Method and communication device for transmitting a paging message

Abstract

The application provides a method and a communication device for transmitting a paging message. In the method, a first core network device can allocate a first group number to a first terminal device according to a first group number supported by the first core network device, the first terminal device can determine a second group number according to the first group number and a first correspondence relationship, the second group number being a group number related to a second group number supported by a first access network device, so that when the first terminal device receives first indication information from the first access network device, if a third group number is the same as the second group number, the first terminal device can receive a paging message from the first access network device. That is, only the terminal device with the same group number as the third group number receives the paging message, and the terminal device with the different group number from the third group number does not receive the paging message, so that the energy consumption of the terminal device which does not receive the paging message can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more specifically to methods and communication apparatus for transmitting paging messages in the field of communications. Background Technology

[0002] In some communication mechanisms, terminal devices can periodically wake up to receive paging messages, remaining in sleep mode at other times to conserve power. When an access network device or core network device needs to send downlink data to a terminal device, it sends a paging message. This message may include the identifier of the terminal device being paged. If the core network device wants to page a terminal device, it can send the paging message to the access network device, which then sends its own paging message. If multiple terminal devices exist, they all need to periodically wake up to receive paging messages. While the paging message targets a specific terminal device, multiple devices must wake up to receive it, resulting in significant power consumption. When a terminal device receives a paging message at its Point of Purchase (PO), if the identifier in the paging message matches the terminal device's identifier, the terminal device initiates a Radio Resource Control (RRC) establishment request. In other words, regardless of which terminal device is being paged by the access network device or the core network device, multiple terminal devices will have to wake up to receive the paging message. Only after receiving the paging message will they discover that the identifier included in the paging message is not their own terminal device's identifier, which will result in high power consumption for the terminal devices. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a method and communication apparatus for transmitting paging messages, which can reduce the power consumption of terminal devices.

[0004] In a first aspect, a method for transmitting paging messages is provided, the method being applicable to a first terminal device, the method comprising: determining a second group number based on a first correspondence and a first group number, wherein the first group number is a group number assigned to the first terminal device by a first core network device according to a first group number supported by the first core network device, and the second group number is a group number related to a second group number supported by a first access network device; receiving first indication information from the first access network device, the first indication information being used to instruct a terminal device with a third group number to receive a paging message; and receiving a paging message from the first access network device if the third group number is the same as the second group number.

[0005] In the above scheme, the first core network device can assign a first group number to the first terminal device based on a first group of numbers supported by the first core network device. The first terminal device can determine a second group number based on the first group number and a first correspondence. The second group number is a group number related to a second group of numbers supported by the first access network device. Thus, when the first terminal device receives the first indication information from the first access network device, if the third group number is the same as the second group number, the first terminal device can receive a paging message from the first access network device. That is, only terminal devices with group numbers that are the same as the third group number receive paging messages; terminal devices with group numbers that are different from the third group number do not receive paging messages. This reduces the energy consumption of terminal devices that do not receive paging messages.

[0006] Furthermore, the first terminal device can determine the second group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number. The first group number is the group number assigned to the terminal device by the first core network device according to the first group number supported by the first core network device. The second group number is the group number determined by the first terminal device that is related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. After the first terminal device receives the first indication information from the first access network device, the first indication information can instruct the terminal device with the third group number to receive the paging message. If the third group number is the same as the second group number, then the first terminal device can receive the paging message from the first access network device. That is, in the process of the first terminal device determining whether to receive the paging message based on the group number, it may not use the first group number assigned by the first core network device, but instead use the second group number determined based on the first group number and the first correspondence. The second group number can be a group number related to the second group number supported by the first access network device, or the second group number can be a group number that the first terminal device can be assigned according to the second group number supported by the first access network device. Even if the second set of numbers supported by the first access network device is different from the first set of numbers supported by the first core network device, the first access network device can still page the first terminal device, which can simplify system design, improve applicability, and help improve the success rate of paging.

[0007] The second group number, which is related to the second group number supported by the first access network device, can be understood as follows: the second group number can be a group number that can be assigned to the first terminal device according to the second group number supported by the first access network device. Alternatively, it can be understood as: the second group number is a group number that the first access network device can identify or indicate; if the first access network device assigns group numbers according to the second group number, then the group numbers that the first access network device can assign according to the second group number include the second group number.

[0008] Optionally, the first number of groups supported by the first core network device may be the maximum number of groups supported by the first core network device as specified in the protocol, or the first number of groups may be less than or equal to the maximum number of groups supported by the first core network device.

[0009] Optionally, the first access network device is the access network device of the first terminal device, and the first core network device is the core network device of the first terminal device, or the core network device corresponding to the first access network device.

[0010] In some possible implementations, determining the second group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number includes: determining the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number.

[0011] In the above scheme, the first terminal device can determine the second group number based on the first group number, the second group number, and the first correspondence. If the second group number and the third group number are the same, it indicates that the first terminal device needs to wake up to receive a paging message, thus avoiding the situation where the first access network device cannot paging the first terminal device if the number of groups supported by the first access network device and the first core network device is different.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between a first set of group numbers and at least one second set of group numbers. The first set of group numbers includes group numbers that the first core network device can allocate according to the first number of groups. The group numbers that the first core network device can allocate according to the first number of groups supported by the first core network device include the first group numbers. The at least one second set of group numbers corresponds one-to-one with at least one number of groups, and the at least one number of groups includes the second number of groups. Optionally, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between the group numbers included in the first set of group numbers and the group numbers included in the at least one second set of group numbers.

[0013] In some possible implementations, determining the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number includes: determining a second group number set from the at least one second group number set based on the second group number; and determining the second group number from the first group number set.

[0014] In the above scheme, since a set of group numbers corresponds to a set of group numbers, the first terminal device can determine a second set of group numbers based on the second set of group numbers, and determine the second group number in the second set of group numbers based on the first group number. That is to say, when there are multiple sets of second group numbers, the first terminal device can use the second set of group numbers to uniquely determine a set of second group numbers, so that the first terminal device can determine the second group number in the second set of group numbers.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between the group number corresponding to the first group number and the group number corresponding to the second group number. Determining the second group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number includes: determining the second group number corresponding to the first group number from the group numbers corresponding to the second group number.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the first correspondence is used to indicate the modulo operation between the group number that the core network device can allocate based on the number of groups supported by the core network device and the number of groups supported by the access network device.

[0017] The step of determining the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number includes: performing a modulo operation on the second group number using the first group number to obtain a remainder; and determining the second group number based on the remainder.

[0018] Optionally, determining the second group number based on the remainder includes: determining the second group number based on the remainder and P, where P is a positive integer. Alternatively, determining the second group number based on the remainder and P includes: adding P to the remainder to determine the second group number. For example, P = 1.

[0019] Optionally, the first correspondence used by the first terminal device to determine the second group number can be the same as the first correspondence used by the first access network device to determine the group number. That is, the first group number used by the first terminal device to determine the second group number and the first access network device to determine the third group number can be the same only if the first correspondence used by the first terminal device to determine the second group number and the first access network device to determine the third group number are the same.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the first correspondence is preset by the protocol, and the first terminal device stores the first correspondence.

[0021] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the first correspondence from the first core network device. Optionally, the first correspondence is determined by the first core network device.

[0022] Optionally, the first terminal device receives a NAS message from the first core network device, the NAS message including a first correspondence or including indication information for indicating the first correspondence.

[0023] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the first correspondence from the first access network device. Optionally, the first correspondence may be determined by the first access network device.

[0024] Optionally, the first terminal device receives a broadcast message from the first access network device, the broadcast message including a first correspondence or including indication information for indicating the first correspondence.

[0025] In some possible implementations, receiving the first indication information from the first access network device includes: receiving downlink control information from the first access network device, wherein the downlink control information includes the first indication information.

[0026] Optionally, receiving downlink control information from the first access network device may include: receiving downlink control information at the first PO of the first terminal device. Optionally, the first terminal device may calculate the first PO based on its first identifier. Optionally, the first identifier is an identifier assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device, meaning the first core network device can identify the first terminal device based on the first identifier.

[0027] In other words, the first terminal device can wake up at the first PO to receive downlink control information and obtain the first indication information in the downlink control information. Optionally, the downlink control information can also indicate the time-frequency resource location for sending paging messages. Thus, if the third group number is the same as the second group number determined by the first terminal device, the first terminal device receives the paging message at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information. If the third group number is different from the second group number determined by the first terminal device, the first terminal device does not receive the paging message and remains in sleep mode. That is, terminal devices with group numbers other than the third group number do not wake up or receive paging messages at the time-frequency location indicated by the downlink control information, while terminal devices with group numbers of the third group number wake up and receive paging messages at the time-frequency location indicated by the downlink control information, which can save some of the terminal device's energy consumption.

[0028] In some possible implementations, receiving the first indication information from the first access network device includes: receiving second indication information from the first access network device, the second indication information including the first indication information, and the second indication information being used by the first terminal device to determine whether to receive downlink control information at the paging time.

[0029] Optionally, the first terminal device may receive the second instruction information before the first PO.

[0030] Optionally, the first terminal device may receive the second indication information at a preset location. Optionally, before the first PO, the first terminal device receives the second indication information at the preset location. That is, the first terminal device may wake up at the preset location specified in the protocol to receive the second indication information, and determine whether to receive downlink control information based on the second indication information.

[0031] Optionally, the second indication information may be WUS or PEI.

[0032] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the second set of numbers from the first access network device.

[0033] Optionally, obtaining the second set of numbers from the first access network device includes: receiving the second set of numbers from the first access network device or receiving indication information from the first access network device for indicating the second set of numbers.

[0034] Optionally, the first terminal device may receive a broadcast message from the first access network device, the broadcast message including a second set of numbers or including indication information for indicating the second set of numbers.

[0035] Optionally, if the first terminal device learns the second set of numbers and the first correspondence from the first access network device, the first terminal device can learn the second set of numbers and the first correspondence from the first access network device through the same message, for example, through the same broadcast message.

[0036] Optionally, the first core network device can indicate to the first terminal device the first group number supported by the first core network device. The first terminal device determines whether the first group number is the same as the second group number. Optionally, the first terminal device determines the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number, including: Optionally, if the first group number is different from the second group number, the first terminal device determines the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number. For example, when the first group number is greater than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. Or, for example, when the first group number is less than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. That is, the first terminal device determines the second group number only when the first group number is different from the second group number. If the first group number is the same as the second group number, the first terminal device may not determine the second group number, or it may determine the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number, and the determined second group number may be the same as the first group number.

[0037] In some possible implementations, determining the second group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number includes: if the first group number is not equal to the second group number, determining the second group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number. For example, when the first group number is greater than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. Or, for example, when the first group number is less than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. That is, the first terminal device determines the second group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number only when the first group number and the second group number are different. If the first group number and the second group number are the same, the first terminal device may not determine the second group number, or it may determine the second group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number, and the determined second group number may be the same as the first group number.

[0038] Secondly, a method for transmitting paging messages is provided, the method being applicable to a first access network device, comprising:

[0039] Based on the first correspondence and the first group number, the third group number is determined. The first group number is the group number assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device according to the first group number supported by the first core network device. The third group number is the group number related to the second group number supported by the first access network device.

[0040] Send a first instruction message, which is used to instruct the terminal device of the third group number to receive the paging message;

[0041] Send a paging message.

[0042] In the above scheme, the first core network device can assign a first group number to the first terminal device based on a first group of numbers supported by the first core network device. The first access network device can determine a third group number based on the first group number and a first correspondence. The third group number is a group number related to a second group of numbers supported by the first access network device. Thus, after the first terminal device receives the first indication information from the first access network device, the first access network device can send a paging message. If the second group number determined by the first terminal device is the same as the third group number, the first terminal device can receive the paging message from the first access network device. In other words, only terminal devices with the same group number as the third group number receive the paging message; terminal devices with different group numbers do not receive the paging message. This reduces the energy consumption of terminal devices that do not receive paging messages.

[0043] Furthermore, the first access network device can determine the third group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number. The first group number is the group number assigned to the terminal device by the first core network device according to the first group number supported by the first core network device. The third group number is the group number determined by the first access network device and related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. After the first terminal device receives the first indication information from the first access network device, the first indication information can instruct the terminal device with the third group number to receive the paging message. The first access network device can send the paging message. If the third group number is the same as the second group number determined by the first terminal device, then the first terminal device can receive the paging message from the first access network device. That is, in the process of determining the group number of the terminal device receiving the paging message, the first access network device may not use the first group number assigned by the first core network device, but instead use the third group number determined according to the first group number and the first correspondence, and determine the terminal device with the third group number to receive the paging message. The third group number can be a group number related to the second group number supported by the first access network device, or the third group number can be a group number that the first terminal device can be assigned according to the second group number supported by the first access network device. Even if the second set of numbers supported by the first access network device is different from the first set of numbers supported by the first core network device, the first access network device can still page the first terminal device, which can simplify system design, improve applicability, and help improve the success rate of paging.

[0044] The third group number, which is related to the second group number supported by the first access network device, can be understood as follows: the third group number can be a group number that can be assigned to the first terminal device according to the second group number supported by the first access network device. Alternatively, it can be understood as: the third group number is a group number that the first access network device can identify or indicate; if the first access network device assigns group numbers according to the second group number, then the group numbers that the first access network device can assign according to the second group number include the third group number.

[0045] Optionally, the first number of groups supported by the first core network device may be the maximum number of groups supported by the first core network device as specified in the protocol, or the first number of groups may be less than or equal to the maximum number of groups supported by the first core network device.

[0046] Optionally, the first access network device is the access network device of the first terminal device, and the first core network device is the core network device of the first terminal device, or the core network device corresponding to the first access network device.

[0047] Optionally, sending a paging message includes sending a paging message at a first paging time corresponding to the first terminal device.

[0048] In some possible implementations, determining the third group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number includes: determining the third group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number.

[0049] In the above scheme, the first access network device can determine the third group number based on the first group number, the second group number, and the first correspondence. If the third group number indicated by the first indication information is the same as the second group number determined by the first terminal device, it means that the first terminal device needs to wake up to receive the paging message, thus avoiding the situation where the first access network device cannot paging the first terminal device if the number of groups supported by the first access network device and the first core network device is different.

[0050] In some possible implementations, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between a first set of group numbers and at least one second set of group numbers. The first set of group numbers includes group numbers that the first core network device can allocate according to the first number of groups. The group numbers that the first core network device can allocate according to the first number of groups supported by the first core network device include the first group numbers. The at least one second set of group numbers corresponds one-to-one with at least one number of groups, and the at least one number of groups includes the second number of groups. Optionally, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between the group numbers included in the first set of group numbers and the group numbers included in the at least one second set of group numbers.

[0051] In some possible implementations, determining the third group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number includes:

[0052] A second set of numbers is determined from the at least one set of second set numbers based on the second set of numbers;

[0053] The third group number is determined from the second group number set based on the first group number.

[0054] In the above scheme, since a second group number corresponds to a group number, the first access network device can determine the first second group number set based on the second group number, and determine the third group number in the second group number set based on the first group number. That is to say, when there are multiple second group number sets, the first access network device can use the second group number to uniquely determine a second group number set, and thus the first access network device can determine the second group number in the second group number set.

[0055] In some possible implementations, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between the group number corresponding to the first group number and the group number corresponding to the second group number. Determining the third group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number includes: determining the third group number corresponding to the first group number from the group numbers corresponding to the second group number.

[0056] In some possible implementations, the first correspondence is used to indicate the modulo operation between the group number that the core network device can allocate based on the number of groups supported by the core network device and the number of groups supported by the access network device.

[0057] The step of determining the third group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number includes:

[0058] The remainder is obtained by performing a modulo operation on the second group of numbers using the first group of numbers.

[0059] The third group number is determined based on the remainder.

[0060] Optionally, determining the third group number based on the remainder includes: determining the third group number based on the remainder and P, where P is a positive integer. Alternatively, determining the third group number based on the remainder and P includes: adding P to the remainder to determine the third group number. For example, P = 1.

[0061] In some possible implementations, the first correspondence is preset by the protocol, and the first correspondence is stored in the first access network device.

[0062] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: generating the first correspondence; indicating the first correspondence to the first terminal device.

[0063] Optionally, indicating the first correspondence to the first terminal device includes: sending indication information for indicating the first correspondence to the first terminal device, or directly sending the first correspondence to the first terminal device.

[0064] Optionally, indicating the first correspondence to the first terminal device includes: sending a broadcast message, the broadcast message being used to indicate the first correspondence.

[0065] In some possible implementations, generating the first correspondence includes: obtaining the packet policy from the first core network device; and generating the first correspondence according to the packet policy.

[0066] Optionally, the grouping strategy can be used by the first access network device to group devices. Optionally, the grouping strategy can indicate the relationship between the characteristic information of the terminal device and the group number size. For example, the grouping strategy can indicate the relationship between paging probability and group number size as follows: groups with low paging probability have small group numbers, and groups with high paging probability have large group numbers. As another example, the grouping strategy can indicate the relationship between RRC status and group number size as follows: terminal devices in the RRC idle state have relatively small group numbers, and terminal devices in the RRC inactive state have relatively large group numbers. Yet another example, the grouping strategy can indicate the relationship between power sensitivity and group number size as follows: terminal devices with higher power sensitivity have smaller group numbers, and terminal devices with lower power sensitivity have larger group numbers.

[0067] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the first correspondence from the first core network device. Optionally, the first correspondence is determined by the first core network device.

[0068] In some possible implementations, sending the first indication information includes sending downlink control information, wherein the downlink control information includes the first indication information.

[0069] Optionally, sending downlink control information may include: sending downlink control information to the first PO of the first terminal device. Optionally, the first access network device may calculate the first PO based on the first identifier of the first terminal device. Optionally, the first identifier is an identifier assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device, that is, the first core network device can identify the first terminal device based on the first identifier.

[0070] In other words, the first access network device sends downlink control information to the first point of sale (PO) of the first terminal device. The first terminal device can wake up at the first PO to receive the downlink control information and obtain the first indication information in the downlink control information. Optionally, the downlink control information can also indicate the time-frequency resource location for sending paging messages. Thus, if the third group number is the same as the second group number determined by the first terminal device, the first terminal device receives the paging message at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information. If the third group number is different from the second group number determined by the first terminal device, the first terminal device does not receive the paging message and remains in sleep mode. Even if the first PO of the first terminal device arrives, it will not wake up and will remain in hibernation mode. That is, terminal devices with group numbers other than the third group number do not receive paging messages at the time-frequency location indicated by the downlink control information, while terminal devices with group numbers of the third group number do receive paging messages at the time-frequency location indicated by the downlink control information, which can save some terminal device power consumption.

[0071] In some possible implementations, sending the first indication information includes sending a second indication information, the second indication information including the first indication information, the second indication information being used by the first terminal device to determine whether to receive downlink control information at the first paging time.

[0072] Optionally, the first access network device may send a second instruction message before the first PO.

[0073] Optionally, the first access network device may send the second indication information at a preset location. Alternatively, the first access network device may send the second indication information at a preset location before the first PO. That is, the first terminal device may wake up at the preset location specified in the protocol to receive the second indication information and determine whether to receive downlink control information based on the second indication information.

[0074] Optionally, the second indication information may be WUS or PEI.

[0075] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: indicating the second set of numbers to the first terminal device.

[0076] Optionally, instructing the first terminal device to indicate the second set of numbers includes: sending the second set of numbers or sending indication information including the second set of numbers.

[0077] Optionally, the first access network device sends a broadcast message, which includes a second set of numbers or includes indication information for indicating the second set of numbers.

[0078] Optionally, if the first access network device indicates the second set of numbers and the first correspondence to the first terminal device, the first access network device can indicate the second set of numbers and the first correspondence to the first terminal device through the same message, for example, through the same broadcast message.

[0079] Optionally, the first core network device may indicate to the first access network device the first group number supported by the first core network device. The first terminal device determines whether the first group number is the same as the second group number. Optionally, the first access network device determines the third group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number, including: if the first group number is different from the second group number, the first access network device determines the third group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number. For example, when the first group number is greater than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. Or, for example, when the first group number is less than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. That is, the first access network device determines the third group number only when the first group number is different from the second group number. If the first group number is the same as the second group number, the first access network device may not determine the third group number, or it may determine the third group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number, and the determined third group number may be the same as the first group number.

[0080] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the first group number from the first core network device; wherein, determining the third group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number includes: if the second group number is different from the first group number, determining the third group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number. For example, when the first group number is greater than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. Or, for example, when the first group number is less than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. That is, the first access network device determines the third group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number only when the first group number is different from the second group number. If the first group number is the same as the second group number, the first access network device may not determine the third group number, or it may determine the third group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number, and the determined third group number may be the same as the first group number.

[0081] Thirdly, a method for transmitting paging messages is provided, the method being applicable to a first core network device, comprising: indicating a first group number to a first terminal device, the first group number being a group number assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device according to a first group number supported by the first core network device, the first group number being used by the first terminal device to determine a second group number, the second group number being a group number related to a second group number supported by a first access network device;

[0082] The first access network device is instructed with a fourth group number, which is used by the first access network device to determine a third group number. The third group number is a group number related to the second group number. If the second group number is the same as the third group number, the first terminal device is the terminal device that receives the paging message.

[0083] In the above scheme, the first core network device can indicate a first group number to the first terminal device, and the first core network device can also indicate a fourth group number to the first access network device. The first terminal device can determine a second group number based on the first group number, and the first access network device can determine a third group number based on the fourth group number. If the third group number is equal to the second group number, the first terminal device can be a terminal device receiving paging messages. If the third group number is not equal to the second group number, the first terminal device will not receive paging messages, thus saving power consumption.

[0084] Furthermore, the first terminal device can determine the second group number based on the first group number. The first group number is the group number assigned to the terminal device by the first core network device according to the first group number supported by the first core network device. The second group number is the group number determined by the first terminal device and related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. The third group number is the group number determined by the first access network device and related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. If the third group number is the same as the second group number, the first terminal device can receive the paging message from the first access network device. That is, in the process of the first terminal device determining whether to receive the paging message based on the group number, it can choose not to use the first group number assigned by the first core network device, but instead use the second group number determined based on the first group number. In the process of the first access network device determining the group number of the terminal device receiving the paging message, the fourth group number is the group number of the terminal device to be paged by the first core network device. It can choose not to use the fourth group number, but instead use the third group number determined based on the fourth group number, and determine the terminal device with the third group number to receive the paging message. Even if the second set of numbers supported by the first access network device is different from the first set of numbers supported by the first core network device, the first access network device can still page the first terminal device, which can simplify system design, improve applicability, and help improve the success rate of paging.

[0085] Optionally, the first number of groups supported by the first core network device may be the maximum number of groups supported by the first core network device as specified in the protocol, or the first number of groups may be less than or equal to the maximum number of groups supported by the first core network device.

[0086] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: obtaining a second set of numbers supported by the first access network device from the first access network device. The second set of numbers is used to determine a first correspondence. Optionally, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between the group number corresponding to the first set of numbers and the group number corresponding to the second set of numbers.

[0087] In some possible implementations, the method includes: determining a first correspondence; indicating the first correspondence to the first access network device and the first terminal device.

[0088] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: indicating a packet policy to the first access network device, the packet policy being used to determine a first correspondence.

[0089] In some possible implementations, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between a first set of group numbers and at least one set of second group numbers. The first set of group numbers includes group numbers that the first core network device can allocate according to the first group number. The group numbers that the first core network device can allocate according to the first group number supported by the first core network device include the first group number and the fourth group number. The at least one set of second group numbers corresponds one-to-one with at least one group number. The at least one group number includes the second group number.

[0090] In some possible implementations, the first correspondence is used to indicate the modulo operation between the group number that the core network device can allocate based on the number of groups supported by the core network device and the number of groups supported by the access network device.

[0091] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the first core network device dividing the terminal devices into groups of a first number based on the characteristic information of each terminal device. Optionally, the characteristic information of each terminal device may include at least one of the following: the RRC status of each terminal device, the paging probability of each terminal device, or the power consumption sensitivity of each terminal device. The first core network device may divide the terminal devices into groups of the first number based on at least one of the following: the RRC status of each terminal device, the paging probability of each terminal device, or the power consumption sensitivity of each terminal device.

[0092] Fourthly, a communication device is provided for transmitting paging messages. The communication device is configured to execute the method in any possible implementation of the first aspect, or the method in any possible implementation of the second aspect, or the method in any possible implementation of the third aspect, or other methods described in the embodiments of this application. Optionally, the communication device may include units of the methods described in any embodiment of this application. Optionally, the communication device may include a processing unit and a transceiver unit. The transceiver unit can communicate with external systems, and the processing unit is used for data processing. The transceiver unit may also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit.

[0093] The communication device can be used to perform the actions performed by the first terminal device in any possible implementation of the first aspect. In this case, the communication device can be referred to as the first terminal device. The transceiver unit is used to perform the transceiver-related operations on the first terminal device side in any possible implementation of the first aspect, and the processing unit is used to perform the processing-related operations on the first terminal device side in any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0094] The communication device can be used to perform the actions performed by the first access network device in any possible implementation of the second aspect. In this case, the communication device can be referred to as the first access network device. The transceiver unit is used to perform the transceiver-related operations on the first access network device side in any possible implementation of the second aspect, and the processing unit is used to perform the processing-related operations on the first access network device side in any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0095] The communication device can be used to perform the actions performed by the first core network device in any possible implementation of the third aspect. In this case, the communication device can be referred to as the first core network device. The transceiver unit is used to perform the transceiver-related operations on the first core network device side in any possible implementation of the third aspect, and the processing unit is used to perform the processing-related operations on the first core network device side in any possible implementation of the third aspect.

[0096] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a memory, the processor being coupled to the memory, the memory being used to store computer programs or instructions, and the processor being used to execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory, such that the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof is executed, or the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof is executed, or the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation thereof is executed, or the method described in other embodiments of this application is executed.

[0097] For example, the processor is used to execute computer programs or instructions stored in memory, causing the communication device to perform the methods in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0098] Optionally, the device may include one or more processors.

[0099] Optionally, the device may also include a memory coupled to the processor.

[0100] Optionally, the device may include one or more memories.

[0101] Alternatively, the memory can be integrated with the processor or set up separately.

[0102] Optionally, the device may also include a transceiver.

[0103] A sixth aspect provides a communication system comprising at least two of the following communication devices: a communication device for performing the method in any possible implementation of the first aspect, a communication device for performing the method in any possible implementation of the second aspect, or a communication device for performing the method in any possible implementation of the third aspect; or, the communication system comprises at least two of the following communication devices: a communication device for performing the method in any possible implementation of the first aspect, a communication device for performing the method in any possible implementation of the second aspect, or a communication device for performing the method in any possible implementation of the third aspect.

[0104] In a seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided having a computer program (also referred to as instructions or code) for implementing the methods of the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0105] For example, when the computer program is executed by a computer, it enables the computer to perform the methods of the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof. The computer may be a communication device.

[0106] For example, when the computer program is executed by a computer, it enables the computer to perform the methods of the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof. The computer may be a communication device.

[0107] For example, when the computer program is executed by a computer, it enables the computer to perform the methods of the third aspect or any possible implementation thereof. The computer may be a communication device.

[0108] Eighthly, this application provides a chip including a processor. The processor is configured to read and execute a computer program stored in a memory to perform the methods of the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or to perform the methods of the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or to perform the methods of the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or to perform the methods described in other embodiments of this application.

[0109] Optionally, the chip further includes a memory, which is connected to the processor via a circuit or wire.

[0110] Ninthly, this application provides a computer program product comprising a computer program (also referred to as instructions or code), wherein when executed by a computer, the computer program causes the computer to implement the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or, when executed by a computer, the computer program causes the computer to implement the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or, when executed by a computer, the computer program causes the computer to implement the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or, when executed by a computer, the computer program causes the computer to implement the method of any embodiment of this application.

[0111] In a tenth aspect, this application provides a communication device comprising units for implementing the method described in any embodiment of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0112] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system architecture of an embodiment of this application.

[0113] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of PO and grouping provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0114] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a method for transmitting paging messages provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0115] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another method for transmitting paging messages provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0116] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another method for transmitting paging messages provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0117] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another method for transmitting paging messages provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0118] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0119] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0120] The technical solutions of this application embodiment can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, future 5th generation (5G) systems, or new radio (NR), etc.

[0121] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a system architecture applied to an embodiment of this application is shown. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the system includes: terminal device 110, access network device 120 and core network device 130.

[0122] Terminal equipment 110 is also known as user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device, etc.

[0123] Terminal device 110 can be a device that provides voice / data connectivity to users, such as a handheld device or vehicle-mounted device with wireless connectivity. Currently, examples of terminal devices include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving vehicles, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks, or future public land mobile communication networks. This application does not limit the scope to terminal devices in a network (PLMN). For example, terminal device 110 is used to receive paging messages from incoming access network device 120.

[0124] Access network device 120, also known as radio access network (RAN) or wireless access network equipment, can be a transmission reception point (TRP), an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, a home base station (e.g., home evolved NodeB or home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU), a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or a relay station, access point, vehicle-mounted equipment, wearable device, network equipment in a 5G network, or a network equipment in a future evolved PLMN network. It can also be an access point (AP) in a WLAN, or a gNB in ​​an NR system. Furthermore, access network device 120 can be a city base station, micro base station, pico base station, femtobase station, etc., and this application does not limit its scope. For example, the access network device is used to send paging messages.

[0125] In one network architecture, the access network device 120 may include a centralized unit (CU) node, a distributed unit (DU) node, a radio access network (RAN) device including CU nodes and DU nodes, or a device including control plane CU nodes (CU-CP nodes), user plane CU nodes (CU-UP nodes), and DU nodes.

[0126] Core network device 130 is used to manage one or more access network devices 120. For example, core network device 130 is used to send information to access network devices 120 for the access network devices to send paging messages, such as the identifier and group number of terminal device 110. For example, core network device 130 may include at least one of core access and mobility management function (AMF), user plane function (UPF) network elements, session management function (SMF) network elements, data network (DN), unified data repository (UDR), or unified data management (UDM).

[0127] In some communication mechanisms, terminal device 110 can periodically wake up to receive paging messages during paging occasions (PO) and remain in sleep mode at other times to save power consumption. The PO of terminal device 110 can be calculated based on its identifier. Specifically, during its own paging occasion, terminal device 110 first receives downlink control information (DCI) indicating the paging message. This DCI is scrambled with the paging radio network temporary identifier (P-RNTI) and indicates the time-frequency resource location for paging message transmission. The DCI is transmitted on the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the paging message is transmitted on the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). If the DCI indicates the time-frequency resource location for paging message transmission, terminal device 110 further receives the paging message. When access network device 120 or core network device 130 needs to send downlink data to terminal device 110, access network device 120 or core network device 130 will send a paging message at the PO corresponding to terminal device 110. The paging message may include the identifier of terminal device 110. If core network device 130 wants to page terminal device 110, core network device 130 can send the paging message to access network device 120, and access network device 120 will send the paging message. If access network device 120 wants to page terminal device 110, access network device 120 can send the paging message to terminal device 110. If there are multiple terminal devices within the coverage area of ​​access network device 120, the multiple terminal devices will wake up to receive the paging message at their respective paging occasions (POs). The multiple terminal devices will remain in sleep mode outside their respective POs.The paging cycle (PO) is periodic. Access network device 120 broadcasts a cell-wide common paging cycle value, called the default paging cycle. Terminal device 110 has its own specific paging cycle value, called the UE-specific paging cycle. The actual paging cycle value used by the terminal device can be the smaller of the default paging cycle and the UE-specific paging cycle. Paging cycle values ​​defined in existing standards (e.g., default paging cycle or UE-specific paging cycle) include 0.32s, 0.64s, 1.28s, and 2.56s. Because the access network device sends paging messages on the PO of the terminal device 110 to be paging, some terminal devices may have the same PO as the terminal device 110 to be paging. Therefore, these terminal devices may all receive the paging message on the PO of terminal device 110. When terminal device 110 receives a paging message at its PO, if the identifier included in the paging message is the identifier of terminal device 110, then terminal device 110 initiates a radio resource control (RRC) establishment request. In other words, regardless of which terminal device is being paged by access network device 120 or core network device 130, all terminal devices within the coverage area of ​​the access network device corresponding to that PO must wake up to receive the paging message. Only after receiving the paging message do they discover that the identifier included in the paging message is not their own identifier, which leads to relatively high power consumption for the terminal devices.

[0128] To save power consumption of terminal devices, in one possible implementation, the core network device can group multiple terminal devices corresponding to a single Page Point (PO), with at least two terminal devices per group, resulting in multiple groups. Each group of terminal devices corresponds to a group number, and multiple groups correspond to multiple group numbers. The core network device can notify each terminal device of its group number. When the core network device 130 needs to page terminal device 110, it needs to send the group number and identifier of terminal device 110 to the access network device 120. The access network device 120 calculates the PO of terminal device 110 based on its identifier. In another possible implementation, the access network device can send a wake-up signal (WUS) at an offset position before the PO of terminal device 110. The WUS indicates whether a group of terminal devices in that PO receives downlink control information, or it indicates whether a group of terminal devices in a specific PO receives downlink control information. The received downlink control information can be downlink control information scrambled with a temporary paging radio network identifier. WUS, also known as Paging Early Indication (PEI), is sent from a location specified by the protocol. Each terminal device can wake up at the WUS location to receive it. Based on whether a specific group of terminal devices on a particular PO (Point of Purchase) indicated by the WUS needs to receive downlink control information, each terminal device determines whether the terminal devices in the group indicated by the WUS need to wake up on the PO to receive downlink control information. Terminal devices in groups not indicated by the WUS remain in sleep mode and do not wake up on the PO. For example, ... Figure 2 As shown, access network device 120 can send a PEI at an offset before PO1. The PEI contains fields or bits indicating whether the terminal device in a subsequent PO packet has received a paging message. For example, the PEI may include 12 bits or 16 bits of fields or bits. For example, a 12-bit field or bit may be associated with... Figure 2 The three product points shown are PO1, PO2, and PO3. Each PO supports four groups. Figure 2Only four packets supported by PO3 are shown: Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4. For example, the 12 bits are 0000 0000 0100, where the first four 0000s indicate that the four groups supported by PO1 do not receive paging messages, the middle four 0000s indicate that the four groups supported by PO2 do not receive paging messages, and the last four 0100s indicate that the terminal devices in Group 2 supported by PO3 receive paging messages. Alternatively, the 12 bits can be associated with two POs, each supporting six packets. Optionally, the number of POs associated with PEI and the number of packets in each PO can be configured by the network device or predefined by the protocol. Terminal device 110 can calculate the PO based on its identifier and receive the PEI one offset before the PO. Based on a specific group in a PO indicated by the PEI, terminal device 110 determines whether the PO indicated by the PEI is the PO calculated by terminal device 110. If the PO indicated by the PEI is the PO calculated by terminal device 110 based on its identifier, terminal device 110 further determines whether the group number in the PO indicated by the PEI is the group number assigned to terminal device 110 by core network device 130. If so, terminal device 110 wakes up at the PO to receive downlink control information, and all terminal devices in the same group as terminal device 110 wake up at the PO to receive downlink control information. All terminal devices in the same group as terminal device 110 receive paging messages at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information. If the paging message includes the identifier of terminal device 110, terminal device 110 initiates an RRC establishment request message. If the PO indicated by the PEI is not the PO calculated by the terminal device 110, the terminal device continues to sleep and does not receive downlink control information on the PO. Alternatively, if the PO indicated by the PEI is the PO calculated by the terminal device 110, but the group number of the PO indicated by the PEI is not the group number to which the terminal device 110 belongs, the terminal device 110 continues to sleep, does not wake up on the PO, and does not receive downlink control information on the PO. In the second possible implementation, the access network device 120 can send downlink control information at the PO of the terminal device 110. The downlink control information is used to indicate the group number of the paged terminal device and the time-frequency resource location for sending the paging message. All terminal devices corresponding to the PO of the terminal device 110 can wake up to receive the downlink control information. Each terminal device determines whether it needs to receive the paging message based on the group number indicated by the downlink control information. If the group number indicated by the downlink control information is consistent with the group number of some terminal devices, then these terminal devices need to receive the paging message at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information, and then determine whether they are paged based on the identifier of the terminal device in the paging message.For example, if terminal device 110 belongs to group number 4, and access network device 120 wants to page terminal device 110, access network device 120 calculates the PO of terminal device 110 as PO4 based on the identifier of terminal device 110. Access network device 120 sends downlink control information on PO4. The downlink control information indicates group number 4 and the time-frequency resource location for sending the paging message. After receiving the downlink control information, terminal devices 110, 140, and 150 determine that the group number 4 indicated by the downlink control information is the same as the group number of terminal device 110. Therefore, terminal device 110 receives the paging message at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information. If the group number of terminal device 140 is the same as that of terminal device 110 (both are 4), then terminal device 140 receives the paging message at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information. If the group number of terminal device 150 is not 4, then terminal device 150 does not receive the paging message at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information.

[0129] In both implementations described above, the access network device 120 can send a group number indicating the terminal device to be paged before sending the paging message. In the first possible implementation, the terminal device in the group corresponding to that group number wakes up at the PO to receive downlink control information, while the terminal devices in other groups remain in sleep mode, thus saving power consumption for the terminal devices in other groups. In the second possible implementation, the terminal devices in each group corresponding to the PO wake up at the PO to receive downlink control information. The terminal devices in the group corresponding to the group number of the terminal device to be paged receive the paging message at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information, while the terminal devices in other groups return to sleep mode and no longer receive paging messages, thus saving power consumption for the terminal devices in other groups. However, the number of packet groups supported by the access network equipment and the core network equipment may differ. For example, the core network equipment might support 8 packet groups, while the access network equipment supports 4. If the core network equipment assigns a packet number of 6 to a terminal device, and sends packet number 6 to the access network equipment, the access network equipment cannot indicate packet number 6, preventing it from sending the packet number indicating the terminal device to be paged before sending the paging message. Therefore, the access network equipment must support the same number of packet groups as the core network equipment. This places high demands on the access network equipment, especially for different manufacturers or versions, requiring the access network equipment to design the same number of packet groups supported by the core network equipment, further increasing the design complexity.

[0130] For ease of description, the device numbers will be omitted below. For example, the first terminal device below could be... Figure 1 Terminal device 110 in the middle, the first access network device can be Figure 1 The access network device 120 and the first core network device can be... Figure 1 The core network equipment is 130.

[0131] In this embodiment, the first terminal device can determine the second group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number. The first group number is the group number assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device according to the first group number supported by the first core network device. The second group number is the group number determined by the first terminal device that is related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. After the first terminal device receives the first indication information from the first access network device, the first indication information can instruct the terminal device with the third group number to receive the paging message. If the third group number is the same as the second group number, then the first terminal device needs to receive the paging message from the first access network device. That is, in the process of the first terminal device determining whether to receive the paging message based on the group number, it may not use the first group number assigned by the first core network device, but instead use the second group number determined based on the first group number and the first correspondence. The second group number may be a group number related to the second group number supported by the first access network device, or the second group number may be a group number that the first terminal device can be assigned according to the second group number supported by the first access network device. Even if the second group number supported by the first access network device is different from the first group number supported by the first core network device, for example, if the second group number supported by the first access network device is less than the first group number supported by the first core network device, the first access network device can still indicate the group number of the first terminal device. This allows for more flexible deployment of access network devices. Even if the number of groups supported by the access network device is different from the number of groups supported by the core network device, the terminal device can still be paged. This simplifies system design, improves applicability, and helps to increase the success rate of paging.

[0132] The method 300 for transmitting paging messages provided in this application, with reference to the accompanying drawings, is described below. Method 300 includes:

[0133] S301, the first core network device groups multiple terminal devices according to the first group number supported by the first core network device.

[0134] Optionally, prior to S301, method 300 further includes: the first core network device calculating the PO of each terminal device in the first terminal device set based on the identifier of each terminal device in the first terminal device set. For example, the first core network device can determine the PO of each terminal device by substituting the identifier of each terminal device into a preset formula. At least some terminal devices in the first terminal device set may have the same PO, or some terminal devices in the first terminal device set may have different POs. For example, the first terminal device set includes a first terminal device, and the PO of the first terminal device can be called the first PO. The first PO can correspond to multiple terminal devices in the first terminal device set. In S301, the first core network device can group the multiple terminal devices corresponding to the first PO. That is, the multiple terminal devices in S301 are the terminal devices corresponding to the first PO. In other words, the first core network device can group the multiple terminal devices corresponding to a PO. If there are multiple POs, the first core network device can group the multiple terminal devices corresponding to each PO separately.

[0135] Optionally, S301 includes: the first core network device grouping the terminal devices according to a pattern based on the characteristic information of each terminal device. For example, the characteristic information of each terminal device may be the RRC status of each terminal device. The first core network device groups terminal devices with the same RRC status into one group, such as grouping terminal devices in the RRC idle state into one group and terminal devices in the RRC inactive state into another group. Among them, the group number of the terminal devices in the RRC idle state is relatively small, and the group number of the terminal devices in the RRC inactive state is relatively large.

[0136] Optionally, before S301, method 300 further includes: each terminal device sending its characteristic information to the first core network device. S301 includes: the first core network device grouping the terminal devices according to the characteristic information of each terminal device. For example, the characteristic information of each terminal device may be the paging probability of each terminal device; terminal devices with similar paging probabilities can be grouped together, with smaller group numbers for terminal devices with lower paging probabilities and larger group numbers for terminal devices with higher paging probabilities. For example, the characteristic information of each terminal device may be the power consumption sensitivity of each terminal device; terminal devices with similar sensitivity can be grouped together, with smaller group numbers for terminal devices that are more power-sensitive and larger group numbers for terminal devices that are less power-sensitive. For example, the characteristic information of each terminal device may include at least two of the following: the RRC status of each terminal device, the paging probability of each terminal device, or the power consumption sensitivity of each terminal device; the first core network device may group the terminal devices by combining at least two of these factors. In other words, when the first core network equipment groups various terminal devices, it adopts certain rules. For example, the rule is that terminal devices with similar characteristics are grouped with adjacent group numbers. If several groups of terminal devices with adjacent group numbers are merged into one group, the merged terminal devices will also have similar characteristics. For example, when the first core network equipment groups devices, the rule is that the more power-sensitive the terminal device, the smaller the group number, and the less power-sensitive the terminal device, the larger the group number. When terminal devices with adjacent group numbers are merged into one group, the rule after merging is still that the more power-sensitive the terminal device, the smaller the group number, and the less power-sensitive the terminal device, the larger the group number. In this way, merging terminal devices with similar power consumption into one group is beneficial to saving power.

[0137] For example, prior to S301, each terminal device could send its characteristic information to the first core network device via non-access stratum (NAS) messages. The NAS message carrying the characteristic information could be a registration request message or a service request message.

[0138] Optionally, the first group number supported by the first core network device can be the maximum number of groups supported by the first core network device as specified in the protocol, or the first group number can be less than or equal to the maximum number of groups supported by the first core network device. For example, if the protocol specifies that the maximum number of groups supported by the first core network device is 8, the number of groups supported by the first core network device can be 6 or 8. That is to say, if the protocol specifies the maximum number of groups supported by the first core network device, the first core network device can, depending on the actual implementation, support a number of groups that is less than or equal to the maximum number of groups. In this way, the first core network device does not have to strictly adhere to the maximum number of groups supported by the protocol. For example, when the number of terminal devices is small, the first core network device can flexibly choose the number of groups, and the selected number of groups can be less than the maximum number of groups specified in the protocol. This simplifies the design, and the first core network device does not have to strictly adhere to the maximum number of groups specified in the protocol for grouping.

[0139] Optionally, in S301, the first core network device can also randomly group multiple terminal devices, without relying on the characteristic information of multiple terminal devices.

[0140] Optionally, after the terminal device registers with the first core network device, the first core network device can execute S301. After registration, the first core network device can assign an identifier to the terminal device, for example, assigning a first identifier to the first terminal device. Optionally, if the first core network device executes S301, it can execute S302. That is, after grouping multiple terminal devices, the first core network device can send the group number of each terminal device to each terminal device separately.

[0141] S302, the first core network device instructs each terminal device on the group number assigned to each terminal device. Figure 3 The image only shows the first group number that the first core network device indicates to the first terminal device for the first terminal device.

[0142] Optionally, the first core network device can use non-access stratum (NAS) messages to indicate the group number assigned to each terminal device. For example, the NAS message for assigning group numbers can be a Registration Accept message or an N2 Request message, where the N2 Request message is sent by the first core network device to the first access network device, and the first access network device then sends the assigned group number to the first terminal device via an RRC reconfiguration message.

[0143] Optionally, the first core network device may indicate the group number assigned to each terminal device to each terminal device, which can be done through the access network devices of each terminal device. For example, if the access network device of the first terminal device is a first access network device, the first core network device indicating the first group number assigned to the first terminal device to the first terminal device includes: the first core network device instructing the first terminal device to indicate the first group number assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device through the first access network device.

[0144] Optionally, S302 includes: the first core network device sending indication information to each terminal device indicating the group number assigned to each terminal device, or directly sending the group number assigned to each terminal device.

[0145] Understandably, when method 300 is executed multiple times, the first core network device can execute S301 and S302 once, meaning the first core network device can group multiple terminal devices once, and can page them once or multiple times. In other words, S301 and / or S302 are optional steps. The groups in S301 can be pre-grouped or protocol-defined, and the first core network device stores the group information. If the grouping of multiple terminal devices remains unchanged, in S302, the first core network device only sends the group number assigned to each terminal device once. If the grouping of multiple terminal devices changes, in S302, the first core network device indicates the changed group number assigned to each terminal device to each terminal device separately.

[0146] S303, the first core network device indicates the fourth group number to the first access network device.

[0147] Optionally, after the first core network device assigns group numbers to each terminal device, it can indicate the group number of each terminal device to the access network device of each terminal device. Optionally, the fourth group number can be a group number assigned by the first core network device to a certain terminal device of the first access network device. Optionally, if the fourth group number is a group number assigned by the first core network device to the first terminal device of the first access network device, then the fourth group number can be the first group number.

[0148] Optionally, the method further includes: the first core network device sending the first identifier of the first terminal device to the first access network device.

[0149] Optionally, S303 includes: the first core network device sending indication information indicating the fourth group number to the first access network device, or directly sending the fourth group number to the first access network device.

[0150] Optionally, when the first core network device has downlink data to send to a terminal device, the first core network device determines that it needs to page the terminal device. Step S303 includes: the first core network device sending a paging message to the first access network device. The paging message includes a fourth group number, or the paging message may include the identifier of the terminal device and the fourth group number. That is, when the first core network device wants to page a terminal device, it can execute S303. Alternatively, when the first core network device determines that a terminal device is in RRC idle state and has downlink data to send to it, the first core network device determines that it needs to page the terminal device and can send a paging message to the first terminal device through the first access network device. The first access network device receives the paging message from the first core network device. The paging message includes the fourth group number of the group for the terminal device in step S302 of the first core network device and the identifier of the terminal device. For example, when a terminal device is the first terminal device, the fourth group number is the first group number, and the identifier of the terminal device is the first identifier of the first terminal device.

[0151] S304, the first access network device determines the third group number based on the fourth group number and the first correspondence.

[0152] The third group number is a group number related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. Alternatively, it can be understood as a group number that can be assigned to the first terminal device based on the second group number supported by the first access network device. Or, it can be understood as a group number that the first access network device can recognize or indicate; if the first access network device assigns group numbers based on the second group number, then the group numbers that the first access network device can assign based on the second group number include the third group number. Or, it can be understood as the group number determined by the first access network device for paging. For example, if the first access network device can continuously assign group numbers from 1 to N (N equals the second group number) based on the second group number, then the third group number is less than or equal to the second group number; for example, if N = 4, then the third group number can be a group number less than or equal to 4.

[0153] Optionally, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between the group numbers corresponding to the first group of numbers and the group numbers corresponding to the second group of numbers. Optionally, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between the first set of group numbers corresponding to the first group of numbers and the second set of group numbers corresponding to the second group of numbers. The first set of group numbers includes group numbers that the first core network device can allocate based on the first group of numbers, and the group numbers that the first core network device can allocate based on the first group of numbers it supports include fourth group numbers. The second set of group numbers includes group numbers that the first access network device can allocate based on the second group of numbers. Optionally, the first correspondence is used to indicate the correspondence between the group numbers included in the first set of group numbers and the group numbers included in the second set of group numbers.

[0154] For example, the first core network device supports 8 packet groups, and the first access network device supports 4 packet groups. The first correspondence is shown in Table 1. The first group number set can be {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, and the second group number set is {1, 2, 3, 4}. If the fourth group number is 4 from the first group number set, then the third group number is 3 from the second group number set. If the fourth group number is 7 from the first group number set, then the third group number is 4 from the second group number set. For example, the 8 packet groups supported by the first core network in Table 1 can be the maximum number of packets supported by the first core network device as specified in the protocol.

[0155] Table 1

[0156]

[0157] For example, the first core network device supports 4 packet groups, and the first access network device supports 8 packet groups. The first correspondence is shown in Table 2. The first group number set can be {1, 2, 3, 4}, and the second group number set is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}. If the fourth group number is 3 from the first group number set, then the third group number is 5 or 6 from the second group number set. The third group number can be obtained by taking the remainder of N from the first identifier of the first terminal device, where N is the number of candidate group numbers obtained from the fourth group number. For example, if the fourth group number 3 corresponds to 5 or 6, the third group number... The number can be 5 or 6, meaning the number of candidate group numbers for the third group is 2. In this case, N is 2. For example, if the remainder of the first identifier divided by 2 is 0, then the third group number is 5; if the remainder is 1, then the third group number is 6. If the fourth group number is 2 from the first group number set, then the third group number is 3 or 4 from the second group number set. That is, the number of candidate group numbers for the third group is 2. In this case, N is 2. For example, if the remainder of the first identifier divided by 2 is 0, then the third group number is 3; if the remainder is 1, then the third group number is 4. It should be noted that the correspondence rule for the third group number obtained by the remainder operation can be that the remainder of the remainder operation corresponds to the group number from smallest to largest among the divided group numbers. This correspondence rule can be specified by the protocol or configured by the first access network device or the first core network device. For example, the number of packets supported by the first core network in Table 2, 4, may be less than the maximum number of packets supported by the first core network equipment as specified in the protocol.

[0158] Table 2

[0159]

[0160] The following discussion will cover different scenarios to illustrate how the first access network device obtains the first correspondence.

[0161] Scenario 1: The agreement specifies the first correspondence, and the first access network device can save the first correspondence.

[0162] Scenario 2: The first access network device generates the first correspondence.

[0163] Optionally, the first access network device may indicate a first correspondence. The first terminal device may obtain the first correspondence from the first access network device and save the first correspondence.

[0164] Optionally, the first access network device may indicate the first correspondence, including: the first access network device sending indication information indicating the first correspondence, or the first access network device directly sending the first correspondence.

[0165] Optionally, the first access network device may broadcast indication information indicating the first correspondence or the first correspondence.

[0166] Optionally, the first core network device may indicate a packet policy to the first access network device, and the first access network device generates a first correspondence based on the packet policy. Optionally, the first access network device may send a request message to the first core network device, the request message being used to request a packet policy, and the first core network device sends the packet policy to the first access network device based on the request message. The first access network device can determine the first correspondence based on the packet policy. Optionally, the first core network device may proactively indicate a packet policy to the first access network device, for example, after the first core network device and the first access network device establish a communication connection, the first core network device may indicate a packet policy to the first access network device.

[0167] Optionally, the first core network device may indicate a packet policy to the first access network device, including: the first core network device may send indication information indicating the packet policy to the first access network device or directly send the packet policy.

[0168] Optionally, the grouping strategy can be used by the first access network device to perform grouping. Optionally, the grouping strategy can indicate the relationship between the characteristic information of the terminal device and the group number size. For example, the grouping strategy can indicate the relationship between paging probability and group number size as follows: the group number with a lower paging probability is smaller, and the group number with a higher paging probability is larger. The first access network device can determine the first correspondence according to the grouping strategy. For example, the first access network device determines that group number 1 in the first group number set shown in Table 1 corresponds to 1 in the second group number set; 2 and 3 in the first group number set correspond to 2 in the second group number set; 4 and 5 in the first group number set correspond to 3 in the second group number set; and 6, 7, and 8 in the first group number set correspond to 4 in the second group number set. In this way, the relationship between paging probability and group number size in the second group number set determined by the first access network device is also as follows: the group number with a lower paging probability is smaller, and the group number with a higher paging probability is larger. As another example, the grouping strategy can indicate the relationship between RRC status and group number size as follows: the group number of terminal devices in the RRC idle state is relatively small, and the group number of terminal devices in the RRC inactive state is relatively large. Similar to the paging probability described above, the relationship between RRC status and group number size in the second group number set determined by the first access network device is also that terminal devices in the RRC idle state have smaller group numbers, while terminal devices in the RRC inactive state have larger group numbers. For example, the grouping policy can indicate the relationship between power sensitivity and group number size as follows: the more power-sensitive the terminal device, the smaller its group number; the less power-sensitive the terminal device, the larger its group number. Similarly, similar to the paging probability described above, the relationship between power sensitivity and group number size in the second group number set determined by the first access network device is also that the more power-sensitive the terminal device, the smaller its group number; the less power-sensitive the terminal device, the larger its group number.

[0169] Scenario 3: The first core network device indicates the first correspondence to the first access network device, and the first access network device learns the first correspondence from the first core network device.

[0170] Optionally, the first correspondence may be an indication determined by the first core network device and sent to the first access network device. Optionally, the first access network device may send a second set of numbers supported by the first access network device to the first core network device. The first core network device determines a second set of group numbers based on the second set of numbers, and determines a first set of group numbers based on the group numbers that can be allocated by the supported first set of numbers. The first core network device determines the correspondence between the group numbers included in the first set of group numbers and the group numbers included in the second set of group numbers. Optionally, the first core network device may determine the correspondence between the group numbers included in the first set of group numbers and the group numbers included in the second set of group numbers based on a grouping strategy similar to that described in Case 2. For example, as shown in Table 1, if the second group number is 4, the second group number set determined by the first core network device based on 4 can be {1, 2, 3, 4}. If the first group number is 8, the first group number set determined by the first core network device based on 8 can be {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}. Here, group number 1 in the first group number set corresponds to 1 in the second group number set; 2 and 3 in the first group number set correspond to 2 in the second group number set; 4 and 5 in the first group number set correspond to 3 in the second group number set; and 6, 7, and 8 in the first group number set correspond to 4 in the second group number set. When determining the first correspondence, the first core network device can also do so similarly to case two, combining a grouping strategy to determine the first correspondence. To avoid redundancy, this will not be described in detail.

[0171] Optionally, the first core network device instructs the first access network device to indicate the first correspondence, including: the first core network device sending indication information to the first access network device to indicate the first correspondence, or directly sending the first correspondence.

[0172] Optionally, the first core network device may indicate to the first access network device the first group number supported by the first core network device. Optionally, before S304, the first access network device determines whether the first group number and the second group number are the same. If they are the same, S304 may not be executed, or S304 may be executed even if they are the same. Optionally, if the first group number and the second group number are different, then S304 is executed. For example, if the first group number is greater than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. Or, for example, if the first group number is less than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. That is, only when the first group number and the second group number are different does the first access network device determine the third group number based on the first correspondence and the fourth group number. If the first group number and the second group number are the same, the first access network device may not determine the third group number, or it may determine the third group number based on the first correspondence and the fourth group number, and the determined third group number may be the same as the fourth group number.

[0173] Optionally, S303 can trigger the first access network device to execute S304. That is, after receiving the fourth group number, the first access network device can determine the second group number based on the first correspondence and the fourth group number. Optionally, if the first access network device wants to page the first terminal device, it can execute S304; that is, when the first access network device initiates a paging, it can execute S304. Optionally, when the first access network device initiates a paging, the first terminal device is in the RRC idle state. Optionally, after the first access network device receives a paging message sent by the first core network device, the paging message may include the fourth group number, or include the fourth group number and the identifier of a certain terminal device. The first access network device can execute S304; that is, when the first core network device initiates a paging, the paging message is first sent to the first access network device, and the first access network device executes S304. In other words, paging a terminal device can be initiated by either the first access network device or the first core network device. If the paging is initiated by the first access network device, the terminal device can be in the RRC idle state. If the paging is initiated by the first core network device, the terminal device can be in the RRC inactive state.

[0174] S305, the first terminal device determines the second group number based on the first group number and the first correspondence.

[0175] The second group number is a group number related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. Alternatively, it can be understood as a group number that can be assigned to the first terminal device based on the second group number supported by the first access network device. Or, it can be understood as a group number that the first access network device can recognize or indicate; if the first access network device assigns group numbers based on the second group number, then the group numbers that the first access network device can assign based on the second group number include the second group number. For example, if the first access network device can assign group numbers consecutively from 1 to N (N equals the second group number) based on the second group number, then the second group number is less than or equal to the second group number. For example, if N = 4, then the second group number can be a group number less than or equal to 4.

[0176] Optionally, the first correspondence is described in S304.

[0177] In other words, the first correspondence in S304 is the same as the first correspondence in S305.

[0178] The following discussion will cover different scenarios to illustrate how the first terminal device obtains the first correspondence in scenario one.

[0179] Scenario 1: The agreement specifies the first correspondence, and the first terminal device can save the first correspondence.

[0180] Scenario 2: The first access network device determines the first correspondence and can indicate the first correspondence. The first terminal device can learn the first correspondence from the first access network device and save the first correspondence.

[0181] The determination of the first correspondence between the first access network devices is described in Case 2 of S304.

[0182] Scenario 3: The first core network device indicates the first correspondence to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device can obtain the first correspondence from the first core network device.

[0183] Optionally, the first core network device instructs the first correspondence to the first terminal device, including: the first core network device sending instruction information to the first terminal device to instruct the first correspondence, or directly sending the first correspondence.

[0184] Optionally, the first core network device may send a NAS message to the first terminal device, the NAS message including the first correspondence.

[0185] Optionally, the determination of the first correspondence for the first core network equipment refers to Case 3 in S304.

[0186] Optionally, the first core network device determines multiple correspondences that are one-to-one with the multiple groups of numbers, including a first correspondence corresponding to a second group of numbers supported by the first access network device. Optionally, the first core network device may send the multiple correspondences to the first terminal device. Optionally, the first core network device may send a first correspondence corresponding to the first access network device to the first terminal device, wherein the first access network device may be an access network device to which the first terminal device is connected.

[0187] It is understandable that the process by which the first terminal device determines the second group number is similar to the process by which the first access network device determines the third group number. If the first correspondence is Table 1 or Table 2, then the process by which the first terminal device determines the second group number is similar to the process by which the first access network device determines the third group number.

[0188] Optionally, S305 can be executed when the first terminal device is in an RRC inactive state or an RRC idle state.

[0189] Optionally, the first correspondence in the three cases in S304 can be the same, and the first correspondence in the three cases in S305 can be the same. In this way, the first access network device can obtain the first correspondence through any one of the cases in S304, and the first terminal device can obtain the first correspondence through any one of the cases in S305. Thus, the first correspondence determined by the first terminal device for the second group number is the same as the first correspondence determined by the first access network device for the third group number. For example, the first access network device can obtain the first correspondence through case two of S304, and the first terminal device can obtain the first correspondence through case one of S305.

[0190] Optionally, the first correspondence in Case 1 of S304 is the same as the first correspondence in Case 1 of S305. Thus, the first correspondence of the third group number determined by the first access network device in S304 is the same as the first correspondence of the second group number determined by the first terminal device in S305. Optionally, the first correspondence in Case 2 of S304 is the same as the first correspondence in Case 2 of S305. Thus, the first correspondence of the third group number determined by the first access network device in S304 is the same as the first correspondence of the second group number determined by the first terminal device in S305. Optionally, the first correspondence in Case 3 of S304 is the same as the first correspondence of Case 3 of S305. Thus, the first correspondence of the third group number determined by the first access network device in S304 is the same as the first correspondence of the second group number determined by the first terminal device in S305. In other words, the first correspondence used by the first terminal device to determine the second group number is the same as the first correspondence used by the first access network device to determine the third group number.

[0191] Optionally, if the first correspondence is defined by the protocol, the first terminal device can execute S305 after S302, meaning that the first terminal device can determine the second group number after receiving the first group number. Optionally, if the first correspondence is determined by the first access network device or the first core network device, the first terminal device can execute S305 after receiving the first correspondence and the first group number. In other words, the first terminal device can execute S305 immediately after obtaining the first group number and the first correspondence.

[0192] Optionally, during the movement of the first terminal device, such as when the first terminal device moves from the coverage area of ​​the first access network device to the coverage area of ​​the second access network device, the first correspondence may change. Since the number of packets supported by the second access network device may not be the second group number, but rather the third group number, the first correspondence can change to a second correspondence. For example, the second correspondence might indicate the correspondence between the first group number set and the third group number set, with the third group number set corresponding to the third group number. For instance, if the second correspondence is defined by the protocol, after the first terminal device moves to the second access network device, it receives the third group number broadcast by the second access network device. The first terminal device determines the protocol-defined second correspondence based on the third group number. For example, the second correspondence could replace the second group number set in Table 1 or Table 2 with the third group number set. That is, the protocol can define multiple different correspondences. When the first terminal device moves from the coverage area of ​​the first access network device to the coverage area of ​​the second access network device, the first terminal device re-determines the protocol-defined second correspondence. For example, the first correspondence is determined by the first access network device, and the second correspondence is determined by the second access network device. When the first terminal device moves from the coverage area of ​​the first access network device to the coverage area of ​​the second access network device, the first terminal device can receive the second correspondence broadcast by the second access network device, and the first terminal device determines to use the second correspondence. As another example, both the first and second correspondences are determined by the first core network device. The first core network device can indicate the first and second correspondences to the first terminal device before S305. After the first terminal device moves to the second access network device, it receives a third set of numbers broadcast by the second access network device, and the first terminal device determines to use the second correspondence indicated by the first core network device based on the third set of numbers. Specifically, the second correspondence is similar to the first correspondence; to avoid redundancy, the embodiments of this application will not describe it in detail.

[0193] Optionally, the first core network device can indicate to the first terminal device the first group number supported by the first core network device. Optionally, before S305, the first terminal device determines whether the first group number and the second group number are the same. If they are the same, S305 is not executed, or S305 can be executed even if they are the same. Optionally, if the first group number and the second group number are different, then S305 is executed. For example, when the first group number is greater than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. Or, for example, when the first group number is less than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. That is, only when the first group number and the second group number are different, does the first terminal device determine the second group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number. If the first group number and the second group number are the same, the first terminal device may not determine the second group number, or it may determine the second group number based on the first correspondence and the first group number, and the determined second group number may be the same as the first group number.

[0194] It is understandable that the order of S304 and S305 is not limited; S304 can be performed before, after, or simultaneously with S305.

[0195] S306, the first access network device sends a first instruction message, the first terminal device receives the first instruction message, and the first instruction message can instruct the terminal device of the third group number to receive the paging message.

[0196] Optionally, the first access network device and the first terminal device may transmit the first indication information in any of the following ways.

[0197] Method 1: The first access network device sends downlink control information to the first PO of the first terminal device. The downlink control information can be downlink control information scrambled with the paging wireless network temporary identifier. The downlink control information includes first indication information. Before receiving the downlink control information, the first terminal device is in a sleep state. The first terminal device can receive the downlink control information on the first PO after waking up.

[0198] Optionally, if the paging message in S303 includes a first identifier of the first terminal device, the first access network device calculates the first PO of the first terminal device based on the first identifier of the first terminal device. The method by which the first access network device obtains the first PO of the first terminal device is the same as the method by which the first core network device obtains the first PO of the first terminal device.

[0199] Optionally, the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device. Therefore, the first terminal device can calculate the first PO based on the first identifier. The method by which the first terminal device obtains the first PO is the same as the method by which the first core network device and the first access network device obtain the first PO. Therefore, the first terminal device can receive downlink control information upon waking up with the first PO.

[0200] Optionally, the downlink control information may indicate the time-frequency resource location where the first access network device sends the paging message.

[0201] In method two, the first access network device can send second indication information, which may include the first indication information. The second indication information is used by the first terminal device to determine whether to receive downlink control information at the first PO of the first terminal device.

[0202] Optionally, the first access network device may send a second instruction message before the first PO.

[0203] Optionally, the first access network device may send the second indication information at a preset location. Before reaching the preset location, the first terminal device may be in a sleep state, and the first terminal device may wake up at the preset location to receive the second indication information. Optionally, the first access network device sends the second indication information at the preset location before the first PO. That is, the first terminal device may wake up at the preset location specified in the protocol to receive the second indication information, and determine whether to wake up at the first PO to receive downlink control information based on the second indication information.

[0204] Optionally, the second indication information can be WUS or PEI. WUS or PEI can indicate the third group number of the first PO, meaning that the terminal device with the third group number corresponding to the first PO needs to wake up to receive downlink control information on the first PO. See [link to WUS or PEI description] for details. Figure 2 The description.

[0205] It is understandable that the order of S305 and S306 is not limited; S305 can be performed before, after, or simultaneously with S306.

[0206] S307, the first access network device sends a paging message, and if the third group number is the same as the second group number, the first terminal device receives the paging message.

[0207] Specifically, the first terminal device determines whether the third group number is the same as the second group number. If they are the same, it means that the first terminal device needs to wake up to receive the paging message. If they are different, the first terminal device continues to be in sleep mode.

[0208] Optionally, regarding S306, if the downlink control information received by the first terminal device includes first indication information, and the downlink control information indicates the time-frequency resource location where the first access network device sends the paging message, then in S307, the first access network device sends the paging message at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information. If the second group number and the third group number are the same, the first terminal device receives the paging message at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information. In other words, outside of the first PO, the first terminal device is in a sleep state. The first terminal device needs to wake up on the first PO to receive downlink control information. If the second group number and the third group number determined by the downlink control information are the same, then the first terminal device needs to wake up at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information to receive the paging message.

[0209] Optionally, for S306, if the first PO corresponds to multiple terminal devices, and the multiple terminal devices are in a sleep state before the first PO, on the first PO, the multiple terminal devices must wake up to receive downlink control information. The downlink control information includes the terminal device of the third group number indicated by the first indication information, which needs to wake up at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information to receive the paging message. The terminal devices of other groups continue to enter the sleep state after the first PO and do not wake up at the time-frequency location indicated by the downlink control information. In this way, the energy consumption of the terminal devices of other groups can be saved.

[0210] Optionally, for method two of S306, if the first terminal device receives the second indication information before the first PO, and the first terminal device determines that the second group number and the third group number are the same, then the first terminal device receives downlink control information at the first PO. If the downlink control information indicates the time-frequency resource location for sending the paging message, the first terminal device receives the paging message at the time-frequency resource location indicated by the downlink control information.

[0211] Optionally, for method two of S306, if the first PO corresponds to multiple terminal devices, the multiple terminal devices can receive the second indication information at a preset position before the first PO. Only the terminal device with the third group number indicated by the first indication information included in the second indication information wakes up at the first PO to receive downlink control information. The terminal devices with other group numbers among the multiple terminal devices remain in a dormant state and do not wake up at the first PO to receive downlink control information. That is, the terminal devices with other group numbers among the multiple terminal devices only wake up at the preset position to receive the second indication information. After receiving the second indication information, if it is determined that the third group number is not the group number it determined, it continues to enter a dormant state and does not wake up at the first PO. If the downlink control information indicates the time-frequency resource position for sending a paging message, the terminal device with the third group number receives the paging message at the time-frequency resource position indicated by the downlink control information.

[0212] Optionally, the paging message may include at least one identifier. If the identifier included in the paging message includes a first identifier of the first terminal device, the first terminal device determines that the core network device is paging the first terminal device, and the first terminal device initiates an RRC establishment request. If at least one identifier included in the paging message includes a second identifier of the first terminal device, the first terminal device determines that the first access network device is paging the first terminal device, and the first terminal device initiates an RRC establishment request. The second identifier may be an identifier assigned to the first terminal device by the first access network device. That is, if the paging is initiated by the first core network device, the paging message sent by the first access network device includes the first identifier assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device; if the paging is initiated by the first access network device, the paging message sent by the first access network device includes the second identifier assigned to the first terminal device by the first access network device. The first identifier is used by the first core network device, the first terminal device, and the first access network device to calculate the first PO.

[0213] Optionally, the paging message may include at least one identifier. If the at least one identifier included in the paging message does not include either the first identifier or the second identifier, then the first terminal device determines that it is not being paged, and the first terminal device continues to enter the sleep state.

[0214] In the above method 300, the first terminal device can determine the second group number based on the first group number and the first correspondence, and the first access network device can determine the third group number based on the fourth group number and the first correspondence. If the second group number and the third group number are the same, it indicates that the first terminal device needs to wake up to receive a paging message, thus avoiding the situation where the first access network device cannot paging the first terminal device if the number of groups supported by the first access network device and the first core network device is different.

[0215] The method 400 for transmitting paging messages in this application embodiment is described below with reference to method 400. For example... Figure 4 As shown, method 400 includes:

[0216] S401-S403 are the same as S301-S303 respectively.

[0217] Specifically, S401-S403 refer to the description of S301-S303, and will not be described in detail in the embodiments of this application to avoid redundancy.

[0218] S404, the first access network device indicates the second set of numbers, and the first terminal device learns the second set of numbers from the first access network device.

[0219] Optionally, S404 includes: the first access network device sending indication information for indicating the second set of numbers, or the first access network device directly sending the second set of numbers.

[0220] Optionally, S404 includes: the first access network device indicating the second group of numbers via broadcast.

[0221] It is understandable that there are no restrictions on the order of steps S404 and any of S401-S403. S404 can be performed before, after, or simultaneously with any of the steps S401-S403.

[0222] S405, the first access network device determines the third group number based on the fourth group number, the second group number and the first correspondence.

[0223] The third group number is a group number related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. Alternatively, it can be understood as a group number that can be assigned to the first terminal device based on the second group number supported by the first access network device. Or, it can be understood as a group number that the first access network device can recognize or indicate; if the first access network device assigns group numbers based on the second group number, then the group numbers that the first access network device can assign based on the second group number include the third group number. Or, it can be understood as the group number determined by the first access network device for paging. For example, if the first access network device can continuously assign group numbers from 1 to N (N equals the second group number) based on the second group number, then the third group number is less than or equal to the second group number; for example, if N = 4, then the third group number can be a group number less than or equal to 4.

[0224] The first correspondence is described below in two cases.

[0225] In scenario A, the first correspondence indicates the correspondence between a first set of group numbers and at least one set of second group numbers. The first set of group numbers includes group numbers that the first core network device can allocate based on a first group number. The group numbers that the first core network device can allocate based on the first group number supported by the first core network device include a fourth group number. The at least one set of second group numbers corresponds one-to-one with at least one group number, and the at least one group number includes the second group number. Optionally, the first correspondence indicates the correspondence between the group numbers included in the first set of group numbers and the group numbers included in the at least one set of second group numbers.

[0226] In case A, S404 includes: the first access network device determining a second group number set from at least one second group number set based on the second group number; and determining a third group number from a second group number set based on the fourth group number. That is, at least one second group number set corresponds one-to-one with at least one group number. If the first access network device supports the second group number, it corresponds to a certain second group number set, and the third group number is the group number in that second group number set that corresponds to the fourth group number.

[0227] For example, the first core network device supports 8 groups, as shown in Table 3. The first group number set can be {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}. The second group number set corresponding to group number 8 is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, the second group number set corresponding to group number 4 is {1, 2, 3, 4}, and the second group number set corresponding to group number 2 is {1, 2}. The first correspondence is shown in Table 3. If the fourth group number is 4 in the first group number set and the second group number is 4, then the third group number is 2 in {1, 2, 3, 4}; if the fourth group number is 6 in the first group number set and the second group number is 4, then the third group number is 3 in {1, 2, 3, 4}; if the fourth group number is 4 in the first group number set and the second group number is 2, then the third group number is 1 in {1, 2}; if the fourth group number is 7 in the first group number set and the second group number is 2, then the third group number is 2 in {1, 2}. For example, the number of packets supported by the first core network in Table 3, 8, can be the maximum number of packets supported by the first core network equipment as specified in the protocol.

[0228] Table 3

[0229]

[0230] For example, the number of packets supported by the first core network device is 4. As shown in Table 3, the first group number set can be {1, 2, 3, 4}, the second group number set corresponding to group number 8 is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, the second group number set corresponding to group number 4 is {1, 2, 3, 4}, and the second group number set corresponding to group number 2 is {1, 2}. The first correspondence is shown in Table 4. If the fourth group number is 3 in the first group number set and the second group number is 8, then the third group number is 5 or 6 in {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}. The first access network device can determine whether the third group number is 5 or 6 based on the first identifier of the first terminal device. For example, the third group number can be determined by performing a modulo operation on N using the first identifier of the terminal device, where N is the number of candidate group numbers obtained from the fourth group number. For example, if the fourth group number 3 corresponds to 5 or 6, the third group number can be 5 or 6, meaning the number of candidate group numbers for the third group number is 2. In this case, N is 2. If the remainder obtained by performing a modulo operation on 2 using the first identifier is 0, then it corresponds to 5 in the third group number. If the remainder obtained by performing a modulo operation on 2 using the first identifier is 1, then it corresponds to 6 in the third group number. If the fourth group number is the first group number... If the second group number is 8, then the third group number is 3 or 4 from {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}. The first access network device can determine whether the third group number is 3 or 4 based on the first identifier of the first terminal device. For example, if the fourth group number 2 corresponds to 3 or 4, the third group number can be 3 or 4, meaning the number of candidate group numbers for the third group number is 2. In this case, the value of N is 2. If the remainder obtained by taking the first identifier modulo 2 is 0, then the third group number is 3. If the remainder obtained by taking the first identifier modulo 2 is 1, then the third group number is 4. It should be noted that the rule for the third group number obtained by the modulo operation can be that the remainder obtained by the modulo operation corresponds to the group number from smallest to largest among the groups. This rule can be specified by the protocol or configured by the first access network device or the first core network device. If the fourth group number is 4 from the first group number set and the second group number is 2, then the third group number is 2 from {1, 2}; if the fourth group number is 2 from the first group number set and the second group number is 2, then the third group number is 1 from {1, 2}.

[0231] For example, the number of packets supported by the first core network in Table 4 (4) may be less than the maximum number of packets supported by the first core network equipment as specified in the protocol.

[0232] Table 4

[0233]

[0234] In case B, the first correspondence is used to indicate the modulo operation between the number of groups that the core network equipment can allocate based on the number of groups supported by the core network equipment and the number of groups supported by the access network equipment.

[0235] In scenario B, step S405 includes: the first access network device performing a modulo operation on the second group number using the fourth group number to obtain a remainder; and the first access network device determining the third group number based on the remainder. Optionally, the first access network device determining the third group number based on the remainder includes: the first access network device adding P to the remainder to obtain the third group number. For example, P is 1.

[0236] For example, the third group number is obtained based on the value of M mod N, where M is the fourth group number and N is the second group number. For example, if the fourth group number is 5, the first access network device supports 4 packets in the second group, and the third group number can be the remainder 1 obtained by modulo 4 plus 1, that is, the third group number can be 2; if the fourth group number is 4, the first access network device supports 2 packets in the second group, and the third group number can be the remainder 0 obtained by modulo 2 plus 1, that is, the third group number can be 1.

[0237] It should be noted that mod is the modulo function, and M mod N can be understood as the remainder after dividing M by N.

[0238] The following discussion will cover different scenarios to illustrate how the first access network device obtains the first correspondence.

[0239] Scenario 1: The agreement specifies the first correspondence, and the first access network device can save the first correspondence.

[0240] Scenario 2: For scenario B above, the first access network device determines the first correspondence.

[0241] Optionally, the first access network device may indicate a first correspondence. The first terminal device may obtain the first correspondence from the first access network device and save the first correspondence.

[0242] Optionally, the first access network device may indicate the first correspondence, including: the first access network device sending indication information indicating the first correspondence, or the first access network device directly sending the first correspondence.

[0243] Optionally, the first access network device may broadcast indication information indicating the first correspondence or the first correspondence.

[0244] Optionally, if in S404 the first access network device indicates a second set of numbers to the first terminal device, the first access network device can simultaneously broadcast indication information indicating the first correspondence or the first correspondence, and indication information indicating the second set of numbers or the second set of numbers. That is, the first access network device can indicate the first correspondence and the second set of numbers in the same broadcast message.

[0245] Scenario 3: The first core network device indicates the first correspondence to the first access network device, and the first access network device learns the first correspondence from the first core network device.

[0246] Optionally, the first correspondence can be determined by the first core network device and sent to the first access network device.

[0247] Optionally, the first access network device may send a second set of numbers supported by the first access network device to the first core network device.

[0248] Optionally, regarding situation A above, if the first core network device can obtain the second set of numbers from the first access network device, the first core network device determines the second set of group numbers based on the second set of numbers, and determines the first set of group numbers based on the group numbers that can be allocated for the supported first set of numbers. The first core network device can receive group numbers sent by multiple access network devices, thus allowing the first core network device to determine the second set of group numbers corresponding to different group numbers. Optionally, the first core network device can determine the correspondence between the group numbers included in the first set of group numbers and the group numbers included in at least one second set of group numbers according to a grouping strategy, the grouping strategy being similar to that described in situation two of S304.

[0249] Optionally, the first core network device instructs the first access network device to indicate the first correspondence, including: the first core network device sending indication information to the first access network device to indicate the first correspondence, or directly sending the first correspondence.

[0250] Optionally, the first core network device may indicate to the first access network device the first group number supported by the first core network device. Optionally, before S405, the first access network device determines whether the first group number and the second group number are the same. If they are the same, S405 is not executed, or S405 can be executed even if they are the same. Optionally, if the first group number and the second group number are different, then S405 is executed. For example, when the first group number is greater than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. Or, for example, when the first group number is less than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. That is, only when the first group number and the second group number are different, does the first access network device determine the third group number based on the first correspondence, the fourth group number, and the second group number. If the first group number and the second group number are the same, the first access network device may not determine the third group number, or it may determine the third group number based on the first correspondence, the fourth group number, and the second group number. The determined third group number may be the same as the fourth group number.

[0251] Optionally, S404 can trigger the first access network device to execute S405. That is, after receiving the fourth group number, the first access network device can determine the second group number based on the first correspondence, the fourth group number, and the second group number. Optionally, if the first access network device wants to page the first terminal device, it can execute S405; that is, when the first access network device initiates a paging, it can execute S405. Optionally, when the first access network device initiates a paging, the first terminal device is in the RRC idle state. Optionally, after receiving a paging message sent by the first core network device, the paging message may include the fourth group number, or include the fourth group number and the identifier of a certain terminal device. The first access network device can then execute S405; that is, when the first core network device initiates a paging, the paging message is first sent to the first access network device, and the first access network device executes S405. In other words, paging a terminal device can be initiated by either the first access network device or the first core network device. If the paging is initiated by the first access network device, the terminal device can be in the RRC idle state. If the paging is initiated by the first core network device, the terminal device can be in the RRC inactive state.

[0252] S406, the first terminal device determines the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number.

[0253] The second group number is a group number related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. Alternatively, it can be understood as a group number that can be assigned to the first terminal device based on the second group number supported by the first access network device. Or, it can be understood as a group number that the first access network device can recognize or indicate; if the first access network device assigns group numbers based on the second group number, then the group numbers that the first access network device can assign based on the second group number include the second group number. For example, if the first access network device can assign group numbers consecutively from 1 to N (N equals the second group number) based on the second group number, then the second group number is less than or equal to the second group number. For example, if N = 4, then the second group number can be a group number less than or equal to 4.

[0254] Optionally, the first correspondence is described in S405.

[0255] In case A of S405, taking Table 3 as an example, if the first access network device supports 4 groups, and if the first terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device, and the second access network device supports 2 groups, then the first terminal device determines the second group number set to change from {1, 2, 3, 4} to {1, 2}. In other words, after the first terminal device changes access network devices, if the number of groups supported by the access network device changes, the first terminal device must re-determine the second group number.

[0256] In other words, the first correspondence in S406 is the same as the first correspondence in S405.

[0257] The following discussion will cover different scenarios to illustrate how the first terminal device obtains the first correspondence in scenario one.

[0258] Scenario 1: The agreement specifies the first correspondence, and the first terminal device can save the first correspondence.

[0259] Scenario 2, concerning Scenario B in S405, the first access network device determines the first correspondence and can indicate the first correspondence. The first terminal device can obtain the first correspondence from the first access network device and save the first correspondence.

[0260] The determination of the first correspondence between the first access network devices is described in Case 2 of S405.

[0261] Scenario 3: The first core network device indicates the first correspondence to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device can obtain the first correspondence from the first core network device.

[0262] Optionally, the first core network device instructs the first correspondence to the first terminal device, including: the first core network device sending instruction information to the first terminal device to instruct the first correspondence, or directly sending the first correspondence.

[0263] Optionally, the first core network device may send a NAS message to the first terminal device, the NAS message including the first correspondence.

[0264] Optionally, the method for determining the first correspondence relationship by the first core network device is described in Case 3 of S405.

[0265] It is understandable that the process by which the first terminal device determines the second group number is similar to the process by which the first access network device determines the third group number. If the first correspondence is Table 3 or Table 4, then the process by which the first terminal device determines the second group number is similar to the process by which the first access network device determines the third group number.

[0266] Optionally, S406 can be executed when the first terminal device is in an RRC inactive state or an RRC idle state.

[0267] Optionally, if the first correspondence is case A above, the first correspondence in the three cases of S406 can be the same, and the first correspondence in the three cases of S405 can be the same. In this way, the first access network device can obtain the first correspondence through any one of the cases in S405, and the first terminal device can obtain the first correspondence through any one of the cases in S406. Thus, the first correspondence between the second group number determined by the first terminal device and the third group number determined by the first access network device is the same. For example, the first access network device can obtain the first correspondence through case two of S405, and the first terminal device can obtain the first correspondence through case one of S406.

[0268] Optionally, the first correspondence in S405, case one, is the same as the first correspondence in S406, where the first correspondence is either the correspondence in case A or the correspondence in case B. Thus, the first correspondence of the third group number determined by the first access network device in S405 is the same as the first correspondence of the second group number determined by the first terminal device in S406. Optionally, the first correspondence in S405, case two, is the same as the first correspondence in S406, where the first correspondence is either the correspondence in case B. Thus, the first correspondence of the third group number determined by the first access network device in S405 is the same as the first correspondence of the second group number determined by the first terminal device in S406. Optionally, the first correspondence in S304, case three, is the same as the first correspondence of S305, where the first correspondence is either the correspondence in case A or the correspondence in case B. Thus, the first correspondence of the third group number determined by the first access network device in S405 is the same as the first correspondence of the second group number determined by the first terminal device in S406. In other words, the first correspondence used by the first terminal device to determine the second group number is the same as the first correspondence used by the first access network device to determine the third group number.

[0269] Optionally, if the first correspondence is defined by the protocol, after S404 and S402, the first terminal device can execute S406, meaning that the first terminal device can determine the second group number after receiving the first group number and the second group number. Optionally, if the first correspondence is determined by the first access network device or the first core network device, the first terminal device can execute S406 after receiving the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number. In other words, the first terminal device can execute S406 immediately after obtaining the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number.

[0270] Optionally, the first core network device can indicate to the first terminal device the first group number supported by the first core network device. Optionally, before S406, the first terminal device determines whether the first group number and the second group number are the same. If they are the same, S406 is not executed, or S406 can be executed even if they are the same. Optionally, if the first group number and the second group number are different, then S406 is executed. For example, when the first group number is greater than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. Or, for example, when the first group number is less than the second group number, the first group number and the second group number are different. That is, only when the first group number and the second group number are different, does the first terminal device determine the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number. If the first group number and the second group number are the same, the first terminal device may not determine the second group number, or it may determine the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number. The determined second group number can be the same as the first group number.

[0271] It is understandable that the order of S405 and S406 is not limited; S405 can be performed before, after, or simultaneously with S406.

[0272] S407-S408 are the same as S306-S307 respectively.

[0273] In the above method 400, the first terminal device can determine the second group number based on the first group number, the second group number, and the first correspondence, and the first access network device can determine the third group number based on the fourth group number, the second group number, and the first correspondence. If the second group number and the third group number are the same, it indicates that the first terminal device needs to wake up to receive a paging message, thus avoiding the situation where the first access network device cannot paging the first terminal device if the number of groups supported by the first access network device and the first core network device is different.

[0274] To better illustrate the embodiments of this application, the following is in conjunction with... Figure 5 and Figure 6 The present application describes a paging method provided in its embodiments, wherein, Figure 5 The key point of method 500 is that the first access network device determines the first correspondence. Figure 6 Method 600 focuses on determining the first correspondence between the first core network devices. For example... Figure 5 As shown, method 500 includes:

[0275] S501: The first core network device groups data according to the maximum number of groups that the protocol can support, and then instructs the corresponding terminal device on the group number.

[0276] For example, the first core network device indicates the first group number to the first terminal device.

[0277] S502, the first core network device sends a packet policy to the first access network device.

[0278] S503, the first access network device determines the first correspondence according to the packet policy.

[0279] Specifically, the first access network device can determine the first correspondence based on the packet policy, the number of second packets supported by the first access network device, and the number of first packets supported by the first core network device. Optionally, the number of first packets can be the maximum number of packets that the first core network device can support as specified in the protocol, and the first access network device can know the maximum number of packets that the first core network device can support as specified in the protocol.

[0280] The first correspondence and grouping strategy are described in reference to the aforementioned methods 300 and 400. To avoid redundancy, the embodiments of this application will not describe them in detail.

[0281] S504, the first access network device broadcasts the first correspondence relationship, and the first terminal device receives the first correspondence relationship.

[0282] S505, the first terminal device determines the group number used for actual listening and paging based on the first correspondence, for example, the second group number.

[0283] Specifically, the first terminal device determines the group number used for actual listening and paging based on the first correspondence relationship, as described in S305 or S406.

[0284] S506, the first access network device determines the group number used for actual listening and paging based on the first correspondence, for example, the third group number.

[0285] Optionally, the first core network device may indicate the fourth group number to the first access network device. The first access network device determines the group number actually used for listening to paging based on the first correspondence and the fourth group number, for example, the third group number.

[0286] Specifically, the first access network device determines the group number used for actual listening and paging based on the first correspondence relationship, as described in S304 or S405.

[0287] Understandably, there are no restrictions on the order of S505 and S506; S505 can be performed before, after, or simultaneously with S506.

[0288] like Figure 6 As shown, method 600 includes:

[0289] S601, the first core network device groups data according to the maximum number of groups that the protocol can support, and then instructs the corresponding terminal device on the group number.

[0290] For example, the first core network device indicates the first group number to the first terminal device.

[0291] S602, the first access network device sends the second set of numbers supported by the first access network device to the first core network device.

[0292] Optionally, multiple access network devices corresponding to the first core network device can send their respective supported number of groups to the first core network device.

[0293] S603, the first core network device determines the first correspondence based on the second set of numbers.

[0294] Similar to method 300, if the first core network device receives the second set of numbers from the first access network device, the first correspondence determined by the first core network device based on the second set of numbers is similar to that in method 300.

[0295] Similar to method 400, if the first core network device receives the number of groups supported by each of the multiple access network devices, the first core network device determines a first correspondence relationship based on the number of groups supported by each of the multiple access network devices. The first correspondence relationship is similar to that of method 400.

[0296] S604, the first core network device sends the first correspondence relationship to the first access network device, and the first access network device receives the first correspondence relationship.

[0297] S605, the first core network device sends the first correspondence relationship to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device receives the first correspondence relationship.

[0298] Specifically, if the first core network device sends the first correspondence to the first access network device in S604, then in S605 it can also send the first correspondence to the terminal devices within the coverage area of ​​the first access network device, for example, send the first correspondence to the first terminal device.

[0299] Understandably, there are no restrictions on the order of S604 and S605; S604 can be performed before, after, or simultaneously with S605.

[0300] S606, the first terminal device determines the group number used for actual listening and paging based on the first correspondence, for example, the second group number.

[0301] Specifically, the first terminal device determines the group number used for actual listening and paging based on the first correspondence relationship, as described in S305 or S406.

[0302] S607, the first access network device determines the group number used for actual listening and paging based on the first correspondence, for example, the third group number.

[0303] Specifically, the first access network device determines the group number used for actual listening and paging based on the first correspondence relationship, as described in S304 or S405.

[0304] Understandably, there are no restrictions on the order of S607 and S607; S606 can be performed before, after, or simultaneously with S607.

[0305] It should be noted that multiple first correspondence relationships can exist in the embodiments of this application. For example, the first correspondence relationship of situation A in S405 and the first correspondence relationship of situation B can exist simultaneously. Specifically, which correspondence relationship is adopted can be specified by the protocol. For example, if the protocol specifies that when both correspondence relationships exist, the first correspondence relationship of situation A shall be adopted first.

[0306] It should also be noted that the first correspondence in methods 300 and 400 can be defined by the protocol, determined by the first access network device, or determined by the first core network device. These three methods of determining the first correspondence can coexist. For example, if the first access network device does not send the determined first correspondence to the first terminal device, such as if the first access network device does not broadcast the first correspondence, then the first correspondence defined by the protocol is used by default. For instance, if the first correspondence determined by the first access network device is the correspondence in case B of S405, and the protocol defines the first correspondence in case A of S405, and if the first access network device does not send the first correspondence in case B of S405 to the first terminal device, then the first terminal device and the first access network device will use the first correspondence in case A of S405 by default. If the first access network device sends the determined first correspondence to the first terminal device, such as if the first access network device broadcasts the first correspondence, then the first correspondence broadcast by the first access network device can replace the first correspondence defined by the protocol. If the first access network device does not send the determined first correspondence to the first terminal device, such as if the first access network device does not broadcast the first correspondence, or if the first core network device does not send the first correspondence, then the first correspondence specified in the protocol will be used by default. If the first access network device sends the determined first correspondence to the first terminal device, such as if the first access network device broadcasts the first correspondence, or if the first core network device sends the first correspondence, then the first correspondence broadcast by the first access network device or the first correspondence sent by the first core network device can replace the first correspondence specified in the protocol.

[0307] It should be noted that in the example descriptions of the embodiments of this application, the group numbers are assigned starting from 1 based on the group number. In fact, the relationship between the group number and the group number can be arbitrary. For example, the first group number is 8, the first group number set is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, and the first group number set can also be {3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17}.

[0308] It should be noted that the embodiments of this application only take Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4 or the remainder operation as examples of the first correspondence relationship. The first correspondence relationship can also be other correspondence relationships besides tables or the remainder operation. The embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0309] It is understood that the execution order of the above method embodiments is not limited by the numbering. The execution order can be determined according to the internal logic. As long as there is no contradiction, the execution order of the methods can be changed.

[0310] It is understood that the above method embodiments can be independent embodiments or embodiments that can be combined with each other. Steps in different method embodiments can be combined with each other to form other embodiments, and steps in the same method embodiment can also be combined with each other to form other embodiments.

[0311] It is understood that the methods and operations implemented by the terminal device in the above method embodiments can also be implemented by components (such as chips or circuits) that can be used in the terminal device, and the methods and operations implemented by the network device in the above method embodiments can also be implemented by components (such as chips or circuits) that can be used in the network device.

[0312] The method embodiments provided in this application have been described above. The apparatus embodiments provided in this application will be described below. It should be understood that the description of the apparatus embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments. Therefore, any content not described in detail can be referred to the method embodiments above. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0313] Figure 7 A communication device 700 according to an embodiment of this application is shown. The communication device 700 includes a processor 710 and a transceiver 720. The processor 710 and the transceiver 720 communicate with each other through an internal connection path. The processor 710 is used to execute instructions to control the transceiver 720 to send and / or receive signals.

[0314] Optionally, the communication device 700 may further include a memory 730, which communicates with the processor 710 and transceiver 720 via an internal connection path. The memory 730 stores instructions, and the processor 710 can execute the instructions stored in the memory 730. In one possible implementation, the communication device 700 is used to implement the various processes and steps corresponding to the first terminal device in the above method embodiments. In another possible implementation, the communication device 700 is used to implement the various processes and steps corresponding to the first access network device in the above method embodiments. In yet another possible implementation, the communication device 700 is used to implement the various processes and steps corresponding to the first core network device in the above method embodiments.

[0315] It should be understood that the communication device 700 may specifically be the first terminal device, the first access network device, or the first core network device in the above embodiments, or it may be a chip or a chip system. Correspondingly, the transceiver 720 may be the transceiver circuit of the chip, which is not limited here. Specifically, the communication device 700 may be used to execute the various steps and / or processes corresponding to the first terminal device, the first access network device, or the first core network device in the above method embodiments. Optionally, the memory 730 may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor. A portion of the memory may also include non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory may also store device type information. The processor 710 may be used to execute the instructions stored in the memory, and when the processor 710 executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor 710 is used to execute the various steps and / or processes of the above method embodiments corresponding to the first terminal device, the first access network device, or the first core network device.

[0316] In implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by integrated logic circuits in the processor's hardware or by instructions in software. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software modules can reside in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are omitted here.

[0317] It should be noted that the processor in the embodiments of this application can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above method embodiments can be completed by the integrated logic circuitry in the processor's hardware or by instructions in software form. The processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware decoding processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules can be located in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above methods.

[0318] It is understood that the memory in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory used in the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0319] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the various steps or processes executed by the first terminal device, the first access network device, or the first core network device in the above method embodiments.

[0320] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing program code. When the program code is run on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the various steps or processes executed by the first terminal device, the first access network device, or the first core network device in the above method embodiments.

[0321] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a communication system, which includes at least two of the aforementioned one or more first terminal devices, one or more first access network devices, and one or more first core network devices.

[0322] The various device embodiments and method embodiments described above correspond completely, with corresponding modules or units performing corresponding steps. For example, the communication unit (transceiver) performs the receiving or sending steps in the method embodiment, while other steps besides sending and receiving can be performed by the processing unit (processor). The function of a specific unit can be based on the corresponding method embodiment. There can be one or more processors.

[0323] In this application, "instruction" can include direct and indirect instructions, as well as explicit and implicit instructions. The information indicated by a given piece of information is called the information to be instructed. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to instruct the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly instructing the information to be instructed, such as instructing the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly instruct the information to be instructed by instructing other information, where there is a relationship between the other information and the information to be instructed. It can also instruct only a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-defined) arrangement of various pieces of information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to some extent.

[0324] In the embodiments of this application, the terms and English abbreviations are exemplary examples given for ease of description and should not be construed as limiting the application in any way. This application does not preclude the possibility of defining other terms that can achieve the same or similar functions in existing or future agreements.

[0325] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0326] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be based on the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0327] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0328] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0329] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0330] In the above embodiments, the functions of each functional unit can be implemented entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions (programs). When the computer program instructions (programs) are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., DVDs), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks (SSDs)).

[0331] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0332] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting paging messages, characterized in that, The method is applicable to a first terminal device and includes: The second set of numbers is obtained from the first access network device; If the first group number is not equal to the second group number, the second group number is determined according to the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number. The first group number is the group number assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device according to the first group number supported by the first core network device. The second group number is the group number related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. The first correspondence includes the correspondence between the first group number set and at least one second group number set. The first group number set includes the group numbers that the first core network device can assign according to the first group number. The group numbers that the first core network device can assign according to the first group number include the first group number. The at least one second group number set corresponds one-to-one with at least one group number. The at least one group number includes the second group number. The first group number set includes the first group number. The second group number set corresponding to the second group number includes the second group number. At the first paging time of the first terminal device, downlink control information is received from the first access network device. The downlink control information includes first indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal device of the third group number to receive the paging message. If the third group number is the same as the second group number, a paging message is received from the first access network device; The first correspondence is preset by the protocol.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number includes: A second set of numbers is determined from the at least one set of second set numbers based on the second set of numbers; The second group number is determined from the set of second group numbers based on the first group number.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first correspondence is used to indicate the modulo operation between the group number that the core network device can allocate based on the number of groups supported by the core network device and the number of groups supported by the access network device. The step of determining the second group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number includes: The remainder is obtained by performing a modulo operation on the second group of numbers using the first group of numbers. The second group number is determined based on the remainder.

4. A method for transmitting paging messages, characterized in that, The method is applicable to a first access network device and includes: Indicate the second set of numbers to the first terminal device; If the first group number is not equal to the second group number, the third group number is determined according to the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number. The first group number is the group number assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device according to the first group number supported by the first core network device. The third group number is the group number related to the second group number supported by the first access network device. The first correspondence includes the correspondence between the first group number set and at least one second group number set. The first group number set includes the group numbers that the first core network device can assign according to the first group number. The group numbers that the first core network device can assign according to the first group number include the first group number. The at least one second group number set corresponds one-to-one with at least one group number. The at least one group number includes the second group number. The first group number set includes the first group number. The second group number set corresponding to the second group number includes the third group number. At the first paging time of the first terminal device, downlink control information is sent. The downlink control information includes first indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal device of the third group number to receive the paging message. Send a paging message; The first correspondence is preset by the protocol.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of determining the third group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number includes: A second set of numbers is determined from the at least one set of second set numbers based on the second set of numbers; The third group number is determined from the second group number set based on the first group number.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The first correspondence is used to indicate the modulo operation between the group number that the core network device can allocate based on the number of groups supported by the core network device and the number of groups supported by the access network device. The step of determining the third group number based on the first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number includes: The remainder is obtained by performing a modulo operation on the second group of numbers using the first group of numbers. The third group number is determined based on the remainder.

7. A method for transmitting paging messages, characterized in that, The method is applicable to the first core network equipment, including: The second set of numbers supported by the first access network device is obtained from the first access network device; The system indicates a first group number to the first terminal device. The first group number is a group number assigned to the first terminal device by the first core network device based on a first group number supported by the first core network device. The first terminal device is used to determine a second group number based on a first correspondence, the first group number, and the second group number. The second group number is a group number related to a second group number supported by the first access network device. The first correspondence includes a correspondence between a set of first group numbers and at least one set of second group numbers. The first set of group numbers includes group numbers that the first core network device can assign based on the first group number. The group numbers that the first core network device can assign based on the first group number include the first group number. The at least one set of second group numbers corresponds one-to-one with at least one group number. The at least one group number includes the second group number. The first set of group numbers includes the first group number. The second set of group numbers corresponding to the second group number includes the second group number. The first access network device is instructed with a fourth group number. The first access network device is used to determine a third group number based on the fourth group number, the first correspondence, and the second group number. The third group number is a group number related to the second group number. If the second group number is the same as the third group number, the first terminal device is a terminal device that receives paging messages. The first group number set includes the fourth group number, and the second group number set corresponding to the second group number includes the third group number. The first correspondence is preset by the protocol.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first correspondence is used to indicate the modulo operation between the group number that the core network device can allocate based on the number of groups supported by the core network device and the number of groups supported by the access network device.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: Each terminal device is divided into groups of the first number based on at least one of the following: paging probability of each terminal device, radio resource connection RRC status of each terminal device, or power consumption sensitivity of each terminal device.

10. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a processor for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, It stores a program or instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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