Communication method and device

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method and device, and the method comprises the steps: a first network element can receive inventory operation information, and can transmit first information and / or second information to a first reader based on the inventory operation information, so that the first reader can flexibly employ a proper inventory mode for inventory, and the efficiency of the first network element is improved. And a more flexible inventory demand in a real scene can be better adapted.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) technology, an inventory can be taken of terminals involved in A-IoT technology by a reader. When the reader takes an inventory of terminals involved in A-IoT technology, only a certain inventory method can be fixedly used for inventory taking, which is not flexible enough and cannot meet the more flexible inventory requirements in real scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a communication method and apparatus that can flexibly adopt a suitable inventory method for inventory taking.

[0004] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a first network element, or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the first network element, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first network element. In this communication method, operation information from a service requester can be received. The operation information is used to perform an operation on a terminal, and the operation includes an inventory operation. Thus, based on the operation information, a first message and / or a second message can be sent to a first reader. The first message is used for the first reader to perform an inventory operation on a first type of terminal, and the second message is used for the first reader to perform an inventory operation on a second type of terminal. Further, the operation result sent by the first reader can also be received, and the operation result is sent to the service requester. The operation result includes the identifiers of one or more terminals, and the types of the one or more terminals belong to the first type and / or the second type.

[0005] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, the first network element can receive inventory operation information, and thus, based on the inventory operation information, send the first message and / or the second message to the first reader, so that the first reader can flexibly adopt a suitable inventory method for inventory taking, and can better meet the more flexible inventory requirements in real scenarios.

[0006] In combination with the first aspect, optionally, sending the first message and / or the second message to the first reader based on the operation information includes: determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the operation information; the terminal to be operated includes a first type of terminal and / or a second type of terminal, and the first type is different from the second type; and sending the first message and / or the second message to the first reader based on the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0007] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, the first network element can determine the type of the terminal to be inventoried based on the inventory operation information, and then send the first information and / or the second information to the first reader according to the type of the terminal to be inventoried, so that the first network element can more accurately know which types of terminals the first reader should trigger for inventory. Therefore, this can reduce the problem of missed inventory or triggering unnecessary signaling overhead, and can also ensure the inventory efficiency.

[0008] Combined with the first aspect, optionally, determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the operation information includes: the operation information is carried in the first message, and the message name of the first message indicates the type of the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes the first indication information, and the first indication information indicates the type of the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, and the type of the terminal to be operated is determined based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the type of the terminal to be operated is determined based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes the identifier information indicating the service requestor, and the type of the terminal to be operated is determined based on the identifier information indicating the service requestor.

[0009] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, indicating the type of the terminal to be operated by the message name of the first message can save signaling overhead. Indicating the type of the terminal to be operated by the first indication information in the operation information is equivalent to explicitly indicating the type of the terminal to be operated, enabling the first network element to quickly know the type of the terminal to be operated and being more flexible. Determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated in the operation information is equivalent to being able to determine the type of the terminal to be operated in the area indicated by the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, enabling the first network element to accurately know the type of the terminal to be operated in this area. Determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated in the operation information can more efficiently determine the type of the terminal to be operated. Determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier information indicating the service requestor included in the operation information simplifies the content carried in the operation information and saves signaling overhead.

[0010] Combined with the first aspect, optionally, determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated includes: determining the network where the terminal to be operated is located based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated; and determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the network where the terminal to be operated is located.

[0011] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, by associating the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated with the network where the terminal to be operated is located, it is possible to accurately determine the type of the terminal to be operated under the network where the terminal to be operated is located within the area indicated by the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, so that the first network element can accurately know the type of the terminal to be operated within this area.

[0012] In combination with the first aspect, optionally, the network where the terminal to be operated is located includes a local area network or a non-public network, and the type of the terminal to be operated includes a first type; and / or, the network where the terminal to be operated is located includes a wide area network or a public network, and the type of the terminal to be operated includes a second type.

[0013] In combination with the first aspect, optionally, determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated includes: determining the working mode of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to the first type and / or the second type.

[0014] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, the association between the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated and the working mode of the terminal to be operated is equivalent to pre-defining which locations specifically correspond to which working modes. In this way, the first network element can determine the corresponding type in combination with the working mode of the terminal to be operated, so that the first network element can more accurately know which types of terminals should trigger the first reader to perform inventory. Therefore, this can reduce the problems of missed inventory or triggering unnecessary signaling overhead, and can also ensure the inventory efficiency.

[0015] In combination with the first aspect, optionally, determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated includes: obtaining the subscription data corresponding to the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the subscription data includes the type of the terminal to be operated; or, obtaining the first context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the first context information includes the association relationship between the identifier of the terminal to be operated and the type of the terminal to be operated; or, obtaining the second context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the second context information includes the association relationship between the identifier of the terminal to be operated and the working mode of the terminal to be operated, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to the first type and / or the second type.

[0016] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, the first network element can accurately obtain the corresponding subscription data based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and obtain the type of the terminal to be operated from the subscription data, so that the first network element can more accurately know which types of terminals the first reader should be triggered to inventory. Therefore, this can reduce the problem of missed inventory or triggering unnecessary signaling overhead, and can also ensure the inventory efficiency. Or, the first network element can accurately obtain the first context information or the second context information based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and obtain the type of the terminal to be operated from the first context information or the second context information, reducing the signaling interaction process with other network elements and improving the efficiency of determining the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0017] Combined with the first aspect, optionally, the working mode of the terminal to be operated includes a passive mode, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to a first type; and / or, the working mode of the terminal to be operated includes an active mode, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to a second type.

[0018] Combined with the first aspect, optionally, determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier information indicating the service requester includes: obtaining the subscription data corresponding to the service requester based on the identifier of the service requester or the address of the service requester, where the subscription data includes the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0019] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, the first network element can accurately obtain the corresponding subscription data based on the identifier of the service requester or the address of the service requester, and obtain the type of the terminal to be operated from the subscription data, so that the first network element can more accurately know which types of terminals the first reader should be triggered to inventory. Therefore, this can reduce the problem of missed inventory or triggering unnecessary signaling overhead, and can also ensure the inventory efficiency.

[0020] Combined with the first aspect, optionally, the first information includes second indication information or mask information, the second indication information is used to trigger the first reader to send a first selection command so that the first type of terminals within the coverage of the first reader respond to the first selection command, and the mask information is used to trigger the first reader to send a second selection command so that the first type of terminals corresponding to the mask information respond to the second selection command.

[0021] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, inventorying the first type of terminals within the coverage of the first reader through the second indication information is equivalent to inventorying all terminals of the first type within the coverage of the first reader, which is more efficient. Or, inventorying the first type of terminals corresponding to the mask information through the mask information is equivalent to inventorying some terminals within the coverage of the first reader, and can more accurately inventory the terminals that need to be inventoried to the first network element, which is more flexible.

[0022] In combination with the first aspect, optionally, the second information includes third indication information or group identification information. The third indication information is used to trigger the first reader to send a first paging message, so that terminals of the second type within the coverage of the first reader respond to the first paging message. The group identification information is used to trigger the first reader to send a second paging message, so that terminals of the second type corresponding to the group identification information respond to the second paging message.

[0023] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, inventorying terminals of the second type within the coverage of the first reader is achieved through the third indication information, which is equivalent to inventorying all terminals of the second type within the coverage of the first reader, and is more efficient. Or, inventorying terminals of the second type corresponding to the group identification information is achieved through the group identification information, which is equivalent to inventorying some terminals within the coverage of the first reader, and can more accurately inventory the terminals to be inventoried to the first network element, being more flexible.

[0024] In combination with the first aspect, optionally, the terminal to be operated includes a first terminal. Before obtaining the first context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, the method further includes: when receiving a second message from the first terminal, the type of the first terminal is the second type, and the second message includes the identifier of the first terminal; associatively storing the identifier of the first terminal and the type of the first terminal in the first context information.

[0025] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, when the first network element detects the second message of the first terminal, it can know that the type of the first terminal is the second type, and then can associatively store the identifier of the first terminal and the type of the first terminal in the first context information, which enables the first network element to know the type of the first terminal through the identifier of the first terminal subsequently, improving the efficiency. In addition, the first network element can also determine which type of terminal should be inventoried, which ensures the smooth execution of the solution.

[0026] In combination with the first aspect, optionally, the terminal to be operated includes a second terminal. Before obtaining the second context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, the method further includes: receiving a third message from the second terminal, the third message includes the identifier of the second terminal; determining the first location information corresponding to the second terminal; based on the first location information, determining the first working mode of the second terminal, the first working mode being a passive mode or an active mode; associatively storing the identifier of the second terminal and the first working mode in the second context information.

[0027] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, after the first network element receives the third message from the second terminal, it can determine the first location information corresponding to the second terminal and determine its working mode, such as the first working mode, so that the first network element can associatively store the identifier of the first terminal and the first working mode in the second context information. This enables the first network element to subsequently learn the working mode of the second terminal through the identifier of the second terminal, and further determine which type of terminal should be inventoried. This improves efficiency and also ensures the smooth execution of the solution.

[0028] In combination with the first aspect, optionally, the method further includes: sending third information to the second terminal, where the third information is used for the second terminal to enter the first working mode.

[0029] In combination with the first aspect, optionally, the method further includes: detecting that the second terminal corresponds to second location information, where the second location information is different from the first location information; based on the second location information, determining a second working mode of the second terminal, where the second working mode is a passive mode or an active mode; sending fourth information to the second terminal, where the fourth information is used for the second terminal to enter the second working mode.

[0030] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, the first network element can learn that the second terminal has moved to a new location, such as the second location information, so that the first network element can re-determine the second working mode of the second terminal and instruct the second terminal to enter the second working mode. This ensures that the working mode of the second terminal matches the working mode in the corresponding location, enabling the subsequent inventory process to be executed smoothly.

[0031] In combination with the first aspect, optionally, the method further includes: updating the first working mode to the second working mode in the second context information.

[0032] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a service requester, or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the service requester, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the service requester. In this communication method, operation information can be sent to the first network element, where the operation information is used to perform an operation on a terminal, and the operation includes an inventory operation. Thus, an operation result can be received from the first network element, where the operation result includes the identifiers of one or more terminals, and the type of one or more terminals belongs to a first type and / or a second type, and the first type is different from the second type; where the operation result is determined based on first information and / or second information, the first information is used for a first reader to perform an inventory operation on terminals of the first type, and the second information is used for the first reader to perform an inventory operation on terminals of the second type.

[0033] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, the service requestor can send operation information to the first network element, enabling the first network element to send the first information and / or the second information to the first reader based on the inventory operation information, so that the first reader can flexibly adopt a suitable inventory method for inventory, and can better adapt to the more flexible inventory requirements in the real scenario.

[0034] In combination with the second aspect, optionally, the operation information is further used for the first network element to determine the type of the terminal to be operated, and the type of the terminal to be operated is used for the first network element to send the first information and / or the second information to the first reader. The terminal to be operated includes the terminal of the first type and / or the terminal of the second type.

[0035] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, the first network element can determine the type of the terminal to be inventoried based on the inventory operation information, and then, based on the type of the terminal to be inventoried, send the first information and / or the second information to the first reader, enabling the first network element to more accurately know which types of terminals the first reader should trigger for inventory. Therefore, this can reduce the problem of missed inventory or triggering unnecessary signaling overhead, and can also ensure the inventory efficiency.

[0036] In combination with the second aspect, optionally, the operation information is carried in the first message, and the message name of the first message indicates the type of the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes the first indication information, and the first indication information indicates the type of the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, and the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated is used to determine the type of the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the identifier of the terminal to be operated is used to determine the type of the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes the identifier information indicating the service requestor, and the identifier information indicating the service requestor is used to determine the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0037] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, indicating the type of the terminal to be operated by the message name of the first message can save signaling overhead. Indicating the type of the terminal to be operated by the first indication information in the operation information is equivalent to explicitly indicating the type of the terminal to be operated, enabling the first network element to quickly know the type of the terminal to be operated and being more flexible. Determining the type of the terminal to be operated by the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated in the operation information is equivalent to being able to determine the type of the terminal to be operated in the area indicated by the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, enabling the first network element to accurately know the type of the terminal to be operated in this area. Determining the type of the terminal to be operated by the identifier of the terminal to be operated in the operation information can more efficiently determine the type of the terminal to be operated. Determining the type of the terminal to be operated by the identifier information indicating the service requestor included in the operation information simplifies the content carried in the operation information and saves signaling overhead.

[0038] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided, including units or modules for implementing the method described in any one of the first aspect to the second aspect. The communication device may be the first network element or the service requester, or a module of the first network element or the service requester (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a logical node, a logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first network element or the service requester.

[0039] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, the communication device including at least one processor; wherein, the at least one processor is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first aspect to the second aspect. The communication device may be the first network element or the service requester, or a module of the first network element or the service requester (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a logical node, a logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first network element or the service requester. The at least one processor may execute computer programs or instructions in a memory to cause the above method to be executed. The memory may be included in the communication device or may be located outside the communication device. In addition, the communication device may further include an interface.

[0040] In a fifth aspect, a communication system is provided, the communication system including a first network element and a service requester; the first network element is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first aspect; the service requester is configured to execute the method described in any one of the second aspect.

[0041] In a sixth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, the computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the method described in any one of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0042] In a seventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product including: computer program code, which when run by a computer, causes the computer to execute the method described in any one of the first aspect to the second aspect. Description of the Drawings

[0043] Figure 1 This is the infrastructure of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of a CN;

[0045] Figure 3 This is the system architecture of an A-IoT;

[0046] Figure 4 This is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 5 It is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 6 It is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 7 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Figure 8 It is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0051] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Among them, the terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application can be used interchangeably. Unless otherwise specified, " / " means that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B; "and / or" in the present application is an association relationship describing associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. These three situations, where A and B can be singular or plural. And, in the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "a plurality of" means two or more than two. "At least one (piece)" or its similar expression below refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single item (piece) or plural items (pieces). For example, at least one (piece) of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, c can be one or multiple. In addition, in order to clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the same items or similar items with basically the same functions for network elements. Those skilled in the art can understand that the terms such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and the terms such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily mean different.

[0052] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" etc. described in the embodiments of the present application mean that specific features, structures or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment are included in one or more embodiments of the present application. Thus, statements such as "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments", "in other some embodiments", "in still other embodiments" etc. that appear in different places in this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not all embodiments", unless otherwise specifically emphasized in another way. The terms "comprising", "including", "having" and their variants all mean "including but not limited to", unless otherwise specifically emphasized in another way.

[0053] The following specific implementation manners further elaborate on the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present application. It should be understood that the following are only the specific implementation manners of the present application and are not used to limit the protection scope of the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made on the basis of the technical solutions of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

[0054] In each embodiment of the present application, if there is no special description and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0055] It should be understood that the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to long term evolution (LTE) architectures, 5th generation mobile networks (5G), the 3rd generation partner project (3GPP) service-based architectures (SBA), etc. The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to other future communication systems, such as 6G communication systems, etc. In future communication systems, the functions may remain the same, but the names may change.

[0056] The following introduces the infrastructure of the communication system provided by the embodiments of the present application, such as Figure 1As shown, the terminal can be connected to a wireless network to obtain services from an external network (such as a data network (DN)) through the wireless network, or communicate with other devices through the wireless network, such as communicating with other terminals. The wireless network includes a (radio) access network ((R)AN) and a core network (CN). Among them, the (R)AN (described as RAN later) is used to connect the terminal to the wireless network, and the CN is used to manage the terminal and provide a gateway for communicating with the DN. The terminal, RAN, CN, and DN involved in the system architecture in Figure 1 will be described in detail below.

[0057] I. Terminal

[0058] A terminal is an entity on the user side that is used to receive signals, or send signals, or receive and send signals. The terminal is used to provide one or more of voice services and data connectivity services to users. The terminal can be a device that includes wireless transceiver functions and can cooperate with the RAN to provide communication services to users. Specifically, the terminal can refer to user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile device, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, user device, or roadside unit (RSU). The terminal can also be a drone, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a station (ST) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular phone, a smart phone, a cordless phone, a wireless data card, a tablet computer, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, a laptop computer, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, a handheld device with wireless communication functions, a computing device, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device (which can also be called a wearable intelligent device), a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a home gateway, a customer-premises equipment (CPE), etc. The terminal can be a terminal in a 5G system or a terminal in a next-generation communication system, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0059] The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form of the terminal. The device for implementing the functions of the terminal may be the terminal; or it may be a device capable of supporting the terminal to implement such functions, such as a chip system. This device may be installed in the terminal or used in combination with the terminal. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0060] II. RAN

[0061] The RAN may include one or more RAN devices (or access network devices). An access network device is an entity on the network side for sending signals, or receiving signals, or sending and receiving signals.

[0062] In a possible scenario, the access network device can be a device with base station functions, such as an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a non-terrestrial access network device in NTN, i.e., a device that can be deployed on a high-altitude platform or a satellite, etc. The access network device can be a transmission reception point (TRP), a base station, or various forms of control nodes. For example, a network controller, a radio controller, etc. Specifically, the access network device can be various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations (also called small stations) in a heterogeneous network (HetNet) scenario, relay stations, access points (APs), radio network controllers (RNCs), Node Bs (NBs), base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), home base stations (e.g., home evolved nodeB, or home node B, HNBs), baseband units (BBUs) and remote radio units (RRUs) in a distributed base station scenario, transmitting and receiving points (TRPs), transmitting points (TPs), mobile switching centers, etc., or can also be an antenna panel of a base station. The control node can be connected to multiple base stations and configure resources for multiple terminals covered by the multiple base stations. In systems adopting different radio access technologies, the names of the devices with base station functions may be different.For example, it can be a gNB in 5G, or a network-side device in a network after 5G or an access network device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), or a device that undertakes the function of a base station in device-to-device (D2D) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, etc. The present application does not limit the specific name of the access network device. The access network device can be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a baseband unit pool (BBU pool) and RRU under a cloud radio access network (CRAN), etc.

[0063] In another possible scenario, multiple access network devices cooperate to assist the terminal device in achieving wireless access, and different access network devices respectively implement some functions of the base station. For example, the access network device can include a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. The CU and the DU can be set separately, or can also be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as included in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH). It can be understood that the access network device can be a CU node, or a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU can be classified as an access network device in the radio access network (RAN), or the CU can be classified as an access network device in the core network (CN), which is not limited herein.

[0064] In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, the CU may also be referred to as O-CU (Open CU), the DU may also be referred to as O-DU, the CU-CP may also be referred to as O-CU-CP, the CU-UP may also be referred to as O-CU-UP, and the RU may also be referred to as O-RU. For the convenience of description, in this application, the CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU are used as examples for description. Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), 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.

[0065] In the embodiments of this application, the form of the access network device is not limited. The device for implementing the functions of the access network device may be the access network device; it may also be a device capable of supporting the access network device to implement this function, such as a chip system. This device may be installed in the access network device or used in matching with the access network device.

[0066] III. CN

[0067] The CN may include one or more CN devices (which can be understood as network element devices or network functions (NFs)).

[0068] See Figure 2 , Figure 2 which is a schematic structural diagram of a CN provided in this application. Figure 2 The CN in Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the CN in the 5G network architecture. In the CN shown in Figure 1 there are multiple CN devices, such as the unified data management (UDM), network exposure function (NEF), application function (AF), authentication server function (AUSF), access and mobility management function (AMF), etc. that may be involved in various embodiments of this application. Additionally

[0069] The UDM is mainly used to manage the subscribed data and authentication data of users, as well as to perform authentication credit processing, user identification processing, access authorization, registration / mobility management, subscription management, and short message management, etc. In some embodiments, the UDM may further include a unified data repository (UDR). Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the 3GPPSBA of the 5G system may also include the UDR. Among them, the UDR is used to provide storage and retrieval for PCF policies, storage and retrieval of open structured data, and storage of user information for application function requests, etc.

[0070] The NEF is mainly used to support the secure interaction between the network and third-party applications; the network can securely expose network capabilities and events to third parties through the NEF to enhance or improve the quality of application services; and, the network can securely obtain relevant data from third parties through the NEF to enhance the intelligent decision-making of the network; at the same time, the NEF supports restoring structured data from the UDR or storing structured data in the UDR.

[0071] The AF is mainly used to support interacting with the core network to provide services, such as influencing data routing decisions, policy control functions, or providing some third-party services to the network side.

[0072] The AUSF is responsible for authenticating users to determine whether to allow users or devices to access the network.

[0073] The AMF is a control plane function provided by the operator's network, responsible for access control and mobility management of the terminal accessing the operator's network, such as including functions such as mobile status management, assigning a temporary identity for the user, authenticating and authorizing the user, etc.

[0074] The above CN devices can also be referred to as network elements or functional network elements. In the 5G communication system, each functional network element can be Figure 2 the name of each functional network element shown in Figure 2 In the communication system evolved after 5G (such as the 6G communication system), each functional network element can still be

[0075] Figure 2 The Npcf, Nnef, Nudm, Naf, Namf, Nsmf, N1, N2, N3, N4, N6, and N9 in

[0076] IV. DN

[0077] DN can also be referred to as a packet data network (PDN). It is a network outside the operator's network. The operator's network can access multiple DNs. Multiple application servers (ASs) corresponding to various services can be deployed in the DN to provide various possible services for the terminals.

[0078] Next, in combination with Figure 1 and Figure 2 , an exemplary system architecture of A-IoT is given, including a terminal, a reader, a first network element, a second network element, and a service requester. Among them, the terminal can communicate with the reader, the reader can communicate with the first network element, the first network element can communicate with the second network element, and the second network element can communicate with the service requester.

[0079] Optionally, the communication system may further include a third network element and a fourth network element ( Figure 3 not shown). The first network element can communicate with the third network element and the fourth network element.

[0080] Next, each network element involved in the communication system in Figure 3 will be described in detail.

[0081] I. Terminal

[0082] Figure 3 The terminal in Figure 1 and Figure 2 can be the terminal in. Optionally, the terminal can be a passive device (passive device or type A device), a semi-passive device (semi-passive device or type B device), a semi-active device, or an active device (active device or type C device). In this case, the terminal mentioned in this application can also be referred to as an Internet of Things terminal, an Internet of Things device, an environmental Internet of Things device, or an environmental energy harvesting Internet of Things terminal, etc. The name of it is not limited in this application. The terminal will be used as an example for description hereinafter.

[0083] Optionally, the passive device can also be referred to as a passive terminal or a passive Internet of Things device, etc. The semi-passive device can also be referred to as a semi-passive terminal or a semi-passive Internet of Things device, etc. The semi-active device can also be referred to as a semi-active terminal or a semi-active Internet of Things device, etc. The active device can also be referred to as an active terminal or an Internet of Things device, etc. The passive terminal, semi-passive terminal, semi-active terminal, and active terminal will be used as examples for description hereinafter.

[0084] Passive terminals, semi-passive terminals, and semi-active terminals can communicate through reflected carriers, that is, they need to rely on an external carrier source for communication. A passive terminal may or may not have an energy storage capacitor. A passive terminal without an energy storage capacitor can rely on the external environment to obtain energy for communication, such as radio frequency energy. Semi-passive terminals and semi-active terminals may have a power amplifier, so the communication distance is increased compared to passive terminals. Semi-passive terminals and semi-active terminals usually have an energy storage capacitor, and can store energy in the environment, such as solar energy, wireless power, etc., in this capacitor. The name of the passive terminal in this application is not limited.

[0085] An active terminal can actively generate a carrier (or can be understood as having carrier recovery ability), and does not need to rely on an external carrier source for communication, so it can have the ability of active communication. In a possible implementation, an active terminal may also have an energy storage capacitor, and can store energy in the environment, such as solar energy, wireless power, etc., in this capacitor. The name of the active terminal in this application is not limited.

[0086] Among them, the terminal can be in the form of a tag, or in any other terminal form, such as a sensor, license plate, nameplate, etc. The device form of the terminal in the embodiments of this application is not limited. The device for implementing the functions of the terminal can be the terminal; or it can be a device that can support the terminal to implement this function, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the terminal or used in matching with the terminal. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0087] II. Reader

[0088] The reader performs non-contact two-way data communication through radio frequency, reads and writes the terminal by using radio frequency, so as to achieve the purpose of identifying the terminal for data exchange. It can also be said that the reader interacts with the terminal through radio frequency signals or wireless signals. It has two working modes. One is that when the terminal (such as a passive terminal) enters the effective identification range of the reader, it receives the radio frequency signal sent by the reader, and emits the information stored in the chip by virtue of the energy obtained from the induced current; the other is that the terminal (such as a semi-passive terminal, semi-active terminal or active terminal, etc.) can store part of the electric energy through solar energy, etc., so that it can actively send a signal of a certain frequency. After the reader receives the information and decodes it, it is sent to the central information system for relevant data processing.

[0089] It should be understood that the present application does not limit the name of the reader. The reader can be named a reader-writer or other names, that is, it can be understood that the appellations of the reader and the reader-writer are interchangeable. The reader here has the functions involved in the reader in the present application. For example, the reader has the function of performing the operations described in the present application on the terminal (such as obtaining the identifier of the terminal, inventory operation (or can be called inventory check operation), read operation, write operation, invalidation operation, or message interaction operation with the tag, etc.), has the function of obtaining charging-related information and / or charging information, and has the function of sending charging information to the charging function, etc.

[0090] In the present application, the identifier of the terminal can be assigned by the enterprise (i.e., written into the terminal when the enterprise prints the terminal), or can be assigned by the operator. In a possible implementation manner, the identifier of the terminal can be a unique identifier, such as an electronic product code (EPC), a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), a permanent equipment identifier (PEI), a subscription concealed identifier (SUCI), or a 5G-globally unique temporary identity (5G-GUTI), etc. The identifier of the terminal can also be a temporary identifier.

[0091] Exemplarily, taking the terminal as a tag as an example, the functions that the reader can have are described. For example, the reader can send messages to the terminal, such as messages from a service requester or a core network device, and this message can be an operation message, for example. Or the reader can send information from the tag to the core network device or the service requester, such as the identification of the tag, etc. Specifically: The reader can obtain the information stored in the specified tag according to the operation message sent by the core network device or the service requester. For example, the operation message is used to instruct to perform an inventory operation on the terminal, and the reader obtains the identification of the tag. For example, the operation message is used to instruct to perform a read operation on the terminal, and the reader can read the data in the storage area of the tag. Optionally, in some cases where the information stored in the tag needs to be rewritten, the reader can have a write function. For example, the operation message is used to instruct to perform a write operation on the terminal, and the reader can write data into the storage area of the tag. Optionally, the reader can perform an inactivation operation on the tag. After the inactivation operation is performed, the tag becomes invalid and cannot be used to perform operations such as obtaining the identification of the tag, inventory operation, read operation, message interaction operation with the tag, or write operation. In one possible implementation, the tag being invalid and unable to obtain the identification of the tag can be understood as that after the tag becomes invalid, the reader cannot obtain the identification of the invalid tag. In another possible implementation, the tag being invalid and unable to perform a message interaction operation with the tag can be understood as that after the tag becomes invalid, the reader cannot perform message interaction with the invalid tag.

[0092] In one possible implementation, the inventory or inventory operation in the present application can be understood as paging, or can be replaced by paging.

[0093] Among them, the reader mentioned in the present application can be Figure 1 and Figure 2 access network devices, pole stations, etc. in. Or, the reader can be Figure 1 and Figure 2 the terminal in. In the embodiments of the present application, the form of the reader is not limited. The device for implementing the functions of the reader can be an access network device or a terminal; it can also be a device capable of supporting the access network device or the terminal to implement this function, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the access network device or the terminal, or this device can be used in matching with the access network device or the terminal.

[0094] III. The first network element

[0095] The first network element is used to perform at least one function such as access control, mobility management, security authentication, data transmission (such as Internet of Things service transmission), message transmission (such as Internet of Things service message transmission), and Internet of Things terminal management on the terminal.

[0096] For example, the first network element may be an Access and Mobility Management Function, which can be referred to as an Access and Mobility Management Device, an Access and Mobility Management Function Entity, an Access and Mobility Management Function Network Element, a Mobility Management Device, an Access Management Device, a Mobility Management Network Element, a Mobility Management Entity, or an AMF, etc., and it is a type of core network device. This device can be used to manage the access control and mobility of the user equipment. In practical applications, it includes the access and mobility management function in the mobility management entity (MME) in the LTE network framework and adds an access management function. Specifically, it can be responsible for the registration of the user equipment, mobility management, tracking area update process, reachability detection, selection of the session management network element, mobile state transition management, etc. For example, in 5G, the access and mobility management network element may be an AMF. In future communications, such as 6G, the access and mobility management network element may still be an AMF, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. When the access and mobility management network element is an AMF, the AMF can provide Namf services.

[0097] For another example, the first network element can be used to perform functions such as terminal management, terminal data processing, and terminal data routing. It can parse messages from the service requester and determine the reader to execute the message, instruct the reader to perform terminal operations or instruct the reader to perform the random access process of the terminal. Receive data from the terminal through the reader, optionally perform terminal data processing, and send the terminal data to the service requester. The first network element may be a Tag Management Function (TMF), a Tag Management Device, an Internet of Things Management Function (IoT management funciton, IMF), an Internet of Things Terminal Management Function, an Ambient IoT Terminal Management Function (ambient iot managementfunction, AITMF), an Ambient IoT Management Device, an Ambient IoT Enabled Function (ambient IoTfunction, AIoTF), an Ambient IoT Enabled Terminal Management Function, an Ambient IoT Enabled Management Function, or an Ambient IoT Management Function (ambient IoT management function, AIoTMF), etc., and the name of it is not limited in this application. The following description takes the TMF as an example.

[0098] Among them, the TMF can have an interface with the reader, or can interact with the reader through the AMF. Optionally, the TMF can be co-deployed with the AMF or deployed independently.

[0099] IV. The second network element

[0100] The second network element is mainly used to support secure interactions between the network and third-party applications (such as service requestors); the network can securely expose (or open) network capabilities and events to third parties through the second network element to enhance or improve the quality of application services; and, the network can securely obtain relevant data from third parties through the second network element to enhance the network's intelligent decision-making; at the same time, the second network element supports restoring structured data from the UDR or storing structured data in the UDR.

[0101] For example, the second network element can be a NEF, which can be referred to as a network open device, network open function entity, network open function network element, network capability open function entity, network capability open function device, network capability open function network element, network capability open device, etc. In future communication systems, such as 6G, the second network element can still be a NEF, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0102] In a possible implementation, when the third-party application is a trusted function or a function deployed by the operator, the second network element may not be required, that is, the third-party application can communicate directly with the first network element.

[0103] V. Service Requestor

[0104] The service requestor (or called the operation requestor or third party) can be understood as the device that sends operation messages. For example, the service requestor can be a server, P-IoT server, AF, AS, ambient Internet of Things application function (A-IoT AF or P-IoT AF), or other devices that send operation messages. The service requestor can correspond to a certain type of user, and this type of user can include enterprises, tenants, third parties, or companies, without limitation. The service requestor corresponding to a certain type of user can be understood as the service requestor belonging to this type of user and being managed by this type of user.

[0105] Among them, the operation message indicates to perform at least one of the following operations on the terminal: inventory operation, read operation, write operation, invalidation operation, or message interaction operation with the tag, etc.

[0106] VI. Third Network Element

[0107] The third network element is used to manage the subscription data of the terminal, etc.

[0108] For example, the third network element can be a unified data management function, which can be called a unified data management device, unified data management network element, data management device, unified data management entity, or UDM, etc. In the 5G communication system, the third network element can be a UDM. In future communication systems, the third network element can still be a UDM, or, there can be other names, which are not limited in the embodiments of this application. The third network element can be a core network device. The third network element can be a control plane device.

[0109] For another example, the third network element may be a user data storage function, which may be referred to as a user database device, a user database entity, a user database network element, a user data storage device, or a UDR, etc. Among them, the user database mainly includes the following functions: the access function of data such as subscription data, policy data, and application data. In a 5G communication system, the third network element may be a UDR. In future communication systems, the third network element may still be a UDR, or there may be other names, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0110] VII. Fourth Network Element

[0111] The fourth network element is responsible for authenticating the user to determine whether the terminal device is trustworthy and real, or to determine whether to allow the user or device to access the network. The fourth network element may be an authentication service function, which may be referred to as an authentication service network element, an authentication service device, an AUSF, etc., and is used to perform authentication, that is, the authentication between the terminal and the operator network. After receiving the authentication request initiated by the subscribed user, the fourth network element may authenticate and / or authorize the subscribed user through the authentication information and / or authorization information stored in the third network element, or generate the authentication and / or authorization information of the subscribed user through the third network element. The fourth network element may feedback the authentication information and / or authorization information to the subscribed user. In a 5G communication system, the fourth network element may be an AUSF. In future communication systems, the fourth network element may still be an AUSF, or there may be other names, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0112] It should be understood that the above names are only used to distinguish different functions, and do not represent that these network elements are independent physical devices respectively. The present application does not limit the specific form of the above network elements. For example, the above network elements may be integrated in the same physical device or be independent physical devices. For example, the first network element may be co-located with the second network element. When two network elements are co-located, the interaction between the two network elements provided in the embodiments of the present application may be understood as the internal operation of the co-located network element or may be omitted.

[0113] It should be noted that Figure 1 or Figure 3 The system architecture shown is only an example and should not be regarded as a specific limitation to the technical solution of the present application.

[0114] To facilitate the understanding of the content of this solution, some terms involved in the embodiments of the present application are further explained below for the convenience of those skilled in the art to understand. This part is for the convenience of understanding and should not be regarded as a specific limitation to the present application.

[0115] In this application, the reader can establish a connection with the reader, which can also be referred to as the reader triggering the terminal to perform random access, etc. This application does not limit its description, and other descriptions for indicating the establishment of a connection between the reader and the terminal are also applicable to this solution. The following takes the establishment of a connection between the reader and the terminal as an example for illustration, and should not be regarded as a specific limitation of this application.

[0116] It can be understood that in this application, the reader can establish a connection with different types of terminals. For the convenience of description, this application can divide the types of terminals into a first type and a second type, and the first type and the second type are different.

[0117] Exemplarily, the terminal of the first type can be a terminal that does not support active communication. For example, this type of terminal does not support carrier generation (or called carrier recovery), or rather, the uplink data transmission of this type of terminal is achieved by reflecting the carrier provided externally. For example, an entity can provide a carrier, and this type of terminal realizes the uplink data transmission by reflecting the carrier provided by this entity. In this case, the terminal of the first type includes at least one of a passive terminal, a semi - passive terminal, and a semi - active terminal, etc. The terminal of the second type can be a terminal that supports active communication. For example, this type of terminal supports carrier generation (or called carrier recovery), or rather, the uplink data transmission of this type of terminal can be initiated actively by this terminal, without relying on the carrier provided externally or without relying on reflecting the carrier provided externally. In this case, the terminal of the second type includes at least one of an active terminal, a semi - passive terminal, and a semi - active terminal, etc. Vice versa.

[0118] In this application, the terminal of the first type and the terminal of the second type are different. For example, when the terminal of the first type includes a passive terminal, a semi - passive terminal, and a semi - active terminal, the terminal of the second type includes an active terminal. Or, when the terminal of the first type includes an active terminal, the terminal of the second type includes a passive terminal, a semi - passive terminal, and a semi - active terminal. In this application, the following takes the terminal of the first type including a passive terminal, a semi - passive terminal, and a semi - active terminal, and the terminal of the second type including an active terminal as an example for illustration, and should not be regarded as a specific limitation of this application.

[0119] It should be noted that the above are only some specific examples of the terminal of the first type and the terminal of the second type, and this application does not limit which specific terminals the terminal of the first type and the terminal of the second type are.

[0120] Next, the process of the reader establishing a connection with the terminal of the first type and the terminal of the second type will be described exemplarily respectively.

[0121] First, for the terminal of the first type, the process of the reader establishing a connection with it can include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0122] Step 1, the reader sends a select command. The select command may include mask information.

[0123] In this application, the mask information can be used to indicate a memory area and / or a mask. The memory area may include a RESERVED area, an Electronic Product Code area, a Tag Identification Number (TID) area, and a USER area. The mask can be used to represent a terminal identification range for selecting one or more terminals. For example, in this application, the mask may include at least one of the following: a network identification, a group ID, terminal type information, and the identification of a terminal.

[0124] Among them, the network identification mentioned in this application can be the identification of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), the identification of a public network, the identification of a non-public network, the identification of a local area network, or the identification of a wide area network. The non-public network may include a Standalone Non-Public Network (SNPN) and / or a Public Network Integrated Non-Public Network (PNI-NPN), etc.

[0125] The terminal type information mentioned in this application may include a first type and / or a second type.

[0126] The terminal identification range mentioned in this application may be referred to as a terminal identification list and may include the identifications of at least one terminal. Alternatively, the terminal identification range is represented by the prefix of the identification of the terminal. Or. The terminal identification range is represented by a group ID, etc. Here is only an example of the terminal identification range, and this application does not limit it. Any content that can indicate the terminal identification range can be used as the terminal identification range in this application.

[0127] Optionally, the mask information can be used to indicate the start address information of the memory area and / or the mask length, etc., and this application does not limit this.

[0128] Step 2, after the terminal monitors the select command, it determines whether the stored identification information matches the mask indicated by the mask information, or determines whether the information stored in the memory area indicated by the mask information matches the mask indicated by the mask information. If it matches, the terminal can generate a random number and feedback information based on the random number when it subsequently hears a Query or QueryRep command. For example, when the terminal monitors a query command each time, it subtracts one from the random number value until the random number value is reduced to 0, and then the terminal sends a random number (RN16, that is, a 16-bit random number) to the reader. If it does not match, the terminal does not perform any action.

[0129] Step 3: The reader sends an acknowledgment (ACK) command to the terminal, and the acknowledgment command includes the random number (RN16).

[0130] Step 4: When the terminal verifies that the random number in the acknowledgment command is correct, it sends the identifier of the terminal to the reader.

[0131] For example, the terminal sends an RRC message to the reader. The RRC message may include the identifier of the terminal. For example, the RRC message may include a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message, and the NAS message includes the identifier of the terminal. Among them, the RRC message may be an RRC connection setup complete message, etc. The NAS message may be a registration request message, an access request message, or an uplink NAS message, etc. The registration request message in this application is used to request registration or request access to the network. Optionally, the registration request message may only be the message name and does not represent that the terminal needs to execute a complete registration process. For example, the terminal may send identifier information through the registration request message.

[0132] Second, for the second type of terminal, the process of establishing a connection between the reader and it may include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0133] Step 1: The terminal sends a random access request message to the reader to request access to the reader.

[0134] Optionally, the random access request message may include a random access preamble. The random access preamble may also be referred to as a preamble.

[0135] Optionally, after the network device obtains the preamble, it may estimate the transmission delay between it and the terminal device according to the preamble, so that the network device calibrates the uplink timing (TA).

[0136] Step 2: The reader sends a random access response message to the terminal.

[0137] Optionally, the random access response message may include the uplink timing and the identification information of the preamble, etc. The identification information of the preamble may be, for example, the number of the preamble or the index of the preamble, etc.

[0138] When the preamble indicated by the preamble identification information in the random access response message is the same as the preamble sent by the terminal to the reader, the terminal considers that the above random access request message has been successfully received by the network device, and the random access response message responds to the random access request message. When the preamble indicated by the preamble identification information in the random access response message is different from the preamble sent by the terminal to the reader, the terminal considers that the above random access request message has not been successfully received by the network device, and the terminal can re-trigger the random access process.

[0139] Step 3: The terminal sends a Radio Resource Control Setup Request (RRC setup request) message to the reader to request to establish a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with the reader.

[0140] Step 4: The reader sends an RRC Setup (RRCsetup) message to the terminal to indicate that the terminal is allowed to access the reader.

[0141] Step 5: After the terminal completes the establishment of the Signalling Radio Bearer (SRB) resources, it sends an RRC Setup Complete (RRC setup complete) message to the reader to indicate that the connection between the terminal and the reader has been successfully established.

[0142] For example, the RRC Setup Complete message may include the identification of the terminal. For example, the RRC message may include a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message, and the NAS message includes the identification of the terminal. The NAS message may be a registration request message, an access request message, or an uplink NAS message, etc.

[0143] The registration process of the terminal is described in detail below, which may specifically include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0144] Step 1: The terminal sends a registration request message to the reader, and the registration request message includes the identification of the terminal.

[0145] Optionally, the registration request message further includes a registration type.

[0146] Among them, the registration type includes at least one of the following:

[0147] Initial registration: The registration process initiated when the terminal is in the deregistered state.

[0148] Mobility registration update: The registration process that the terminal needs to initiate due to mobility.

[0149] Periodic registration update: A registration process initiated when the terminal is in the registered state due to the expiration of the periodic registration update timer.

[0150] Emergency registration: A registration process initiated when the terminal is in a service-restricted state.

[0151] When the terminal has a valid 5G-GUTI (a temporary identity identifier assigned by the first network element serving it), the registration request message includes this 5G-GUTI (i.e., the identifier of the terminal is the 5G-GUTI). When the terminal does not have a valid 5G-GUTI, the registration request message includes the SUCI (i.e., the identifier of the terminal is the SUCI). In emergency registration, when the terminal does not have a valid 5G-GUTI and does not have a SUPI (i.e., no SUCI, and the SUCI is the encrypted SUPI), the registration request message includes the PEI (i.e., the identifier of the terminal is the PEI).

[0152] Among them, the first network element can be the AMF, TMF, or AIoTMF, etc. Hereinafter, the case where the first network element is the AMF is taken as an example for illustration.

[0153] Step 2: The reader selects a suitable AMF and sends a registration request message to the AMF. For example, select the AMF serving the terminal based on the location of the terminal.

[0154] Step 3: The AMF selects a suitable AUSF for authentication and other security processes. The terminal, AMF, AUSF, and UDM interact to complete authentication and other security processes.

[0155] Step 4: When the mutual authentication between the terminal and the network side is successful, the AMF sends an N2 message to the reader, and the N2 message includes a registration acceptance message.

[0156] Step 5: The reader sends a registration acceptance message to the terminal.

[0157] Among them, the registration acceptance message is used to indicate that the terminal has been successfully registered to the network.

[0158] The embodiments of the present application will be introduced in detail below. Specifically, the terminal in the following text can be Figures 1 to 3The involved terminal, the readers (such as the first reader, the second reader, etc.), the first network element, the second network element, the service requester, the third network element, and the fourth network element in the following text can be the above-mentioned reader, the above-mentioned first network element, the above-mentioned second network element, the above-mentioned third network element, and the above-mentioned fourth network element respectively. For the convenience of description, the following takes the first network element, the second network element, the third network element, and the fourth network element as AMF, NEF, UDM, and AUSF respectively as an example for illustration.

[0159] It should be noted that the message names between each network element or the names of each parameter in the message in the following embodiments are only examples, and in specific implementations, they can also be other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this. The processing performed by a single execution entity (terminal, reader (such as the first reader, the second reader, etc.), AMF, NEF, service requester, UDM, or AUSF, etc.) shown in the embodiments of the present application can also be divided into being executed by multiple execution entities, and these execution entities can be logically and / or physically separated. For example, the processing performed by the reader can be divided into being executed by at least one of CU, DU, and RU.

[0160] Such as Figure 4 As shown, it is a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application, and the method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0161] 401. The service requester sends operation information to the AMF, and the operation information is used to perform an operation on the terminal, and the operation includes an inventory operation.

[0162] Correspondingly, the AMF receives the operation information from the service requester. Optionally, the AMF can obtain the operation information from the service requester through the NEF. For example, the AMF can receive the operation information forwarded by the NEF. Again, for example, the NEF can obtain the operation information according to the message from the service requester and send the operation information to the AMF.

[0163] Optionally, the message of the service requester mentioned here may include at least one of the following: operation type, first indication information, location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, identifier of the terminal to be operated, mask information, indication information of the identifier of the service requester, or group identifier information.

[0164] Among them, the operation type may include an inventory operation, a read operation, a write operation, an inactivation operation, a positioning operation, or an operation of interacting with the terminal.

[0165] Among them, the first indication information may indicate the type of the terminal to be operated. Exemplarily, the first indication information may be at least one piece of information, specifically:

[0166] A. The first indication information includes information indicating a passive terminal, such as a passive terminal or may include a string, bit, value, etc. indicating a passive terminal. Or the first indication information includes information indicating a semi-active terminal, such as a semi-active terminal or may include a string, bit, value, etc. indicating a semi-active terminal. Or the first indication information includes information indicating a semi-passive terminal, such as a semi-passive terminal or may include a string, bit, value, etc. indicating a semi-passive terminal. In this way, it can indicate that the terminal to be operated includes a first type of terminal, and / or indicate to perform an inventory operation on the first type of terminal.

[0167] B. The first indication information may include information indicating an active terminal, such as an active terminal or may include a string, bit, value, etc. indicating an active terminal, to indicate that the terminal to be operated includes a second type of terminal, and / or indicate to perform an inventory operation on the second type of terminal.

[0168] C. The first indication information may include information indicating a passive terminal and information indicating an active terminal. This can refer to the above method A and the above method B, which will not be elaborated here.

[0169] Also, by way of example, the first indication information may be a P-bit, and the P-bit corresponds to 2 P states, and the states therein may represent the type of the terminal to be operated. For example, when P is 2, it corresponds to 4 states '00', '01', '10', and '11'. '00' indicates that the terminal to be operated includes a first type of terminal, and / or indicates to perform an inventory operation on the first type of terminal. '01' indicates that the terminal to be operated includes a second type of terminal, and / or indicates to perform an inventory operation on the second type of terminal. '10' indicates that the terminal to be operated includes a first type of terminal and a second type of terminal, and / or indicates to perform an inventory operation on the first type of terminal and the second type of terminal. Here is an example, and there may be other combination methods, which will not be listed one by one. Among them, P may be a positive integer.

[0170] Some location information mentioned in this application includes, for example, at least one of the following: longitude and latitude, interval values composed of longitude and latitude, coordinate values, interval values composed of coordinate values, the identifier of a cell identifier reader, the identifier of a tracking area (TA), a closed access group ID (CAG ID), or a network identifier, etc. Among them, the cell identifier may be a physical cell identifier (PCI), a logical cell identifier, or a cell global identity (CGI), etc. The identifier of the tracking area may be a tracking area identity (TAI) or a tracking area code (TAC). Optionally, the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated can be understood as: the location information for performing an inventory operation and / or an inventory service on the terminal to be operated.

[0171] Optionally, the inventory operation information including the identifier of the terminal to be operated can be understood as: the inventory operation information includes the identifier range of the terminal to be operated. The identifier range of the terminal to be operated includes the identifier of the terminal to be operated. Or, the identifier range of the terminal to be operated is represented by the prefix of the identifier of the terminal to be operated. Or, the identifier range of the terminal to be operated is represented by a group identifier, etc. These are only some examples, and this application does not limit them. Any information that can indicate the identifier of the terminal to be operated can be used as the identifier of the terminal to be operated in this application.

[0172] The identification information indicating the service requestor mentioned in this application may include the globally unique identification information of the service requestor or the globally unique identification information of the operator, etc. For example, if the service requestor is the AF, the identification information indicating the service requestor may include the AF identification (such as AF ID, AF Identifier, or AF identity, etc.) or the address of the AF. Alternatively, the identification information indicating the service requestor may be the service identification corresponding to the service requestor, such as the service identification (such as serviceIdentifier, service ID, service identity), the application identification (such as APPID, APP Identifier, or APP identity). Alternatively, the identification information indicating the service requestor may include the user identification (user ID), the enterprise identification (enterprise ID), the third party identification (the third party ID), or the owner identification (owner ID), etc. Here are only examples of the identification information indicating the service requestor, and this application does not limit the specific name, structure, and length of the identification information indicating the service requestor. Any information that can indicate the service requestor can be used as the identification information indicating the service requestor in this application. Optionally, the address of the AF may include at least one of the internet protocol (IP) address, port number, domain name, etc.

[0173] The group identification information mentioned in this application may include at least one of the following: network identification, group identification, terminal type information, identification of the terminal.

[0174] In a possible implementation manner, it can be considered that each piece of information included in the message of the service requestor is located in the above operation information, that is, it can be described that the message of the service requestor includes operation information, and the operation information may include at least one of the following: operation type, first indication information, location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, identification of the terminal to be operated, mask information, identification information indicating the service requestor, or group identification information. Alternatively, the above operation information can be obtained from each piece of information included in the message of the service requestor. For example, the above operation information may be a parameter in the message of the service requestor, or some information included in the above operation information is included in the message name of the message of the service requestor. For example, for different operation types, different message names can be used to indicate / characterize. This application does not limit the message, field, encoding, construction method, etc. that carry the operation information. The operation information may come from the same message or different messages, and this application does not make a limitation. 402. The AMF sends the first information and / or the second information to the first reader based on the operation information. The first information is used for the first reader to perform an inventory operation on the first type of terminal, and the second information is used for the first reader to perform an inventory operation on the second type of terminal, where the first type is different from the second type.

[0175] Correspondingly, the first reader receives the first information and / or the second information from the AMF.

[0176] 403. The first reader performs an inventory operation on one or more terminals based on the first information and / or the second information to obtain the identifiers of the one or more terminals, and the types of the one or more terminals belong to the first type and / or the second type.

[0177] It can be understood that the first reader can perform an inventory operation on the terminals of the first type based on the first information, or can perform an inventory operation on the terminals of the second type based on the second information. That is to say, when the first reader receives the first information from the AMF, the first reader performs an inventory operation on the terminals of the first type based on the first information. In this case, the one or more terminals in step 403 are the terminals of the first type. When the first reader receives the second information from the AMF, the first reader performs an inventory operation on the terminals of the second type based on the second information. In this case, the one or more terminals in step 403 are the terminals of the second type. When the first reader receives the first information and the second information from the AMF, the first reader performs an inventory operation on the terminals of the first type based on the first information and performs an inventory operation on the terminals of the second type based on the second information. In this case, the one or more terminals in step 403 include the terminals of the first type and the terminals of the second type.

[0178] Among them, the process of establishing a connection with the terminal involved in the first reader performing an inventory operation on different types of terminals can refer to the above relevant content and will not be elaborated here.

[0179] 404. The first reader sends the identifiers of the one or more terminals to the AMF.

[0180] Correspondingly, the AMF receives the identifiers of the one or more terminals from the first reader. Optionally, the identifiers of the one or more terminals can be carried in the N2 message. The N2 message mentioned in this application can also be referred to as the next-generation application protocol (NGAP) message, and the name of it is not limited in this application.

[0181] 405. The AMF sends the identifiers of the one or more terminals to the service requester.

[0182] Correspondingly, the service requester receives the identifiers of the one or more terminals from the AMF. For example, the AMF can send the identifiers of the one or more terminals to the service requester through the NEF.

[0183] The following describes the specific implementation manners of steps 401 to 405.

[0184] In a possible implementation, the operation information can be used to perform an inventory operation on the terminal. Exemplarily, the operation information is inventory operation information. For example, the operation information includes an operation type, and the operation type includes an inventory operation. In another possible implementation, the operation information can include performing an inventory operation on the terminal. Exemplarily, the operation information is read operation information, write operation information, positioning operation information, inactivation operation information, or operation information for interacting with the terminal, etc. In this case, for example, it can be considered that the operation information includes an operation type, and the operation types respectively include a read operation, a write operation, an inactivation operation, a positioning operation, or an operation for interacting with the terminal, etc. Among them, before performing the read operation, write operation, positioning operation, inactivation operation, or operation for interacting with the terminal, the network needs to first perform an inventory operation on the terminal. After obtaining the identifier of the (specific) terminal, or after the (specific) terminal sends the identifier, then perform the above operations on the (specific) terminal. For ease of understanding, the following takes the operation information as read operation information as an example for explanation. Specifically, the operation information is used to indicate performing a read operation on the terminal. After receiving the operation information, the AMF can first perform an inventory operation on the terminal, and then perform a read operation on the terminal after the inventory is successful. In the examples hereinafter, taking the operation information as inventory operation information as an example for illustration should not be regarded as a specific limitation of this application.

[0185] Optionally, the inventory operation information can be carried in the first message. It should be understood that in this application, the message name of the first message can indicate the type of the terminal to be operated, or may not indicate the type of the terminal to be operated. It should be noted that except as specifically described hereinafter that the message name of the first message can indicate the type of the terminal to be operated, in other positions, it can be understood that: the message name of the first message can indicate or may not indicate the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0186] When the message name of the first message indicates the type of the terminal to be operated, the first message can be called an Ambient Internet of Things passive service request (e.g., Nnef_A-IoT_Passive_Service Request) message, indicating that the terminal to be operated is a first type of terminal, and / or indicating that an inventory operation is performed on the first type of terminal. Or, the first message can be called an Ambient Internet of Things active service request (e.g., Nnef_A-IoT_Active_Service Request) message, indicating that the terminal to be operated is a second type of terminal, and / or indicating that an inventory operation is performed on the second type of terminal. Or, the first message can be called an Ambient Internet of Things service request (e.g., Nnef_AIoT_Service Request) message, indicating that the terminal to be operated includes the first type of terminal and the second type of terminal, and / or indicating that an inventory operation is performed on the first type of terminal and the second type of terminal. It should be understood that these are some examples of the first message, and there can be other implementation manners, which are not listed one by one here.

[0187] Optionally, the Nnef_A-IoT_Passive_Service Request message and the Nnef_A-IoT_Active_Service Request message can be simplified and described as: a passive service request (e.g., Nnef_Passive_ServiceRequest) message and an active service request (e.g., Nnef_Active_Service Request) message, respectively.

[0188] When the message name of the first message does not indicate the type of the terminal to be operated, the first message can be called an Ambient Internet of Things service request (e.g., Nnef_AIoT_Service Request) message, indicating that an inventory operation is performed on the terminal to be operated.

[0189] The following details the AMF sending the first information and / or the second information to the first reader in combination with the inventory operation information. Specifically:

[0190] First, the AMF determines the type of the terminal to be operated based on the inventory operation information, and sends the first information and / or the second information to the first reader based on the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0191] Among them, the AMF determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the inventory operation information can have the following implementation manners. Specifically:

[0192] 1. The inventory operation information is carried in the first message, and the message name of the first message indicates the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0193] 2. The inventory operation information includes first indication information, which indicates the type of the terminal to be operated. For the first indication information, reference can be made to the above relevant description, and details are not elaborated here.

[0194] 3. The inventory operation information includes the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated. The AMF can determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated. The following are several possible implementation manners of "the AMF determines the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated", specifically:

[0195] ①. The location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated corresponds to the type of the terminal to be operated. The AMF can determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated.

[0196] In a possible implementation manner, the fact that the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated corresponds to the type of the terminal to be operated can be understood as: the area indicated by the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated corresponds to the type of the terminal to be operated. That is to say, it can be predefined which locations specifically correspond to which types of terminals. For example, the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated corresponds to the first type and / or the second type. In this case, the AMF can determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the area indicated by the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated.

[0197] In another possible implementation manner, the fact that the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated corresponds to the type of the terminal to be operated can be understood as: the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated corresponds to the working mode of the terminal to be operated, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to the first type and / or the second type.

[0198] In this application, a terminal working in the passive mode needs to send data by reflecting a carrier wave. In this case, it can be considered that a terminal working in the passive mode corresponds to the first type of terminal. For example, a terminal working in the passive mode can be regarded as the first type of terminal. A terminal working in the active mode needs to be able to generate a carrier wave (or recover a carrier wave independently) to send data. In this case, it can be considered that a terminal working in the active mode corresponds to the second type of terminal. For example, a terminal working in the active mode can be regarded as the second type of terminal. In this case, it can be predefined which locations specifically correspond to which types of terminals. For example, the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated corresponds to the first type and / or the second type. Or, it is predefined which locations specifically correspond to which working modes, and the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated corresponds to the working mode of the terminal to be operated. These two descriptions can be replaced with each other.

[0199] Exemplarily, the operating modes of the terminal to be operated all correspond to the first type. For example, if the operating modes of the terminal to be operated are all passive modes, the terminal to be operated can be regarded as a terminal of the first type.

[0200] Exemplarily again, the operating modes of the terminal to be operated all correspond to the second type. For example, if the operating modes of the terminal to be operated are all active modes, the terminal to be operated can be regarded as a terminal of the second type.

[0201] Exemplarily again, the operating modes of some of the terminals to be operated correspond to the first type, and the operating modes of another part of the terminals to be operated correspond to the second type. For example, if the operating modes of the terminal to be operated include passive modes and active modes, the terminal to be operated can be regarded as a terminal of the first type and a terminal of the second type.

[0202] Optionally, in this application, the passive mode and the active mode can also be respectively referred to as the passive source mode and the active source mode, and this application does not limit their names. The following describes with the passive mode and the active mode as examples, which should not be regarded as a specific limitation of this application. Optionally, in this application, the operating mode can be replaced with a mode, an excitation mode, an activation mode, a communication mode, etc., and this application does not limit the name of the operating mode.

[0203] Optionally, the types of terminals corresponding to different location information can be the same or different. For example, the types of terminals in the areas indicated by different location information can be the same or different. Optionally, the location information here can be the location where at least one network is located, and the network can be a public network, a non-public network, a local area network or a wide area network, etc. For example, the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated is the location where the local area network and / or the non-public network is located, and the type of the terminal to be operated includes the first type. And / or, the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated is the location where the wide area network and / or the public network is located, and the type of the terminal to be operated includes the second type.

[0204] Optionally, when adopting Method ① in Method 3, if before the AMF sends the first information and / or the second information to the first reader based on the type of the terminal to be operated, a new terminal moves to the area indicated by the above location information, but the AMF still determines the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, and sends the first information and / or the second information to the first reader based on the type of the terminal to be operated, new terminals may be missed. To avoid this situation, the following will be described in detail in several cases. Specifically:

[0205] (1) The working mode associated with the location information of the terminal to be operated is the passive mode. When an active terminal enters the area indicated by the location information of the terminal to be operated from the area corresponding to the active mode, in this case, the active terminal can trigger a registration process (such as a mobility registration update process) or trigger a tracking area update (such as tracking area update, TAU) process, so that the AMF can re-determine the location information corresponding to the active terminal, thereby determining its working mode, and indicating its working mode to the active terminal. In this way, it is ensured that the working mode of the terminals in the area indicated by the location information of the terminal to be operated is the passive mode, enabling the AMF to inventory all the terminals in this area. Similarly, the working mode associated with the location information of the terminal to be operated is the active mode. When an active terminal enters the area indicated by the location information of the terminal to be operated from the area corresponding to the passive mode, in this case, the active terminal can trigger a registration process (such as a mobility registration update process) or trigger a tracking area update process, so that the AMF can re-determine the location information corresponding to the active terminal, thereby determining its working mode, and indicating its working mode to the active terminal. In this way, it is ensured that the working mode of the terminals in the area indicated by the location information of the terminal to be operated is the passive mode, enabling the AMF to inventory all the terminals in this area.

[0206] (2) The working mode associated with the location information of the terminal to be operated is the passive mode or the active mode. When a passive terminal enters the area indicated by the location information of the terminal to be operated, in this case, the AMF can further determine the type of the terminal to be operated by combining the following method 3. In this case, it can be considered that the inventory operation information includes the location information of the terminal to be operated and the identifier of the terminal to be operated. Or, the AMF can also choose to directly determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the following method 3. In this case, it can be considered that the inventory operation information includes the identifier of the terminal to be operated.

[0207] ② The location information of the terminal to be operated corresponds to the network where the terminal to be operated is located, and the network where the terminal to be operated is located corresponds to the type of the terminal to be operated. That is to say, the AMF can determine the network where the terminal to be operated is located based on the location information of the terminal to be operated, and thus can determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the network where the terminal to be operated is located. For example, the network where the terminal to be operated is located includes a local area network and / or a non-public network, and the type of the terminal to be operated includes the first type. And / or, the network where the terminal to be operated is located includes a wide area network and / or a public network, and the type of the terminal to be operated includes the second type.

[0208] Optionally, the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated and the network where the terminal to be operated is located can be understood as: the area indicated by the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated corresponds to the network where the terminal to be operated is located. Therefore, the AMF can determine the network where the terminal to be operated is located based on the area indicated by the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated.

[0209] Among them, the method ② in method 3 is similar to method ① in method 3, and both pre-define which locations specifically correspond to which types of terminals. However, in actual application scenarios, if a new terminal moves to these areas before the AMF sends the first information and / or the second information to the first reader based on the type of the terminal to be operated. At this time, the AMF determines the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, and sends the first information and / or the second information to the first reader based on the type of the terminal to be operated, and may miss the new terminal. For example, the network where the terminal to be operated is located is a local area network, and an active terminal moves into this local area network. According to the previous agreement, the AMF will think that the type of the terminal to be operated is the first type and send the first information to the first reader. But in fact, there is also an active terminal in this local area network, that is, a terminal of the second type, but the AMF will not send the second information to the first reader based on the location information. Therefore, the terminal of the second type will be missed. To avoid this situation, the AMF can further determine the type of the terminal to be operated by combining the above method 3. In this case, it can be considered that the inventory operation information includes the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated and the identifier of the terminal to be operated. Or, the AMF can also choose to directly determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the above method 3. In this case, it can be considered that the inventory operation information includes the identifier of the terminal to be operated.

[0210] 4. The inventory operation information includes the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the AMF determines the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated. Among them, the identifier of the terminal to be operated can refer to the above relevant description and will not be elaborated here.

[0211] Among them, there are several implementation methods for the AMF to determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated. Specifically:

[0212] ①. Terminals of the first type and terminals of the second type respectively correspond to different terminal identifier ranges. For the sake of easy understanding, in this application, the terminal identifier range corresponding to the terminals of the first type is denoted as the first identifier range, and the terminal identifier range corresponding to the terminals of the second type is denoted as the second identifier range. It can be understood that when the identifier range of the terminal to be operated belongs to the first identifier range, the terminal to be operated is a terminal of the first type. When the identifier range of the terminal to be operated belongs to the second identifier range, the terminal to be operated is a terminal of the second type.

[0213] ②. The value of the nth field in the identifier of the terminal to be operated indicates the type of the terminal to be operated. For example, if the value of the nth field is 0, it indicates that the terminal to be operated is a terminal of the first type; if the value of the nth field is 1, it indicates that the terminal to be operated is a terminal of the second type. Vice versa. For example, the identifier of a certain terminal is AAABBB034333, and the value of the 7th field in it is 0, indicating that this terminal is a terminal of the first type.

[0214] Wherein, n is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0215] ③. The AMF obtains the subscription data corresponding to the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the subscription data includes the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0216] Exemplarily, the AMF can obtain the subscription data corresponding to the terminal of the first type based on the identifier of the terminal of the first type, and the subscription data can include the first type. For example, if the terminal of the first type is a passive terminal, the subscription data can include information of the passive terminal, such as the passive terminal or a string, bit, value, etc. indicating the passive terminal, so it can be considered that the subscription data can include the first type. Or, if the terminal of the first type is a semi-passive terminal, the subscription data can include information of the semi-passive terminal, such as the semi-passive terminal or a string, bit, value, etc. indicating the semi-passive terminal, so it can be considered that the subscription data can include the first type. Or, if the terminal of the first type is a semi-active terminal, the subscription data can include information of the semi-active terminal, such as the semi-active terminal or a string, bit, value, etc. indicating the semi-active terminal, so it can be considered that the subscription data can include the first type.

[0217] Exemplarily again, the AMF can obtain the subscription data corresponding to the terminal of the second type based on the identifier of the terminal of the second type, and the subscription data can include the second type. For example, if the terminal of the second type is an active terminal, the subscription data can include information of the active terminal, such as the active terminal or a string, bit, value, etc. indicating the active terminal, so it can be considered that the subscription data can include the second type.

[0218] Exemplarily again, the AMF can obtain the subscription data corresponding to the terminal of the first type and the terminal of the second type based on the identifier of the terminal of the first type and the identifier of the terminal of the second type, and the subscription data can include the first type and the second type. This can refer to the above content and will not be elaborated here.

[0219] Optionally, the AMF can obtain the subscription data corresponding to the terminal to be operated from the UDM based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated. Optionally, the subscription data can also be referred to as service configuration data, and the present application does not limit its name.

[0220] Optionally, the number of subscription data can be one or more. For example, all terminals in the terminal to be operated correspond to one piece of subscription data. Or, one terminal in the terminal to be operated corresponds to one piece of subscription data, and another terminal corresponds to another piece of subscription data. Or, terminals of the first type in the terminal to be operated correspond to one piece of subscription data, and terminals of the second type correspond to another piece of subscription data, etc. These are just some examples, and there are other implementation manners, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0221] ④. The AMF can obtain first context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated. The first context information includes the association relationship between the identifier of the terminal to be operated and the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0222] In a possible implementation manner, this manner can be applicable to terminals of the second type. For terminals of the first type, the AMF can use any one or more of the manners ① to ③ in manner 4 to determine the type of the terminal.

[0223] In another possible implementation manner, this manner can be applicable to terminals of the first type and terminals of the second type. For example, after performing an inventory operation on a terminal of the first type, the AMF can record the identifier information and terminal type information of the terminal of the first type in its corresponding context information, and the terminal type information is the first type; and / or, after performing an inventory operation on a terminal of the second type, the AMF can record the identifier information and terminal type information of the terminal of the second type in its corresponding context information. That is to say, after performing an inventory operation on a terminal, the AMF can record the identifier information and terminal type information of the terminal in the corresponding context information.

[0224] ⑤. The AMF obtains second context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated. The second context information includes the association relationship between the identifier of the terminal to be operated and the working mode of the terminal to be operated, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to the first type and / or the second type.

[0225] Exemplarily, the working modes of the terminals to be operated all correspond to the first type. For example, if the working modes of the terminals to be operated are all passive modes, the terminals to be operated can be regarded as terminals of the first type. In this case, it can be considered that manner ④ and manner ⑤ in manner 4 are the same.

[0226] Exemplarily again, the working modes of the terminals to be operated all correspond to the second type. For example, if the working modes of the terminals to be operated are all active modes, the terminals to be operated can be regarded as terminals of the second type. In this case, it can be considered that manner ④ and manner ⑤ in manner 4 are the same.

[0227] Exemplarily, the working modes of a part of the terminals to be operated correspond to the first type, and the working modes of another part of the terminals correspond to the second type. For example, the working modes of the terminals to be operated include a passive mode and an active mode. The terminals to be operated can be regarded as the first type of terminals and the second type of terminals. In this case, it can be considered that method ④ and method ⑤ in method 4 are the same.

[0228] 5. The inventory operation information includes the identification information indicating the service requestor. The AMF can determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identification information indicating the service requestor. For example, the AMF can obtain the subscription data corresponding to the service requestor according to the identification information indicating the service requestor, and the subscription data can include the type of the terminal to be operated. Optionally, the AMF can obtain the subscription data from the UDM according to the identification information indicating the service requestor.

[0229] Regarding the identification information indicating the service requestor, reference can be made to the above relevant description, which will not be elaborated here.

[0230] Taking the service requestor as the AF as an example, the identification information indicating the service requestor can include the identifier and / or the address of the AF. The AMF determines the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier and / or the address of the AF. For example, the AMF can obtain the subscription data corresponding to the AF based on the identifier and / or the address of the AF, and the subscription data includes the type of the terminal to be operated. Optionally, the AMF can obtain the subscription data corresponding to the AF from the UDM based on the identifier and / or the address of the AF.

[0231] It should be noted that any one of the above methods 1-5 can be used alone as an implementation method for the AMF to determine the type of the terminal to be operated. Or, at least two of the above methods 1-5 can be combined as an implementation method for the AMF to determine the type of the terminal to be operated. The present application does not limit the specific combination method. It can be understood that the above are only several simple examples, and there are other implementation methods, which are not limited in the present application.

[0232] Second, it is predefined or preconfigured that when the AMF obtains the inventory operation information, it sends the first information and the second information to the first reader. Equivalently, when the AMF obtains the inventory operation information, it defaults to sending the first information and the second information to the first reader.

[0233] Optionally, in the present application, the first information and / or the second information can be carried in the N2 message.

[0234] In addition, when the AMF sends the first information and the second information to the first reader, it can be sent in two times. For example, the first information and the second information can be carried in different messages. Or, the AMF can send the first information and the second information to the first reader at the same time. For example, the first information and the second information can be carried in the same message. Here, the message can be an N2 message.

[0235] The following is a detailed description of the first information and the second information. Specifically:

[0236] 1. The first information may include second indication information and / or mask information.

[0237] The second indication information is used to trigger the first reader to send a first selection command, so that the first type of terminals within the coverage of the first reader respond to the first selection command. For example, it enables the first type of terminals within the coverage of the first reader to send the identifiers of the first type of terminals to the first reader.

[0238] Optionally, the second indication information may be referred to as the first random access indication information, and the present application does not limit its name.

[0239] The mask information can be used to trigger the first reader to send a second selection command, so that the first type of terminals corresponding to the mask information respond to the second selection command. For example, it enables the first type of terminals corresponding to the mask information to send the identifiers of the first type of terminals to the first reader. Among them, the second selection command may include the mask information. For the mask information, reference can be made to the above relevant description and will not be elaborated here.

[0240] Optionally, when the first information includes the second indication information and the mask information, it can be considered that the first information is used to trigger the first reader to send a second selection command. For example, it enables the first type of terminals corresponding to the mask information to send the identifiers of the first type of terminals to the first reader.

[0241] Optionally, the AMF can obtain the mask information through at least one of the following ways. Specifically:

[0242] ①. The inventory operation information may also include mask information.

[0243] ②. The AMF can determine the mask information based on the identifier information indicating the service requestor in the inventory operation information. For example, the identifier information indicating the service requestor is associated with the mask information, so that the AMF can determine the mask information based on the identifier information indicating the service requestor and its association relationship with the mask information.

[0244] For example, taking the service requester as AF, the identification information indicating the service requester may include the identification of AF and / or the address of AF. The AMF may determine the mask information based on the identification of AF and / or the address of AF. For example, the identification of AF and / or the address of AF are associated with the mask information, so that the AMF can determine the mask information based on the identification of AF and / or the address of AF and the association relationship therebetween.

[0245] It should be noted that the above method ① or method ② can be applied to the above process of "the AMF determines the type of the terminal to be operated based on the inventory operation information and sends the first information to the first reader based on the type of the terminal to be operated", or can be applied to the process of "it is predefined or preconfigured that when the AMF obtains the inventory operation information, it sends the first information to the first reader".

[0246] 2. The second information includes the third indication information and / or the group identification information.

[0247] The third indication information is used to trigger the first reader to send the first paging message, so that the second type of terminals within the coverage of the first reader respond to the first paging message. For example, it enables the second type of terminals within the coverage of the first reader to send the identification of the second type of terminals to the first reader.

[0248] Optionally, the third indication information may be referred to as a paging message or a second random access indication information, and the present application does not limit its name.

[0249] The group identification information can be used to trigger the first reader to send the second paging message, so that the second type of terminals corresponding to the group identification information respond to the second paging message. For example, it enables the second type of terminals corresponding to the group identification information to send the identification of the second type of terminals to the first reader. Among them, the second paging message may include the group identification information.

[0250] Optionally, in the case where the second information includes the third indication information and the group identification information, it can be considered that the second information is used to trigger the first reader to send the second paging message. For example, it enables the second type of terminals corresponding to the group identification information to send the identification of the second type of terminals to the first reader.

[0251] Optionally, the AMF may obtain the group identification information through at least one of the following methods. Specifically:

[0252] ①. The inventory operation information may further include the group identification information.

[0253] ②. The AMF can determine the group identification information based on the identification information indicating the service requester in the inventory operation information. For example, the identification information indicating the service requester is associated with the group identification information, so that the AMF can determine the group identification information based on the identification information indicating the service requester and the association relationship between it and the group identification information.

[0254] For example, taking the service requester as the AF, the identification information indicating the service requester may include the identification of the AF and / or the address of the AF. The AMF can determine the group identification information based on the identification of the AF and / or the address of the AF. For example, the identification of the AF and / or the address of the AF is associated with the group identification information, so that the AMF can determine the group identification information based on the identification of the AF and / or the address of the AF and the association relationship between it and the group identification information.

[0255] It should be noted that the above method ① or method ② can be applied to the process of "the AMF determines the type of the terminal to be operated based on the inventory operation information and sends the first information to the first reader based on the type of the terminal to be operated", or can be applied to the process of "it is predefined or preconfigured that when the AMF obtains the inventory operation information, it sends the first information to the first reader".

[0256] In a possible implementation manner, the identification of one or more terminals can be carried in an ambient Internet of Things passive service response (such as Nnef_A-IoT_Passive_Service Response) message. For example, when one or more terminals are terminals of the first type, the identification of one or more terminals is carried in the Nnef_A-IoT_Passive_Service Response message.

[0257] In another possible implementation manner, the identification of one or more terminals can be carried in an Nnef ambient Internet of Things active service response (such as Nnef_A-IoT_Active_Service Response) message. For example, when one or more terminals are terminals of the second type, the identification of one or more terminals is carried in the Nnef_A-IoT_Active_Service Response message.

[0258] In another possible implementation manner, the identification of one or more terminals can be carried in an Nnef ambient Internet of Things service response (such as Nnef_AIoT_Service Response) message. For example, when one or more terminals include terminals of the first type and terminals of the second type, the identification of one or more terminals can be carried in the Nnef_AIoT_ServiceResponse message.

[0259] Optionally, the Nnef_A-IoT_Passive_Service Response message and the Nnef_A-IoT_Active_Service Response message can be simplified and described as: the Nnef source-free service response (e.g., Nnef_Passive_Service Response) message and the Nnef source-active service response (e.g., Nnef_Active_Service Response) message, respectively.

[0260] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, the AMF can receive the inventory operation information, and thus, based on the inventory operation information, send the first information and / or the second information to the first reader, so that the first reader can flexibly adopt a suitable inventory method for inventory. At the same time, the AMF can determine the type of the terminal to be inventoried based on the inventory operation information, and then, based on the type of the terminal to be inventoried, send the first information and / or the second information to the first reader, so that the AMF can more accurately know which types of terminals the first reader should be triggered to inventory. Therefore, this can reduce the problem of missed inventory or triggering unnecessary signaling overhead, and can also ensure the inventory efficiency.

[0261] In a possible implementation manner, Figure 4 the AMF in may not be co-deployed with the TMF. In this case, step 401 can be understood as: the service requestor (through the NEF) sends a message to the TMF service requestor, and the TMF obtains the inventory operation information based on the message of the service requestor and sends the inventory operation information to the AMF. Or, the service requestor (through the NEF) sends a message to the TMF service requestor, and the TMF determines the type of the terminal to be operated based on the message of the service requestor and sends the type of the terminal to be operated to the AMF. Optionally, the TMF can also send the information carried in the message of the service requestor to the AMF, such as mask information, group identification information, etc., which are not listed one by one here. Optionally, step 405 can be understood as: the AMF sends the identifiers of one or more terminals to the TMF, and the TMF (through the NEF) sends the identifiers of one or more terminals to the service requestor.

[0262] It should be understood that for method ④ in the above method 4, the second type of terminal can be registered so that the AMF can store the association relationship between the identifier of the second type of terminal and its type. Since this association relationship can be stored in the context, the AMF can determine the type of the terminal based on the context. It can be understood that the process of the second type of terminal registering can occur before "the AMF obtains the first context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated". Exemplarily, the terminal to be operated includes the first terminal. Before the AMF obtains the first context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, the method further includes: when the AMF receives a second message from the first terminal, the type of the first terminal is the second type, the second message includes the identifier of the first terminal, and the identifier of the first terminal and the type of the first terminal are associated and stored in the first context information. The following combines Figure 5 to describe in detail the process of the AMF associatively storing the identifier of the first terminal and the type of the first terminal.

[0263] See Figure 5 , Figure 5 which is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Among them, Figure 5 the embodiment shown can be combined with Figure 4 the embodiment shown. For example, on the basis of the embodiment described in Figure 4 the following steps are further included:

[0264] 501. The first terminal sends a second message to the first reader, and the second message includes the identifier of the first terminal.

[0265] Correspondingly, the first reader receives the second message from the first terminal. Optionally, the second message can be, for example, a registration request message.

[0266] 502. The first reader selects a suitable AMF and sends the second message to the AMF.

[0267] Correspondingly, the AMF receives the second message from the first reader. That is, the AMF receives the second message. In one possible implementation manner, since only the second type of terminal can actively send a registration request message to the first reader, when the AMF receives the second message (i.e., the registration request message), it can learn the type of the first terminal. In another possible implementation manner, the reader can send the type of the first terminal to the AMF. For example, the reader can learn the type of the first terminal (such as by means of the physical layer or the air interface mechanism, etc.) and send the type of the first terminal to the AMF. In another possible implementation manner, the AMF can receive the identifier or capability information of the first terminal to learn the type of the first terminal.

[0268] Among them, the first reader can, for example, select an AMF serving the terminal based on the location of the terminal, the type of the terminal, or the type of access technology (such as an environmental Internet of Things terminal, environmental Internet of Things technology, etc.). The specific process thereof is not limited in this application.

[0269] 503. The AMF associates and stores the identifier of the first terminal and the type of the first terminal in the first context information.

[0270] Optionally, the terminal to be operated may further include other terminals. The type of the other terminals is the second type. The AMF may also associate and store the identifiers of the other terminals and their corresponding types in the first context information, or the AMF may store the identifiers of the other terminals and their corresponding types separately, which is not limited herein.

[0271] 504. The AMF selects a suitable AUSF to perform security processes such as authentication. The terminal, AMF, AUSF, and UDM interact to complete security processes such as authentication.

[0272] 505. After the mutual authentication between the terminal and the network side is successful, the AMF sends an N2 message to the first reader. The N2 message includes a registration acceptance message.

[0273] Correspondingly, the first reader receives the N2 message from the AMF. Among them, the registration acceptance message is used to indicate that the first terminal has been successfully registered to the network.

[0274] 506. The first reader sends a registration acceptance message to the first terminal.

[0275] Correspondingly, the first terminal receives the registration acceptance message through the first reader.

[0276] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, during the registration process, the AMF can associate and store the identifier of the first terminal and the type of the first terminal in the first context information, so that the AMF can subsequently know the type of the first terminal through the identifier of the first terminal, improving the efficiency. In addition, the AMF can also determine which type of terminal should be inventoried, which ensures the smooth execution of the solution.

[0277] Optionally, Figure 5 The illustrated embodiments can be executed before Figure 4 Step 402, for example, before the AMF obtains the first context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated.

[0278] It should be understood that for the fifth method in the above method 4, the second type of terminal can be registered so that the AMF can determine its working mode based on the location information corresponding to the second type of terminal, and then associate and store the association relationship between the identifier of the second type of terminal and its working mode. Since this association relationship can be stored in the context, the AMF can determine the type of the terminal based on the context. Among them, the process of registering the second type of terminal can occur before "the AMF obtains the second context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated". Exemplarily, the terminal to be operated includes a second terminal. Before the AMF obtains the second context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, the method further includes: the AMF receives a third message from the second terminal, and the third message includes the identifier of the second terminal; the AMF determines the first location information corresponding to the second terminal; the AMF determines the first working mode of the second terminal based on the first location information; the AMF associates and stores the identifier of the second terminal and the first working mode in the second context information. The following combines Figure 6 to describe in detail the process of the AMF associating and storing the identifier of the second terminal and its working mode.

[0279] See Figure 6 , Figure 6 which is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Among them, Figure 6 the embodiment shown can be combined with Figure 4 the embodiment shown. For example, on the basis of the embodiment described in Figure 4 it further includes the following steps:

[0280] 601. The second terminal sends a third message to the first reader, and the third message includes the identifier of the second terminal.

[0281] Correspondingly, the first reader receives the third message from the second terminal. Optionally, the third message can be, for example, a registration request message.

[0282] 602. The first reader selects a suitable AMF and sends the third message to the AMF.

[0283] Correspondingly, the AMF receives a third message from the first reader. That is, the AMF has received the third message. In a possible implementation, since only the second type of terminal can actively send a registration request message to the first reader, when the AMF receives the third message (i.e., the registration request message), it can learn the type of the first terminal. In another possible implementation, the reader can send the type of the first terminal to the AMF. For example, the reader can learn the type of the first terminal (e.g., by means of the physical layer or the radio access mechanism, etc.) and send the type of the first terminal to the AMF. In another possible implementation, the AMF can receive the identifier or capability information of the first terminal to learn the type of the first terminal.

[0284] Among them, the first reader can select the AMF serving the terminal based on, for example, the location of the terminal, the type of the terminal, or the type of access technology (e.g., for environmental Internet of Things terminals, environmental Internet of Things technologies, etc.). The specific process thereof is not limited in this application.

[0285] 603. The AMF associates and stores the identifier of the second terminal and the type of the second terminal in the second context information.

[0286] Optionally, the terminal to be operated may further include other terminals. The type of the other terminals is the second type. The AMF may also associate and store the identifiers of the other terminals and their corresponding types in the second context information, or the AMF may store the identifiers of the other terminals and their corresponding types separately, which is not limited herein.

[0287] 604. The AMF selects a suitable AUSF to perform security processes such as authentication. The terminal, the AMF, the AUSF, and the UDM interact to complete security processes such as authentication.

[0288] 605. After the mutual authentication between the terminal and the network side is successful, the AMF determines the first location information corresponding to the second terminal and determines the first working mode of the second terminal based on the first location information.

[0289] Optionally, the AMF determines the first location information corresponding to the second terminal. For example, it may include: the AMF determines the first location information by means of the location of the first reader that forwards the third message. The specific process thereof is not limited in this application. In addition, the first location information can also be determined by other means, which are not listed one by one herein.

[0290] Among them, the first working mode is a passive mode or an active mode. For example, the working mode corresponding to the first location information is the passive mode, and the first working mode of the second terminal is the passive mode. The working mode corresponding to the first location information is the active mode, and the first working mode is the active mode.

[0291] 606. The AMF associates and stores the identifier of the second terminal and the first working mode in the second context information.

[0292] In a possible implementation manner, it can be considered that there is an association relationship between the identifier of the second terminal and the type of the second terminal, and there is an association relationship between the identifier of the second terminal and the first working mode. In another possible implementation manner, it can be considered that there is an association relationship among the identifier of the second terminal, the type of the second terminal, and the first working mode. These two understanding manners can exist in the form of a table, for example. It should be understood that this is only an example here, and the form of the table is not limited either.

[0293] Optionally, the terminal to be operated may further include other terminals, the type of the other terminals is the second type, and the AMF may also associate and store the identifier of the other terminals, the type of the other terminals, and their working modes in the second context information, or the AMF may store the identifier of the other terminals, the type of the other terminals, and their working modes separately, which is not limited here.

[0294] 607. The AMF sends an N2 message to the first reader, and the N2 message includes a registration acceptance message.

[0295] Correspondingly, the first reader receives the N2 message from the AMF. Among them, the registration acceptance message is used to indicate that the second terminal has successfully registered to the network.

[0296] Optionally, the AMF may also send third information to the second terminal, and the third information is used for the second terminal to enter the first working mode. For example, the registration acceptance message may also include the third information, etc.

[0297] It should be noted that a certain information (such as the third information, etc.) mentioned in this application for the terminal to enter the corresponding working mode can be understood as: this information is at least one field or at least one bit. At least one field or at least one bit is used for the terminal to enter the corresponding working mode. For example, the third information is 1 bit, corresponding to 2 states '0' and '1'. '0' indicates that the second terminal enters the first working mode, and '1' indicates that the second terminal does not enter the first working mode. Vice versa.

[0298] Optionally, the AMF may also indicate the first location information to the second terminal. That is, the AMF indicates the registration area to the second type of terminal, so that the second type of terminal can trigger a registration process (such as a mobility registration update process) or a tracking area update process after leaving this area. For example, the registration acceptance message may also include the first location information, etc.

[0299] 608. The first reader sends a registration acceptance message to the second terminal.

[0300] Correspondingly, the second terminal receives the registration acceptance message through the first reader.

[0301] Optionally, after step 608, assuming that the second terminal moves from the area indicated by the first location information to the area indicated by the second location information, the second terminal may re-register or perform a tracking area update procedure. For another example, after the core network inventory the second terminal in the area indicated by the second location information, in this case, steps 609 to 610 may further be included.

[0302] 609. The AMF obtains the second location information corresponding to the second terminal, and the second location information is different from the first location information.

[0303] Optionally, the AMF obtains the second location information corresponding to the second terminal, which can be understood as: the AMF receives a fourth message from the second terminal through the second reader, and determines the second location information according to the second reader or the location where the second reader is located. The first reader may be the same as or different from the second reader. The fourth message includes the identifier of the second terminal. The fourth message may be, for example, a registration request message.

[0304] 610. The AMF determines the second working mode of the second terminal based on the second location information, and sends a fourth message to the second terminal, where the fourth message is used for the second terminal to enter the second working mode.

[0305] Correspondingly, the second terminal receives the fourth message from the AMF. For example, the second terminal may receive the fourth message from the AMF through the second reader. Optionally, the fourth message may be carried in a registration response message. The registration response message is used to indicate that the second terminal has been successfully registered to the network.

[0306] The second working mode may be a passive mode or an active mode.

[0307] Optionally, the AMF may also update the first working mode to the second working mode in the second context information. It can be understood that when the first working mode is the same as the second working mode, the AMF may not perform any action. When the first working mode is different from the second working mode, the AMF may update the first working mode to the second working mode in the second context information.

[0308] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, during the registration process, the AMF may associatively store the identifier of the second terminal and the working mode of the second terminal in the second context information, so that the AMF can subsequently learn the working mode of the second terminal through the identifier of the second terminal, and then can determine which type of terminal should be inventoried. This improves efficiency and also ensures the smooth execution of the solution. In addition, the AMF may also update the working mode of the second terminal to ensure that the working mode of the second terminal matches the working mode in the corresponding location, so that the subsequent inventory process can be smoothly executed.

[0309] Optionally, Figure 6 in the illustrated embodiment, steps 601 to 608 can be performed Figure 4 before step 402, for example, before obtaining the second context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated. Figure 6 in the illustrated embodiment, steps 609 to 610 can be performed simultaneously with, before, or after any one of steps 402 to 405, and no limitation is made here.

[0310] Optionally, only the specific process in which the AMF triggers the first reader to perform inventory operations on the first type of terminal and the second type of terminal is exemplarily given in this application. It should be understood that this solution can also be adopted when the inventory processes of different types of terminals are different.

[0311] It can be understood that in order to implement the above functions, the above device includes the corresponding hardware structure and / or software module for executing each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, combining the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in this article, this application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed in the way of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0312] The embodiments of this application can perform functional module division on the AMF or AF according to the above method examples. For example, each functional module can be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiments of this application is illustrative, only a logical function division, and there can be other division methods in actual implementation.

[0313] See Figure 7 , Figure 7 which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of this application. The communication device 700 can be applied to the method shown in any one of the above Figures 4 to 6 embodiments, such as Figure 7As shown, the communication device 700 includes: a processing module 701 and a transceiver module 702. The processing module 701 may be one or more processors, and the transceiver module 702 may be a transceiver or a communication interface. The communication device can be used to implement any of the above method embodiments involving the AMF or the AF, or to implement the functions of the network element involved in any of the above method embodiments. The network element or network function can be either a network element in a hardware device, a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a virtualized function instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). Optionally, the communication device 700 may further include a storage module 703 for storing the program code and data of the communication device 700.

[0314] For example, when the communication device serves as the AMF or is a chip applied to the AMF and executes the steps performed by the AMF in the above method embodiments. The transceiver module 702 is specifically used to Figures 4 to 6 perform the sending and / or receiving actions performed by the AMF in any of the embodiments, such as supporting other processes of the AMF to execute the technologies described herein. The processing module 701 can be used to support the communication device 700 to perform the processing actions in the above method embodiments, for example, to support the AMF to execute other processes of the technologies described herein.

[0315] Exemplarily, the transceiver module 702 is configured to: receive operation information from a service requester, where the operation information is used to perform an operation on a terminal, and the operation includes an inventory operation; based on the operation information, send first information and / or second information to a first reader, where the first information is used for the first reader to perform an inventory operation on a first type of terminal, and the second information is used for the first reader to perform an inventory operation on a second type of terminal; receive an operation result sent by the first reader, and send the operation result to the service requester, where the operation result includes the identifiers of one or more terminals, and the types of the one or more terminals belong to the first type and / or the second type.

[0316] Optionally, when sending the first information and / or the second information to the first reader based on the operation information, the processing module 701 is configured to determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the operation information; the terminal to be operated includes a first type of terminal and / or a second type of terminal, and the first type is different from the second type; the transceiver module 702 is configured to send the first information and / or the second information to the first reader based on the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0317] Optionally, when determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the operation information, the operation information is carried in the first message, and the message name of the first message indicates the type of the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes first indication information that indicates the type of the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, and the processing module 701 is configured to determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information includes the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the processing module 701 is configured to determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated; or, the operation information characterizes the identifier of the service requestor and / or the address of the service requestor, and the processing module 701 is configured to determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the service requestor and / or the address of the service requestor.

[0318] Optionally, when determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, the processing module 701 is configured to: determine the network where the terminal to be operated is located based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated; and determine the type of the terminal to be operated based on the network where the terminal to be operated is located.

[0319] Optionally, when determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, the processing module 701 is configured to: determine the working mode of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to a first type and / or a second type.

[0320] Optionally, when determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, the processing module 701 is configured to: obtain the subscription data corresponding to the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the subscription data includes the type of the terminal to be operated; or, obtain the first context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the first context information includes the association relationship between the identifier of the terminal to be operated and the type of the terminal to be operated; or, obtain the second context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the second context information includes the association relationship between the identifier of the terminal to be operated and the working mode of the terminal to be operated, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to a first type and / or a second type.

[0321] Optionally, when determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the service requestor and / or the address of the service requestor, the processing module 701 is configured to: obtain the subscription data corresponding to the service requestor based on the identifier of the service requestor or the address of the service requestor, and the subscription data includes the type of the terminal to be operated.

[0322] Optionally, the terminal to be operated includes a first terminal. The transceiver module 702 is further configured to, when receiving a second message from the first terminal, where the type of the first terminal is a second type and the second message includes the identifier of the first terminal; the processing module 701 is further configured to associatively store the identifier of the first terminal and the type of the first terminal in the first context information.

[0323] Optionally, the terminal to be operated includes a second terminal. The transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive a third message from the second terminal, where the third message includes the identifier of the second terminal; the processing module 701 is further configured to: determine first location information corresponding to the second terminal; based on the first location information, determine a first working mode of the second terminal, where the first working mode is an active mode or a passive mode; in the second context information, associatively store the identifier of the second terminal and the first working mode.

[0324] Optionally, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send third information to the second terminal, where the third information is used for the second terminal to enter the first working mode.

[0325] Optionally, the processing module 701 is further configured to: detect that the second terminal corresponds to second location information, where the second location information is different from the first location information; based on the second location information, determine a second working mode of the second terminal, where the second working mode is an active mode or a passive mode; the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send fourth information to the second terminal, where the fourth information is used for the second terminal to enter the second working mode.

[0326] Optionally, the processing module 701 is further configured to update the first working mode to the second working mode in the second context information.

[0327] An example is when the communication device acts as an AF or is a chip applied in an AF and executes the steps performed by the AF in the above method embodiments. The transceiver module 702 is specifically configured to execute Figures 4 to 6 the sending and / or receiving actions performed by the AF in any of the embodiments, such as supporting other processes of the AF to execute the technologies described herein. The processing module 701 can be used to support the communication device 700 to execute the processing actions in the above method embodiments, for example, supporting the AF to execute other processes of the technologies described herein.

[0328] Exemplarily, the transceiver module 702 is configured to: send operation information to a first network element, where the operation information is used to perform an operation on a terminal, and the operation includes an inventory operation; receive an operation result from the first network element, where the operation result includes the identifiers of one or more terminals, and the types of the one or more terminals belong to a first type and / or a second type, and the first type is different from the second type; wherein, the operation result is determined based on first information and / or second information, the first information is used for a first reader to perform an inventory operation on terminals of the first type, and the second information is used for the first reader to perform an inventory operation on terminals of the second type.

[0329] In a possible implementation manner, when the AMF or AF, etc. is a chip, the transceiver module 702 may be a communication interface, a pin, a circuit, etc. The communication interface can be used to input data to be processed to the processor and can output the processing result of the processor outward. In a specific implementation, the communication interface may be a general purpose input output (GPIO) interface, and can be connected to multiple peripheral devices (such as a display (LCD), a camera, a radiofrequency (RF) module, an antenna, etc.). The communication interface is connected to the processor through a bus.

[0330] The processing module 701 may be a processor, and the processor may execute computer-executable instructions stored in the storage module to enable the chip to execute Figures 4 to 6 the methods involved in any of the embodiments shown. Further, the processor may include a controller, an arithmetic unit, and registers. Exemplarily, the controller is mainly responsible for instruction decoding and issuing a control signal for the operation corresponding to the instruction. The arithmetic unit is mainly responsible for performing fixed-point or floating-point arithmetic operations, shift operations, and logical operations, etc., and can also perform address arithmetic and conversion. The registers are mainly responsible for storing register operands and intermediate operation results temporarily stored during the execution of instructions, etc. In a specific implementation, the hardware architecture of the processor may be an ASIC architecture, a microprocessor without interlocked piped stages architecture (MIPS) architecture, an advanced RISC machines (ARM) architecture, or a network processor (NP) architecture, etc. The processor may be single-core or multi-core. The storage module may be a storage module inside the chip, such as registers, caches, etc. The storage module may also be a storage module located outside the chip, such as a ROM or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a RAM, etc.

[0331] It should be noted that the functions corresponding to the processor and the interface can be implemented through hardware design, software design, or a combination of both, and there is no limitation here.

[0332] Figure 8 FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. It can be understood that the communication device 810 includes necessary means in the form of, for example, modules, units, elements, circuits, or interfaces, which are appropriately configured together to execute the present solution. The communication device 810 may be the above-mentioned AMF or AF, or a component (such as a chip) in these devices, for implementing the methods described in the above method embodiments. The communication device 810 includes one or more processors 811. The processor 811 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, etc. For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control the communication device (such as AMF, AF, or a chip, etc.), execute software programs, and process data of the software programs.

[0333] Optionally, in one design, the processor 811 may include a program 813 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions), and the program 813 may be run on the processor 811, so that the communication device 810 executes the methods described in the above embodiments. In another possible design, the communication device 810 includes a circuit ( Figure 8 (not shown), and the circuit is used to implement functions such as AMF and AF in the above embodiments. Optionally, the communication device 810 may include one or more memories 812, on which there is a program 814 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions), and the program 814 may be run on the processor 811, so that the communication device 810 executes the methods described in the above method embodiments.

[0334] Optionally, data may also be stored in the processor 811 and / or the memory 812. The processor and the memory may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0335] Optionally, the communication device 810 may further include a transceiver 815 and / or an antenna 816. The processor 811 is sometimes also referred to as a processing unit, which controls the communication device (such as AMF or AF). The transceiver 815 is sometimes also referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, or transceiver, etc., and is used to implement the transceiver function of the communication device through the antenna 816.

[0336] An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which includes at least one processor; wherein, the at least one processor is configured to execute Figures 4 to 6 any one of the methods described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0337] An embodiment of this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed, the computer is caused to execute the method described in any item of any one of the embodiments as Figures 4 to 6 described.

[0338] An embodiment of this application also provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes: computer program code. When the computer program code is run by a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method described in any item of any one of the embodiments as Figures 4 to 6 described.

[0339] An embodiment of this application also provides a chip. The chip includes at least one processor and an interface. The processor is configured to read and execute instructions stored in a memory. When the instructions are run, the chip is caused to execute the method described in any item of any one of the embodiments as Figures 4 to 6 described.

[0340] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separated. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or may be distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the objectives of the solution of the embodiments of this application. In addition, the network element units in various embodiments of this application may be integrated in a processing unit, or each unit may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software network element unit.

[0341] If the above-mentioned integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software network element unit and sold or used as an independent product, it may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the part that essentially contributes to the technical solution of this application, or all or part of the technical solution, may be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, an AMF, a cloud server, or an AF, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods in various embodiments of this application. The foregoing storage medium includes: various media such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disc that can store program code.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, including: Receiving operation information from a service requester, where the operation information is used to perform an operation on a terminal, and the operation includes an inventory operation; Determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the operation information; the terminal to be operated includes a first type of terminal and / or a second type of terminal, and the first type is different from the second type; Sending first information and / or second information to a first reader based on the type of the terminal to be operated, where the first information is used for the first reader to perform the inventory operation on the first type of terminal, and the second information is used for the first reader to perform the inventory operation on the second type of terminal; Receiving an operation result sent by the first reader and sending the operation result to the service requester, where the operation result includes the identifiers of one or more terminals, and the one or more terminals belong to the terminal to be operated.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the operation information includes: The operation information is carried in a first message, and the message name of the first message indicates the type of the terminal to be operated; or, The operation information includes first indication information that indicates the type of the terminal to be operated; or, The operation information includes location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, and determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated; or, The operation information includes the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated; or, The operation information includes identification information indicating the service requester, and determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identification information indicating the service requester.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated includes: Determining the network where the terminal to be operated is located based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated; Determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the network where the terminal to be operated is located.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the network where the terminal to be operated is located includes a local area network or a non-public network, and the type of the terminal to be operated includes the first type; and / or, the network where the terminal to be operated is located includes a wide area network or a public network, and the type of the terminal to be operated includes the second type.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated includes: Determining the working mode of the terminal to be operated based on the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to the first type and / or the second type.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated includes: Obtaining the subscription data corresponding to the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, where the subscription data includes the type of the terminal to be operated; or, Based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, obtain first context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated, where the first context information includes the association relationship between the identifier of the terminal to be operated and the type of the terminal to be operated; or, Based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, obtain second context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated, where the second context information includes the association relationship between the identifier of the terminal to be operated and the working mode of the terminal to be operated, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to the first type and / or the second type.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the working mode of the terminal to be operated includes a passive mode, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to the first type; and / or, the working mode of the terminal to be operated includes an active mode, and the working mode of the terminal to be operated corresponds to the second type.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The determining the type of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier information indicating the service requester includes: Based on the identifier information indicating the service requester, obtain the subscription data corresponding to the service requester, where the subscription data includes the type of the terminal to be operated.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the first information includes second indication information or mask information, the second indication information is used to trigger the first reader to send a first selection command, so that the terminals of the first type within the coverage of the first reader respond to the first selection command, and the mask information is used to trigger the first reader to send a second selection command, so that the terminals of the first type corresponding to the mask information respond to the second selection command.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the second information includes third indication information or group identifier information, the third indication information is used to trigger the first reader to send a first paging message, so that the terminals of the second type within the coverage of the first reader respond to the first paging message, and the group identifier information is used to trigger the first reader to send a second paging message, so that the terminals of the second type corresponding to the group identifier information respond to the second paging message.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein The terminal to be operated includes a first terminal. Before obtaining the first context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, the method further includes: When receiving a second message from the first terminal, the type of the first terminal is the second type, and the second message includes the identifier of the first terminal; Associatively store the identifier of the first terminal and the type of the first terminal in the first context information.

12. The method according to claim 6, wherein The terminal to be operated includes a second terminal. Before obtaining the second context information corresponding to the identifier of the terminal to be operated based on the identifier of the terminal to be operated, the method further includes: Receive a third message from the second terminal, where the third message includes the identifier of the second terminal; Determine the first location information corresponding to the second terminal; Based on the first location information, determine the first working mode of the second terminal, where the first working mode is a passive mode or an active mode; In the second context information, associatively store the identifier of the second terminal and the first working mode.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein The method further includes: Send third information to the second terminal, where the third information is used for the second terminal to enter the first working mode.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: Detect that the second terminal corresponds to second location information, where the second location information is different from the first location information; Based on the second location information, determine the second working mode of the second terminal, where the second working mode is a passive mode or an active mode; Send fourth information to the second terminal, where the fourth information is used for the second terminal to enter the second working mode.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein The method further includes: In the second context information, update the first working mode to the second working mode.

16. A communication method, characterized in that, Includes: Send operation information to a first network element, where the operation information is used to perform an operation on a terminal, the operation includes an inventory operation, and the operation information is further used for the first network element to determine the type of the terminal to be operated, where the terminal to be operated includes a first type of terminal and / or a second type of terminal, and the first type is different from the second type; Receive an operation result from the first network element, where the operation result includes the identifiers of one or more terminals, and the one or more terminals belong to the terminal to be operated; Wherein, the operation result is determined based on first information and / or second information, the first information is used for a first reader to perform the inventory operation on the first type of terminal, and the second information is used for the first reader to perform the inventory operation on the second type of terminal.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, The operation information is carried in a first message, and the message name of the first message indicates the type of the terminal to be operated; or, The operation information includes first indication information, and the first indication information indicates the type of the terminal to be operated; or, The operation information includes the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated, and the location information corresponding to the terminal to be operated is used to determine the type of the terminal to be operated; or, The operation information includes the identifier of the terminal to be operated, and the identifier of the terminal to be operated is used to determine the type of the terminal to be operated; or, The operation information includes identification information indicating the service requestor, and the identification information indicating the service requestor is used to determine the type of the terminal to be operated.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a unit or module for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes at least one processor; wherein, the at least one processor is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the computer instructions are executed, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

21. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes: computer program code which, when run by a computer, causes the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

22. A chip, characterized in that, The chip includes at least one processor and an interface, the processor being configured to read and execute instructions stored in a memory, which, when run, cause the chip to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

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