COMMUNICATION METHOD, COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM
Patent Information
- Application Number
- BR112019015351
- Authority / Receiving Office
- BR · BR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-08
Smart Images
Figure 00000051_0000 
Figure 00000052_0000 
Figure 00000053_0000
Abstract
Description
1 / 45 COMMUNICATION METHOD, COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM
[001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201710061266.0, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on January 25, 2017, and entitled COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The modalities of this application relate to communication technologies and, in particular, to a communication method and a communication device. BACKGROUND
[003] As wireless communication technologies develop, wireless networks become increasingly popular, and people place ever higher performance requirements on wireless networks. Therefore, wireless networks are constantly evolving to improve their performance. As wireless networks evolve, terminal communication tends to be less reliable when the terminal moves between networks of older and newer standards. SUMMARY
[004] The modalities of this application provide a communication method and a communication device, to improve the reliability of communication for a terminal.
[005] According to a first aspect, this application provides a method of communication, wherein a communications system supporting a first communications standard and a second communications standard includes a base station connected to a core network of the first communications standard and a core network of the second communications standard, and the method includes: broadcasting, by the base station, a first area identity, wherein the first area identity is an area identity used, in the first communications standard, for location management for a terminal; when a terminal enters a Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 11 / 117 2 / 45 cell served by the base station, receive, by the terminal, information broadcast by the base station; and if the terminal supports the first communications standard and the second communications standard, when the terminal enters the cell served by the base station from a cell of the first communications standard, broadcast, by the base station, a second area identity, where the second area identity is an area identity used, in the second communications standard, for location management for a terminal, and initiate, by the terminal, an area update to the core network of the second communications standard;or when the terminal enters the cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard, broadcast, by the base station, a second area identity, where the second area identity is not in a current list of areas of the terminal, and initiate, by the terminal, an area update for the core network of the second communications standard.
[006] The first communications standard may be 4G and the second communications standard may be 5G.
[007] In one possible project, the method also includes: sending, via the terminal, a first element of indication information to the base station, where the first element of indication information is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the terminal is initiated for the core network of the second communications standard.
[008] In a possible project, the method also includes: before the terminal starts an area update for the core network of the second communications standard, sending, by the terminal, terminal capability information to the base station, where if the capability information indicates that the terminal supports the second communications standard, the terminal does not need to send the first element of indication information to the base station.
[009] In a possible project, when the terminal enters the Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 12 / 117 3 / 45 cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard, the method also includes: initiating, via the terminal, an area update to the core network of the first communications standard.
[0010] In one possible project, the method also includes: sending, via the terminal, a second element of indication information to the base station, where the second element of indication information is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the terminal is initiated for the core network of the first communications standard.
[0011] In a possible project, the format of the first area identity is different from that of the second area identity.
[0012] In a possible project, the first area identity is a TAC tracking area code, and the second area identity is a PAC paging area code.
[0013] In a possible project, one format of the first area identity is the same as the second area identity, and the method also includes: To receive, via the terminal, first indication information and second indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first area code is used for the first communications pattern, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the second area code is used for the second communications pattern; or to receive, via the terminal, indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the first area code is used for the first communications pattern, and that the second area code is used for the second communications pattern by default; or to receive, via the terminal, indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 13 / 117 The 4 / 45 area code is used for the second communications standard, and the first area code is used for the first communications standard by default.
[0014] According to a second aspect, this application provides a method of communication wherein a communications system supporting a first communications standard and a second communications standard includes a base station supporting connectivity to a core network of the first communications standard and a core network of the second communications standard, and the method includes: broadcasting, by the base station, a first area identity and a second area identity, wherein the first area identity is used to identify an area used, in the first communications standard, for location management for a terminal, and the second area identity is used to identify an area used, in the second communications standard, for location management for a terminal;When a terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the first communications standard, or when a terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard and the second area identity does not belong to a current list of areas of the terminal, the base station will receive a first area update request sent by the terminal; and the base station will send the first area update request to the core network of the second communications standard.
[0015] In a possible project, the method also includes: The base station receives a first element of indication information sent by the terminal, where the first element of indication information is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the terminal is started for the core network of the second communications standard; and the base station sends the first update request. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 14 / 117 The 5 / 45 area for the core network of the second communications standard includes: Send, via the base station, the first area update request to the core network of the second communications standard, in accordance with the first indication information element.
[0016] In one possible project, when the terminal enters the cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard, the method also includes: To receive, via the base station, a second area update request initiated by the terminal for the core network of the first communications standard; and to send, via the base station, the second area update request to the core network of the first communications standard.
[0017] In a possible project, the method also includes: receiving, by the base station, a second element of indication information sent by the terminal, where the second element of indication information is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the terminal is initiated for the core network of the first communications standard; and the sending, by the base station, of the second area update request to the core network of the first communications standard includes: Send, via the base station, the second area update request to the core network of the first communications standard, in accordance with the second indication information element.
[0018] In a possible project, the format of the first area identity is different from that of the second area identity.
[0019] In a possible project, the first area identity is a TAC tracking area code, and the second area identity is a PAC paging area code. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 15 / 117 6 / 45
[0020] In a possible project, one format of the first area identity is the same as the second area identity, and the method also includes: To send, from the base station, first indication information and second indication information to the terminal, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern; or to send, from the base station, indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern, and that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern by default;or send, via the base station, indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second area code is used for the second communications pattern, and that the first area code is used for the first communications pattern by default.
[0021] According to a third aspect, this application provides a communications device, applied to a communications system supporting a first communications standard and a second communications standard, wherein the communications system further includes a base station supporting connectivity to a core network of the first communications standard and a core network of the second communications standard, the information broadcast by the base station includes a first area identity, and the first area identity is used to identify an area used, in the first communications standard, for location management for a terminal, wherein the terminal supports the first communications standard and the second communications standard; and the device is located in a terminal and Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 16 / 117 7 / 45 includes: a receiving unit, configured to receive information broadcast by the base station; and a processing unit, configured to: when the terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the first communications standard, and the information broadcast by the base station includes a second area identity, initiate an area update to the core network of the second communications standard, where the second area identity is used to identify an area used, in the second communications standard, for location management for a terminal;Or when the terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard, and the information broadcast by the base station includes a second area identity that does not belong to a current list of areas of the terminal, initiate an area update to the core network of the second communications standard, where the second area identity is used to identify an area used, in the second communications standard, for location management for a terminal.
[0022] In one possible design, the processing unit is further configured to send a first element of indication information to the base station, where the first element of indication information is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the processing unit is initiated for the core network of the second communications standard.
[0023] In one possible design, when the terminal enters the cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard, the processing unit is still configured to initiate an area update to the core network of the first communications standard. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 17 / 117 8 / 45
[0024] In one possible design, the processing unit is further configured to send a second indication information element to the base station, where the second indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the processing unit is initiated for the core network of the first communications standard.
[0025] In a possible project, the format of the first area identity is different from that of the second area identity.
[0026] In a possible project, the format of the first area identity is the same as the format of the second area identity, and the processing unit is still configured to: receive first indication information and second indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern; or receive indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern, and that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern by default; or receive indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern, and that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern by default.
[0027] According to a fourth aspect, this application provides a communications device applied to a communications system supporting a first communications standard and a Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 18 / 117 9 / 45 second communications standard, where the communications system includes a base station supporting connectivity to a core network of the first communications standard and a core network of the second communications standard; and the device is located at the base station and includes: a first transmission unit, configured to broadcast a first area identity and a second area identity, where the first area identity is used to identify an area used, in the first communications pattern, for location management for a terminal, and the second area identity is used to identify an area used, in the second communications pattern, for location management for a terminal; A receiving unit, configured to: when a terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the first communications pattern, or when a terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications pattern and the second area identity does not belong to a current list of areas of the terminal, receive a first area update request sent by the terminal; and a second sending unit, configured to send the first area update request to the core network of the second communications pattern.
[0028] In one possible design, the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first indication information element sent by the terminal, where the first indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the terminal is initiated for the core network of the second communications standard, and the second sending unit is configured to send the first area update request to the core network of the second communications standard in accordance with the first information element. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 19 / 117 10 / 45 indication.
[0029] In one possible design, the receiving unit is further configured to: when the terminal enters the cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications pattern, receive a second area update request initiated by the terminal for the core network of the first communications pattern, and the second sending unit is further configured to send the second area update request to the core network of the first communications pattern.
[0030] In one possible design, the receiving unit is further configured to receive a second indication information element sent by the terminal, where the second indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the terminal is initiated for the core network of the first communications standard, and the second sending unit is configured to send the second area update request to the core network of the first communications standard in accordance with the second indication information element.
[0031] In a possible project, the format of the first area identity is different from that of the second area identity.
[0032] In a possible project, the format of the first area identity is the same as the format of the second area identity, and the first sending unit is configured to: Send first indication information and second indication information to the terminal, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern; or send indication information to the terminal, where the Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, p. 20 / 117 11 / 45 indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern, and that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern by default; or send indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern, and that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern by default.
[0033] According to a fifth aspect, this request provides a computer program. When executed by a processor, the program is used to perform the method of the first aspect.
[0034] According to a sixth aspect, this request provides a computer program. When executed by a processor, the program is used to execute the method of the second aspect.
[0035] According to a seventh aspect, a program product is provided, wherein the program product is, for example, a computer-readable storage medium and includes the program in the fifth aspect.
[0036] According to an eighth aspect, a program product is provided, wherein the program product is, for example, a computer-readable storage medium and includes the program in the sixth aspect.
[0037] It can be learned that in the preceding aspects, the base station supporting connectivity to the core network of the first communications standard and to the core network of the second communications standard broadcasts the first area identity and the second area identity for both communications standards. Therefore, upon entering the cell served by the base station, a terminal supporting both communications standards can receive both area identities and perform an update. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 21 / 117 12 / 45 area based on the second area identity, for timely access to the second communications standard or timely area update. This reduces the probability of terminal paging failure, thus improving terminal communication reliability. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a scenario according to one modality of this request; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a scenario according to one modality of this request; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another scenario according to one modality of this request; Figure 4 is a signaling diagram of a communication method according to one modality of this request; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of yet another scenario according to one modality of this request; Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of yet another scenario according to one modality of this request; Figure 7 is a signaling diagram of another communication method according to one modality of this request; Figure 8 is a signaling diagram of yet another communication method according to one modality of this request; Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of yet another scenario according to one modality of this request; Figure 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal according to one embodiment of this application; Figure 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station according to one embodiment of this application; Figure 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another terminal according to an embodiment of this application; and Figure 13 is a schematic structural diagram of another base station according to an embodiment of this application. DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, p. 22 / 117 13 / 45
[0039] The modalities of this application apply to a communications system supporting two different communications standards. Communications systems with different communication standards use different radio access technologies (RATs). The two different communications standards are distinguished using a first communications standard and a second communications standard. The first communications standard uses a first RAT, and the first RAT is, for example, Long Term Evolution (LTE), i.e., the first communications standard is 4G. The second communications standard uses a second RAT, and the second RAT is, for example, a New Radio Access Technology (NR), i.e., the second communications standard is 5G. A 4G communications system or a 5G communications system includes a base station and a core network.Below, some terms used in this request are described to facilitate understanding for someone knowledgeable in the subject. (1) A terminal, also called User Equipment (UE), is a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, for example, a portable device or a device in the vehicle with wireless connection function. Common terminals include, for example, mobile phones, tablet computers, notebooks, palmtops, mobile internet devices (MIDs) and wearable devices such as smartwatches, smart bands and pedometers. (2) A radio station, also called a Radio Access Network (RAN) device, is a device that connects a terminal to a wireless network, including a base station of each communications standard, including but not limited to: a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), an evolved Node B (eNB), a Radio Network Controller (RNC), a Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, p. 23 / 117 14 / 45 Node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., Home evolved NodeB or Home Node B, HNB), or a baseband unit (BBU). Additionally, the device may include a Wi-Fi access point (AP) or something similar.
[0040] In the modalities, base stations in communication systems of different communication standards are different. For differentiation, a base station in the 4G communication system is referred to as an LTE eNB, a base station in the 5G communication system is referred to as an NR gNB, and a base station supporting both the 4G and 5G communication systems is referred to as an eLTE eNB. These names are merely for ease of differentiation and do not impose any limitations. (3) A plurality of means two or more. Other quantifiers are similar to this. The term and / or describes an association relationship between associated objects and represents which three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three cases: Only A exists, A and B exist, and only B exists. The character / usually indicates an OR relationship between the associated objects.
[0041] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario according to one embodiment of this request. As shown in Figure 1, a 5G communications system includes a Next Generation Core (NGC) and a Radio Access Network (RAN) connected to the NGC, and the RAN connected to the NGC includes an NR gNB 11 and an eNB 12. A 4G communications system includes an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and a RAN connected to the EPC, and the RAN connected to the EPC includes an eNB 13 and an eNB 12. The eNB 13 supports Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, p. 24 / 117 15 / 45 connectivity to the EPC, but not connectivity to the NGC. The eNB 12 supports connectivity to both the EPC and the NGC. In this configuration, to distinguish between eNB 13 and eNB 12, the eNB 13 can be referred to as an LTE eNB, and the eNB 12 can be referred to as an eLTE eNB. In the communication network, the LTE eNB can be upgraded to an eLTE eNB that can be connected to the NGC.
[0042] As shown in Figure 1, 110 represents a cell served by NR gNB 11, 120 represents a cell served by eNB 12, and 130 represents a cell served by eNB 13. To enable location management for a terminal, an area concept is introduced, for example, a Tracking Area (TA) in an LTE system. eNB 12 transmits a Tracking Area Code (TAC) and a Public Land Mobile Network Identity (PLMN ID) that are from a tracking area in which the cell served by eNB 12 is located. The TAC and PLMN ID form a Tracking Area Identity (TAI). A TAC (or TAI) is used to identify an area used, in a communications system, for location management for a terminal.Currently, a Tracking Area Update (TAU) mechanism in the LTE system works as follows: A terminal moves into idle mode; and if a Tracking Area Identity (TAI) of a cell the terminal is currently entering is in the terminal's TAI list, the terminal does not trigger a TAU, or if a TAI of a cell the terminal is entering is not in the terminal's TAI list, the terminal triggers a TAU.
[0043] A TAI of a TA in which cell 120 is located can use a TAI in the 4G communications system and therefore the TA planning of the existing 4G communications system is not affected. If the existing TAU mechanism is used, when a terminal moves to cell 120, normally, Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 25 / 117 16 / 45 No TAU is initiated because cell 110 and cell 120 are planned in the same TA or the same TA list, or because cell 120 and cell 130 are planned in the same TA or the same TA list. Consequently, the terminal communication is not reliable enough.
[0044] For example, terminal 14 supports both 4G and 5G communication systems; and when terminal 14 moves in idle mode from cell 130 to cell 120, terminal 14 does not initiate any TAU because cell 130 and cell 120 are planned in the same TA. In this case, terminal 14 cannot access the NGC and therefore cannot obtain 5G network services. As another example, assume that terminal 14 is registered with the NGC, and that a list of TAIs configured by the NGC for terminal 14 includes both a TAI from a TA in which a cell served by an eLTE eNB is located and a TAI from a TA in which a cell served by an NR gNB is located. For example, a list of TAIs configured by the NGC for terminal 14 includes a TAI 1 from a TA in which cell 120 served by eNB 12 is located and a TAI 2 from a TA in which cell 110 served by NR gNB 11 is located.Because of the TAU mechanism in the LTE system, when terminal 14 moves in idle mode from cell 110 to cell 120, terminal 14 receives TAI 1 from cell 120 broadcast by eNB 12, and terminal 14 triggers no TAU because TAI 1 from cell 120 is on terminal 14's TAI list. When terminal 14 continues moving and moves from cell 120 to cell 130, terminal 14 receives a TAI from cell 130 broadcast by eNB 13, and because cell 120 follows a TAI planning rule in the LTE system, the TAI from cell 120 can be the same as the TAI from cell 130; If the TAI of cell 130 is also TAI 1, terminal 14 does not trigger TAU because TAI 1 of cell 130 is also in the TAI list of terminal 14. When terminal 14 remains in cell 130 and the NGC needs to send... Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 26 / 117 17 / 45 downlink traffic to terminal 14, the NGC cannot find terminal 14 via paging because eNB 13 is not connected to the NGC.
[0045] Apparently, the existing TA planning mechanism is subject to insufficient communication reliability. To solve this problem, in the modalities of this application, two TAs are planned for a base station supporting two communication standards and two area identities of the two TAs are transmitted. Specifically, the following various modalities are provided. These modalities are described below with reference to specific scenarios.
[0046] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a scenario according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another scenario according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 is a signaling diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of yet another scenario according to an embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, the same planning rule is applied to cell area identities in a 4G communications system and cell area identities in a 5G communications system. In other embodiments, alternatively, different planning rules may be applied to cell area identities in a 4G communications system and cell area identities in a 5G communications system.
[0047] As shown in Figure 2, two different TAIs can be assigned to a cell served by an eLTE eNB. For example, two different TAIs assigned to a cell 120 served by an eNB 12 are a TAI 1 and a TAI 2. One is used for the 4G communications system and the other is used for the 5G communications system. For example, TAI 1 is used for the 4G communications system and TAI 2 is used for the 5G communications system. TAI 1 is used to identify an area. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 27 / 117 In the 4G communications system, TAI 18 / 45 is used for location management for a terminal, and TAI 2 is used to identify an area used in the 5G communications system for location management for a terminal. When a terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12, terminal 14 receives information broadcast by eNB 12. The information broadcast by eNB 12 may include both TAI 1 and TAI 2. There are two subsequent processes in which terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12. Case 1:
[0048] As shown in Figure 3, terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 130 served by eNB 13, and before terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 130 served by eNB 13, a list of TAIs stored in terminal 14 is allocated by an EPC, and the list of TAIs allocated by the EPC does not include any TAIs from a 5G communications system cell. After terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 130 served by eNB 13, terminal 14 receives information broadcast by eNB 12. The information broadcast by eNB 12 includes TAI 1 and TAI 2. Terminal 14 can receive TAI 1 and TAI 2 simultaneously, or it can receive TAI 1 and TAI 2 at different times.
[0049] If terminal 14 supports both 4G and 5G communication systems, when terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 130 served by eNB 13, terminal 14 initiates a TAU to an NGC provided that eNB 12 is connected to the NGC. To be specific, when terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 130 served by eNB 13, regardless of whether a 4G communication system TAI, for example, TAI 1, broadcast by eNB 12 is in the terminal's TAI list, terminal 14 initiates a TAU with the network NGC of Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 28 / 117 19 / 45 core of the 5G communications system since the information disseminated by eNB 12 includes a TAI of the 5G communications system.
[0050] Because eNB 12 is connected to EPC and NGC, and eNB 12 only forwards the TAU initiated by terminal 14 without splitting it, terminal 14 still needs to send a first indication information element to eNB 12 when initiating the TAU, and the first indication information element is used to indicate that the TAU initiated by terminal 14 is initiated for the NGC.
[0051] The first indication information element can be sent to eNB 12 together with the TAU. For example, the first indication information element and the TAU message are sent to eNB 12 in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message. Alternatively, the first indication information element and the TAU can be sent to eNB 12 separately. For example, terminal 14 adds the first prompt information element to an RRC message and sends the RRC message to eNB 12; and terminal 14 sends the TAU to the NGC using a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message. Correspondingly, as shown in Figure 4, signal interaction between a terminal, an eLTE eNB, and an NGC includes the following S41 to S44.
[0052] S41. The eLTE eNB broadcasts, to a terminal, a TAI 1 applicable to a 4G communications system and a TAI 2 applicable to a 5G communications system.
[0053] S42. The terminal sends a first indication information element and a TAU to the eLTE eNB.
[0054] The first indication information element is used to indicate that the TAU initiated by the terminal is initiated for the NGC, and the TAU includes TAI 2.
[0055] S43. The eLTE eNB sends the TAU to the NGC accordingly Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, p. 29 / 117 20 / 45 with the first element of indication information.
[0056] S44. The NGC sends a list of TAI 1 to the terminal via eLTE eNB.
[0057] Furthermore, it should be noted that the reason eNB 12 broadcasts TAI 1 is to ensure compatibility with a terminal supporting only the 4G communications system. For example, terminal 14 is a terminal supporting only the 4G communications system, and both cell 130 and cell 120 are cells in the 4G communications system. In this case, the TAIs of the two cells may be the same or they may be different. Before terminal 14 moves from cell 130 to cell 120, the TAI list for terminal 14 is allocated by the EPC. After terminal 14 moves from cell 130 to cell 120, terminal 14 needs to detect if TAI 1 broadcast by eNB 12 is in terminal 14's TAI list. If TAI 1 broadcast by eNB 12 is in terminal 14's TAI list, terminal 14 does not trigger a TAU. If TAI 1 broadcast by eNB 12 is not in terminal 14's TAI list, terminal 14 needs to initiate a TAU for the EPC. Case 2:
[0058] As shown in Figure 5, terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, and before terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, a list of TAIs stored in terminal 14 is allocated by the NGC, and the list of TAIs allocated by the NGC does not include TAI 1. After entering cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, terminal 14 detects if a TAI from the 5G communications system, for example, TAI 2, broadcast by eNB 12, is in terminal 14's TAI list. If TAI 2 is not in terminal 14's TAI list, terminal 14 initiates a TAU to the NGC. If TAI 2 is in the TAI list of terminal 14, terminal 14 does not initiate any TAU for NGC. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 30 / 117 21 / 45
[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, for a terminal supporting both the 4G and 5G communications systems, when terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, terminal 14 may not detect whether TAI 1 of the 4G communications system broadcast by eNB 12 is in terminal 14's TAI list. In other embodiments, when terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, terminal 14 still needs to detect whether TAI 1 of the 4G communications system broadcast by eNB 12 is in terminal 14's TAI list.
[0060] As shown in Figure 5, when terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, terminal 14 does not detect whether the 4G communications system TAI 1 broadcast by eNB 12 is in terminal 14's TAI list. However, when terminal 14 continues to move and moves from cell 120 to cell 130, terminal 14 detects whether a TAI broadcast by eNB 13 is in terminal 14's TAI list. For example, if the TAI broadcast by eNB 13 is TAI 1 and TAI 1 is not in terminal 14's TAI list, terminal 14 initiates a TAU with the EPC.
[0061] In this mode, a base station supporting connectivity to a core network of a first communications standard and a core network of a second communications standard broadcasts a first area identity and a second area identity for both communications standards. Therefore, upon entering a cell served by the base station, a terminal supporting both communications standards can receive both area identities and perform area updates based on the second area identity, for timely access to a communications system of the second communications standards or timely area updates. This reduces the probability of terminal paging failure, thus improving reliability. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 31 / 117 22 / 45 terminal communication.
[0062] Furthermore, in an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 4, before the terminal initiates a TAU to the NGC via the eLTE eNB, the eLTE eNB obtains capability information from the terminal; and if the capability information indicates that the terminal supports the 5G communications system or that the terminal supports both the 4G and 5G communications systems, when the terminal initiates a TAU to the NGC via the eLTE eNB, the terminal does not need to send indication information to the eLTE eNB, but directly sends the TAU to the eLTE eNB, and the eLTE eNB directly sends the TAU to the NGC based on the terminal's capability information. If the capability information indicates that the terminal only supports the 4G communications system, when the terminal initiates a TAU, the eLTE eNB directly sends the TAU to the EPC.
[0063] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another scenario according to one embodiment of this request. Figure 7 is a signaling diagram of another communication method according to one embodiment of this request. As shown in Figure 6, the information broadcast by an NR gNB 11 includes a TAI 3, the information broadcast by an eNB 12 includes a TAI 1 and a TAI 2, where TAI 1 is used for a 4G communications system and TAI 2 is used for a 5G communications system, and information broadcast by an eNB 13 includes TAI 1. Terminal 14 supports both the 4G and 5G communications systems, terminal 14 is registered with an NGC, and a list of TAIs allocated by the NGC for terminal 14 includes TAI 3.When terminal 14 enters idle mode, a cell 120 served by eNB 12 is transferred from a cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, because TAI 2, broadcast by eNB 12 for the 5G communications system, is not in terminal 14's TAI list, terminal 14 initiates a TAU to the NGC. The NGC returns a TAI 1 list to terminal 14, where the TAI 1 list includes TAI 2, and terminal 14 updates the TAI list. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 32 / 117 23 / 45 original stored on terminal 14 to the TAI 1 list. If terminal 14 continues to move and moves from cell 120 served by eNB 12 to cell 130 served by eNB 13, because the TAI 1 broadcast by eNB 13 is not in terminal 14's current TAI 1 list, eNB 13 is a 4G communications system base station, cell 130 is an LTE coverage cell, and eNB 13 is not connected to the NGC, terminal 14 initiates a TAU to an EPC, the EPC returns a TAI 2 list to terminal 14, where the TAI 2 list includes TAI 1, and terminal 14 updates the TAI 1 list stored on terminal 14 to the TAI 2 list.
[0064] Furthermore, a TAU format initiated by terminal 14 for NGC is different from a TAU format initiated by terminal 14 for EPC. For example, terminal 14 initiates a TAU of a 5G NAS format for NGC, and terminal 14 initiates a TAU of an EPC NAS format for EPC.
[0065] As shown in Figure 6, when terminal 14 moves in idle mode, a TAU format initiated by terminal 14 can be determined based on the support capability of a cell in which terminal 14 is located. If the cell in which terminal 14 is located supports NGC connectivity, terminal 14 preferably initiates a 5G NAS format TAU; or if the cell in which terminal 14 is located only supports EPC connectivity, terminal 14 initiates an EPC NAS format TAU.
[0066] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, terminal 14 supports both 4G and 5G communication systems. When terminal 14 moves from cell 120 served by eNB 12 to cell 130 served by eNB 13, because the TAI 1 broadcast by eNB 13 is not in terminal 14's current TAI 1 list, eNB 13 is a 4G communication system base station, cell 130 is an LTE coverage cell, and eNB 13 is not connected to the NGC, terminal 14 initiates a TAU of EPC NAS format to the EPC. When terminal 14 enters the Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 33 / 117 24 / 45 cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 130 served by eNB 13, regardless of whether TAI 1 of the 4G communications system broadcast by eNB 12 is in the terminal's TAI list, terminal 14 sends a 5G NAS format TAU to the 5G communications system's core network NGC as long as eNB 12 is connected to the NGC. When terminal 14 moves back and forth between cell 120 served by eNB 12 and cell 130 served by eNB 13, for each cell re-selection, terminal 14 needs to send TAUs of different formats to different core networks. To be specific, terminal 14 frequently sends 5G NAS format TAUs to the NGC and frequently sends EPC NAS format TAUs to the EPC. Consequently, a ping-pong phenomenon occurs.
[0067] To solve this problem, based on the embodiment shown in Figure 6, when terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, terminal 14 initiates a TAU for the EPC. Furthermore, when terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, whether terminal 14 initiates a TAU for the NGC depends on whether a TAI broadcast by eNB 12 for the 5G communications system is in a current TAI list of terminal 14. A principle of the same is the same as in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 and details are not described here again.
[0068] In this mode, if a TAI broadcast by eNB 12 for the 5G communications system is in the TAI list configured by the NGC for terminal 14 when terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, terminal 14 does not need to initiate a TAU to the NGC, but still needs to initiate a TAU to the EPC, and the EPC returns a TAI list to terminal 14. In this mode, when terminal 14 receives, in cell 120 served by eNB 12, the TAI list sent by the EPC, terminal 14 Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 34 / 117 25 / 45 maintains an original TAI list, namely, the TAI list configured by the NGC for terminal 14, and also stores the TAI list sent by the EPC.
[0069] Because eNB 12 is connected to both the EPC and the NGC, and eNB 12 only forwards the TAU initiated by terminal 14 without splitting it, terminal 14 still needs to send a second indication information element to eNB 12 when initiating the TAU, and the second indication information element is used to indicate that the TAU initiated by terminal 14 is initiated in the EPC. Correspondingly, as shown in Figure 7, interaction signaling between a terminal, an eLTE eNB, and an EPC includes the following S71 to S74.
[0070] S71. The eLTE eNB broadcasts, to a terminal, a TAI 1 applicable to a 4G communications system and a TAI 2 applicable to a 5G communications system.
[0071] S72. The terminal sends a second element of indication information and a TAU to the eLTE eNB.
[0072] The second indication information element is used to indicate that the TAU initiated by the terminal is initiated for the EPC, and a message sent by the terminal to the eLTE eNB also includes TAI 1.
[0073] S73. The eLTE eNB sends the TAU to the EPC in accordance with the second indication information element.
[0074] S74. The EPC sends a list of TAI 2 to the terminal via the eLTE eNB.
[0075] The TAI 2 list includes TAI 1.
[0076] In this mode, when terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, terminal 14 can initiate a TAU to the EPC each time terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eLTE eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11, or it can initiate a TAU to the EPC after terminal 14 determines that a ping-pong phenomenon has occurred, or it can initiate a TAU Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 35 / 117 26 / 45 for the EPC under instruction from a core network after the core network discovers that a ping-pong phenomenon has occurred on the network.
[0077] In this mode, when the terminal enters the cell served by the eLTE eNB from a 5G communications system cell, the terminal initiates a TAU to the 4G core network through the eLTE eNB, and the 4G core network sends a TAI list to the terminal. When the terminal enters a cell served by an LTE eNB from the cell served by the eLTE eNB, because the terminal has stored the TAI list configured by the 4G core network, the TAI list may include a TAI from the cell served by the eLTE eNB and TAIs from cells served by LTE eNBs surrounding the cell served by the eLTE eNB. When the terminal moves back and forth between the cell served by the eLTE eNB and the cell served by the LTE eNB, because both the TAI of the cell served by the eLTE eNB and the TAI of the cell served by the LTE eNB are in the terminal's TAI list, for each cell re-selection, the terminal does not need to send TAUs of different formats to different core networks.This prevents the terminal from frequently sending 5G NAS format TAUs to the NGC and frequently sends EPC NAS format TAUs to the EPC, thus avoiding the ping-pong phenomenon.
[0078] Figure 8 is a signaling diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of this application. Based on the embodiment shown in Figure 6, if terminal 14 supports both 4G and 5G communication systems, when terminal 14 enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 110 served by NR gNB 11 or enters cell 120 served by eNB 12 from cell 130 served by eNB 13, terminal 14 can initiate either an EPC NAS format TAU to the EPC and a 5G NAS format TAU to the NGC. Because eNB 12 is connected to both the EPC and the NGC, and eNB 12 only forwards without splitting the TAU initiated by the terminal. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 36 / 117 27 / 45 14. When initiating both the EPC NAS format TAU and the 5G NAS format TAU, terminal 14 still needs to send a first indication information element and a second indication information element to the eNB 12. The first indication information element is used to indicate that the 5G NAS format TAU initiated by the terminal, denoted as TAU 1, is initiated in the NGC. The second indication information element is used to indicate that the EPC NAS format TAU initiated by the terminal, denoted as TAU 2, is initiated in the EPC. Correspondingly, as shown in Figure 8, interaction signaling between a terminal, an eLTE eNB, an EPC, and an NGC includes the following S81 to S86.
[0079] S81. The eLTE eNB broadcasts, to a terminal, a TAI 1 applicable to a 4G communications system and a TAI 2 applicable to a 5G communications system.
[0080] S82. The terminal sends a first element of indication information, a TAU 1, a second element of indication information, and a TAU 2 to the eLTE eNB.
[0081] The first indication information element is used to indicate that TAU 1 initiated by the terminal is initiated for the NGC. The second indication information element is used to indicate that TAU 2 initiated by the terminal is initiated in the EPC. TAU 1 includes TAI 2 and TAU 2 includes TAI 1.
[0082] S83. The eLTE eNB sends TAU 1 to the NGC.
[0083] S84. The eNTE sends TAU 2 to the EPC.
[0084] S85. The NGC sends a list of TAI 1 to the terminal via eLTE eNB.
[0085] S86. The EPC sends a list of TAI 2 to the terminal via eLTE eNB.
[0086] If the TAI 1 list includes TAI 2 and TAI 3, and the TAI 2 list includes TAI 1, after receiving the TAI 1 list and the TAI 2 list, the terminal can combine the TAI 1 list. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 37 / 117 28 / 45 and the TAI 2 list in a total TAI list. This TAI list includes the TAIs in TAI 1 list and the TAIs in TAI 2 list. The TAI list is a TAI list from a larger set than TAI 1 list or TAI 2 list.
[0087] Because TAI 3 broadcast by NR gNB 11 is in the TAI list of a larger collection and TAI 2 of the 5G communications system broadcast by eNB 12 is also in the TAI list of a larger collection, when terminal 14 moves back and forth between cell 110 and cell 120, terminal 14 does not need to initiate TAUs frequently. Similarly, because TAI 1 of the 4G communications system broadcast by eNB 12 is in the TAI list of a larger collection and TAI 1 broadcast by eNB 13 is also in the TAI list of a larger collection, when terminal 14 moves back and forth between cell 120 and cell 130, terminal 14 also does not need to initiate TAUs frequently.In other words, TAI list 1 and TAI list 2 form a TAI list of a larger collection, so terminal 14 does not initiate TAUs when moving between cells corresponding to the TAI list of a larger collection, and terminal 14 does not need to frequently initiate TAUs of different formats for different core networks when a core network corresponding to terminal 14 changes.
[0088] In this mode, terminal 14 can initiate either an EPC NAS format TAU for the EPC and a 5G NAS format TAU for the NGC each time terminal 14 enters the cell served by the eLTE eNB, or after terminal 14 determines that a ping-pong phenomenon has occurred, or under instruction from a core network, after the core network discovers that a ping-pong phenomenon has occurred on the network.
[0089] In this mode, when you move to the cell served by the eLTE eNB, the terminal sends area updates of different formats to the 4G core network and the 5G core network, and the 4G core network and the 5G core network assign Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, p. 38 / 117 29 / 45 different TAI lists are sent to the terminal, where the two TAI lists form a TAI list of a larger collection, so that the terminal does not initiate TAUs when moving between cells corresponding to the TAI list of a larger collection, and the terminal does not frequently initiate TAUs when a core network corresponding to the terminal changes. This saves air interface resources.
[0090] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of yet another scenario according to an embodiment of this request. In an alternative solution of the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the information broadcast by eNB 12 may include two area identities of different formats, for example, a first area identity and a second area identity; and the first area identity may be a Tracking Area Code (TAC), and the second area identity may be a Paging Area Code (PAC). A TAI includes a Public Land Mobile Network Identity (PLMN ID) and a TAC, and a Paging Area Identity (PAI) includes a PLMN ID and a PAC. TAC and PAC are of different formats, for example, different lengths. As shown in Figure 9, for terminal 14, a PLMN ID is fixed if an operator for terminal 14 is fixed.Because TAC and PAC are in different formats, TAI and PAI are also in different formats. Therefore, as shown in Figure 9, a TAI 1 is used to identify an area used, in a 4G communications system, for location management for a terminal, and a PAI 1 is used to identify an area used, in a 5G communications system, for location management for a terminal. When terminal 14 enters a cell served by eNB 12, eNB 12 transmits TAI 1 and PAI 1. When terminal 14 receives TAI 1 and PAI 1, terminal 14 can determine, based on the different formats of TAI 1 and PAI 1, what PAI 1 is. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, p. 39 / 117 30 / 45 is used for the 5G communications system and TAI 1 is used for the 4G communications system. Alternatively, when terminal 14 enters a cell served by eNB 12, eNB 12 transmits TAC 1 and PAC 1. When terminal 14 receives TAC 1 and PAC 1, terminal 14 can determine, based on different formats of TAC 1 and PAC 1, that PAC 1 is used for the 5G communications system and TAC 1 is used for the 4G communications system.
[0091] In this mode, the eLTE eNB broadcasts the first area identity and the second area identity, which are of different formats, so that a terminal in a cell served by the eLTE eNB can quickly determine, based on different formats of the first area identity and the second area identity, an area identity used for the 5G communications system and an area identity used for the 4G communications system.
[0092] Furthermore, based on the modality shown in Figure 2, the information disseminated by eNB 12 may include two area identities of the same format, for example, a first area identity and a second area identity. The first area identity is TAC 1 and the second area identity is TAC 2. Because a TAI includes a PLMN ID and a TAC, if an operator for terminal 14 is fixed, the PLMN ID is fixed. Therefore, if TAC 1 is different from TAC 2, TAI 1 is different from TAI 2.If terminal 14 supports both 4G and 5G, eNB 12 still needs to send first indication information and second indication information to terminal 14, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity, namely TAC 1, is used for 4G, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for 5G; or eNB 12 sends a piece of indication information to terminal 14, where the indication information is used to indicate that... Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, p. 40 / 117 31 / 45 the first area code, namely TAC 1, is used for 4G, and the second area code, namely TAC 2, is used for 5G by default; or eNB 12 sends a piece of indication information to terminal 14, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second area code, namely TAC 2, is used for 5G, and that the first area code, namely TAC 1, is used for 4G by default. If terminal 14 only supports 4G, eNB 12 only needs to send a piece of indication information to terminal 14, where the indication information is used to indicate that the first area code, namely TAC 1, is used for 4G, or the indication information is used to indicate that the second area code, namely TAC 2, is used for 5G.
[0093] In this mode, the eLTE eNB sends the first indication information and the second indication information to indicate which of the first area identities and the second area identities broadcast by the eLTE eNB represent the area identity used for the 5G communications system and which is the area identity used for the 4G communications system, so that the terminal can accurately distinguish between the first area identity and the second area identity of the same format that are broadcast by the eLTE eNB.Alternatively, the eLTE eNB sends a piece of indication information to indicate which of the first and second area identities broadcast by the eLTE eNB is the area identity used for the 5G communications system or the area identity used for the 4G communications system, so that the terminal can accurately distinguish one of the first and second area identities of the same format broadcast by the eLTE eNB, where the other is known by default. This effectively reduces the amount of data sent by the eLTE eNB. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 41 / 117 32 / 45
[0094] Figure 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communications device according to an embodiment of this application. The communications device is applied to a communications system supporting a first communications standard and a second communications standard. The first communications standard may be 4G and the second communications standard may be 5G. The communications system further includes a base station supporting connectivity to a core network of the first communications standard and a core network of the second communications standard. Information transmission by the base station includes a first area identity, where the first area identity is used to identify an area used, in the first communications standard, for location management for a terminal. The terminal supports the first communications standard and the second communications standard.As shown in Figure 10, the communications device is located in a terminal and includes a receiving unit 101 and a processing unit 102. The receiving unit 101 is configured to receive the information broadcast by the base station.Processing unit 102 is configured to: when the terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the first communications standard, and the information broadcast by the base station includes a second area identity, initiate an area update for the core network of the second communications standard, where the second area identity is used to identify an area used, in the second communications standard, for location management for a terminal; or processing unit 102 is configured to: when the terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard, and the information broadcast by the base station includes a second area identity that does not belong to a current list of areas of the terminal, initiate an update. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 42 / 117 33 / 45 area for the core network of the second communications standard, where the second area identity is used to identify an area used, in the second communications standard, for location management for a terminal.
[0095] In Figure 10, processing unit 102 is still configured to send a first indication information element to the base station, where the first indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by processing unit 102 is initiated for the core network of the second communications standard.
[0096] In this mode, when the terminal enters the cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard, processing unit 102 is still configured to initiate an area update to the core network of the first communications standard.
[0097] In this mode, processing unit 102 is further configured to send a second indication information element to the base station, where the second indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by processing unit 102 is initiated for the core network of the first communications standard.
[0098] In this modality, the format of the first area identity is different from that of the second area identity.
[0099] In this mode, the format of the first area identity is the same as that of the second area identity, and receiving unit 101 is further configured to: receive first indication information and second indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern and the second indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the first communications pattern. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 43 / 117 34 / 45 area is used for the second communications pattern; or receive indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern, and that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern by default; or receive indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern, and that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern by default.
[00100] The communications device in the embodiment shown in Figure 10 can be used to implement the technical solutions of the previous method embodiments. Implementation principles and technical effects of the communications device are similar to those of the method embodiments, and the details are not described here again.
[00101] Figure 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communications device according to an embodiment of this application. The communications device is applied to a communications system supporting a first communications standard and a second communications standard. The first communications standard may be 4G and the second communications standard may be 5G. The communications system further includes a base station supporting connectivity to a core network of the first communications standard and a core network of the second communications standard. As shown in Figure 11, the communications device is located at the base station and includes: a first transmit unit 111, a receive unit 112, and a second transmit unit 113.The first 111 transmission unit is configured to broadcast a first area identity and a second area identity, where the first area identity is used to identify an area used, in the first communications pattern, for. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 44 / 117 35 / 45 location management for a terminal, and the second area identity is used to identify an area used, in the second communications pattern, for location management for a terminal. The receiving unit 112 is configured to: when a terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the first communications pattern, or when a terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications pattern and the second area identity does not belong to a current list of areas of the terminal, receive a first area update request sent by the terminal. The second sending unit 113 is configured to send the first area update request to the core network of the second communications pattern.
[00102] In Figure 11, the receiving unit 112 is further configured to receive a first indication information element sent by the terminal, where the first indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the terminal is initiated for the core network of the second communications standard and the second sending unit 113 is configured to send the first area update request to the core network of the second communications standard in accordance with the first indication information element.
[00103] In this mode, the receiving unit 112 is further configured to: when the terminal enters the cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard, receive a second area update request initiated by the terminal for the core network of the first communications standard, and the second sending unit 113 is further configured to send the second area update request to the core network of the first communications standard.
[00104] In this mode, the receiving unit 112 is Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 45 / 117 36 / 45 is still configured to receive a second indication information element sent by the terminal, where the second indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the terminal is initiated for the core network of the first communications standard, and the second sending unit 113 is configured to send the second area update request to the core network of the first communications standard according to the second indication information element.
[00105] In this modality, the format of the first area identity is different from that of the second area identity.
[00106] In this mode, the format of the first area identity is the same as that of the second area identity, and the first sending unit 111 is further configured to: send the first indication information and the second indication information to the terminal, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern and the second indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern; or send indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern, and that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern by default;or send indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern, and that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern by default.
[00107] The communications device in the mode shown in Figure 11 can be used to implement the technical solutions of the previous method modes. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, p. 46 / 117 37 / 45 The implementation principles and technical effects of the communications device are similar to those of the method modalities, and the details are not described here again.
[00108] It should be understood that the division of units in the terminal or base station is merely a division based on logical functions, and in a real implementation, all or some of the units may be integrated into a physical entity or may be physically separated from each other. All units may be implemented in a software form invoked using a processing element or may be implemented in a hardware form. Alternatively, some units may be implemented in a software form invoked using a processing element and some units may be implemented in a hardware form. For example, the receiving unit may be an independently arranged processing element or may be integrated, for example, a chip in the base station or the terminal for implementation.Alternatively, the receiving unit can be stored in the base station's or terminal's memory in the form of a program, where a processing element of the base station or terminal invokes the program to execute functions of the previous units. The implementation of other units is similar to this. Furthermore, all or some of these units can be integrated together or implemented independently. The processing element here can be an integrated circuit capable of signal processing. In an implementation process, the steps in the previous methods or previous units can be implemented using a hardware integrated logic circuit in the processing element, or using instructions in software form. Additionally, the previous receiving unit is a unit that controls the reception it can receive, through a receiving device, such as an antenna and a frequency device. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, p. 47 / 117 38 / 45 radio from the terminal or base station, information sent by a base station. The first transmitting unit is a transmission control unit that can send information to the terminal via a transmitting device, such as an antenna and a radio frequency device from the base station. The second transmitting unit is a transmission control unit that can send information to a core network via an interface between the base station and a core network device.
[00109] For example, the previous units can be configured as one or more integrated circuits to implement the previous method, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more microprocessors (Digital Signal Processors, DSPs), or one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Alternatively, when one of the previous units is implemented in the form of a program invoked by a processing element, the processing unit can be a general-purpose processor, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) or other processors that can invoke a program. Finally, these units can be integrated and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SoC).
[00110] Figure 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another terminal according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 12, the terminal includes a receiver 121, a transmitter 122, a processor 123, and a memory 124. The terminal is in a communications system supporting a first communications standard and a second communications standard. The first communications standard may be 4G and the second communications standard may be 5G. The communications system further includes a base station supporting Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 48 / 117 39 / 45 connectivity to a core network of the first communications standard and a core network of the second communications standard. Information transmission by the base station includes a first area identity, where the first area identity is used to identify an area used, in the first communications standard, for location management for a terminal. The terminal supports the first communications standard and the second communications standard. Receiver 121 is configured to receive the information broadcast by the base station. Processor 123 is configured to: when the terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the first communications standard, and the information broadcast by the base station includes a second area identity, initiate an area update to the core network of the second communications standard, where the second area identity is used to identify an area used,In the second communications standard, for location management for a terminal; or processor 123 is configured to: when the terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard, and the information broadcast by the base station includes a second area identity that does not belong to a current list of areas of the terminal, initiate an area update to the core network of the second communications standard, where the second area identity is used to identify an area used, in the second communications standard, for location management for a terminal.
[00111] In Figure 12, processor 123 is still configured to send a first indication information element to the base station, where the first indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by processor 123 is initiated for the core network of the second communications standard. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 49 / 117 40 / 45
[00112] In this mode, when the terminal enters the cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard, processor 123 is still configured to initiate an area update to the core network of the first communications standard.
[00113] In this mode, processor 123 is further configured to send a second indication information element to the base station, where the second indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by processor 123 is initiated for the core network of the first communications standard.
[00114] In this modality, the format of the first area identity is different from that of the second area identity.
[00115] In this mode, the format of the first area identity is the same as that of the second area identity, and receiver 121 is further configured to: receive first indication information and second indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern and the second indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern; or receive indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern, and that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern by default;or receive indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern, and that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern by default.
[00116] The terminal of the mode shown in Figure 12 can be used to execute the technical solutions of Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 50 / 117 41 / 45 previous method modalities. Implementation principles and technical effects of the terminal are similar to those of the method modalities, and details are not described again in this document.
[00117] Receiver 121 and transmitter 122 can be connected to an antenna. In a downlink direction, receiver 121 and transmitter 122 receive, through the antenna, information sent by the base station and send the information to processor 123 for processing. In an uplink direction, processor 123 processes the terminal data and sends the processed data to the base station through transmitter 122.
[00118] Memory 124 is configured to store a program to implement the previous method modes or the units in the mode shown in Figure 10. Processor 123 invokes the program to execute operations of the previous method modes, to implement the units shown in Figure 10.
[00119] Alternatively, some or all of the previous units may be incorporated into a terminal chip in the form of an integrated circuit for implementation. They may be implemented separately or may be integrated. To be more specific, the previous units may be configured as one or more integrated circuits to implement the previous method, for example, one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), one or more Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), or one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs).
[00120] Figure 13 is a schematic structural diagram of another base station according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 13, the base station includes a transmitter 131, a receiver 132, and a processor 133. The base station supports Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 51 / 117 42 / 45 connectivity with a core network of a first communications standard and a core network of a second communications standard. The first communications standard can be 4G and the second communications standard can be 5G. Transmitter 131 is configured to transmit a first area identity and a second area identity, where the first area identity is used to identify an area used, in the first communications standard, for location management for a terminal, and the second area identity is used to identify an area used, in the second communications standard, for location management for a terminal.Receiver 132 is configured to: when a terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the first communications standard, or when a terminal enters a cell served by the base station from a cell of the second communications standard and the second area identity does not belong to a current list of areas of the terminal, receive a first area update request sent by the terminal. Transmitter 131 is further configured to send the first area update request to a core network of the second communications standard.
[00121] In Figure 13, receiver 132 is further configured to receive a first indication information element sent by the terminal, where the first indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the terminal is initiated for the core network of the second communications standard, and transmitter 131 is configured to send the first area update request to the core network of the second communications standard in accordance with the first indication information element.
[00122] In this mode, receiver 132 is also configured for: when the terminal enters the cell served by the base station from a cell of the second standard of Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 52 / 117 43 / 45 communications, receive a second area update request initiated by the terminal to a core network of the first communications pattern, and transmitter 131 is still configured to send the second area update request to the core network of the first communications pattern.
[00123] In this mode, receiver 132 is further configured to receive a second indication information element sent by the terminal, where the second indication information element is used to indicate that the area update initiated by the terminal is initiated for the core network of the first communications standard, and transmitter 131 is configured to send the second area update request to the core network of the first communications standard in accordance with the second indication information element.
[00124] In this modality, the format of the first area identity is different from that of the second area identity.
[00125] In this mode, the format of the first area identity is the same as that of the second area identity, and transmitter 131 is further configured to: send the first indication information and the second indication information to the terminal, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern and the second indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern; or send indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate that the first area identity is used for the first communications pattern, and that the second area identity is used for the second communications pattern by default; or send indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second area identity is used for the Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 53 / 117 44 / 45 second communications standard, and that the first area code is used for the first communications standard by default.
[00126] The base station of the modality shown in Figure 13 can be used to execute the technical solutions of the previous method modalities. Implementation principles and technical effects of the base station are similar to those of the method modalities and the details are not described again here.
[00127] Processor 133 can alternatively be a controller and is illustrated as controller / processor 133 in Figure 13. Transmitter 131 and receiver 132 are configured to support transmission / reception of information between the base station and the terminal in the previous mode and support radio communication between the terminal and another terminal. Processor 133 performs several functions to communicate with the terminal. In uplink, an uplink signal from the terminal is received by an antenna, demodulated (e.g., a high-frequency signal is demodulated to a baseband signal) by receiver 132, and further processed by processor 133 to restore service data and signaling information that are sent by the terminal.In the downlink, service data and a signaling message are processed by processor 133 and modulated (for example, a baseband signal is modulated to a high-frequency signal) by transmitter 131 to generate a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is transmitted to the terminal via the antenna.
[00128] The base station may also include a memory 134. Memory 134 is configured to store the program code and data of the base station. The base station may also include a communications interface 135. The communications interface 135 is configured to support communication between the station Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 54 / 117 45 / 45 base and other network entities (e.g., a network device in the core network). For example, in an LTE system, communications interface 135 may be an S1-U interface configured to support communication between the base station and an SGW, or communications interface 135 may be an S1-MME interface configured to support communication between the base station and an MME.
[00129] Processor 133 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) and can be configured as one or more integrated circuits to implement the previous method, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
[00130] Memory 134 can be a memory, or it can be a general term for a plurality of storage elements.
[00131] The preceding descriptions are merely specific implementations of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any variation or substitution readily determined by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention will fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention will be subject to the scope of protection of the claims. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 55 / 117
Claims
1 / 5 CLAIMS 1. A communication method, applied to a communication system supporting a first communication standard and a second communication standard, wherein the communication system comprises a base station (12) supporting connectivity to a core network of the first communication standard and a core network of the second communication standard, characterized in that it comprises: receiving, by a terminal (14), the information broadcast by the base station (12) in a cell (120) served by the base station (12), wherein the information comprises a first area identity and a second area identity, wherein the first area identity is used to identify an area used for location management for a terminal in the first communication standard, and the second area identity is used to identify an area used for location management for a terminal in the second communication standard,and the format of the first area identity is different from the format of the second area identity; initiate, by terminal (14), a first area update for a core network of the second communications standard, sending a first area update request to base station (12), in the case that terminal (14) enters cell (120) served by base station (12) from a cell (110) served by another base station (11) of the second communications standard and when the second area identity in the information received by the terminal does not belong to a current area list of terminal (14), wherein the current area list is allocated by the core network of the second communications standard before the terminal enters cell (120) served by base station (12) and does not include the first area identity.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 56 / 117 2 / 5 sending, via terminal (14), a first indication information element to base station (12), wherein the first indication information element is used to indicate that the first area update initiated by terminal (14) is initiated for the core network of the second communications standard.
3. Method, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by further comprising: receiving, by terminal (14), a first list of areas sent by the core network of the second communications standard in response to the first area update, wherein the first list of areas comprises the second area identity; updating, by terminal (14), the current area list to the first area list.
4. Communication method, applied to a communications system supporting a first communications standard and a second communications standard, wherein the communications system comprises a base station supporting connectivity to a core network of the first communications standard and a core network of the second communications standard, characterized in that it comprises: broadcasting, by the base station (12), a first area identity and a second area identity, wherein the first area identity is used to identify an area used for location management for a terminal in the first communications standard, and the second area identity is used to identify an area used for location management for a terminal in the second communications standard, and a format of the first area identity is different from a format of the second area identity;to receive, by base station (12), a first area update request from terminal (14) in the case that a terminal (14) enters a cell (120) served by base station (12) from a cell (110) served by another base station (11) of the second communications standard and when the second area identity broadcast by base station (12) does not belong to a current area list of the terminal, wherein the current area list is allocated by the core network of the second communications standard before the terminal enters the cell (120) served by base station (12) and does not include the first area identity; and to send, by base station (12), the first area update request to the core network of the second communications standard.
5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises: receiving, by the base station (12), a first indication information element from the terminal (14), wherein the first indication information element is used to indicate that an area update initiated by the terminal (14) is initiated for the core network of the second communications standard; and the sending, by the base station (12), of the first area update request to the core network of the second communications standard comprises: sending, by the base station (12), the first area update request to the core network of the second communications standard in accordance with the first indication information element.
6. Communications device, applied to a terminal (14) in a communications system supporting a first communications standard and a second communications standard, wherein the communications system comprises a base station (12) supporting connectivity to a core network of the first communications standard and a core network of the second communications standard, and characterized in that it comprises: a receiving unit (101), configured to receive information broadcast by the base station (12) in a cell (120) served by the base station (12), wherein the information comprises a first area identity and a second area identity, wherein the first area identity is used to identify an area used for location management for a terminal in the first communications standard,and the second area identity is used to identify an area used for location management for a terminal in the second communications standard, and a format of the first area identity is different from a format of the second area identity; and a processing unit (102), configured to: in the case where the terminal (14) enters a cell (120) served by the base station (12) from a cell (110) served by another base station (11) of the second communications standard and when the second area identity in the information received by the terminal does not belong to a current area list of the terminal (14), initiate a first area update for the core network of the second communications standard, where the current area list is allocated by the core network of the second communications standard before the terminal enters the cell (120) served by the base station (12) and does not include the first area identity.
7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the processing unit (102) is further configured to send a first indication information element to the base station (12), wherein the first indication information element is used to indicate that the first area update initiated by the processing unit (102) is initiated for the core network of the second communications standard.
8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the processing unit (102) Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, page 59 / 117 5 / 5 is further configured to: initiate, in the case where the terminal (14) enters a cell (130) served by a base station (13) from cell (120) and when the first area identity in the information received by the terminal does not belong to the current area list of the terminal (14), a second area update to a core network of the first communications pattern.
9. Communications device, applied to a base station (12) and characterized in that it comprises all the means to perform all the steps of the method according to claim 4 or 5.
10. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, characterized in that when executed by a processor, the method is performed as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3.
11. Computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, characterized in that, when executed by a processor, the method is performed as defined in claim 4 or 5. Petition 870250050606, dated 06 / 17 / 2025, pp. 60 / 117