Communication Method and Device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus. The method includes: a network device determines the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with a first PEI according to the number of all the POs associated with the first PEI and the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI; the network device determines the bit value of each bit in the PI field according to the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI; the network device sends the first PEI to a terminal device. Compared with the solution of the present application, if the network device determines the number of bits in the PI field according to the number of PFs associated with a PEI and the number of POs included in each PF, it may result in an excessive number of bits in the PI field. Therefore, by adopting the solution of the present application, the situation of an excessive number of bits in the PI field will not occur, thereby ensuring that the PEI is received with better performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and more particularly, to a communication method and apparatus. Background Art

[0002] To solve the power consumption problem of a terminal receiving paging in the idle state and the inactive state, 3GPP introduced paging early indication (PEI). The paging indication (PI) field in the PEI is used to indicate whether the terminals corresponding to the paging occasions (POs) in a paging frame (PF), or the terminals in a subgroup of terminals corresponding to a PO, listen to paging messages. However, the current protocol does not specify a way to map the POs in the PF, or different terminal subgroups in a PO, to the PI field, which may result in a relatively large number of bits required for the PEI. When the number of bits of the PEI is large, it may affect the reception performance of the PEI and the usage range of the PEI. Therefore, how to keep the number of bits of the PEI within a reasonable range is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

[0004] The network device determines the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with a first paging indication according to the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of bits in the PI field of the first paging indication; the network device determines the bit value of each bit in the PI field according to the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first paging indication and whether there is paging for the terminal devices in each subgroup among all the subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first paging indication; the network device sends the first paging indication to the terminal device.

[0005] According to the solution of this application, the network device determines the number of subgroups included in each PO according to the number of bits in the PI field and the number of POs associated with a paging indication. Compared with the solution of this application, if the network device determines the number of bits in the PI field according to the number of PFs associated with a paging indication, the number of POs included in each PF, and the number of subgroups included in each PO, it may result in an excessive number of bits in the PI field. Therefore, adopting the solution of this application will not result in an excessive number of bits in the PI field, thereby ensuring that the paging indication is received with better performance.

[0006] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes:

[0007] The network device sends the first information and the second information to the terminal device; the first information indicates the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication, or the number of PFs associated with the first paging indication; the second information indicates the number of bits in the PI field of the first paging indication.

[0008] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes:

[0009] The network device determines the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication according to the number of paging frames PFs associated with the first paging indication and the number of POs included in each PF.

[0010] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the number of bits in the PI field is related to the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication.

[0011] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the number of bits in the PI field is related to the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication, including:

[0012] When the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication is less than or equal to the first value, the number of bits in the PI field is the second value; when the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication is greater than the first value, the number of bits in the PI field is the third value, and the third value is greater than the second value.

[0013] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the number of bits in the PI field is less than or equal to a specific threshold.

[0014] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the specific threshold is associated with the number of bits of the downlink control information DCI of the paging physical downlink control channel PDCCH.

[0015] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

[0016] The terminal device determines the position of the target bit in the PI field according to the number of all paging opportunities POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of bits in the PI field of the first paging indication; the terminal device receives the first paging indication from the network device; the terminal device determines whether to monitor the paging message according to the first paging indication and the target bit.

[0017] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes:

[0018] The terminal device determines the target PO to which the terminal device belongs.

[0019] The terminal device determines the position of the target bit in the PI field according to the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of bits in the PI field of the first paging indication, including:

[0020] The terminal device determines the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first paging indication according to the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of bits in the PI field; the terminal device determines the target subgroup of the terminal device in the target PO according to the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first paging indication; the terminal device determines the position of the target bit in the PI field according to the target PO and the target subgroup.

[0021] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes:

[0022] The terminal device receives first information and second information from the network device; the first information indicates the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication, or the number of PFs associated with the first paging indication; the second information indicates the number of bits in the PI field of the first paging indication.

[0023] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes:

[0024] The terminal device determines the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication according to the number of paging frames PFs associated with the first paging indication and the number of POs included in each PF.

[0025] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the number of bits in the PI field is related to the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication.

[0026] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the number of bits in the PI field is related to the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication, including:

[0027] When the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication is less than or equal to a first value, the number of bits in the PI field is a second value; when the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication is greater than the first value, the number of bits in the PI field is a third value, and the third value is greater than the second value.

[0028] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the number of bits in the PI field is less than or equal to a specific threshold.

[0029] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the specific threshold is associated with the number of bits of the downlink control information DCI of the paging physical downlink control channel PDCCH.

[0030] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

[0031] The network device determines the total number of subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first paging indication according to the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of subgroups included in each of all the POs associated with the first paging indication; when the total number of subgroups is greater than a specific threshold, the network device determines the bit value of each bit in the PI field based on a first mapping method, where the first mapping method is a mapping method in which at least two subgroups are mapped to the same bit in the PI field; the network device sends the first paging indication to the terminal device.

[0032] According to the solution of this application, if the total number of subgroups is greater than a specific threshold, the network device determines the bit value of each bit in the PI field based on the first mapping method. In other words, the network device generates a paging indication based on the first mapping method, and the number of bits in the PI field of this paging indication is less than or equal to this specific threshold. Therefore, by adopting the solution of this application, the situation of excessive bits in the PI field will not occur, thus ensuring that the paging indication is received with better performance.

[0033] Combined with the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the method further includes:

[0034] When the total number of subgroups is less than or equal to a specific threshold, or when the specific threshold does not exist, the network device determines the bit value of each bit in the PI field based on a second mapping method, where the second mapping method is a mapping method in which the subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first paging indication are in one-to-one correspondence with multiple bits in the PI field.

[0035] According to the solution of this application, the network device can select an appropriate mapping method to generate a paging indication according to the total number of subgroups, so that the number of bits in the PI field of the paging indication will not be excessive, thus ensuring that the paging indication is received with better performance.

[0036] Combined with the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the method further includes:

[0037] The network device sends the first information and the third information to the terminal device; the first information indicates the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication, or the number of PFs associated with the first paging indication; the third information indicates the number of subgroups included in each of all the POs associated with the first paging indication.

[0038] Combined with the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the specific threshold is associated with the number of bits of the downlink control information DCI of the paging physical downlink control channel PDCCH.

[0039] It should be understood that this specific threshold may be equal to the maximum number of bits that the PI field is allowed to include.

[0040] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

[0041] The terminal device determines the total number of subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first paging indication according to the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of subgroups included in each of all the POs associated with the first paging indication; when the total number of subgroups is greater than a specific threshold, the terminal device determines the position of the target bit in the PI field of the first paging indication based on a first mapping method, where the first mapping method is a mapping method in which at least two subgroups are mapped to the same bit in the PI field; the terminal device receives the first paging indication from the network device; the terminal device determines whether to monitor the paging message according to the first paging indication and the target bit.

[0042] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the method further includes:

[0043] When the total number of subgroups is less than or equal to the specific threshold, or when the specific threshold does not exist, the terminal device determines the position of the target bit in the PI field based on a second mapping method, where the second mapping method is a mapping method in which the subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first paging indication are in one-to-one correspondence with multiple bits in the PI field.

[0044] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the method further includes:

[0045] The terminal device determines the target PO to which the terminal device belongs and the target subgroup in the target PO.

[0046] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the method further includes:

[0047] The terminal device receives first information and third information from the network device; the first information indicates the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication, or the number of PFs associated with the first paging indication; the third information indicates the number of subgroups included in each of all the POs associated with the first paging indication.

[0048] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the specific threshold is associated with the number of bits of the downlink control information DCI of the paging physical downlink control channel PDCCH.

[0049] A fifth aspect provides a communication method, including:

[0050] When a synchronization signal block SSB period includes multiple paging frames PFs, the network device generates multiple paging indications, where the multiple paging indications correspond to the multiple PFs; the network device sends the multiple paging indications.

[0051] According to the solution of the present application, if an SSB period includes multiple PFs, multiple paging indications can be configured for the multiple PFs, so that the number of bits in the PI field of each of the multiple paging indications is not too large, thereby ensuring that the paging indication is received with better performance.

[0052] In combination with the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect,

[0053] Multiple paging indications correspond one-to-one with multiple Radio Network Temporary Identifiers (RNTIs); alternatively, multiple paging indications correspond one-to-one with multiple search space sets; alternatively, multiple paging indications correspond one-to-one with multiple initial listening opportunities, the multiple initial listening opportunities are located in the same search space set, and the listening opportunities of the multiple paging indications do not overlap with each other.

[0054] In combination with the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect, the method further includes:

[0055] The network device sends fourth information to the terminal device, and the fourth information includes multiple configuration information, and the multiple configuration information is used to configure multiple paging indications.

[0056] A sixth aspect provides a communication method, including:

[0057] The terminal device determines the configuration information of the target paging indication according to the target PF and the correspondence between the multiple configuration information and the multiple PFs; the terminal device receives the target paging indication from the network device according to the configuration information of the target paging indication; the terminal device determines whether to monitor the target PF according to the target paging indication, and the target PF corresponds to the target paging indication.

[0058] In combination with the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the multiple configuration information includes information of multiple Radio Network Temporary Identifiers (RNTIs), and the multiple RNTIs correspond one-to-one with the multiple paging indications; alternatively, the multiple configuration information includes information of multiple search space sets, and the multiple search space sets correspond one-to-one with the multiple paging indications; alternatively, the configuration information of the multiple paging indications includes information of the same search space set and information of multiple initial listening opportunities, the multiple initial listening opportunities correspond one-to-one with the multiple paging indications, and the listening opportunities of the multiple paging indications do not overlap with each other.

[0059] In combination with the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the method further includes:

[0060] The terminal device receives fourth information from the network device. The fourth information includes multiple configuration information, and the multiple configuration information is used to configure multiple paging indications.

[0061] A seventh aspect provides a communication device, including:

[0062] A transceiver unit, and a processing unit connected to the transceiver unit.

[0063] A processing unit, configured to determine the number of subgroups included in each of all the POs associated with a first paging indication according to the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of bits in the PI field of the first paging indication; the processing unit is further configured to determine the bit value of each bit in the PI field according to the number of subgroups included in each of all the POs associated with the first paging indication and whether there is a paging for the terminal device in each subgroup included in all the subgroups associated with the first paging indication; a transceiver unit, configured to send the first paging indication to the terminal device.

[0064] In combination with the seventh aspect, in some implementation manners of the seventh aspect:

[0065] The transceiver unit is further configured to send first information and second information to the terminal device; the first information indicates the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication, or the number of PFs associated with the first paging indication; the second information indicates the number of bits in the PI field of the first paging indication.

[0066] In combination with the seventh aspect, in some implementation manners of the seventh aspect:

[0067] The processing unit is further configured to determine the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication according to the number of paging frames PF associated with the first paging indication and the number of POs included in each PF.

[0068] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, including:

[0069] A transceiver unit and a processing unit connected to the transceiver unit.

[0070] The processing unit is configured to determine the position of a target bit in the PI field according to the number of all the paging opportunities POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of bits in the PI field of the first paging indication; the transceiver unit is configured to receive the first paging indication from a network device; the processing unit is further configured to determine whether to monitor a paging message according to the first paging indication and the target bit.

[0071] In combination with the eighth aspect, in some implementation manners of the eighth aspect:

[0072] The processing unit is further configured to determine the target PO to which the terminal device belongs; the processing unit is further configured to determine the number of subgroups included in each of all the POs associated with the first paging indication according to the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of bits in the PI field; the processing unit is further configured to determine the target subgroup of the terminal device in the target PO according to the number of subgroups included in each of all the POs associated with the first paging indication; the processing unit is further configured to determine the position of the target bit in the PI field according to the target PO and the target subgroup.

[0073] In combination with the eighth aspect, in some implementation manners of the eighth aspect:

[0074] The transceiver unit is further configured to receive first information and second information from a network device; the first information indicates the number of all POs associated with a first paging indication, or the number of PFs associated with the first paging indication; the second information indicates the number of bits in the PI field in the first paging indication.

[0075] Combined with the eighth aspect, in some implementation manners of the eighth aspect:

[0076] The processing unit is further configured to determine the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication according to the number of paging frames PF associated with the first paging indication and the number of POs included in each PF.

[0077] The ninth aspect provides a communication device, including:

[0078] A transceiver unit, and a processing unit connected to the transceiver unit.

[0079] The processing unit is configured to determine the total number of subgroups included in all POs associated with the first paging indication according to the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first paging indication; in the case where the total number of subgroups is greater than a specific threshold, the processing unit is further configured to determine the bit value of each bit in the PI field based on a first mapping manner, and the first mapping manner is a mapping manner in which at least two subgroups are mapped to the same bit in the PI field; the transceiver unit is configured to send the first paging indication to a terminal device.

[0080] Combined with the ninth aspect, in some implementation manners of the ninth aspect:

[0081] In the case where the total number of subgroups is less than or equal to a specific threshold, or the specific threshold does not exist, the processing unit is further configured to determine the bit value of each bit in the PI field based on a second mapping manner, and the second mapping manner is a mapping manner in which the subgroups included in all POs associated with the first paging indication are in one-to-one correspondence with multiple bits in the PI field.

[0082] Combined with the ninth aspect, in some implementation manners of the ninth aspect:

[0083] The transceiver unit is further configured to send first information and third information to the terminal device; the first information indicates the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication, or the number of PFs associated with the first paging indication; the third information indicates the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first paging indication.

[0084] The tenth aspect provides a communication device, including:

[0085] A transceiver unit, and a processing unit connected to the transceiver unit.

[0086] A processing unit, configured to determine the total number of subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first paging indication according to the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first paging indication; in a case where the total number of subgroups is greater than a specific threshold, the processing unit is further configured to determine the position of a target bit in the PI field of the first paging indication based on a first mapping manner, where the first mapping manner is a mapping manner in which at least two subgroups are mapped to the same bit in the PI field; a transceiver unit, configured to receive the first paging indication from a network device; the processing unit is further configured to determine whether to monitor a paging message according to the first paging indication and the target bit.

[0087] Combined with the tenth aspect, in some implementation manners of the tenth aspect:

[0088] In a case where the total number of subgroups is less than or equal to the specific threshold, or the specific threshold does not exist, the processing unit is further configured to determine the position of the target bit in the PI field based on a second mapping manner, where the second mapping manner is a mapping manner in which the subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first paging indication are in one-to-one correspondence with multiple bits in the PI field.

[0089] Combined with the tenth aspect, in some implementation manners of the tenth aspect:

[0090] The processing unit is further configured to determine a target PO to which the terminal device belongs and a target subgroup in the target PO.

[0091] Combined with the tenth aspect, in some implementation manners of the tenth aspect:

[0092] The transceiver unit is further configured to receive first information and third information from the network device; the first information indicates the number of all the POs associated with the first paging indication, or the number of PFs associated with the first paging indication; the third information indicates the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first paging indication.

[0093] The eleventh aspect provides a communication device, including:

[0094] A transceiver unit and a processing unit connected to the transceiver unit.

[0095] In a case where a synchronization signal block (SSB) period includes multiple paging frames (PFs), the processing unit is configured to generate multiple paging indications, where the multiple paging indications correspond to the multiple PFs; the transceiver unit is configured to send the multiple paging indications.

[0096] Combined with the eleventh aspect, in some implementation manners of the eleventh aspect:

[0097] The transceiver unit is further configured to send fourth information to a terminal device, where the fourth information includes multiple configuration information, and the multiple configuration information is used to configure the multiple paging indications.

[0098] In a twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided, including:

[0099] a transceiver unit, and a processing unit connected to the transceiver unit.

[0100] The processing unit is configured to determine configuration information of a target paging indication according to a target PF and a correspondence between multiple pieces of configuration information and multiple PFs; the transceiver unit is configured to receive the target paging indication from a network device according to the configuration information of the target paging indication; the processing unit is further configured to determine whether to monitor the target PF according to the target paging indication, and the target PF corresponds to the target paging indication.

[0101] In combination with the twelfth aspect, in some implementation manners of the twelfth aspect:

[0102] The transceiver unit is further configured to receive fourth information from the network device, and the fourth information includes multiple pieces of configuration information for configuring multiple paging indications.

[0103] In a thirteenth aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

[0104] A terminal device sends fifth information;

[0105] The fifth information indicates the number of SS burst sets that the terminal device needs to receive before receiving a paging PDCCH; or, the fifth information indicates the duration for which the terminal device needs to wake up in advance for receiving the paging PDCCH;

[0106] The terminal device determines an opportunity for an access network device to send a paging indication according to the number of SS burst sets, and the paging indication includes information on whether paging for the terminal device exists;

[0107] The terminal device monitors the paging indication according to the opportunity.

[0108] In a fourteenth aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

[0109] A network device receives eighth information;

[0110] The eighth information indicates the number of SS burst sets that the terminal device needs to receive before receiving a paging PDCCH; or, the eighth information indicates the duration for which the terminal device needs to wake up in advance for receiving the paging PDCCH;

[0111] The network device determines an opportunity for sending a paging indication according to the eighth information, and the paging indication includes information on whether paging for the terminal device exists;

[0112] The network device sends the paging indication at the opportunity.

[0113] In a fifteenth aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

[0114] The terminal device sends fifth information;

[0115] The fifth information indicates the number of SS burst sets that the terminal device needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH; or, the fifth information indicates the duration that the terminal device needs to wake up in advance for receiving the paging PDCCH;

[0116] The terminal device receives seventh information, where the seventh information indicates that the timing for the access network device to send a paging indication is after the Nth SS burst set before the target paging timing, and N is a positive integer;

[0117] The terminal device determines the timing for the access network device to send a paging indication according to the seventh information;

[0118] The terminal device monitors the paging indication according to the timing for sending the paging indication, and the paging indication includes information on whether there is a paging for the terminal device.

[0119] In a sixteenth aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

[0120] The network device receives multiple pieces of ninth information, and the multiple pieces of ninth information correspond to multiple terminal devices one by one. Each piece of ninth information in the multiple pieces of ninth information indicates the number of SS burst sets that the corresponding terminal device needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH; or, each piece of ninth information in the multiple pieces of ninth information indicates the duration that the corresponding terminal device needs to wake up in advance for receiving the paging PDCCH;

[0121] The network device determines that the timing for sending a paging indication is after the Nth SS burst set before the target paging timing according to the multiple pieces of ninth information, and N is a positive integer;

[0122] The network device sends seventh information, and the seventh information indicates that the timing for sending the paging indication is after the Nth SS burst set;

[0123] The network device sends the paging indication at the timing for sending the paging indication.

[0124] In a seventeenth aspect, a communication method is provided, including:

[0125] The terminal receives a Paging Early Indication (PEI), where the PEI is associated with at least one paging occasion (PO); the terminal determines the target PO corresponding to the terminal, the at least one PO includes the target PO, the target PO corresponds to multiple bits in the PEI, and the multiple bits correspond to multiple subgroups; in the case where the identifier of the subgroup where the terminal is located is not obtained, if the first bit indicates the existence of paging, the terminal monitors the paging message, and the first bit is any one of the multiple bits; or, in the case where the identifier of the subgroup where the terminal is located is not obtained, if all of the multiple bits indicate the non-existence of paging, the terminal does not monitor the paging message.

[0126] In combination with the seventeenth aspect, in some implementation manners of the seventeenth aspect, the method further includes: the terminal obtains the number of subgroups into which each PO is divided.

[0127] The eighteenth aspect provides a communication method, including:

[0128] The access network device determines that the terminal is paged, and the terminal corresponds to a target listening occasion (PO); the access network device sends a Paging Early Indication (PEI), the PEI is associated with the target PO, the target PO corresponds to multiple bits in the PEI, and the multiple bits correspond to multiple subgroups; in the case where the identifier of the subgroup where the terminal is located is not obtained, at least one of the multiple bits indicates the existence of paging.

[0129] The nineteenth aspect provides a communication apparatus, including units for executing the method in any one of the possible implementation manners of the thirteenth aspect to the eighteenth aspect.

[0130] The twentieth aspect provides a communication device, including a communication interface and a processor. When the communication device runs, the processor executes the computer program or instructions stored in the memory, so that the communication device executes the method in any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect to the sixth aspect, the thirteenth aspect to the eighteenth aspect. The memory may be located in the processor or may be implemented by a chip independent of the processor, and the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0131] The twenty-first aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium, including a computer program, which when running on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method in any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect to the sixth aspect, the thirteenth aspect to the eighteenth aspect.

[0132] The twenty-second aspect provides a chip, on which a processing circuit is provided, and the processing circuit is used to execute the method in any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect to the sixth aspect, the thirteenth aspect to the eighteenth aspect.

[0133] In a twenty-third aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes a computer program (which may also be referred to as code or instructions). When the computer program is run, it causes the computer to execute the method in any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect to the sixth aspect and the thirteenth aspect to the eighteenth aspect. Description of the Drawings

[0134] Figure 1 Shows the system architecture applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0135] Figure 2 Shows an example of a schematic interaction diagram of the method proposed in the present application.

[0136] Figure 3 Shows an example of a schematic interaction diagram of the method proposed in the present application.

[0137] Figure 4 Shows an example of a schematic interaction diagram of the method proposed in the present application.

[0138] Figure 5 Shows an example of a schematic interaction diagram of the method proposed in the present application.

[0139] Figure 6 Shows different timings for sending PEI#1.

[0140] Figure 7 Shows an example of a schematic interaction diagram of the method proposed in the present application.

[0141] Figure 8 Shows an example of a schematic interaction diagram of the method proposed in the present application.

[0142] Figure 9 Shows an example of a schematic interaction diagram of the method proposed in the present application.

[0143] Figure 10 Shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by the present application.

[0144] Figure 11 Shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by the present application. Detailed Embodiments

[0145] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described in conjunction with the drawings.

[0146] The technical solution of the embodiment of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Global System of Mobile communication (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), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, 5th Generation (5G) system or New Radio (NR), future 6th Generation (6G) system, etc.

[0147] Figure 1 FIG. shows a communication system 100 applicable to the embodiment of the present application, and the communication system 100 includes a terminal device and a network device.

[0148] The terminal device in the embodiment of the present application may refer to a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a user unit, a user station, a mobile station, a mobile device, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent or a user device. The terminal device may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, a terminal device in a future 6G network or a terminal device in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), etc., and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0149] The network device in the embodiments of the present application may be a device for communicating with a terminal device. The network device may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a Global System of Mobile communication (GSM) system or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, or a NodeB (NB) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, or an Evolutional NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system. It may also be a radio controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN) scenario, or the network device may be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a network device in a 5G network, a network device in a future 6G network, or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0150] To solve the power consumption problem of a terminal receiving paging in the idle state and the inactive state, 3GPP has introduced a new paging indication information, which may also be referred to as paging early indication (PEI) or advanced paging indication. The paging indication information generally may include the following three indication fields:

[0151] 1: Paging Indication Field (PI field for short), which is used to indicate whether the terminal corresponding to the PO in the PF or the terminal in the terminal subgroup corresponding to the PO listens for the paging message.

[0152] 2: Tracking Reference Signal (TRS) field, which is used to indicate whether there is an available TRS resource in the idle / inactive state. The TRS resource can provide enhanced time-frequency offset estimation for the terminal in the idle / inactive state.

[0153] 3: Short Message field, which is used to indicate whether the system message has changed, or to provide information such as early warnings for emergencies such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

[0154] The following uses an example to illustrate the deficiencies in the prior art.

[0155] Suppose a PEI is associated with 2 PFs, each PF includes 4 POs, and the terminals on each PO are divided into 8 subgroups. If the mapping method is based on a one-to-one mapping between the bits in the PI field and the terminal subgroups, then the PI field requires 64 bits. In contrast, the size of the downlink control information (DCI) of the paging physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is generally 41 bits. At this time, only the number of bits in the PI field of the PEI has exceeded the number of bits of the DCI of the paging PDCCH. If the number of bits occupied by the TRS field and the short message field is further considered, the number of bits of the PEI will be even more. In the case where the number of bits of the PEI is too large, the reception performance of the PEI will be reduced, and the usage range of the PEI will also be affected.

[0156] Based on this, the present application provides a variety of methods to solve the above problems. The solutions proposed in the present application will be introduced in detail below. For the convenience of description, the following takes the network device as the base station, the terminal device as the UE, and the paging indication as the PEI as an example for illustration.

[0157] Figure 2 Fig. 200 shows a communication method provided by the present application. The method 200 includes:

[0158] S210, the base station #1 determines the number of subgroups (denoted as K) included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI according to the number of all POs (denoted as W) associated with the first PEI and the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI (denoted as L).

[0159] It should be understood that when the value of N is 1, it means that the UEs in a PO are not grouped.

[0160] As a possible way, N can be determined by the following formula: [[ID=********]]

[0161] [[ID=********]] Wherein, means rounding down L / W.

[0162] As another possible way, N can be determined by the following formula:

[0163] Wherein, K max represents the maximum value that K can take. For example, K max = 8.

[0164] For example, if the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI is 16 and the number of POs associated with the first PEI is 8, then N is 2. That is, among the 8 POs associated with the first PEI, the UEs corresponding to each PO are divided into 2 subgroups.

[0165] For another example, if the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI is 16 and the number of POs associated with the first PEI is 2, then N is 8. That is, among the 8 POs associated with the first PEI, each PO-corresponding UE is divided into 8 subgroups.

[0166] Regarding the number of all POs associated with the first PEI, optionally, as a way, the number of all POs associated with the first PEI can be directly pre-configured in base station #1.

[0167] Optionally, as another way, the number of PFs associated with the first PEI and the number of POs included in each PF can be pre-configured in base station #1. At this time, base station #1 can determine the number of all POs associated with the first PEI according to the number of PFs associated with the first PEI and the number of POs included in each PF.

[0168] In general, the number of all POs associated with the first PEI = the number of PFs associated with the first PEI multiplied by the number of POs included in each PF; for example, if the first PEI is associated with 2 PFs and each PF includes 4 POs, then base station #1 determines that the first PEI is associated with 8 POs.

[0169] Regarding the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI, optionally, as a way, the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI can be pre-configured in base station #1.

[0170] Optionally, as another way, the number of bits in the PI field is related to the number of all POs associated with the first PEI. Specifically, when the number of all POs associated with the first PEI is less than or equal to a first value, the number of bits in the PI field is a second value; when the number of all POs associated with the first PEI is greater than the first value, the number of bits in the PI field is a third value, and the third value is greater than the second value.

[0171] In one example, if the number of POs associated with the first PEI is less than or equal to 4 (or the first PEI is only associated with one PF), then base station #1 determines that the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI can be 8 or 16.

[0172] In another example, if the number of POs associated with the first PEI is greater than 4, for example, there are 8 POs (or the first PEI is associated with multiple PFs, such as 2 PFs), then base station #1 determines that the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI is 32.

[0173] It should be understood that the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI can have multiple gears, and multiple gears correspond to multiple values. When the number of POs associated with the first PEI is more, base station #1 can select a value with a higher gear as the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI.

[0174] In addition, the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI may be less than or equal to a specific threshold. Optionally, the specific threshold is associated with the number of bits of the DCI of the paging PDCCH. The value of the specific threshold may be pre-agreed or pre-configured in base station #1.

[0175] For example, if the DCI of the paging PDCCH is usually 41 bits, the specific threshold may be 32.

[0176] Regarding this specific threshold, it will not be elaborated further below.

[0177] S220, UE #1 determines the position of the target bit in the PI field of the first PEI according to the number of all POs associated with the first PEI and the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI.

[0178] It should be understood that the target bit is used to indicate whether UE #1 listens to the paging message.

[0179] As a possible way, UE #1 may determine the target PO to which UE #1 belongs. For example, UE #1 may determine the index of the target PO according to the identifier of UE #1 (the ID of UE #1).

[0180] Furthermore, UE #1 may determine the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first PEI according to the number of all POs associated with the first PEI and the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI.

[0181] Still further, UE #1 determines the target subgroup of UE #1 in the target PO according to the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first PEI. For example, UE #1 may determine the index of the target subgroup according to the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first PEI and in combination with the ID of UE #1.

[0182] Example 1, if the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first PEI is 2, UE #1 determines that UE #1 belongs to subgroup #1 in the target PO.

[0183] Example 2, if the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first PEI is 8, UE #1 determines that UE #1 belongs to subgroup #2 in the target PO.

[0184] From the above two examples, it can be seen that the target subgroup to which UE #1 belongs may be different with the different number of subgroups included in each PO.

[0185] As a possible way, the index of the target subgroup can be determined by the following formula: Assume that the first PEI is associated with N PFs, each PF includes M POs (or the first PEI is associated with W POs, W = N × M), and each PO includes K subgroups.

[0186] index = (n - 1) × M × K + (m - 1) × K + k.

[0187] Among them, the target subgroup belongs to the nth PF of the N PFs, the mth PO of the nth PF, and the kth subgroup of the mth PO, where k = (UE_ID mod K) + 1. n, m, and k are all counted starting from 1.

[0188] The UE can determine that the target PO subgroup corresponds to the indexth bit in the PI field of the PEI (k is counted starting from 1)

[0189] If the PF index n, PO index m, and PO subgroup index k in each PO of the target subgroup are all counted starting from 0, then similarly, the index of the target subgroup can be obtained as:

[0190] index = n × M × K + m × K + k

[0191] Whether there is a paging for the target subgroup will be indicated by the indexth bit in the PI field of the PEI.

[0192] Furthermore, UE#1 determines the position of the target bit in the PI field of the first PEI according to the target PO and the target subgroup to which UE#1 belongs.

[0193] S230, the base station #1 determines the bit value of each bit in the PI field of the first PEI according to the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI.

[0194] Among them, the number of bits included in the PI field of the first PEI is the same as the total number of subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first PEI. That is, the multiple bits included in the PI field of the first PEI correspond one-to-one to all the subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first PEI (denoted as the second mapping method. The so-called "mapping" means that if a subgroup is mapped to a certain bit in the PI field, then this bit is used to indicate whether there is a paging on this subgroup).

[0195] The bit value can be "0" or "1". When the bit value of a certain bit is "0", it indicates that there is no paging message for the subgroup corresponding to this bit; when the bit value of a certain bit is "1", it indicates that there is a paging message for the subgroup corresponding to this bit.

[0196] The following explains the second mapping method.

[0197] Method 1:

[0198] Map in the order of first PF, then PO, and finally the subgroups in PO.

[0199] For example, all subgroups in all POs of the first PF can be mapped first, and then all subgroups in all POs of the second PF can be mapped; and so on until all PFs corresponding to the PEI are mapped into the PI domain. This mapping is an ascending-order mapping of PFs. Or a descending-order mapping of PFs can be adopted, where all subgroups in all POs of the last PF are mapped first, and then all subgroups in all POs of the penultimate PF are mapped, and so on until all PFs corresponding to the PEI are mapped into the PI domain.

[0200] For each PO included in each PF, all PO subgroups in the first PO can be mapped first, and then all PO subgroups in the second PO can be mapped, and so on until all POs corresponding to each PF are mapped into the PI domain. This mapping is an ascending-order mapping of POs. Or a descending-order mapping of POs can be adopted, which is similar to the descending-order mapping of PFs and will not be repeated here. For example, the first PEI is associated with 2 PFs (denoted as PF#1 and PF#2), each PF includes 2 POs (denoted as PO#1, PO#2, PO#3, and PO#4 respectively), and each PO includes 2 subgroups (denoted as subgroup #1 to subgroup #8 respectively).

[0201] Then, subgroup #1 and subgroup #2 of PO#1 of PF#1 can be mapped first, then subgroup #3 and subgroup #4 of PO#2 of PF#1 can be mapped, then subgroup #5 and subgroup #6 of PO#3 of PF#2 can be mapped, and finally subgroup #7 and subgroup #8 of PO#4 of PF#2 can be mapped.

[0202] Method 2:

[0203] For one PF, the first subgroup in all POs of this PF can be mapped first, and then the second subgroup in all POs of this PF can be mapped, and so on; or, the last subgroup in all POs of this PF can be mapped first, and then the penultimate subgroup in all POs of this PF can be mapped, and so on.

[0204] For all POs included in one PF, the first PO in all POs can be mapped first, and then the second PO in all POs can be mapped, and so on; or, the last PO in all POs can be mapped first, and then the penultimate PO in all POs can be mapped, and so on.

[0205] For multiple PFs, the first PF among the multiple PFs can be mapped first, and then the second PF among the multiple PFs can be mapped, and so on; or, the last PF among the multiple PFs can be mapped first, and then the penultimate PF among the multiple PFs can be mapped, and so on.

[0206] Obviously, the second mapping method may also include other similar mapping methods (for example, the mapping order of PF, PO, and PO subgroups is different, or a mixed ascending or descending mapping method is adopted), and the present application does not limit this.

[0207] In addition, as a case, the base station may notify the UE of the method of mapping different subgroups to the PI domain through signaling or messages. As another case, the base station and the UE may pre-define the method of mapping different subgroups to the PI domain through a protocol. In other words, the UE can also learn the method by which the base station maps different subgroups to the PI domain. In S220, the UE may determine the position of the target bit in the PI domain according to the corresponding mapping method.

[0208] It should be understood that the base station #1 may also determine the bit values of the TRS domain and the short message domain, and finally generate the first PEI.

[0209] S240, the base station #1 sends the first PEI. Correspondingly, the UE #1 receives the first PEI.

[0210] As a possible method, the base station #1 may send the first PEI through broadcast / multicast.

[0211] S250, the UE #1 determines whether to monitor the paging message according to the first PEI and the target bit.

[0212] For example, the target PO of the UE #1 is PO #1, and the target subgroup is subgroup #11 corresponding to PO #1. The base station maps different subgroups to the PI domain based on method 1 in S230, then the target bit is bit #1. The UE #1 determines whether to monitor the paging message according to bit #1. If bit #1 takes "1", the UE #1 monitors the paging message; if bit #1 takes "0", the UE #1 does not monitor the paging message.

[0213] According to the solution of the present application, the base station #1 determines the number of subgroups included in each PO according to the number of bits in the PI domain and the number of POs associated with one PEI. In contrast, if the base station #1 determines the number of bits in the PI domain according to the number of PFs associated with one PEI, the number of POs included in each PF, and the number of subgroups included in each PO, it may result in too many bits in the PI domain. Therefore, adopting the solution of the present application will not result in too many bits in the PI domain, thus ensuring that the PEI is received with better performance.

[0214] Optionally, before S220, the method 200 further includes S260:

[0215] S260, the base station #1 sends the first information and the second information to the UE #1. Correspondingly, the UE #1 receives the first information and the second information.

[0216] The first information indicates the number of all POs associated with the first PEI, or the number of PFs associated with the first PEI; the second information indicates the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI.

[0217] As a possible way, base station #1 can send the first information and the second information to UE #1 by means of broadcasting / multicasting.

[0218] Figure 3 A communication method 300 provided by this application is shown. The method 300 includes:

[0219] S310, base station #1 determines the total number of subgroups included in all POs associated with the first PEI (denoted as Q) according to the number of all POs associated with the first PEI and the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first PEI.

[0220] For example, if the first PEI is associated with 2 PFs, each PF includes 4 POs, and each PO includes 8 subgroups, then the total number of subgroups Q included in all POs associated with the first PEI = 2×4×8 = 64.

[0221] S320, UE #1 determines the total number of subgroups included in all POs associated with the first PEI according to the number of all POs associated with the first PEI and the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first PEI.

[0222] For the specific method, reference can be made to the description in S310.

[0223] S330, when the above total number of subgroups is greater than a specific threshold, base station #1 determines the bit value of each bit in the PI field of the first PEI based on the first mapping method, and the first mapping method is a mapping method in which at least two subgroups are mapped to the same bit in the PI field.

[0224] It should be understood that the specific threshold can be pre-agreed or pre-configured in base station #1.

[0225] The first mapping method is described below through multiple examples.

[0226] Example 1:

[0227] For the same PO, at least two subgroups among the multiple subgroups corresponding to the same PO are mapped to the same bit in the PI field of the first PEI.

[0228] For example, for the 8 POs associated with the first PEI, the UEs corresponding to each PO are divided into 8 subgroups, and the specific threshold is 32. That is, the total number of subgroups is 64, which is greater than the specific threshold. At this time, the PI field of the first PEI may include 16 bits (denoted as bit #1 - bit #16). For PO#1 among the 8 POs, subgroup #11 - subgroup #14 of PO#1 are mapped to bit #1 in the PI field, and subgroup #15 - subgroup #18 are mapped to bit #2 in the PI field. For PO#2, subgroup #21 - subgroup #24 of PO#2 are mapped to bit #3, and subgroup #25 - subgroup #28 are mapped to bit #4. And so on, which will not be described one by one here.

[0229] As can be seen from the above, if 64 subgroups are in one-to-one correspondence with multiple bits in the PI field of the first PEI, the PI field requires 64 bits. Based on the solution of this application, only 16 bits are needed, so the number of bits in the PI field can be saved.

[0230] Example 2:

[0231] For different PFs, at least two subgroups in the POs of different PFs are mapped to the same bit in the PI field of the first PEI.

[0232] For example, the first PEI is associated with 2 PFs (denoted as PF#1 and PF#2), each PF includes 4 POs (denoted as PO#11 - PO#14, PO#21 - PO#24 respectively), the number of subgroups N corresponding to each PO for the UEs is 8 (denoted as subgroup #111 - subgroup #118, subgroup #121 - subgroup #128, subgroup #131 - subgroup #138, subgroup #141 - subgroup #148, subgroup #211 - subgroup #218, subgroup #221 - subgroup #228, subgroup #231 - subgroup #238, subgroup #241 - subgroup #248 respectively), and the specific threshold is 32. That is, the total number of subgroups is 64, which is greater than the specific threshold. At this time, subgroup #111 and subgroup #112 corresponding to PO#11, and subgroup #211 and subgroup #212 corresponding to PO#21 can be mapped to bit #1 in the PI field; subgroup #113 and subgroup #114 corresponding to PO#11, and subgroup #213 and subgroup #214 corresponding to PO#21 can be mapped to bit #2. And so on. That is, only 16 bits are needed in the PI field.

[0233] Example 3:

[0234] For different PFs, the PO subgroups with the same subgroup index in the POs of different PFs are mapped to the same bit in the PI field of the first PEI.

[0235] For example, the first PEI is associated with 4 PFs (denoted as PF#1, PF#2, PF#3, and PF#4). Each PF includes 4 POs (denoted as PO#11 - PO#14, PO#21 - PO#24, PO#31 - PO#34, and PO#41 - PO#44 respectively). The number of subgroups into which the UEs corresponding to each PO are divided is 4 (denoted as subgroup#111 - subgroup#114, subgroup#121 - subgroup#124, subgroup#131 - subgroup#134, subgroup#141 - subgroup#144, subgroup#211 - subgroup#214, subgroup#221 - subgroup#224, subgroup#231 - subgroup#234, subgroup#241 - subgroup#244, subgroup#311 - subgroup#314, subgroup#321 - subgroup#324, subgroup#331 - subgroup#334, subgroup#341 - subgroup#344, subgroup#411 - subgroup#414, subgroup#421 - subgroup#424, subgroup#431 - subgroup#434, and subgroup#441 - subgroup#444 respectively). The specific threshold is 32. That is, the total number of subgroups is 64, which is greater than the specific threshold. At this time, the PO subgroups with the same PO index and PO subgroup index in PF#1 and PF#3 can be mapped to the same bit, and the PO subgroups with the same PO index and PO subgroup index in PF#2 and PF#4 can be mapped to the same bit. For example, subgroup#111 of PO#11 in PF#1 and subgroup#311 of PO#31 in PF#3 are mapped to bit#1 in the PI domain; subgroup#112 of PO#11 in PF#1 and subgroup#312 of PO#31 in PF#3 are mapped to bit#2 in the PI domain. And so on. That is, only 32 bits are required in the PI domain.

[0236] Example 4:

[0237] The mapping is performed in the way of cyclic remainder mapping.

[0238] Suppose a PEI is associated with A PFs, each PF includes B POs, and the UEs corresponding to each PO are divided into C subgroups.

[0239] For a subgroup, if the index of the PF to which the subgroup belongs, the index of the PO in the PF, and the index of the subgroup are a, b, and c respectively, then the number (index) of the subgroup can be calculated by the following formula.

[0240] index = (a - 1) × B × C + (b - 1) × C + c.

[0241] For example, a PEI is associated with 2 PFs, each PF includes 4 POs, and the UEs corresponding to each PO are divided into 8 subgroups. That is, A = 2, B = 4, and C = 8.

[0242] For the first subgroup in the first PO included in the first PF, the index of this subgroup = (1 - 1) × 4 × 8 + (1 - 1) × 8 + 1 = 1. If the maximum number of bits in the PI field can be L max (e.g., L max is 20), since [(index - 1) mod L max +1 = 1, then map this subgroup to the first bit in this PI field.

[0243] It should be understood that the meaning of x mod y in this application is: the remainder of x divided by y.

[0244] For the fourth subgroup in the third PO included in the first PF, the index of this subgroup = (1 - 1) × 4 × 8 + (3 - 1) × 8 + 4 = 20. If the maximum number of bits in the PI field can be L max (e.g., L max is 20), since [(index - 1) mod L max +1 = 20, then map this subgroup to the 20th bit in this PI field.

[0245] For the fourth subgroup in the third PO included in the second PF, the index of this subgroup = (2 - 1) × 4 × 8 + (3 - 1) × 8 + 4 = 52. If the maximum number of bits in the PI field can be L max (e.g., L max is 20), since [(index - 1) mod L max +1 = 12, then map this subgroup to the 12th bit in this PI field.

[0246] It should be noted that in the above cyclic remainder mapping, the indexes of PF, the indexes of PO in PF, and the indexes a, b, c of this subgroup all adopt the counting method starting from 1.

[0247] If a, b, c all adopt the counting method starting from 0, similarly, the number (index) of the subgroup can be obtained as index = a × B × C + b × C + c, and the subgroup labeled index will be indicated by the index mod L bit in the PI field of the first PEI whether there is paging. max whether there is paging.

[0248] It should be understood that the base station #1 can also determine the bit values of the TRS field and the short message field, and finally generate the first PEI.

[0249] S340, when the total number of the above subgroups is greater than a specific threshold, UE #1 determines the position of the target bit in the PI field of the first PEI based on the first mapping method.

[0250] It should be understood that the specific threshold may be pre-agreed, or pre-configured in UE#1, or obtained by UE#1 from Base Station#1, without limitation. The specific threshold may be the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI, or greater than the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI.

[0251] Specifically, UE#1 may determine the target PO to which UE#1 belongs, and the target subgroup within the target PO.

[0252] Further, UE#1 determines the position of the target bit in the PI field of the first PEI according to the target PO to which UE#1 belongs, the target subgroup, and based on the first mapping method.

[0253] For example, for the first mapping method as in Example 1 in S330, if the target PO to which UE#1 belongs is PO#1 and the target subgroup is Subgroup#11 corresponding to PO#1, then the target bit is Bit#1. That is, the position of the target bit is the first bit in the PI field.

[0254] S350, Base Station#1 sends the first PEI. Correspondingly, UE#1 receives the first PEI.

[0255] S360, UE#1 determines whether to monitor the paging message according to the first PEI and the target bit.

[0256] For example, UE#1 determines that the target bit is Bit#1, and UE#1 parses Bit#1 in the PI field of the first PEI. If Bit#1 takes the value of "1", then UE#1 monitors the paging message. If Bit#1 takes the value of "0", UE#1 does not monitor the paging message.

[0257] According to the solution of this application, if the total number of subgroups is greater than the specific threshold, then Base Station#1 determines the bit value of each bit in the PI field based on the first mapping method. In other words, Base Station#1 generates a PEI based on the first mapping method, and the number of bits in the PI field of this PEI is less than or equal to the specific threshold. Therefore, by adopting the solution of this application, the situation of too many bits in the PI field will not occur, thus ensuring that the PEI is received with better performance.

[0258] Optionally, as another possible situation, the method 300 does not include S330 and S340, and before S350, the method 300 further includes S370 and S380:

[0259] S370, in the case where the total number of the above-mentioned subgroups is less than or equal to the specific threshold, or the specific threshold does not exist, Base Station#1 determines the bit value of each bit in the PI field of the first PEI based on the second mapping method.

[0260] The second mapping method is a mapping method in which the subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first PEI are in one-to-one correspondence with multiple bits in the PI domain.

[0261] Specifically, the second mapping method can refer to the description in S230, which will not be elaborated here.

[0262] S380, when the total number of subgroups in multiple subgroups is less than or equal to a specific threshold, or when the specific threshold does not exist, UE#1 determines the position of the target bit in the PI domain of the first PEI based on the second mapping method.

[0263] According to the solution of this application, base station #1 can select an appropriate mapping method to generate a PEI according to the total number of subgroups, so that the number of bits in the PI domain of the PEI will not be too large, thereby ensuring that the PEI is received with better performance.

[0264] Optionally, before S320, the method 300 further includes S390:

[0265] S390, base station #1 sends the first information and the third information. Correspondingly, UE#1 receives the first information and the third information.

[0266] The first information indicates the number of all POs associated with the first PEI, or the number of PFs associated with the first PEI; the third information indicates the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI.

[0267] Figure 4 Figure 400 shows a communication method 400 provided by this application. The method 400 includes:

[0268] S410, when a single SSB period includes multiple PFs, base station #1 generates multiple PEIs, and the multiple PEIs correspond to the multiple PFs.

[0269] Optionally, as a way, the multiple PEIs and the multiple PFs may be in a one-to-one correspondence. That is, the number of PEIs is the same as the number of PFs.

[0270] Optionally, as another way, one PEI may correspond to multiple PFs. For example, a single SSB period includes 4 PFs, PEI#1 corresponds to PF#1 and PF#2, and PEI#2 corresponds to PF#3 and PF#4.

[0271] S420, UE#1 determines the configuration information of the target PEI according to the target PF and the correspondence between the multiple configuration information and the multiple PFs.

[0272] It should be understood that the target PF is one of the multiple PFs.

[0273] For example, if the target PF is PF#1, then UE#1 determines the configuration information of the target PEI corresponding to PF#1 from the correspondence between multiple configuration information and multiple PFs.

[0274] As a possible way, the multiple configuration information and the correspondence between the multiple configuration information and multiple PFs can be pre-configured in UE#1.

[0275] The following describes the multiple configuration information.

[0276] Case 1:

[0277] The multiple configuration information includes information of multiple RNTIs. Multiple PEIs correspond to multiple RNTIs one by one, that is, the RNTIs configured for each PEI can be different.

[0278] Case 2:

[0279] The multiple configuration information includes information of multiple search space sets. Multiple PEIs correspond to multiple search space sets one by one, that is, the search space sets configured for each PEI can be different.

[0280] Case 3:

[0281] The multiple configuration information includes the same search space set and information of multiple first PDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPEIs. Multiple PEIs correspond to multiple first PDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPEIs one by one, and the monitoring occasions corresponding to multiple PEIs do not overlap, that is, the first PDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPEIs configured for each PEI can be different.

[0282] As a possible way, assume that a SS burst set includes 4 SSBs, a SSB period includes 2 PFs, and each PF includes 2 POs. Then, each PO included in a PF includes 4 MOs, and the 4 MOs correspond to 4 SSBs one by one.

[0283] At this time, two PEIs can be used to correspond to two PFs. Among them, PEI#1 is used to indicate whether UE listens to PF#1, and PEI#2 is used to indicate whether UE listens to PF#2.

[0284] To distinguish the monitoring occasions of PEI#1 and PEI#2, the initial monitoring occasion of PEI#1 can be configured as the Kth monitoring occasion in the search space set; the initial monitoring occasion of PEI#2 can be configured as the (K + 4)th monitoring occasion in the search space set. Therefore, the monitoring occasions corresponding to the two PEIs do not overlap.

[0285] S430, Base Station #1 sends multiple PEIs.

[0286] S440, UE #1 receives a target PEI according to the configuration information of the target PEI.

[0287] It should be understood that the target PEI is one of multiple PEIs.

[0288] S450, UE #1 determines whether to monitor a target PF according to the target PEI.

[0289] It should be understood that the target PF corresponds to the target PEI.

[0290] It should be understood that UE #1 only needs to parse the target bits corresponding to the target subgroup of the target PO of the target PF, and may not parse other bits in the PI field.

[0291] According to the solution of this application, if an SSB period includes multiple PFs, multiple PEIs can be configured for multiple PFs, so that the number of bits in the PI field of each PEI in the multiple PEIs will not be too large, thereby ensuring that the PEI is received with better performance.

[0292] Optionally, before S420, the method 400 further includes S460:

[0293] S460, base station #1 sends fourth information to UE #1. Correspondingly, UE #1 receives the fourth information.

[0294] The fourth information includes multiple configuration information, and the multiple configuration information is used to configure multiple PEIs.

[0295] Optionally, the fourth information further includes the correspondence between the multiple configuration information and the multiple PFs.

[0296] In addition, as a special case, an SSB period includes multiple PFs, but the configuration information of the multiple PEIs corresponding to the multiple PFs is the same (for example, the RNTIs corresponding to the multiple PEIs are the same, and the monitoring opportunities are the same). At this time, the multiple PEIs can actually be sent through one PEI PDDCH. That is, whether there is paging on multiple PFs is indicated by one PEI, and the PO subgroups of the POs on different PFs will be mapped to the same target bits. For details, reference can be made to the description of S330, which will not be elaborated here.

[0297] Figure 5 A communication method 500 provided by this application is shown. The method 500 includes:

[0298] S510, UE #1 sends fifth information to a network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the fifth information.

[0299] For example, UE #1 may send the fifth piece of information to the network device during the process of establishing an RRC connection or after establishing the RRC connection.

[0300] As a case, UE #1 may send the fifth piece of information to the core network device.

[0301] The following describes the fifth piece of information.

[0302] Method 1:

[0303] The fifth piece of information directly indicates the number of SS burst sets that need to be received before receiving the paging PDCCH.

[0304] For example, the fifth piece of information includes information with the value of L being 2.

[0305] Method 2:

[0306] The fifth piece of information indicates the duration for which UE #1 needs to wake up in advance for receiving the paging PDCCH. UE #1 needs to perform one or more of the following operations during this duration:

[0307] Time-frequency tracking, automatic gain control (AGC), SIR estimation, beam measurement.

[0308] It should be understood that when based on Method 2, after receiving the fifth piece of information, the network device can indirectly calculate the number of SS burst sets that UE #1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH.

[0309] S520, the core network device sends the eighth piece of information to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the eighth piece of information.

[0310] The meaning expressed by the eighth piece of information is the same as that of the fifth piece of information.

[0311] For example, the eighth piece of information directly indicates the number of SS burst sets that UE #1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH. Or, the eighth piece of information indicates the duration for which UE #1 needs to wake up in advance for receiving the paging PDCCH.

[0312] It should be understood that in the case where UE #1 needs to be paged, the core network device may also send the paging message of UE #1 to the access network device.

[0313] S530, the access network device determines the timing for sending the PEI corresponding to UE #1 (denoted as PEI #1) according to the eighth piece of information.

[0314] The following introduces the method by which the access network device determines the timing for sending PEI #1 according to the eighth piece of information.

[0315] Method 1:

[0316] For example, if the eighth piece of information indicates that the number of SS burst sets that UE#1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH is 1, the access network device sends PEI#1 after the first SS burst set (SS burst) before sending the paging PDCCH.

[0317] For another example, if the eighth piece of information indicates that the number of SS burst sets that UE#1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH is 2, the access network device sends PEI#1 between the second SS burst set and the first SS burst set before sending the PDCCH.

[0318] For another example, if the eighth piece of information indicates that the number of SS burst sets that UE#1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH is 3, the access network device sends PEI#1 between the third SS burst set and the second SS burst set before sending the PDCCH.

[0319] Method 2:

[0320] The access network device determines, according to the eighth piece of information, that the time interval between the timing of sending PEI#1 and the timing of sending the paging PDCCH that UE#1 needs to receive should be greater than or equal to the time offset (Time_offset), and the Time_offset is a time quantity related to the number of SS burst sets that UE#1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH. For example, Time_offset can be calculated by one of the following formulas:

[0321] Formula 1: Time_offset = mini_gap + (L - 1) * SSB_periodicity

[0322] Formula 2: Time_offset = (L - 1) * SSB_periodicity

[0323] Formula 3: Time_offset = max[mini_gap, (L - 1) * SSB_periodicity]

[0324] Among them, mini_gap represents the minimum time interval between sending PEI and sending the paging PDCCH; L represents the number of SS burst sets that UE#1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH, SSB_periodicity represents the transmission period of the SS burst set, generally 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms or 160 ms, etc.; "*" represents multiplication.

[0325] For example, as Figure 6As shown in (a) of [Figure / Illustration], the eighth piece of information indicates that the number of SS burst sets that UE#1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH is 1. If calculated according to Formula 1, the time interval between the timing of sending PEI#1 and the timing of sending the paging PDCCH should be greater than or equal to mini_gap.

[0326] It should be understood that the access network device can obtain the timing of sending the paging PDCCH.

[0327] For another example, as Figure 6 shown in (b) of [Figure / Illustration], the eighth piece of information indicates that the number of SS burst sets that UE#1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH is 2. If calculated according to Formula 2, the time interval between the timing of sending PEI#1 and the timing of sending the paging PDCCH should be greater than or equal to one SSB_periodicity.

[0328] For another example, as Figure 6 shown in (c) of [Figure / Illustration], the eighth piece of information indicates that the number of SS burst sets that UE#1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH is 3. If calculated according to Formula 3, the time interval between the timing of sending PEI#1 and the timing of sending the paging PDCCH should be greater than or equal to the larger value between mini_gap and 2*SSB_periodicity.

[0329] Optionally, as a way, this method may not include S530. In S520, the core network device can determine the timing of sending PEI#1 and notify the access network device of the timing of sending PEI#1. Among them, the way for the core network device to determine the timing of sending PEI#1 can refer to Method 1 and Method 2 in S530. That is, the core network device performs the operations of the access network device in S530.

[0330] Optionally, UE#1 can directly send the fifth piece of information to the access network device instead of sending the eighth piece of information to the access network device through the core network device.

[0331] S540, UE#1 determines the timing of the access network device sending PEI#1 according to the fifth piece of information.

[0332] This process is similar to S530, that is, UE#1 performs the operations of the access network device in S530.

[0333] S550, the access network device sends PEI#1 at the timing of sending PEI#1. Correspondingly, UE#1 listens for PEI#1 at the timing of sending PEI#1.

[0334] According to the solution of the present application, when the L values reported by different UEs are different, the access network device can determine the timing of sending the PEI corresponding to different UEs according to different L values. In contrast, if the L values of UEs are not distinguished, the access network device may not achieve the best power saving effect when sending the PEI. Therefore, by adopting the solution of the present application, the access network device determines the sending timing of the PEI corresponding to each UE according to the L value reported by the UE, thereby better saving power.

[0335] Figure 7 A communication method 700 provided by the present application is shown. The method 700 includes:

[0336] S710, the access network device sends the sixth information, and the sixth information indicates that the timing of sending PEI#1 is after the Nth SS burst set before the target PO. Correspondingly, UE#1 receives the sixth information.

[0337] N is a positive integer. For example, N is 1, 2, or 3.

[0338] The value of N can be regarded as the default value used by the UEs in the target cell to determine the sending timing of the PEI. The target cell is the cell to which the access network device belongs.

[0339] For example, the access network device can carry the sixth information in the system message and send the sixth information in a broadcast manner.

[0340] It should be understood that the target cell is the cell to which the access network device belongs.

[0341] S720, the access network device determines the timing of sending the PEI corresponding to UE#1 (denoted as PEI#1) according to the sixth information.

[0342] This process is similar to S530, that is, replacing the fifth information in S530 with the sixth information.

[0343] S730, UE#1 determines the timing of the access network device sending PEI#1 according to the sixth information.

[0344] This process is similar to S530, that is, UE#1 executes the operations of the access network device in S530.

[0345] S740, the access network device sends PEI#1 at the timing of sending PEI#1. Correspondingly, UE#1 listens for PEI#1 at the timing of sending PEI#1.

[0346] According to the solution of the present application, the UE may also not report its own L value and determine the timing of listening for the PEI by receiving the sixth information from the access network device.

[0347] Optionally, as a case, the method 700 is applicable to the scenario where UE#1 camps on the target cell for the first time after power-on.

[0348] Optionally, as another case, the method 700 is applicable to the scenario where UE#1 often moves due to its unfixed location and moves (switches) from the source cell to the target cell.

[0349] Optionally, as a case, the method 700 can be executed before the method 500. That is, the method 500 and the method 700 are not isolated, and the two can be used in combination.

[0350] For example, when UE#1 camps on the target cell for the first time after power-on, UE#1 can listen for PEI#1 based on the method 700. Subsequently, UE#1 can listen for PEI#1 based on the method 500.

[0351] It should be understood that the method 500 and the method 700 take UE#1 as an example to illustrate the solution proposed in this application in detail. For other UEs, such as UE#2 and UE#3, it can be carried out in a similar way. That is, UE#1 in the method 500 and the method 700 can be replaced with other UEs.

[0352] Figure 8 A communication method 800 provided by this application is shown. The method 800 includes:

[0353] S810, multiple UEs send multiple pieces of fifth information to a network device, and the multiple pieces of fifth information correspond to the multiple UEs one by one. Correspondingly, the network device receives the multiple pieces of fifth information.

[0354] For example, the multiple UEs can send the multiple pieces of fifth information to the network device during the process of RRC connection or after the establishment of RRC connection.

[0355] As a case, multiple UEs can send multiple pieces of fifth information to a core network device.

[0356] It should be understood that the multiple UEs can be multiple UEs in the same target cell, or multiple UEs in a tracking area (TA) including multiple cells. The target cell is the cell to which the access network device belongs.

[0357] Each piece of the multiple pieces of fifth information is used to indicate the number of SS burst sets (denoted as L) that the corresponding UE needs to receive before receiving a paging PDCCH.

[0358] For example, the multiple fifth pieces of information are Information #A, Information #B, Information #C, and Information #D. Information #A indicates the number of SS burst sets that UE#1 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH. Information #B indicates the number of SS burst sets that UE#2 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH. Information #C indicates the number of SS burst sets that UE#3 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH. Information #D indicates the number of SS burst sets that UE#4 needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH.

[0359] Alternatively, each fifth piece of information among the multiple fifth pieces of information indicates the duration for which the corresponding terminal device needs to be woken up in advance for receiving the paging PDCCH.

[0360] S820. The core network device sends the multiple ninth pieces of information to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the multiple ninth pieces of information.

[0361] The meanings expressed by the multiple ninth pieces of information are the same as those of the multiple fifth pieces of information.

[0362] For example, each ninth piece of information among the multiple ninth pieces of information is used to indicate the number of SS burst sets (denoted as L) that the corresponding UE needs to receive before receiving the paging PDCCH. Alternatively, each ninth piece of information among the multiple ninth pieces of information indicates the duration for which the corresponding terminal device needs to be woken up in advance for receiving the paging PDCCH.

[0363] The core network device may send the multiple ninth pieces of information to one access network device, or may send the multiple ninth pieces of information to multiple access network devices within a tracking area.

[0364] It should be understood that when a UE is paged, the core network device also needs to send the paging message of the UE to the access network device.

[0365] For example, when UE#1 is paged, the core network device sends the paging message of UE#1 to the access network device.

[0366] S830. The access network device determines, based on the multiple ninth pieces of information, that the timing for sending the paging indication is after the Nth SS burst set before the target paging timing, where N is a positive integer.

[0367] As a possible method, the access network device may determine the L value that appears the most frequently among the multiple L values corresponding to multiple UEs, and the value of N may be the L value that appears the most frequently.

[0368] For example, among 10 UEs, the L value of 2 appears the most frequently, then the value of N is 2.

[0369] As another possible way, when the L values corresponding to more than a first threshold number of UEs among multiple UEs are all a specific value, the value of N is equal to that specific value.

[0370] For example, among 10 UEs, if the L values corresponding to more than 8 UEs are all 2, then the value of N is 2.

[0371] As another possible way, the access network device determines the average value of the L values corresponding to multiple UEs, and determines that the value of N is equal to that average value.

[0372] For example, as shown in the following table, the access network device determines that the value of N is 2.

[0373] Table 1

[0374] UE L value UE#1 1 UE#2 2 UE#3 3 Average value 2

[0375] Optionally, as a way, this method may not include S830. In S820, the core network device may determine, based on the multiple fifth information, that the timing for sending a paging indication is after the Nth SS burst set before the target paging timing, and send the determined result to the access network device.

[0376] Optionally, multiple UEs may directly send multiple fifth information to the access network device without sending multiple ninth information through the core network device.

[0377] S840, the access network device sends seventh information, where the seventh information indicates that the timing for sending a paging indication is after the Nth SS burst set before the target paging timing. Accordingly, multiple UEs receive the seventh information.

[0378] As a possible way, the access network device may carry the seventh information in the system message and send the seventh information in a broadcast manner.

[0379] S850, the access network device determines the timing for sending the PEI based on the seventh information.

[0380] This process may refer to Method 1 and Method 2 in S530 and will not be elaborated here.

[0381] S860, each UE among multiple UEs determines the timing for the access network device to send the PEI based on the seventh information.

[0382] S870, the access network device sends the PEI at the timing for sending the PEI. Accordingly, multiple UEs listen for the PEI at the timing for sending the PEI.

[0383] According to the solution of the present application, the network device can determine that the timing of sending the paging indication is after the Nth SS burst set before the target paging timing based on the L values reported by multiple UEs, and send the determined result to the multiple UEs, so as to achieve the purpose of better power consumption saving.

[0384] Optionally, as a case, the method 700 can be executed before the method 800. That is, the method 700 and the method 800 are not isolated, and the two can be used together. At this time, the multiple UEs in the method 800 include UE#1 in the method 700.

[0385] For example, when UE#1 first powers on and camps on the target cell, UE#1 can listen for PEI#1 based on the method 700. Subsequently, UE#1 can determine the timing of the access network device sending the PEI according to the seventh piece of information, and listen for the PEI based on this timing.

[0386] Figure 9 Another method proposed by the present application is shown.

[0387] Before introducing this method, first introduce the way for the UE to obtain the identifier of the subgroup where the UE is located (denoted as UE subgroupID):

[0388] Way 1:

[0389] The UE determines the UE subgroup ID through the UE identifier (UE_ID). This UE_ID is generally an ID assigned by the access network. For example, this UE_ID can be the RNTI assigned by the gNB.

[0390] Exemplarily, UE subgroup ID = UE_ID mod M. Where, mod represents the remainder operation, and M represents the number of subgroups into which the UEs in each PO are divided.

[0391] Way 2:

[0392] After the UE enters the connected state, the core network element (for example, the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element) assigns a UE subgroup ID to the UE.

[0393] Exemplarily, the AMF sends NAS signaling to the UE through the RAN, and the NAS signaling includes the UE subgroup ID.

[0394] Figure 9 The method shown includes:

[0395] S901, the RAN determines that UE#1 is paged.

[0396] Among them, the PO corresponding to UE#1 is the target PO.

[0397] S902: RAN sends PEI#1. Correspondingly, UE#1 receives PEI#1.

[0398] The PEI#1 is associated with at least one PO, which includes a target PO. The target PO corresponds to multiple bits in the PEI#1, and the multiple bits correspond to multiple subgroups. Exemplarily, each bit in the multiple bits indicates whether there is a paging request for each of the multiple subgroups.

[0399] Exemplarily, when the identifier of the subgroup to which UE#1 belongs is not obtained, at least one bit in the multiple bits indicates the presence of paging.

[0400] As an implementation, a bit value of "1" indicates the presence of paging; a bit value of "0" indicates the absence of paging. In other words, if the identifier of the subgroup to which UE#1 belongs is not obtained, the RAN sets at least one of the multiple bits to "1."

[0401] Assume that the multiple bits are bit #1 to bit #4:

[0402] Exemplarily, the RAN may randomly select one bit from bit #1 to bit #4 and set the value of the bit to “1”.

[0403] Exemplarily, the RAN may fixedly set one bit from bit #1 to bit #4 to “1”.

[0404] For example, based on the principle of minimizing the false alarm rate, the RAN can select a bit from bits #1 to #4 and set the value of that bit to "1." For example, the RAN can also try to select a different bit to set to 1 than the previous bit to reduce the probability of a false alarm for the same subgroup. As a special case, if one of bits #1 to #4 indicates that a paging message is present for the subgroup, the RAN does not need to set the values of the other bits from 0 to 1.

[0405] S903, UE#1 determines the target PO corresponding to UE#1.

[0406] The target PO corresponds to the above-mentioned multiple bits in PEI#1.

[0407] S904: As a first possible scenario, when UE#1 does not obtain the identifier of the subgroup to which UE#1 belongs, if the first bit indicates that paging exists, UE#1 monitors the paging message. The first bit is any one of the above multiple bits.

[0408] In other words, in the case where UE#1 fails to obtain the identifier of the subgroup to which UE#1 belongs, if any one of the above-mentioned multiple bits indicates the existence of paging, UE#1 listens for paging messages (listening for paging messages means listening for paging PDCCH on the target PO).

[0409] As a second possible scenario, in the case where UE#1 fails to obtain the identifier of the subgroup to which UE#1 belongs, if all of the above-mentioned multiple bits indicate the non-existence of paging, UE#1 does not listen for paging messages.

[0410] The following uses several examples to introduce the situation where UE#1 fails to obtain the identifier of the subgroup to which UE#1 belongs.

[0411] Example 1:

[0412] UE#1 has not yet entered the connected state, and the core network element cannot send NAS signaling to UE#1. In this case, UE#1 fails to obtain the identifier of the subgroup to which UE#1 belongs. However, the RAN uses a method of allocating subgroup identifiers based on the core network element to send PEI.

[0413] Example 2:

[0414] UE#1 only supports the subgroup identifier allocation method based on UE_ID, but the RAN uses a method of allocating subgroup identifiers based on the core network element to send PEI.

[0415] Example 3:

[0416] UE#1 does not support the PEI subgroup division mechanism, but the RAN still uses the subgroup method (the number of subgroups divided for each PO in PEI is greater than 1) to send PEI.

[0417] Exemplarily, before S902, the method further includes:

[0418] S905, the RAN sends system information. Correspondingly, UE#1 receives the system information.

[0419] The system information includes the following content:

[0420] The payload size of PEI#1, which POs correspond to PEI#1, and the number of subgroups into which the UEs in each PO are divided.

[0421] The UE can determine the number of bits corresponding to the target PO and the position of the above-mentioned multiple bits corresponding to the target PO in PEI#1 according to the system information.

[0422] According to Figure 9In the method described above, when UE#1 fails to obtain the UE subgroup ID, the UE can still determine whether it should wake up to monitor the paging PDCCH in its own PO, thereby achieving the effect of power consumption saving.

[0423] According to the foregoing method, Figure 10 A communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application, the communication device includes a transceiver unit 1001 and a processing unit 1002.

[0424] Among them, the transceiver unit 1001 can be used to implement corresponding communication functions. The transceiver unit 1001 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit. The processing unit 1002 can be used to perform processing operations.

[0425] Optionally, the device further includes a storage unit, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing unit 1002 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit so that the device implements the actions of the device in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0426] As a first design, the device can be the network device in the foregoing embodiment or a component of the network device (such as a chip).

[0427] Among them, the processing unit is used to determine the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI according to the number of all the POs associated with the first PEI and the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI; the processing unit is further used to determine the bit value of each bit in the PI field according to the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI; the transceiver unit is used to send the first PEI to the terminal device.

[0428] In one case, the transceiver unit is further used to send the first information and the second information to the terminal device; the first information indicates the number of all the POs associated with the first PEI, and the second information indicates the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI.

[0429] In one case, the processing unit is further used to determine the number of all the POs associated with the first PEI according to the number of paging frames PF associated with the first PEI and the number of POs included in each PF.

[0430] As a second design, the device can be the terminal device in the foregoing embodiment or a component of the terminal device (such as a chip).

[0431] Among them, the processing unit is used to determine the position of the target bit in the PI field according to the number of all the paging opportunities POs associated with the first PEI and the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI; the transceiver unit is used to receive the first PEI from the network device; the processing unit is further used to determine whether to monitor the paging message according to the first PEI and the target bit.

[0432] In one case, the processing unit is further configured to determine the target PO to which the terminal device belongs; the processing unit is further configured to determine the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI according to the number of paging occasion POs associated with the first PEI and the number of bits in the PI field; the processing unit is further configured to determine the target subgroup of the terminal device in the target PO according to the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI; the processing unit is further configured to determine the position of the target bit in the PI field according to the target PO and the target subgroup.

[0433] In one case, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive the first information and the second information from the network device; the first information indicates the number of all the POs associated with the first PEI, and the second information indicates the number of bits in the PI field of the first PEI.

[0434] In one case, the processing unit is further configured to determine the number of all the POs associated with the first PEI according to the number of paging frames PF associated with the first PEI and the number of POs included in each PF.

[0435] As a third design, the device may be the network device in the foregoing embodiment, or a component of the network device (such as a chip).

[0436] Wherein, the processing unit is configured to determine the total number of subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first PEI according to the number of all the POs associated with the first PEI and the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI; in the case where the total number of subgroups is greater than a specific threshold, the processing unit is further configured to determine the bit value of each bit in the PI field based on a first mapping method, and the first mapping method is a mapping method in which at least two subgroups are mapped to the same bit in the PI field; the transceiver unit is configured to send the first PEI to the terminal device.

[0437] In one case, in the case where the total number of subgroups is less than or equal to a specific threshold, or the specific threshold does not exist, the processing unit is further configured to determine the bit value of each bit in the PI field based on a second mapping method, and the second mapping method is a mapping method in which the subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first PEI are in one-to-one correspondence with multiple bits in the PI field.

[0438] In one case, the transceiver unit is further configured to send the first information and the third information to the terminal device; the first information indicates the number of all the POs associated with the first PEI, and the third information indicates the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI.

[0439] As a fourth design, the device may be the terminal device in the foregoing embodiment, or a component of the terminal device (such as a chip).

[0440] Among them, a processing unit is configured to determine the total number of subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first PEI according to the number of all the POs associated with the first PEI and the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI; when the total number of subgroups is greater than a specific threshold, the processing unit is further configured to determine the position of a target bit in the PI domain of the first PEI based on a first mapping method, where the first mapping method is a mapping method in which at least two subgroups are mapped to the same bit in the PI domain; a transceiver unit is configured to receive the first PEI from a network device; the processing unit is further configured to determine whether to monitor a paging message according to the first PEI and the target bit.

[0441] In one case, when the total number of subgroups is less than or equal to the specific threshold, or when the specific threshold does not exist, the processing unit is further configured to determine the position of the target bit in the PI domain based on a second mapping method, where the second mapping method is a mapping method in which the subgroups included in all the POs associated with the first PEI are in one-to-one correspondence with multiple bits in the PI domain.

[0442] In one case, the processing unit is further configured to determine a target PO to which the terminal device belongs and a target subgroup in the target PO.

[0443] In one case, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive first information and third information from the network device; the first information indicates the number of all the POs associated with the first PEI, and the third information indicates the number of subgroups included in each PO among all the POs associated with the first PEI.

[0444] As a fifth design, the device may be the network device in the foregoing embodiment, or a component of the network device (such as a chip).

[0445] Among them, when a synchronization signal block (SSB) period includes multiple paging frames (PFs), the processing unit is configured to generate multiple PEIs, where the multiple PEIs correspond to the multiple PFs; the transceiver unit is configured to send the multiple PEIs.

[0446] In one case, the transceiver unit is further configured to send fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information includes multiple configuration information.

[0447] As a sixth design, the device may be the terminal device in the foregoing embodiment, or a component of the terminal device (such as a chip).

[0448] Among them, the processing unit is configured to determine the configuration information of the target PEI according to the target PF and the correspondence between the multiple configuration information and the multiple PFs; the transceiver unit is configured to receive the target PEI from the network device according to the configuration information of the target PEI; the processing unit is further configured to determine whether to monitor the target PF according to the target PEI, where the target PF corresponds to the target PEI.

[0449] In one case, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive fourth information from a network device, where the fourth information includes multiple configuration information.

[0450] As a seventh design, the device may be the terminal device in the foregoing embodiments, or a component of the terminal device (such as a chip).

[0451] Among them, the transceiver unit is configured to send fifth information; the processing unit is configured to determine, according to the number of the SS burst sets, a timing for the access network device to send a paging indication, where the paging indication includes information on whether there is a paging for the terminal device; the transceiver unit is further configured to monitor the paging indication according to the timing.

[0452] As an eighth design, the device may be the access network device in the foregoing embodiments, or a component of the access network device (such as a chip).

[0453] Among them, the transceiver unit is configured to receive eighth information; the processing unit is configured to determine, according to the eighth information, a timing for sending a paging indication, where the paging indication includes information on whether there is a paging for the terminal device; the transceiver unit is further configured to send the paging indication at the timing.

[0454] As a ninth design, the device may be the terminal device in the foregoing embodiments, or a component of the terminal device (such as a chip).

[0455] The transceiver unit is configured to send fifth information; the transceiver unit is further configured to receive seventh information, where the seventh information indicates that the timing for the access network device to send a paging indication is after the Nth SS burst set before a target paging timing, and N is a positive integer; the processing unit is configured to determine, according to the seventh information, the timing for the access network device to send a paging indication; the transceiver unit is further configured to monitor the paging indication according to the timing for sending the paging indication, where the paging indication includes information on whether there is a paging for the terminal device.

[0456] As a tenth design, the device may be the access network device in the foregoing embodiments, or a component of the access network device (such as a chip).

[0457] Among them, the transceiver unit is configured to receive multiple ninth information, and the multiple ninth information corresponds to multiple terminal devices one by one; the processing unit is configured to determine, according to the multiple ninth information, that the timing for sending a paging indication is after the Nth SS burst set before a target paging timing, and N is a positive integer; the transceiver unit is configured to send seventh information, where the seventh information indicates that the timing for sending the paging indication is after the Nth SS burst set; the transceiver unit is configured to send the paging indication at the timing for sending the paging indication.

[0458] It should be understood that the specific processes for each unit to execute the corresponding steps above have been described in detail in the above method embodiments. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0459] It should also be understood that the device here is embodied in the form of functional units. The term "unit" here may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (such as a shared processor, a proprietary processor or a group of processors, etc.) for executing one or more software or firmware programs, and a memory, a combined logic circuit and / or other suitable components supporting the described functions. In an alternative example, those skilled in the art can understand that the device may specifically be the first network element in the above embodiments, and can be used to execute each process and / or step corresponding to the first network element in the above method embodiments. Or, the device may specifically be the network management network element in the above embodiments, and can be used to execute each process and / or step corresponding to the network management network element in the above method embodiments. To avoid repetition, they will not be repeated here.

[0460] The above communication device has the function of implementing the corresponding steps executed by the device in the above method. The function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing the corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transceiver (for example, the sending unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a receiver). Other units, such as the processing unit, etc., can be replaced by a processor to respectively execute the transceiver operations and related processing operations in each method embodiment.

[0461] In addition, the above transceiver unit 1001 can also be a transceiver circuit (for example, it can include a receiving circuit and a sending circuit), and the processing unit can be a processing circuit.

[0462] It should be noted that Figure 10 the device in can be the device in the foregoing method embodiments, or can be a chip or a chip system, such as: a system on chip (SoC). Among them, the transceiver unit can be an input / output circuit, a communication interface; the processing unit is a processor, a microprocessor or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip. No limitation is made here.

[0463] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device, such as Figure 11As shown in the figure, it includes: a processor 1101 and a communication interface 1102. The processor 1101 is used to execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 1103, or read the data stored in the memory 1103, so as to execute the methods in the above method embodiments. Optionally, the processor 1101 is one or more. The communication interface 1102 is used for receiving and / or sending signals. For example, the processor 1101 is used to control the communication interface 1102 to receive and / or send signals.

[0464] Optionally, as Figure 11 shown in the figure, the communication device further includes a memory 1103, and the memory 1103 is used to store computer programs or instructions and / or data. The memory 1103 may be integrated with the processor 1101 or may be separately provided. Optionally, the memory 1103 is one or more.

[0465] Optionally, the processor 1101, the communication interface 1102, and the memory 1103 are interconnected through a bus 1104; the bus 1104 may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The above bus 1104 may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For the convenience of representation, Figure 11 only a thick line is used to represent it in the figure, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0466] As a solution, the communication device is used to implement the operations performed by the communication device, or the network device, or the main base station, or the first secondary base station in the above method embodiments.

[0467] For example, the processor 1101 is used to execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 1103 to implement the related operations of the network device in the above method embodiments.

[0468] For another example, the processor 1101 is used to execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 1103 to implement the related operations of the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

[0469] It should be understood that the processor (such as processor 1101) mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP. The processor may further include a hardware chip. The above-mentioned hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The above-mentioned PLD may be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof.

[0470] It should also be understood that the memory (such as memory 1103) mentioned 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 ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache.

[0471] Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in combination with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are executed in a hardware or software manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. A professional technician can use different methods for each specific application to implement the described functions, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of the present application.

[0472] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be described herein again.

[0473] In several embodiments provided by this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the displayed or discussed couplings or direct couplings or communication connections to each other can be through some interfaces. The indirect couplings or communication connections of devices or units can be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0474] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they can be located in one place or distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0475] In addition, in each embodiment of this application, the functional units can be integrated in a processing unit, or each unit can exist physically alone, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit.

[0476] If the function is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it 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 part of this 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 for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods in each embodiment of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media such as USB flash drives, mobile hard disks, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical discs that can store program codes.

[0477] The above is only the specific implementation manner of this application, but the protection scope of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by this application can easily think of changes or substitutions, which should all be covered within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, applied to a network device or a chip in the network device, characterized in that, Comprising: Determine the total number of subgroups included in all paging opportunities (POs) associated with the first paging indication according to the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first paging indication; Determine the bit value of each bit in the paging indication (PI) field of the first paging indication based on a second mapping method, where the second mapping method is a mapping method in which all subgroups included in all POs associated with the first paging indication are in one-to-one correspondence with multiple bits in the PI field; Send the first paging indication to the terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further comprises: When there is a specific threshold and the total number of subgroups is greater than the specific threshold, determine the bit value of each bit in the PI field based on a first mapping method, where the first mapping method is a mapping method in which at least two subgroups are mapped to the same bit in the PI field.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further comprises: Send first information and third information to the terminal device; The first information indicates the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication, or the number of paging frames (PFs) associated with the first paging indication; The third information indicates the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The specific threshold is associated with the number of bits of the downlink control information (DCI) of the paging physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The second mapping method maps in the order of paging frame (PF) first, then PO, and finally subgroups in the PO.

6. A communication method, applied to a terminal device or a chip in the terminal device, characterized in that Comprising: Determine the total number of subgroups included in all paging opportunities (POs) associated with the first paging indication according to the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication and the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first paging indication; Determine the position of the target bit in the paging indication (PI) field based on a second mapping method, where the second mapping method is a mapping method in which all subgroups included in all POs associated with the first paging indication are in one-to-one correspondence with multiple bits in the PI field; Receive the first paging indication from the network device; Determine whether to monitor the paging message according to the first paging indication and the target bit.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein The method further comprises: When there is a specific threshold and the total number of subgroups is greater than the specific threshold, determine the position of the target bit in the PI field of the first paging indication based on a first mapping method, where the first mapping method is a mapping method in which at least two subgroups are mapped to the same bit in the PI field.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The method further comprises: Determine the target PO to which the terminal device belongs and the target subgroup in the target PO.

9. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive first information and third information from the network device; The first information indicates the number of all POs associated with the first paging indication, or the number of paging frames (PFs) associated with the first paging indication; The third information indicates the number of subgroups included in each PO among all POs associated with the first paging indication.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The specific threshold is associated with the number of bits of the downlink control information (DCI) of the paging physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

11. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The second mapping method is mapped in the order of first the paging frame PF, then the PO, and finally the subgroups in the PO.

12. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 1-11.

13. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes: A communication interface and a processor, the processor is used to execute a computer program or instruction, so that the communication device executes the method according to any one of claims 1-11.

14. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, It includes a computer program or instruction, when the computer program or the instruction runs on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-11.

15. A computer program product, characterized in that, It contains an instruction, when the instruction runs on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-11.

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