Communication method and device based on coverage enhancement, storage medium, network equipment, and terminal

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus based on coverage enhancement, a storage medium, a network device, and a terminal, wherein the method includes: during the period when a terminal applying coverage enhancement access accesses a current cell, sending a configuration message to the terminal, wherein the configuration message is used by the terminal the next time it accesses the current cell; wherein the current cell supports coverage enhancement access within multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhancement access at other times except the multiple preset time periods. Through this solution, the spectrum efficiency can be effectively improved, avoiding the need to configure a large number of resource configurations that allow repeated transmission for coverage enhancement, and avoiding resource waste.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method and device based on coverage enhancement, a storage medium, a network device, and a terminal. Background Art

[0002] In existing cell communications, the current service cell can be configured to support coverage enhancement, such as allowing terminals in areas with poor signals (such as those with signal quality lower than 10db by more than the cell edge) to access the cell through repeated random access preamble codes. After the cell receives the signal from the terminal, the response message sent to the terminal also needs to be repeated multiple times to ensure that the terminal can receive it accurately. When the system message of a cell does not have coverage enhancement-related parameters configured, terminals outside the coverage of the cell cannot use normal random access resources to access the cell.

[0003] However, traditional cells either support coverage enhancement or do not support coverage enhancement, and they cannot effectively take into account the data transmission of user equipment (UE) in the coverage enhancement area and the data transmission of UEs with normal access. If a cell is configured as a cell supporting coverage enhancement, a large amount of resource configurations allowing repeated transmissions need to be configured, which may cause a waste of resources. Summary of the invention

[0004] The technical problem solved by the present invention is how to effectively take into account both the data transmission of UE in the coverage enhancement area and the data transmission of UE with normal access.

[0005] To solve the above problems, an embodiment of the present invention provides a communication method based on coverage enhancement, the method comprising: during the period when a terminal applying coverage enhanced access accesses a current cell, sending a configuration message to the terminal, the configuration message is for use by the terminal the next time it accesses the current cell; wherein the current cell supports coverage enhanced access within multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhanced access at other times except the multiple preset time periods.

[0006] Optionally, the configuration information indicates one or more preset time periods in the future, so that the terminal accesses the current cell within the preset time indicated by the configuration information.

[0007] Optionally, the configuration information indicates a time corresponding to the preset time period, and the preset time period is periodic, so that the terminal accesses the current cell within the preset time period indicated by the configuration information.

[0008] Optionally, the configuration information includes coverage enhancement parameters of the current cell allowing the terminal to perform coverage enhanced access, and the terminal stores the received coverage enhancement parameters. The method also includes: receiving an access request or transmission data sent by the terminal based on the coverage enhancement parameters stored by the terminal; parsing the access request or the transmission data according to local coverage enhancement parameters; when the parsing is successful, sending a response to the terminal; wherein the local coverage enhancement parameters are coverage enhancement parameters that have been configured for the terminal.

[0009] Optionally, parsing the access request or the transmission data according to local coverage enhancement parameters also includes: when the parsing fails or the local coverage enhancement parameters cannot be obtained, sending an update instruction to the terminal, so that the terminal updates the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal according to the update instruction.

[0010] Optionally, the coverage enhancement parameter includes a common coverage enhancement parameter and / or the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameter.

[0011] Optionally, all or part of the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters are carried by configuring authorization information.

[0012] Optionally, all or part of the common coverage enhancement parameters are carried by a first system message.

[0013] Optionally, the method further includes: broadcasting the first system message or the second system message within the preset time period; broadcasting the second system message at other times other than the multiple preset time periods; wherein the second system message does not include the content of the common coverage enhancement parameters.

[0014] Optionally, the method further includes: broadcasting the first system message when the terminal initially accesses the cell.

[0015] Optionally, the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters include coverage enhancement parameters corresponding to different coverage enhancement levels, so that the terminal determines the coverage enhancement parameters for sending the access request or the transmission data according to the coverage enhancement level of the terminal.

[0016] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a communication method based on coverage enhancement, which is executed by a terminal that applies coverage enhancement access, and the method includes: after accessing the target cell, receiving configuration information sent by the target cell; when accessing the target cell next time, using the configuration message to perform an access operation; wherein, the target cell supports coverage enhancement access within multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhancement access at other times except the multiple preset time periods.

[0017] Optionally, the configuration information indicates one or more preset time periods in the future, and accessing the target cell again according to the configuration message includes: accessing the target cell within the preset time indicated by the configuration information.

[0018] Optionally, the configuration information indicates the preset time period, the preset time period is periodic, and accessing the target cell again according to the configuration message includes: accessing the target cell within the preset time indicated by the configuration information.

[0019] Optionally, the configuration information includes coverage enhancement parameters of the target cell allowing the terminal to perform coverage enhanced access. After receiving the configuration information sent by the target cell, it also includes: storing the received coverage enhancement parameters; the method also includes: sending an access request or transmitting data to the target cell based on the stored coverage enhancement parameters; and receiving a response sent by the target cell.

[0020] Optionally, the method also includes: when an update instruction sent by the target cell is received, updating the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal according to the update instruction; wherein the update instruction indicates that the target cell fails to parse the access request or transmission data, or the update instruction indicates that the target cell cannot obtain the local coverage enhancement parameters of the target cell.

[0021] Optionally, the method further includes: if the terminal does not receive a response sent by the target cell within a certain period of time after sending the access request or transmitting data, updating the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal.

[0022] Optionally, the coverage enhancement parameter includes a common coverage enhancement parameter and / or the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameter.

[0023] Optionally, all or part of the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters are carried by configuring authorization information.

[0024] Optionally, all or part of the common coverage enhancement parameters are carried by a first system message.

[0025] Optionally, the target cell broadcasts the first system message or the second system message within the preset time, and broadcasts the second system message within a time other than the preset time, and the second system message does not include content of the common coverage enhancement parameter.

[0026] Optionally, the method further includes: when initially accessing the target cell, receiving a first system message broadcast by the target cell.

[0027] Optionally, the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters include coverage enhancement parameters corresponding to different coverage enhancement levels, and the method further includes: determining the coverage enhancement parameters for sending the access request or the transmission data according to the coverage enhancement level of the terminal.

[0028] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a communication device based on coverage enhancement, the device comprising: a configuration message sending module, used to send a configuration message to a terminal during the period when a terminal applying coverage enhanced access accesses a current cell, the configuration message is used by the terminal the next time it accesses the current cell; wherein the current cell supports coverage enhanced access within multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhanced access at other times except the multiple preset time periods.

[0029] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a communication device based on coverage enhancement, which is arranged in a terminal that applies coverage enhancement access, and the device includes: a configuration information receiving module, which is used to receive the configuration information sent by the target cell after accessing the target cell; an access module, which is used to use the configuration message to perform an access operation when accessing the target cell next time; wherein the target cell supports coverage enhancement access within multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhancement access at other times except the multiple preset time periods.

[0030] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program executes any step of the communication method based on coverage enhancement when executed by a processor.

[0031] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a network device, including the communication device based on coverage enhancement, or including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and the processor executes any step of the communication method based on coverage enhancement when running the computer program.

[0032] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a terminal, comprising the device for communication based on coverage enhancement, or comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and the processor executes any step of the communication method based on coverage enhancement when running the computer program.

[0033] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0034] Through the communication method based on coverage enhancement provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the cell can apply the coverage enhancement technology in a time-division manner, and when a terminal applying coverage enhancement access accesses the cell, a configuration message is sent to the terminal for use by the terminal the next time it applies coverage enhancement access, thereby effectively taking into account the data transmission of the terminal in the coverage enhancement area and the data transmission of the UE with normal access. Thus, the spectrum efficiency can be effectively improved, and a large amount of resource configurations that allow repeated transmissions need to be configured for coverage enhancement are avoided, thereby avoiding resource waste.

[0035] Furthermore, a cell that applies coverage enhancement technology in a time-division manner can, when a terminal that applies coverage enhancement access accesses the cell, inform the terminal through configuration information when the cell will enable the coverage enhancement function within a certain period of time in the future, so that the terminal can access the cell when the coverage enhancement function is enabled in the cell and complete data transmission between the cell.

[0036] Furthermore, the current cell can maintain two sets of system messages, one set of system messages for access by terminals with normal coverage (i.e., the second system message), which can be updated when necessary; the other set of system messages for access with coverage enhancement (i.e., the first system message), which can remain unchanged for a long time, so that when receiving an access request or transmission data sent by the terminal based on coverage enhancement parameters, the cell can parse the access request or transmission data based on the first system message it maintains. Further, if the current cell cannot parse the access request or transmission data sent by the terminal based on the coverage enhancement parameters, the coverage enhancement parameters contained in the first system message maintained by the current cell may be inconsistent with the coverage enhancement parameters stored by the terminal, and the current cell can send an update instruction to the terminal, instructing the terminal to update its stored coverage enhancement parameters. Further, after configuring the coverage enhancement parameters for the terminal, the current cell stores the configured coverage enhancement parameters locally. If the current cell cannot obtain the local coverage enhancement parameters, it means that the coverage enhancement parameters of the cell have been updated, and the terminal will also be informed through the update instruction.

[0037] Furthermore, the current cell may configure multiple sets of coverage enhancement parameters corresponding to multiple coverage enhancement levels by configuring authorization information, and the terminal may select corresponding coverage enhancement parameters based on its own coverage enhancement level for sending access requests or transmitting data. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication method based on coverage enhancement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a flow chart of a second method for supporting coverage enhancement communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 3A schematic diagram of a flow chart of a third method for supporting coverage enhancement communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device based on coverage enhancement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of another communication device based on coverage enhancement according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] As mentioned in the background technology, traditional cells either support coverage enhancement or do not support coverage enhancement. They cannot effectively balance the data transmission of UEs in the coverage enhancement area and the data transmission of UEs with normal access. If a cell is configured as a cell supporting coverage enhancement, a large amount of resource configurations allowing repeated transmissions need to be configured, which may cause waste of resources.

[0044] To solve the above problem, see Figure 1 , Figure 1 A flow chart of a communication method based on coverage enhancement provided in an embodiment of the present invention, the communication method can be performed by a network device (such as a base station (gNB, eNB, etc.) or an access point (Access Point, referred to as AP)), etc., and the method includes:

[0045] Step S101, while a terminal applying coverage enhanced access accesses a current cell, sends a configuration message to the terminal, wherein the configuration message is used by the terminal the next time it accesses the current cell; wherein the current cell supports coverage enhanced access within a plurality of preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhanced access at other times except the plurality of preset time periods.

[0046] Among them, for a certain cell, a terminal (hereinafter referred to as the terminal) that applies coverage enhancement access (this cell) is distinguished from a terminal that accesses this cell through a normal access process. The terminal may be a user equipment (UE), such as a computer, a mobile phone, an electric meter, a water meter, and other devices.

[0047] Optionally, the terminals that apply coverage enhancement to access the cell may be terminals in an environment with poor network signals (such as a basement or elevator, etc.), or terminals that are far away from the base station or access point of the cell (for example, at the edge of the cell). These terminals may not be able to access the cell through normal access procedures, and the cell needs to activate the coverage enhancement access function to communicate with the terminals to complete the access.

[0048] The current cell may be a cell of an existing network such as the third generation mobile communication technology (3rd-Generation, 3G for short), the third generation mobile communication technology (4th-Generation, 4G for short), the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5th-Generation, 3G for short), the Internet of things (IoT for short), etc. It should be noted that the method described in the embodiment of the present invention may also be applicable to future 6G, 7G and other networks.

[0049] The current cell supports coverage enhancement, which may include at least one of the following: the current cell supports synchronization / broadcast channel coverage enhancement; the current cell supports random access channel coverage enhancement; downlink control channel coverage enhancement. The specific support method can refer to the existing communication protocol, which will not be described in detail here.

[0050] The configuration message is a message sent by the current cell to the terminal for the terminal to apply coverage enhancement to access the current cell again when the terminal needs to communicate with the current cell next time.

[0051] Optionally, the configuration message may be carried in at least one of the following signaling forms: system message (such as SIB1); Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling; Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE); Configured Grant (CG) information, etc.

[0052] Optionally, the configuration message is used to indicate at least one of the following information: the time during which the current cell supports coverage enhanced access in the future and the time domain / frequency domain resources available to the terminal; public configuration parameters of the current cell, such as random access parameters, public physical uplink shared channel (Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH for short) configuration, public physical uplink control channel (Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH for short) configuration, public physical downlink shared channel (Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH for short) configuration, public physical downlink control channel (Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH for short) configuration, etc.; random access parameters dedicated to the terminal, such as one or more of PUSCH configuration, PUCCH configuration, PDSCH configuration, and PDCCH configuration.

[0053] pass Figure 1The method can be used by the cell to apply the coverage enhancement technology in a time-division manner, and when a terminal that applies coverage enhancement access accesses the cell, a configuration message is sent to the terminal for use by the terminal the next time it applies coverage enhancement access, thereby effectively taking into account the data transmission of the terminal in the coverage enhancement area and the data transmission of the UE that normally accesses. This can effectively improve the spectrum efficiency, avoid the need to configure a large number of resource configurations that allow repeated transmission for coverage enhancement, and avoid resource waste.

[0054] In one embodiment, the configuration information indicates one or more preset time periods in the future, so that the terminal accesses the current cell within the preset time indicated by the configuration information.

[0055] The current cell informs the terminal in the configuration information that the cell supports one or more preset time periods for coverage enhanced access in the future. If the terminal needs to transmit data with the current cell, it can access the current cell within one or more preset time periods in the future indicated by the configuration information to perform data transmission.

[0056] In one embodiment, the configuration information indicates the time corresponding to the preset time period, and the preset time period is periodic, so that the terminal accesses the current cell within the preset time period indicated by the configuration information.

[0057] The time (i.e., preset time period) during which the current cell supports coverage enhancement access is periodic. The current cell can inform the terminal of the start time and end time of the next preset time period, or the start time and duration of the next preset time period, and the period of the preset time period through a configuration message, so that the terminal selects the nearest preset time period to access the current cell when data needs to be transmitted with the current cell. For example, the periodicity of the preset time period can be reflected in that the current cell supports coverage enhancement access during a certain time period within a week (such as the time period from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. every Saturday).

[0058] Optionally, the configuration information may also include information about available time / frequency resources within a preset time period.

[0059] Through the above two embodiments, a cell that applies coverage enhancement technology in a time-division manner can, when a terminal that applies coverage enhancement access accesses the cell, inform the terminal through configuration information when the cell will enable the coverage enhancement function in the future, so that the terminal can access the cell when the coverage enhancement function is enabled in the cell and complete data transmission between the cell.

[0060] In one embodiment, see Figure 2 , Figure 2It is a flow chart of a second communication method based on coverage enhancement; the configuration information includes coverage enhancement parameters of the current cell allowing the terminal to perform coverage enhancement access, and the terminal stores the received coverage enhancement parameters.

[0061] Among them, the coverage enhancement parameter is a parameter used by the terminal when applying coverage enhancement to access the current cell. Optionally, the coverage enhancement parameter includes a common coverage enhancement parameter and / or a coverage enhancement parameter specific to the terminal. Among them, the common coverage enhancement parameter may include one or more of a random access parameter, a common PUSCH configuration, a common PUCCH configuration, a common PDSCH configuration, a common PDCCH configuration, etc. The terminal-specific (i.e., terminal-specific) coverage enhancement parameter may include one or more of a random access parameter, such as a PUSCH configuration, a PUCCH configuration, a PDSCH configuration, and a PDCCH configuration.

[0062] Figure 2 The communication method based on coverage enhancement may also include: step S201, receiving an access request or transmission data sent by the terminal based on the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal; step S202, parsing the access request or the transmission data according to local coverage enhancement parameters; when the parsing is successful, jumping to step S203 and sending a response to the terminal; wherein the local coverage enhancement parameters are coverage enhancement parameters that have been configured for the terminal.

[0063] After the current cell sends the coverage enhancement parameters to the terminal, the terminal stores the received coverage enhancement parameters. When the terminal needs to apply coverage enhancement to access the current cell, or the terminal applies coverage enhancement to perform data transmission with the current cell, an access request is sent to the current cell or transmission data is transmitted based on the stored coverage enhancement parameters. While the current cell sends the coverage enhancement parameters to the terminal, the current cell also stores the coverage enhancement parameters configured for the terminal in the network equipment of the current cell, that is, the local coverage enhancement parameters. When the current cell receives the access request or transmission data of the terminal, the current cell can parse the access request or transmission data according to its local coverage enhancement parameters. If the parsing is successful, a response to the access request or transmission data is sent to the terminal to inform the terminal that its access request or transmission data is successfully sent.

[0064] Optionally, if the current cell fails to parse the access request or transmission data, the current cell may send a message to the terminal indicating that the access request or transmission data parsing failed. After receiving the message, the terminal may try to re-access or re-transmit data.

[0065] In one embodiment, please continue to see Figure 2, step S202 of parsing the access request or the transmission data according to the local coverage enhancement parameters also includes: when the parsing fails or the local coverage enhancement parameters cannot be obtained, executing step S204, sending an update instruction to the terminal, so that the terminal updates the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal according to the update instruction.

[0066] The reason why the current cell fails to parse the access request or transmission data may be that the coverage enhancement parameters of the cell are updated after being configured to the terminal. Therefore, when the current cell fails to parse, the terminal can be informed through an update instruction to re-acquire the coverage enhancement parameters of the cell, that is, to update the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal.

[0067] Optionally, when the current cell updates the coverage enhancement parameters, the local coverage enhancement parameters of the cell may be cleared. Therefore, when the current cell cannot obtain the local coverage enhancement parameters, update instructions can also be sent to each terminal that applies coverage enhancement to access the cell, informing these terminals to update their stored coverage enhancement parameters.

[0068] Optionally, all or part of the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters are carried through configured grant (Configured Grant, CG for short) information.

[0069] Optionally, the configuration authorization information can be used by the terminal within a specific time. After the terminal receives the configuration authorization information, the terminal saves the configuration authorization information or only saves the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters in the configuration authorization information.

[0070] Optionally, all or part of the common coverage enhancement parameters are carried by a first system message. Optionally, the first system message may include a master information block (MIB) and / or a system information block type 1 (SIB1).

[0071] Further, the current cell configures common coverage enhancement parameters and terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters for the terminal through the first system message and configuration authorization information.

[0072] In one embodiment, Figure 2 The communication method based on coverage enhancement may further include: broadcasting the first system message or the second system message within the preset time period; broadcasting the second system message at other times except the multiple preset time periods; wherein the second system message does not include the content of the common coverage enhancement parameter.

[0073] When a cell that applies coverage enhancement technology in a time-division manner does not support coverage enhancement access (i.e., except for multiple preset time periods), its broadcasted system message (such as MIB and / or SIB1) does not include the content of the common coverage enhancement parameter. In addition, when the cell supports coverage enhancement access (i.e., within multiple preset time periods), the system message (such as MIB and / or SIB1) broadcast by the cell may include the content of the coverage enhancement parameter or may not include the content of the coverage enhancement parameter.

[0074] After the terminal saves the coverage enhancement parameters, it can initiate an access request or data transmission to the current cell based on the coverage enhancement parameters. At this time, the terminal does not need to consider whether the system message actually broadcast by the current cell allows the terminal to access with coverage enhancement. The current cell can use preconfigured resources (such as one or more preset subbands) to support the terminal to apply coverage enhancement access.

[0075] Optionally, the method further includes: broadcasting the first system message when the terminal initially accesses the cell.

[0076] When the terminal applies coverage enhancement to access the current cell for the first time, the current cell broadcasts a first system message, and the terminal saves the first system message or only saves the common coverage enhancement parameters in the first system message.

[0077] Optionally, the current cell enables the coverage enhancement function within a certain set time period, and informs all terminals that apply coverage enhancement to access the cell to access the current cell, and the current cell broadcasts a first system message so that the terminals that apply coverage enhancement to access save the first system message or only save the common coverage enhancement parameters in the first system message. Within the set time period, the current cell also sends each terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameter to these terminals by configuring authorization information.

[0078] After storing the coverage enhancement parameters, each terminal may initiate an access request and / or data transmission to the current cell based on the coverage enhancement parameters.

[0079] The current cell can also modify the system message normally, and only needs to keep the system message (i.e., the first system message) accessed by the terminal (such as the water meter / electricity meter at the remote end) using coverage enhancement access unchanged. That is, the current cell has a set of system messages (i.e., the first system message) saved locally for using coverage enhancement access, which remain unchanged for a long time. At the same time, the current cell can also maintain a set of system messages (i.e., the second system message) for access by the terminal with normal coverage. The update of the second system message can be carried out according to the existing protocol and is not affected by the first system message.

[0080] It should be noted that within the multiple preset time periods, if the terminal applying coverage enhancement access can access the current cell based on the previously configured coverage enhancement parameters, the current cell does not need to broadcast the first system message. At this time, the system message for normal coverage UE access can be broadcast, which can improve the utilization rate of wireless resources.

[0081] In a specific embodiment, a terminal applying coverage enhanced access performs uplink transmission based on previously configured coverage enhancement parameters, such as sending an uplink signal (including an access request or transmission data) on a configured physical resource block, and the uplink signal is repeatedly sent in multiple continuous / non-continuous time slots. The current cell receives the uplink signal sent by the terminal at a corresponding time-frequency position using the transmission resource information previously configured for the terminal, and the uplink signal sent by the terminal can be parsed using a combined reception method. Afterwards, the current cell can use the PDCCH parameters / PDSCH parameters previously configured for the terminal to send a response to the terminal, such as sending a downlink control signal to indicate that the uplink signal is accurately received, or to indicate that the uplink signal is not received, and scheduling the terminal to retransmit. For terminals applying coverage enhanced access, the downlink control signal needs to be transmitted repeatedly multiple times, and the PDCCH parameters / PDSCH parameters previously configured for the terminal take into account the scenario of repeated transmission multiple times.

[0082] If the terminal accesses the current cell based on the coverage enhancement parameters, the current cell requires the terminal to update the configured coverage enhancement parameters, such as instructing the terminal to access using the updated first system message. The current cell notifies the terminal to obtain the new first system message in the update instruction so as to access the current cell again.

[0083] Optionally, after receiving the update instruction, the terminal needs to obtain updated coverage enhancement parameters. If the terminal is not connected to the current cell at this time, it is necessary to continuously detect whether the current cell supports coverage enhancement access until the current cell supports coverage enhancement access. The terminal accesses the current cell and reselects to obtain configuration authorization information or the first system message from the current cell to update the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal.

[0084] Optionally, the update instruction may indicate which stored coverage enhancement parameters of the terminal need to be updated. For example, the update instruction may indicate that the terminal needs to re-acquire configuration authorization information and / or a first system message, thereby updating the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters and / or common coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal.

[0085] In this embodiment, the current cell can maintain at least two sets of system messages, one of which is a system message for access by terminals with normal coverage (i.e., the second system message), which can be updated when necessary; the other set of system messages is for access with coverage enhancement (i.e., the first system message), which can remain unchanged for a long time, so that when receiving an access request or transmission data sent by the terminal based on coverage enhancement parameters, the cell can parse the access request or transmission data based on the first system message it maintains. Further, if the current cell cannot parse the access request or transmission data sent by the terminal based on the coverage enhancement parameters, the coverage enhancement parameters contained in the first system message maintained by the current cell may be inconsistent with the coverage enhancement parameters stored by the terminal, and the current cell can send an update instruction to the terminal, instructing the terminal to update the coverage enhancement parameters stored therein. Further, after configuring the coverage enhancement parameters for the terminal, the current cell stores the configured coverage enhancement parameters locally. If the current cell cannot obtain the local coverage enhancement parameters, it means that the coverage enhancement parameters of the cell are updated, and the terminal is also informed through the update instruction.

[0086] In one embodiment, the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters include coverage enhancement parameters corresponding to different coverage enhancement levels, so that the terminal determines the coverage enhancement parameters for sending the access request or the transmission data according to the coverage enhancement level of the terminal.

[0087] Optionally, the configured grant information (Configured grant) is applicable to a terminal that applies coverage enhancement access, and the current cell can set corresponding transmission resources for different coverage enhancement levels (Coverage Enhancement level, referred to as CE level). Further, the terminal determines its corresponding CE level based on the signal strength of the current cell received by itself (such as reference signal receiving power (RSRP) and other information), and uses the coverage enhancement parameters corresponding to the CE level (i.e., the corresponding transmission resources) to send an access request or transmit data to the current cell.

[0088] In a specific embodiment, multiple CE levels may be configured, and each level is configured with corresponding configuration authorization information.

[0089] The configuration authorization information includes: if -110 decibel milliwatt (dbm) ≤ RSRP < -100dbm, it means that the CE level of the terminal = 1, and the terminal uses the first set of pre-configured transmission resources to send an access request or transmit data to the current cell; if -120dbm ≤ RSRP < -110dbm, it means that the CE level of the terminal = 2, and the terminal uses the second set of pre-configured transmission resources to send an access request or transmit data to the current cell, ..., and so on. Multiple sets of pre-configured transmission resources corresponding to multiple CE levels can be configured in the configuration authorization information.

[0090] In this embodiment, the current cell can configure multiple sets of coverage enhancement parameters corresponding to multiple coverage enhancement levels by configuring authorization information, and the terminal can select the corresponding coverage enhancement parameter based on its own coverage enhancement level for sending an access request or transmitting data.

[0091] See also Figure 3 An embodiment of the present invention also provides a third communication method based on coverage enhancement, which is executed by a terminal that applies coverage enhancement access, and the terminal is in a sleep state when it does not need to access the target cell.

[0092] Specifically, refer to Figure 3 The method includes: step S301, after accessing the target cell, receiving configuration information sent by the target cell; step S302, when accessing the target cell next time, using the configuration message to perform an access operation; wherein the target cell supports coverage enhanced access within multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhanced access at other times except the multiple preset time periods.

[0093] Optionally, the configuration information indicates one or more preset time periods in the future, and accessing the target cell again according to the configuration message includes: accessing the target cell within the preset time indicated by the configuration information.

[0094] Optionally, the configuration information indicates the preset time period, the preset time period is periodic, and accessing the target cell again according to the configuration message includes: accessing the target cell within the preset time indicated by the configuration information.

[0095] Optionally, the configuration information includes coverage enhancement parameters of the target cell allowing the terminal to perform coverage enhanced access. After receiving the configuration information sent by the target cell, it also includes: storing the received coverage enhancement parameters; the method also includes: sending an access request or transmitting data to the target cell based on the stored coverage enhancement parameters; and receiving a response sent by the target cell.

[0096] Optionally, the method also includes: when an update instruction sent by the target cell is received, updating the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal according to the update instruction; wherein the update instruction indicates that the target cell fails to parse the access request or transmission data, or the update instruction indicates that the target cell cannot obtain the local coverage enhancement parameters of the target cell.

[0097] Optionally, the method further includes: if the terminal does not receive a response sent by the target cell within a certain period of time after sending the access request or transmitting data, updating the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal.

[0098] Specifically, if the terminal does not receive a response from the target cell for a long time after sending an access request or transmitting data, it may be that the access request or transmission data sent by the terminal based on the coverage enhancement parameters failed. The terminal may update its stored coverage enhancement parameters and then send the access request or transmission data again.

[0099] Optionally, the coverage enhancement parameter includes a common coverage enhancement parameter and / or the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameter.

[0100] Optionally, all or part of the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters are carried by configuring authorization information.

[0101] Optionally, all or part of the common coverage enhancement parameters are carried by a first system message.

[0102] Optionally, the target cell broadcasts the first system message or the second system message within the preset time, and broadcasts the second system message within a time other than the preset time, and the second system message does not include content of the common coverage enhancement parameter.

[0103] Optionally, the method further includes: when initially accessing the target cell, receiving a first system message broadcast by the target cell.

[0104] Optionally, the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters include coverage enhancement parameters corresponding to different coverage enhancement levels, and the method further includes: determining the coverage enhancement parameters for sending the access request or the transmission data according to the coverage enhancement level of the terminal.

[0105] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the steps S301 to S302 can be regarded as the same as the above Figure 1 The execution steps corresponding to step S101 in the embodiment shown are: Figure 3 The target cell in the Figure 1 and Figure 2 The current cell in the method, Figure 3 The execution subject (terminal for application coverage enhancement access) in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The terminal in the method. Figure 1 and Figure 3 The specific implementation principles and logics are complementary to each other. Therefore, the explanation of the terms in this embodiment can refer to Figure 1 The relevant description of the illustrated embodiment will not be repeated here.

[0106] In a specific embodiment, a new wireless communication system can be introduced. A terminal (such as UE) can access the Internet through an access point (AP). Long Term Evolution (LTE) or New Radio (NR) wireless technology is used between the terminal and the AP. The AP can integrate some core network functions and can be deployed in the licensed spectrum or the unlicensed spectrum. The AP can be flexibly deployed in places such as homes and enterprises to provide services for a small number of users. The users served by the AP are relatively small and may be relatively fixed.

[0107] This type of AP is deployed in a company or home, and sometimes needs to meet coverage enhancement requirements. For example, if there is a basement in the home, the water meter and the electricity meter may be located in the basement. However, the signal conditions in the basement are poor, and the AP cannot be normally accessed. Coverage enhancement technology is required, such as the need to transmit the uplink and downlink signals multiple times. The receiver needs to combine and receive the signals transmitted by the sender multiple times in order to accurately obtain and analyze the signal. However, these water meters and electricity meters only need to use the network occasionally for signal transmission. If the APs connected to these water meters and electricity meters always support coverage enhancement, it means that resources that need to be repeatedly transmitted multiple times, such as random access resources, need to be configured all the time, which will cause resource waste.

[0108] This can be done through Figures 1 to 3 The method described can enable terminals such as electric meters and water meters in the basement to communicate with the AP when the AP supports coverage enhancement access, or enable terminals such as electric meters and water meters in the basement to communicate with the AP based on coverage enhancement parameters configured by the AP.

[0109] See also Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device based on coverage enhancement according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication device based on coverage enhancement 40 includes:

[0110] The configuration message sending module 401 is used to send a configuration message to the terminal during the period when the terminal applying coverage enhanced access accesses the current cell, and the configuration message is used by the terminal when it accesses the current cell next time; wherein, the current cell supports coverage enhanced access within multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhanced access at other times except the multiple preset time periods.

[0111] For more information about the working principle and working method of the communication device 40 based on coverage enhancement, please refer to Figure 1 to Figure 2 The relevant description of the communication method based on coverage enhancement will not be repeated here.

[0112] In a specific implementation, the above-mentioned coverage enhancement-based communication device 40 may correspond to a chip with a coverage enhancement-based communication function, or to a chip with a data processing function, such as a system-on-a-chip (SOC), a baseband chip, etc.; or to a chip module in a network device that includes a chip with a coverage enhancement-based communication function; or to a chip module with a chip with a data processing function, or to a network device.

[0113] See also Figure 5 , Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device based on coverage enhancement according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication device based on coverage enhancement 50 is arranged in a terminal to which coverage enhancement access is applied or is coupled to the terminal.

[0114] The communication device 50 based on coverage enhancement includes: a configuration information receiving module 501, which is used to receive the configuration information sent by the target cell after accessing the target cell; an access module 502, which is used to use the configuration message to perform an access operation when accessing the target cell next time; wherein the target cell supports coverage enhancement access within multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhancement access at other times except the multiple preset time periods.

[0115] For more information about the working principle and working method of the communication device 50 based on coverage enhancement, please refer to Figure 3 The relevant description of the communication method based on coverage enhancement will not be repeated here.

[0116] In a specific implementation, the above-mentioned coverage enhancement-based communication device 50 may correspond to a chip with a coverage enhancement-based communication function, or to a chip with a data processing function, such as a system-on-a-chip (SOC), a baseband chip, etc.; or to a chip module in a terminal that includes a chip with a coverage enhancement-based communication function; or to a chip module with a chip with a data processing function, or to a terminal.

[0117] In a specific implementation, each module / unit included in each device or product described in the above embodiments may be a software module / unit or a hardware module / unit, or may be partly a software module / unit and partly a hardware module / unit.

[0118] For example, for each device or product applied to or integrated in a chip, each module / unit contained therein may be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits, or at least some of the modules / units may be implemented in the form of software programs, which run on a processor integrated inside the chip, and the remaining (if any) modules / units may be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits; for each device or product applied to or integrated in a chip module, each module / unit contained therein may be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits, and different modules / units may be located in the same component (such as a chip, circuit module, etc.) or different components of the chip module, or at least some of the modules / units may be implemented in the form of software programs. The element can be implemented in the form of a software program, which runs on a processor integrated inside the chip module, and the remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits; for various devices and products applied to or integrated in the terminal, the various modules / units contained therein can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits, and different modules / units can be located in the same component (for example, chip, circuit module, etc.) or in different components in the terminal, or, at least some modules / units can be implemented in the form of a software program, which runs on a processor integrated inside the terminal, and the remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits.

[0119] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program is executed when the processor is running. Figures 1 to 3 The storage medium may be a computer-readable storage medium, for example, a non-volatile memory or a non-transitory memory, and may also include an optical disk, a mechanical hard disk, a solid-state hard disk, etc.

[0120] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a network device, comprising a communication device 40 based on coverage enhancement, or comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and the processor executes the computer program when running the computer program. Figure 1 and Figure 2 Any step of the method described above.

[0121] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a terminal, comprising a communication device 50 based on coverage enhancement, or comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and the processor executes the computer program when running the computer program. Figure 3 Any step of the method described above.

[0122] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), and the processor may also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor, etc.

[0123] It should also be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of random access memory (RAM) are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link DRAM (SLDRAM) and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0124] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this article is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this article indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0125] The "plurality" appearing in the embodiments of the present application refers to two or more.

[0126] The first, second, etc. descriptions appearing in the embodiments of the present application are only used for illustration and distinction of the description objects. There is no order, nor do they indicate any special limitation on the number of devices in the embodiments of the present application, and cannot constitute any limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0127] The "connection" that appears in the embodiments of the present application refers to various connection methods such as direct connection or indirect connection to achieve communication between devices, and the embodiments of the present application do not impose any limitations on this.

[0128] Although the present invention is disclosed as above, the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method based on coverage enhancement, characterized in that: The method comprises: During the period when a terminal applying coverage enhanced access accesses a current cell, sending configuration information to the terminal, where the configuration information is used when the terminal accesses the current cell next time; The current cell supports coverage enhancement access in multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhancement access at other times except the multiple preset time periods; The configuration information indicates one or more preset time periods in the future, so that the terminal accesses the current cell within the preset time indicated by the configuration information.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The configuration information indicates the time corresponding to the preset time period, and the preset time period is periodic.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The configuration information includes a coverage enhancement parameter for the current cell allowing the terminal to perform coverage enhancement access, and the terminal stores the received coverage enhancement parameter. The method further includes: receiving an access request or transmission data sent by the terminal based on the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal; parsing the access request or the transmission data according to local coverage enhancement parameters; When the parsing is successful, sending a response to the terminal; The local coverage enhancement parameter is a coverage enhancement parameter that has been configured for the terminal.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The parsing the access request or the transmission data according to the local coverage enhancement parameter further includes: When the parsing fails or the local coverage enhancement parameter cannot be obtained, an update instruction is sent to the terminal, so that the terminal updates the coverage enhancement parameter stored in the terminal according to the update instruction.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The coverage enhancement parameters include common coverage enhancement parameters and / or terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that All or part of the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters are carried by configuration authorization information.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that All or part of the common coverage enhancement parameters are carried by the first system message.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: broadcasting the first system message or the second system message within the preset time period; broadcasting the second system message in other time periods except the plurality of preset time periods; The second system message does not include the content of the common coverage enhancement parameter.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: When the terminal initially accesses the cell, the first system message is broadcast.

10. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters include coverage enhancement parameters corresponding to different coverage enhancement levels, so that the terminal determines the coverage enhancement parameters for sending the access request or the transmission data according to the coverage enhancement level of the terminal.

11. A communication method based on coverage enhancement, the method being executed by a terminal applying coverage enhancement access, characterized in that: The method comprises: After accessing the target cell, receiving configuration information sent by the target cell; When accessing the target cell next time, use the configuration information to perform an access operation; The target cell supports coverage enhancement access in multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhancement access at other times except the multiple preset time periods; The configuration information indicates one or more preset time periods in the future.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The re-accessing the target cell according to the configuration information includes: Access the target cell within the preset time indicated by the configuration information.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The configuration information indicates the preset time period, the preset time period is periodic, and the re-accessing the target cell according to the configuration information includes: Access the target cell within the preset time indicated by the configuration information.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that: The configuration information includes a coverage enhancement parameter for the target cell to allow the terminal to perform coverage enhancement access, and after receiving the configuration information sent by the target cell, the method further includes: storing the received coverage enhancement parameters; The method further comprises: sending an access request or transmitting data to the target cell based on the stored coverage enhancement parameter; A response sent by the target cell is received.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: When receiving an update instruction sent by the target cell, updating the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal according to the update instruction; The update instruction indicates that the target cell fails to parse the access request or transmission data, or the update instruction indicates that the target cell cannot obtain the local coverage enhancement parameter of the target cell.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: If the terminal does not receive a response sent by the target cell within a certain period of time after sending the access request or transmitting data, the coverage enhancement parameters stored in the terminal are updated.

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The coverage enhancement parameters include common coverage enhancement parameters and / or terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that All or part of the terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters are carried by configuration authorization information.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that All or part of the common coverage enhancement parameters are carried by the first system message.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The target cell broadcasts the first system message or the second system message within the preset time, and broadcasts the second system message within a time other than the preset time, wherein the second system message does not include the content of the common coverage enhancement parameter.

21. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The method further comprises: When initially accessing the target cell, a first system message broadcast by the target cell is received.

22. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The terminal-specific coverage enhancement parameters include coverage enhancement parameters corresponding to different coverage enhancement levels, and the method further includes: A coverage enhancement parameter for sending the access request or the transmission data is determined according to the coverage enhancement level of the terminal.

23. A communication device based on coverage enhancement, characterized in that: The device comprises: A configuration message sending module, used to send configuration information to a terminal during access of the terminal to the current cell to which coverage enhanced access is applied, wherein the configuration information is used by the terminal when it accesses the current cell next time; The current cell supports coverage enhancement access in multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhancement access at other times except the multiple preset time periods; The configuration information indicates one or more preset time periods in the future, so that the terminal accesses the current cell within the preset time indicated by the configuration information.

24. A communication device based on coverage enhancement, the communication device being arranged in a terminal to which coverage enhancement access is applied or coupled to the terminal, characterized in that: The communication device comprises: A configuration information receiving module, used to receive configuration information sent by the target cell after accessing the target cell; An access module, configured to use the configuration information to perform an access operation when accessing the target cell next time; The target cell supports coverage enhancement access in multiple preset time periods, and does not support coverage enhancement access at other times except the multiple preset time periods; The configuration information indicates one or more preset time periods in the future.

25. A storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or any one of claims 11 to 22 are performed.

26. A network device, comprising the apparatus according to claim 23, or comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program executable on the processor, wherein: When the processor runs the computer program, the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 are performed.

27. A terminal, comprising the apparatus according to claim 24, or comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program executable on the processor, wherein: When the processor runs the computer program, the steps of the method according to any one of claims 11 to 22 are performed.

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