CN113228712B

CN113228712B - Multicast communication method and related equipment

Info

Publication number: CN113228712B
Application number: CN201880100320.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 官磊; 刘江华; 李秉肇
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-18
Filing date: 2018-12-18
Publication date: 2022-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-18
Also published as: CN113228712A; WO2020124373A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses a multicast communication method and related equipment, wherein the method comprises the following steps: the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment receives multicast configuration information from access network equipment in initial frequency domain resources, the multicast configuration information comprises first frequency domain resources and at least one group of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resources, the first configuration information comprises multicast data cell identification, and a multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identification is used for multicast data in the first frequency domain resources; and the terminal equipment receives the multicast data sent by the access network equipment according to the first frequency domain resource and the first configuration information. Based on the method described in the embodiments of the present application, multicast communication can be performed between the terminal device and the access network device.

Description

Multicast communication method and related equipment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of terminal technologies, and in particular, to a multicast communication method and related devices.

Background

The LTE system provides a downlink data transmission service to the terminal device. Downlink data transmission can be roughly divided into two types: unicast (Unicast) and multicast (i.e., broadcast multicast). Unicast is mainly a point-to-point communication, i.e. a single point-to-point communication between an access network device (e.g. a base station) and a terminal device. Whereas multicast is typically point-to-multipoint communication, e.g. where multiple terminal devices receive the same service at the same time. For example, video conferencing, television broadcasting, and video on demand are typical multicast services.

At present, the specific implementation of multicast communication is further discussed, so how to perform multicast communication between the access network device and the terminal device is a problem to be solved urgently at present.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention discloses a multicast communication method and related equipment, which can carry out multicast communication.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, where the method includes: the terminal equipment receives multicast configuration information from the access network equipment at an initial frequency domain resource, wherein the multicast configuration information comprises a first frequency domain resource and at least one group of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resource, the first configuration information comprises a multicast data cell identifier, and a multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier is used for multicast data in the first frequency domain resource; and the terminal equipment receives the multicast data sent by the access network equipment according to the first frequency domain resource and the first configuration information. According to the method described in the first aspect, multicast communication can be performed between the terminal device and the access network device.

Optionally, the terminal device may also receive the multicast configuration information from the other frequency resource, for example, the other frequency resource may be indicated by PBCH or SIB1 or other SIBs.

Optionally, the multicast configuration information further includes second configuration information, where the second configuration information includes a search space of the multicast control channel and/or a control resource set in the second frequency domain resource, and the terminal device may further detect the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information; specifically, the terminal device receives multicast data sent by the access network device in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel. Based on this optional implementation, the access network device can dynamically schedule multicast data.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes a multicast radio network temporary identifier RNTI corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier, and cyclic redundancy check CRC information of the first multicast control channel is scrambled by the multicast RNTI. Based on this alternative embodiment, the access network device can scramble the CRC of the first multicast control channel.

Optionally, the terminal device may further detect a synchronization signal, and determine the current cell identifier according to the synchronization signal; the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the current cell identity. Based on the optional implementation manner, the access network device may scramble the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel by using the real cell identifier of each cell (i.e., the cell identifier corresponding to the synchronization signal), which is beneficial for the access network device to independently send the first multicast control channel to each cell without using a multi-cell SFN manner to send the first multicast control channel.

Optionally, the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by a multicast data cell identity. Based on the optional embodiment, the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by using the multicast data cell identifier, which may be beneficial for the access network device to transmit the first multicast control channel to each cell in an SFN manner, so as to obtain the signal combining gain of the SFN.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes a multicast control cell identifier, where the multicast control cell identifier is independent of a multicast data cell identifier and a cell identifier corresponding to a synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal is a signal used for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device; the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by a multicast control cell identity. Based on the optional embodiment, the multicast control cell identifier is used to scramble the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel, which is beneficial for the access network device to send the first multicast control channel to each cell in an SFN manner, so as to obtain the signal combining gain of the SFN.

Optionally, the second frequency domain resource is the initial frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource, or the second frequency domain resource is included in the second configuration information.

Optionally, the multicast area includes a plurality of cells. If the multicast area is composed of a plurality of cells, the range of the multicast area is larger than that of a single cell, and when the terminal equipment is switched to an adjacent cell, the influence on the service continuity is favorably reduced. And because the multicast area is composed of a plurality of cells, the probability that a plurality of terminal devices in the multicast area share the same content of service is higher, and the gain is more obvious compared with the gain of unicast transmission.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes a cell list, where the cell list includes a plurality of cells. The continuity and the mobility of the multicast service can be improved by carrying the cell list in the first configuration information.

Optionally, at least two cells in the multiple cells in the multicast area send the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource. This is beneficial to improving the strength of the transmission signal and improving the frequency spectrum efficiency.

Optionally, the multicast data cell identifier is independent of a cell identifier corresponding to a synchronization signal, where the synchronization signal is a signal used for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device. By independently configuring the multicast data cell identifier, the access network equipment is facilitated to transmit multicast data in an SFN mode so as to obtain the signal combination gain of the SFN.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes multicast TDD timeslot type configuration information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier and/or multicast rate matching information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier. Based on the optional implementation manner, the terminal device is facilitated to receive multicast data by bypassing non-multicast time slots or time frequency resources.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, where the method includes: the access network equipment sends multicast configuration information in initial frequency domain resources, wherein the multicast configuration information comprises first frequency domain resources and at least one group of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resources, the first configuration information comprises multicast data cell identifiers, and multicast areas corresponding to the multicast data cell identifiers are used for multicast data in the first frequency domain resources; and the access network equipment sends the multicast data to the terminal equipment in the multicast area in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information.

Optionally, the access network device may also send the multicast configuration information in other frequency domain resources, for example, the other frequency resources may be indicated by PBCH or SIB1 or other SIBs.

Optionally, the multicast configuration information further includes second configuration information, where the second configuration information includes a search space of the multicast control channel and/or a control resource set in the second frequency domain resource, and the access network device may further send the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information; specifically, the access network device sends multicast data to the terminal device in the multicast area according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel in the first frequency domain resource.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes a multicast radio network temporary identifier RNTI corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier, and the CRC information of the first multicast control channel is scrambled by the multicast RNTI.

Optionally, the modulation symbol of the first multicast control channel is scrambled by a current cell identifier, where the current cell identifier is a cell identifier corresponding to a synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal is used for synchronization between the terminal device and the access network device.

Optionally, the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by a multicast data cell identity.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes a multicast control cell identifier, where the multicast control cell identifier is independent of a multicast data cell identifier and a cell identifier corresponding to a synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal is a signal used for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device; the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by a multicast control cell identity.

Optionally, the multicast area includes a plurality of cells.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes a cell list, where the cell list includes a plurality of cells.

Optionally, at least two cells in the multiple cells send the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource.

Optionally, the multicast data cell identifier is independent of a cell identifier corresponding to a synchronization signal, where the synchronization signal is a signal used for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes multicast TDD timeslot type configuration information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier and/or multicast rate matching information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier.

Based on the same inventive concept, the principles and advantageous effects of the access network device for solving the problems may refer to the principles and advantageous effects of the first aspect or the possible implementation manners of the first aspect, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

In a third aspect, a terminal device is provided, where the terminal device may perform the method in the foregoing first aspect or the possible implementation manner of the first aspect. The function can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above. The unit may be software and/or hardware. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and the beneficial effects of the terminal device for solving the problems may refer to the principle and the beneficial effects of the first aspect or the possible implementation manner of the first aspect, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

In a fourth aspect, an access network device is provided, which may perform the method in the second aspect or possible implementation manners of the second aspect. The function can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above. The unit may be software and/or hardware. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and the beneficial effect of the access network device to solve the problem may refer to the principle and the beneficial effect of the above second aspect or the possible implementation manner of the second aspect, and repeated details are not repeated.

In a fifth aspect, a terminal device is provided, which includes: a processor, a memory, a communication interface; the processor, the communication interface and the memory are connected; wherein the communication interface may be a transceiver. The communication interface is used to enable communication with other network elements, such as access network equipment. The implementation and the beneficial effects of the terminal device for solving the problems may refer to the principles and the beneficial effects of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect or the first aspect, and repeated parts are not described again.

In a sixth aspect, an access network device is provided, which includes: a processor, a memory, a communication interface; the processor, the communication interface and the memory are connected; wherein the communication interface may be a transceiver. The communication interface is used to enable communication with other network elements, such as access network equipment. The processor calls the program stored in the memory to implement the scheme in the second aspect or the possible implementation manner of the second aspect, and the implementation and the beneficial effects of the access network device for solving the problem may refer to the principle and the beneficial effects of the possible implementation manner of the second aspect or the second aspect, and repeated details are not repeated.

In a seventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, which when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of the first aspect, the second aspect, the possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In an eighth aspect, a chip product is provided, where the chip product is configured in a terminal device, and performs the method in the first aspect or the possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

A ninth aspect provides a chip product, which is disposed in an access network device and executes the method in the second aspect or the possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

A tenth aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the first aspect, the second aspect, the possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that other drawings can be obtained according to these drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a multicast communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a flowchart of another multicast communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an access network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiment of the application provides a multicast communication method and related equipment, which can carry out multicast communication.

In order to better understand the embodiments of the present application, the following description is provided to illustrate the system architecture to which the embodiments of the present application can be applied:

fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the system architecture includes at least one access network device, at least one terminal device. Fig. 1 exemplifies a system architecture including three access network devices and nine terminal devices. Of course, the system architecture may further include two access network devices or more than three access network devices, and the system architecture may further include more than nine or less than nine terminal devices. Wherein, each access network device comprises one or more cells. As shown in fig. 1, the access network device 1 includes cells 1 to 3, the access network device 2 includes cells 4 to 6, and the access network device 3 includes cells 7 to 9. Of course, the access network device may further include one or two or more than three cells, and fig. 1 illustrates that each access network device includes three cells.

Optionally, a plurality of cells may constitute a multicast area. For example, the cells 1 to 3 may form a multicast area 1, and the access network device 1 may send multicast data to the terminal devices in the multicast area 1. For another example, the cells 1 to 6 may form a multicast area 2, and the access network device 1 and the access network device 2 may send the same multicast data to the terminal devices in the multicast area 2. If a multicast area includes only one cell, i.e. data is multicast at the granularity of one cell, when the terminal device is handed over to an adjacent cell, the continuity of the service may be affected. Moreover, the range of a single cell is small, the probability that a plurality of terminal devices share the same content of service is not high, and the gain of unicast transmission is not obvious. If the multicast area is composed of a plurality of cells, the range of the multicast area is larger than that of a single cell, and when the terminal equipment is switched to an adjacent cell, the influence on the service continuity is favorably reduced. And because the multicast area is composed of a plurality of cells, the probability that a plurality of terminal devices in the multicast area share the same content of service is higher, and the gain is more obvious compared with the gain of unicast transmission.

Optionally, when the multicast area includes multiple cells, the access network device may dynamically partition the multicast area according to the service requirements of the cells, instead of statically planning the multicast area, so that the multicast area may be flexibly partitioned. For example, if there is a service requirement of service 1 in cells 1 to 3, the access network device may divide a multicast area 1 for service 1, where the multicast area 1 includes cells 1 to 3, and the access network device 1 may send multicast data of service 1 to terminal devices in the multicast area 1. If there is a service requirement of service 2 in cells 1 to 6, the access network device may divide a multicast area 2 for service 2, where the multicast area 2 includes cells 1 to 6, and the access network device 1 and the access network device 2 may send multicast data of service 2 to a terminal device in the multicast area 2.

Optionally, when the multicast area includes multiple cells, at least two cells in the multicast area send the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource. For example, if the multicast area 1 includes cells 1 to 3, the cell 1 and the cell 2 send the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource, or the cell 2 and the cell 3 send the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource, or the cell 1, the cell 2, and the cell 3 send the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource. That is, the multicast data is transmitted in a Single Frequency Network (SFN) manner. This is beneficial to improving the strength of the transmission signal and improving the frequency spectrum efficiency.

Optionally, the data may also be multicast in a cell as a granularity. For example, the access network device 1 transmits multicast data of the service 1 to the terminal device in the cell 1. The access network device 1 sends multicast data for service 2 to terminal devices in cell 2.

Optionally, the system architecture of the present application may be applied to a 5G NR (new radio) system or a new air interface system than the 5G NR system, or the system architecture of the present application may also be applied to a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a global system for mobile communications (GSM) system or an 802.11 series system, and the like, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

The access network device may provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area, and may communicate with a terminal device located in the coverage area, and the access network device may support communication protocols of different systems or may support different communication modes. For example, the access network device may be an evolved node B (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or a radio network controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN), or may be an access network device in a 5G network, such as a gNB, or may be a small station, a micro station, or a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), or may be an access network device in a relay station, an access point, or a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) for future evolution, and the like.

The terminal device may refer to an access terminal, a User Equipment (UE), a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote terminal, a mobile terminal, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user equipment. An access terminal may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capability, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in the internet of things, a virtual reality device, a terminal device in a fifth generation (5G) network, a terminal device in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), or the like.

The following further introduces the multicast communication method and related devices provided in the present application.

Referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a multicast communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 2, the multicast communication method includes the following steps 201 to 204, where:

201. and the access network equipment sends the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource.

Optionally, before the access network device sends the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource, the access network device may further send a synchronization signal block, where the synchronization signal block includes a synchronization signal and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), and the PBCH includes the initial frequency domain resource. The terminal device can also detect the synchronization signal block and synchronize with the access network device according to the synchronization signal in the synchronization signal block. The synchronization signal may be a single-stage synchronization signal or a two-stage synchronization signal. For example, the two-stage Synchronization Signal may include a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS). Optionally, the terminal device may further determine the current cell identifier according to the synchronization signal. For example, if the synchronization signal includes a PSS and an SSS, the terminal device determines the current cell identity from the sequence of the synchronization signal. After the terminal device detects the synchronization signal block, it may also determine the basic broadcast message of the cell, such as the initial frequency resource, according to the PBCH of the synchronization signal block; or reads the system information block 1 according to PBCH (SIB1), and then acquires basic broadcast messages of the cell, such as initial frequency resources, through the SIB 1. After the access network device sends the synchronization signal block, step 201 may be executed, that is, the multicast configuration information is sent in the initial frequency domain resource. Accordingly, after the terminal device reads the initial frequency resource, step 202 may be executed to receive multicast configuration information from the access network device at the initial frequency resource. Alternatively, the initial frequency-domain resource may be an initial BWP. That is, the initial frequency domain resources may be acquired by the terminal device in accordance with PBCH or SIB 1.

Optionally, the initial frequency domain resource may be an initial frequency domain resource where the synchronization signal is located. Thus, the terminal device can receive the multicast configuration information in advance.

Optionally, the multicast configuration information is carried by broadcast information. For example, the multicast configuration information may be carried by a System Information Block (SIB), or carried by a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message of a certain logical channel or a certain broadcast.

The multicast configuration information includes a first frequency domain resource and at least one group of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resource, the first configuration information includes a multicast data cell identifier, and a multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier is used for multicast data in the first frequency domain resource. Alternatively, the first frequency domain resource may be a bandwidth part (BWP). Optionally, the multicast configuration information may include one or more first frequency domain resources, and one first frequency domain resource corresponds to one or more groups of first configuration information. The multicast data cell identifiers in the first configuration information correspond to the multicast areas one to one.

For example, if there are 3 multicast areas, multicast area 1 to multicast area 3. The multicast area 1 includes cells 1 to 3. The multicast area 2 includes cells 1 to 6. The multicast area 3 includes cells 1 to 9. As shown in table 1 below, the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1 includes BWP1 and BWP2, and the multicast configuration information further includes first configuration information 1 and first configuration information 2 corresponding to BWP1, and first configuration information 3 corresponding to BWP 2. That is, BWP1 corresponds to two sets of first configuration information, and BWP2 corresponds to one set of first configuration information. The first configuration information 1 includes a multicast data cell identifier 1, and the multicast data cell identifier 1 corresponds to a multicast area 1. The multicast area 1 is used for sending multicast data in BWP1, that is, the access network device 1 sends multicast data to the terminal devices in the multicast area 1 in BWP 1. The first configuration information 2 includes a multicast data cell identifier 2, and the multicast data cell identifier 2 corresponds to the multicast area 2. The multicast area 2 is used to send multicast data in BWP1, that is, the access network device 1 and the access network device 2 send the same multicast data to the terminal devices in the multicast area 2 in BWP 1. That is, both the multicast area 1 and the multicast area 2 are used to transmit multicast data in the BWP1, but the multicast area 1 and the multicast area 2 multicast different service data. The first configuration information 3 includes a multicast data cell identifier 3, and the multicast data cell identifier 3 corresponds to the multicast area 3. The multicast area 3 is used to send multicast data in BWP2, that is, the access network device 1, the access network device 2 and the access network device 3 send the same multicast data to the terminal devices in the multicast area 3 in BWP 2. Similarly, the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 2 is shown in table 2 below, and the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 3 is shown in table 3 below. As shown in table 2 below, the multicast configuration information includes BWP1 and BWP2, and further includes first configuration information 2 corresponding to BWP1 and first configuration information 3 corresponding to BWP 2. As shown in table 3 below, the multicast configuration information includes BWP2, and the multicast configuration information further includes first configuration information 3 corresponding to BWP 2.

TABLE 1

TABLE 2

TABLE 3

Optionally, the multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier may include one or more cells. Optionally, when the multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier includes multiple cells, at least two cells in the multicast area send the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource. Optionally, the multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier is dynamically planned according to the service requirement of the cell. For the description of the multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier, reference may be made to the related description of the multicast area under the foregoing system architecture, which is not described herein again.

Optionally, when the multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier includes multiple cells, the first configuration information further includes a cell list, where the cell list includes the multiple cells in the multicast area.

For example, in table 1 above, the multicast data cell identifier 1 corresponds to a multicast area 1, and the multicast area 1 includes cells 1 to 3. Then, the first configuration information 1 further includes a cell list 1, where the cell list 1 includes cells 1 to 3. Similarly, the multicast data cell identifier 2 in the above table 1 corresponds to the multicast area 2, and the multicast area 2 includes cells 1 to 6. Then, the first configuration information 2 further includes a cell list 2, and the cell list 2 includes cells 1 to 6. In table 1 above, the multicast data cell identifier 3 corresponds to a multicast area 3, and the multicast area 3 includes cells 4 to 6. Then, the first configuration information 3 further includes a cell list 3, where the cell list 3 includes cells 4 to 6. Tables 2 and 3 are the same and will not be described herein. Specifically, the cell list including the plurality of cells in the multicast area means that the cell list includes cell identifiers of the plurality of cells in the multicast area. The cell id in the cell list is the cell id corresponding to the synchronization signal. The cell identifier corresponding to the synchronization signal refers to a cell identifier obtained by detecting the synchronization signal. The first configuration information carries the cell list, so that the continuity and the mobility of the multicast service can be improved. For example, when the terminal device moves from the cell 1 in the multicast area 1 to the cell 2 in the multicast area 1, if it is known in advance through the cell list in the multicast configuration information that the cell 2 also belongs to the multicast area 1, since the cell 1 and the cell 2 transmit the same multicast data, the terminal device does not need to go through the whole reading process of the multicast configuration information again, and can directly receive the multicast data transmitted by the cell 2. Therefore, the continuity and mobility of the multicast service can be improved by carrying the cell list in the first configuration information.

Optionally, the multicast data cell identifier is independent of a cell identifier corresponding to a synchronization signal, where the synchronization signal is a signal used for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device. The cell identifier corresponding to the synchronization signal refers to a cell identifier obtained by detecting the synchronization signal. For example, the multicast data cell id 1 corresponds to the multicast area 1, and the multicast area 1 includes cells 1 to 3. It is assumed that the synchronization signal includes PSS and SSS. The cell identifier of cell 1 is the cell identifier corresponding to the synchronization signal 1, that is, the cell identifier of cell 1 is determined according to PSS1+ SSS 1. The cell id of cell 2 is the cell id corresponding to synchronization signal 2, that is, the cell id of cell 1 is determined according to PSS2+ SSS 2. The cell id of cell 3 is the cell id corresponding to synchronization signal 3, i.e. the cell id of cell 1 is determined according to PSS3+ SSS 3. The multicast data cell identifier 1 is configured independently from the cell identifiers of the cells 1 to 3, that is, the access network device needs to configure the multicast data cell identifier 1 separately. The multicast data cell identifier 1 configured by the access network device alone may be different from the cell identifiers of the cells 1 to 3, or the same as the cell identifier of a certain cell among the cells 1 to 3, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. By independently configuring the multicast data cell identifier, the access network equipment is facilitated to transmit multicast data in an SFN mode so as to obtain the signal combination gain of the SFN.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes multicast Time Division Duplex (TDD) timeslot type configuration information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier and/or multicast rate matching information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier. And the multicast rate matching information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier indicates time-frequency resources which need to be bypassed when multicast is carried out in the multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier. Based on the optional implementation manner, the terminal device is facilitated to bypass the non-multicast time slot or time frequency resource to receive the multicast data.

For example, the first configuration information 1 in table 1 above further includes multicast TDD slot type configuration information 1 and multicast rate matching information 1. The first configuration information 2 further includes multicast TDD slot type configuration information 2 and multicast rate matching information 2. The first configuration information 3 further includes multicast TDD slot type configuration information 3 and multicast rate matching information 3. Since TDD timeslot configurations of different cells may be independent, if each cell in the multicast area 1 needs to send the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource, the multicast TDD timeslot type configuration information 1 in the first configuration information 1 may be an intersection or a part of an intersection of one common direction in the respective TDD timeslot configurations of each cell in the multicast area 1. For example, the TDD time slots of cell 1 are configured to be lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, and upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, and upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower. Then, the multicast TDD timeslot type configuration information 1 may be at the lower XX, that is, the first two are downlink timeslots commonly available for multicast, the last X indicates other timeslots not available for multicast, and the last one is uplink timeslot commonly available for multicast. After the terminal equipment receives the multicast TDD time slot type configuration information 1, the terminal equipment can bypass the non-multicast time slot to receive multicast data according to the multicast TDD time slot type configuration information 1.

Similarly, each cell needs to transmit a reference signal. The time-frequency resources for transmitting the reference signals may be different for each cell. For example, cell 1 sends a reference signal in time-frequency resource 1, cell 2 sends a reference signal in time-frequency resource 2, and cell 3 sends a reference signal in time-frequency resource 3. Therefore, if each cell in the multicast area 1 needs to transmit the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource, the cells 1 to 3 need to transmit the same multicast data by bypassing the time-frequency resources 1 to 3. Therefore, the multicast rate matching information 1 may indicate time-frequency resources 1 to 3. After the terminal equipment receives the multicast rate matching information 1, the terminal equipment can bypass non-multicast time-frequency resources to receive multicast data according to the multicast rate matching information 1.

202. The terminal equipment receives multicast configuration information from the access network equipment at the initial frequency domain resource.

In this embodiment, after the access network device sends the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource, the terminal device may receive the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource.

Optionally, the access network device may also send the multicast configuration information in other frequency resources, and the terminal device may also receive the multicast configuration information from the other frequency resources, for example, the other frequency resources are indicated by PBCH or SIB1 or other SIBs.

203. And the access network equipment sends the multicast data to the terminal equipment in the multicast area in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information.

In the embodiment of the application, after the access network device sends the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource, the access network device sends the multicast data in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information. Specifically, the access network device may scramble the multicast data by using the multicast data cell identifier in the first configuration information, that is, scramble a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) by using the multicast data cell identifier in the first configuration information, and then send the scrambled multicast data in the first frequency domain resource.

204. And the terminal equipment receives the multicast data sent by the access network equipment according to the first frequency domain resource and the first configuration information.

In the embodiment of the application, after receiving the multicast configuration information from the access network device at the initial frequency domain resource, the terminal device receives multicast data sent by the access network device according to the first frequency domain resource and the first configuration information. Specifically, after receiving the multicast data sent by the access network device at the first frequency domain resource, the terminal device descrambles the received multicast data through the multicast data cell identifier in the first configuration information.

For example, an access network device is taken as the access network device 1, and terminal devices are terminal devices under the cells 1 to 3. The multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1 is shown in table 1 above. After the access network device 1 sends the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource, the access network device 1 scrambles the multicast data of the service 1 through the multicast data cell identifier 1, and sends the scrambled multicast data of the service 1 to the terminal devices of the cells 1 to 3 in the multicast area 1 through BWP 1. Accordingly, after receiving the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1 at the initial frequency domain resource, the terminal devices in the cells 1 to 3 receive the multicast data of the service 1 at BWP1, and descramble the received multicast data of the service 1 through the multicast data cell identifier 1.

Similarly, after the access network device 1 sends the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource, the access network device 1 scrambles the multicast data of the service 2 through the multicast data cell identifier 2, and sends the scrambled multicast data of the service 2 to the terminal devices of the cells 1 to 3 in the multicast area 2 in BWP 1. Accordingly, after receiving the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1 at the initial frequency domain resource, the terminal devices in the cells 1 to 3 receive the multicast data of the service 2 at BWP1, and descramble the received multicast data of the service 2 through the multicast data cell identifier 2.

Similarly, after the access network device 1 sends the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource, the access network device 1 scrambles the multicast data of the service 3 through the multicast data cell identifier 3, and sends the scrambled multicast data of the service 3 to the terminal devices of the cells 1 to 3 in the multicast area 3 at BWP 2. Accordingly, after receiving the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1 at the initial frequency domain resource, the terminal devices in the cells 1 to 3 receive the multicast data of the service 3 at BWP2, and descramble the received multicast data of the service 3 through the multicast data cell identifier 3. Other access network devices and terminal devices have the same structure, and are not described herein again.

It can be seen that by implementing the method described in fig. 2, multicast communication is enabled between the access network device and the terminal device.

Referring to fig. 3, fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a multicast communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 3, the multicast communication method includes the following steps 301 to 306, where:

301. and the access network equipment sends the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource.

302. The terminal equipment receives multicast configuration information from the access network equipment at the initial frequency domain resource.

The multicast configuration information includes a first frequency domain resource and at least one group of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resource, the first configuration information includes a multicast data cell identifier, and a multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier is used for multicast data in the first frequency domain resource. The specific implementation of step 301 and step 302 is the same as the specific implementation of step 201 and step 202, and is not described herein again.

It is worth mentioning that the multicast configuration information further comprises second configuration information, which comprises a search space of the multicast control channel and/or a set of control resources within the second frequency domain resource. The multicast control channel may be a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). The second frequency-domain resource may be BWP. The search space of the multicast control channel includes a monitoring period of the multicast control channel and an offset. For example, the search space includes a monitoring period of 5 slots and an offset of 2 slots. If the slot number starts from 0, the end device detects the multicast control channel in these slots of slot 2, slot 7. The control resource set of the multicast control channel comprises the number of symbols of frequency domain sub-bands and time domains occupied by the control channel in the second frequency domain resource. For example, the set of control channel resources includes a certain 12 Resource Blocks (RBs) in the second frequency domain resource and 2 consecutive time domain symbols. That is to say, in the embodiment of the present application, the PDSCH may be dynamically scheduled through the PDCCH, that is, multicast data may be dynamically scheduled through the PDCCH.

303. And the access network equipment sends the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information.

In this embodiment, after sending the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource, the access network device sends the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information.

304. And the terminal equipment detects the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information.

In this embodiment, after receiving the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource, the terminal device detects the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information.

305. And the access network equipment sends multicast data to the terminal equipment in the multicast area in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel.

In this embodiment, after the access network device sends the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information, the access network device sends multicast data to the terminal device in the multicast area in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel.

306. And the terminal equipment receives multicast data sent by the access network equipment in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel.

In this embodiment, after the terminal device detects the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information, the terminal device receives, in the first frequency domain resource, multicast data sent by the access network device according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel.

For example, an access network device is taken as the access network device 1, and terminal devices are terminal devices under the cells 1 to 3. As shown in table 1 above, the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1 includes BWP1 and BWP2, and the multicast configuration information further includes first configuration information 1 and first configuration information 2 corresponding to BWP1, and first configuration information 3 corresponding to BWP 2. The first configuration information 1 includes a multicast data cell identifier 1, and the multicast data cell identifier 1 corresponds to a multicast area 1. The first configuration information 2 includes a multicast data cell identifier 2, and the multicast data cell identifier 2 corresponds to the multicast area 2. The first configuration information 3 includes a multicast data cell identifier 3, and the multicast data cell identifier 3 corresponds to the multicast area 3. The multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1 further includes second configuration information, where the second configuration information includes a search space of the multicast control channel and a control resource set in the second frequency domain resource. After the access network device 1 sends the multicast configuration information in the initial frequency domain resource, the access network device 1 sends the first multicast control channel 1 to the first multicast control channel 3 in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information. Wherein, the first multicast control channel 1 is used for scheduling the multicast area 1 to transmit multicast data on Physical Resource Block 1 (PRB) in BWP1, the first multicast control channel 2 is used for scheduling the multicast area 2 to transmit multicast data on PRB2 in BWP1, and the first multicast control channel 3 is used for scheduling the multicast area 3 to transmit multicast data on PRB3 in BWP 2. After receiving the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1, the terminal device detects the first multicast control channel 1 to the first multicast control channel 3 in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information. After the access network device 1 transmits the first multicast control channel 1 in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information, the multicast data of the service 1 is scrambled by the multicast data cell identifier 1, and the PRB1 in the BWP1 transmits the scrambled multicast data of the service 1 to the terminal device in the multicast area 1. Accordingly, after the terminal device detects the first multicast control channel 1, the PRB1 in BWP1 receives the multicast data of service 1 and descrambles the multicast data of service 1 through the multicast data cell identity 1. The same principle of sending multicast data by the access network device according to the first multicast control channel 2 and the first multicast control channel 3 is not described herein again.

It can be seen that by implementing the method described in fig. 3, the access network device can dynamically schedule multicast data.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes a multicast radio network temporary identifier RNTI corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier, and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) information of the first multicast control channel is scrambled by the multicast RNTI. Optionally, after detecting the first multicast control channel, the terminal device descrambles CRC information of the first multicast control channel using the RNTI in the first configuration information, and receives multicast data sent by the access network device in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the descrambled first multicast control channel.

For example, as shown in table 4 below, in the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1, the first configuration information 1 further includes RNTI1, the first configuration information 2 further includes RNTI2, and the first configuration information 3 further includes RNTI 3. The RNTIs 1-3 may be the same or different, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited. Wherein, the CRC information of the first multicast control channel 1 is scrambled by RNTI 1. The CRC information of the first multicast control channel 2 is scrambled by RNTI 2. The CRC information of the first multicast control channel 3 is scrambled by RNTI 3. After detecting the first multicast control channel 1, the terminal device descrambles the CRC information of the first multicast control channel 1 using the RNTI1, and receives multicast data in BWP1 according to the first configuration information 1 and the descrambled first multicast control channel 1. After detecting the first multicast control channel 2, the terminal device descrambles the CRC information of the first multicast control channel 2 using the RNTI2, and receives multicast data in BWP1 according to the first configuration information 2 and the descrambled first multicast control channel 2. After detecting the first multicast control channel 3, the terminal device descrambles the CRC information of the first multicast control channel 3 using the RNTI23, and receives multicast data in BWP2 according to the first configuration information 3 and the descrambled first multicast control channel 3.

TABLE 4

Optionally, the terminal device may further detect a synchronization signal, and determine the current cell identifier according to the synchronization signal; wherein modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the current cell identification. Optionally, after detecting the first multicast control channel, the terminal device descrambles the modulation symbol of the first multicast control channel by using the current cell identifier determined according to the synchronization signal, then descrambles CRC information of the first multicast control channel by using the RNTI in the first configuration information, and then receives multicast data sent by the access network device in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the descrambled first multicast control channel.

For example, the access network device is taken as the access network device 1, and the terminal device is taken as a terminal device under the cell 1 as an example. A terminal device detects a synchronization signal that includes PSS1 and SSS 1. The terminal equipment determines the current cell identifier 1 according to the sequence of the synchronization signal. After the access network device 1 sends the multicast configuration information shown in table 4 above in the initial frequency domain resource, the access network device scrambles the CRC information of the first multicast control channel 1 by using the RNTI1, then scrambles the modulation symbol of the first multicast control channel 1 according to the current cell identifier 1, and finally sends the scrambled first multicast control channel 1 to the terminal device in the cell 1. After receiving the first multicast control channel 1, the terminal equipment in the cell 1 descrambles the modulation symbol of the first multicast control channel 1 through the current cell identifier 1, and then descrambles the CRC information of the first multicast control channel 1 through the RNTI 1. And finally, receiving the multicast data sent by the access network device 1 in the BWP1 according to the descrambled first multicast control channel 1 and the first configuration information 1. In this optional manner, the access network device may scramble the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel by using the real cell identifier of each cell (i.e., the cell identifier corresponding to the synchronization signal), which is beneficial for the access network device to independently send the first multicast control channel to each cell, and does not send the first multicast control channel in a multi-cell SFN manner.

Optionally, the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by a multicast data cell identity. For example, the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1 is shown in table 4 above. Wherein, the CRC information of the first multicast control channel 1 is scrambled by the RNTI1, and the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel 1 are scrambled. The CRC information of the first multicast control channel 2 is scrambled by RNTI2, and the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel 2 are scrambled by multicast data cell identity 2. The CRC information of the first multicast control channel 2 is scrambled by the RNTI2, and the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel 2 are scrambled by the multicast data cell identity 2. After detecting the first multicast control channel 1, the terminal device descrambles the modulation symbol of the first multicast control channel 1 by using the multicast data cell identifier 1, and then descrambles the CRC information of the first multicast control channel 1 by using the RNTI 1. And finally, receiving multicast data sent by the access network equipment 1 in BWP1 according to the descrambled first multicast control channel 1 and the first configuration information 1. The same applies after the terminal device detects the first multicast control channel 2 and the first multicast control channel 3, which is not described herein again. In this optional manner, the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by using the multicast data cell identifier, which may be beneficial for the access network device to send the first multicast control channel to each cell in an SFN manner, so as to obtain the signal combining gain of the SFN.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes a multicast control cell identifier, where the multicast control cell identifier is independent of a multicast data cell identifier and a cell identifier corresponding to a synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal is a signal used for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device; the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by a multicast control cell identity. The cell identifier corresponding to the synchronization signal refers to a cell identifier obtained by detecting the synchronization signal.

For example, as shown in table 5 below, in the multicast configuration information sent by the access network device 1, the first configuration information 1 further includes a multicast control cell identifier 1, the first configuration information 2 further includes a multicast control cell identifier 2, and the first configuration information 3 includes a multicast control cell identifier 3. The multicast control cell identifier 1 and the multicast data cell identifier are configured independently, and the multicast control cell identifier 1 and the cell identifier corresponding to the synchronization signal are also configured independently.

The CRC information of the first multicast control channel 1 is scrambled by the RNTI1, and the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel 1 are scrambled by the multicast control cell identifier 1. The CRC information of the first multicast control channel 2 is scrambled by the RNTI2, and the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel 2 are scrambled by the multicast control cell identity 2. The CRC information of the first multicast control channel 3 is scrambled by RNTI3, and the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel 3 are scrambled by multicast control cell identity 3. After detecting the first multicast control channel 1, the terminal device descrambles the modulation symbol of the first multicast control channel 1 by using the multicast control cell identifier 1, and then descrambles the CRC information of the first multicast control channel 1 by using the RNTI 1. And finally, receiving multicast data sent by the access network equipment 1 in BWP1 according to the descrambled first multicast control channel 1 and the first configuration information 1. The same applies after the terminal device detects the first multicast control channel 2 and the first multicast control channel 3, which is not described herein again. In this optional manner, the multicast control cell identifier is used to scramble the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel, which may be beneficial for the access network device to send the first multicast control channel to each cell in an SFN manner, so as to obtain the signal combining gain of the SFN.

TABLE 5

Optionally, the second frequency domain resource is an initial frequency domain resource or a first frequency domain resource. Or the second frequency domain resource is included in the second configuration information, i.e. the second frequency domain resource, the initial frequency domain resource and the first frequency domain resource are configured independently.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the device may be divided into functional modules according to the method example, for example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one module. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode. It should be noted that, the division of the modules in the embodiment of the present invention is schematic, and is only a logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation.

The invention also provides the terminal equipment. The terminal device includes: and a communication module. Wherein:

a communication module, configured to receive multicast configuration information from an access network device at an initial frequency domain resource, where the multicast configuration information includes a first frequency domain resource and at least one set of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resource, the first configuration information includes a multicast data cell identifier, and a multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier is used to multicast data in the first frequency domain resource; the communication module is further configured to receive multicast data sent by the access network device according to the first frequency domain resource and the first configuration information.

Optionally, the multicast configuration information further includes second configuration information, where the second configuration information includes a search space of the multicast control channel and/or a control resource set in the second frequency domain resource, and the communication module is further configured to detect the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information; the way for the communication module to receive the multicast data sent by the access network device according to the first frequency domain resource and the first configuration information is specifically that: and receiving multicast data sent by the access network equipment in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel.

Optionally, the first configuration information further includes a multicast radio network temporary identifier RNTI corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier, and cyclic redundancy check CRC information of the first multicast control channel is scrambled by the multicast RNTI.

Optionally, the terminal device further includes a processing module, where: the communication module is also used for detecting a synchronous signal; the processing module is used for determining the current cell identification according to the synchronous signal; the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the current cell identity.

Optionally, the multicast area includes a plurality of cells.

Specifically, the terminal device may implement, through the modules, some or all of the steps in the multicast communication method in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application are device embodiments corresponding to method embodiments, and the description of the method embodiments also applies to the embodiments of the present application.

The implementation of the invention also provides access network equipment. The access network device includes: and a communication module. Wherein:

a communication module, configured to send multicast configuration information in an initial frequency domain resource, where the multicast configuration information includes a first frequency domain resource and at least one set of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resource, the first configuration information includes a multicast data cell identifier, and a multicast area corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier is used for multicasting data in the first frequency domain resource; and the communication module is further used for sending the multicast data to the terminal equipment in the multicast area in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information.

Optionally, the multicast configuration information further includes second configuration information, where the second configuration information includes a search space of the multicast control channel and/or a control resource set in the second frequency domain resource, and the communication module is further configured to send the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information; the method for the communication module to send the multicast data to the terminal device in the multicast area in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information specifically includes: and sending multicast data to the terminal equipment in the multicast area in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel.

Optionally, the modulation symbol of the first multicast control channel is scrambled by a current cell identifier, where the current cell identifier is a cell identifier corresponding to the synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal is used for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device.

Optionally, the multicast area includes a plurality of cells.

Specifically, the access network device may implement, through the modules described above, part or all of the steps in the multicast communication method in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application are device embodiments corresponding to method embodiments, and the description of the method embodiments also applies to the embodiments of the present application.

Referring to fig. 4, fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device disclosed in the embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 4, the terminal device 400 includes a processor 401, a memory 402, and a communication interface 403. Wherein the processor 401, the memory 402 and the communication interface 403 are connected.

The processor 401 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a coprocessor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, transistor logic, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The processor 401 may also be a combination of computing functions, e.g., comprising one or more microprocessors in combination, a DSP and a microprocessor in combination, or the like.

Wherein the communication interface 403 is used for enabling communication with access network devices.

The processor 401 calls the program code stored in the memory 402, and may execute the steps executed by the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

Based on the same inventive concept, the principle of the terminal device for solving the problem provided in the embodiment of the present application is similar to the principle of the terminal device for solving the problem in the embodiment of the method of the present application, so the implementation of each device may refer to the implementation of the method, and is not described herein again for brevity.

Referring to fig. 5, fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an access network device disclosed in the embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 5, the access network equipment 500 includes a processor 501, memory 502, and a communication interface 503. Wherein the processor 501, the memory 502 and the communication interface 503 are connected.

The processor 501 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a general purpose processor, a coprocessor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The processor 501 may also be a combination of computing functions, e.g., comprising one or more microprocessors, DSPs and microprocessors, and the like.

The communication interface 503 is used for implementing communication with a terminal device.

The processor 501 calls the program code stored in the memory 502 to execute the steps executed by the access network device in the above method embodiments.

Based on the same inventive concept, the principle of solving the problem of the access network device provided in the embodiment of the present application is similar to the principle of solving the problem of the access network device in the embodiment of the method of the present application, so the implementation of each device may refer to the implementation of the method, and is not described herein again for brevity.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the functionality described in this disclosure may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof, in one or more of the examples described above. When implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

The above-mentioned embodiments, objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention are further described in detail, it should be understood that the above-mentioned embodiments are only exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements and the like made on the basis of the technical solutions of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of multicast communication, the method comprising:

a terminal device receives multicast configuration information from an access network device at an initial frequency domain resource, where the multicast configuration information includes a first frequency domain resource and at least one set of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resource, the first configuration information includes a multicast data cell identifier, a multicast region corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier is used for multicast data in the first frequency domain resource, the multicast configuration information further includes second configuration information, the second configuration information includes a search space of a first multicast control channel and/or a control resource set in a second frequency domain resource, the first multicast control channel is a physical downlink control channel PDCCH, the second frequency domain resource is the initial frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource, or the second frequency domain resource is included in the second configuration information;

the terminal device detects the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information;

and the terminal equipment receives multicast data sent by the access network equipment in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration information further comprises a multicast Radio Network Temporary Identity (RNTI) corresponding to the multicast data cell identity, and wherein Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) information of the first multicast control channel is scrambled by the multicast RNTI.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the terminal equipment detects a synchronous signal;

the terminal equipment determines the current cell identification according to the synchronous signal;

the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the current cell identity.

4. The method of claim 2,

the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the multicast data cell identity.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first configuration information further includes a multicast control cell identifier, and wherein the multicast control cell identifier is independent of the multicast data cell identifier and a cell identifier corresponding to a synchronization signal, and wherein the synchronization signal is a signal for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device;

the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the multicast control cell identity.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the multicast area comprises a plurality of cells.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first configuration information further comprises a cell list, and wherein the cell list comprises the plurality of cells.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein at least two cells of the plurality of cells transmit the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resources.

9. The method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the multicast data cell identifier is independent of a cell identifier corresponding to a synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal is a signal for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first configuration information further includes multicast TDD timeslot type configuration information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier and/or multicast rate matching information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier.

11. A method of multicast communication, the method comprising:

the method comprises the steps that access network equipment sends multicast configuration information in initial frequency domain resources, wherein the multicast configuration information comprises first frequency domain resources and at least one group of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resources, the first configuration information comprises multicast data cell identifiers, multicast areas corresponding to the multicast data cell identifiers are used for multicast data in the first frequency domain resources, the multicast configuration information further comprises second configuration information, the second configuration information comprises search spaces of first multicast control channels and/or control resource sets in second frequency domain resources, the first multicast control channels are Physical Downlink Control Channels (PDCCH), the second frequency domain resources are the initial frequency domain resources or the first frequency domain resources, or the second frequency resources are included in the second configuration information;

the access network equipment sends the first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information;

and the access network equipment sends the multicast data to terminal equipment in the multicast area in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first configuration information further comprises a multicast Radio Network Temporary Identity (RNTI) corresponding to the multicast data cell identity, and wherein Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) information of the first multicast control channel is scrambled by the multicast RNTI.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by a current cell identity, wherein the current cell identity is a cell identity corresponding to a synchronization signal used for synchronization between the terminal device and the access network device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the multicast data cell identity.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first configuration information further includes a multicast control cell id, and wherein the multicast control cell id is independent of the multicast data cell id and a cell id corresponding to a synchronization signal, and wherein the synchronization signal is a signal for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device; the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the multicast control cell identity.

16. The method according to any of claims 11-15, wherein the multicast area comprises a plurality of cells.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first configuration information further comprises a cell list, and wherein the cell list comprises the plurality of cells.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein at least two cells of the plurality of cells transmit the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource.

19. The method according to any of claims 11 to 18, wherein the multicast data cell id is independent of a cell id corresponding to a synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal is a signal for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device.

20. The method according to any of claims 11 to 19, wherein the first configuration information further includes multicast TDD timeslot type configuration information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier and/or multicast rate matching information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier.

21. A terminal device, characterized in that the terminal device comprises:

a communication module, configured to receive multicast configuration information from an access network device at an initial frequency domain resource, where the multicast configuration information includes a first frequency domain resource and at least one set of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resource, the first configuration information includes a multicast data cell identifier, a multicast region corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier is used for multicast data in the first frequency domain resource, the multicast configuration information further includes second configuration information, the second configuration information includes a search space of a first multicast control channel and/or a control resource set in a second frequency domain resource, the first multicast control channel is a physical downlink control channel PDCCH, the second frequency domain resource is the initial frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource, or the second frequency domain resource is included in the second configuration information;

the communication module is further configured to detect a first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information;

the communication module is further configured to receive, in the first frequency domain resource, multicast data sent by the access network device according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel.

22. The terminal device of claim 21, wherein the first configuration information further comprises a multicast Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier, and wherein Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) information of the first multicast control channel is scrambled by the multicast RNTI.

23. The terminal device of claim 22, further comprising a processing module, wherein:

the communication module is further used for detecting a synchronization signal;

the processing module is configured to determine a current cell identifier according to the synchronization signal;

24. A terminal device according to claim 22, wherein the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the multicast data cell identity.

25. The terminal device of claim 22, wherein the first configuration information further includes a multicast control cell id, and wherein the multicast control cell id is independent of the multicast data cell id and a cell id corresponding to a synchronization signal, and wherein the synchronization signal is a signal for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device;

26. A terminal device according to any of claims 21 to 25, wherein the multicast area comprises a plurality of cells.

27. The terminal device of claim 26, wherein the first configuration information further comprises a cell list, and wherein the cell list comprises the plurality of cells.

28. The terminal device according to claim 26 or 27, wherein at least two cells of the plurality of cells transmit the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource.

29. A terminal device according to any one of claims 21 to 28, wherein the multicast data cell identity is independent of a cell identity corresponding to a synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal is a signal for the terminal device to synchronize with the access network device.

30. The terminal device according to any of claims 21-29, wherein the first configuration information further comprises multicast TDD timeslot type configuration information corresponding to the multicast data cell id and/or multicast rate matching information corresponding to the multicast data cell id.

31. An access network device, characterized in that the access network device comprises:

a communication module, configured to send multicast configuration information at an initial frequency domain resource, where the multicast configuration information includes a first frequency domain resource and at least one set of first configuration information corresponding to the first frequency domain resource, the first configuration information includes a multicast data cell identifier, a multicast region corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier is used for multicast data in the first frequency domain resource, the multicast configuration information further includes second configuration information, the second configuration information includes a search space of a first multicast control channel and/or a control resource set in a second frequency domain resource, the first multicast control channel is a physical downlink control channel PDCCH, and the second frequency domain resource is the initial frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource, or the second frequency domain resource is included in the second configuration information;

the communication module is further configured to send a first multicast control channel in the second frequency domain resource according to the second configuration information;

the communication module is further configured to send the multicast data to a terminal device in the multicast area in the first frequency domain resource according to the first configuration information and the first multicast control channel.

32. The access network device of claim 31, wherein the first configuration information further includes a multicast Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier, and wherein Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) information of the first multicast control channel is scrambled by the multicast RNTI.

33. The access network device of claim 32, wherein modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by a current cell identity, wherein the current cell identity is a cell identity corresponding to a synchronization signal, and wherein the synchronization signal is used for the terminal device to synchronize with the access network device.

34. The access network device of claim 32, wherein modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the multicast data cell identification.

35. The access network device of claim 32, wherein the first configuration information further includes a multicast control cell id, the multicast control cell id is independent of the multicast data cell id and a cell id corresponding to a synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal is a signal for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device; the modulation symbols of the first multicast control channel are scrambled by the multicast control cell identity.

36. An access network device according to any one of claims 31 to 35, wherein the multicast area comprises a plurality of cells.

37. The access network device of claim 36, wherein the first configuration information further includes a cell list, the cell list including the plurality of cells.

38. The access network device of claim 36 or 37, wherein at least two cells of the plurality of cells transmit the same multicast data on the same time-frequency resource.

39. The access network device of any of claims 31-38, wherein the multicast data cell id is independent of a cell id corresponding to a synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal is a signal for synchronizing the terminal device and the access network device.

40. The access network device according to any of claims 31 to 39, wherein the first configuration information further includes multicast TDD slot type configuration information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier and/or multicast rate matching information corresponding to the multicast data cell identifier.

41. A terminal device, characterized in that the terminal device comprises: a processor, a memory, and a communication interface, the processor coupled to the memory and the communication interface, wherein:

the memory for storing one or more programs;

the communication interface is used for communicating with access network equipment;

the processor is configured to execute the program in the memory to enable the terminal device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-10.

42. An access network device, characterized in that the access network device comprises: a processor, a memory, and a communication interface, the processor coupled to the memory and the communication interface, wherein:

the memory to store one or more programs;

the communication interface is used for communicating with the terminal equipment;

the processor is configured to execute the program in the memory to cause the access network device to perform the method according to any one of claims 11 to 20.