource element set, the second resource element set, and the first sequence, refer to the foregoing descriptions of the procedure shown inFIG.5.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, and the first resource element set includes a resource element that is on a first OFDM symbol and that belongs to a transmit bandwidth of the first signal, the transceiver module1020may be further configured to receive I and/or a parameter used for determining I, and/or receive α and/or nSRScs.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, and the first resource element set includes a resource element that is on all OFDM symbols in a first OFDM symbol group and that belongs to a transmit bandwidth of the first signal, the transceiver module1020may be further configured to receive Iqand/or a parameter used for determining Iq, and/or receive α and/or nSRScs.

When performing the method shown inFIG.8, the processing module1010may determine a plurality of second resource element sets from a first resource element set, and determine, based on frequency domain positions of all resource elements in any second resource element set, a first sequence of a first uplink port on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set. The transceiver module1020may be configured to send a first signal on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set based on the first sequence.

For descriptions of the first resource element set, the second resource element set, and the first sequence, refer to the foregoing descriptions of the procedure shown inFIG.8.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, the transceiver module1020may be further configured to receive Iqand/or a parameter used for determining Iq, and/or receive αqand/or nSRScs,q.

FIG.11is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. For example, the communication apparatus is a network device1100.

The network device1100may include a processing module1110and a transceiver module1120. For example, the network device1100may be a network device shown in the figure, or may be a chip used in the network device, or another combined device, component, or the like that has a function of the network device. When the network device1100is a network device, the transceiver module1120may be a transceiver, and the transceiver may include an antenna, a radio frequency circuit, and the like; and the processing module1110may be a processor, and the processor may include one or more CPUs. When the network device1100is the component that has the function of the network device, the transceiver module1120may be a radio frequency unit, and the processing module1110may be a processor, for example, a baseband processor. When the network device1100is a chip system, the transceiver module1120may be an input/output interface of a chip (for example, a baseband chip), and the processing module1110may be a processor of the chip system, and may include one or more central processing units. It should be understood that, in this embodiment of this application, the processing module1110may be implemented as a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module1120may be implemented as a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

For example, the processing module1110may be configured to perform all operations except the sending and receiving operations performed by the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.3orFIG.5, for example, perform S101, S102, S201, and S202; and for another example, generate a message, information, and/or signaling sent by the transceiver module1120, and/or process a message, information, and/or signaling received by the transceiver module1120, and/or support another process of the technology described in this specification. The transceiver module1120may be configured to perform all the receiving operations performed by the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.3orFIG.5, for example, perform receiving and/or sending of a message, information, and/or signaling, or may be configured to send frequency domain information. For example, for the first resource element set shown inFIG.6, the transceiver module1120may be configured to send I; for the first resource element set shown inFIG.7, the transceiver module1120may be configured to send Iq; and for the first resource element set shown inFIG.9, the transceiver module1120may be configured to send I.

In addition, the transceiver module1120may be one functional module. The functional module can implement both a sending operation and a receiving operation. For example, the transceiver module1120may be configured to perform all the sending operations and receiving operations performed by the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.5orFIG.8. For example, when a sending operation is performed, it may be considered that the transceiver module1120is a sending module. When a receiving operation is performed, it may be considered that the transceiver module1120is a receiving module. Alternatively, the transceiver module1120may include two functional modules. The transceiver module1120may be considered as a general term of the two functional modules, and the two functional modules are respectively a sending module and a receiving module. The sending module is configured to implement a sending operation. For example, the sending module may be configured to perform all the sending operations performed by the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.5orFIG.8. The receiving module is configured to implement a receiving operation. For example, the receiving module may be configured to perform all the receiving operations performed by the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.5orFIG.8.

Specifically, when performing the method shown inFIG.5, the processing module1110may determine a second resource element set from a first resource element set, and determine, based on frequency domain positions of all resource elements in the second resource element set, a first sequence of a first uplink port on each of the resource elements. The transceiver module1120may be configured to receive a first signal on each of the resource elements based on the first sequence.

For descriptions of the first resource element set, the second resource element set, and the first sequence, refer to the foregoing descriptions of the procedure shown inFIG.5.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, and the first resource element set includes a resource element that is on a first OFDM symbol and that belongs to a transmit bandwidth of the first signal, the transceiver module1120may be further configured to send I and/or a parameter used for determining I, and/or send a and/or nSRScs.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, and the first resource element set includes a resource element that is on all OFDM symbols in a first OFDM symbol group and that belongs to a transmit bandwidth of the first signal, the transceiver module1120may be further configured to send Iqand/or a parameter used for determining Iq, and/or send a and/or nSRScs.

When performing the method shown inFIG.8, the processing module1110may determine a plurality of second resource element sets from a first resource element set, and determine, based on frequency domain positions of all resource elements in any second resource element set, a first sequence of a first uplink port on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set. The transceiver module1120may be configured to receive a first signal on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set based on the first sequence.

For descriptions of the first resource element set, the second resource element set, and the first sequence, refer to the foregoing descriptions of the procedure shown inFIG.8.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, the transceiver module1120may be further configured to send Iqand/or a parameter used for determining Iq, and/or send αqand/or nSRScs,q.

An embodiment of this application further provides a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus may be a terminal device, or may be a circuit. The communication apparatus may be configured to perform an action performed by the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments.

When the communication apparatus is a terminal device,FIG.12is a simplified schematic diagram of a structure of the terminal device. For ease of understanding and illustration, an example in which the terminal device is a mobile phone is used inFIG.12. As shown inFIG.12, the terminal device includes a processor, a memory, a radio frequency circuit, an antenna, and an input/output apparatus. The processor is mainly configured to process a communication protocol and communication data, control the terminal device, execute a software program, process data of the software program, and the like. The memory is mainly configured to store the software program and data. The radio frequency circuit is mainly configured to perform conversion between a baseband signal and a radio frequency signal, and process the radio frequency signal. The antenna is mainly configured to receive and send a radio frequency signal in a form of an electromagnetic wave. The input/output apparatus, such as a touchscreen, a display, or a keyboard, is mainly configured to receive data input by a user and output data to the user. It should be noted that some types of terminal devices may have no input/output apparatus.

When data needs to be sent, after performing baseband processing on the to-be-sent data, the processor outputs a baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit; and the radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then sends the radio frequency signal to the outside in a form of an electromagnetic wave through the antenna. When data is sent to the terminal device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal into data, and processes the data. For ease of description,FIG.12shows only one memory and one processor. In an actual terminal device product, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium, a storage device, or the like. The memory may be disposed independent of the processor, or may be integrated with the processor. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

In this embodiment of this application, the antenna and the radio frequency circuit that have receiving and sending functions may be considered as a transceiver unit of the terminal device (where the transceiver unit may be one functional unit, and the functional unit can implement a sending function and a receiving function; or the transceiver unit may include two functional units: a receiving unit that can implement a receiving function and a sending unit that can implement a sending function), and the processor that has a processing function may be considered as a processing unit of the terminal device. As shown inFIG.12, the terminal device includes a transceiver unit1210and a processing unit1220. The transceiver unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver machine, a transceiver apparatus, or the like. The processing unit may also be referred to as a processor, a processing board, a processing module, a processing apparatus, or the like. Optionally, a component that is in the transceiver unit1210and that is configured to implement a receiving function may be considered as a receiving unit, and a component that is in the transceiver unit1210and that is configured to implement a sending function may be considered as a sending unit. In other words, the transceiver unit1210includes the receiving unit and the sending unit. The transceiver unit sometimes may also be referred to as a transceiver machine, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or the like. The receiving unit sometimes may also be referred to as a receiver machine, a receiver, a receive circuit, or the like. The sending unit sometimes may also be referred to as a transmitter machine, a transmitter, a transmit circuit, or the like.

It should be understood that the transceiver unit1210is configured to perform the sending operations and the receiving operations of the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments, and the processing unit1220is configured to perform an operation other than the receiving operations and the sending operations of the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments.

For example, the processing unit1220may perform an action similar to that performed by the processing module1010, or the processing module1220includes the processing module1010. The transceiver unit1210may perform an action similar to that performed by the transceiver module1020, or the transceiver unit1210includes the transceiver module1020.

When performing the method shown inFIG.5, the processing unit1220may determine a second resource element set from a first resource element set, and determine, based on frequency domain positions of all resource elements in the second resource element set, a first sequence of a first uplink port on each of the resource elements. The transceiver unit1210may be configured to send a first signal on each of the resource elements based on the first sequence.

For descriptions of the first resource element set, the second resource element set, and the first sequence, refer to the foregoing descriptions of the procedure shown inFIG.5.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, and the first resource element set includes a resource element that is on a first OFDM symbol and that belongs to a transmit bandwidth of the first signal, the transceiver unit1210may be further configured to receive I and/or a parameter used for determining I, and/or receive α and/or nSRScs.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, and the first resource element set includes a resource element that is on all OFDM symbols in a first OFDM symbol group and that belongs to a transmit bandwidth of the first signal, the transceiver unit1210may be further configured to receive Iqand/or a parameter used for determining Iq, and/or receive α and/or nSRScs.

When performing the method shown inFIG.8, the processing unit1220may determine a plurality of second resource element sets from a first resource element set, and determine, based on frequency domain positions of all resource elements in any second resource element set, a first sequence of a first uplink port on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set. The transceiver unit1210may be configured to send a first signal on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set based on the first sequence.

For descriptions of the first resource element set, the second resource element set, and the first sequence, refer to the foregoing descriptions of the procedure shown inFIG.8.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, the transceiver unit1210may be further configured to receive Iqand/or a parameter used for determining Iq, and/or receive αqand/or nSRScs,q.

When the communication apparatus is a chip apparatus or a circuit, or the communication apparatus has a structure other than that shown inFIG.12, the apparatus may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit may be an input/output circuit and/or a communication interface. The processing unit is an integrated processor, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit. The transceiver unit and the processing unit may respectively perform actions of the transceiver unit1210and the processing unit1220.

When the apparatus in this embodiment of this application is a network device, the apparatus may be shown inFIG.13. The apparatus1300includes one or more radio frequency units such as a remote radio unit (remote radio unit, RRU)1310and one or more baseband units (baseband units, BBUs) (which may also be referred to as a digital unit, digital unit, DU)1320. The RRU1310may be referred to as a transceiver module. The transceiver module may include a sending module and a receiving module, or the transceiver module may be one module that can implement sending and receiving functions. The transceiver module may correspond to the transceiver module1120inFIG.11, in other words, the transceiver module may perform an action performed by the transceiver module1120. Optionally, the transceiver module may also be referred to as a transceiver machine, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, or the like, and may include at least one antenna1311and a radio frequency unit1312. The RRU1310is mainly configured to: receive and send a radio frequency signal, and perform conversion between the radio frequency signal and a baseband signal. The BBU1310is mainly configured to perform baseband processing, control a base station, and the like. The RRU1310and the BBU1320may be physically disposed together, or may be physically separated, that is, in a distributed base station.

The BBU1320is a control center of the base station, may also be referred to as a processing module, may correspond to the processing module1110inFIG.1i, and is mainly configured to complete a baseband processing function, such as channel coding, multiplexing, modulation, and spectrum spreading. In addition, the processing module may perform an action performed by the processing module1110. For example, the BBU (processing module) may be configured to control the base station to perform an operation procedure related to the network device in the foregoing method embodiments.

In an example, the BBU1320may include one or more boards, and a plurality of boards may jointly support a radio access network (for example, an LTE network) of a single access standard, or may separately support radio access networks (for example, an LTE network, a 5G network, or another network) of different access standards. The BBU1320further includes a memory1321and a processor1322. The memory1321is configured to store necessary instructions and data. The processor1322is configured to control the base station to perform a necessary action, for example, configured to control the base station to perform an operation procedure related to the network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The memory1321and the processor1322may serve the one or more boards. To be specific, a memory and a processor may be disposed on each board. Alternatively, a plurality of boards may share a same memory and a same processor. In addition, a necessary circuit may further be disposed on each board.

When performing the method shown inFIG.5, the BBU1320may determine a second resource element set from a first resource element set, and determine, based on frequency domain positions of all resource elements in the second resource element set, a first sequence of a first uplink port on each of the resource elements. The RRU1310may be configured to receive a first signal on each of the resource elements based on the first sequence.

For descriptions of the first resource element set, the second resource element set, and the first sequence, refer to the foregoing descriptions of the procedure shown inFIG.5.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, and the first resource element set includes a resource element that is on a first OFDM symbol and that belongs to a transmit bandwidth of the first signal, the RRU1310may be further configured to send I and/or a parameter used for determining I, and/or send α and/or nSRScs.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, and the first resource element set includes a resource element that is on all OFDM symbols in a first OFDM symbol group and that belongs to a transmit bandwidth of the first signal, the RRU1310may be further configured to send Iqand/or a parameter used for determining Iq, and/or send a and/or nSRScs.

When performing the method shown inFIG.8, the BBU1320may determine a plurality of second resource element sets from a first resource element set, and determine, based on frequency domain positions of all resource elements in any second resource element set, a first sequence of a first uplink port on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set. The RRU1310may be configured to receive a first signal on each of the resource elements in the any second resource element set based on the first sequence.

For descriptions of the first resource element set, the second resource element set, and the first sequence, refer to the foregoing descriptions of the procedure shown inFIG.8.

In a possible design, when the first signal is an SRS, the RRU1310may be further configured to send Iqand/or a parameter used for determining Iq, and/or send αqand/or nSRScs,q.

When the communication apparatus is a chip apparatus or a circuit, or the communication apparatus has a structure other than that shown inFIG.13, the apparatus may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit may be an input/output circuit and/or a communication interface. The processing unit is an integrated processor, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit. The transceiver unit and the processing unit may respectively perform actions of the RRU1310and the BBU1320.

In an embodiment, the sending apparatus (for example, a terminal device) and the receiving apparatus (for example, a network device) in the present invention may store sequences (or sequence sets or sequence groups) in the foregoing embodiments. This storage manner may be implemented by using a memory, a storage medium, or another device, for example, a chip or a processor, having a storage function. Specific content of storage is not limited herein. In a further implementation, a method for generating a formula may be stored. For example, a formula and a program are stored, or a fixed circuit that generates a sequence is stored, and then various sequence-related parameters are obtained, to generate a corresponding sequence. For example, a first sequence may be stored, or a parameter used for determining the first sequence is stored, and then the first sequence is determined according to a formula or based on the parameter.

An embodiment of this application provides a communication system. The communication system may include the terminal device in the system shown inFIG.1orFIG.2, and include the terminal device or the network device in the system shown inFIG.1orFIG.2. Optionally, the terminal device and the network device in the communication system may perform the communication method shown in any one ofFIG.3toFIG.5.

An embodiment of this application further provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer may implement a procedure related to the terminal device or the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.5orFIG.8provided in the foregoing method embodiments.

An embodiment of this application further provides a computer program product. The compute program product is configured to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer may implement a procedure related to the terminal device or the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.5orFIG.8provided in the foregoing method embodiments.

An embodiment of this application further provides a chip or a chip system. The chip may include a processor. The processor may be configured to invoke a program or instructions in a memory, to perform a procedure related to the terminal device or the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.5orFIG.8provided in the foregoing method embodiments. The chip system may include the chip, and may further include another component such as a memory or a transceiver.

An embodiment of this application further provides a circuit. The circuit may be coupled to a memory, and may be configured to perform a procedure related to the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.5orFIG.8provided in the foregoing method embodiments. The chip system may include the chip, and may further include another component such as a memory or a transceiver.

It should be understood that the processor mentioned in embodiments of this application may be a CPU, or may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate, a transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, or the like. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It may be understood that the memory mentioned in embodiments of this application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), and is used as an external cache. Through example but not limitative description, many forms of RAMs may be used, for example, a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), a double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), an enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), a synchlink dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and a direct rambus dynamic random access memory (DR RAM).

It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate, a transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, the memory (a storage module) is integrated into the processor.

It should be noted that the memory described in this specification is intended to include but is not limited to these memories and any memory of another proper type.

It should be understood that sequence numbers of the foregoing processes do not mean execution sequences in various embodiments of this application. The execution sequences of the processes should be determined based on functions and internal logic of the processes, and should not be construed as any limitation on the implementation processes of embodiments of this application.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may be aware that, in combination with units and algorithm steps of the examples described in embodiments disclosed in this specification, this application may be implemented by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or software depends on particular applications and design constraints of the technical solutions. A person skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but it should not be considered that the implementation goes beyond the scope of this application.

It may be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art that, for the purpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed working process of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, refer to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may be implemented in another manner. For example, the described apparatus embodiment is merely an example. For example, division into the units is merely logical function division and may be other division during actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented by using some interfaces. The indirect couplings or communication connections between the apparatuses or units may be implemented in electrical, mechanical, or another form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one position, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of embodiments.

In addition, functional units in embodiments of this application may be integrated into one processing unit, each of the units may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

When functions are implemented in a form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, the functions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solutions of this application essentially, or the part contributing to the conventional technology, or some of the technical solutions may be implemented in a form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium, and includes several instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to perform all or some of the steps of the method shown in embodiments of this application. The foregoing computer-readable storage medium may be any usable medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example but not limitation, the computer-readable medium may include a random access memory (random access memory, RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a universal serial bus flash disk, a removable hard disk or another compact disc storage, a magnetic disk storage medium or another magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used for carrying or storing expected program code in a form of instructions or a data structure and that can be accessed by a computer.

The descriptions shown above are merely specific implementations of this application, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of embodiments of this application. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in embodiments of this application shall fall within the protection scope of embodiments of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of embodiments of this application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.