Method and apparatus for transmitting system information, and method and apparatus for receiving system information

TECHNICAL FIELD

0001The present invention relates to the field of network communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting system information, and a method and an apparatus for receiving system information.

BACKGROUND

0002It is well known that, in a communications network, power of a signal received by a terminal is directly affected by an environment in which the terminal is located. In a relatively harsh environment, a terminal that originally can perform communication normally cannot perform communication normally due to excessively low received signal power.

0003For example, in a same area within coverage of a same base station, power of a signal received by a terminal located in a basement is generally lower than power of a signal received by a terminal located outdoor.

0004<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP2466977A1"><text>EP2466977A1</text></patcit> describes a method and user terminal for receiving multicast control channel (MCCH) change notifications, which include: obtaining the transmission time of an MCCH change notification; and when the MCCH change notification is not received during one MCCH modification period, receiving, according to the transmission time of the MCCH change notification, the MCCH change notification at least N times, wherein N is the preset reception times of the MCCH change notification. It is described that the efficiency of receiving MCCH change notifications by user terminals is improved, and the probability of processing MCCH change notifications falsely due to too many network identifiers in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is reduced.

0005To enable a terminal located in a harsh environment to perform communication normally, in the prior art, a method for performing enhanced transmission on system information required in a communication process of the terminal is used to ensure normal communication of the terminal. The enhanced transmission refers to that information that needs to be transmitted to a terminal is transmitted in multiple subframes for multiple times to ensure that the terminal can receive complete information.

0006However, in the method for transmitting system information in the prior art, because multiple subframes (which may be several hundreds of subframes) need to be occupied to transmit the system information, many transmission resources are occupied in a process of transmitting the system information. In a mobile communications system, available transmission resources are limited for the system; therefore, if system information is continuously transmitted in an enhanced transmission manner to a terminal located in a harsh environment, resource overheads are excessively large, leading to insufficient resources for transmitting downlink data by a terminal not located in a harsh environment.

SUMMARY

0007In view of this, the present invention provides a method and an apparatus for transmitting system information, and a method and an apparatus for receiving system information, where system information is periodically transmitted, in an enhanced transmission manner and based on a modification period of system information of a terminal not located in a harsh environment, to a terminal located in a harsh environment, so as to resolve a problem that excessive transmission resources are occupied because system information is continuously transmitted in an enhanced transmission manner to a terminal located in a harsh environment.

0008As can be seen from the foregoing technical solutions that, according to the method and the apparatus for transmitting system information, and the method and the apparatus for receiving system information in this application, enhanced system information is transmitted in an enhanced transmission manner in a modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location. Two adjacent transmission periods of the eSI are discontinuous, and there may be multiple transmission periods; therefore, occupied transmission resources can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

0009To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or in the prior art more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of the present invention, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts. <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> is a flowchart of Embodiment 1 of a method for transmitting system information according to this application;</li><li><figref idref="f0001">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart of Embodiment 2 of a method for transmitting system information according to this application;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a relationship between a modification period of eSI and a modification period of SI and a relationship between a transmission location of the eSI and a transmission location of the SI in this application;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref> is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a relationship between a modification period of eSI and a modification period of SI and a relationship between a transmission location of the eSI and a transmission location of the SI in this application;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">FIG. 5</figref> is a flowchart of Embodiment 1 of a method for receiving system information according to this application;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">FIG. 6</figref> is a flowchart of Embodiment 2 of a method for receiving system information according to this application;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">FIG. 7</figref> is a structural diagram of an embodiment of an apparatus for transmitting system information according to this application;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">FIG. 8</figref> is a structural diagram of an embodiment of an apparatus for receiving system information according to this application; and</li><li><figref idref="f0005">FIG. 9</figref> is a structural diagram of a computing node according to this application.</li></ul>

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

0010The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely some but not all of the embodiments of the present invention.

0011Methods and apparatuses in the embodiments of this application are mainly applied to a terminal requiring coverage enhancement. The terminal requiring coverage enhancement refers to a terminal that can perform communication normally only when enhanced transmission is performed by a base station on a network signal when the network signal received by the terminal has relatively poor quality. Generally, the terminal requiring coverage enhancement may be a terminal located in a relatively harsh environment.

0012<figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> is a flowchart of Embodiment 1 of a method for transmitting system information according to this application. As shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, the method includes:

0013Step 101: A base station acquires a preset modification period of enhanced system information, where the enhanced system information is system information on which enhanced transmission needs to be performed; the modification period of the enhanced system information is an integer multiple of a modification period of non-enhanced system information; and the non-enhanced system information is system information that is transmitted, based on scheduling of a control channel, in a system information window.

0014A meaning of the non-enhanced system information is the same as or similar to that of system information (SI) in the prior art. The non-enhanced system information may be scheduled based on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and may be transmitted in the system information window for multiple times. That is, system information is carried on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH); if the PDCCH channel is transmitted in a subframe of the system information window, and the channel is used to schedule the PDSCH channel that carries the system information, the system information is transmitted in the subframe, and is carried on the PDSCH channel. The system information window may be a transmission period of system information. A terminal, that is, user equipment (UE), detects, in each subframe of the system information window, scheduling information that is related to system information and that is carried on the PDCCH. If the scheduling information is detected, it indicates that a base station (evolved Node B, eNB) has transmitted system information in the subframe.

0015The enhanced system information (eSI) is system information that is transmitted repeatedly at a pre-defined subframe location in a period of time. The UE does not need to determine, in each subframe by detecting whether the scheduling information is transmitted on the PDCCH, whether the system information is transmitted in each subframe. Instead, the UE combines and receives system information that is transmitted in multiple pre-defined subframes in a period of time, thereby achieving an object of enhancing system information.

0016Multiple transmission periods of SI may constitute one modification period of the SI. In one modification period of the SI, content of the transmitted SI is the same and does not change. If the SI needs to be changed, the SI can be generally changed only at the beginning of one modification period of the SI, so as to meet a requirement that content of the SI in one modification period of the SI is the same.

0017Similarly, multiple transmission periods of eSI may constitute one modification period of the eSI. In one modification period of the eSI, content of the transmitted eSI is the same and does not change. If the eSI needs to be changed, the eSI can be generally changed only at the beginning of one modification period of the eSI, so as to meet a requirement that content of the eSI in one modification period of the eSI is the same.

0018Step 102: Transmit the enhanced system information in an enhanced transmission manner in the modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location.

0019One modification period of the eSI may include multiple subframes, and the enhanced system information may be transmitted in the enhanced transmission manner at a pre-configured subframe location. Specifically, for example, one modification period includes 1000 subframes, and the enhanced system information may be configured to transmit at a location configured between the 100^th and the 300^th subframes or the enhanced system information may be configured to transmit at a location configured between the 200^th and the 400^th subframes.

0020Specifically, in one transmission period of the SI, fewer transmission resources are occupied for transmitting the SI; therefore, the SI may be transmitted at a higher frequency. However, in one transmission period of the eSI, more transmission resources are occupied for transmitting the eSI; therefore, in this embodiment of this application, a transmission location of the enhanced system information may be a period of time in one modification period of the eSI. There may be multiple transmission periods of the SI between two adjacent transmission periods of the eSI. In this embodiment of this application, one modification period of the eSI may include one transmission period of the eSI.

0021In a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, the enhanced system information may include a master information block (MIB) and a system information block (SIB). The MIB may be transmitted in the enhanced transmission manner by using a physical broadcast channel (PBCH); and the SIB may be transmitted in the enhanced transmission manner by using a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

0022In conclusion, in this embodiment, enhanced system information is transmitted in an enhanced transmission manner in a modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location. Two adjacent transmission periods of the eSI are discontinuous, and there may be multiple transmission periods ; therefore, occupied transmission resources can be reduced.

0023In an actual application, after a terminal that needs to receive enhanced system information receives the enhanced system information, the terminal can perform communication according to the enhanced system information all the time without receiving enhanced system information transmitted by a base station each time. When the enhanced system information changes, to make the terminal learn the change, enhanced paging information is further needed to be transmitted to the terminal. The enhanced paging information may be a paging message that is transmitted in an enhanced transmission manner, and the enhanced paging message is used to notify the corresponding terminal that the enhanced system information has changed.

0024<figref idref="f0001">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart of Embodiment 2 of a method for transmitting system information according to this application. As shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 2</figref>, the method may include:

0025Step 201: A base station acquires a preset modification period of enhanced system information, where the enhanced system information is system information on which enhanced transmission needs to be performed; the modification period of the enhanced system information is an integer multiple of a modification period of non-enhanced system information; and the non-enhanced system information is system information that is transmitted, based on scheduling by using a control channel, in a system information window.

0026Step 202: Transmit the enhanced system information in an enhanced transmission manner in the modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location.

0027Step 203: When the enhanced system information changes, transmit an enhanced paging message in the enhanced transmission manner in a preset time period in the modification period of the non-enhanced system information within the modification period of the enhanced system information, where the enhanced paging message is used to notify a corresponding terminal that the enhanced system information has changed.

0028After receiving the enhanced paging message, the change of enhanced system information may be determined. After receiving the enhanced paging message, the terminal may start a procedure of receiving the enhanced system information. When the base station transmits the enhanced system information again, the terminal may receive the enhanced system information, and adjust, according to the enhanced system information, related information involved in a communication process.

0029It should be noted that the enhanced system information may include shared information and proprietary information, where the proprietary information is radio resource configuration information related to enhanced transmission, and the shared information is radio resource configuration information that is used in both the enhanced transmission manner and a non-enhanced transmission manner. For example, the proprietary information may include a radio resource that is used when enhanced transmission is performed on a physical random access channel (PRACH), radio resource configuration information that is used when enhanced transmission is performed on a channel such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), and the like. The shared information may include uplink carrier frequency information, uplink carrier bandwidth information, and the like.

0030The proprietary information in a modification period of the enhanced system information is the same; and the shared information in a modification period of the non-enhanced system information is the same. That is, in one modification period of the enhanced system information, the proprietary information does not change. If two pieces of proprietary information are different, the two pieces of proprietary information inevitably exist in two modification periods of the enhanced system information. However, in one modification period of the enhanced system information, the shared information may change. This is because one modification period of the eSI may include multiple modification periods of SI, as long as it can be ensured that shared information in a same modification period of the SI is the same. Therefore, shared information used in communication between the base station and the terminal in the first modification period of the SI in a modification period of the eSI may be different from shared information used in communication between the base station and the terminal in the second modification period of the SI in the modification period of the eSI.

0031Because a period in which the shared information changes is different from a period in which the proprietary information changes, processing mechanisms of the terminal are different in a case in which the shared information changes and in a case in which the proprietary information changes.

0032Specifically, the enhanced paging message may include different identifiers, which are used to identify whether information that changes is shared information or proprietary information.

0033For example, the enhanced paging message (e-Paging) may include a first identifier that is used to indicate that the shared information has changed. The first identifier may be indicated by a case in which a field value of systemInfoModification in the e-Paging is true. After identifying the first identifier included in the enhanced paging information, the terminal may stop current communication, and receive changed enhanced system information when a next modification period of the enhanced system information comes. The reason why the current communication needs to be stopped is that: after the shared information changes, the base station may have performed communication by using the changed enhanced system information, while at this time, the terminal has not learned the changed enhanced system information, and the terminal cannot perform communication at this time.

0034The e-Paging may further include a second identifier that is used to indicate that the proprietary information has changed. The second identifier may be indicated by a case in which a field value of the systemInfoModification in the e-Paging is false and a case in which a field value of CEM-systemInfoModification in the e-Paging is true. After identifying the second identifier included in the enhanced paging information, the terminal may perform communication by continuing to use current enhanced system information, and receive the changed enhanced system information when the next modification period of the enhanced system information comes. The reason why current enhanced system information can be continued to be used to perform communication is that: the proprietary information changes in a next modification period of the enhanced system information, and before the next modification period comes, enhanced system information used by the base station does not change. Therefore, before the next modification period comes, the terminal may further perform communication by continuing to use current enhanced system information.

0035In the foregoing two examples, the field systemInfoModification is used to indicate whether the shared information changes, and the field CEM-systemInfoModification is used to indicate whether the proprietary information changes. If the enhanced paging message includes only the field systemInfoModification, when the field value of the systemInfoModification is true, it cannot be determined whether the proprietary information has changed or the shared information has changed.

0036In the foregoing case, the e-Paging may further include a third identifier that is used to indicate that the proprietary information or the shared information has changed. The third identifier may be indicated by a case in which the field value of the systemInfoModification in the e-Paging is true. After identifying the third identifier included in the enhanced paging information, the terminal may stop the current communication, and receive the changed enhanced system information when the next modification period of the enhanced system information comes.

0037<figref idref="f0002">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a relationship between a modification period of eSI and a modification period of SI and a relationship between a transmission location of the eSI and a transmission location of the SI in this application.

0038As shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 3</figref>, different periods are represented by using boxes with different widths. A biggest box 1 represents the modification period of the eSI. A smaller box 2 represents the modification period of the SI. A box 4 represents a transmission period of the eSI. A box 5 represents a transmission period of the SI. In an example of <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 3</figref>, one modification period of the eSI includes one transmission period of the eSI and 16 transmission periods of the SI, where a time length of one transmission period of the eSI is equivalent to a time length of two transmission periods of the SI. One modification period of the SI includes nine transmission periods of the SI. That is, a time length of the modification period of the eSI is two times of a time length of the modification period of the SI.

0039In <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 3</figref>, the transmission period of the eSI is at a starting location of the modification period of the eSI. In an actual application, the transmission period of the eSI may also be at another location of the modification period of the eSI, for example, may be at the third and the fourth transmission periods of the SI within the modification period of the eSI.

0040In <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 3</figref>, a box 3 represents a transmission period of e-Paging. The transmission period of the e-Paging is set based on the modification period of the SI. One modification period of the SI should include at least one transmission period of the e-Paging. In an example of <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 3</figref>, the transmission period of the e-Paging is at the fifth transmission period of the SI within the modification period of the SI. In an actual application, the transmission period of the e-Paging may also be at another time-sequence location of the modification period of the SI.

0041One modification period of the eSI may include two transmission periods of the e-Paging. When shared information in the eSI changes in the second modification period of the SI within the modification period of the eSI, the e-Paging may be transmitted in the second modification period of the SI. After a terminal that needs to receive the eSI receives the e-Paging, the terminal may acquire changed eSI when the second modification period of the eSI comes.

0042If a modification period of the SI does not include the transmission period of the e-Paging, when the shared information in the eSI changes in the modification period of the SI, the terminal that needs to receive the eSI cannot receive the e-Paging, and cannot learn that the eSI has changed. When a base station uses changed eSI, the terminal cannot perform communication normally.

0043<figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref> is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a relationship between a modification period of eSI and a modification period of SI and a relationship between a transmission location of the eSI and a transmission location of the SI in this application.

0044As shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref>, different periods are represented by using boxes with different widths. A biggest box 1 represents the modification period of the eSI. A smaller box 2 represents the modification period of the SI. A box 4 represents a transmission period of the eSI. A box 5 represents a transmission period of the SI. In an example of <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref>, one modification period of the eSI includes one transmission period of the eSI and seven transmission periods of the SI, where a time length of one transmission period of the eSI is equivalent to a time length of two transmission periods of the SI. One modification period of the SI includes nine transmission periods of the SI. That is, a time length of the modification period of the eSI is one time of a time length of the modification period of the SI.

0045In <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref>, the transmission period of the eSI is at a starting location of the modification period of the eSI. In an actual application, the transmission period of the eSI may also be at another location of the modification period of the eSI, for example, may be at the third and the fourth transmission periods of the SI within the modification period of the eSI.

0046In <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref>, a box 3 represents a transmission period of e-Paging. The transmission period of the e-Paging is set based on the modification period of the SI. One modification period of the SI should include at least one transmission period of the e-Paging. In an example of <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref>, the transmission period of the e-Paging is at the fifth transmission period of the SI within the modification period of the SI. In an actual application, the transmission period of the e-Paging may also be at another time-sequence location of the modification period of the SI.

0047One modification period of the eSI includes one transmission period of the e-Paging. When shared information in the eSI changes in the modification period of the SI, the e-Paging may be transmitted in the second modification period of the SI. After a terminal that needs to receive the eSI receives the e-Paging, the terminal may acquire changed eSI when the second modification period of the eSI comes.

0048If a modification period of the SI does not include the transmission period of the e-Paging, when the shared information in the eSI changes in the modification period of the SI, the terminal that needs to receive the eSI cannot receive the e-Paging, and cannot learn that the eSI has changed. When a base station uses changed eSI, the terminal cannot perform communication normally.

0049In an actual application, to enable a terminal that needs to receive an enhanced paging message to receive only an enhanced paging message and a terminal that needs to receive a non-enhanced paging message to receive only a non-enhanced paging message, the enhanced paging message may be transmitted in an enhanced transmission manner by using a first time-frequency resource, where the first time-frequency resource is different from a second time-frequency resource used for transmitting the non-enhanced paging message.

0050When the enhanced paging message and the non-enhanced paging message are transmitted in a same subframe (that is, a same time-frequency resource), the enhanced paging message and the non-enhanced paging message may further be scrambled in different scrambling manners. Specifically, the enhanced paging message may be scrambled in a first scrambling manner, where the first scrambling manner is different from a second scrambling manner used for transmitting the non-enhanced paging message.

0051It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, the configured time-sequence location may be a time-sequence location defined in a related communications protocol standard; or may be a time-sequence location set by a person skilled in the art on a base station side according to an actual application environment. After the time-sequence location is set, a base station may notify a terminal of the configured time-sequence location by means of information exchange, so that the terminal may receive the enhanced system information at the configured time-sequence location.

0052In the embodiments, the base station may notify the terminal of the configured time-sequence location in the following manners:

0053One manner is: before the enhanced system information is transmitted in an enhanced transmission manner in the modification period of the enhanced system information according to the configured time-sequence location, transmitting, to the terminal by using a physical broadcast channel, information that indicates the time-sequence location, so that the terminal receives the enhanced system information at the time-sequence location.

0054Another manner is: dividing the enhanced system information into at least comprising first information and second information, where the first information includes sub information that indicates a time-sequence location of the second information; and before the enhanced system information is transmitted in an enhanced transmission manner in the modification period of the enhanced system information according to the configured time-sequence location, transmitting, to a terminal by using a physical broadcast channel, information that indicates a time-sequence location of the first information, so that the terminal receives the first information at the time-sequence location, and receives the second information according to the time-sequence location, indicated by the sub information, of the second information.

0055Specifically, for example, a SIB may include a SIB1, a SIB2, ..., and a SIBx. Time-sequence location information (which is equivalent to sub information of the second information) of another SIB (which is equivalent to the second information) may be included in the SIB1 (which is equivalent to the first information). The base station may notify, by using the physical broadcast channel, the terminal of a time-sequence location at which the SIB1 is transmitted; or a time-sequence location of the SIB1 may be defined in a related communications protocol standard, and the terminal receives, by using the time-sequence location of the SIB 1 defined in the standard, the SIB 1 transmitted by the base station. After receiving the SIB1 at the time-sequence location of the SIB1, the terminal may learn, according to sub information in the SIB1, a time-sequence location of another SIB transmitted by the base station, so that the terminal may further receive the another SIB at the time-sequence location of the another SIB.

0056This application further provides a method for receiving system information.

0057<figref idref="f0003">FIG. 5</figref> is a flowchart of Embodiment 1 of a method for receiving system information according to this application. As shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 5</figref>, the method includes:

0058Step 501: A terminal acquires enhanced system information transmitted by a base station in an enhanced transmission manner in a modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location.

0059The enhanced system information is system information on which enhanced transmission needs to be performed. The modification period of the enhanced system information is an integer multiple of a modification period of non-enhanced system information. The non-enhanced system information is system information that is transmitted, based on scheduling by using a control channel, in a system information window.

0060The terminal includes a terminal such as a mobile phone. The terminal may be a terminal requiring coverage enhancement, for example, a terminal that is located in a relatively harsh environment.

0061A meaning of the non-enhanced system information is the same as or similar to that of system information (SI) in the prior art. The non-enhanced system information may be scheduled based on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and may be transmitted in the system information window for multiple times. That is, system information is carried on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH); if the PDCCH channel is transmitted in a subframe of the system information window, and the channel is used to schedule the PDSCH channel that carries the system information, the system information is transmitted in the subframe, and is carried on the PDSCH channel. The system information window may be a transmission period of system information. A terminal, that is, user equipment (UE), detects, in each subframe of the system information window, scheduling information that is related to system information and that is carried on the PDCCH. If the scheduling information is detected, it indicates that a base station (evolved Node B, eNB) has transmitted system information in the subframe.

0062The enhanced system information (eSI) is system information that is transmitted repeatedly at a pre-defined subframe location in a period of time. The UE does not need to determine, in each subframe by detecting whether the scheduling information is transmitted on the PDCCH, whether the system information is transmitted in each subframe. Instead, the UE combines and receives system information that is transmitted in multiple pre-defined subframes in a period of time, thereby achieving an object of enhancing system information.

0063Multiple transmission periods of SI may constitute one modification period of the SI. In one modification period of the SI, content of the transmitted SI is the same and does not change. If the SI needs to be changed, the SI can be generally changed only at the beginning of one modification period of the SI, so as to meet a requirement that content of the SI in one modification period of the SI is the same.

0064Similarly, multiple transmission periods of eSI may constitute one modification period of the eSI. In one modification period of the eSI, content of the transmitted eSI is the same and does not change. If the eSI needs to be changed, the eSI can be generally changed only at the beginning of one modification period of the eSI, so as to meet a requirement that content of the eSI in one modification period of the eSI is the same.

0065One modification period of the eSI may include multiple subframes, and the enhanced system information may be transmitted in the enhanced transmission manner at a pre-configured subframe location. Specifically, for example, one modification period includes 1000 subframes, and the enhanced system information may be transmitted at a location configured between the 100^th and the 300^th subframes or the enhanced system information may be transmitted at a location configured between the 200^th and the 400^th subframes.

0066Specifically, in one transmission period of the SI, fewer transmission resources are occupied for transmitting the SI; therefore, the SI may be transmitted at a higher frequency. However, in one transmission period of the eSI, more transmission resources are occupied for transmitting the eSI; therefore, in this embodiment of this application, a transmission location of the enhanced system information may be a period of time in one modification period of the eSI. There may be multiple transmission periods of the SI between two adjacent transmission periods of the eSI. In this embodiment of this application, one modification period of the eSI may include one transmission period of the eSI.

0067In conclusion, in this embodiment, a terminal acquires enhanced system information transmitted by a base station in an enhanced transmission manner in a modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location. Two adjacent transmission periods of the eSI are discontinuous, and there may be multiple transmission periods ; therefore, occupied transmission resources can be reduced.

0068In an actual application, after a terminal that needs to receive enhanced system information receives the enhanced system information, the terminal can perform communication according to the enhanced system information all the time, without receiving enhanced system information transmitted by a base station each time. When the enhanced system information changes, to make the terminal learn the change, the base station may further transmit enhanced paging information to the terminal. The enhanced paging information may be a paging message that is transmitted in an enhanced transmission manner, and the enhanced paging message is used to notify the corresponding terminal that the enhanced system information has changed. The terminal may receive the enhanced paging message to learn that the enhanced system information has changed.

0069<figref idref="f0003">FIG. 6</figref> is a flowchart of Embodiment 2 of a method for receiving system information according to this application. As shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 6</figref>, the method may include:

0070Step 601: A terminal acquires enhanced system information transmitted by a base station in an enhanced transmission manner in a modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location.

0071The enhanced system information is system information on which enhanced transmission needs to be performed. The modification period of the enhanced system information is an integer multiple of a modification period of non-enhanced system information. The non-enhanced system information is system information that is transmitted, based on scheduling by using a control channel, in a system information window.

0072Step 602: Acquire an enhanced paging message transmitted by the base station in the enhanced transmission manner in a preset time period in a modification period of the non-enhanced system information within the modification period of the enhanced system information, where the enhanced paging message is used to notify the corresponding terminal that the enhanced system information has changed.

0073Step 603: Acquire, based on an identifier included in the enhanced paging information, changed enhanced system information.

0074After receiving the enhanced paging message, the terminal may determine that the enhanced system information has changed. After receiving the enhanced paging message, the terminal may start a procedure of receiving the enhanced system information. When the base station transmits the enhanced system information again, the terminal may receive the enhanced system information, and adjust, according to the enhanced system information, related information involved in a communication process.

0075It should be noted that the enhanced system information may include shared information and proprietary information, where the proprietary information is radio resource configuration information related to enhanced transmission, and the shared information is radio resource configuration information that is used in both the enhanced transmission manner and a non-enhanced transmission manner. For example, the proprietary information may include a radio resource that is used when enhanced transmission is performed on a physical random access channel (PRACH), radio resource configuration information that is used when enhanced transmission is performed on a channel such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), and the like. The shared information may include uplink carrier frequency information, uplink carrier bandwidth information, and the like.

0076The proprietary information in a modification period of the enhanced system information is the same; and the shared information in a modification period of the non-enhanced system information is the same. That is, in one modification period of the enhanced system information, the proprietary information does not change. If two pieces of proprietary information are different, the two pieces of proprietary information inevitably exist in two modification periods of the enhanced system information. However, in one modification period of the enhanced system information, the shared information may change. This is because one modification period of the eSI may include multiple modification periods of SI, as long as it can be ensured that shared information in a same modification period of the SI is the same. Therefore, shared information used in communication between the base station and the terminal in the first modification period of the SI in a modification period of the eSI may be different from shared information used in communication between the base station and the terminal in the second modification period of the SI in the modification period of the eSI.

0077Because a period in which the shared information changes is different from a period in which the proprietary information changes, processing mechanisms of the terminal are different in a case in which the shared information changes and in a case in which the proprietary information changes.

0078Specifically, the enhanced paging message may include different identifiers, which are used to identify whether information that changes is shared information or proprietary information.

0079For example, the enhanced paging message (e-Paging) may include a first identifier that is used to indicate that the shared information has changed. The first identifier may be indicated by a case in which a field value of systemInfoModification in the e-Paging is true. After identifying the first identifier included in the enhanced paging information, the terminal may stop current communication, and receive changed enhanced system information when a next modification period of the enhanced system information comes. The reason why the current communication needs to be stopped is that: after the shared information changes, the base station may have performed communication by using the changed enhanced system information, while at this time, the terminal has not learned the changed enhanced system information, and the terminal cannot perform communication at this time.

0080The e-Paging may further include a second identifier that is used to indicate that the proprietary information has changed. The second identifier may be indicated by a case in which a field value of the systemInfoModification in the e-Paging is false and a case in which a field value of CEM-systemInfoModification in the e-Paging is true. After identifying the second identifier included in the enhanced paging information, the terminal may perform communication by continuing to use current enhanced system information, and receive the changed enhanced system information when the next modification period of the enhanced system information comes. The reason why current enhanced system information can be continued to be used to perform communication is that: the proprietary information changes in a next modification period of the enhanced system information, and before the next modification period comes, enhanced system information used by the base station does not change. Therefore, before the next modification period comes, the terminal may further perform communication by continuing to use current enhanced system information.

0081Specifically, when the proprietary information changes, the terminal may further receive the proprietary information in the changed enhanced system information only at a time-frequency location of the proprietary information.

0082In the foregoing two examples, the field systemInfoModification is used to indicate whether the shared information changes, and the field CEM-systemInfoModification is used to indicate whether the proprietary information changes. If the enhanced paging message includes only the field systemInfoModification, when the field value of the systemInfoModification is true, it cannot be determined whether the proprietary information has changed or the shared information has changed.

0083In the foregoing case, the e-Paging may further include a third identifier that is used to indicate that the proprietary information or the shared information has changed. The third identifier may be indicated by a case in which the field value of the systemInfoModification in the e-Paging is true. After identifying the third identifier included in the enhanced paging information, the terminal may stop the current communication, and receive the changed enhanced system information when the next modification period of the enhanced system information comes.

0084This application further provides an apparatus for transmitting system information. The apparatus may be a base station (for example, an evolved Node B (evolved Node B)).

0085<figref idref="f0004">FIG. 7</figref> is a structural diagram of an embodiment of an apparatus for transmitting system information according to this application. As shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 7</figref>, the apparatus may include: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>an acquiring unit 701, configured to acquire a preset modification period of enhanced system information, where the enhanced system information is system information on which enhanced transmission needs to be performed; the modification period of the enhanced system information is an integer multiple of a modification period of non-enhanced system information; and the non-enhanced system information is system information that is transmitted, based on scheduling by using a control channel, in a system information window; and</li><li>a transmission unit 702, configured to transmit the enhanced system information in an enhanced transmission manner in the modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location of a period.</li></ul>

0086In conclusion, in this embodiment, enhanced system information is transmitted in an enhanced transmission manner in a modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location. Two adjacent transmission periods of the eSI are discontinuous, and there may be multiple transmission periods ; therefore, occupied transmission resources can be reduced.

0087In an actual application, the transmission unit 702 may be further configured to: after transmitting the enhanced system information in the enhanced transmission manner according to the configured time-sequence location and when the enhanced system information changes, transmit an enhanced paging message in the enhanced transmission manner in a preset time period in the modification period of the non-enhanced system information within the modification period of the enhanced system information, where the enhanced paging message is used to notify a corresponding terminal that the enhanced system information has changed.

0088In an actual application, the enhanced system information includes shared information and proprietary information, where: the proprietary information is radio resource configuration information related to enhanced transmission; the shared information is radio resource configuration information that is used in both the enhanced transmission manner and a non-enhanced transmission manner; and the proprietary information in a modification period of the enhanced system information is the same, and the shared information in a modification period of the non-enhanced system information is the same.

0089The transmission unit 702 may be specifically configured to: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>transmit, in the enhanced transmission manner, an enhanced paging message including a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to indicate that the shared information has changed; or</li><li>transmit, in the enhanced transmission manner, an enhanced paging message including a second identifier, where the second identifier is used to indicate that the proprietary information has changed; or</li><li>transmit, in the enhanced transmission manner, an enhanced paging message including a third identifier, where the third identifier is used to indicate that at least one of the shared information or the proprietary information has changed.</li></ul>

0090In an actual application, the transmission unit 702 may be specifically configured to: <ul id="ul0004" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>transmit a master information block in the enhanced transmission manner by using a physical broadcast channel; and/or</li><li>transmit a system information block in the enhanced transmission manner by using a physical downlink shared channel.</li></ul>

0091In an actual application, the transmission unit 702 may be specifically configured to: transmit the enhanced paging message in the enhanced transmission manner by using a first time-frequency resource, where the first time-frequency resource is different from a second time-frequency resource used for transmitting a non-enhanced paging message.

0092In an actual application, the transmission unit 702 may be specifically configured to: when the enhanced paging message and a non-enhanced paging message are transmitted in a same subframe, scramble the enhanced paging message in a first scrambling manner, where the first scrambling manner is different from a second scrambling manner used for transmitting the non-enhanced paging message.

0093This application further provides an apparatus for receiving system information. The apparatus may be a terminal such as a mobile phone.

0094<figref idref="f0004">FIG. 8</figref> is a structural diagram of an embodiment of an apparatus for receiving system information according to this application. As shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 8</figref>, the apparatus may include: <ul id="ul0005" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>an acquiring unit 801, configured to acquire enhanced system information transmitted by a base station in an enhanced transmission manner in a modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location, where</li><li>the enhanced system information is system information on which enhanced transmission needs to be performed; the modification period of the enhanced system information is an integer multiple of a modification period of non-enhanced system information; and the non-enhanced system information is system information that is transmitted, based on scheduling by using a control channel, in a system information window.</li></ul>

0095In conclusion, in this embodiment, a terminal acquires enhanced system information transmitted by a base station in an enhanced transmission manner in a modification period of the enhanced system information according to a configured time-sequence location. Two adjacent transmission periods of the eSI are discontinuous, and there may be multiple transmission periods ; therefore, occupied transmission resources can be reduced.

0096In an actual application, the acquiring unit 801 may be further configured to: <ul id="ul0006" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>after the terminal acquires the enhanced system information transmitted by the base station in the enhanced transmission manner in the modification period of the enhanced system information according to the configured time-sequence location, acquire an enhanced paging message transmitted by the base station in the enhanced transmission manner in a preset time period in the modification period of the non-enhanced system information within the modification period of the enhanced system information, where the enhanced paging message is used to notify the corresponding terminal that the enhanced system information has changed;</li><li>the apparatus may further include a processing unit 802, configured to identify an identifier included in the enhanced paging information; and</li><li>the acquiring unit 801 is further configured to acquire, based on the identifier included in the enhanced paging information, changed enhanced system information.</li></ul>

0097In an actual application, the enhanced system information includes shared information and proprietary information, where: the proprietary information is radio resource configuration information related to enhanced transmission; the shared information is radio resource configuration information that is used in both the enhanced transmission manner and a non-enhanced transmission manner; and the proprietary information in a modification period of the enhanced system information is the same, and the shared information in a modification period of the non-enhanced system information is the same; the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: <ul id="ul0007" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>identify a first identifier included in the enhanced paging information, where the first identifier is used to indicate that the shared information has changed; and</li><li>stop communication that is being currently performed; and</li><li>the acquiring unit is specifically configured to receive the changed enhanced system information when a next modification period of the enhanced system information comes.</li></ul>

0098In an actual application, the processing unit 802 may be further specifically configured to: <ul id="ul0008" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>identify a second identifier included in the enhanced paging information, where the second identifier is used to indicate that the proprietary information has changed; and</li><li>perform communication by continuing to use current enhanced system information; and</li><li>the acquiring unit is specifically configured to receive the changed enhanced system information when the next modification period of the enhanced system information comes.</li></ul>

0099In an actual application, the processing unit 802 may be further specifically configured to: <ul id="ul0009" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>identify a third identifier included in the enhanced paging information, where the third identifier is used to indicate that at least one of the shared information or the proprietary information has changed; and</li><li>stop the communication that is being currently performed; and</li><li>the acquiring unit is specifically configured to receive the changed enhanced system information when the next modification period of the enhanced system information comes.</li></ul>

0100In an actual application, the processing unit 802 may be further specifically configured to: receive the proprietary information in the changed enhanced system information when the next modification period of the enhanced system information comes.

0101In addition, an embodiment of this application further provides a computing node, where the computing node may be a host server with a computing capability, a personal computer PC, a portable computer or terminal that can be carried, or the like. Specific implementation of the computing node is not limited in a specific embodiment of this application.

0102<figref idref="f0005">FIG. 9</figref> is a structural diagram of a computing node according to this application. As shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 9</figref>, a computing node 700 includes: a processor (processor) 710, a communications interface (Communications Interface) 720, a memory (memory) 730, and a bus 740.

0103The processor 710, the communications interface 720, and the memory 730 communicate with each other by using the bus 740.

0104The processor 710 is configured to execute a program 732.

0105Specifically, the program 732 may include program code, where the program code includes a computer operation instruction.

0106The processor 710 may be a central processing unit CPU or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or may be configured as one or more integrated circuits that implement the embodiment of this application.

0107The memory 730 is configured to store the program 732. The memory 730 may include a high-speed RAM memory, and may further include a non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as at least one magnetic disk memory. The program 732 may specifically include corresponding units in the embodiments shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 7 and FIG. 8</figref>, which is not described herein again.

0108The embodiments in this specification are all described in a progressive manner, for same or similar parts in the embodiments, reference may be made to these embodiments, and each embodiment focuses on a difference from other embodiments. The apparatus disclosed in the embodiment is basically similar to the method disclosed in the embodiment, and therefore is described briefly; for related parts, reference may be made to partial descriptions of the method.

0109A person skilled in the art may be further aware that, in combination with the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this specification, units and algorithm steps may be implemented by electronic hardware or a combination of electronic hardware and computer software. To clearly describe the interchangeability between some hardware and software, the foregoing has generally described compositions and steps of each example according to functions. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or a combination of software and hardware depends on particular applications and design constraint conditions 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 the present invention.

0110In combination with the embodiments disclosed in this specification, method or algorithm steps may be implemented by hardware, a software module executed by a processor, or a combination thereof. The software module may be configured in a random access memory (RAM), a memory, a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically programmable ROM, an electrically erasable programmable ROM, a register, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or a storage medium in any other forms well-known in the art.

0111The foregoing descriptions of the disclosed embodiments enable a person skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to the embodiments are obvious to the person skilled in the art, and general principles defined in this specification may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.