Communication method and device

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, the method comprising: a terminal device sending first information to a network device or receiving second information from the network device, and starting a first timer; when the terminal equipment determines that the first timer is overtime and does not receive third information from the network equipment, executing one or more of the following steps: disconnecting the connection with the network equipment at the AS; the terminal equipment enters a first state, when the terminal equipment is in the first state, only the paging message or the downlink trigger message is responded, and the downlink trigger message comprises a query message or a selection message. In the embodiment of the invention, the terminal equipment judges whether the link is abnormal based on the first timer, compared with a mode of determining the link quality based on the measurement reference signal receiving power by transmission terminal equipment, the method is simpler, and the processing complexity can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of Internet of Things, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0002] During the communication process, it is inevitable that the quality of the wireless link is poor, resulting in data transmission interruption or a high data parsing error rate. Therefore, the communication equipment needs to detect the link quality. For example, the terminal device can detect the link quality between the terminal device and the access network device. The radio link monitoring (RLM) mechanism of traditional terminal devices is based on measuring the received power of the reference signal on the reference signal resource to judge the link quality. For some terminal devices with lower processing complexity, such as Internet of Things (IoT) terminal devices, the RLM mechanism of traditional terminal devices cannot be used, or the RLM mechanism of traditional terminal devices is more complex than that of IoT terminal devices. There is no corresponding RLM solution for IoT terminal devices, which leads to the fact that in the case of link abnormalities, the IoT terminal device still defaults to continuing service transmission or the IoT terminal device performs invalid service transmission, wasting system resources. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for simplifying the process of a terminal device detecting whether a link is abnormal, reducing processing complexity, and improving utilization of system resources.

[0004] In order to achieve the above purpose, the embodiment of the present application adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a first communication device. The first communication device can be a terminal device, or the first communication device is a component for implementing the function of the terminal device. For example, the first communication device is a unit / module, circuit or chip inside the terminal device. The method provided in the first aspect is described below by taking the first communication device as the terminal device itself as an example.

[0006] The communication method includes: the terminal device sends a first message to the network device or receives a second message from the network device, and starts a first timer; the terminal device determines that the first timer has timed out and has not received a third message from the network device, and performs one or more of the following: disconnecting from the network device at the access stratum (AS); entering a first state, wherein when the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message.

[0007] In this method, the terminal device determines whether the link is abnormal based on the first timer. If the terminal device starts the first timer after sending the first information or receiving the second information, and does not receive the third information within the timing of the first timer, it is determined that the link quality is poor and the link is abnormal. Compared with the method in which the transmission terminal device determines the link quality based on the block error rate (BLER) or received power of the measured reference signal, it is simpler and can reduce the processing complexity.

[0008] In one implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device sends a first message to the network device, and the first message is used to indicate that the link of the terminal device is abnormal. By informing the network device of the abnormal link of the terminal device through the first message, the network device can be assisted to adopt a suitable strategy to end the transmission process of the terminal device or stop the service process of the terminal device. For example, even if the network device has other data to be transmitted, when the network device knows that the link of the terminal device is abnormal, the network device will no longer send the data to be transmitted.

[0009] In one implementation, the method further includes: keeping a flag bit unchanged, the flag bit is used to identify the access status of the terminal device. The terminal can stop the current data transmission process when the current link quality is poor, and re-listen to the paging or downlink trigger message to reduce unnecessary data transmission. The flag bit remains unchanged (assuming it is A), which can be understood as the terminal device has not successfully transmitted data, or as the current service has not ended for the terminal device, and it is necessary to continue to listen to the paging or downlink trigger message carrying the same flag bit A, or resend the access request / connection establishment request. If the flag bit flips (A flips to B), it means that the terminal device has successfully transmitted data or has completed the current service, and the terminal device does not respond to the paging or downlink trigger message carrying the flag bit A.

[0010] In one implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device receives first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer. Configuring the first timer through the first indication information is more flexible. And a suitable first timer can also be configured for the terminal device. For example, if the service processing delay is longer, the timing duration of the first timer is also longer; if the service processing delay is shorter, the timing duration of the first timer is also shorter. This method can not only leave enough time for the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal, reducing misjudgment; it can also reduce unnecessary waiting time of the terminal device, so that it can enter the next transmission in time and improve transmission efficiency.

[0011] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates first time information, which indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, the first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the timing duration of the second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

[0012] The network side may configure the first time information used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, or may configure to reuse an existing timer, such as the second timer, which is more flexible.

[0013] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes the first time information, which is relatively direct and reduces the processing complexity of the terminal device.

[0014] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes an index of the first time information, which can reduce the bit overhead of the first indication information.

[0015] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes identification information of the first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information. This solution can reduce the bit overhead of the first indication information, and configure the first timer according to the granularity of the service, so that the first timer matches the service, reduces the misjudgment of whether the link is abnormal, reduces the unnecessary waiting time of the terminal device, and improves the overall transmission efficiency of the system.

[0016] In one implementation, the first indication information is carried in a paging message, and the method further includes: the terminal device receives the second indication information, the second indication information indicates the second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, and the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, and the confirmation message is used to indicate the terminal device to send data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

[0017] The network side can configure the timer through two different signalings. For the terminal device, it can choose which signaling configuration to use to determine the timing duration of the first timer. For example, if the first indication information is carried in the paging message and the second indication information is carried in the confirmation message, then the timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the second time information.

[0018] In one implementation, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including: the second indication information includes the second time information, which is more direct and reduces the processing complexity of the terminal device.

[0019] In one implementation, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including: the second indication information includes an index of the second time information, which can reduce the bit overhead of the first indication information;

[0020] In one implementation, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including: the second indication information includes identification information of the second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information. This solution can reduce the bit overhead of the second indication information, reduce the misjudgment of whether the link is abnormal, and improve the overall transmission efficiency of the system.

[0021] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a second communication device. The second communication device can be an access network device, or the second communication device is a component for implementing the functions of the access network device. For example, the second communication device is a unit / module, circuit or chip inside the access network device. The method provided by the second aspect is described below by taking the second communication device as the access network device itself as an example.

[0022] The communication method includes: the access network device determines first indication information and sends the first indication information to the terminal device. The first indication information is used to determine the timing duration of a first timer, and the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal.

[0023] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates first time information, which indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, the first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of a second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

[0024] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes the first time information; the first indication information includes an index of the first time information; or the first indication information includes identification information of a first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

[0025] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device sends second indication information to the terminal device, the second indication information indicating second time information, the second time information being used to determine the timing duration of the first timer. The second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, the confirmation message being used to indicate that the terminal device sends data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

[0026] In one implementation, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including:

[0027] The second indication information includes second time information;

[0028] The second indication information includes an index of the second time information; or,

[0029] The second indication information includes identification information of a second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

[0030] In one implementation, the method also includes: the access network device sends a fourth message to a core network network element to start a third timer; the access network device determines that the third timer has timed out and has not received a response to the fourth message, and performs one or more of the following: releasing the AS of the terminal device; or sending a second message to the terminal device, where the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

[0031] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device receives third indication information from a core network element, where the third indication information is used to determine a timing duration of a third timer and / or the first timer.

[0032] In one implementation, the third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0033] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device sends a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate a link abnormality.

[0034] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device sends a fourth message to the core network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

[0035] For the beneficial effects of the second aspect and its various implementations, reference may be made to the beneficial effects of the first aspect and its various implementations, which will not be repeated here.

[0036] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a second communication device. The second communication device can be an access network device, or the second communication device is a component for implementing the functions of the access network device. For example, the second communication device is a unit / module, circuit or chip inside the access network device. The method provided in the third aspect is described below by taking the second communication device as the access network device itself as an example.

[0037] The communication method includes: the access network device sends a fourth message to a core network network element to start a third timer; the access network device determines that the third timer has timed out and has not received a response to the fourth message, and executes one or more of the following: releasing the AS of the terminal device; or sending a second message to the terminal device, where the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

[0038] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device receives third indication information from the core network network element, the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer, and the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal.

[0039] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device sends a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate a link abnormality.

[0040] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device sends a fourth message to the core network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

[0041] For the beneficial effects of the third aspect and its various implementations, reference may be made to the beneficial effects of the first aspect or the second aspect and its various implementations, which will not be repeated here.

[0042] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a third communication device. The third communication device can be a core network element, or the third communication device is a component for implementing the functions of the core network element. For example, the third communication device is a unit / module, circuit or chip inside the core network element. The method provided in the fourth aspect is described below by taking the third communication device as the core network element itself as an example.

[0043] The communication method includes: a core network element determines third indication information, and sends the third indication information to an access network device. The third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of a third timer, and / or to determine the timing duration of a first timer. The first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal. The third timer is used by the access network device to determine whether to release the terminal device.

[0044] In one implementation, the third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0045] In one implementation, the method further includes: the core network element receiving a fourth message from the access network device, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

[0046] Regarding the beneficial effects of the fourth aspect and its various implementations, reference may be made to the beneficial effects of the first aspect or the second aspect and its various implementations, which will not be repeated here.

[0047] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device. Among them, the first communication device can be a terminal device, or the first communication device is a component for implementing the function of the terminal device. For example, the first communication device is a unit / module, circuit or chip inside the terminal device. The second communication device can be an access network device, or the second communication device is a component for implementing the function of the access network device. For example, the second communication device is a unit / module, circuit or chip inside the access network device. The third communication device can be a core network element, or the third communication device is a component for implementing the function of the core network element. For example, the third communication device is a unit / module, circuit or chip inside the core network element. The first communication device has the function of implementing the behavior in the above-mentioned first aspect method example, the second communication device has the function of implementing the behavior in the above-mentioned second or third aspect method example, and the third communication device has the function of implementing the behavior in the above-mentioned fourth aspect method example.

[0048] Taking the first communication device as the terminal device itself, the second communication device as the access network device itself, and the third communication device as the core network element itself as an example, the communication method includes: the core network element sends a third indication message to the access network device, and the third indication message is used by the access network device to determine the timing duration of the first timer; the access network device sends a first indication message to the terminal device, and the first indication message is used by the terminal device to determine the timing duration of the first timer; the terminal device sends a first message to the network device or receives a second message from the network device, and starts the first timer; the terminal device determines that the first timer has timed out and has not received the third message from the network device, and performs one or more of the following: disconnecting from the network device at the access stratum (AS); entering the first state, wherein when the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message. The network device includes an access network device and / or a core network element.

[0049] For the beneficial effects of the fifth aspect, reference may be made to the beneficial effects of the first aspect or the second aspect and their respective implementation methods, which will not be repeated here.

[0050] In the sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which has the function of implementing the behavior in the method examples of the first aspect to the fourth aspect above. The beneficial effects can be referred to the relevant descriptions of the first aspect to the fourth aspect and will not be repeated here. For example, the communication device may be a terminal device in the first aspect, or the communication device may be an access network device in the second aspect or the third aspect, or the communication device may be a core network element in the fourth aspect. For another example, the communication device may be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method provided in the first aspect, for example, the communication device may be a chip or chip system in the terminal device. Or, for another example, the communication device may be a device capable of supporting the access network device to implement the functions required by the method provided in the second aspect or the third aspect, for example, the communication device may be a chip or chip system in the access network device. Or, for another example, the communication device may be a device capable of supporting the core network element to implement the functions required by the method provided in the fourth aspect, for example, the communication device may be a chip or chip system in the core network element.

[0051] In one possible design, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device.

[0052] In one possible design, the communication device includes corresponding means or modules for executing the method of any aspect of the first aspect to the fourth aspect. For example, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module or processor) and / or a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module or transceiver). The transceiver unit can implement the sending function and the receiving function. When the transceiver unit implements the sending function, it can be called a sending unit (sometimes also referred to as a sending module). When the transceiver unit implements the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also referred to as a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional unit, which is called a transceiver unit, and the functional unit can implement the sending function and the receiving function; or, the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional units, and the transceiver unit is a general term for these functional units. These units (modules) can perform the corresponding functions in the method examples of any aspect of the first aspect to the fourth aspect above. Please refer to the detailed description in the method examples for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0053] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be the communication device in the sixth aspect of the above embodiment, or a chip or chip system arranged in the communication device in the sixth aspect. The communication device includes a communication interface and a processor, and optionally, also includes a memory. The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions or data, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instruction or data, the communication device executes the method executed by the first terminal device in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication device may be a terminal device or a functional module in the terminal device, such as a baseband chip and a radio frequency chip. Alternatively, when the processor reads the computer program or instruction or data, the communication device executes the method executed by the access network device in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication device may be an access network device or a functional module in the access network device, such as a baseband chip and a radio frequency chip. Alternatively, when the processor reads the computer program or instruction or data, the communication device executes the method executed by the core network element in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication device may be a core network element or a functional module in the core network element, such as a chip system.

[0054] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and may also include a communication interface for implementing the method described in any of the first to fourth aspects. Optionally, the chip system also includes a memory. The memory is used to store computer programs (also referred to as codes, or instructions). The processor is used to call and run a computer program from the memory so that a device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or a device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or a device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or a device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof. The chip system may be composed of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0055] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes an input / output interface and a logic circuit. The input / output interface is used to input and / or output information. The input / output interface can be an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or a related circuit, etc. The logic circuit is used to execute the method described in any aspect of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

[0056] In the specific implementation process, the above-mentioned communication device can be a chip, the input circuit can be an input pin, the output circuit can be an output pin, and the logic circuit can be a transistor, a gate circuit, a trigger, and various logic circuits. The input signal received by the input circuit can be, for example, but not limited to, received and input by a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit can be, for example, but not limited to, output to a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter, and the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as an input circuit and an output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the input and output interface and the logic circuit.

[0057] In one implementation, when the communication device is a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device may be a terminal device such as a mobile phone. The interface circuit may be a radio frequency processing chip in the wireless communication device, and the processing circuit may be a baseband processing chip in the wireless communication device.

[0058] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device, an access network device, and a core network element.

[0059] The core network network element is used to send third indication information to the access network device, and the third indication information is used by the access network device to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

[0060] The access network device is used to send first indication information to the terminal device, and the first indication information is used by the terminal device to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

[0061] The terminal device is used to: send a first message to a network device or receive a second message from the network device, and start a first timer, and when it is determined that the first timer has timed out and the third message from the network device has not been received, perform one or more of the following: disconnect the AS from the network device, or enter a first state, wherein when the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message. The network device includes an access network device and / or a core network element.

[0062] The terminal device is used to implement the functions of the method described in the first aspect, the access network device is used to implement the functions of the method described in the second aspect, and the core network network element is used to implement the functions of the method described in the fourth aspect; or, the terminal device is used to implement the functions of the method described in the first aspect, the access network device is used to implement the functions of the methods described in the second and third aspects, and the core network network element is used to implement the functions of the method described in the fourth aspect.

[0063] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store computer programs or instructions. When the computer-readable storage medium is executed, the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented, or the method described in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented, or the method described in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented, or the method described in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented.

[0064] In the twelfth aspect, the embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented, or enables the method described in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented, or enables the method described in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented, or enables the method described in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented.

[0065] The beneficial effects of the sixth to twelfth aspects and their implementations can refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the first to fourth aspects and any possible implementations thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a communication system with separate reader and writer;

[0068] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a flow chart of the interaction service between a tag and a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] Figure 4 Another schematic diagram of a flow chart of a tag-network device interaction service provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] Figure 5 A flow chart of a communication method 500 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] Figure 6 A flow chart of a communication method 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] Figure 7 A flow chart of a communication method 700 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] Fig. 9 Another structural schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] The technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the Internet of Things (IoT) system, and IoT includes ambient IoT (ambient IoT, A-IoT), narrowband Internet of Things (narrow band internet of things, NB-IoT), etc. IoT technology is widely used in various industries. For example, IoT technology can be applied to logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, or environmental monitoring. IoT is based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. RFID technology is a contactless communication technology implemented by radio frequency communication. Its principle is that there is no need for contact between the reader / reader and the tag, and data communication is achieved through radio waves. IoT technology can be applied to the communication system related to the third generation partnership project (3GPP), for example, the long term evolution (LTE) communication system, the sixth generation (5G) mobile communication system, or it can also be applied to other next generation mobile communication systems, such as the sixth generation (6G) communication system, or other similar communication systems. Other similar communication systems may include wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), vehicle to everything (V2X), and so on.

[0076] See also Figure 1 , which is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 Take the example that the communication system includes a terminal device, an access network device and a core network element. Figure 1The network architecture shown is only for illustration, and the number of terminal devices, access network devices and core network elements may be less or more. The communication system described in the embodiment of the present application is to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the communication system to which the embodiment of the present application is applicable. It is known to those of ordinary skill in the art that with the evolution of the network architecture, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems. When the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is applied to other communication systems, the devices, components, modules, etc. in the embodiment may be replaced with corresponding devices, components, modules in other communication systems without limitation. The network devices mentioned in the embodiment of the present application include access network devices and / or core network elements.

[0077] Among them, anything that can communicate data with the access network equipment can be regarded as a terminal device. Terminal equipment is also called terminal, terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, or mobile terminal. For example, the terminal device can be: a mobile phone, a computer, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a robotic arm, a camera, a robot, or a smart home device (such as a TV, air conditioner, sweeper, speaker, set-top box), a relay, a customer premise equipment (CPE), and a device with a tag function. For example, the terminal device can be a tag in IoT / A-IoT. Figure 1 Take the case where the terminal device is an A-IoT terminal.

[0078] Tags can be called RFID tags or electronic tags, or A-IoT terminals or A-IoT devices. They are usually attached to objects to identify target objects. Tags can receive radio frequency signals from readers and writers. With the energy obtained from the induced current, tags can send out information stored in the chip inside the tag. Alternatively, tags can actively send signals of a certain frequency to the reader and writer, and the reader and writer read the information from the tag. The design of tags is relatively simple. It integrates application layer signaling and air interface signaling together, and has the characteristics of low power consumption. Tags are divided into three types: active, passive, and semi-active / semi-passive. Active tags are also called active tags, passive tags are also called passive tags, and semi-active / semi-passive tags are also called semi-passive tags. Active tags / active tags are equipped with a power supply and adopt a communication method of actively generating carrier waves, that is, they can actively send signals to the reader and writer without obtaining energy for sending signals based on the received signals. Passive tags / passive tags are not equipped with power modules or the power module has low power. They can use a communication method based on backscatter, which can obtain energy from the environment and send signals through the energy. Passive tags can work in reflection communication scenarios. For example, passive tags reflect signals from readers to obtain energy to transmit data. Semi-active / semi-passive tags integrate the advantages of active tags and passive tags and can be used as a special marker. Usually, semi-active / semi-passive tags are in a dormant state and may not work or send signals to the outside world. Only when they enter the activation signal range of a low-frequency activator, the semi-active / semi-passive tag is activated and starts working. The tags involved in the embodiments of the present application may be active tags, passive tags, or semi-active / semi-passive tags.

[0079] In the embodiments of the present application, the tag can be used as a terminal device. Accordingly, the terminal devices in the present application can be of the following three types: passive terminal: no energy storage, can not generate signals independently, use backscattering to transmit signals; semi-passive terminal: has energy storage, but can not generate signals independently, uses backscattering to transmit signals, and its stored energy can amplify the reflected signal; active terminal: has energy storage, can generate signals independently, and has active radio frequency components for transmission.

[0080] Both the tag device and the reader-writer can be implemented based on the infrastructure in the cellular network, or the tag device and the reader-writer can be devices in the cellular network. For example, the function of the reader-writer can be implemented by the network device or the terminal device, and the tag device can be implemented by the terminal device in the cellular network. For example, the tag device can be an IoT terminal with extremely low power consumption and extremely low complexity. When the terminal device has the function of the tag device, non-contact data communication can be performed between the terminal device and the network device or another terminal device.

[0081] The various terminal devices introduced above, if located on the vehicle (for example, placed / installed in the vehicle), can be considered as vehicle-mounted terminal devices. The vehicle-mounted terminal device can be a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle-mounted component, a vehicle-mounted chip or a vehicle-mounted unit built into the vehicle as one or more components or units. The vehicle-mounted terminal device can also be a complete vehicle device, a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle, an on-board unit (OBU), a roadside unit (RSU), a vehicle-mounted system (or a vehicle-mounted sending unit) (telematics box, T-box), a chip or a system on chip (SOC), etc. The above chip or SOC can be installed in a vehicle, OBU, RSU or T-box.

[0082] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the terminal device may be the terminal device itself, or may be a device that can support the terminal device to realize the function, such as a chip system or a combination device or component that can realize the function of the terminal device, and the device may be installed in the terminal device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device. For example, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may be in the form of a tag or other terminal form. Unless otherwise specified, the terminal device and the tag may be interchangeable.

[0083] Access network equipment is also called radio access network (RAN) equipment. RAN can be a cellular system related to 3GPP, such as an LTE system, a new radio (NR) system, or a future-oriented evolution system (such as a 6G mobile communication system). RAN can also be an open access network (open RAN, O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN), or a virtualized radio access network (virtualized RAN, vRAN), etc. RAN can also be a communication system in which two or more of the above systems are integrated. RAN equipment can also be called a RAN node, a RAN entity, or an access node, etc. For example, a RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, etc. RAN nodes can be RAN nodes in V2X technology, which can be RSUs, access nodes in Wi-Fi systems, etc.

[0084] The RAN node may also be a module or unit that completes part of the functions of the base station; or multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal device in achieving wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the RAN node may be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU) or a radio unit (RU). In different systems, CU, DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU are described as examples in this application. CU and DU can be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement, and which protocol layers are configured for CU and DU respectively are not limited in the embodiments of this application. Any unit in CU, DU and RU in this application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0085] In the embodiment of the present application, the access network device may have a built-in reader / writer. When the terminal device is a tag, the tag and the access network device may communicate via the Uu port. Figure 1 As shown in the figure. The functions of the reader can be further separated, and the reader is divided into a receiver and an exciter. The receiver is also called a receiving end or a receiving unit, and the exciter is also called an exciter end or an exciter unit. The exciter unit is equivalent to the transmitter in the reader, and the receiving unit is equivalent to the receiver in the reader. When the reader is implemented in a separated architecture, different entities of the reader can be deployed on different access network devices, such as Figure 2 shown. Figure 2 In the example, the first access network device is deployed with an exciter to perform the sending function of the reader / writer; the second access network device is deployed with a receiver to perform the receiving function of the reader / writer. The exciter and the reader / writer / access network device can be transmitted through the air interface or through a wired connection.

[0086] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the access network device may be the access network device itself, or may be a device capable of supporting the access network device to implement the function, such as a chip system or a combination device or component capable of implementing the function of the access network device, and the device may be installed in the access network device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the access network device.

[0087] Core network elements correspond to different devices in different systems. For example, in a 4G system, the core network element may be a mobility management entity (MME) and / or a serving gateway (S-GW). In a 5G system, the core network element may be an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF) or a user plane function (UPF). In an embodiment of the present application, the core network element has the function of managing tags, and the core network element may also be a tag management function (TMF) or an enhanced AMF. The enhanced AMF has a tag management function.

[0088] Tags can be applied to a variety of industries. Logistics management, as a typical application, is achieved by taking inventory of physical tags. Tag inventory requires tags to access the network. After each tag is randomly connected to the network, the tag's identifier can be reported to the reader, so that the reader can determine the existence of tags within the coverage range. After the tag is connected to the network, it can interact with access network equipment (such as a reader / writer) and / or core network elements for some business information. For example, the core network element can forward a message to the tag through the access network device, and the message may include information about the operation that needs to be performed on the tag. Alternatively, the access network device can also forward a message from the tag to the core network element. The access network device can parse or process messages from the core network element or the tag. Common tag services include inventory operations, read operations, write operations, positioning operations, kill operations, or operations to obtain tag information. Among them, the inventory operation is used to obtain the identification of all tags within the coverage of the access network device; the read operation can read data from the tag; the write operation can write data to the tag; the positioning operation can obtain the location information of the tag; the deactivation operation is also called the invalidation operation, which can make the tag identification invalid or inactivated; the tag information acquisition operation can obtain the tag information, such as the tag identification, the information stored in the tag, the location information of the tag, etc. The above tag services are only listed, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the number and types of tag services. For example, tag services also include authentication services.

[0089] See also Figure 3 , is a flow chart of business between tags and network devices. The network devices include access network devices and core network elements. The access network devices have the function of a reader / writer. The flow includes the following steps:

[0090] S301. A core network element sends an N2 message to an access network device.

[0091] N2 is the communication interface between the core network element and the access network device. The N2 message can be used to request an operation on one or more tags.

[0092] S302: The access network device broadcasts a select message or a paging message.

[0093] The selection / paging message includes the identification range of the tag to be operated. The identification range of the tag includes the identification of the tag.

[0094] S303: The access network device sends a query message.

[0095] The query message can carry a Q value, which determines the number of random access time slots. By setting the Q value, access collisions between tags can be reduced.

[0096] S304: The access network device sends a repeated query (QueryRep) message.

[0097] The access network device may send the query repetition message multiple times. For example, the access network device may send 2^Q re-query messages repeatedly. S304 shows only one query repetition message. Subsequent query repetition messages may be sent after S306 or S307.

[0098] S305. The tag sends a random number to the access network device.

[0099] When the tag determines that its own identification is within the identification range indicated by the selection message, after detecting the query message, it sends a random number to the access network device in response to the query message. The tag can generate a random number between [0, 2^Q-1] based on the Q value. For example, if Q=4, the tag generates a random number between [0, 15]. The tag records the number of random numbers as the initial value of the counter counter. Each time the tag receives a query repetition message, the counter counter-1. When counter is 0, the tag sends a random number to initiate access.

[0100] S306: The access network device sends a confirmation message to the tag, where the confirmation message includes the random number received from the tag.

[0101] The access network device sends a confirmation message to the tag. If the random number included in the confirmation message is consistent with the random number sent by the tag to the access network device, the tag accesses the access network device.

[0102] S307. The tag sends service data to a core network element through an access network device.

[0103] The tag accesses the access network device and can send service data to the core network network element through the access network device. For example, the tag sends the tag's identification information (for example, the tag's electronic product code (EPC)) to the access network device, and the access network device forwards the identification information to the core network element.

[0104] After receiving the service data, the core network element may send a response to the service data to the access network device, and the access network device forwards the response to the service data to the label. Figure 3In this case, the access network device does not need to parse the message from the core network element and / or the label, and is only responsible for forwarding the received message. In other words, the access network device transparently transmits the service data of the label to the core network element, and the service data is carried in the non-access stratum (NAS) message.

[0105] In a possible scenario, the service data of the tag is not carried in the NAS message, but is first sent to the access network device, which then sends it to the core network element through the N2 interface. In this scenario, the service flow between the tag and the core network element is as follows: Figure 4 shown. Figure 4 and Figure 3 For repetitions, please refer to Figure 3 The relevant content will not be repeated here.

[0106] S401. A core network element sends an N2 message to an access network device.

[0107] S402: The access network device broadcasts a select message or a paging message.

[0108] S403: The access network device sends a query message.

[0109] S404: The access network device sends a query repetition (QueryRep) message.

[0110] S405: The tag sends a random number to the access network device.

[0111] S406: The access network device sends a confirmation message to the tag, where the confirmation message includes the random number received from the tag.

[0112] S407: The tag sends service data to the access network device.

[0113] S408. The access network device sends a response message of the N2 message to the core network element.

[0114] The response message includes the service data sent by the tag.

[0115] S409. The core network element sends downlink data to the access network device.

[0116] S410. The access network device sends the downlink data sent by the core network element to the label.

[0117] S411. The core network element sends an end marker (end_marker) to the access network device.

[0118] When the service is completed, the core network element will send an end_marker to the access network device, carrying the temporary identifier of the label, to instruct the access network device to release the label and the temporary identifier.

[0119] S412: The access network device sends a query duplication message to the tag.

[0120] The access network device receives the end_marker, releases the temporary identifier of the label, and releases the label. For example, the access network device sends a query repetition message.

[0121] exist Figure 4 In the process shown, each time the access network device counts a label, it sends a temporary identifier of the label to the core network element for associating the label with the N2 interface, so that the access network device can determine which label the N2 message corresponds to from the received N2 message. The temporary identifier can be a random number sent by the label.

[0122] Figure 3 and Figure 4 Two processes of interaction between tags and core network elements are shown. However, it is inevitable that the link quality between the tag and the access network device / core network element is poor, resulting in interruption of the tag's data transmission or a high data parsing error rate. Therefore, the tag needs to detect the link quality. The UE's radio link monitoring (RLM) mechanism is based on measuring the BLER or received power of the reference signal or downlink information on the reference signal resource to determine the link quality. Downlink information includes downlink control information (DCI) or downlink data. In view of the weak processing capability of the tag, the UE's RLM mechanism is not applicable to the RLM of the tag, or the UE's RLM is not applicable to terminal devices with weak processing capabilities. There is currently no solution for tags to detect link quality, which means that when the link is abnormal, the tag will continue to transmit services according to the normal business process, and the service transmission will still fail, wasting system resources.

[0123] In order to solve the above technical problems, a solution provided by an embodiment of the present application is proposed. In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device determines whether a link is abnormal based on a timer. If the timer times out after the terminal device sends data and no feedback is received for the data, it is determined that the link quality is poor and the link is abnormal. Link abnormality can also be referred to as link failure. Accordingly, whether a link is abnormal is also referred to as whether a link has failed.

[0124] In various embodiments of the present application, "when...", "if" and "if" all refer to the device making corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. It does not limit the time, nor does it require that there must be a judgment action when the device is implemented, nor does it mean that there are other limitations. Unless otherwise specified, "if" and "if" are interchangeable, and "when..." and "in the case of..." are interchangeable. "When..." and "if" / "if" are interchangeable. In the embodiments of the present application, for the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, it means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or plural.

[0125] The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects. For example, the first information and the second information refer to two different information, and do not indicate the difference in content, priority or importance of the two information. For a technical feature, the technical features in the technical feature are distinguished by "A", "B", "C" and "D", and there is no order of precedence or size between the technical features described by "A", "B", "C" and "D". For example, the indication method A and indication method B in this article are only for distinguishing different timers, and do not limit the priority or importance between indication method A and indication method B.

[0126] The embodiment of the present application mentions three timers, namely, a first timer, a second timer, and a third timer. Among them, the first timer and the second timer are both the maximum waiting delay from the terminal device sending information to receiving information. The first timer can be the maximum waiting delay from the terminal device sending information to receiving information during the data transmission process after the terminal device accesses the network. The second timer can be the maximum waiting delay for sending or receiving information during the random access process of the terminal device. The timing duration of the second timer can be a default value.

[0127] Alternatively, the first timer may also be the maximum waiting delay between two consecutive receptions of information by the terminal device. For example, the first timer may be the maximum waiting delay between the terminal device receiving information A and the next information (e.g., information B) of information A. Information B may be information A, which may be a confirmation / feedback message for the information sent by the terminal device.

[0128] The third timer may be the maximum waiting delay from when the network device sends a message / data to the core network element to when it receives a message / data from the core network element. The message / data received by the network device from the core network element may be a feedback message of the message / data sent by the network device, or may be any message / data sent by the core network element to the network device.

[0129] Alternatively, the third timer may be the maximum waiting delay from when the network device receives a message / data from a core network element to when it receives the next message / data from the core network element.

[0130] The technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present application is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0131] The following takes the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application as being executed by the first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device as an example. Among them, the steps executed by the first communication device can be implemented by the terminal device itself, or by a component in the terminal device (such as a baseband chip, or other processing units or processors). The terminal device can be a tag, or a device with a tag function. For example, the terminal device can be Figure 1 The terminal in can also be Figure 1 The steps performed by the second communication device may be implemented by the RAN device itself, or by a component in the RAN device (such as a baseband chip, or other processing units or processor modules). For example, the second communication device may be Figure 1 The access network device in Figure 1 Alternatively, the steps performed by the second communication device may be implemented by other devices with wireless communication functions themselves, or by components in the device (such as baseband chips, or other processing units or processor modules). For example, the second communication device may be a terminal device or a chip (system) in a terminal device. The steps performed by the third communication device may be implemented by the core network element itself, or by components in the core network element (such as chips, processing units, or processor modules). For example, the core network element may be Figure 1 The core network element shown, such as an AMF network element, a TMF network element or an enhanced AMF network element, or may also be Figure 1 The chip (system) in the core network element.

[0132] See also Figure 5 , Figure 5 A flow chart of a communication method 500 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 Taking the first communication device as an access network device, the second communication device as a terminal device, and the third communication device as a core network element as an example, the method is introduced from the perspective of the interaction between the access network device, the core network element, and the terminal device. It should be understood that the communication method 500 can also be implemented by other devices, such as a chip or communication device with communication functions. Among them, the terminal device can be a tag or an A-IoT terminal. Figure 5 As shown, the process of the communication method 500 includes the following steps.

[0133] S501. An access network device sends first indication information to a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to determine a timing duration of a first timer.

[0134] Accordingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information. The first indication information can be used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, and the first timer can be used by the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal. For example, after the terminal device sends information, if it does not receive a response to the information within a period of time, then it can be considered that the link is abnormal.

[0135] The first indication information may indicate the first time information, and the terminal device determines the timing duration of the first timer according to the first time information. The embodiment of the present application does not limit how the first indication information indicates the first time information, for example including but not limited to the following indication methods.

[0136] Indication method A: the first indication information includes the first time information.

[0137] For example, the first time information may be at least one duration, and the timing duration of the first timer may be one of the at least one duration. For example, the first time information may be 1ms, 2ms, and so on. Optionally, the first time information may be a default value. When the first time information is multiple durations, the terminal device may determine the maximum duration among the multiple durations as the timing duration of the first timer, so as to leave enough time to determine whether the link is abnormal and reduce misjudgment. In indication mode A, the terminal device can directly obtain the first time information according to the first indication information, and the processing complexity is low.

[0138] Indication method B: the first indication information includes an index of the first time information.

[0139] For example, the first time information is at least one duration, and the first indication information may include the index of each of the at least one duration. The terminal device may determine at least one duration based on the index included in the first indication information, and then determine the duration of the first timer based on the at least one duration. When the first time information is an index corresponding to multiple durations, the terminal device may determine the maximum duration among the multiple durations as the timing duration of the first timer, so as to leave enough time to determine whether the link is abnormal and reduce misjudgment. In indication method B, the first indication information includes the index of the first time information, which can reduce the bit overhead of the first indication information.

[0140] Indication mode C: the first indication information includes identification information of a first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

[0141] Taking into account the different processing times required for different types of services, corresponding durations can be set for different services. For example, service 1 corresponds to time information 1, service 2 corresponds to time information 2, and so on. The correspondence between the service type and the time information can be (pre)configured, and the terminal device can store the correspondence. In this case, the time information can be indicated by the service type. For example, the first time information is associated / corresponds to the first service. In this case, the first indication information may include identification information of the first service or a type identification of the first service. The terminal device receives the first indication information, and can determine the first time information according to the type of the first service combined with the correspondence between the service type and the time information. One time information can correspond to one type of service or multiple types of services, and one time information can be a duration.

[0142] In order to leave enough time for the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal and reduce misjudgment, the first timer is usually set according to the maximum delay. For example, the first timer is set according to the maximum delay among the delays of multiple services. In this way, for some services with shorter processing delays, the terminal device still waits for data from the access network device according to the maximum delay, introducing additional unnecessary waiting time, causing the next service transmission of the terminal device to start later and the overall transmission efficiency to be low. In indication method C, the access network device configures the timing duration of the first timer for the terminal device according to the service type, and the timer used by the terminal device matches the service. Compared with using the same timing duration for different services, it can reduce unnecessary waiting time for the terminal device, so that it can enter the next transmission in time and improve transmission efficiency.

[0143] In a possible implementation, the first time information may be (pre)configured. In this case, S501 is a step that does not need to be performed. Figure 5The first time information may be a more reasonable duration obtained based on prior information or prior experiments. The terminal device sets the first timer based on the first time information. Alternatively, the correspondence between the service type and the time information may be (pre)configured, and the correspondence may also be a more reasonable correspondence obtained based on prior information or prior experiments. The terminal device may set the first timer based on the service to be performed and the correspondence.

[0144] Indication mode D, the first indication information indicates that the first timer is set by reusing an existing timer. For example, a second timer for determining whether a link in a random process is abnormal can be (pre) configured, or a second timer for random access can be (pre) configured. When the second timer is (pre) configured, the first indication information may indicate that the timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the timing duration of the second timer, or the first indication information may indicate that the second timer is multiplexed to determine whether the link in the data transmission process is abnormal, or the first indication information indicates that the second timer is used as the first timer. In this case, the first indication information may be N-bit information, and the value of the N bit is the first value, indicating that the timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the timing duration of the second timer. Wherein, N is a positive integer.

[0145] Alternatively, multiple timers have been (pre)configured, and the first indication information may indicate one of the multiple timers. For example, the first indication information indicates the shortest timer or the longest timer among the multiple timers. For example, the first indication information may be 1-bit information, the value of the 1-bit is a first value, indicating that the first timer is the shortest timer among the multiple timers; the value of the 1-bit is a second value, indicating that the first timer is the longest timer among the multiple timers.

[0146] Alternatively, the first indication information is information dedicated to indicating the first timer. The terminal device receives the first indication information and defaults the first timer to be the shortest timer or the longest timer among the at least one timer.

[0147] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the signaling that carries the first indication information. For example, if the terminal device has not established a connection with the access network device, the first indication information may be carried in a paging message. The paging message is used to page or select or trigger at least one terminal device to access or send uplink data. In this case, the access network device sends the first indication information, that is, the access network device sends a paging message, and the paging message includes the first indication information. It can be understood that the paging message may also include identification information of the terminal device. The access network device may also broadcast the paging message to page multiple terminal devices. The paging message may be a paging message in a cellular network, or it may be implemented through a downlink trigger message. The downlink trigger message may be a select message or a query message. The paging messages that appear in the following other processes may also refer to the description here, and will not be repeated here.

[0148] It is understandable that if the first indication information is carried in a select message or a query message or a paging message, the terminal device may subsequently determine whether the link in the random access process is abnormal according to the first timer. For example, after the terminal device sends the random number, the first timer may be started. Within the timing duration of the first timer, if the terminal device does not receive a response to the random number (i.e., a confirmation message similar to that in S306 or S406), the terminal device may determine that the link in the random access process is abnormal.

[0149] After the terminal device accesses the network, it can interact with the access network device or the core network element for services or perform data transmission. "Data transmission" refers to the data / information transmission performed after the terminal device accesses the network. The terminal device can also determine whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process based on the first timer. For example, after the terminal device sends the first information, the first timer is started. The first information can be any message or data sent by the terminal device. Within the timing duration of the first timer, the terminal device does not receive a response to the first information or a message from the other end, and the terminal device can determine that the link is abnormal during the data transmission process. It can be understood that the timing duration of the first timer refers to the duration between starting the first timer and the timeout of the first timer.

[0150] The service of the terminal device may occur between the terminal device and the access network device, or between the terminal device and the core network element. The processing delay of the service data from the terminal device by the access network device and the core network element may be different. In order to allow the terminal device to have enough time to determine whether the link is abnormal and reduce misjudgment, the core network element can provide time information to the access network device to assist the access network device in determining the first indication information. For example, before S501, S500 can be executed.

[0151] S500: A core network element sends third indication information to an access network device, where the third indication information can be used to determine a timing duration of a first timer. Accordingly, the access network device receives the third indication information.

[0152] The third indication information may indicate the third time information, which may be used to determine the timing duration of the first timer or the third indication information may be used to determine the first indication information. The specific implementation of the third indication information may refer to the specific implementation of the first indication information indicating the first time information, which will not be repeated here.

[0153] Among them, the third time information may be the same as or different from the first time information. For example, the third time information includes at least one first duration, and the first time information may be one first duration or multiple first durations among the at least one first duration. For another example, the third time information includes at least one first duration, and the first time information may be at least one second duration, wherein each second duration is the first duration and an offset value, and the offset value may be a positive number or a negative number. For another example, the third time information includes at least one first duration, and the access network device may select a first duration corresponding to a service from at least one first duration as the first time information according to the service to be performed by the terminal device.

[0154] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the signaling that carries the third indication information. For example, the third indication information may be carried in an interface message between an access network device and a core network network element, for example, in an N2 message. In this case, the core network network element sends the third indication information to the access network device, that is, the core network network element sends an N2 message to the access network device, and the N2 message includes the third indication information. The N2 message may also include service information. For example, the core network network element needs to perform an inventory operation on the terminal device, and the N2 message may include information on the inventory operation. For the access network device, the service to be performed by the terminal device can be determined based on the service information in the N2 message, so as to configure a suitable first timer for the terminal device according to the service. The N2 message may also include identification information of the terminal device, so that the access network device knows which terminal device the core network network element needs to communicate with.

[0155] In a possible implementation, the third time information may be (pre)configured. In this case, S500 is a step that does not need to be performed. Figure 5It is indicated by a dotted line. The third time information may be a more reasonable duration obtained based on prior information or prior experiments. The access network device determines the first time information based on the third time information. Alternatively, the correspondence between the service type and the time information may be (pre)configured, and the correspondence may also be a more reasonable correspondence obtained based on prior information or prior experiments. The access network device determines the first time information based on the service to be performed by the terminal device and the correspondence. The above only lists some implementation methods in which the third indication information indicates the third time information. The embodiments of the present application do not limit how the third indication information indicates the third time information. For example, the third indication information may also include the amount of service data, and different sizes of service data amounts correspond to different durations. The access network device may determine the first time information based on the amount of service data. For example, if the amount of service data is large, the duration corresponding to the first time information is longer; if the amount of service data is small, the duration corresponding to the first time information is shorter.

[0156] S502: The access network device sends second indication information to the terminal device, where the second indication information indicates second time information, which can be used to determine the timing duration of the first timer. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second indication information.

[0157] As mentioned above, if the paging message carrying the first indication information is implemented through a selection message in the RFID system, the terminal device can determine whether the link in the random access process is abnormal according to the first timer. The terminal device can also determine whether the link in the data transmission process is abnormal according to the first timer.

[0158] In one implementation, the timer used to determine whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process may be different from the timer used to determine whether the link is abnormal during the random access process. In order to distinguish, the access network device may indicate the timing duration of the first timer through the second indication information. For example, the second indication information may be carried in a confirmation message, which is used to indicate that the terminal device sends data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data. The confirmation message may be a response message of a random number in the RFID system. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific name of the confirmation message. For example, the confirmation message may also be a random access response message, a conflict response message, etc.

[0159] When the access network device sends the first indication information but does not send the second indication information, the terminal device determines the timing duration of the first timer according to the first indication information. In this case, the first timer can be used to determine whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process, and can also be used to determine whether the link is abnormal during the random access process.

[0160] Since the delay of the link interaction information in the random access process is usually fixed, the timer (i.e., the second timer) used to determine whether the link in the random access process is abnormal is usually fixed. However, the delay of the interaction information in the data transmission process varies according to different services. In order to reduce misjudgment, the timer for determining whether the link in the data transmission process is abnormal can be flexibly configured by the access network device.

[0161] For example, when the access network device sends the first indication information and the second indication information, the terminal device can determine the timing duration of the first timer according to the second time information, and the first timer is used to determine whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process; the timer determined by the terminal device according to the first time information is used to determine whether the link is abnormal during the random access process. This is equivalent to the terminal device determining the timer used to determine whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process according to the time most recently indicated by the access network device to reduce misjudgment. Alternatively, when the second timer is (pre) configured and the access network device sends the first indication information but does not send the second indication information, the terminal device determines the first timer according to the first indication information to determine whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process, and the terminal device can determine whether the link is abnormal during the random access process according to the second timer.

[0162] The second indication information may directly indicate the second time information or may indirectly indicate the second time information. For example, the second indication information includes the second time information, or the second indication information includes an index of the second time information, or the second indication information includes identification information of a second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information. The implementation method of the second indication information may refer to the implementation method of the first indication information indicating the first time information, which will not be described in detail here.

[0163] The access network device may not send the second indication information. Therefore, S502 is not a necessary step. Figure 5 In which, S501 is executed, but S502 may not be executed; or, S501 may not be executed, but S502 is executed; or, S501 and S502 may be executed; or, S501 and S502 are not executed, and the terminal device determines the timing duration of the first timer according to the preconfiguration.

[0164] S503: The terminal device sends first information to the network device or receives second information from the network device, and starts a first timer.

[0165] The network device may be an access network device or a core network element. After the terminal device accesses the network, it may exchange information with the access network device or the core network element. For example, the terminal device may send a first message to the network device or receive a second message from the network device. The first information may be any message or data sent by the terminal device. The second information may be a message or data sent by other devices to the terminal device. The second information may be sent to multiple terminal devices or to the terminal device. When the second information is sent to multiple terminal devices, the terminal devices to which the second information is sent may be distinguished by an identification or scrambling method (for example, a radio network temporary indentifier (RNTI)). When the second information is not sent to the terminal device or the terminal device receives the second information but fails to parse it, even if the terminal device receives the second information, the first timer is not started. For example, the identification (for example, a process number or a random number (RN) sequence) carried by the second information does not match the identification stored by the terminal device, or the terminal device fails to descramble the second information, even if the terminal device receives the second information, the first timer is not started.

[0166] In an embodiment of the present application, after the terminal device sends the first information to the network device or receives the second information from the network device, the first timer can be started to determine whether the link is abnormal. If the terminal device does not receive the third information from the network device within the timing duration of the first timer, the terminal device can determine that the link is abnormal. Alternatively, if the first timer times out and the terminal device does not receive the third information from the network device, the terminal device can determine that the link is abnormal. Alternatively, when the terminal device does not receive the third information within the timing duration of the first timer, the terminal device believes that data transmission is abnormal after accessing the network.

[0167] Among them, when the terminal device sends the first information to the network device, the third information can be a response to the first information, or the third information can be downlink data / downlink information / downlink signaling sent by the network device, for example, a MAC control element (CE). Before the first timer expires, the terminal device receives the third information and can restart / reset the first timer.

[0168] It should be noted that Figure 5 In the embodiment, the terminal device may send the first information to the network device and the terminal device may receive the second information from the network device, either one of them may be performed or both of them may be performed.

[0169] S504: The terminal device determines that the first timer has timed out and has not received the third information from the network device, and performs at least one of the following operations.

[0170] When the terminal device determines that the link is abnormal, the terminal device can perform one or more of the following operations:

[0171] A) The terminal device disconnects from the network device in AS.

[0172] When the terminal device does not receive the third information within the timing duration of the first timer, the terminal device considers that the data transmission is abnormal after accessing the network. In this case, the terminal device can actively disconnect from the network device. For example, the terminal device can instruct the terminal device to disconnect from the network device in the AS through the upper layer, or the terminal device can instruct the AS to release the connection with the network device through the upper layer. AS releases the connection with the network device, including deleting some information configured by the network device for the terminal device. The terminal device considers that the link is abnormal and releases the connection, entering the idle state. After the terminal device switches to the idle state, if it receives a query message or a query repetition message again, it can send an access request message to the access network device again to access the network again. For example, the terminal device can send a random number to the access network device, and the specific process will not be repeated.

[0173] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific name of the query duplicate message, or the query duplicate message may have other names. The query duplicate message may be used to implement one or more of the following functions:

[0174] 1) Trigger the next access time resource (access time slot) for the access of the terminal device. For example, when the terminal device receives the query repetition message, it updates the counter counter for recording the number of random numbers, for example, counter = counter-1 or counter = counter+1. When counter reaches the threshold, the terminal device initiates an access request.

[0175] 2) End the time slot of the terminal that is currently transmitting data.

[0176] 3) Used to confirm successful reception of data / information: After the terminal device sends data / information, if it receives a query repetition message before the first timer times out, it means that the data / information is successfully received.

[0177] 4) When the terminal device sends information / data and receives a query repetition message, it can flip a flag bit, which is used to identify the access status of the terminal device or to identify whether the communication between the terminal device and the other end is successful.

[0178] The flag bit value is 0, indicating that the access status of the terminal device is A; the flag bit value is 1, indicating that the access status of the terminal device is B. If the terminal device successfully communicates with the peer, the terminal device will flip the flag bit, that is, change the flag bit value from 0 to 1, or from 1 to 0.

[0179] B) The terminal device enters the first state. When the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message.

[0180] It is understandable that the terminal device has multiple states, such as an idle state and a connected state. The first state can be considered as an idle state, and can also be an initial state. The first state refers to a state in which only a paging message or a downlink trigger message can be responded to, that is, the terminal device is in the first state, and the terminal device only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message. Among them, the downlink trigger message can be used to page or select or trigger at least one terminal device to access or send data. For example, the downlink trigger message has a function similar to a selection message or a query message in an RFID system, or the downlink trigger message can be a selection message or a query message in a RFID system. The specific name of the downlink trigger message is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. After the terminal device enters the first state, if a query message or a selection message is received again, an access request message can be sent to the access network device again to access the network again. For example, the terminal device can send a random number to the access network device, and the specific process will not be repeated.

[0181] C) The terminal device sends a first message to the network device, where the first message is used to indicate that a link of the terminal device is abnormal.

[0182] The terminal device determines that the link is abnormal, and can also send a first message to the network device to indicate that the terminal device has a link abnormality. Link abnormality can also be called link failure. The first message indicating that the terminal device has a link abnormality can also be replaced by: the first message instructs the terminal device's AS to release / disconnect, the terminal device to disconnect from the network device, or the terminal device to disconnect from the network device at the AS layer. The terminal device informs the network device through the first message that the terminal device's link is abnormal, which can assist the network device in adopting an appropriate strategy to end the terminal device's transmission process or stop the terminal device's business process. For example, even if the network device has other data to transmit, when the network device knows that the terminal device link is abnormal, the network device will no longer send the data to be transmitted.

[0183] The first message may be uplink indication information or feedback information on downlink data, such as feedback. The first message may carry 1 bit to indicate downlink data acceptance failure (transmission anomaly) or downlink data successful reception, or the first message includes ACK / NACK, which may be carried in an RRC message or a MAC control element (CE).

[0184] D) Keep / maintain the flag bit unchanged, which is used to identify the access status of the terminal device.

[0185] The unchanged flag bit (assuming it is A) can be understood as the terminal device has not successfully transmitted data, or as the current service has not ended for the terminal device, and it needs to continue to listen to the paging or downlink trigger message carrying the same flag bit A, or resend the access request / connection establishment request. If the flag bit flips (A flips to B), it means that the terminal device has successfully transmitted data or has completed the current service, and the terminal device does not respond to the paging or downlink trigger message carrying the flag bit A. When the terminal device determines that the link is abnormal, the terminal device may not flip the flag bit, that is, keep the value of the flag bit unchanged. Then, according to the flag bit, the terminal device can stop the current data transmission process when the current link quality is poor, and re-listen for paging or downlink trigger messages to reduce unnecessary data transmission.

[0186] The communication method 500 determines whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process based on the first timer, and the processing complexity is lower than that of determining the link quality based on the measurement of the reference signal resource. In addition, the timing duration of the first timer can be configured according to the service to be performed by the terminal device. On the one hand, it can leave enough time for the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal, reducing misjudgment; on the other hand, the first timer matches the service, which can also reduce the unnecessary waiting time of the terminal device, so as to enter the next transmission in time and improve the transmission efficiency.

[0187] The embodiment of the present application also provides a communication method 600, in which, after the terminal device sends information to the network device, if feedback is received from the network device, it can be considered that the current transmission is successful, and there is subsequent information from the network device. In this case, the terminal device continues to detect information from the network device. If the terminal device receives a query repetition message after receiving feedback from the network device, it is considered that the link is abnormal, and the terminal device can execute one or more of the aforementioned A) to D).

[0188] See also Figure 6 , Figure 6 A flow chart of a communication method 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 Taking the first communication device as an access network device, the second communication device as a terminal device, and the third communication device as a core network element as an example, the method is introduced from the perspective of the interaction between the access network device, the core network element, and the terminal device. It should be understood that the communication method 600 can also be implemented by other devices, such as a chip or a communication device with communication functions. Among them, the terminal device can be a tag or an A-IoT terminal. Figure 6 As shown, the process of the communication method 600 includes the following steps.

[0189] S601. A core network element sends an N2 message to an access network device.

[0190] Correspondingly, the access network device receives the N2 message, and the N2 message can be used to request a service operation to be performed on the terminal device. The N2 message can include identification information of the terminal device.

[0191] S602: The access network device sends a paging message.

[0192] The access network device receives the N2 message and can page the terminal device according to the N2 message. For example, the access network device can broadcast a paging message to page or select or trigger at least one terminal device to access or send uplink data. The paging message can be a paging message in a cellular system, or can be implemented through a downlink trigger message. The downlink trigger message can be a select message or a query message.

[0193] S603: The terminal device receives the paging message and accesses the network.

[0194] S603 can be Figure 3 For details, please refer to S303-S306 Figure 3 The relevant contents in will not be repeated here.

[0195] S604: The terminal device sends first information to the network device.

[0196] The network device may be an access network device or a core network element. After the terminal device accesses the network, it may send service data to the network device, for example, the terminal device sends first information to the network device.

[0197] S605: The terminal device receives feedback regarding the first information from the network device.

[0198] The terminal device sends the first information and can detect the feedback from the network device. If the terminal device receives feedback from the network device for the first information, it can be considered that the transmission is successful and there is more information from the network device. Alternatively, the network device sends feedback to the terminal device for the first information, indicating that the first information is successfully received, and also implicitly indicating that there is more service information or the service is not yet completed. In this case, the terminal device continues to detect the information from the network device. If the terminal device receives a query repeat message after receiving the feedback from the network device for the first information, it is considered that the link is abnormal ( Figure 6 Taking this as an example), the terminal device may execute one or more of the aforementioned A) to D).

[0199] After sending the first information, the terminal device may start a second timer. If no feedback is received from the network device within the timing of the second timer, it is considered that no feedback is received from the network device. The second timer may be a (pre) configured timer used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal / failed during the random access process.

[0200] From the above Figure 4 As can be seen from the process, the access network device needs to wait for the end_marker fed back by the core network element before releasing the temporary identifier of the terminal device and releasing the terminal device. If the processing delay of the core network element is long, the access network device will also wait for a long time, and the overall service processing efficiency will be low.

[0201] In view of this, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method 700, in which after the access network device sends information to the core network element, the third timer can be started. If no feedback is received from the core network element within the timing of the third timer, it is considered that the service transmission is completed, so that the connection with the terminal device can be released and the next service can be continued. Compared with the current access network device always waiting for the core network element to feedback the end_marker, it can avoid being unable to release the terminal device for a long time and unable to continue the service.

[0202] See also Figure 7 , Figure 7 A flow chart of a communication method 700 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 7 Taking the first communication device as an access network device, the second communication device as a terminal device, and the third communication device as a core network element as an example, the method is introduced from the perspective of the interaction between the access network device, the core network element, and the terminal device. It should be understood that the communication method 700 can also be implemented by other devices, such as a chip or communication device with communication functions. Among them, the terminal device can be a tag or an A-IoT terminal. Figure 7 As shown, the process of the communication method 700 includes the following steps.

[0203] S701. A core network element sends third indication information to an access network device.

[0204] Correspondingly, the access network device receives the third indication information from the core network network element. The third indication information can be used to determine the timing duration of the third timer. For example, the third indication information indicates the third time information. The access network device receives the third indication information and can determine the timing duration of the third timer according to the third time information indicated by the third indication information. For the specific implementation of the third indication information, please refer to the relevant content of the third indication information in the aforementioned S500. Among them, the third indication information can also be used to determine the timing duration of the first timer. The access network device receives the third indication information and can determine the timing duration of the first timer according to the third time information indicated by the third indication information, or can determine the timing duration of the third timer. The timing duration of the third timer can be the same as or different from the timing duration of the first timer.

[0205] S702: The access network device sends fourth information to the core network element and starts the third timer.

[0206] Correspondingly, the core network element receives fourth information from the access network device. The fourth information may carry content to be sent by the terminal device to the core network element. The access network device receives content to be sent to the core network element from the terminal device, and sends the fourth information to the core network element.

[0207] Optionally, the access network device receives fifth information from the core network element and may also start the third timer. The fifth information may be a response or feedback from the core network element to the information received from the access network device, indicating to the access network device that the core network element will also send information to the access network device.

[0208] S703. The access network device determines that the third timer has timed out and has not received any information from the core network element, and performs one or more operations from A) to D) below. The information from the core network element may be a response to the fourth information, or may be other information sent by the core network element to the access network device. The other information may be information associated with the terminal device, for example, the other information is associated with a temporary identifier of the terminal device.

[0209] A) Release the AS of the terminal device.

[0210] Releasing the AS of the terminal device includes releasing / disconnecting the connection of the terminal device or releasing / deleting some related information. For example, the access network device releases the context information of the terminal device.

[0211] B) Sending a second message to the terminal device.

[0212] The second message may be a query repetition message similar to that in an RFID system. The second message may be used to trigger the next access time resource. Alternatively, the second message may be used to indicate the release / termination of the time slot of the terminal that is currently transmitting data, or to indicate the termination of a service flow / data transmission process, or to indicate the release of the connection of the terminal device.

[0213] C) Send a third message to the terminal device.

[0214] The third message may indicate: link abnormality, processing abnormality, service (processing) timeout, release / end of the time slot of the terminal that is currently transmitting data, end of the service flow / data transmission process, or release of the connection of the terminal device.

[0215] The terminal device receives the third message and can perform corresponding operations according to the third message. For example, the terminal device disconnects from the network device at the AS layer according to the third message.

[0216] The third message may be an RRC message or a MAC CE.

[0217] D) The access network device sends a fourth message to the core network element.

[0218] The fourth message may be an interface message between the access network device and the core network element. The fourth message may be used to indicate the release of the terminal device, the termination of the service process associated with the current terminal device, the handling of an exception, or the indication of the response to resend the fourth message. When the access network device determines that the third timer has timed out and has not received a response to the fourth message, the terminal device may be released and the core network element may be indicated that the terminal device has been released.

[0219] In communication method 700, the access network device releases the connection with the terminal device based on the third timer without having to wait for feedback from the core network network element (such as end_marker) or data sent by the core network element to the access network device (such as N2 message or service request message or service-related data). This can avoid the inability to release the terminal device for a long time and the inability to continue the service.

[0220] The communication method 500 and the communication method 700 may be combined or implemented separately. When the communication method 500 and the communication method 700 are combined, the core network network element sends the third indication information to the access network device, and the access network device may send the first indication information to the terminal device according to the third indication information, so that the terminal device determines the first timer according to the first indication information. The access network device may also determine the third timer according to the third indication information. When the communication method 500 and the communication method 700 are implemented separately, the third time information indicated by the third indication information sent by the core network network element to the access network device in the communication method 500 and the third time information indicated by the third indication information sent by the core network network element to the access network device in the communication method 700 may be the same or different. The communication method 600 and the communication method 700 may be combined or implemented separately.

[0221] The embodiments provided in the present application described above respectively introduce the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of the interaction between the access network device, the core network network element and the terminal device. Among them, the steps performed by the core network network element can be implemented by different functional entities constituting the core network network element. The steps performed by the access network device can be implemented by different functional entities constituting the access network device. For example, the access network device can be a CU-DU architecture, the CU can generate the first indication information, and the DU can send the first indication information. In order to implement the functions of the method provided in the above embodiments of the present application, the terminal device, the access network device and the core network network element may include a hardware structure and / or a software module, and implement the above functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. Whether one of the above functions is executed in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0222] The following describes the communication device used to implement the above method in the embodiment of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the above contents can be used in subsequent embodiments, and repeated contents will not be repeated.

[0223] Figure 8 Schematic block diagram of a communication device 800 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 800 may be an access network device or a core network element in the above embodiment. For example, the communication device 800 may be Figure 1The communication device 800 is an access network device in the core network 200 or a device in the core network 200; or, the communication device 800 is a chip (system) in the access network device or a chip (system) in the core network element; or, the communication device 800 is a software module of the access network device or the core network element. The communication device 800 can implement the functions or steps implemented by the core network element or the access network device in the above-mentioned various method embodiments. The communication device 800 may include a processing module 810 and a transceiver module 820. Optionally, a storage module may be included, which may be used to store instructions (codes or programs) and / or data. The storage module may be, for example, a memory. The processing module 810 and the transceiver module 820 may be coupled to the storage module. For example, the processing module 810 may read instructions (codes or programs) and / or data in the storage module to implement the corresponding method. When the communication device 800 is a chip in the core network element, the storage module may be a storage module in the chip, such as a register, a cache, etc. For example, the storage module may also be a storage module located outside the chip in an access network device / core network element, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM), etc. The above-mentioned units may be independently provided or partially or fully integrated.

[0224] The processing module 810 may be a processor or a controller, for example, a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processing (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. It may implement or execute various exemplary logic blocks, modules and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of the present application. The processor may also be a combination that implements a computing function, for example, including a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, and the like. The transceiver module 820 is a transceiver, an interface circuit, a bus, a pin or other possible communication interface for receiving signals from other devices. For example, when the device is implemented in the form of a chip, the transceiver module 820 is an interface circuit for the chip to receive signals from other chips or devices, or an interface circuit for the chip to send signals to other chips or devices.

[0225] In one implementation, the communication device 800 can correspond to the behavior and function of the terminal device in the above method embodiment. The communication device 800 can be a terminal device, or a component (such as a chip or circuit) applied to a terminal device, or a chip or a chipset in a terminal device or a part of a chip used to perform the function of a related method, or a software module that can implement the method executed by the terminal device in the above method (such as communication method 500, communication method 600 or communication method 700), without limitation. For details, please refer to the relevant content of the above method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0226] For example, the transceiver module 820 is used to send a first message to the network device or receive a second message from the network device. The processing module 810 is used to start a first timer, determine that the first timer has timed out, and has not received a third message from the network device, and perform one or more of the following: disconnecting the AS from the network device; or entering a first state, wherein when the communication device 800 is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message.

[0227] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further used to send a first message to the network device, where the first message is used to indicate that the link of the communication apparatus 800 is abnormal.

[0228] As an optional implementation manner, the processing module 810 is further configured to keep a flag bit unchanged, where the flag bit is used to identify the access status of the communication device 800 .

[0229] As an optional implementation manner, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to receive first indication information, where the first indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

[0230] As an optional implementation method, the first indication information indicates first time information, which indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, the first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of the second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

[0231] As an optional implementation method, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes the first time information; the first indication information includes the index of the first time information; or, the first indication information includes identification information of the first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

[0232] As an optional implementation method, the first indication information is carried in a paging message, and the transceiver module 820 is also used to receive second indication information, the second indication information indicates second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, and the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, which is used to indicate that the communication device 800 sends data or to confirm that the communication device 800 has successfully sent data.

[0233] As an optional implementation manner, the timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the second time information.

[0234] As an optional implementation method, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including: the second indication information includes the second time information; the second indication information includes the index of the second time information; or, the second indication information includes identification information of the second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

[0235] In one implementation, the communication device 800 can implement the behaviors and functions of the access network device in the above method embodiment. The communication device 800 can be an access network device, or a component (such as a chip or circuit) used in the access network device, or a chip or a chipset in the access network device or a part of the chip used to perform the functions of the related methods, or a software module that can implement the method executed by the access network device in the above method (such as communication method 500, communication method 600 or communication method 700), without limitation. For details, please refer to the relevant contents of the above method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0236] For example, the processing module 810 is used to determine the first indication information, which is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, and the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal. The transceiver module 820 is used to send the first indication information to the terminal device.

[0237] As an optional implementation method, the first indication information indicates first time information, which indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, the first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of the second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

[0238] As an optional implementation method, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes the first time information; the first indication information includes the index of the first time information; or, the first indication information includes identification information of the first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

[0239] As an optional implementation method, the transceiver module 820 is also used to send a second indication information to the terminal device, the second indication information indicates a second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, and the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, which is used to indicate the terminal device to send data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

[0240] As an optional implementation method, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including: the second indication information includes the second time information; the second indication information includes the index of the second time information; or, the second indication information includes identification information of the second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

[0241] As an optional implementation method, the transceiver module 820 is also used to send a fourth information to the core network network element, and the processing module 810 is also used to start a third timer, determine that the third timer has timed out, and no response to the fourth information has been received, and perform one or more of the following: releasing the AS of the terminal device; or, sending a second message to the terminal device, the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

[0242] As an optional implementation method, the transceiver module 820 is also used to receive third indication information from the core network network element, and the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

[0243] As an optional implementation manner, the third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0244] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further used to send a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate that the link of the terminal device is abnormal.

[0245] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further used to send a fourth message to the core network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

[0246] For another example, the transceiver module 820 is used to send the fourth information to the core network network element, and the processing module 810 is also used to start the third timer, determine that the third timer has timed out, and no response to the fourth information has been received, and execute one or more of the following: release the AS of the terminal device; or send a second message to the terminal device, where the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

[0247] As an optional implementation method, the transceiver module 820 is also used to receive third indication information from the core network network element, and the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

[0248] As an optional implementation manner, the third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0249] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further used to send a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate that the link of the terminal device is abnormal.

[0250] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further used to send a fourth message to the core network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

[0251] In one implementation, the communication device 800 can implement the behaviors and functions of the core network element in the above method embodiment. The communication device 800 can be a core network element, or a component (such as a chip or circuit) used in a core network element, or a chip or a chipset in a core network element or a part of a chip used to perform related method functions, or a software module that can implement the method executed by the core network element in the above method (such as communication method 500, communication method 600 or communication method 700), without limitation. For details, please refer to the relevant contents of the above method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0252] For example, the processing module 810 is used to determine the third indication information, and the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer, the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal, and the third timer is used by the access network device to determine whether to release the terminal device. The transceiver module 820 is used to send the third indication information to the access network device.

[0253] As an optional implementation manner, the third indication information is used to indicate third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0254] When the communication device 800 is a chip-type device or circuit, the transceiver module may be an input / output circuit and / or a communication interface; the processing module may be an integrated processor or microprocessor or integrated circuit.

[0255] Fig. 9 Schematic block diagram of a communication device 900 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 may be a terminal device, an access network device, or a core network element in the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the communication device 900 may be Figure 1The access network device, terminal device or core network element in the communication device 900; or the communication device 900 is a chip (system) in the access network device, terminal device or core network element. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or can include chips and other discrete devices. For specific functions, please refer to the description in the above method embodiment.

[0256] The communication device 900 includes one or more processors 901, which are used to implement or support the communication device 900 to implement the functions of the terminal device or core network element or access network device in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details, which will not be repeated here. The processor 901 may also be referred to as a processing unit or a processing module, which can implement certain control functions. The processor 901 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, etc. For example, it includes: a baseband processor, a central processing unit, an application processor, a modem processor, a graphics processor, an image signal processor, a digital signal processor, a video codec processor, a controller, a memory, and / or a neural network processor, etc. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data. The central processing unit can be used to control the communication device 900 (such as a network device or a terminal device), execute software programs and / or process data. Different processors may be independent devices or may be integrated in one or more processors, for example, integrated in one or more application-specific integrated circuits.

[0257] In one design, the processor 901 may include a program 903 (sometimes also referred to as code or instruction), and the program 903 may be executed on the processor 901 to enable the communication device 900 to perform the method described in the following embodiments. In another possible design, the communication device 900 includes a circuit ( Fig. 9 (not shown), the circuit is used to implement the terminal device or access network device or core network element function in the above embodiments.

[0258] In one design, the communication device 900 may include one or more memories 902 on which a program 909 (sometimes also referred to as code or instruction) is stored. The program 909 may be executed on the processor 901 so that the communication device 900 performs the method described in the above method embodiment, for example Figure 5 or Figure 6 or Figure 7 The process shown.

[0259] In one design, the processor 901 and / or the memory 902 may include an artificial intelligence (AI) module 907 and an AI module 908, and the AI ​​module is used to implement AI-related functions. The AI ​​module may be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. For example, the AI ​​module may include a RAN intelligent controller (RAN intelligent controller, RIC) module. For example, the AI ​​module may be a near real-time RIC or a non-real-time RIC.

[0260] In a possible design, data may also be stored in the processor 901 and / or the memory 902. The processor and the memory may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0261] In a possible design, the communication device 900 may further include a transceiver 905 and / or an antenna 906. The processor 901 may also be sometimes referred to as a processing unit, which controls the communication device 900. The transceiver 905 may also be sometimes referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, etc., which is used to implement the transceiver function of the communication device through the antenna 906.

[0262] In a possible design, the communication device 900 may also include one or more of the following components: a wireless communication module, an audio module, an external memory interface, an internal memory, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a power management module, an antenna, a speaker, a microphone, an input / output module, a sensor module, a motor, a camera, or a display screen, etc. It is understood that in some embodiments, the communication device 900 may include more or fewer components, or some components may be integrated, or some components may be separated. These components may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0263] The communication device in the above embodiment may be a terminal device or an access network device or a core network element, or a circuit, or a chip applied to a terminal device or an access network device or a core network element, or other combined devices, components, etc. having the above core network element (or access network device). When the communication device is a terminal device or an access network device, the transceiver module may be a transceiver, which may include an antenna and a radio frequency circuit, etc., and the processing module may be a processor, such as a CPU. When the communication device is a component having the above core network element function, the transceiver module may be a wired line, and the processing module may be a processor. When the communication device is a chip system, the communication device may be an FPGA, a dedicated ASIC, a system on chip (SoC), a CPU, a network processor (NP), a DSP, a microcontroller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD) or other integrated chip. The processing module may be a processor of a chip system. The transceiver module or the communication interface may be an input / output interface or an interface circuit of a chip system. For example, the interface circuit may be a code / data read / write interface circuit. The interface circuit can be used to receive code instructions (the code instructions are stored in the memory, can be read directly from the memory, or can be read from the memory through other devices) and transmit them to the processor; the processor can be used to run the code instructions to execute the method in the above method embodiment. For another example, the interface circuit can also be a signal transmission interface circuit between the communication processor and the transceiver.

[0264] The embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system. Specifically, the communication system includes a terminal device, an access network device and a core network element. Exemplarily, the communication system includes a Figure 5 Alternatively, the communication system includes a terminal device, a core network element and an access network device for implementing related functions. Figure 7 Terminal equipment, core network elements and access network equipment with related functions. Alternatively, the communication system includes access network equipment and core network elements. For example, the communication system includes a Figure 6 The core network elements and access network devices of the relevant functions. The communication system may also include terminal devices. For details, please refer to the relevant description in the above method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0265] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to execute Figures 5 to 7 A method executed by a terminal device, a core network element, or an access network device in one or more of the figures.

[0266] The present application also provides a computer program product, including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to execute Figures 5 to 7 A method executed by a terminal device, a core network element, or an access network device in one or more of the figures.

[0267] The embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and may also include a memory, for implementing the functions of the terminal device, access network device or core network element in the aforementioned method. The chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0268] In order to achieve the above Figure 8-Figure 9 In order to realize the functions of the communication device, the embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, including a processor, for supporting the communication device to realize the functions involved in the terminal device, core network element or access network device in the above method embodiment. In one possible design, the chip is connected to a memory or the chip includes a memory, and the memory is used to store the necessary computer programs or instructions and data of the communication device.

[0269] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0270] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0271] 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 aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0272] In the several embodiments provided in the present 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 only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as 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 mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0273] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0274] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the part of the technical solution of the present application that contributes essentially or the part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as USB flash drives, mobile hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0275] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The terminal device sends first information to the network device or receives second information from the network device, and starts a first timer; The terminal device determines that the first timer times out and does not receive the third information from the network device, and performs one or more of the following: The terminal device disconnects from the network device at the access layer AS; The terminal device enters a first state, wherein when the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: The terminal device sends a first message to the network device, where the first message is used to indicate that a link of the terminal device is abnormal.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: The terminal device keeps a flag bit unchanged, and the flag bit is used to identify the access status of the terminal device.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: The terminal device receives first indication information, where the first indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, where the first time information indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, The first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of a second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, including: The first indication information includes the first time information; The first indication information includes an index of the first time information; or, The first indication information includes identification information of a first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that The first indication information is carried in a paging message, and the method further includes: The terminal device receives second indication information, the second indication information indicates second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, and the confirmation message is used to indicate that the terminal device sends data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the second time information.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The second indication information indicates second time information, including: The second indication information includes the second time information; The second indication information includes an index of the second time information; or, The second indication information includes identification information of a second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The access network device determines first indication information, where the first indication information is used to determine a timing duration of a first timer, where the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal; The access network device sends the first indication information to the terminal device.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, and the first time information indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, The first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of a second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, including: The first indication information includes the first time information; The first indication information includes an index of the first time information; or, The first indication information includes identification information of a first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends second indication information to the terminal device, the second indication information indicates second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, and the confirmation message is used to instruct the terminal device to send data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The second indication information indicates second time information, including: The second indication information includes the second time information; The second indication information includes an index of the second time information; or, The second indication information includes identification information of a second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends fourth information to the core network element to start a third timer; The access network device determines that the third timer times out and does not receive a response to the fourth information, and performs one or more of the following: The access network device releases the access layer AS of the terminal device; or, The access network device sends a second message to the terminal device, where the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device receives third indication information from the core network network element, where the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate a link abnormality.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends a fourth message to the core network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

20. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The access network device sends fourth information to the core network element to start the third timer; The access network device determines that the third timer times out and does not receive a response to the fourth information, and performs one or more of the following: The access network device releases the access layer AS of the terminal device; or, The access network device sends a second message to the terminal device, where the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein: The method further comprises: The access network device receives third indication information from the core network network element, and the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer, and / or the third indication information is used for the timing duration of the first timer, and the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate a link abnormality.

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends a fourth message to the core network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

24. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The core network element determines third indication information, where the third indication information is used to determine a timing duration of a third timer and / or a first timer, where the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal, and the third timer is used by the access network device to determine whether to release the terminal device; The core network element sends the third indication information to the access network device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein: The third indication information is used to indicate third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit, and the processing unit is coupled to the transceiver unit to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 19, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 25.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor and a memory, the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 19, or the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 20 to 23, or the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 24 to 25.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is run on a computer, the computer executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the computer executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 19, or the computer executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23, or the computer executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 25.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 19, or enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23, or enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 25.

30. A chip system, characterized in that: The chip system comprises: A processor and an interface, the processor being used to call and run instructions from the interface, and when the processor executes the instructions, the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 is implemented, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 19 is implemented, or the computer is caused to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23, or the computer is caused to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 25.

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