Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus, capable of improving the communication efficiency of a terminal device. The method comprises: a terminal device receives first signaling, and sends first uplink data in response to the first signaling; and the terminal device receives second signaling, and sends second uplink data in response to the second signaling, wherein the time interval between the second signaling and the first signaling is less than the time for processing the first uplink data. The first signaling carries a first process number; the second signaling carries a second process number; the first signaling and the second signaling are both used for paging the terminal device, or the first signaling and the second signaling are both used for indicating time / slot resources for random access. The method can reduce the delay between two inventory taking events, thereby increasing the inventory taking rate.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on November 30, 2023, with application number 202311641394.4 and application name "A Communication Method and Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0004] The Internet of Things (IoT) technology has been introduced into wireless communication systems, such as the ambient IoT (A-IoT). A-IoT is based on cellular network communication infrastructure and consists of readers and passive / semi-passive / active tags. In this scenario, the tags are terminals in the cellular network, such as extremely low-power, extremely low-complexity IoT terminals. The readers and writers can be base stations. Since the base station takes a long time to process the uplink signal, the inventory rate is low and the communication quality is poor. This is especially evident in single-tag scenarios in A-IoT, such as target tracking in A-IoT, where a single tag needs to be repeatedly inventoried. This scenario requires a higher inventory rate. If the inventory rate is low, it will lead to a longer inventory delay. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a method to increase the inventory rate.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus that can improve the communication efficiency of terminal devices.

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be performed by a terminal device or a chip, chip system, or circuit located in the terminal device. The method may be implemented by the following steps: receiving a first signaling and, in response to the first signaling, sending first uplink data; receiving a second signaling and, in response to the second signaling, sending second uplink data, wherein the time interval between the second signaling and the first signaling is less than the processing time of the first uplink data. The first signaling carries a first process ID, the second signaling carries a second process ID, and both the first signaling and the second signaling are used to page the terminal device, or both the first signaling and the second signaling are used to indicate time / time slot resources for random access.

[0008] Compared to triggering the next inventory event after one has completed, the present application triggers the next inventory event during the time period when the network device processes the first uplink data, reducing the delay between the two inventory events and thus improving the inventory rate. For example, assuming the duration of an inventory event is T, if the method of triggering the next inventory event after the end of one inventory event is used, it would take at least 2T to complete the two inventory events. However, in the present application, the next inventory event is triggered before the end of the previous inventory event. If the two inventory events overlap in time period t, it will take 2T-t to complete the two inventory events. Therefore, the delay of at least t can be reduced.

[0009] In one possible design, the first signaling further indicates to skip random access. Through the above design, the first terminal device skips the random access process, which can further reduce the inventory delay and thus further improve the inventory rate.

[0010] In one possible design, the first signaling also indicates skipping random access, including: the first signaling indicates not sending a random number for random access, or the first signaling indicates not listening to the third signaling, and the third signaling indicates the time / time slot resources used for random access.

[0011] In one possible design, if the first signaling is used to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access, the first signaling indicates skipping of random access, including: the first signaling carries a parameter Q, and the value of the parameter Q is 0, where the parameter Q is used to indicate the number of random access time slots included in a time slot. The above design, by implicitly indicating skipping of random access through the parameter Q, can reduce signaling overhead on the one hand, and reduce implementation complexity on the other.

[0012] In one possible design, the method further includes: starting a timer, the timer being used to indicate a time period during which no response is given to a third signaling message carrying the first process ID, the third signaling message being used to page the terminal device or the third signaling message being used to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access. The above design facilitates management of inventory events through the use of a timer.

[0013] In one possible design, the first signaling also indicates the duration of the timer.

[0014] In one possible design, the method further includes: receiving a fourth signaling instruction to reset or discard the first process ID; and resetting or discarding the first process ID. This method can promptly terminate the inventory event corresponding to the first process ID, thereby further reducing the inventory latency and improving the inventory rate.

[0015] In one possible design, the first signaling further indicates a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) rule, where the CRC rule is that if the number of bits of the first uplink data is less than a threshold, no cyclic redundancy check is performed on the first uplink data.

[0016] In one possible design, the first signaling further indicates a CRC rule, where the CRC rule is: if the number of bits of the first uplink data is less than (or equal to) a threshold value, a CRC of a first number of bits is performed on the first uplink data. If the number of bits of the first uplink data is greater than (or equal to) the threshold value, a CRC of a second number of bits is performed on the first uplink data. The first number of bits is less than the second number of bits.

[0017] The above solution can reduce the time required for the access network device to process uplink data by reducing the number of CRC bits or not performing CRC check, thereby further improving the inventory rate.

[0018] In one possible design, the first signaling also indicates the processing duration of the first uplink data.

[0019] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The execution subject of the method can be a network device or a chip, chip system or circuit located in the network device. The method can be implemented by the following steps: sending a first signaling to a first terminal device and receiving first uplink data from the first terminal device. Sending a second signaling to the first terminal device and receiving second uplink data, wherein the time interval between the second signaling and the first signaling is less than the processing time of the first uplink data. The first signaling carries a first process number, the second signaling carries a second process number, and both the first signaling and the second signaling are used to paging the terminal device, or both the first signaling and the second signaling are used to indicate time / time slot resources for random access.

[0020] Compared to triggering the next inventory event after one has completed, the present application triggers the next inventory event during the time period when the network device processes the first uplink data, reducing the delay between the two inventory events and thus improving the inventory rate. For example, assuming the duration of an inventory event is T, if the method of triggering the next inventory event after the end of one inventory event is used, it would take at least 2T to complete the two inventory events. However, in the present application, the next inventory event is triggered before the end of the previous inventory event. If the two inventory events overlap in time period t, it will take 2T-t to complete the two inventory events. Therefore, the delay of at least t can be reduced.

[0021] In one possible design, the first signaling further indicates to skip random access. Through the above design, the first terminal device skips the random access process, which can further reduce the inventory delay and thus further improve the inventory rate.

[0022] In one possible design, the first signaling also indicates skipping random access, including: the first signaling indicates not sending a random number for random access, or the first signaling indicates not listening to the third signaling, and the third signaling indicates the time / time slot resources used for random access.

[0023] In one possible design, if the first signaling is used to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access, the first signaling indicates skipping of random access, including: the first signaling carries a parameter Q, and the value of the parameter Q is 0, where the parameter Q is used to indicate the number of random access time slots included in a time slot. The above design, by implicitly indicating skipping of random access through the parameter Q, can reduce signaling overhead on the one hand, and reduce implementation complexity on the other.

[0024] In one possible design, the first signaling further indicates a timer duration, where the timer is used to indicate a time period during which the terminal device does not respond to a third signaling carrying the first process ID, where the third signaling is used to page the terminal device or to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access. The above design facilitates management of inventory events through the use of a timer.

[0025] In one possible design, the method further includes: sending a fourth signaling, the fourth signaling instructing to reset or discard the first process number. In this way, the inventory event corresponding to the first process number can be terminated in a timely manner, thereby further reducing the inventory delay and improving the inventory rate.

[0026] In one possible design, the first signaling also indicates a CRC rule, where the CRC rule is that if the number of bits of the first uplink data is less than a threshold value, a cyclic redundancy check is not performed on the first uplink data.

[0027] In one possible design, the first signaling further indicates a CRC rule, where the CRC rule is: if the number of bits of the first uplink data is less than (or equal to) a threshold value, a CRC of a first number of bits is performed on the first uplink data. If the number of bits of the first uplink data is greater than (or equal to) the threshold value, a CRC of a second number of bits is performed on the first uplink data. The first number of bits is less than the second number of bits.

[0028] The above solution can reduce the time required for the access network device to process uplink data by reducing the number of CRC bits or not performing CRC check, thereby further improving the inventory rate.

[0029] In one possible design, the first signaling also indicates the processing duration of the first uplink data.

[0030] In a third aspect, the present application further provides a communication device, which is a terminal device or a chip in a terminal device. The communication device has the function of implementing any of the methods provided in the first aspect above. The communication device can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0031] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor configured to support the communication device in executing the corresponding functions of the terminal device in the method described above. The communication device may also include a memory, which may be coupled to the processor and stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. Optionally, the communication device also includes an interface circuit for supporting communication between the communication device and a device such as a service network device, such as the transmission and reception of data or signals. Exemplarily, the communication interface may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface.

[0032] In one possible design, the communication device includes corresponding functional modules for implementing the steps in the above method. The functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0033] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device includes a processing unit (or processing module) and a communication unit (or communication module). These units can perform the corresponding functions in the above method example. For details, please refer to the description of the method provided in the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0034] In a fourth aspect, the present application further provides a communication device, which is a network device or a chip in a network device. The communication device has the function of implementing any of the methods provided in the second aspect above. The communication device can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0035] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor configured to support the communication device in executing the corresponding functions of the network device in the method described above. The communication device may also include a memory, which may be coupled to the processor and stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. Optionally, the communication device also includes an interface circuit for supporting communication between the communication device and a terminal device, such as the transmission and reception of data or signals. Exemplarily, the communication interface may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface.

[0036] In one possible design, the communication device includes corresponding functional modules for implementing the steps in the above method. The functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0037] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device includes a processing unit (or processing module) and a communication unit (or communication module). These units can perform the corresponding functions in the above method example. For details, please refer to the description of the method provided in the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0038] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor is used to implement the method in the aforementioned first aspect and any possible design through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

[0039] In the sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit being used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, the processor being used to implement the method in the aforementioned second aspect and any possible design through logic circuits or executing code instructions.

[0040] In the seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a processor, the method of the aforementioned first aspect or second aspect and any possible design is implemented.

[0041] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product storing instructions is provided, which, when executed by a processor, implements the method in the aforementioned first aspect or second aspect and any possible design.

[0042] In a ninth aspect, a chip system is provided, comprising a processor and a memory, for implementing the method of the first or second aspect and any possible design. The chip system may be composed of a chip alone or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0043] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first terminal device and a network device, wherein the network device sends a first signaling to the first terminal device. The first terminal device sends first uplink data to the network device. The network device sends a second signaling to the first terminal device, wherein the time interval between the second signaling and the first signaling is less than the processing time of the first uplink data. The first terminal device sends the second uplink data to the network device. The first signaling carries a first process number, the second signaling carries a second process number, and both the first signaling and the second signaling are used to page the terminal device, or both the first signaling and the second signaling are used to indicate time / time slot resources for random access.

[0044] The technical effects that can be achieved by the technical solutions in any of the third to tenth aspects mentioned above can be described with reference to the technical effects that can be achieved by the technical solutions in the first aspect mentioned above, and the repeated parts will not be repeated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system with separate readers and writers in FIG1 ;

[0047] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an inventory process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an inventory process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of an inventory process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG8 is another schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the Internet of Things (IoT) system, and the IoT includes the Ambient IoT (A-IoT), the Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT), and the like. IoT technology is widely used in various industries. For example, IoT technology can be applied to scenarios such as logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, or environmental monitoring. IoT is implemented based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. RFID technology is a contactless communication technology implemented using radio frequency communication. The principle is that data communication is achieved through radio waves without contact between the reader / reader and the tag. IoT technology can be applied to communication systems related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system, the 5th Generation (5G) mobile communication system, or can also be applied to other next-generation mobile communication systems, such as the 6th Generation (6G) communication system, or other similar communication systems. Other similar communication systems may include wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), vehicle to everything (V2X), and so on.

[0054] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 takes the communication system including a terminal device and a network device as an example. The network architecture shown in Figure 1 is only a schematic, and the number of terminal devices and network devices can be less or more. The communication system described in the embodiment of the present application is to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the communication system to which the embodiment of the present application is applicable. It is known to those skilled in the art that with the evolution of network architecture, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems. When applying the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application to other communication systems, the devices, components, modules, etc. in the embodiment can be replaced with corresponding devices, components, modules in other communication systems without limitation.

[0055] Any device capable of communicating data with a network device can be considered a terminal device. Terminal devices are also referred to as terminals, terminal devices, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, or mobile terminals. For example, terminal devices can include: mobile phones, computers, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, robotic arms, cameras, robots, or smart home devices (such as TVs, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, speakers, set-top boxes), relays, customer premise equipment (CPE), and devices with tagging capabilities. For example, terminal devices can be tags in IoT / A-IoT. Figure 1 uses the example of an A-IoT terminal as the terminal device.

[0056] Tags, also known as RFID tags, electronic tags, A-IoT terminals, or A-IoT devices, are typically attached to objects to identify them. Tags receive radio frequency signals from a reader and, using the energy gained from the induced current, transmit information stored in the tag's internal chip. Alternatively, tags can actively transmit a signal of a certain frequency to the reader, which then reads the information. Tags have a relatively simple design, integrating application layer signaling with air interface signaling, resulting in low power consumption. Tags are categorized as active, passive, and semi-active / semi-passive. Active tags are also called active tags, passive tags are also called passive tags, and semi-active / semi-passive tags are also called semi-passive tags. Active tags are equipped with a power supply and utilize an actively generated carrier wave communication method. This means they can actively transmit signals to the reader without needing to rely on received signals for signal transmission energy. Passive tags / passive tags are not equipped with modules such as power supply, or the power supply module has low power. They can adopt a communication method based on reflection (backscatter), which can obtain energy from the environment and send signals through the energy. Passive tags can work in reflection communication scenarios. For example, passive tags obtain energy by reflecting signals from readers and writers to transmit data. Semi-active / semi-passive tags integrate the advantages of active tags and passive tags and can be used as a special marker. Usually, semi-active / semi-passive tags are in a dormant state and may not work or send signals to the outside world. Only when they enter the activation signal range of the low-frequency activator, the semi-active / semi-passive tag is activated and starts working. The tags involved in the embodiments of the present application may be active tags, passive tags or semi-active / semi-passive tags, etc.

[0057] In the embodiments of this application, a tag can be considered a terminal device. Accordingly, the terminal devices in this application can be of the following three types: passive terminals: lacking energy storage, unable to independently generate signals, and using backscattering to transmit signals; semi-passive terminals: possessing energy storage but unable to independently generate signals, and using backscattering to transmit signals, where the stored energy can amplify reflected signals; and active terminals: possessing energy storage, capable of independently generating signals, and having active RF components for transmission.

[0058] Both the tag device and the reader / writer can be implemented based on the infrastructure of the cellular network, or the tag device and the reader / writer can be devices within the cellular network. For example, the reader / writer functionality can be implemented by a network device or a terminal device, while the tag device can be implemented by a terminal device within the cellular network. For example, the tag device can be an extremely low-power, low-complexity IoT terminal. When a terminal device has the functionality of a tag device, it can perform contactless data communication with the network device or another terminal device.

[0059] The various terminal devices introduced above, if located on a vehicle (e.g., placed / installed in a vehicle), can be considered as on-board terminal devices. On-board terminal devices can be on-board modules, on-board modules, on-board components, on-board chips, or on-board units built into a vehicle as one or more components or units. On-board terminal devices can also be complete vehicle equipment, on-board modules, vehicles, on-board units (OBU), roadside units (RSU), telematics boxes (T-boxes), chips, or system-on-chips (SOCs), etc. The above chips or SOCs can be installed in vehicles, OBUs, RSUs, or T-boxes.

[0060] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or it can be a device that can support the terminal device to realize the function, such as a chip system or a combination of devices or components that can realize the function of the terminal device, and the device can be installed in the terminal device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device. For example, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can be in the form of a tag or other terminal form. Unless otherwise specified, the terminal device and the tag can be interchangeable.

[0061] Network equipment is also called radio access network (RAN) equipment. RAN can be a 3GPP-related cellular system, such as an LTE system, a new radio (NR) system, or a future-oriented evolutionary system (such as a 6G mobile communication system). RAN can also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a virtualized RAN (vRAN). RAN can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems. RAN equipment can also be called a RAN node, RAN entity, or access node. For example, a RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. RAN nodes can be RAN nodes in V2X technology, RSUs, access nodes in Wi-Fi systems, etc.

[0062] A RAN node may also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station; or multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes respectively performing some of the functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node may be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). In different systems, CU, DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meanings. For example, in an ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples for description. CU and DU may be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement, and the embodiments of this application do not limit which protocol layers the CU and DU are configured with. Any of the CU, DU, and RU in this application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0063] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device may have a built-in reader / writer. When the terminal device is a tag, the tag and the network device can communicate through the Uu port, as shown in Figure 1. The functions of the reader / writer can be further separated, and the reader / writer is divided into a receiver (receiver) and an exciter (helper). The receiver is also called a receiving end or a receiving unit, and the exciter is also called an excitation end or an excitation unit. The excitation unit is equivalent to the transmitter in the reader / writer, and the receiving unit is equivalent to the receiver in the reader / writer. When the reader / writer is implemented in a separated architecture, different entities of the reader / writer can be deployed on different network devices, as shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, the exciter is deployed on the first network device to perform the sending function of the reader / writer; the receiver is deployed on the second network device to perform the receiving function of the reader / writer. Transmission between the exciter and the reader / writer / network device can be through the air interface or through a wired connection.

[0064] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the functions of the network device can be the network device itself, or a device that can support the network device to implement the functions, such as a chip system or a combination of devices or components that can implement the functions of the network device, which can be installed in the network device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the network device.

[0065] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "more" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: the existence of A alone, the existence of A and B at the same time, and the existence of B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0066] Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish between multiple objects and are not used to limit the size, content, sequence, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. For example, the first process number and the second process number are only used to distinguish different process numbers and do not indicate a difference in size, priority, or importance between the two process numbers.

[0067] It should be noted that, in this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described in this application as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner.

[0068] The terms "including," "having," and any variations thereof mentioned in the following description of the embodiments of the present application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include other steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to the process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0069] Tags can be applied in a variety of industries. Logistics management, as a typical application, is achieved by taking inventory of physical tags. Tag inventory requires tags to access the network. After each tag is randomly connected to the network, the tag's identifier can be reported to the reader so that the reader can determine the existence of tags within the coverage area. After the tag is connected to the network, it can exchange some business information with network devices (such as readers) and / or core network elements. For example, the core network element can forward a message to the tag through the network device, and the message may include information about the operation that needs to be performed on the tag. Alternatively, the network device can also forward a message from the tag to the core network element. The network device can parse or process messages from the core network element or the tag. Common tag services include inventory, reading, writing, positioning, killing, or obtaining tag information. Among them, inventory, which can also be called inventory, is used to obtain the identification of all tags within the coverage of the network device; reading can read data from the tag; writing can write data to the tag; positioning can obtain the location information of the tag; inactivation, also called invalidation, can make the tag identification invalid or inactivated; obtaining tag information can obtain the tag information, such as the tag identification, the information stored in the tag, the location information of the tag, etc. The above tag services are only listed, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the number and types of tag services. For example, tag services also include authentication services.

[0070] The following introduces the technical background involved in the embodiments of this application.

[0071] In A-IoT, network devices can perform an inventory of terminal devices. The specific inventory process is similar to that used in RFID. The RFID inventory process is shown in Figure 3.

[0072] S301. The reader sends a select signaling.

[0073] The Select signaling includes an identification range of a tag to be selected. The identification range of the tag includes the tag identification.

[0074] Optionally, the Select signaling may be replaced by a downlink trigger signaling, or a paging signaling, or a system message. For example, this message / signaling is used to select / page at least one tag, or trigger at least one tag to wake up, or enter an inventory process, or start listening to other random access-related downlink signaling.

[0075] Optionally, the Select signaling may carry a mask or group identifier or identification information. If the tag matches the mask or group identifier or identification information, the Select signaling is responded to. If the tag does not match the mask or group identifier or identification information, the Select signaling is not responded to.

[0076] Optionally, the Select signaling can also instruct (for example, through the action field) the tag to generate a flag bit, where the flag bit is only an exemplary name and can also be described as a status identifier, etc. The tag determines whether the current round of inventory / data transmission / service is completed based on the flag bit. For example, if the flag bit remains unchanged, it indicates that it is not completed, and if the flag bit is flipped, it indicates that the current round of inventory / data transmission / service is completed. Optionally, after completing the current round of inventory / data transmission / service, the tag may stop responding to other downlink signaling and start listening for the next Select signaling.

[0077] S302: The reader sends a query signaling.

[0078] Optionally, the reader may not send the Select signaling / paging signaling / system message, but directly send the Query signaling to trigger the tag to enter the access / inventory of the current or subsequent time slots.

[0079] The query signaling can carry a Q value, which determines the number of random access slots. Setting the Q value can reduce access collisions between tags. The query signaling can also carry a flag bit and a session identifier. The tag decides whether to respond or proceed with the subsequent inventory / access process based on whether the flag bit and / or session identifier match. For example, if a match occurs, a random number or time slot number is generated based on Q (see S304 for details). If a match does not occur, the tag does not respond to the query signaling.

[0080] S303: The reader sends a repeated query (QueryRep) signaling.

[0081] The reader can send QueryRep signaling multiple times. For example, the reader can send 2Q QueryRep signaling.

[0082] S303 shows only one QueryRep signaling. Subsequent QueryRep signaling can be sent after S305 or S306.

[0083] Exemplarily, each QueryRep corresponds to the start or end of an access timeslot, and the tag may randomly select an access timeslot, initiate access, or send uplink data or receive downlink data in the corresponding access timeslot.

[0084] S304: The tag sends a random number to the reader.

[0085] Exemplarily, the random number may also be a temporary identifier of the UE. For example, the random number or temporary identifier may be used for random access contention resolution and / or initiating a random access request.

[0086] When the tag determines that its own identification is within the identification range indicated by the Select signaling, after detecting the Query signaling, it sends a random number to the reader in response to the Query signaling. The tag can generate a random number [0, 2 Q -1]. For example, if Q = 4, the tag generates a random number between [0, 15]. The tag records the number of random numbers as the initial value of the counter. Each time the tag receives a QueryRep signaling, the counter is incremented by 1. When the counter reaches 0, the tag sends a random number to initiate access.

[0087] S305: The reader sends an acknowledgment (ACK) signaling or a contention resolution identifier to the tag. The ACK signaling includes a random number received from the tag.

[0088] Exemplarily, the random number is used to indicate successful uplink data reception or successful random access contention resolution.

[0089] The reader sends an ACK signaling to the tag. If the random number included in the ACK signaling is consistent with the random number sent by the tag to the reader, the tag accesses the reader.

[0090] S306: The tag sends its electronic product code (EPC) to the reader.

[0091] In one implementation method, the reader forwards / transmits / sends the received data to the core network element (the core network element can be the access and mobility management function (entity) (access and mobility management function, AMF), network capability exposure function (entity) (network exposure function, NEF), tag management function (entity) (tag management function, TMF), etc.).

[0092] For example, the tag is not limited to sending EPC, but can also send other uplink data, such as extended product code (XPC), tag ID, user ID (UE ID), application layer data, product code, etc., or other data stored in the tag memory bank, which can be used by the reader to identify the tag or complete business (such as inventory, positioning, sensing, tracking, reading, writing, locking, deactivation, etc.).

[0093] In wireless communications, signaling bit lengths must be byte-aligned, and network devices take a long time to process uplink signals, potentially hundreds of microseconds or even milliseconds. This means that after receiving uplink data, network devices will need hundreds of microseconds or even milliseconds to process the uplink data before sending downlink data feedback. During this time, this wastes time domain resources and results in a low inventory rate (i.e., the number of tags read per second). This is particularly evident in single-tag scenarios in A-IoT, such as target tracking in A-IoT, where a single tag needs to be repeatedly inventoried. This requires a high inventory rate, and a low inventory rate will result in a large inventory delay.

[0094] Based on this, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device for solving the problem of low inventory rate in A-IoT. Among them, the method and device are based on the same inventive concept. Since the principles of the method and device to solve the problem are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated. Among them, the method and device are based on the same inventive concept. Since the principles of the method and device to solve the problem are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0095] For example, the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied in A-IoT scenarios, and is particularly suitable for single-tag (or single-user) scenarios in A-IoT. A single-tag scenario can be a scenario where there is only one tag in the communication environment or where only one tag is being inventoried. In a single-tag scenario, the tag can be inventoried once or multiple times.

[0096] The following describes the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application as performed by a network device and a terminal. The steps performed by the network device can be implemented by the network device itself, or by components in the network device (such as a baseband chip, or other processing units or processor modules). The steps performed by the terminal device can be implemented by the terminal device itself, or by components in the terminal device (such as a chip, processing unit, or processor modules).

[0097] The naming of each message / signaling in this application is only an example. This application does not limit the specific naming of each message / signaling. As long as the function / limitation / meaning / description of the message is met, it can be understood as the message. For example, paging signaling and Select signaling are only exemplary names of paging messages. As long as the function / limitation / meaning / description of the paging message in this application is met, it can be understood as the paging message of this application.

[0098] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0099] Please refer to Figure 4, which shows a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, which is used by a network device to obtain the working mode of a terminal.

[0100] S401: A network device sends a first signaling to a first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first signaling from the network device.

[0101] The first signaling can be used to page a terminal device, select a terminal device, trigger a terminal device to start listening for downlink signaling, or trigger a terminal device to send uplink data. For example, the first signaling can be a paging message. Exemplarily, the paging message can be a paging signaling or a Select signaling. Alternatively, the first signaling can be used to indicate the time / time slot resources for random access. For example, the first signaling can be a Query signaling.

[0102] In one example, the first signaling may carry a first process ID.

[0103] It should be noted that the process number is only an exemplary name used to identify an inventory event. The process number can also be described as an identifier, event identifier, event number, etc.

[0104] In another example, the first signaling may carry a multi-process / parallel indication flag.

[0105] After the first terminal device receives the first signaling carrying the multi-process / parallel indication identifier, it can continue to respond to other signaling carrying the multi-process / parallel indication identifier, such as the second signaling below.

[0106] S402: The first terminal device sends first uplink data to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first uplink data.

[0107] Among them, the first uplink data can be sent by the first terminal device in response to the first signaling, or, it can also be understood that the first uplink data is associated with the first signaling, or, the first uplink data is associated with the inventory event corresponding to the first process number, or, the first uplink data is associated with the first process number, and so on.

[0108] Optionally, the first uplink data carries a first process number or a multi-process / parallel indication identifier, which is used to indicate that the uplink data corresponds to the first signaling.

[0109] It should be noted that in this application, "inventory event" can also be described as "inventory business", "inventory process", "inventory operation", "inventory event", "inventory business", "inventory process", "inventory operation" and so on.

[0110] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device may start a timer after sending the first uplink data.

[0111] Before the timer expires, the first terminal device does not respond to downlink signaling that carries the process number that the first terminal device is maintaining (or saving), such as paging message / Query signaling / QueryRep signaling. The process number that the first terminal device is maintaining (or saving) includes the first process number. Alternatively, before the timer expires, the first terminal device may respond to other downlink signaling that carries a multi-process / parallel indication identifier, such as paging message / Query signaling / QueryRep signaling.

[0112] Optionally, the duration of the timer may be indicated by the network device, for example, through a first signaling instruction, or may be predefined by a protocol, etc.

[0113] In an exemplary description, the duration of the timer may be the processing time of the first uplink data. The processing time of the first uplink data may be understood as the time taken by the network device to process the first uplink data, or the time taken by the network device to respond to the first uplink data, or the time interval between the first uplink data and feedback information corresponding to the first uplink data.

[0114] As an optional solution, the first terminal device may also reset the first process ID before the timer times out. For example, the first terminal device may reset the first process ID when triggered by the fourth signaling from the network device.

[0115] In a possible implementation, the network device may send the fourth signaling after processing the first uplink data.

[0116] Exemplarily, the fourth signaling may be a paging message / Query signaling / QueryRep signaling, etc.

[0117] It should be noted that resetting the first process number can also be described as discarding the first process number, stopping maintaining the first process number, no longer saving the first process number, allowing response to the first process number, releasing the first process number, etc.

[0118] By using the above method, the inventory event corresponding to the first process number can be ended in time, thereby further reducing the inventory delay and improving the inventory rate.

[0119] One possible way to indicate the process number is to use the high-order n bits of the field to indicate the first m process numbers, and use N bits to indicate the m+1th process number and subsequent process numbers, where N and n are both integers, and n is less than N, and m is an integer greater than 0.

[0120] For example, assuming n=2 and N=3, the first two process numbers can be indicated by 2 bits, for example, 00 represents process #1 and 01 represents process #2. The third and subsequent process numbers can be indicated by 3 bits, for example, 100 represents process #3 and 101 represents process #4.

[0121] Assuming n=2 and N=4, the first two process numbers can be indicated by 2 bits, for example, 00 represents process #1 and 01 represents process #2. The third and subsequent process numbers can be indicated by 4 bits, for example, 1000 represents process #3, 1001 represents process #4, 1010 represents process #5, 1011 represents process #6, 1100 represents process #7, 1101 represents process #8, and so on.

[0122] It should be understood that the above example is only used to illustrate the process numbering starting from 1.

[0123] The above method indicates the process number through a variable-length field, so that the network device can indicate the process number through fewer bits when the number of processes is relatively small, thereby saving signaling overhead, and by shortening the signaling length, the time it takes for the terminal device to read the signaling is reduced. Therefore, this method can further improve the inventory rate.

[0124] S403: The network device sends a second signaling to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second signaling from the network device.

[0125] In one example, the second signaling carries the second process ID in a manner similar to the manner in which the first signaling indicates the first process ID, and details can be found in the above description.

[0126] In another example, the second signaling may carry a multi-process / parallel indication flag.

[0127] Optionally, after sending the second uplink data, the first terminal device may also start a timer corresponding to the second uplink data.

[0128] Before the timer times out, the first terminal device does not respond to downlink signaling that carries the process number that the first terminal device is maintaining (or saving), such as paging message / Query signaling / QueryRep signaling. The process number that the first terminal device is maintaining (or saving) includes the second process number. Alternatively, before the timer times out, the first terminal device may respond to other downlink signaling that carries a multi-process / parallel indication identifier, such as paging message / Query signaling / QueryRep signaling. The specific method is similar to starting the timer after the first terminal device sends the first uplink data, and will not be elaborated here.

[0129] Furthermore, the first terminal device may also reset the second process ID before the timer corresponding to the second uplink data times out. For example, the first terminal device may reset the second process ID under the triggering of the fifth signaling from the network device. The specific method is similar to the method of resetting the first process ID by the first terminal device and will not be further described here.

[0130] The second signaling may be used to page the terminal device, select the terminal device, trigger the terminal device to start listening for downlink signaling, or trigger the terminal device to send uplink data. For example, the second signaling may be a paging message. Alternatively, the second signaling may be used to indicate the time / time slot resources for random access. For example, the second signaling may be a query signaling.

[0131] The second signaling is sent by the network device before the inventory event corresponding to the first process number ends. Alternatively, it can be understood that the inventory event corresponding to the first process number and the inventory event corresponding to the second process number intersect in the time domain (or there is an overlapping time period). Alternatively, it can be understood that the network device sends the second signaling to the first terminal device before sending feedback information of the first uplink data to the first terminal device. Alternatively, it can be understood that the time interval between the second signaling and the first signaling is less than the processing time of the first uplink data.

[0132] S404: The first terminal device sends second uplink data to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the second uplink data from the first terminal device.

[0133] Among them, the second uplink data can be sent by the first terminal device in response to the second signaling, or, it can also be understood that the second uplink data is associated with the second signaling, or, the second uplink data is associated with the inventory event corresponding to the second process number, or, the second uplink data is associated with the second process number, and so on.

[0134] Optionally, the second uplink data carries a second process number or a multi-process / parallel indication identifier, which is used to indicate that the uplink data corresponds to the second signaling.

[0135] Compared to triggering the next inventory event after one has completed, the present application triggers the next inventory event during the time period when the network device processes the first uplink data, reducing the delay between the two inventory events and thus improving the inventory rate. For example, assuming the duration of an inventory event is T, if the method of triggering the next inventory event after the end of one inventory event is used, it would take at least 2T to complete the two inventory events. However, in the present application, the next inventory event is triggered before the end of the previous inventory event. If the two inventory events overlap in time period t, it will take 2T-t to complete the two inventory events. Therefore, the delay of at least t can be reduced.

[0136] In one possible manner, after receiving the first signaling, the first terminal device may skip the random access process or not perform the random access process. For example, after receiving the first signaling, the first terminal device may not listen to the Query signaling / QueryRep signaling, or may not respond to the Query signaling / QueryRep signaling, or may not send a random number. Alternatively, if the first terminal device performs random access based on a 4-step random access process, the first terminal device may not send message 1 (Msg1) and / or message 3 (Msg3) after receiving the first signaling, or may not listen to message 2 (Msg2) and / or message 4 (Msg4). Alternatively, if the first terminal device performs random access based on a 2-step random access process, the first terminal device may not send message A (MsgA) after receiving the first signaling, or may not listen to message B (MsgB).

[0137] Among them, Msg1 or msgA can also be called a random access request message / random access preamble message (preamble), etc.

[0138] Msg2 can also be called a random access response (RAR). Optionally, the RAR may include a preamble identifier, a temporary cell-radio network temporay identifier (TC-RNTI), a timing advance (TA), an uplink grant (UL grant), and the like.

[0139] Msg3 can also be called a transmission scheduling message, an RRC connection establishment request (RRC connection request) message, an RRC re-establishment request (RRCReestablishmentRequest), an RRC resume connection request (RRCResumeReuqest), or an RRC setup request (RRCSetupRequest), etc.

[0140] Msg4 or msgB may also be called a contention resolution message (UE Contention Resolution Identity), an RRC connection setup completion message (RRC connection setup), a random access response message (random access response), etc.

[0141] Optionally, the network device may instruct the first terminal device to skip random access through a first signaling instruction. The first signaling instruction to skip random access may also be described as: the first signaling instruction not to send a random number for random access; or the first signaling instruction not to listen to Query signaling / QueryRep signaling; or the first signaling instruction to perform a single-label inventory; or the first signaling instruction to the first terminal device not to listen to other downlink signaling and directly send uplink data, etc.

[0142] As an exemplary description, “skipping random access” may also be described as not performing random access, not initiating random access, etc. Not responding to XXX may also be described as discarding XXX, not listening to XXX, not decoding XXX, or not sending a response message for XXX, etc.

[0143] In one example, the first signaling may explicitly indicate that random access is skipped. For example, the first signaling carries indication information / field / identifier / indication domain, etc., indicating that random access is skipped.

[0144] In another example, the first signaling may implicitly indicate skipping of random access.

[0145] For example, the first signaling may implicitly indicate skipping of random access by carrying a process ID. Alternatively, if the first signaling is a Query signaling, the first signaling may also implicitly indicate skipping of random access by the following method: the first signaling carries a parameter Q, and the value of the parameter Q is 0, wherein the parameter Q is used to indicate the number of random access time slots included in a time slot, for example, Q indicates 2 Q Random access time slots, each of which allows one terminal device to access. For details, please refer to the relevant description in S304 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0146] For another example, the first signaling may implicitly indicate that random access is skipped by carrying a multi-process / parallel indication flag or a first process number. If the first signaling carries a multi-process / parallel indication flag or a first process number, random access is skipped.

[0147] It can be understood that the first terminal device can also skip the random access process after receiving the second signaling, and the second signaling can also indicate skipping random access. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the first terminal device skipping the random access process after receiving the first signaling and the first signaling indicating skipping random access. It will not be repeated here.

[0148] To facilitate understanding of the solution, the solution provided in this application is introduced below by taking the first signaling being a paging message and the first signaling being a Query signaling as examples.

[0149] Example 1: The first signaling is a paging message.

[0150] As shown in Figure 5, the inventory process may include:

[0151] S501, the network device sends a paging message 1 to the first terminal device.

[0152] The paging message 1 carries process # 1. Optionally, the paging message 1 further instructs the first terminal device to skip random access.

[0153] For details of the paging message 1, please refer to the description of the first signaling in the previous text.

[0154] S502, the first terminal device sends uplink data #1.

[0155] Optionally, if the paging message 1 also indicates to skip random access, the first terminal device may skip the random access process after receiving the paging message 1. For example, the network device does not send Query signaling / QueryRep signaling, the first terminal device does not respond to or listen to Query signaling / QueryRep signaling, and the first terminal device does not send a random number.

[0156] Optionally, the first terminal device starts timer 1 after sending uplink data #1. During the counting of timer 1, the first terminal device does not respond to paging messages carrying process ID #1. It is understood that the first terminal device can respond to paging messages carrying other process IDs during the counting of timer 1. For details on this method, please refer to the previous description of timers and will not be repeated here.

[0157] S503, the network device sends a paging message 2 to the first terminal device.

[0158] Paging message 2 carries process #2. Optionally, paging message 2 also indicates skipping random access.

[0159] For details of the paging message 2, please refer to the description of the second signaling in the previous text.

[0160] S504, the first terminal device sends uplink data #2.

[0161] Optionally, if the paging message 2 also indicates to skip random access, the first terminal device may skip the random access process after receiving the paging message 2. For example, the network device does not send Query signaling / QueryRep signaling, the first terminal device does not respond to the Query signaling / QueryRep signaling, and does not send a random access request random number.

[0162] Optionally, after sending uplink data #2, the first terminal device starts timer 2. During the counting of timer 2, the first terminal device does not respond to paging messages carrying process ID #2. It is understood that the first terminal device can respond to paging messages with other process IDs during the counting of timer 2. For details on this method, please refer to the previous description of timers and will not be repeated here.

[0163] Similarly, subsequent network devices can also trigger other inventory events of the first terminal device, that is, send Select signaling carrying other process numbers. For details, please refer to the inventory event corresponding to process #2, which will not be explained here.

[0164] Example 2: The first signaling is Query signaling.

[0165] As shown in Figure 6, the inventory process may include:

[0166] S601, the network device sends Query signaling 1 to the first terminal device.

[0167] Query signaling 1 carries process # 1. Optionally, Query signaling 1 further instructs the first terminal device to skip random access, or instructs the first terminal device not to listen to other downlink signaling and directly send uplink data.

[0168] For details of Query signaling 1, please refer to the description of the first signaling in the previous text.

[0169] S602, the first terminal device sends uplink data #1.

[0170] Optionally, if the Query signaling 1 also indicates skipping random access, the first terminal device may skip the random access process after receiving the Query signaling 1, for example, the first terminal device does not send a random number.

[0171] Optionally, the first terminal device starts timer 1 after sending uplink data #1. During the counting of timer 1, the first terminal device does not respond to query signaling carrying process number #1. It is understandable that the first terminal device can respond to query signaling carrying other process numbers during the counting of timer 1. For details of this method, please refer to the description of timers above and will not be repeated here.

[0172] S603, the network device sends Query signaling 2 to the first terminal device.

[0173] Query signaling 2 carries process #2. Optionally, Query signaling 2 also indicates skipping random access.

[0174] For details of Query signaling 2, please refer to the description of the second signaling in the previous text.

[0175] S604, the first terminal device sends uplink data #2.

[0176] Optionally, if Query signaling 2 also indicates skipping random access, the first terminal device may skip the random access process after receiving Query signaling 2, for example, the first terminal device does not send a random number.

[0177] Optionally, the first terminal device starts timer 2 after sending uplink data #2. During the counting of timer 2, the first terminal device does not respond to query signaling carrying process number #2. It is understandable that the first terminal device can respond to query signaling with other process numbers during the counting of timer 2. For details on this method, please refer to the description of timers above and will not be repeated here.

[0178] Similarly, subsequent network devices may also trigger other inventory events of the first terminal device, that is, send Query signaling carrying other process numbers. For details, please refer to the inventory event corresponding to process #2, which will not be explained here.

[0179] For the signaling involved in the above two examples, such as Select signaling / Query signaling / QueryRep signaling / random number, etc., please refer to the description of paging message / Query signaling / QueryRep signaling / random number, etc. in Figure 3 above.

[0180] The above describes the process of performing multiple inventory events on a first terminal device. The following describes six solutions that can further improve the inventory rate. It should be understood that the following six solutions can be implemented in conjunction with the method described in Figure 4 or independently of the method described in Figure 4 . Furthermore, the following six solutions can be implemented in conjunction with each other or independently.

[0181] Option 1:

[0182] Currently, a MAC CE carries a logical channel identification (LCID), and the LCID is used to indicate the MAC CE.

[0183] One way for LCID to indicate MAC CE is that LCID includes K bits, the high-order k bits of LCID indicate h MAC CEs, and K bits indicate other MAC CEs, h, K and k are all integers, k is less than K, and h is an integer greater than 0.

[0184] For example, assuming k=2 and K=4, two MAC CEs can be indicated by two bits, for example, the MAC CE with the highest frequency of use can be indicated. For example, 11 represents QueryRep signaling, and 01 indicates the UE Contention Resolution Identity. Other MAC CEs are indicated by four bits, for example, 00000 indicates feedback (Feadback), 0001 indicates the unchanged flag (Flag Unchange), 0010 indicates Query signaling, 0011 indicates a random number, and 1000 indicates the paging control channel (PCCH) or the passive link paging control channel (PLPCCH), where PLPCCH is a paging control channel for A-IoT or passive IoT. PCCH and PLPCCH are only exemplary names, and this application does not specifically limit the naming of the paging control channel. 1001 indicates PLCCH (passive link control channel) or CCCH (common control channel), where PLCCH / CCCH are only exemplary names and this application does not impose any specific restrictions on the channel names. 1010 and 1011 are reserved states, as shown in Table 1.

[0185] Table 1

[0186] It should be understood that the above correspondence between the LCID status and the MAC CE and the number of bits of the LCID are merely exemplary descriptions.

[0187] The above method indicates MAC CE through the variable-length field of LCID, so that the network device uses fewer bits to indicate the MAC CE with higher usage frequency, thereby saving signaling overhead, and by shortening the signaling length, the time it takes for the terminal device to read the signaling is reduced. Therefore, this method can further improve the inventory rate.

[0188] It should be noted that, LCID indicates MAC CE, which can also be described as, LCID indicates service data unit (SDU), or, LCID indicates padding bit, and so on.

[0189] Option 2:

[0190] Currently, MAC headers or MAC CEs in wireless communications must be 8-bit aligned, or byte aligned. This means that the length of each MAC header or MAC CE must be an integer multiple of 8 bits. If the length of the valid field is not an integer multiple of 8 bits, reserved bits must be padded to make it an integer multiple of 8 bits. However, the reserved bits result in some additional signaling length overhead and, because more bits are transmitted, the inventory rate is affected.

[0191] One solution is to not perform 8-bit alignment on the MAC header or MAC CE and remove the reserved bits. That is, the MAC header or MAC CE has no constraint (or restriction) on 8-bit alignment.

[0192] For example, the MAC header of the QueryRep signaling includes an LCID field, a session field, and a process field. The LCID field can be 2 bits or 4 bits. Taking Table 1 above as an example, the LCID field can be 2 bits, the session field is 1 bit, and the process field is 3 bits. Therefore, the bit length of the MAC header of the QueryRep signaling can be 6 bits. It can be seen that compared with the MAC header under the 8-bit alignment constraint, the MAC header of the QueryRep signaling in this solution is reduced by 2 bits.

[0193] For another example, when the control information (CI) is equal to 0, the MAC CE of the QueryRep signaling includes a CI field, the CI field length is 1, and the bit length of the MAC CE of the QueryRep signaling can be 1. It can be seen that compared with the MAC CE of the QueryRep signaling under the 8-bit alignment constraint, the MAC CE of the QueryRep signaling in this solution is reduced by 6 bits.

[0194] When CI is equal to 1, the MAC CE of the QueryRep signaling includes a CI field, a pilot tone field, a preamble field, a midamble field, a forward error correction (FEC) indication field, a repetition field, and an index field, wherein the CI field includes 1 bit, the pilot field includes 1 bit, the preamble field includes 2 bits, the midamble field includes 4 bits, the FEC indication field includes 1 bit, the repetition field includes 2 bits, and the index field includes 6 bits. Therefore, the MAC CE of the QueryRep signaling can include 17 bits. It can be seen that compared with the MAC CE of the QueryRep signaling under the 8-bit alignment constraint, the MAC CE of the QueryRep signaling in this solution is reduced by 7 bits.

[0195] Option 3:

[0196] The number of bits of the random number may not be an integer multiple of 8. Optionally, the number of bits of the random number may be configured by the network device through Query signaling / QueryRep signaling. For example, if the number of terminal devices is large, the number of bits of the random number is large; if the number of terminal devices is small, the number of bits of the random number is large.

[0197] Option 4:

[0198] The network device can send uplink scheduling information to the terminal device.

[0199] For example, the network device may carry the uplink scheduling information in the Query signaling. Alternatively, the network device may carry the uplink scheduling information in other downlink signaling.

[0200] In one implementation, the network device may carry uplink scheduling information in the Query signaling, where the uplink scheduling information is used to indicate the resources for the first terminal device to send uplink data. The network device may also update the uplink scheduling information through other downlink signaling, for example, by carrying new uplink scheduling information in other downlink signaling.

[0201] In a specific implementation method, assuming that the Query signaling carries uplink scheduling information 1, and other downlink signaling (assuming it is signaling 1) carries uplink scheduling information 2, the terminal device can use or perform uplink transmission based on the uplink scheduling information 1 before receiving signaling 1. After receiving signaling 1, when executing an uplink transmission after the signaling 1 (or understood as an uplink transmission corresponding / associated / triggered by the signaling 1), the terminal device uses or uses the uplink scheduling information 2, and still uses the uplink scheduling information 1 when executing other uplink transmissions.

[0202] In another specific implementation method, assuming that the Query signaling carries uplink scheduling information 1 and other downlink signaling carries uplink scheduling information 2, the terminal device can use uplink scheduling information 1 for uplink transmission before receiving signaling 1, and use uplink scheduling information 2 for uplink transmission after receiving signaling 1.

[0203] In an exemplary embodiment, the uplink scheduling information may include at least one of the following: frequency domain resource allocation information, block repetition count (or bit repetition count / data packet repetition count, etc.), the starting boundary of the uplink transmission frame (or the starting position of the uplink transmission frame), or the preamble sequence length. Exemplarily, a block may refer to a data block for uplink transmission.

[0204] Optionally, the uplink scheduling information may further include midamble configuration, FEC indication, or channel coding code rate.

[0205] The midamble configuration indicates the configuration of the midamble (intermediate preamble) of the uplink transmission sequence. For example, it can indicate a midamble sequence, such as using 2 bits to indicate four midamble sequences. Optionally, the bit length of each sequence can be different, such as 8, 16, 32, or 64. The midamble configuration can also indicate uplink transmission parameters, which are used to determine the position of the midamble in the sequence.

[0206] The FEC indicator is used to indicate whether uplink transmission uses channel coding / forward error correction coding, such as convolutional coding or polar coding. For example, a single bit can be used to indicate whether uplink transmission uses convolutional coding or polar coding.

[0207] The Code Rate field indicates the channel coding rate used for uplink transmission, such as the rate of a convolutional code or polar code. For example, two bits can be used to indicate four code rate options: 00 indicates a code rate of 1 / 8, 01 indicates a code rate of 1 / 4, 10 indicates a code rate of 1 / 2, and 11 indicates a code rate of 1.

[0208] Optionally, the Code Rate may be jointly indicated with the FEC indication. For example, a Code Rate of 1 corresponds to not using FEC.

[0209] In addition, the uplink scheduling information may also indicate other parameters, such as level or bit repetition (chip repetition / bit repetition), Manchester coding, line code (PIE) configuration parameters, etc.

[0210] The above information can be configured individually or together, or multiple indicators can be configured through a single field. For example, a field / identifier / index can be associated with one piece of information or multiple pieces of information.

[0211] For example, the resources configured by the uplink scheduling information in a scenario with poor coverage (or described as poor communication quality) and the resources configured by the uplink scheduling information in a scenario with good coverage (or described as good communication quality) have at least one of the following differences:

[0212] The frequency domain resources in the poor coverage scenario are greater than those in the good coverage scenario;

[0213] The number of block repetitions (or bit repetitions / packet repetitions, etc.) in a poor coverage scenario is greater than the number of block repetitions (or bit repetitions / packet repetitions, etc.) in a good coverage scenario.

[0214] The length of the preamble sequence in a poor coverage scenario is greater than the length of the preamble sequence in a good coverage scenario.

[0215] The code rate in the poor coverage scenario is greater than the code rate in the low coverage scenario.

[0216] Among them, good coverage (or described as good communication quality) can mean that the signal strength is greater than the signal strength threshold, the signal quality is greater than the signal strength threshold, the signal power is greater than the signal power threshold, etc. Similarly, poor coverage (or described as poor communication quality) can mean that the signal strength is less than the signal strength threshold, the signal quality is less than the signal strength threshold, the signal power is less than the signal power threshold, etc., and no specific limitation is made here.

[0217] The above solution can flexibly configure inventory resources through uplink scheduling information, which is conducive to reducing resource fragmentation, reducing transmission delay, and improving coverage, thereby helping to increase the inventory rate.

[0218] Option 5:

[0219] The network device may send information 1 to the terminal device, where the information 1 is used to indicate a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) rule.

[0220] The CRC rule is that if the number of bits of the first uplink data is less than (or equal to) a threshold value, then the CRC is not performed on the first uplink data. If the number of bits of the first uplink data is greater than (or equal to) the threshold value, then the CRC is performed on the first uplink data.

[0221] Alternatively, the CRC rule is as follows: if the number of bits of the first uplink data is less than (or equal to) a threshold value, a CRC of a first number of bits is performed on the first uplink data. If the number of bits of the first uplink data is greater than (or equal to) the threshold value, a CRC of a second number of bits is performed on the first uplink data. The first number of bits is less than the second number of bits.

[0222] The above solution 1 can reduce the time required for the access network device to process uplink data by reducing the number of CRC bits or not performing CRC check, thereby further improving the inventory rate.

[0223] Option 6:

[0224] The network device can send information 2 to the terminal device, and information 2 is used to indicate the processing time of the uplink data. For example, information 2 can indicate the range of the processing time of the uplink data, or the specific time of the processing of the uplink data, or the maximum and / or minimum value of the processing time of the uplink data, etc.

[0225] Among them, information 2 is used to indicate the processing time of uplink data, and can also be described as information 2 indicating the switching delay from uplink to downlink of the network device, information 2 indicating the time it takes for the network device to receive uplink data and send feedback information of uplink data, etc.

[0226] For example, the uplink data processing may be performed for a first duration by default, and when the communication quality is good, the uplink data processing may be instructed to be performed for a second duration through the first signaling, wherein the second duration is shorter than the first duration.

[0227] For another example, the uplink data processing time may be set to the second time duration by default, and when the communication quality is poor, the uplink data processing time may be indicated by the first signaling as the first time duration, wherein the second time duration is shorter than the first time duration.

[0228] For another example, when the communication quality is poor, the processing of uplink data is instructed by the first signaling for a first duration, and when the communication quality is good, the processing of uplink data is instructed by the first signaling for a second duration.

[0229] Among them, the good communication quality and the poor communication quality can refer to the relevant description of solution three, which will not be repeated here.

[0230] Based on the above-mentioned Plan 4 / Plan 5 / Plan 6, a possible implementation method is that the network device can send uplink scheduling information / Information 1 / Information 2 to all paged / selected terminal devices. For example, the network device can send uplink scheduling information / Information 1 / Information 2 through multicast (or broadcast or groupcast) signaling such as paging message / Query signaling / QueryRep signaling.

[0231] Another possible implementation method is that the network device can send uplink scheduling information / information 1 / information 2 to a single terminal device. For example, the network device can send uplink scheduling information / information 1 / information 2 through unicast signaling such as ACK signaling / feedback signaling / contention resolution identifier / negative acknowledgment (NACK) signaling.

[0232] Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, the structure of which may be as shown in FIG. 7 , including a communication unit 701 and a processing unit 702 .

[0233] In one embodiment, a communication device can be specifically used to implement the method executed by the terminal device in the embodiment of Figure 4. The device can be the terminal device itself, or a chip or chipset in the terminal device, or a part of the chip used to execute the function of the relevant method. The processing unit 702 is used to receive a first signaling through the communication unit 701, the first signaling carrying a first process number, the first signaling being used to page the terminal device or the first signaling being used to indicate the time / time slot resource for random access; and, in response to the first signaling, send first uplink data through the communication unit 701; and, receive a second signaling through the communication unit 701, the second signaling carrying a second process number, the second signaling being used to page the terminal device or the second signaling being used to indicate the time / time slot resource for random access, the second process number not being equal to the first process number; and, in response to the second signaling, send second uplink data through the communication unit 701; wherein the time interval between the second signaling and the first signaling is less than the processing time of the first uplink data.

[0234] Optionally, the processing unit 702 is further used to start a timer, which is used to indicate a time period of no response to the third signaling carrying the first process number, where the third signaling is used to paging the terminal device or the third signaling is used to indicate time / time slot resources for random access.

[0235] Optionally, the processing unit 702 is further configured to receive a fourth signaling through the communication unit 701, where the fourth signaling instructs resetting or discarding the first process ID; and reset or discarding the first process ID.

[0236] In one embodiment, a communication device can be specifically used to implement the method executed by the network device in the embodiment of Figure 4. The device can be the network device itself, or a chip or chipset in the network device, or a part of the chip used to execute the function of the relevant method. The processing unit 702 is used to send a first signaling to the first terminal device through the communication unit 701, the first signaling carrying a first process number, the first signaling being used to page the terminal device or the first signaling being used to indicate the time / time slot resource for random access, and the first identifier being used to identify the inventory event; and receiving first uplink data from the first terminal device through the communication unit 701; and sending a second signaling to the first terminal device through the communication unit 701, the second signaling carrying a second process number, the second signaling being used to page the terminal device or the second signaling being used to indicate the time / time slot resource for random access, and the second process number being not equal to the first process number; and receiving second uplink data from the first terminal device through the communication unit 701; wherein the time interval between the second signaling and the first signaling is less than the processing time of the first uplink data.

[0237] Optionally, the processing unit 702 is further configured to send a fourth signaling through the communication unit 701, where the fourth signaling instructs resetting or discarding the first process ID.

[0238] The division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. In addition, the functional modules in the various embodiments of the present application can be integrated into a processor, or can exist physically separately, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module. The above-mentioned integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It is understood that the functions or implementations of the various modules in the embodiments of the present application can be further referred to the relevant description of the method embodiment.

[0239] In one possible embodiment, a communication device may be as shown in FIG8 . The device may be a communication device or a chip within the communication device, wherein the communication device may be a terminal device or a network device in the above embodiments. The device includes a processor 801 and a communication interface 802, and may also include a memory 803. The processing unit 702 may be the processor 801. The communication unit 701 may be the communication interface 802. Optionally, the processor 801 and the memory 803 may be integrated.

[0240] The processor 801 may be a CPU, a digital processing unit, or the like. The communication interface 802 may be a transceiver, an interface circuit such as a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver chip, or the like. The apparatus further includes a memory 803 for storing programs executed by the processor 801. The memory 803 may be a non-volatile memory, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), or a volatile memory (volatile memory), such as a random-access memory (RAM). The memory 803 is any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto.

[0241] The processor 801 is used to execute the program code stored in the memory 803, specifically to execute the actions of the processing unit 702, which will not be described in detail in this application. The communication interface 802 is specifically used to execute the actions of the communication unit 701, which will not be described in detail in this application.

[0242] The specific connection medium between the communication interface 802, processor 801, and memory 803 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In Figure 8, the memory 803, processor 801, and communication interface 802 are connected via bus 804. The bus is represented by a bold line in Figure 8. The connection between other components is only for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be limiting. Buses can be divided into address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, Figure 8 only uses a single bold line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0243] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing computer software instructions required to be executed by the above-mentioned processor, which includes a program required to be executed by the above-mentioned processor.

[0244] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, including a communication device for implementing the terminal device function in the embodiment of Figure 4 and a communication device for implementing the network device function in the embodiment of Figure 4.

[0245] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application can adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application can adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0246] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each flow and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the flow chart and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more flow charts and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0247] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a product including an instruction device that implements the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0248] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0249] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving a first signaling, where the first signaling carries a first process ID, where the first signaling is used to page a terminal device or the first signaling is used to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access; In response to the first signaling, sending first uplink data; receiving a second signaling, where the second signaling carries a second process number, where the second signaling is used to page a terminal device or the second signaling is used to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access, and the second process number is not equal to the first process number; In response to the second signaling, sending second uplink data; The time interval between the second signaling and the first signaling is less than the processing time of the first uplink data.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first signaling further indicates skipping random access.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The first signaling further indicates skipping random access, including: The first signaling indicates not to send a random number for random access, or the first signaling indicates not to monitor a third signaling, where the third signaling indicates a time / time slot resource for random access.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that If the first signaling is used to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access, the first signaling indicating skipping random access includes: The first signaling carries a parameter Q, and the value of the parameter Q is 0, wherein the parameter Q is used to indicate the number of random access time slots included in a time slot.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Start a timer, where the timer is used to indicate a time period of no response to a third signaling carrying the first process number, where the third signaling is used to paging a terminal device or the third signaling is used to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first signaling also indicates the duration of the timer.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: receiving a fourth signaling, wherein the fourth signaling indicates resetting or discarding the first process number; The first process number is reset or discarded.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The first signaling further indicates a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) rule, where the CRC rule is that if the number of bits of the first uplink data is less than a threshold value, no CRC is performed on the first uplink data.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The first signaling further indicates a processing duration of the first uplink data.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applicable to a network device, and the method comprises: Sending a first signaling to a first terminal device, where the first signaling carries a first process ID, the first signaling is used to page the terminal device or the first signaling is used to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access, and the first identifier is used to identify an inventory event; Receiving first uplink data from the first terminal device; Sending a second signaling to the first terminal device, where the second signaling carries a second process number, where the second signaling is used to paging the terminal device or the second signaling is used to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access, and the second process number is not equal to the first process number; Receiving second uplink data from the first terminal device; The time interval between the second signaling and the first signaling is less than the processing time of the first uplink data.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The first signaling further indicates skipping random access.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The first signaling further indicates skipping random access, including: The first signaling indicates not to send a random number for random access, or the first signaling indicates not to monitor a third signaling, where the third signaling indicates a time / time slot resource for random access.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that If the first signaling is used to indicate a time / time slot resource for random access, the first signaling indicating skipping random access includes: The first signaling carries a parameter Q, and the value of the parameter Q is 0, wherein the parameter Q is used to indicate the number of random access time slots included in a time slot.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that: The first signaling also indicates the duration of a timer, and the timer is used to indicate the time period during which the terminal device does not respond to the third signaling carrying the first process number, and the third signaling is used to page the terminal device or the third signaling is used to indicate the time / time slot resources for random access.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A fourth signaling is sent, where the fourth signaling indicates resetting or discarding the first process number.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that: The first signaling further indicates a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) rule, where the CRC rule is that if the number of bits of the first uplink data is less than a threshold value, no CRC is performed on the first uplink data.

17. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that: The first signaling further indicates a processing duration of the first uplink data.

18. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a unit or module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or comprises a unit or module for executing the method according to any one of claims 10 to 17.

19. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is used to store program instructions, and when the processor executes the program instructions, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 10 to 17 is executed.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-readable instructions, and when the computer-readable instructions are executed on the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 10 to 17 is executed.

21. A computer program product, characterized in that When the computer program product runs on a device, the device is enabled to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or the method according to any one of claims 10 to 17.

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