Communication method and device

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of communication, in particular to a communication method and device, and aims to support a terminal device to receive a multicast service by using a cell DTX mechanism in an RRC non-connection state and reduce the power consumption overhead of the terminal device. The method comprises the following steps: a first communication device (such as terminal equipment) receives a multicast service according to DTX configuration of a first cell in an RRC connection state; the first communication device enters an RRC non-connection state from an RRC connection state; and the first communication device receives the multicast service in the RRC non-connection state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell, wherein the DTX configuration of the first cell is used for the first communication device to receive the multicast service in the RRC connection state and the RRC non-connection state.

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] Multicast services are designed for services with high quality of service (QoS) requirements. Group management needs to be performed for multicast services, and the same QoS level as unicast services can be provided.

[0003] The 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) began to discuss enhanced services for multicast services. For example, terminal devices in the radio resource control (RRC) idle state can also receive multicast services. Therefore, for terminal devices in the RRC idle state, how to reduce the power consumption overhead of receiving multicast services is a problem worthy of consideration. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A communication method and apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application are expected to support a terminal device in using a cell discontinuous transmission (cell DTX) mechanism to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state, and reduce the power consumption overhead of the terminal device.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a communication method. This method can be executed by a first communication device. Here, the first communication device may refer to the terminal device itself, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the terminal device that implements this method. The method includes: The first communication device receives a multicast service according to a first cell DTX configuration in the RRC connected state; the first communication device enters the RRC idle state from the RRC connected state; the first communication device receives a multicast service according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state, and the first cell DTX configuration is used for the first communication device to receive multicast services in the RRC connected state and the RRC idle state.

[0006] Through the above method, the cell DTX mechanism can be introduced into the multicast service reception of a first communication device (such as a terminal device) in the RRC idle state (such as RRC deactivation state and / or RRC idle state), avoiding the problem that the first communication device needs to continuously monitor channels or signals such as the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) when receiving multicast services in the RRC idle state. The first communication device can not monitor channels or signals such as the PDCCH according to the cell DTX configuration during the cell DTX inactive time, so as to save power consumption. In addition, introducing the cell DTX mechanism into the multicast service reception of the first communication device in the RRC idle state can also enable the second communication device (such as a network device) that sends multicast services to save energy by not sending channels or signals such as the PDCCH during the cell DTX inactive time.

[0007] In a possible design, before the first communication device receives the multicast service according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC connected state, the method further includes: the first communication device receives the first cell DTX configuration from the second communication device.

[0008] Through the above design, the first communication device can receive the multicast service according to the cell DTX configuration from the second communication device in the RRC connected state to save energy.

[0009] In a possible design, before the first communication device receives the multicast service according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state, the method further includes: the first communication device receives the first information from the second communication device, and the first information indicates that the first communication device uses the first cell DTX configuration to receive the multicast service in the RRC idle state.

[0010] Through the above design, the second communication device (such as a network device) and the first communication device (such as a terminal device) can align their understanding of the first communication device receiving the multicast service in the RRC idle state, so that both the second communication device and the first communication device can send and receive the multicast service more energy-efficiently according to the cell DTX mechanism.

[0011] In a possible design, before the first communication device receives the multicast service according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state, the method further includes: the first communication device determines that the transmission resources for receiving the multicast service in the RRC idle state are the same as those for receiving the multicast service in the RRC connected state.

[0012] Through the above design, the second communication device (such as a network device) and the first communication device (such as a terminal device) can align their understanding of the first communication device receiving multicast services in the RRC idle state, enabling both the second communication device and the first communication device to send and receive multicast services more energy-efficiently according to the cell DTX mechanism.

[0013] In a possible design, the first communication device receives multicast services according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state, including: the first communication device receives the multicast control channel (MBS control channel, MCCH) and / or the multicast traffic channel (MBS traffic channel, MTCH) according to the first cell DTX configuration.

[0014] Through the above design, unlike the first communication device in the RRC connected state which does not need to receive the MCCH, the first communication device in the RRC idle state can receive the MCCH to obtain the MTCH configuration to ensure the normal reception of multicast services.

[0015] In a possible design, the method further includes: the first communication device receives second information from the second communication device in the RRC idle state, where the second information indicates deactivating the first cell DTX configuration; the first communication device deactivates the first cell DTX configuration.

[0016] Through the above design, it is possible to support deactivating the cell DTX configuration for the first communication device in the RRC idle state.

[0017] In a possible design, the method further includes: the first communication device receives third information from the second communication device, where the third information indicates updating the first cell DTX configuration to the second cell DTX configuration; the first communication device receives multicast services according to the second cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state.

[0018] Exemplarily: the third information can be carried by an RRC release message, a paging message, or an MCCH message.

[0019] Through the above design, it is possible to support updating the cell DTX configuration for the first communication device in the RRC idle state.

[0020] Second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a second communication device. Here, the second communication device can refer to the network device itself, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the network device that implements this method. The method includes: the second communication device sends multicast services to a first communication device in the RRC connected state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell; the second communication device instructs the first communication device to enter the RRC idle state; the second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC idle state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell, and the DTX configuration of the first cell is used for the first communication device to receive multicast services in the RRC connected state and the RRC idle state.

[0021] In a possible design, before the second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC connected state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell, the method further includes: the second communication device sends the DTX configuration of the first cell to the first communication device.

[0022] In a possible design, before the second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC idle state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell, the method further includes: the second communication device sends a first piece of information to the first communication device, and the first piece of information instructs the first communication device to use the DTX configuration of the first cell to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state.

[0023] In a possible design, before the second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC idle state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell, the method further includes: the second communication device determines that the transmission resources for the first communication device to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state are the same as the transmission resources for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state.

[0024] In a possible design, the method further includes: the second communication device sends a second piece of information to the first communication device in the RRC idle state, and the second piece of information instructs to deactivate the DTX configuration of the first cell.

[0025] In a possible design, the method further includes: the second communication device sends a third piece of information to the first communication device, and the third piece of information instructs to update the DTX configuration of the first cell to the DTX configuration of the second cell; the second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC idle state according to the DTX configuration of the second cell.

[0026] Exemplarily: the third piece of information can be carried by an RRC release message, a paging message, or an MCCH message.

[0027] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device. The device has the function of implementing the method according to the first aspect or the second aspect above. The function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions, such as an interface unit and a processing unit.

[0028] In a possible design, the device may be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0029] In a possible design, the device includes a memory and a processor. The memory is used to store instructions executed by the processor. When the instructions are executed by the processor, the device can execute the method according to the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0030] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device. The communication device includes an interface circuit and a processor, and the processor and the interface circuit are coupled to each other. The processor is used to implement the method according to the first aspect or the second aspect above through logic circuits or by executing instructions. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device. It can be understood that the interface circuit may be a transceiver or a transceiver or a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0031] Optionally, the communication device may further include a memory, which is used to store instructions executed by the processor, or store input data required for the processor to run the instructions, or store data generated after the processor runs the instructions. The memory may be a physically independent unit, or may be coupled to the processor, or the processor includes the memory (i.e., the processor and the memory are integrated together).

[0032] In a possible implementation, the communication device is a chip.

[0033] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system. The communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device can implement the method according to the first aspect above, and the second communication device can implement the method according to the second aspect above.

[0034] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium. A computer program or instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a processor, the method according to the first aspect or the second aspect above can be implemented.

[0035] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, including a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a processor, the method according to the first aspect or the second aspect above can be implemented.

[0036] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, which includes a processor and an interface. The processor is used to call and execute instructions from the interface. When the processor executes the instructions, the methods of the first aspect or the second aspect described above can be implemented.

[0037] For the technical effects achievable by the second aspect to the eighth aspect described above, please refer to the technical effects achievable by the first aspect described above, and details will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the multicast service provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the multicast service transmission provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the cell DTX provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 5 is one of the schematic diagrams of the communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 6 is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the status of receiving the multicast service provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 8 is one of the schematic diagrams of the structure of the communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 9 is another schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0047] Figure 1 An exemplary schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application is shown. As Figure 1 shown, the communication system 1000 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may further include the Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one network device (such as Figure 1 110a and 110b in Figure 1Among 120a - 120j (collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, for example, wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices ( Figure 1 not shown in the figure) and the like. The terminal device 120 is connected to the network device 110 wirelessly. The network device 110 is connected to the core network 200 wirelessly or by wire. The core network devices in the core network 200 and the network device 110 in the RAN 100 may be different physical devices respectively, or may be the same physical device integrating the core network logic function and the radio access network logic function.

[0048] The RAN 100 may be a cellular system related to the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), for example, 4G, 5G, or an evolved system after 5G (such as a 6G mobile communication system). The RAN 100 may also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN). The RAN 100 may also be a communication system integrating two or more of the above systems.

[0049] The apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application may be applied to the network device 110, or applied to the terminal device 120. It can be understood that, Figure 1 only one possible communication system architecture to which the embodiments of the present application can be applied is shown. In other possible scenarios, other devices may also be included in the communication system architecture.

[0050] The network device 110 is a node in a radio access network (RAN), and may also be referred to as an access network device, or may also be referred to as a RAN node (or device). The network device 110 is used to help the terminal device achieve wireless access. Multiple network devices 110 in the communication system 1000 may be nodes of the same type, or may be nodes of different types. In some scenarios, the roles of the network device 110 and the terminal device 120 are relative. For example, Figure 1 the network element 120i in the figure may be a helicopter or a drone, which may be configured as a mobile base station. For those terminal devices 120j that access the RAN 100 through the network element 120i, the network element 120i is a base station; but for the base station 110a, the network element 120i is a terminal device. The network device 110 and the terminal device 120 are sometimes both referred to as communication devices. For example, Figure 1 the network elements 110a and 110b in the figure may be understood as communication devices with base station functions, and the network elements 120a - 120j may be understood as communication devices with terminal device functions.

[0051] In a possible scenario, the network device can be a base station (BS), evolved NodeB (eNodeB), transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmitting point (TP), next generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future mobile communication system, a satellite, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a network device in a mobile switching center non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system, that is, it can be deployed on a high-altitude platform or a satellite, etc. The network device can be a macro base station (such as Figure 1 110a in Figure 1 ), a micro base station or an indoor station (such as

[0052] In another possible scenario, multiple network devices cooperate to assist a terminal device in achieving wireless access, and different network devices respectively implement some functions of a base station. For example, the network device can be 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 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 a network device in the radio access network (RAN), or the CU can be classified as a network device in the core network (CN), which is not limited herein.

[0053] 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 can also be called an O - CU (open CU), the DU can also be called an O - DU, the CU - CP can also be called an O - CU - CP, the CU - UP can also be called an O - CU - UP, and the RU can also be called an 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 can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0054] In the embodiments of this application, the form of the network device is not limited. The device for implementing the functions of the network device can be the network device; it can also be a device capable of supporting the network device to implement this function, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the network device or used in matching with the network device.

[0055] The terminal device 120, also known as a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc., can be a device for providing voice or data connectivity to users or an Internet of Things device. For example, the terminal device includes handheld devices with wireless connection functions, vehicle-mounted devices, etc. Currently, the terminal device can be: a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device (such as a smart watch, a smart bracelet, a pedometer, smart glasses, etc.), a vehicle-mounted device (such as a car, a bicycle, an electric vehicle, an airplane, a ship, a train, a high-speed train, etc.), a satellite terminal, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a smart point of sale (POS) machine, a customer-premises equipment (CPE), a wireless terminal in industrial control, a smart home device (such as a refrigerator, a TV, an air conditioner, an electric meter, etc.), a smart robot, a robotic arm, a workshop device, a wireless terminal in autonomous driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical treatment, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, or a wireless terminal in a smart home, a flying device (such as a smart robot, a hot air balloon, a drone, an airplane), etc. The terminal device can also be other devices with terminal functions. For example, the terminal device can also be a device that serves as a terminal function in D2D communication.

[0056] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the device form of the terminal device. The device for implementing the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device; it can also be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal device or used in matching with the terminal device. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of chips or can also include chips and other discrete devices.

[0057] For the convenience of those skilled in the art to understand, some terms in the present application are explained below.

[0058] 1) Radio Resource Control (RRC) state. In NR, a terminal device (such as a UE) can have three RRC states, namely the RRC connected state, the RRC idle state, and the RRC inactive state. The RRC inactive state can also be referred to as the RRC non-active state, or the RRC deactivated state, or the RRC non-activated state, etc. The RRC inactive state and / or the RRC idle state can also be referred to as the RRC non-connected state. That is to say, the RRC non-connected state can be the RRC idle state and / or the RRC inactive state. In the RRC connected state, an RRC connection is established between the terminal device and the base station. When there is no data transmission, the base station can release the terminal device to the RRC idle state. In the RRC idle state, no RRC connection is established between the base station and the terminal device; or the base station can also release the terminal device to the RRC inactive state and suspend the RRC connection. In the RRC inactive state, the base station still maintains the terminal device context information. The advantage of introducing the RRC inactive state is that compared with the RRC idle state, since the base station still retains the terminal device context in the RRC inactive state, the RRC connection can be restored more quickly, and the latency can be reduced when there is traffic. In the following text, the connected state can be understood as the RRC connected state, and the non-connected state can be understood as the RRC non-connected state.

[0059] The base station can release the terminal device to the RRC idle state or the RRC inactive state by sending an RRC Release message to the terminal device. When the RRC Release message received by the terminal device contains a suspend configuration (suspendConfig), the terminal device enters the RRC inactive state. For a terminal device in the RRC inactive state, when certain trigger conditions are met, such as when there is uplink traffic arriving, or when a paging message from the network is received, etc., the terminal device will trigger an RRC connection restoration and send an RRC Resume Request message to the base station, which carries the inactive radio network temporary identifier (I-RNTI) assigned to the terminal device by the last serving gNB, and requests to resume to the RRC connected state.

[0060] 2) Multicast services, also known as multicast services or multicast group services, refer to services for multiple terminal devices, such as live broadcast services, public safety services, bulk software update services, etc. Multicast services are designed for services with relatively high quality of service (QoS) requirements. By performing group management for multicast services, the same QoS level as unicast services can be provided. In the long term evolution (LTE) system, multicast services are also called multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) services. In the new radio (NR) system, multicast services are also called multicast and broadcast service (MBS) services. That is to say, NR MBS can include broadcast and multicast (also known as multicast). It can be understood that in this application, multicast can also be replaced by MBS, or broadcast, or multicast, etc.

[0061] Please refer to Figure 2 , which is a schematic diagram of the multicast service architecture. As Figure 2 shown, the server can provide multicast service data for the terminal device. The server sends the multicast service data to the core network device, then the core network device sends the multicast service data to the base station, and finally the base station sends the multicast service data to at least one terminal device that receives the multicast service data. Figure 2 Taking the example that at least one terminal device includes terminal device 1 and terminal device 2.

[0062] The core network device can perform group management for the multicast service, that is, manage the joining or leaving of the group by the terminal device. The multicast session (MBS session) corresponding to the multicast service can be established based on the protocol data unit (PDU) session established between the core network device and the base station for the terminal device, and the multicast session also introduces a new MBS QoS flow. The core network device can send the multicast service data to the base station through the MBS session, and then the base station sends it to at least one terminal device. The terminal devices in one group can correspond to the same group radio network temporary identity (G-RNTI). It can be understood that in this application, services and sessions are in one-to-one correspondence and can be replaced with each other. For example, a multicast session can also be called a multicast service.

[0063] AsFigure 3 As shown, for MBS services, when sending from the core network to the base station, the core network device can send MBS service data to the base station through a common transmission channel, the MBS session. Each MBS session includes at least one MBS QoS flow. The base station can send MBS service data to at least one terminal device through the MBS radio bearer. Among them, for an MBS radio bearer, there are two transmission methods (or modes): one can adopt the point-to-multipoint (PTM) transmission method; the other can adopt the point-to-point (PTP) transmission method. The RAN supports sending data to the terminal device in both PTP and PTM transmission methods and supports dynamic switching between PTP and PTM controlled by the RAN. In the 3GPP release-17 (R17) standard, multicast services can only be provided to RRC-connected terminal devices, and the base station and the core network need to maintain the terminal device information corresponding to the multicast service group. At the same time, for multicast services, the MBS session deactivation / activation triggered by the core network is also supported, and the terminal device is unaware of the service state.

[0064] However, when the number of multicast users (such as terminal devices receiving multicast services) in a cell is too large, it may exceed the number of RRC-connected users that the cell can accommodate. For example, in user-dense scenarios such as concert stadiums and other public safety scenarios, the number of multicast users may exceed the number of RRC-connected users that the cell can accommodate. To alleviate network congestion, the R18 standard supports terminal devices joining the multicast session to receive multicast in the RRC idle state (such as the RRC deactivated state). The terminal device in the RRC idle state uses the PTM method to receive the multicast session, and the terminal device receives the multicast session according to the multicast configuration provided by the network device (which can also be called the multicast PTM configuration in this application). For a multicast session, the multicast PTM configuration for the terminal device in the RRC deactivated state to receive multicast can include one or more of the following: the identifier of the multicast session (such as the temporary multicast group identifier (TMGI)), the multicast broadcast service radio bearer (MBS radio bearer, MRB) configuration of the multicast (such as the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) configuration of the multicast MRB, the radio link control (RLC) configuration, etc.), the G-RNTI used to descramble the multicast MTCH, the multicast MTCH scheduling information, etc.

[0065] For a terminal device that has joined a multicast session, the network device may send an RRC signaling (such as an RRC Release message) to release the terminal device in the RRC connected state to the RRC deactivated state. The RRC Release message may indicate that the terminal device enters the RRC deactivated state to receive the multicast session. The network device has the following two ways to provide the PTM configuration for RRC deactivated state multicast: 1) Send the PTM configuration for the RRC deactivated state terminal device to receive the multicast session in the RRC Release message. The specific multicast PTM configuration may be included in the Suspendconfig field in the RRC Release message; 2) Similar to the above way of providing the MBS broadcast configuration, it is sent to the terminal device through the MCCH message. In addition, if the terminal device has started receiving the multicast session in the RRC connected state, the network device may also instruct the terminal device to use the PTM configuration for receiving the multicast session in the RRC connected state to receive the multicast session in the RRC deactivated state. Of course, the above two ways can also be used to provide the RRC deactivated state multicast PTM configuration. It should be noted that the PTM configuration of the RRC deactivated state multicast provided by the above two ways may be the same as the configuration in the RRC connected state, or may be different from the configuration in the RRC connected state.

[0066] For the case of sending the MBS broadcast configuration to the terminal device through the MCCH message, the MCCH configuration method may be as follows: 1) In the RRC Release message, the MCCH configuration of the cell may also be included for the terminal device to obtain the MCCH message. 2) The MCCH configuration may also be sent through the cell common signaling, similar to broadcasting. The MCCH configuration is sent in the system message (such as one or more system information blocks (SIBs)). The terminal device obtains the multicast MCCH configuration by reading the system message, then reads the multicast MCCH message of the cell, and then obtains the multicast PTM configuration through the MCCH message.

[0067] 3) Cell discontinuous transmission (DTX) / discontinuous reception (DRX). In order to reduce the power consumption on the network device (such as a base station) side in the medium and low load scenarios, researchers have proposed the cell DTX / DRX energy saving technology. Cell DTX / DRX is an energy saving technology for terminal devices in the RRC connected state. Its basic idea is to configure an active / inactive period. During the inactive time in the period, the network device and the terminal device do not transmit or receive some signals / channels in the cell at the same time. By not transmitting these signals / channels during the inactive time, both the network device and the terminal device can further save power.

[0068] As shown in Table 1, for cell DTX, during the inactive time of cell DTX, the channels / signals that are not transmitted on the downlink (DL) may include: semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), UE-specific physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) (i.e., UE-specific PDCCH), periodic / semi-persistent channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) for channel state information (CSI) reporting (i.e., Periodic / semi-persistent CSI-RS for CSI reporting), Group-common PDCCHs; for cell DRX, during the inactive time of cell DRX, the channels / signals that are not received on the uplink (UL) may include: configured grant (CG) physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), scheduling request (SR), periodic / semi-persistent CSI report, periodic / semi-persistent sounding reference signal (SRS) required for positioning (i.e., Periodic / Semi-persistent SRS expect SRS for positioning).

[0069] Table 1

[0070]

[0071] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of a cell DTX. Refer to Figure 4As shown, the network device and the terminal device can transmit the corresponding DL channels / signals in Table 1 during the active time of cell DTX, and can refrain from transmitting the corresponding DL channels / signals in Table 1 during the inactive time of cell DTX. By the network device and the terminal device not transmitting these signals / channels during the inactive time of cell DTX, the network device and the terminal device can further save power consumption. Similarly, for cell DRX, the terminal device and the network device can also refrain from transmitting the corresponding UL channels or signals in Table 1 during the inactive time of cell DTX to save energy.

[0072] It should be noted that different from the connected discontinuous reception (C-DRX) of the terminal device which is a terminal device-level configuration and the C-DRX of each terminal device can be different, cell DTX / DRX is a cell-level configuration and all terminal devices in the entire cell comply with a set of the same cell DTX / DRX. The cell DTX / DRX configuration (or parameters) can include: cycle, onDurationTimer, etc. At the same time, cell DTX / DRX also supports activation / deactivation through group-common DCI, that is, dynamically indicating whether the cell DTX / DRX configuration takes effect (not taking effect means remaining active in the time domain all the time). The group-common DCI can include multiple transport blocks, and the bit size thereof can be configured by the network higher layer. Exemplarily: The group-common DCI can include block #1, and the first two bits of block1 can be used for cell DTX indication and cell DRX indication, respectively indicating whether to activate / deactivate the cell DTX configuration and the cell DRX configuration of serving cell 1. For example, when the cell DTX indication bit is 1, it is activation, and when the bit is 0, it is deactivation.

[0073] In addition, cell DTX and cell DRX can be used together or separately (for example, cell DTX can be configured without configuring cell DRX). The network device can activate the cell DTX configuration and / or the cell DRX configuration at the initial configuration, or can indicate at the time of configuration that the current configuration is not activated, and then send terminal device-specific RRC signaling (such as RRC reconfiguration signaling) or group-common physical layer (PHY) signaling (such as DCI format 2_9) to activate / deactivate on a per-cell basis, where the physical layer signaling can also be referred to as L1 signaling.

[0074] Currently, in the standard discussions, the design scenarios of network energy saving (such as cell DTX) do not consider terminal devices in the RRC disconnected state (such as RRC deactivated state and / or RRC idle state). This is because terminal devices in the RRC disconnected state measure reference signals, listen for system messages, paging messages, etc. at specific times and do not continuously listen to the PDCCH. Network devices also only send reference signals, system messages, paging messages, etc. for measurement at specific times. Therefore, to reduce the implementation complexity of terminal devices and network devices, no enhancements are made to the RRC disconnected state, avoiding the behavior of designing an additional cell DTX mechanism for terminal devices in the RRC disconnected state (such as RRC deactivated state and RRC idle state). That is to say, it is stipulated that the cell DTX technology for network energy saving is not applicable to terminal devices in the RRC disconnected state and is only applicable to terminal devices in the RRC connected state to stop receiving the PDCCH, etc. according to the cell DTX mechanism to save power consumption. However, for multicast services, in some scenarios, terminal devices need to continue receiving multicast services (or multicast sessions) when entering the RRC disconnected state and also need to listen to the PDCCH (such as listening to the PDCCH using the multicast MCCH - radio network temporary identity (RNTI), listening to the PDCCH using the G - RNTI). If terminal devices continuously listen to the PDCCH in the RRC disconnected state, it will cause unnecessary resource consumption.

[0075] Based on this, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus, aiming to support terminal devices in the RRC disconnected state to use the cell DTX mechanism to receive multicast services, so as to save resource consumption (such as saving the power consumption overhead of terminal devices). The embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0076] In addition, it should be understood that the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the size, content, order, time sequence, priority, or importance of multiple objects. For example, the first cell DTX configuration and the second cell DTX configuration do not indicate differences in the corresponding priorities or importance levels of these two cell DTX configurations.

[0077] In the embodiments of the present application, for the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, it means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally means that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one (item)" or its similar expression refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single item or plural items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0078] The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be executed by a first communication device and a second communication device. Here, the first communication device can refer to the terminal device itself, or it can refer to a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the terminal device that implements this method; the second communication device can refer to the network device itself, or it can refer to a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the network device that implements this method.

[0079] Figure 5 It is one of the schematic diagrams of the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The method includes:

[0080] S501: The second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC connected state according to the first cell DTX configuration. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives multicast services in the RRC connected state according to the first cell DTX configuration.

[0081] In a communication system, a second communication device (such as a network device) can include one or more cells, or in other words, a second communication device can serve one or more cells, and a second communication device can cover one or more cells. Hereinafter, an example will be given with the second communication device including cell 1 and the serving cell of the first communication device being cell 1.

[0082] The first communication device in cell 1 can join the multicast service in the RRC connected state and receive the multicast service sent by the second communication device according to the first cell DTX (cell DTX) configuration corresponding to cell 1. For example, according to the first cell DTX configuration, it listens to the PDCCH during the active time configured by the first cell DTX and receives the multicast data from the second communication device, etc. During the inactive time (which can also be called the sleep time) configured by the first cell DTX, it can not listen to the PDCCH to save energy.

[0083] In a possible implementation, for the multicast configuration of the first communication device to receive multicast services, the second communication device may send it to the first communication device through an RRC reconfiguration (RRCreconfiguration) message or the like. The multicast configuration may include one or more of the identifier of the multicast session, the MRB configuration (such as the PDCP configuration and RLC configuration of the MRB), the G-RNTI for demodulating the multicast MTCH, and the multicast MTCH scheduling information.

[0084] For the DTX configuration of the first cell, the second communication device may send the DTX configuration of the first cell to the first communication device through an RRC reconfiguration (RRCreconfiguration) message including a cell DTXDRX configuration (CellDTXDRX-Config) cell. The DTX configuration of the first cell may include one or more of the period of the DTX of the first cell, the offset (cellDTXDRX-CycleStartOffset, where the offset indicates the duration from the start moment of a period to the start of the active timer), and the duration of the active state (cellDTXDRX-onDurationTimer).

[0085] In addition, for the DTX configuration of the first cell, it may be activated during configuration or activated through signaling after configuration. Exemplarily, a cell DTXDRX activation status (cellDTXDRXactivationStatus) field may be included in the above CellDTXDRX-Config cell, and the second communication device may indicate whether the DTX configuration of the first cell is in an active state or a deactivated state through this field; of course, the second communication device may also activate the DTX configuration of the first cell through group common L1 signaling (such as downlink control information (DCI) or media access control control element (MAC CE)) after sending the DTX configuration of the first cell to the terminal device through the above CellDTXDRX-Config cell.

[0086] When the DTX configuration of the first cell is in an active state, the first communication device may receive multicast services and / or unicast services from the second communication device according to the DTX configuration of the first cell in the RRC connected state.

[0087] It can be understood that the manner in which the above first communication device obtains the multicast configuration and the first cell DTX configuration is only an example, and the present application does not limit the manner in which the first communication device obtains the multicast configuration and the first cell DTX configuration. Additionally, in the embodiments of the present application, multicast can also be replaced with MBS, or broadcast, or multicast, etc., and the services and sessions can be corresponding. The multicast service can also be replaced with a multicast session.

[0088] S502: The second communication device instructs the first communication device to enter the RRC idle state. Correspondingly, the first communication device enters the RRC idle state from the RRC connected state.

[0089] In cases such as when the cell is congested or the number of devices receiving multicast services in the cell is excessive, the second communication device can instruct the first communication device to enter the RRC idle state (such as the RRC idle state or the RRC inactive state), and the first communication device can enter the RRC idle state from the RRC connected state according to the instruction of the second communication device.

[0090] Exemplarily: In cases such as when the cell is congested or the number of devices receiving multicast services in the cell is excessive, the second communication device can send an RRC Release message to the first communication device, instructing the first communication device to enter the RRC idle state (such as the RRC idle state or the RRC inactive state), and the first communication device can enter the RRC idle state from the RRC connected state after receiving the RRC Release message.

[0091] For the same multicast service, when the first communication device enters the RRC idle state to receive it, it may be necessary to re-obtain the multicast configuration of the multicast service.

[0092] Exemplarily: The second communication device can send the multicast configuration for receiving the multicast session in the RRC idle state to the first communication device in the RRC Release message used to instruct the first communication device to enter the RRC idle state; or, the first communication device can also send the multicast configuration for receiving the multicast session in the RRC idle state to the first communication device through an MCCH message or a system message, etc. It should be noted that the multicast configuration sent by the second communication device for receiving the multicast session in the RRC idle state can be the same as or different from the multicast configuration of the first communication device for receiving the multicast session in the RRC connected state, and the present application does not make a limitation in this regard.

[0093] In addition, the second communication device may also instruct the first communication device to use the multicast configuration for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state. Exemplarily, an indication bit of 1 bit may be included in the RRC Release message, or MCCH message, or system message, etc., sent by the second communication device to the first communication device. When this bit is 1, it may instruct the first communication device to use the multicast configuration for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state; when it is 0, it may instruct the first communication device not to use the multicast configuration for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state.

[0094] Alternatively, after the first communication device enters the RRC idle state, if it does not receive the multicast configuration for receiving the multicast session in the RRC idle state from the second communication device within a set time period, the first communication device may default to using the multicast configuration for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state.

[0095] S503: The second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC idle state according to the first cell DTX configuration. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives multicast services in the RRC idle state according to the first cell DTX configuration. Wherein, the first cell DTX configuration is used for the first communication device to receive multicast services in the RRC connected state and the RRC idle state.

[0096] In the embodiments of the present application, different from the existing situation where the first communication device will not continue to use the cell DTX configuration after entering the RRC idle state, after the first communication device enters the RRC idle state from the RRC connected state, it can continue to maintain the first cell DTX configuration for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state and continue to receive multicast services according to the first cell DTX configuration. For example: The first communication device may listen to the PDCCH only during the active time of the first cell DTX configuration to obtain the multicast data transmission scheduling corresponding to the MTCH, etc.

[0097] In a possible implementation, the first communication device may, in the case of receiving the first information from the second communication device, receive multicast services in the RRC idle state according to the first cell DTX configuration, where the first information instructs the first communication device to use the first cell DTX configuration to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state, and the first information may be carried or sent through an RRC release message, or a paging message, or an MCCH message, or a system message, etc.

[0098] As an example: The first information may be a 1-bit indication bit in an RRC release message, or a paging message, or an MCCH message, or a system message, etc. When the indication bit is 1, it may indicate that the first communication device continues to use the DTX configuration of the first cell to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state; when the indication bit is 0, it may indicate that the first communication device does not use the DTX configuration of the first cell to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state. Alternatively, the first information may be an indication field in an RRC release message, or a paging message, or an MCCH message, or a system message, etc. When the value of this field is true, it may indicate that the first communication device continues to use the DTX configuration of the first cell to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state; when the indication bit is false or empty, it may indicate that the first communication device does not use the DTX configuration of the first cell to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state.

[0099] In addition, it can be understood that the granularity of the first information is at the session level, or at the cell level. That is to say, for a multicast service (or multicast session or TMGI), all first communication devices (such as terminal devices) receiving this multicast service can, according to this first information, know whether they can continue to use the DTX configuration of the first cell to receive multicast services after entering the RRC idle state; or, for a cell, all first communication devices (such as terminal devices) in this cell can, according to this first information, know whether they can continue to use the DTX configuration of the first cell to receive multicast services after entering the RRC idle state.

[0100] In some embodiments, the first information may further indicate the DTX configuration of the first cell (such as the cell where the first communication device currently receives multicast services) used by this cell, and / or the DTX configuration of at least one second cell (such as an adjacent cell). For the case where the first information further indicates the DTX configuration of the second cell, when the first communication device in the RRC idle state moves / reselects to the second cell, it can receive multicast services in the second cell according to the DTX configuration of the second cell. The acquisition of the multicast configuration of the multicast service corresponding to the second cell by the first communication device can refer to the implementation in which the second communication device sends the multicast configuration for receiving the multicast session in the RRC idle state to the first communication device, and will not be elaborated here.

[0101] Similarly, for the case where the first information also indicates the first cell DTX configuration used by this cell (such as the cell where the first communication device is currently receiving multicast services), if other first communication devices (such as other terminal devices) in other cells in the RRC idle state move to this cell, they can also directly obtain the first cell DTX configuration used by this cell to receive multicast services in this cell, avoiding the first communication device entering the connected state to obtain the cell DTX configuration.

[0102] It can be understood that for the cell DTX configuration of the second cell, it can be obtained by the second communication device (such as a network device) in this cell from the second communication device (such as a network device) in the second cell through the Xn interface. Specifically, it can be through the Xn setup request (XN SETUP REQUEST) message, or the Xn setup response (XN SETUP RESPONSE) message, or the next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) node configuration update (NG-RANNODE CONFIGURATION UPDATE) message or the NG-RAN node configuration update acknowledgment (NG-RAN NODECONFIGURATION UPDATE ACKNOWLEDGE) message that contains the cell DTX configuration of the second cell. For example, the cell DTX configuration can be included in the NR served cell information (Served Cell Information NR) field or domain of the above message.

[0103] In addition, if the first information sent by the second cell indicates the cell DTX configuration of the second cell, if the first communication device in the RRC idle state moves to the second cell, it can also obtain the cell DTX configuration of the second cell according to the first information of the second cell, and can directly receive multicast services in the second cell according to the cell DTX configuration of the second cell, avoiding the first communication device entering the connected state to obtain the cell DTX configuration.

[0104] Different from the existing first communication device that will not continue to use the cell DTX configuration after entering the RRC idle state, continuously listening to channels or signals such as PDCCH by the first communication device after entering the RRC idle state will cause a large power consumption overhead. In the embodiments of the present application, a first piece of information can be introduced. When (or after) the second communication device instructs the first communication device to enter the RRC idle state, the second communication device can send the first piece of information to the first communication device to instruct the first communication device to continue using the first cell DTX configuration used in the RRC connected state to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state. By sending the first piece of information to the first communication device, the first communication device and the second communication device can align their understandings of the first communication device receiving multicast services in the RRC idle state, so that the second communication device and the first communication device can send and receive multicast services in a more energy-efficient manner based on the first cell DTX configuration.

[0105] In another possible implementation, when the first communication device determines that the transmission resources for receiving multicast services in the RRC idle state are the same as those for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state, the first communication device can receive multicast services according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state. Optionally, the transmission resources for the multicast service can be one or more of the common frequency resource (CFR) of the multicast service, PDSCH configuration, MRB configuration, or PTM configuration, etc.

[0106] If the transmission resources for the first communication device to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state are the same as those for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state, the first communication device can receive multicast services in the RRC idle state based on the first cell DTX configuration. This is because the same transmission resources can indicate that the second communication device (such as a network device) performs the same data transmission for the first communication device (such as a terminal device) in the RRC idle state and the first communication device (such as a terminal device) in the RRC connected state. Therefore, the same cell DTX configuration should be used for reception.

[0107] If the transmission resources for the first communication device to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state are different from those for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state, the first communication device generally needs to continuously listen to channels or signals such as PDCCH. This is because the different transmission resources may indicate that the second communication device (such as a network device) performs different data transmissions for the first communication device (such as a terminal device) in the RRC idle state and the first communication device (such as a terminal device) in the RRC connected state. Therefore, the same cell DTX configuration should not be used for reception.

[0108] In addition, it can be understood that when the first communication device in the RRC idle state receives multicast services according to the first cell DTX configuration, it listens to the PDCCH during the active time of the first cell DTX configuration. The specific PDCCH to be listened to may include the PDCCH corresponding to the MCCH of the multicast service and / or the PDCCH corresponding to the MTCH of the multicast service (where the PDCCH corresponding to the MCCH of the multicast service and / or the PDCCH corresponding to the MTCH of the multicast service may also be referred to as the MCCH and / or MTCH, or may be referred to as listening to the PDCCH using the multicast MCCH-RNTI and / or G-RNTI). For the first communication device in the RRC connected state, it does not need to receive the MCCH because in the RRC connected state, the MTCH configuration can be sent to the first communication device through dedicated signaling (such as sent to the terminal device through the terminal device dedicated signaling). Only when receiving multicast services in the non-RRC connected state does the first communication device need to receive the MCCH for receiving the MTCH configuration.

[0109] Through the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the cell DTX mechanism can be introduced into the reception of multicast services by the first communication device (such as a terminal device) in the RRC idle state, avoiding the problem that the first communication device needs to continuously monitor channels or signals such as the PDCCH when receiving multicast services in the RRC idle state. The first communication device can not listen to channels or signals such as the PDCCH during the inactivity time of the cell DTX according to the cell DTX configuration to save power consumption. In addition, introducing the cell DTX mechanism into the reception of multicast services by the first communication device in the RRC idle state can also enable the second communication device (such as a network device) that sends multicast services to save energy by not sending channels or signals such as the PDCCH during the inactivity time of the cell DTX.

[0110] In addition, through the communication method provided by the present application, the second communication device (such as a network device) and the first communication device (such as a terminal device) can align their understanding of the first communication device receiving multicast services in the RRC idle state, avoiding the situation where the first communication device receives according to the cell DTX mechanism while the second communication device does not use the cell DTX mechanism for sending, resulting in the first communication device missing data, and also avoiding the problem of wasting the power consumption of the first communication device when the first communication device does not use the cell DTX mechanism for receiving while the second communication device uses the cell DTX mechanism for sending.

[0111] In some embodiments, if the first communication device continues to use the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state, the second communication device can also activate or deactivate the first cell DTX configuration, or update the used first cell DTX configuration.

[0112] Figure 6 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The method includes:

[0113] S601: The second communication device sends a multicast service to the first communication device in the RRC connected state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the multicast service in the RRC connected state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell.

[0114] S602: The second communication device instructs the first communication device to enter the RRC idle state. Correspondingly, the first communication device enters the RRC idle state from the RRC connected state.

[0115] S603: The second communication device sends a multicast service to the first communication device in the RRC idle state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the multicast service in the RRC idle state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell.

[0116] The implementation of the above steps S601 - S603 can refer to the implementation of the above steps S501 - S503, and will not be elaborated here.

[0117] S604: The second communication device sends second information to the first communication device in the RRC idle state. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the second information in the RRC idle state. The second information instructs to deactivate the DTX configuration of the first cell.

[0118] As an example: The second information can be carried by an RRC signaling (such as an RRC reconfiguration signaling) or a DCI signaling (such as a DCI format 2_9) or a MAC CE. The second communication device can send an RRC signaling or a DCI signaling or a MAC CE including the second information for instructing to deactivate the DTX configuration of the first cell to the first communication device. After receiving the RRC signaling or the DCI signaling or the MAC CE, the first communication device can deactivate the used DTX configuration of the first cell. After deactivating the DTX configuration of the first cell, the first communication device in the RRC idle state can continuously monitor channels or signals such as the PDCCH.

[0119] It can be understood that after the DTX configuration of the first cell is deactivated, the second communication device can also instruct the first communication device to activate the DTX configuration of the first cell through an RRC signaling or a DCI signaling or a MAC CE, etc.

[0120] S605: The second communication device sends third information to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the third information. The third information instructs to update the DTX configuration of the first cell to the DTX configuration of the second cell.

[0121] In a possible implementation, the third message may be carried or sent via an RRC release (RRCRelease) message, a paging message, an MCCH message, or a system message.

[0122] Exemplary: after the first communication device receives an RRCRelease message, or a paging message, or an MCCH message or a system message indicating an updated cell DTX configuration (such as the second cell DTX configuration), the first cell DTX configuration may be updated to the second cell DTX configuration.

[0123] S606: The second communication device sends a multicast service to the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state according to the second cell DTX configuration. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the multicast service in the RRC non-connected state according to the second cell DTX configuration.

[0124] After the second cell DTX configuration is activated, the second communication device can send a multicast service to the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state according to the second cell DTX configuration, and the first communication device can receive the multicast service according to the second cell DTX configuration in the RRC non-connected state.

[0125] Understandably, Figure 6 Steps S604-S606 in are optional steps. For example, the first communication device and the second communication device only execute S604 to deactivate the cell DTX configuration of the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state; or only execute S605 and S606 to update the cell DTX configuration of the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state; or S604-S606 can also be executed, that is, the cell DTX configuration of the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state is deactivated, and the cell DTX configuration of the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state can also be updated.

[0126] In some implementations, if the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state moves / reselects to another cell (such as the second cell), it may no longer use the cell DTX mechanism (or cell DTX configuration) to receive the multicast service. For example: after moving / reselecting to the second cell, the first communication device may always monitor the PDCCH.

[0127] As an example: as in the above step S603, the first communication device that receives the multicast service according to the DTX configuration of the first cell in the RRC non-connected state, if it moves / reselects to other cells (such as the second cell), the first communication device may no longer use the DTX configuration of the first cell and always monitor the PDCCH.

[0128] Reference Figure 7The state diagram of receiving multicast services shown in the figure shows that before the first cell DTX configuration is configured, the first communication device can receive the multicast service provided by the second communication device in the RRC connection state. After the second communication device sends the first cell DTX configuration to the first communication device and activates it, the first communication device can receive the multicast service in the RRC connection state according to the first cell DTX configuration. In the case of network congestion, etc., after the second communication device instructs the first communication device to enter the RRC non-connected state, the first communication device can receive the multicast service in the RRC non-connected state according to the first cell DTX configuration. After the second communication device instructs to update the first DRX configuration to the second cell DTX configuration, the first communication device can receive the multicast service in the RRC non-connected state according to the second DTX configuration.

[0129] Through the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the cell DTX mechanism can be introduced into the reception of multicast services by the first communication device (such as a terminal device) in the RRC non-connected state, so as to avoid the problem that the first communication device needs to monitor channels or signals such as PDCCH all the time when receiving multicast services in the RRC non-connected state. The first communication device can save power by not monitoring channels or signals such as PDCCH during the cell DTX inactive time according to the cell DTX configuration. In addition, by introducing the cell DTX mechanism into the reception of multicast services by the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state, the second communication device (such as a network device) sending the multicast service can also save energy by not sending channels or signals such as PDCCH during the cell DTX inactive time.

[0130] The communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application is described below. Figure 8 , Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device of the embodiment of the present application. The communication device may include units or modules corresponding to all or part of the steps in the above method embodiment, and may be used to execute the steps executed by the first communication device (such as a terminal device) or the second communication device (such as a network device) in the above embodiment. For details, please refer to the relevant introduction in the above method embodiment.

[0131] like Figure 8 As shown, the communication device 800 includes a processing unit 810 and an interface unit 820, wherein the processing unit 810 can be a processor or a processing circuit, and the interface unit 820 can also be a transceiver unit or an input / output interface. The communication device 800 can be used to implement the steps performed by the first communication device or the second communication device.

[0132] When the communication device 800 is used to implement the steps performed by the first communication device (such as a terminal device) in the above embodiment:

[0133] The interface unit 820 is used to receive the multicast service according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC connected state; the processing unit 810 is used to control the first communication device to enter the RRC non-connected state from the RRC connected state; the interface unit 820 is also used to receive the multicast service according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC non-connected state, and the first cell DTX configuration is used for the first communication device to receive the multicast service in the RRC connected state and the RRC non-connected state.

[0134] In one possible design, the interface unit 820 is further configured to receive the first cell DTX configuration from the second communication device before receiving the multicast service according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC connected state.

[0135] In one possible design, before the interface unit 820 receives the multicast service according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC non-connected state, it is also used to receive first information from the second communication device, and the first information indicates that the first communication device uses the first cell DTX configuration to receive the multicast service in the RRC non-connected state.

[0136] In one possible design, the processing unit 810 is also used to determine that the transmission resources for receiving the multicast service by the interface unit 820 in the RRC non-connected state are the same as the transmission resources for receiving the multicast service in the RRC connected state before the interface unit 820 receives the multicast service in the RRC non-connected state according to the DTX configuration of the first cell.

[0137] In one possible design, when the interface unit 820 receives a multicast service according to the DTX configuration of the first cell in an RRC non-connected state, it is specifically used to receive MCCH and / or MTCH according to the DTX configuration of the first cell.

[0138] In one possible design, the interface unit 820 is further used to receive second information from the second communication device in the RRC non-connected state, and the second information indicates deactivation of the DTX configuration of the first cell; the processing unit 810 is further used to deactivate the DTX configuration of the first cell.

[0139] In one possible design, the interface unit 820 is further configured to receive third information from the second communication device, the third information indicating that the first cell DTX configuration is updated to the second cell DTX configuration; and receive a multicast service according to the second cell DTX configuration in an RRC non-connected state. Exemplarily, the third information may be carried by an RRC release message, a paging message, or an MCCH message.

[0140] When the communication device 800 is used to implement the steps performed by the second communication device (such as a network device) in the above embodiment:

[0141] The interface unit 820 is used to send a multicast service to the first communication device in the RRC connected state according to the first cell DTX configuration; instruct the first communication device to enter the RRC non-connected state; and send a multicast service to the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state according to the first cell DTX configuration, and the first cell DTX configuration is used for the first communication device to receive the multicast service in the RRC connected state and the RRC non-connected state.

[0142] In one possible design, the processing unit 810 is used to determine the first cell DTX configuration; the interface unit 820 is also used to send the first cell DTX configuration to the first communication device before sending a multicast service to the first communication device in the RRC connected state according to the first cell DTX configuration.

[0143] In one possible design, before sending the multicast service to the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state according to the first cell DTX configuration, the interface unit 820 is also used to send first information to the first communication device, where the first information indicates that the first communication device uses the first cell DTX configuration to receive the multicast service in the RRC non-connected state.

[0144] In one possible design, before the interface unit 820 sends the multicast service to the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state according to the first cell DTX configuration, the processing unit 810 is also used to determine that the transmission resources for the first communication device to receive the multicast service in the RRC non-connected state are the same as the transmission resources for receiving the multicast service in the RRC connected state.

[0145] In one possible design, the interface unit 820 is further used to send second information to the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state, where the second information indicates deactivation of the DTX configuration of the first cell.

[0146] In one possible design, the interface unit 820 is further configured to send third information to the first communication device, where the third information indicates that the first cell DTX configuration is updated to the second cell DTX configuration; the processing unit 810 is further configured to send a multicast service to the first communication device in the RRC non-connected state according to the second cell DTX configuration. Exemplarily, the third information can be carried by an RRC release message, a paging message, or an MCCH message.

[0147] like Figure 9As shown, the present application also provides a communication device 900, including a processor 910, and may also include a communication interface 920. The processor 910 and the communication interface 920 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the communication interface 920 can be a transceiver, an input-output interface, an input interface, an output interface, an interface circuit, etc. Optionally, the communication device 900 may also include a memory 930 for storing instructions executed by the processor 910 or storing input data required for the processor 910 to run the instructions or storing data generated after the processor 910 runs the instructions. Among them, the memory 930 may be a physically independent unit, or it may be coupled to the processor 910, or the processor 910 may include the memory 930.

[0148] When the communication device 900 is used to implement the steps performed by the first communication device (such as a terminal device) or the second communication device (such as a network device) in the above embodiments, the processor 910 can be used to implement the functions of the above processing unit 810, and the communication interface 920 can be used to implement the functions of the above interface unit 820.

[0149] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), logic circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0150] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware, or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and can write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a network device or a terminal device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also be present in a network device or a terminal device as discrete components.

[0151] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device or other programmable device. The computer program or instruction may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer program or instruction may be transmitted from one network device, terminal, computer, server or data center to another network device, terminal, computer, server or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape; it may also be an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; it may also be a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid-state hard disk. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0152] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or provided for in any logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between the different embodiments are consistent and may be referenced to each other, and the technical features in the different embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0153] In addition, it should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the word "exemplary" is used to indicate an example, illustration or description. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" in the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the word "exemplary" is intended to present concepts in a specific way.

[0154] It is understood that the various numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the sequence number of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Including: The first communication device receives multicast services according to the first cell discontinuous transmission (DTX) configuration in the radio resource control (RRC) connected state. The first communication device transitions from the RRC connected state to the RRC idle state. The first communication device receives multicast services according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state, and the first cell DTX configuration is used for the first communication device to receive multicast services in both the RRC connected state and the RRC idle state.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before the first communication device receives multicast services according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC connected state, the method further includes: The first communication device receives the first cell DTX configuration from the second communication device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that Before the first communication device receives multicast services according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state, the method further includes: The first communication device receives first information from the second communication device, and the first information indicates that the first communication device uses the first cell DTX configuration to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Before the first communication device receives multicast services according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state, the method further includes: The first communication device determines that the transmission resources for receiving multicast services in the RRC idle state are the same as those for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, When the first communication device receives multicast services according to the first cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state, it includes: The first communication device receives the multicast control channel (MCCH) and / or the multicast traffic channel (MTCH) according to the first cell DTX configuration.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first communication device receives second information from the second communication device in the RRC idle state, and the second information indicates deactivating the first cell DTX configuration. The first communication device deactivates the first cell DTX configuration.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first communication device receives third information from the second communication device, and the third information indicates updating the first cell DTX configuration to a second cell DTX configuration. The first communication device receives multicast services according to the second cell DTX configuration in the RRC idle state.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein The third information is carried by an RRC release message, a paging message, or an MCCH message.

9. A communication method, characterized in that, Including: The second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the radio resource control (RRC) connected state according to the first cell discontinuous transmission (DTX) configuration. The second communication device instructs the first communication device to enter the RRC idle state. The second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC idle state according to the first cell DTX configuration, and the first cell DTX configuration is used for the first communication device to receive multicast services in both the RRC connected state and the RRC idle state.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, Before the second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC connected state according to the first cell DTX configuration, the method further includes: The second communication device sends the first cell DTX configuration to the first communication device.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that Before the second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC idle state according to the first cell DTX configuration, the method further includes: The second communication device sends first information to the first communication device, where the first information instructs the first communication device to use the first cell DTX configuration to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state.

12. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that Before the second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC idle state according to the first cell DTX configuration, the method further includes: The second communication device determines that the transmission resources for the first communication device to receive multicast services in the RRC idle state are the same as the transmission resources for receiving multicast services in the RRC connected state.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that, The method further includes: The second communication device sends second information to the first communication device in the RRC idle state, where the second information instructs to deactivate the first cell DTX configuration.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 - 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: The second communication device sends third information to the first communication device, where the third information instructs to update the first cell DTX configuration to a second cell DTX configuration; The second communication device sends multicast services to the first communication device in the RRC idle state according to the second cell DTX configuration.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein The third information is carried by an RRC release message, a paging message, or a multicast / multicast control channel (MCCH) message.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes an interface unit and a processing unit; The interface unit is used for receiving and sending data; The processing unit is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 - 15 through the interface unit.

17. A computer program product, characterized in that, It contains a computer program or instruction, and when the computer program or instruction is executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 - 15 is implemented.

18. A chip system, characterized in that, The chip system includes: A processor and an interface, where the processor is used to call and execute instructions from the interface, and when the processor executes the instructions, the method according to any one of claims 1 - 15 is implemented.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A computer program or instruction is stored in the storage medium, and when the computer program or instruction is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 - 15 is implemented.

Images