Communication method and related equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a communication method which can be applied to a random access process. A random access response window is operated in a first activation time period when a network device sends downlink data, the random access response window is not operated in a first inactivation time period when the network device does not send the downlink data, and the random access response window is used for receiving a random access response. Compared with the prior art that whether the random access response is received or not is determined only according to whether the random access response window is operated or not, invalid monitoring of the terminal equipment in the first inactive time period can be reduced, and energy consumption of the terminal equipment is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method and related equipment. Background Art

[0002] During the random access process, the terminal device determines whether to receive the corresponding downlink data based on the operation status of the random access response window.

[0003] In non-terrestrial network (NTN) scenarios, satellites, as network devices, need to provide services to all devices within their coverage area as much as possible. Therefore, they use "beam hopping" to provide services. This method can also be understood as providing services to devices using a time-division approach. For example, a satellite may serve device 1 at time 1 and device 2 at time 2. Device 2 will not receive data from the satellite at that time. In other words, even if device 2 were listening for data at that time, the satellite would not be transmitting data to device 2 at that time.

[0004] Therefore, in the NTN beam-hopping scenario, the satellite cannot always serve a certain terminal device. Even if the random access response window is running, the terminal device cannot receive downlink data. Ineffective monitoring will also waste the energy consumption of the terminal device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and related devices that operate a random access response window during a first active time period when a network device sends downlink data. The random access response window is not operated during a first inactive time period when the network device does not send downlink data. This method not only reduces ineffective monitoring by a terminal device during the first inactive time period but also saves energy consumption in the terminal device.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is executed by a terminal device, or the method is executed by some components in the terminal device (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the method can also be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the terminal device functions. The method is applied to a random access process. In the first aspect and its possible implementation, the method is described as being executed by a terminal device. In this method, the terminal device first sends a preamble; the terminal device runs a random access response window within a first activation time period, the first activation time period is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, and the random access response window is used to receive a random access response; the random access response window does not run within a first inactive time period, and the first inactive time period is a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0007] Based on the above solution, the random access response window is executed during the first active time period when the network device sends downlink data. The random access response window is not executed during the first inactive time period when the network device does not send downlink data. Compared to the prior art method of determining whether to receive a random access response based solely on whether the random access response window is running, this can reduce ineffective monitoring by the terminal device during the first inactive time period, thereby saving energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0008] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the above further includes: determining a first moment, the first moment being the sum of the end moment of the preamble code and the round-trip time RTT, or the first moment being the sum of the end moment of the preamble code, N time domain units, and RTT, RTT being the round-trip time between the terminal device and the network device, and N being an integer; the first moment being within a first inactive time period, and opening a random access response window at the start moment of the next active time period or at a moment after the start moment. For example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (e.g., downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start moment of the next active time period or at a moment after the start moment, and opens the random access response window.

[0009] In this possible implementation, the RTT does not need to be completed in the next activation time period. This is equivalent to the first inactive time period being able to offset the RTT, or it can be understood that the RTT continues to run in the first inactive time period, and the terminal device does not open the random access response window when the RTT ends. At the start time of the next activation time period or a certain time after the start time, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes with the network device (for example, downlink synchronization) and opens the random access response window. This can improve the speed at which the terminal device receives the random access response, thereby reducing the time of the random access process of the terminal device.

[0010] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first time period is greater than half of the round-trip time RTT between the terminal device and the network device, the first time period is the time period between the end moment of the preamble code and the end moment of the second activation time period, and the second activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0011] In this possible implementation, the process of considering the first time period and RTT can also be understood as a process of setting conditions for sending the preamble, which can prevent the network device from not receiving the preamble due to power limitation or beam hopping.

[0012] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the steps further include: during the operation of the random access response window, if a first preset condition is met, adding a first duration to the random access response window, the first duration being at least one first inactive time period, the random access response window continuing to operate during the first inactive time period, and no random access response being received during the first inactive time period; the first preset condition including any one of the following: expiration of the first active time period, end of the first active time period, or the random access response window being within the first inactive time period. The above process can also be understood as follows: the terminal device will receive a random access response only when the random access response window is operating and within the first active time period.

[0013] In this possible implementation, by increasing the first duration, the situation in which the terminal device determines that random access fails due to not increasing the duration is reduced.

[0014] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the above steps further include: during the operation of the random access response window, if a first preset condition is met, suspending the random access response window, and continuing to operate the suspended random access response window at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time; for example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (e.g., downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time, and operates the suspended random access response window. The first preset condition includes any one of the following: expiration of the first activation time period, end of the first activation time period, or the random access response window is within the first inactive time period.

[0015] In this possible implementation, pausing the random access window can avoid invalid monitoring by the terminal device during the inactive time period when the network device does not send data.

[0016] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the above steps: after sending the preamble code, the method also includes: receiving a random access response within the random access response window; when the second time period is greater than half of the RTT, sending first information, the first information carries an identifier of the terminal device, the second time period is the time period between the end time of the first information and the end time of the third activation time period, and the third activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0017] In this possible implementation, the process of considering the second time period and RTT can also be understood as a process of setting conditions for sending the first information, which can prevent the network device from not receiving the first information due to power limitation or beam hopping.

[0018] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the above steps also include: running a contention resolution timer in a fourth activation time period, the fourth activation time period being a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, the fourth activation time period being after the first activation time period, and the contention resolution timer being used to receive contention resolution messages; the contention resolution timer does not run in a fourth inactive time period, the fourth inactive time period being a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0019] In this possible implementation, the contention resolution timer runs during the fourth active time period when the network device is sending downlink data, and does not run during the fourth inactive time period when the network device is not sending downlink data. Compared to the prior art method of determining whether to receive a contention resolution message based solely on whether the contention resolution timer is running, this method can reduce ineffective monitoring by the terminal device during the fourth inactive time period, thereby saving energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0020] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the above steps further include: determining a second moment, the second moment being the sum of the end moment of the first information and the RTT, or the second moment being the sum of the end moment of the first information, N time domain units, and the RTT, where N is a positive integer; the second moment is within a fourth inactive time period, and starting a contention resolution timer at the start moment of the next active time period or at a moment after the start moment. For example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (e.g., downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start moment of the next active time period or at a moment after the start moment, and starts the contention resolution timer.

[0021] In this possible implementation, the RTT does not need to be completed in the next active time period, which is equivalent to the fourth inactive time period offsetting the RTT. Alternatively, it can be understood that the RTT continues to run in the fourth inactive time period, and the UE does not start the contention resolution timer when the RTT ends. The contention resolution timer is started at the start time of the next active time period or at a time after the start time. This can increase the speed at which the terminal device receives the contention resolution message, thereby reducing the time of the terminal device's random access process.

[0022] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the above steps further include: during the operation of the contention resolution timer, if a second preset condition is met, a second duration is added to the contention resolution timer, the second duration is at least a fourth inactive time period, the contention resolution timer continues to run during the fourth inactive time period, but no contention resolution message is received during the fourth inactive time period; the second preset condition includes any one of the following: expiration of the fourth active time period, end of the fourth active time period, or the contention resolution timer is within the fourth inactive time period. The above process can also be understood as that the terminal device will receive the contention resolution message only when the contention resolution timer is running and within the fourth active time period.

[0023] In this possible implementation, by increasing the second duration, the situation in which the terminal device determines that random access fails due to not increasing the duration is reduced.

[0024] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the above steps further include: during the operation of the contention resolution timer, if a second preset condition is met, the contention resolution timer is suspended, and the suspended contention resolution timer is continued to run at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time. For example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (for example, downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time, and runs the previously suspended contention resolution timer. The second preset condition includes any one of the following: the fourth activation time period expires, the fourth activation time period ends, or the contention resolution timer is within the fourth inactive time period.

[0025] In this possible implementation, pausing the contention resolution timer can avoid invalid monitoring by the terminal device during the inactive time period when the network device does not send data.

[0026] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the above-mentioned step: sending a preamble code includes: sending the second information when the third time period is greater than half of the round-trip time RTT between the terminal device and the network device, the third time period is the time period between the end time of the second information and the end time of the fifth activation time period, the second information includes the preamble code and the effective load carried by the uplink shared channel, the end time of the second information includes the end time of the preamble code and / or the end time of the uplink data, and the fifth activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive the uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0027] In this possible implementation, the process of considering the third time period and RTT can also be understood as a process of setting conditions for sending the second information, which can prevent the network device from not receiving the second information due to power limitation or beam hopping.

[0028] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the above steps also include: receiving configuration information sent by the network device, the configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a first activation time period, a first non-activation time period, a second activation time period, a third activation time period, a fourth activation time period, and a fourth non-activation time period, the second activation time period being the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device, the third activation time period being the time period for the network device to receive uplink data from the terminal device, the fourth activation time period being the time period for the network device to send downlink data to the terminal device, the fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period, and the fourth non-activation time period is the time period for the network device not to send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0029] In this possible implementation, the terminal device can clearly define each active time period and each inactive time period through the configuration information sent by the network device, thereby reducing invalid monitoring of the terminal device in the inactive time period and saving energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0030] The second aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is executed by a network device, or the method is executed by some components in the network device (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the method can also be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the network device functions. The method is applied to a random access process. In the second aspect and its possible implementation, the method is described as being executed by a network device. In this method, the network device receives a preamble; the network device sends a random access response within a first activation time period, the first activation time period is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, and no random access response is sent within a first inactive time period, and the first inactive time period is a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0031] Based on the above solution, a random access response is sent during the first active time period when the network device is sending downlink data, and no random access response is sent during the first inactive time period. Compared to the prior art in which whether to receive a random access response is determined solely based on whether the random access response window is running, this solution can reduce ineffective monitoring by the terminal device during the first inactive time period, thereby saving energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0032] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, the above steps: after receiving the preamble code, the method also includes: receiving first information, the first information carries an identification of the terminal device; sending a contention resolution message within a fourth activation time period, the fourth activation time period is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, and no contention resolution message is sent within the fourth non-activation time period, the fourth non-activation time period is a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device, and the fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period.

[0033] In this possible implementation, the contention resolution message is sent during the fourth active time period when the network device is sending downlink data, and no contention resolution message is sent during the fourth inactive time period. Compared to the prior art method of determining whether to receive the contention resolution message based solely on whether the contention resolution timer is running, this can reduce ineffective monitoring by the terminal device during the fourth inactive time period, thereby saving energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0034] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the above step of: receiving the preamble code includes: receiving second information, where the second information includes the preamble code and a valid payload carried by the uplink shared channel.

[0035] In this possible implementation, the method may be applied in a two-step random access process.

[0036] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, the above steps also include: sending configuration information, the configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a first activation time period, a first non-activation time period, a second activation time period, a third activation time period, a fourth activation time period, and a fourth non-activation time period, the second activation time period being the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device, the third activation time period being the time period for the network device to receive uplink data from the terminal device, the fourth activation time period being the time period for the network device to send downlink data to the terminal device, the fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period, and the fourth non-activation time period is the time period for the network device not to send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0037] In this possible implementation, the network device can clearly indicate the active time periods and the inactive time periods to the terminal device through configuration information, thereby reducing invalid monitoring of the terminal device during the inactive time period and saving energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0038] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which is a terminal device, or a component of a terminal device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device functions. The communication device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit.

[0039] A transceiver unit, configured to send a preamble;

[0040] A processing unit is configured to operate a random access response window within a first activation time period, where the first activation time period is a time period during which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, and the random access response window is used to receive a random access response; the random access response window does not operate within a first inactive time period, where the first inactive time period is a time period during which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0041] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the above-mentioned processing unit is also used to determine the first moment, the first moment being the sum of the end moment of the preamble code and the round-trip time RTT, or the first moment being the sum of the end moment of the preamble code, N time domain units and RTT, RTT is the round-trip time between the terminal device and the network device, and N is an integer; the processing unit is also used to be in the first inactive time period at the first moment, and to re-synchronize with the network device (for example, downlink synchronization) at the start moment of the next active time period or after the start moment, and open a random access response window.

[0042] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the above-mentioned first time period is greater than half of the round-trip time RTT between the terminal device and the network device, the first time period is the time period between the end time of the preamble code and the end time of the second activation time period, and the second activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0043] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the above-mentioned processing unit is also used to meet the first preset condition during the operation of the random access response window, increase the first duration of the random access response window, the first duration is at least one first non-activation time period, continue to run the random access response window during the first non-activation time period, and do not receive a random access response during the first non-activation time period; the first preset condition includes any one of the following: the first activation time period expires, the first activation time period ends, or the random access response window is within the first non-activation time period.

[0044] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the processing unit is further configured to, during the operation of the random access response window, if a first preset condition is met, suspend the random access response window, and continue to operate the suspended random access response window at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time; for example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (e.g., downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time, and operates the suspended random access response window. The first preset condition includes any one of the following: expiration of the first activation time period, end of the first activation time period, or the random access response window is within the first inactive time period.

[0045] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is also used to receive a random access response within the random access response window; the transceiver unit is also used to send first information when the second time period is greater than half of the RTT, the first information carries an identifier of the terminal device, the second time period is the time period between the end time of the first information and the end time of the third activation time period, and the third activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0046] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the above-mentioned processing unit is also used to run a contention resolution timer within a fourth activation time period, the fourth activation time period being a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, the fourth activation time period being after the first activation time period, and the contention resolution timer being used to receive contention resolution messages; the contention resolution timer does not run within a fourth inactive time period, the fourth inactive time period being a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0047] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the above-mentioned processing unit is also used to determine a second moment, where the second moment is the sum of the end moment of the first information and the RTT, or the second moment is the sum of the end moment of the first information, N time domain units and the RTT, where N is a positive integer; the processing unit is also used to start the contention resolution timer at the start moment of the next activation time period or at a certain moment after the start moment when the second moment is in a fourth non-activation time period.

[0048] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the above-mentioned processing unit is also used to meet the second preset condition during the operation of the contention resolution timer, increase the second duration for the contention resolution timer, and the second duration is at least one fourth non-activation time period. The contention resolution timer continues to run during the fourth non-activation time period, but no contention resolution message is received during the fourth non-activation time period; the second preset condition includes any one of the following: the fourth activation time period expires, the fourth activation time period ends, or the contention resolution timer is within the fourth non-activation time period.

[0049] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the processing unit is further configured to, when a second preset condition is met during the operation of the contention resolution timer, suspend the contention resolution timer, and continue to run the suspended contention resolution timer at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time; for example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (e.g., downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time, and runs the suspended contention resolution timer. The second preset condition includes any one of the following: expiration of the fourth activation time period, end of the fourth activation time period, or the contention resolution timer is within the fourth inactive time period.

[0050] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is specifically used to send the second information when the third time period is greater than half of the round-trip time RTT between the terminal device and the network device. The third time period is the time period between the end time of the second information and the end time of the fifth activation time period. The second information includes the preamble code and the effective load carried by the uplink shared channel. The end time of the second information includes the end time of the preamble code and / or the end time of the uplink data. The fifth activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive the uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0051] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is also used to receive configuration information sent by the network device, and the configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a first activation time period, a first non-activation time period, a second activation time period, a third activation time period, a fourth activation time period, and a fourth non-activation time period. The second activation time period is the time period when the network device receives uplink data sent by the terminal device, the third activation time period is the time period when the network device receives uplink data from the terminal device, the fourth activation time period is the time period when the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, the fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period, and the fourth non-activation time period is the time period when the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0052] A fourth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, which is a network device, or a component of a network device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the network device functions. The communication device includes a transceiver unit.

[0053] a transceiver unit, configured to receive a preamble;

[0054] The transceiver unit is also used to send a random access response within a first activation time period, where the first activation time period is the time period during which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device; and no random access response is sent within a first inactive time period, where the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0055] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is also used to receive first information, and the first information carries an identification of the terminal device; the transceiver unit is also used to send a contention resolution message within a fourth activation time period, and the fourth activation time period is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, and no contention resolution message is sent within the fourth non-activation time period, and the fourth non-activation time period is a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device, and the fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period.

[0056] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is further used to receive second information, where the second information includes a preamble code and a valid payload carried by an uplink shared channel.

[0057] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is also used to send configuration information, and the configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a first activation time period, a first non-activation time period, a second activation time period, a third activation time period, a fourth activation time period, and a fourth non-activation time period. The second activation time period is a time period in which the network device receives uplink data sent by the terminal device. The third activation time period is a time period in which the network device receives uplink data from the terminal device. The fourth activation time period is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device. The fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period. The fourth non-activation time period is a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0058] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising at least one processor coupled to at least one memory; the at least one memory is used to store programs or instructions; and the at least one processor is used to execute the program or instructions so that the device implements a method of any possible implementation of the first aspect described above.

[0059] In a sixth aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided, comprising at least one processor coupled to at least one memory; the at least one memory is used to store programs or instructions; and the at least one processor is used to execute the program or instructions so that the device implements a method of any possible implementation of the aforementioned second aspect.

[0060] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising at least one logic circuit and at least one input / output interface; the logic circuit is used to execute the method described in any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0061] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising at least one logic circuit and at least one input / output interface; the logic circuit is used to execute a method as any possible implementation method in the aforementioned second aspect.

[0062] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which includes a communication device of any possible implementation method in the fifth aspect and a communication device of any possible implementation method in the sixth aspect, or includes a communication device of any possible implementation method in the seventh aspect and a communication device of any possible implementation method in the eighth aspect.

[0063] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor executes the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first or second aspects above.

[0064] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product (or computer program). When the computer program in the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first or second aspects above.

[0065] A twelfth aspect of the present application provides a chip or chip system, which includes at least one processor for supporting a communication device to implement the method described in any possible implementation method of any aspect of the first or second aspect.

[0066] In one possible design, the chip system may also include at least one memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. The chip system may be composed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete components. Optionally, the chip system also includes an interface circuit that provides program instructions and / or data to at least one processor.

[0067] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the fifth to twelfth aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by the different design methods in the above-mentioned first to fourth aspects, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication system provided for this application;

[0069] Figure 2a A schematic diagram of the satellite communication process in the transparent transmission mode provided by this application;

[0070] Figure 2b Another schematic diagram of the satellite communication process in the transparent transmission mode provided by this application;

[0071] Figure 2c A schematic diagram of the satellite communication process in the regeneration mode provided by this application;

[0072] Figure 2d Another schematic diagram of the satellite communication process in the regeneration mode provided by this application;

[0073] Figure 2e Another schematic diagram of the satellite communication process in the regeneration mode provided by this application;

[0074] Figure 2fA schematic diagram of the satellite communication process in the 5G system provided by this application;

[0075] Figure 2g Another schematic diagram of the satellite communication process in the regeneration mode provided by this application;

[0076] Figure 3a This is an example diagram of a communication scenario provided by this application;

[0077] Figure 3b for Figure 3a An example diagram of active and inactive time periods corresponding to the communication scenario shown;

[0078] Figure 4 A flow chart of the communication method provided in this application;

[0079] Figure 5 This is an example diagram of the first activation time period and the first inactivation time period provided in this application;

[0080] Figures 6 to 8 Several example diagrams of the relationship between the random access window and the first active time period / first inactive time period provided in this application;

[0081] Figures 9 to 11 This is an example diagram of several relationships between the contention resolution timer and the fourth active time period / fourth inactive time period provided by this application;

[0082] Figures 12 to 15 Several schematic diagrams of the communication device involved in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0083] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0084] First, some of the terms used in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0085] 1. Terminal equipment

[0086] The terminal device can be a wireless terminal device capable of receiving network device scheduling and indication information. The wireless terminal device can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to the user, or a handheld device with wireless connection function, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem.

[0087] The terminal device may be any communication kit with wireless communication capabilities (the kit may include, for example, an antenna, a power supply module, cables, and a Wi-Fi module). The terminal device may also be a communication module with satellite communication capabilities, a satellite phone or its components, or a very small aperture terminal (VSAT). The terminal device may be a mobile terminal device, such as a mobile phone (also known as a "cellular" phone, mobile phone), a computer, and a data card. For example, the terminal device may be a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-built-in, or vehicle-mounted mobile device that exchanges voice and / or data with a wireless access network. Examples include personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, and computers with wireless transceiver capabilities. A wireless terminal device may also be referred to as a system, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile station (MS), a remote station, an access point (AP), a remote terminal, an access terminal, a user terminal, a user agent, a subscriber station (SS), a customer premises equipment (CPE), a terminal, a user equipment (UE), a mobile terminal (MT), a drone, etc. A terminal device may also be a wearable device and a next-generation communication system, for example, a terminal device in a 6G communication system or a terminal device in a future-evolved public land mobile network (PLMN). Of course, the terminal device in this application may also refer to a chip, a modem, a system on a chip (SoC) that is primarily responsible for relevant communication functions in the device, or a communication platform that may include a radio frequency (RF) part, etc.

[0088] 2. Network equipment

[0089] A network device can be a device in a wireless network. For example, a network device can be a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects a terminal device to a wireless network, also known as a base station. Currently, some examples of RAN devices include: a new generation base station in a future communication system, a transmission reception point (TRP), an evolved Node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., a home evolved Node B, or HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point (AP). In addition, in a network architecture, a network device can include a centralized unit (CU) node, a distributed unit (DU) node, or a RAN device including both a CU node and a DU node.

[0090] In some implementations, the network equipment may also include satellites, aircraft, drones, and ground station equipment connected to the satellites, aircraft, and drones.

[0091] Among them, the network device can send configuration information to the terminal device (for example, carried in a scheduling message and / or an indication message), and the terminal device further performs network configuration according to the configuration information, so that the network configurations between the network device and the terminal device are aligned; or, through the network configuration preset in the network device and the network configuration preset in the terminal device, the network configurations between the network device and the terminal device are aligned. Specifically, "alignment" means that when there are interactive messages between the network device and the terminal device, the two have a consistent understanding of the carrier frequency for sending and receiving interactive messages, the determination of the interactive message type, the meaning of the field information carried in the interactive message, or other configurations of the interactive message.

[0092] In addition, in other possible cases, the network device may be another device that provides wireless communication functions for the terminal device. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the network device. For the convenience of description, the embodiments of this application are not limited.

[0093] In the embodiments of the present application, the apparatus for implementing the function of the network device may be the network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the network device in implementing the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the network device. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the network device as an example.

[0094] 3. Configuration and pre-configuration

[0095] In this application, configuration and pre-configuration are used simultaneously. Configuration refers to the network device / server sending some parameter configuration information or parameter values ​​to the terminal through messages or signaling, so that the terminal can determine the communication parameters or resources during transmission based on these values ​​or information. Pre-configuration is similar to configuration and can be parameter information or parameter values ​​pre-negotiated between the network device / server and the terminal device, parameter information or parameter values ​​used by the base station / network device or terminal device as specified in the standard protocol, or parameter information or parameter values ​​pre-stored in the base station / server or terminal device. This application does not limit this.

[0096] Furthermore, these values ​​and parameters can be changed or updated.

[0097] 4. In this application, "used for indication" can include direct indication and indirect indication. When describing that a certain indication information is used to indicate A, it can be understood that the indication information carries A, directly indicates A, or indirectly indicates A.

[0098] In this application, the information indicated by the indication information is referred to as the information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated. For example, it can be implemented by direct indication, such as by indicating the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. It can also be implemented by indirectly indicating other information, wherein there is an association between the other information and the information to be indicated. It is also possible to indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of specific information can also be achieved with the help of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, stipulated in the protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent.

[0099] The information to be indicated can be sent as a whole, or divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately, and the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in this application. Among them, the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be pre-defined, for example, pre-defined according to the protocol, or configured by the transmitting device by sending configuration information to the receiving device. Among them, the configuration information can, for example, but not limited to, include one or a combination of at least two of RRC signaling, medium access control (MAC) layer signaling and physical layer signaling. Among them, MAC layer signaling, for example, includes MAC CE; physical layer signaling, for example, includes downlink control information (DCI).

[0100] 5. In the embodiments of this application, "sending" and "receiving" refer to the direction of signal transmission. In this application, when entity A sends information to entity B, A may send it directly to B or indirectly to B through another entity. Similarly, when entity B receives information from entity A, entity B may directly receive the information sent by entity A or indirectly receive the information sent by entity A through another entity. Entities A and B herein may be RAN nodes or terminals, or modules within a RAN node or terminal. The sending and receiving of information may be information exchange between a RAN node and a terminal, for example, between a base station and a terminal; between two RAN nodes, for example, between a CU and a DU; or between different modules within a device, for example, between a terminal chip and other modules in the terminal, or between a base station chip and other modules within the base station. "Sending" may also be understood as the "output" of a chip interface, for example, a baseband chip outputting information to a radio frequency chip, and "receiving" may also be understood as the "input" of a chip interface.

[0101] 6. The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application can be used interchangeably. "At least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, "at least one of A, B and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC. And, unless otherwise specified, 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 order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects.

[0102] The present application can be applied to a long term evolution (LTE) system, a new radio (NR) system, or a new wireless vehicle to everything (NR V2X) system; it can also be applied to a system with a hybrid LTE and 5G network; or a device-to-device (D2D) communication system, a machine-to-machine (M2M) communication system, an Internet of Things (IoT), or a drone communication system; or a communication system that supports multiple wireless technologies such as LTE and NR technologies; or a non-ground communication system, such as a satellite communication system, a high-altitude communication platform, etc. Alternatively, the communication system may also be applicable to narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), enhanced data rate for GSM evolution (EDGE), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), code division multiple access 2000 (CDMA2000), time division-synchronization code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA), and future-oriented communication technologies. Or it may be other communication systems, wherein the communication system includes network equipment and terminal equipment, the network equipment serves as a configuration information sending entity, and the terminal equipment serves as a configuration information receiving entity. Specifically, in the communication system, there is an entity that sends configuration information to another entity, and sends data to another entity, or receives data sent by another entity; another entity receives the configuration information, and sends data to the configuration information sending entity according to the configuration information, or receives data sent by the configuration information sending entity. Among them, the present application can be applied to terminal devices in a connected state or an active state (active), and can also be applied to terminal devices in a non-connected state (inactive) or an idle state (idle).

[0103] See also Figure 1 , is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system 1000 used in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 1As shown, the communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may further include the Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (e.g. Figure 1 110a and 110b in the figure, collectively referred to as 110), may also include at least one terminal (such as Figure 1 120a-120j in the figure, collectively referred to as 120). RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay equipment and / or wireless backhaul equipment ( Figure 1 (not shown). Terminal 120 is wirelessly connected to RAN node 110, and RAN node 110 is wirelessly or wiredly connected to core network 200. The core network equipment in core network 200 and RAN node 110 in RAN 100 can be independent and distinct physical devices, or they can be a single physical device that integrates the logical functions of the core network equipment and the logical functions of the RAN node. Terminals and RAN nodes can be interconnected via wired or wireless means.

[0104] It should be noted that the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is applicable to a communication system that integrates terrestrial communication and satellite communication, which can also be called a non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system. In other words, Figure 1 The RAN 100 may include a ground base station, wherein the ground base station may include a TN cell (ie, a signal of the TN cell may be transmitted and received through the ground base station); and Figure 1 The RAN 100 may also include a non-terrestrial base station. For example, if the non-terrestrial base station is a satellite, the satellite may include an NTN cell (i.e., the signal of the NTN cell may be transmitted and received via the satellite). The terrestrial communication system may be, for example, a long term evolution (LTE) system, a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), a 5G communication system or a new radio (NR) system, or a communication system that is the next step in the development of the 5G communication system, etc., and is not limited here.

[0105] Among them, satellite communication has a wider coverage area than traditional mobile communication systems, and the communication cost is not related to the transmission distance.

[0106] It has the advantage of being able to overcome natural geographical obstacles such as oceans, deserts, and mountains. In order to overcome the shortcomings of traditional communication networks, satellite communications can serve as an effective supplement to traditional networks. It is generally believed that non-terrestrial network communications have different channel characteristics compared to terrestrial network communications, such as large transmission delays and large Doppler frequency deviations. For example, the round-trip delay of GEO satellite communications is 238 to 270 milliseconds (ms). The round-trip delay of LEO satellite communications is 8ms to 20ms. Satellite communication systems can be divided into the following three types based on the altitude of the orbit: high orbit (geostationary earth orbit, GEO) satellite communication system, also known as synchronous orbit satellite system; medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite communication system; and low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication system.

[0107] GEO satellites, also known as geostationary orbit satellites, orbit at an altitude of 35,786 kilometers (km). Their primary advantages are stationary relative to the Earth and wide coverage. However, GEO satellites also have significant disadvantages: their distance from Earth requires larger antennas; their transmission latency is relatively high, around 0.5 seconds, making them inadequate for real-time services; and their orbital resources are relatively limited, resulting in high launch costs and a lack of coverage in polar regions. MEO satellites, orbiting at altitudes between 2,000 and 35,786 km, can achieve global coverage with a relatively small number of satellites. However, their transmission latency is higher than that of LEO satellites, and they are primarily used for positioning and navigation. Furthermore, satellites orbiting at altitudes between 300 and 2,000 km are called low-Earth Orbit (LEO). LEO satellites are lower than MEO and GEO satellites, resulting in lower data transmission latency, less power consumption, and relatively lower launch costs. Consequently, LEO satellite communication networks have made significant progress in recent years and garnered significant attention.

[0108] In a possible implementation, satellite equipment can be divided into a transparent mode and a regenerative mode according to its working mode.

[0109] The following will be Figure 2a 、 Figure 2b 、 Figure 2c and Figure 2d The implementation shown is an exemplary description of these two modes.

[0110] like Figure 2a In the implementation of the transparent transmission mode shown in FIG, the satellite and the gateway station (ie Figure 2a NTN Gateway in the Figure 2aThe Remote Radio Unit (RRU) shown in the figure requires relaying between the terminal device and the gNB. In other words, in transparent transmission mode, the satellite performs relay functions. The satellite's functions include radio frequency filtering, frequency conversion, and amplification. In other words, the satellite primarily acts as an L1 relay, regenerating the physical layer signal.

[0111] For example, in Figure 2b In the transparent transmission mode implementation shown, satellites (including GEO, MEO, and LEO satellites) operate in transparent transmission mode, performing relay functions. Gateway stations perform base station functions or partial base station functions, and in this case, gateway stations can be considered base stations. Alternatively, base stations can be deployed separately from gateway stations, in which case the feeder link latency includes both the satellite-to-gateway latency and the gateway-to-gNB latency.

[0112] Optionally, the transparent transmission mode can be based on the case where the gateway station and the gNB are together or located close to each other. For the case where the gateway station and the gNB are far apart, the feeder link delay can be calculated by adding the delay from the satellite to the gateway station and the delay from the gateway station to the gNB.

[0113] like Figure 2c In one implementation of the regeneration mode shown, the satellite in this mode can also be understood as a regeneration satellite without an intersatellite link. Figure 2c The NTN Gateway in the satellite acts as a gNB, enabling communication with end devices. In other words, in regenerative mode, the satellite performs base station functions or partial base station functions, and can be considered a base station. It also has base station processing capabilities, such as regenerative satellites without intersatellite links (ISLs) and gNB-processed payloads.

[0114] For example, in Figure 2d In the implementation of the regeneration mode shown in FIG, when the satellite (including GEO satellite, MEO satellite, LEO satellite, etc.) works in the regeneration mode, compared with Figure 2b In the implementation shown, the satellite has the function of a base station or part of the function of a base station. In this case, the satellite can be regarded as a base station.

[0115] It's important to note that NTN and terrestrial base stations can interconnect through a common core network. Interfaces defined between base stations can also enable more timely collaboration and interconnection. In NR, the interface between base stations is called the Xn interface, and the interface between base stations and the core network is called the NG interface. In a converged network, NTN nodes and terrestrial nodes can achieve interoperability and collaboration using these interfaces.

[0116] like Figure 2e In another implementation of the regenerative mode, the satellite can also be considered a regenerative satellite with an intersatellite link (ISL). The satellite has base station functionality or partial base station functionality, and can be considered a base station. This includes base station processing capabilities, such as a regenerative satellite with ISL and gNB processed payload. Figure 2e and Figure 2c The difference is that Figure 2e ISL exists in the scenario.

[0117] In addition, the present application can be applied to the long term evolution (LTE) system, the new radio (NR) system, or the communication system evolved after 5G (such as 6G, 7G, etc.). Taking 5G as an example, a 5G satellite communication system architecture is as follows: Figure 2f As shown in the figure, ground-based terminal devices access the network via the 5G new air interface. 5G base stations are deployed on satellites and connected to the ground core network via wireless links. Furthermore, wireless links exist between satellites, enabling signaling exchanges and user data transmission between base stations. Figure 2f The devices and interfaces in the are described as follows:

[0118] 5G core network: Provides services such as user access control, mobility management, session management, user security authentication, and billing. It consists of multiple functional units, which can be divided into control plane and data plane functional entities. The access and mobility management function (AMF) is responsible for user access management, security authentication, and mobility management. The user plane function (UPF) is responsible for managing user plane data transmission, traffic statistics, and other functions. The session management function (SMF) is primarily responsible for session management in mobile networks, such as session establishment, modification, and release.

[0119] Ground station: responsible for forwarding signaling and service data between satellite base stations and 5G core network.

[0120] 5G New Air Interface: The wireless link between the terminal and the base station.

[0121] Xn interface: The interface between 5G base stations, mainly used for signaling interactions such as switching.

[0122] NG interface: The interface between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, which mainly interacts with the core network's non-access stratum (NAS) signaling and user service data.

[0123] like Figure 2g In another implementation of the regenerative mode shown, the satellite in this mode can also be understood as a regenerative satellite with base station DU processing capabilities (NG-RAN with a regenerative satellite based on gNB-DU). The satellite has base station processing capabilities such as regenerative satellite with ISL, gNB processed payload, etc. Figure 2g With the aforementioned Figure 2c and Figure 2e The difference is that Figure 2g In the scenario, the satellite acts as DU.

[0124] In addition, the network devices in the terrestrial network communication system and the satellites in the NTN communication system can be uniformly regarded as network devices. The device used to implement the function of the network device can be a network device; it can also be a device that can support the network device to implement the function, such as a chip system, which can be installed in the network device. When describing the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application below, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the device used to implement the function of the network device as a satellite as an example. It can be understood that when the method provided by the embodiments of the present application is applied to the terrestrial network communication system, the actions performed by the satellite can be applied to the base station or network device for execution.

[0125] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the terminal device may be a terminal device; or it may be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to realize the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the terminal device. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the case where the device for realizing the function of the terminal device is a terminal or UE as an example.

[0126] In addition, the above-mentioned satellites can be geostationary satellites, non-geostationary satellites, artificial satellites, low-orbit satellites, medium-orbit satellites, high-orbit satellites, etc., which are not specifically limited in this application.

[0127] The above content introduces various scenarios of wireless communication involved in this application. It should be understood that the above content is only an exemplary description of the scenarios in which this application can be applied. This application can also be applied to other application scenarios (for example, scenarios where satellites are used as integrated access backhaul (IAB)), etc.), which are not limited here. The following will introduce the wireless communication process involved in this application.

[0128] exist Figure 1 / Figure 2a / Figure 2b / Figure 2c / Figure 2d / Figure 2e / Figure 2f / Figure 2g In the illustrated communication system, a signal that a network device can send (e.g., a signal carrying configuration information / configuration signaling, etc.) can configure communication resources. The communication resources may include the communication resources of the network device itself, as well as the communication resources of any adjacent network devices, so that the receiver of the signal can determine the corresponding communication resources based on the signal. For example, if the receiver of the signal is a terminal device, the terminal device can obtain network services based on the communication resources.

[0129] Currently, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network has proposed two random access (RA) procedures. The first random access procedure includes the following four steps: Step 1: The terminal sends a preamble (also called Msg1) to the network device; Step 2: The network device feeds back a random access response (RAR) (also called Msg2) based on the received preamble; Step 3: The terminal sends uplink data (also called Msg3) based on the random access response; Step 4: The network device feeds back a contention resolution message (also called Msg4) to the terminal based on the uplink data. The industry calls this random access procedure the four-step random access channel (RACH) procedure, or 4-step RACH, or 4-step random access. The second random access process includes the following two steps: Step A: The terminal sends message A (MsgA) to the network device, where MsgA may include a preamble and uplink data; Step B: After receiving MSGA, the network device sends message B (MsgB) to the terminal, where MsgB may include a random access response and a contention resolution message; the industry calls this random access process a two-step random access process or 2-step RACH or 2-step random access.

[0130] Furthermore, network devices achieve energy conservation by periodically sending or receiving data. On the one hand, the network device sends downlink data during its active time and does not need to send downlink data during its inactive time. This is also known as discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the network device. Accordingly, the terminal device receives downlink data during its active time and does not receive downlink data during its inactive time. On the other hand, discontinuous reception (DRX) of the network device is the opposite of DTX: the network device receives uplink data during its DRX active time and does not need to receive uplink data during its inactive time. Accordingly, the terminal device sends uplink data during its DRX active time and does not send uplink data during its DRX inactive time. To avoid affecting the normal random access process of the terminal device, the network device continues to send Msg2 and Msg4 during its inactive time. That is, the terminal device receives Msg2 and Msg4 during its inactive time, but while the random access response window or contention resolution timer is running.

[0131] In the above random access process, whether the terminal device receives downlink data depends only on whether the random access response window or the contention resolution timer is running. However, in the NTN scenario, assuming a LEO satellite with an orbital altitude of 600 kilometers and a beam diameter of about 50 kilometers, the number of beams required to achieve continuous service (100% coverage) within the satellite coverage area is about a thousand. However, due to the limited power of the satellite, the number of beams that can be activated simultaneously for downlink transmission is limited. At present, satellites often provide services to users by "beam hopping". This method can also be understood as providing services to terminal devices in a time-division manner. For example, Figure 3a An example diagram of a scenario with two users is shown. Figure 3b This figure shows the satellite's discontinuous transmission (DTX) rules. Specifically, the satellite serves user 1 at time T1 and user 2 at time T2. User 2 cannot receive data sent by the satellite at time T1. In other words, even if user 2 were listening for data at time T1, the satellite would not transmit data to user 2 at that time.

[0132] Therefore, in the NTN beam-hopping scenario, the satellite cannot always serve a certain terminal device. Even if the random access response window is running, the terminal device cannot receive downlink data. Ineffective monitoring will also waste the energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0133] In order to solve the above technical problems, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and related equipment, which can ensure the normal random access of terminal devices in the NTN beam hopping scenario (or understood as a scenario with limited satellite power). Specifically, the random access response window is run during the first activation time period when the network device sends downlink data, and the random access response window is not run during the first inactive time period when the network device does not send downlink data. Compared with the prior art of determining whether to receive downlink data only based on whether the random access response window is running, it can reduce the invalid reception of the terminal device in the first inactive time period, saving the energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0134] See also Figure 4 , a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, the method may include steps 401 to 404. Steps 401 to 404 may be executed by a communication device, or may be executed by some components in the communication device (such as a processor, chip or chip system, etc.), or may be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the communication device. The following description is taken as an example of execution by a communication device. The processing performed by a single execution subject in steps 401 to 404 may also be divided into executions by multiple execution subjects, and these execution subjects may be logically and / or physically separated. For example, in the case where the communication device is a network device, such as a base station, the processing performed by the communication device may be divided into executions by at least one of CU, DU and RU. Steps 401 to 404 are described in detail below. The communication device may include the aforementioned Figures 1 to 2g terminal devices and / or network devices in the network.

[0135] Step 401: The terminal device sends a preamble code to the network device.

[0136] The terminal device sends a preamble to the network device, and the network device receives the preamble sent by the terminal device.

[0137] The network device in the embodiment of the present application may be an NTN network device, for example, a GEO satellite, MEO satellite, LEO satellite, drone, high-altitude processing platform, etc. in the aforementioned communication architecture, and the specific details are not limited here.

[0138] The preamble in the embodiment of the present application may also be referred to as a preamble, a random access preamble (preamble), an access preamble, preamble code information, preamble information, etc., which is not specifically limited here.

[0139] In one possible implementation, random access (RA) uses four-step random access, and the preamble can be understood as Msg1 in the four-step random access. It is understandable that the name of Msg1 may also change according to subsequent protocol changes, and the specific details are not limited here.

[0140] In another possible implementation, RA uses two-step random access, and the preamble can be understood as part of MsgA in the two-step random access. It is understandable that the name of MsgA may also change according to subsequent protocol changes, and the specific details are not limited here.

[0141] In addition, the random access process involved in this application can be contention-based random access or non-contention-based random access, which is not specifically limited here. That is, the preamble code sent by the terminal device to the network device can be allocated by the network device (i.e., non-contention random access) or selected by the terminal device itself (i.e., contention-based random access), which is not specifically limited here.

[0142] Optionally, this step 401 can also be understood as a process in which the terminal device sends a random access request to the network device.

[0143] In the embodiment of the present application, the format of the preamble may include at least one of the following: preamble format 0 (PreambleFormat 0), Preamble Format 1, Preamble Format 2, Preamble Format 3, Preamble Format 4, etc., which are not specifically limited here.

[0144] It can be understood that the triggering of this step can be actively initiated by the terminal device (i.e., the terminal device actively initiates random access) or scheduled by the network device (i.e., the terminal device passively initiates random access). The specific details are not limited here.

[0145] Furthermore, in order to ensure that the network device can receive the preamble code sent by the terminal device, the conditions for sending the preamble code can be increased.

[0146] Specifically, in the four-step random access process, if the conditions are met, a preamble code (i.e., Msg1) is sent. This condition is related to the round-trip time (RTT), and RTT is the transmission delay between the terminal device and the network device. For example, the conditions are met including: the first time period is greater than half of the RTT. For another example, the conditions are met including: the first time period is greater than the one-way delay between the terminal device and the network device, etc. For another example, the conditions are met including: the first time period is greater than a time threshold. Of course, in actual applications, the delay compared with the first time period can also be multiplied by a correction coefficient according to actual needs, etc., and the specific details are not limited here. The first time period is the time period between the end time of the preamble code and the end time of the second activation time period. The second activation time period is the time period when the network device receives uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0147] During the two-step random access process, if the conditions are met, the second information (i.e., MsgA) is sent. The second information includes a preamble and uplink data (also known as the payload carried by the uplink shared channel). This condition is related to the RTT. For example, the conditions include: the first time period is greater than half of the RTT. For another example, the conditions include: the third time period is greater than the one-way delay between the terminal device and the network device, etc. For another example, the conditions include: the first time period is greater than a time threshold. Of course, in actual applications, the delay compared with the third time period can also be multiplied by a correction coefficient according to actual needs, etc., and the specific details are not limited here. The third time period is the time period between the end time of the second information and the end time of the fifth activation time period. The fifth activation time period is the time period when the network device receives the uplink data sent by the terminal device. The fifth activation time period may be the same as or different from the second activation time period, and the specific details are not limited here. Among them, the end time of the second information may include: the end time of the preamble and / or the end time of the uplink data.

[0148] It should be noted that the above-mentioned preamble and uplink data can be carried in the same message or in different messages. Generally, the resources of the preamble and the resources of the uplink data are associated (or understood to be configured in pairs).

[0149] The above-mentioned conditions for limiting the transmission of the preamble code can prevent the network device from not receiving the preamble code due to power limitation or beam hopping. Figure 3b For example, user 1 sends a preamble at time T1. However, considering the transmission delay in the NTN scenario, assuming that the preamble is sent to the satellite at time T2, the satellite cannot receive the preamble sent by user 1 at time T1.

[0150] In addition, the terminal device may send the preamble code once or multiple times, which is not limited here.

[0151] Step 402: The terminal device runs a random access response window in a first activation time period, and does not run the random access response window in a first inactivation time period.

[0152] After the terminal device sends the preamble, the random access response window is run in the first active time period, and the random access response window is not run in the first inactive time period. The random access response window is used to receive a random access response (Random Access Response, RAR).

[0153] Correspondingly, after receiving the preamble, the network device sends a random access response within the first active time period, and does not send a random access response within the first inactive time period.

[0154] Optionally, the random access response carries at least one of the following: the preamble in step 401, the TA, an uplink grant instruction (UL grant), a temporary cell radio network identifier (Temporary-cell radio network temporary identifier, T-CRNTI), etc.

[0155] The first activation time period can be interpreted in many ways. It can refer to the time period during which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device. It can also refer to the time period during which the terminal device receives downlink data sent by the network device. It can also refer to the time period during which the network device covers or serves the terminal device. It can also refer to the time period during which the network device can transmit data (such as downlink data transmission) with the terminal device. It can also refer to the activation time period of the network device DTX. It can also refer to the activation time period of the cell DTX. It can also refer to the activation time period of the beam DTX. It can also refer to the activation time period of the fixed area DTX.

[0156] Accordingly, the first inactive time period has multiple interpretations. It may refer to a time period when the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device. It may also refer to a time period when the terminal device does not receive downlink data sent by the network device. It may also refer to a time period when the network device does not cover or serve the terminal device. It may also refer to a time period when the network device cannot transmit data (such as downlink data transmission) with the terminal device. It may also refer to the inactive time period of the network device DTX. It may also refer to the inactive time period of the cell DTX. It may also refer to the inactive time period of the beam DTX. It may also refer to the inactive time period of the fixed area DTX.

[0157] The random access response window not running during the first inactive time period can also be understood as the terminal device stopping receiving random access responses during the first inactive time period. It can also be understood as the terminal device stopping monitoring the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) of the random access response during the first inactive time period.

[0158] Optionally, in order to achieve flexible scheduling, the first activation time period and the first non-activation time period corresponding to different terminal devices are different.

[0159] For example, continuing the above Figure 3b For example, the first activation time period and the first inactivation time period of terminal device 1, and the first activation time period and the first inactivation time period of terminal device 2 can be as follows: Figure 5 As shown in the figure, it can be seen that the first activation time period of terminal device 1 is different from the first activation time period of terminal device 2, and the first inactive time period of terminal device 1 is different from the first inactive time period of terminal device 2. It is understandable that in actual applications, the first activation time period of terminal device 1 may overlap with the first activation time period of terminal device 2, and the first inactive time period of terminal device 1 may overlap with the first inactive time period of terminal device 2.

[0160] In one possible implementation, RA uses four-step random access, and the random access response can be understood as Msg2 in the four-step random access. It is understandable that the name of Msg2 may also change according to subsequent protocol changes, and the specifics are not limited here.

[0161] In another possible implementation, RA uses two-step random access, and the random access response can be understood as MsgB in the two-step random access. It is understandable that the name of MsgB may also change according to subsequent protocol changes, and the specific details are not limited here.

[0162] Furthermore, the terminal device may also determine a first moment and control the operation of the random access response window based on the relationship between the first moment and the first active time period / first inactive time period. The first moment may also be understood as a theoretical start or restart moment without considering the first active time period / first inactive time period.

[0163] Optionally, the terminal device may determine the first moment in various situations based on different communication systems, which are described below respectively:

[0164] The first one is a communication system.

[0165] In this case, the first moment is the sum of the end moment of the preamble, N time domain units, and the RTT, where N is an integer.

[0166] The time domain unit may refer to a radio frame, a subframe, a time slot, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, etc., and is not limited to this. Similarly, the end time of the preamble may refer to the end time of the last subframe of the preamble, or the time of the last slot of the preamble, etc., and is not limited to this.

[0167] For example, the first time = the end time of the preamble + 3 subframes + RTT. In this example, the time domain unit is a subframe, and N is 3.

[0168] Optionally, the terminal device sends the preamble code multiple times, and the end time of the preamble code may refer to the end time of sending the last preamble code.

[0169] For example, N can be determined according to Table 1.

[0170] Table 1

[0171] Duplex communication mode Preamble format Preamble repetition times N Frequency-division Duplex (FDD) 0 or 1 Greater than or equal to 64 41 FDD 0 or 1 Less than 64 4 FDD 2 Greater than or equal to 16 41 FDD 2 Less than 16 4 Time-division Duplex (TDD) Any Any 4

[0172] When FDD is used, the preamble format is 0 or 1, and the number of preamble repetitions is greater than or equal to 64, N = 41. When FDD is used, the preamble format is 0 or 1, and the number of preamble repetitions is less than 64, N = 4. When FDD is used, the preamble format is 2, and the number of preamble repetitions is greater than or equal to 16, N = 41. When FDD is used, the preamble format is 2, and the number of preamble repetitions is less than 16, N = 4. When TDD is used, N = 4.

[0173] It is understandable that Table 1 shows an example of the value of N. In actual applications, there may be other situations, which are not specifically limited here.

[0174] Second, another communication system.

[0175] The first moment in this case is the sum of the end moment of the preamble and the RTT.

[0176] Optionally, the terminal device sends the preamble code multiple times, and the end time of the preamble code may refer to the subframe time when the last preamble code is sent.

[0177] It is understandable that the above two situations are just two examples for determining the first moment. In actual applications, there may be other situations, which are not specifically limited here.

[0178] In one possible implementation, at the end of the first active time period (or the start of the first inactive time period), the random access response window has not yet run. Alternatively, it can be understood that the first moment is within the first inactive time period. The terminal device then opens the random access response window at the start of the next active time period or at a time after the start. For example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (for example, downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start of the next active time period or at a time after the start, and opens the random access response window. Alternatively, it can be understood that the RTT does not need to be completed in the next active time period, which is equivalent to the inactive time period offsetting the RTT. The RTT continues to run in the first inactive time period. When the RTT ends, the terminal device does not open the random access response window. It resynchronizes (for example, downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start of the next active time period or at a time after the start, and opens the random access response window. This can improve the speed at which the terminal device receives the random access response, thereby reducing the time of the random access process of the terminal device.

[0179] For example, Figure 6 As shown, the end time of the preamble + the RTT time is within the first inactive time period, and the first time is within the first inactive time period. Then the random access response window can be directly opened at the start time of the next active time period or at a time after the start time.

[0180] In another possible implementation, during the operation of the random access response window, if the first preset condition is met, the terminal device increases the first duration of the random access response window. The first duration is at least one first non-activation time period, and the random access response window continues to operate during the first non-activation time period, but no random access response is received during the first non-activation time period (or it is understood that the PDCCH corresponding to the random access response is not monitored). That is, the terminal device will receive the random access response only when the random access response window is running and within the first activation time period. This method reduces the situation where the terminal device determines that the random access has failed due to not increasing the duration by increasing the first duration.

[0181] The first preset condition in the embodiment of the present application includes any one of the following: the first activation time period expires, the first activation time period ends, or the random access response window is within the first non-activation time period (which may refer to the start time of the first non-activation time period or other times of the first non-activation time period, etc.), etc., and is not specifically limited here.

[0182] It is understandable that the process of increasing the first duration in the above manner can be performed once or multiple times. That is, if after increasing the first duration, the random access response window is running and the first preset condition is met, the duration of at least one first inactive time period is further increased for the random access response window.

[0183] For example, Figure 7 As shown, taking the first duration being one first inactive time period as an example, the random access response window continues to run during the first inactive time period, but no random access response is received.

[0184] In another possible implementation, during the operation of the random access response window, if a first preset condition is met, the terminal device suspends the random access response window and resumes the suspended random access response window at the start time of the next active time period or at a time after the start time. For example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (e.g., downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start time of the next active time period or at a time after the start time, and resumes the previously suspended random access response window. By pausing the window, ineffective monitoring by the terminal device during the inactive time period when the network device is not sending data can be avoided.

[0185] It is understandable that the pause-resume process in the above manner can be performed once or multiple times. That is, if after continuing to run the suspended random access response window, another random access response window runs and the first preset condition is met, the random access response window is suspended and the suspended random access response window is resumed at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time. For example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (e.g., downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time, and runs the previously suspended random access response window.

[0186] For example, Figure 8 As shown, after the random access response window runs for a period of time in the first activation time period and satisfies the first preset condition, the random access response window is suspended and the random access response window is resumed at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time. For example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (e.g., downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time, and runs the previously suspended random access response window.

[0187] Step 403: The terminal device sends the first information to the network device. This step is optional.

[0188] Optionally, after receiving the random access response in the random access response window, the terminal device may send first information to the network device. The first information carries an identifier of the terminal device.

[0189] The identifier is used to distinguish different terminal devices, that is, the identifier can uniquely indicate a terminal device. The identifier is mainly used for conflict resolution in Msg4, that is, for network devices to distinguish different terminal devices.

[0190] Optionally, the identifier may refer to a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI), a short-term mobile subscriber identity (S-TMSI), a random number, etc. For example, if the terminal device has previously been connected to a certain cell, the cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) of the cell may be used as the identifier. This identifier is a unique terminal device identifier in a specific cell. Otherwise, the identifier may come from an identifier of the core network or a random number, etc.

[0191] Furthermore, in order to ensure that the network device can receive the first information sent by the terminal device, a condition for sending the first information can be added. That is, the first information is sent when the condition is met. This condition is related to RTT. For example, the condition includes: the second time period is greater than half of the RTT. For another example, the condition includes: the second time period is greater than the one-way delay between the terminal device and the network device, etc. For another example, the condition includes: the second time period is greater than a time threshold. Of course, in actual applications, the delay compared with the second time period can also be multiplied by a correction coefficient according to actual needs, etc., and the specific details are not limited here. The second time period is the time period between the end time of the first information and the end time of the third activation time period. The third activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0192] The above-mentioned conditions for limiting the sending of the first information can prevent the network device from not receiving the first information due to power limitation or beam hopping. Figure 3b For example, user 1 sends the first information at time T1. However, considering the transmission delay in the NTN scenario, assuming that the time when the first information is sent to the satellite is time T2, the satellite cannot receive the first information sent by user 1 at time T1.

[0193] In one possible implementation, RA uses four-step random access, and the first message can be understood as Msg3 in the four-step random access. It is understandable that the name of Msg3 may also change according to subsequent protocol changes, and the specific details are not limited here. For example, after receiving Msg2, the terminal device obtains uplink synchronization and sends Msg3 on the predetermined physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0194] In another possible implementation, RA uses two-step random access, and the first information can be understood as part of MsgB in the two-step random access. It is understandable that the name of MsgB may also change according to subsequent protocol changes, and the specific details are not limited here.

[0195] Step 404: The terminal device runs the contention resolution timer in the fourth active time period, and does not run the contention resolution timer in the fourth inactive time period. This step is optional.

[0196] Optionally, after the terminal device sends the first message (Msg3) or the second message (MsgA), the contention resolution timer runs in the fourth active time period, and the contention resolution timer does not run in the fourth inactive time period. The contention resolution timer is used to receive a contention resolution message.

[0197] This step 404 is applicable to a contention-based random access procedure.

[0198] Correspondingly, after receiving the first information or the second information, the network device sends a contention resolution message in the fourth active time period, and does not send a contention resolution message in the fourth inactive time period.

[0199] Among them, the fourth activation time period has multiple interpretations. It can refer to the time period during which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device. It can also refer to the time period during which the terminal device receives downlink data sent by the network device. It can also refer to the time period during which the network device covers or serves the terminal device. It can also refer to the time period during which the network device can transmit data (such as downlink data transmission) with the terminal device. It can also refer to the activation time period of the network device DTX. It can also refer to the activation time period of the cell DTX. It can also refer to the activation time period of the beam DTX. It can also refer to the activation time period of the fixed area DTX. The fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period.

[0200] Accordingly, the fourth inactive time period has multiple interpretations. It may refer to a time period when the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device. It may also refer to a time period when the terminal device does not receive downlink data sent by the network device. It may also refer to a time period when the network device does not cover or serve the terminal device. It may also refer to a time period when the network device cannot transmit data (such as downlink data transmission) with the terminal device. It may also refer to an inactive time period of network device DTX. It may also refer to an inactive time period of cell DTX. It may also refer to an inactive time period of beam DTX. It may also refer to an inactive time period of fixed area DTX. The fourth inactive time period follows the first inactive time period.

[0201] The contention resolution timer not running during the fourth inactive time period can also be understood as the terminal device stopping receiving the contention resolution timer during the fourth inactive time period. It can also be understood that the terminal device stops monitoring the PDCCH of the contention resolution message during the fourth inactive time period. The PDCCH can be scrambled based on the C-RNTI or scrambled based on a temporary C-RNTI (TC-RNTI), which is not specifically limited here.

[0202] Optionally, in order to achieve flexible scheduling, the fourth activation time period and the fourth non-activation time period corresponding to different terminal devices are different.

[0203] In one possible implementation, RA uses four-step random access, and the contention resolution message can be understood as Msg4 in the four-step random access. It is understandable that the name of Msg4 may also change according to subsequent protocol changes, and the specifics are not limited here.

[0204] In another possible implementation, RA uses two-step random access, and the contention resolution message can be understood as MsgB in the two-step random access. It is understandable that the name of MsgB may also change according to subsequent protocol changes, and the specifics are not limited here.

[0205] Furthermore, the terminal device may also determine a second time and control the operation of the contention resolution timer based on the relationship between the second time and the fourth active time period / fourth inactive time period. The second time may also be understood as a theoretical start or restart time without considering the fourth active time period / fourth inactive time period.

[0206] Optionally, the second time is the sum of the end time of Msg3 and the RTT. The end time of Msg3 may refer to the end time of the last subframe of the preamble code, or the time of the last slot of Msg3, etc., which is not limited here.

[0207] Furthermore, the terminal device sends Msg3 multiple times, and the end time of Msg3 may refer to the end time of sending the last Msg3.

[0208] For example, in one communication system, the second time is the subframe time after the PUSCH transmission corresponding to Msg3 ends plus the RTT. For another example, in another communication system, the second time is the end time of Msg3 transmission plus the first symbol of the RTT.

[0209] In one possible implementation, at the end of the fourth activation time period (or the start of the fourth inactive time period), the contention resolution timer has not yet run. Or it can be understood that the second moment is in the fourth inactive time period. The terminal device then starts the contention resolution timer at the start of the next activation time period or at a moment after the start. For example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (such as downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start of the next activation time period or at a moment after the start, and starts the contention resolution timer. Or it can be understood that the RTT does not need to be completed in the next activation time period, which is equivalent to the inactive time period offsetting the RTT. This can improve the speed at which the terminal device receives the contention resolution timer, thereby reducing the time of the random access process of the terminal device.

[0210] For example, Figure 9 As shown, the end time of Msg3 + RTT is within the fourth inactive time period, that is, the second time is within the fourth inactive time period. Then the contention resolution timer can be directly started at the start time of the next active time period or a time after the start time.

[0211] In another possible implementation, during the operation of the contention resolution timer, if the second preset condition is met, the terminal device adds a second duration to the contention resolution timer. The second duration is at least one fourth non-activated time period, and the contention resolution timer continues to run during the fourth non-activated time period, but no contention resolution message is received during the fourth non-activated time period (or it is understood that the PDCCH corresponding to the contention resolution message is not monitored). That is, the terminal device will receive the contention resolution message only when the contention resolution timer is running and in the fourth activated time period. This method reduces the situation where the terminal device determines that random access has failed due to not increasing the duration by increasing the second duration.

[0212] The second preset condition in the embodiment of the present application includes any one of the following: expiration of the fourth activation time period, expiration of the fourth activation time period, or the contention resolution timer being within the fourth inactive time period (which may refer to the start time of the fourth inactive time period or other time of the fourth inactive time period, etc.), etc., and is not specifically limited here. Among them, expiration can be understood as the timer being closed due to a failure to receive a contention resolution message, and expiration can be understood as the timer being triggered to close after the terminal device receives the contention resolution message.

[0213] It is understandable that the process of increasing the second duration in the above manner can be performed once or multiple times. That is, if after increasing the second duration, the contention resolution timer is running again and the second preset condition is met, the contention resolution timer is further increased by at least the first and fourth inactive time periods.

[0214] For example, Figure 10 As shown, taking the second duration as one fourth inactive time period as an example, the contention resolution timer continues to run during the fourth inactive time period, but no contention resolution message is received.

[0215] In another possible implementation, if the second preset condition is met during the running of the contention resolution timer, the terminal device suspends the contention resolution timer and resumes the suspended contention resolution timer at the start time of the next active time period or at a time after the start time. For example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (e.g., downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start time of the next active time period or at a time after the start time, and resumes the previously suspended contention resolution timer.

[0216] It is understood that the pause-and-resume process in the above-described manner can be performed once or multiple times. That is, if after resuming the paused contention resolution timer, the contention resolution timer is again running and the second preset condition is met, the contention resolution timer is again paused and resumed at the start time of the next active time period or at a time after the start time.

[0217] For example, Figure 11 As shown, after the contention resolution timer runs for a period of time in the fourth activation time period and satisfies the second preset condition, the contention resolution timer is paused and continues to run at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time. For example, the terminal device synchronizes or resynchronizes (e.g., downlink synchronization) with the network device at the start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time, and runs the paused contention resolution timer.

[0218] It should be noted that the activation time period or inactivation time period involved in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a single time period or to multiple periodic time periods, and the specific details are not limited here. In addition, the activation time period involved in the embodiments of the present application may refer to different activation time periods within a periodic activation time period (for example, the lengths of the multiple activation time periods are the same). The inactivation time period involved in the embodiments of the present application may refer to different inactivation time periods within a periodic inactivation time period (for example, the lengths of the multiple inactivation time periods are the same).

[0219] In an embodiment of the present application, on the one hand, a random access response window is executed during the first active time period when the network device sends downlink data, and the random access response window is not executed during the first inactive time period when the network device does not send downlink data. Compared to the prior art method of determining whether to receive a random access response based solely on whether the random access response window is executed, this method can reduce ineffective monitoring by the terminal device during the first inactive time period, thereby saving energy consumption of the terminal device. On the other hand, a contention resolution timer is executed during the fourth active time period when the network device sends downlink data, and the contention resolution timer is not executed during the fourth inactive time period when the network device does not send downlink data. Compared to the prior art method of determining whether to receive a contention resolution message based solely on whether the contention resolution timer is executed, this method can reduce ineffective monitoring by the terminal device during the fourth inactive time period, thereby saving energy consumption of the terminal device. On the other hand, when sending data to the network device, the terminal device considers the RTT, that is, limits the conditions for sending data. This can prevent the network device from being unable to receive data sent by the terminal device due to power limitation or beam hopping.

[0220] Furthermore, the aforementioned Figure 4 Before step 401 in the illustrated embodiment, the network device may also send at least one of the following to the terminal device: instruction information, configuration information. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the at least one of the above items sent by the network device.

[0221] The indication information is used to indicate that the power of the network device is limited or to indicate that the network device uses a beam hopping method to serve the terminal device.

[0222] Of course, the network device may not send the indication information. The terminal device may implicitly indicate the power limitation of the network device or instruct the network device to use beam hopping to serve the terminal device through certain fields or pre-configuration.

[0223] The configuration information may be used to indicate at least one of the following: a first active time period, a first inactive time period, a second active time period, a third active time period, a fourth active time period, a fourth inactive time period, etc.

[0224] Optionally, the configuration information may also include at least one of the following resources used by the terminal device to transmit data: time domain resources, frequency domain resources, code domain resources, spatial domain resources, etc.

[0225] In addition, the granularity of the configuration information can be cell granularity, beam granularity, fixed area granularity, etc., which is not limited here.

[0226] The communication method in the embodiment of the present application is described above. The communication device in the embodiment of the present application is described below. Figure 12 , an embodiment of the communication device 1200 in the embodiment of the present application, the communication device 1200 can realize the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiment, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiment. In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device 1200 can be a communication device, or it can be an integrated circuit or component inside the communication device, such as a chip. The communication device 1200 includes: a transceiver unit 1201 and a processing unit 1202. Or the communication device 1200 includes: a transceiver unit 1201

[0227] In one possible implementation, the communication device 1200 is the aforementioned Figures 1 to 11 In the terminal device of the embodiment shown, the functions of each unit in this case are as follows:

[0228] The transceiver unit 1201 is configured to send a preamble;

[0229] Processing unit 1202 is used to run a random access response window within a first activation time period, where the first activation time period is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, and the random access response window is used to receive a random access response; the random access response window does not run within a first inactive time period, where the first inactive time period is a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0230] Optionally, the processing unit 1202 is also used to determine a first moment, where the first moment is the sum of the end moment of the preamble code and the round-trip time RTT, or the first moment is the sum of the end moment of the preamble code, N time domain units and RTT, where RTT is the round-trip time between the terminal device and the network device, and N is an integer; the processing unit 1202 is also used to open a random access response window at the start moment of the next activation time period or at a certain moment after the start moment when the first moment is in the first non-activation time period.

[0231] Optionally, the first time period is greater than half of the round-trip time RTT between the terminal device and the network device. The first time period is the time period between the end time of the preamble code and the end time of the second activation time period. The second activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0232] Optionally, the processing unit 1202 is further configured to, during the operation of the random access response window, if a first preset condition is met, add a first duration to the random access response window, where the first duration is at least one first inactive time period, continue to operate the random access response window during the first inactive time period, and do not receive a random access response during the first inactive time period;

[0233] The first preset condition includes any one of the following: expiration of the first activation time period, end of the first activation time period, or the random access response window is within the first inactive time period.

[0234] Optionally, the processing unit 1202 is further configured to, during the operation of the random access response window, if a first preset condition is met, suspend the random access response window, and resume the suspended random access response window at a start time of a next activation time period or a time after the start time;

[0235] The first preset condition includes any one of the following: expiration of the first activation time period, end of the first activation time period, or the random access response window is within the first inactive time period.

[0236] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1201 is also used to receive a random access response within the random access response window; the transceiver unit 1201 is also used to send the first information when the second time period is greater than half of the RTT, the first information carries the identifier of the terminal device, the second time period is the time period between the end time of the first information and the end time of the third activation time period, and the third activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0237] Optionally, the processing unit 1202 is also used to run a contention resolution timer during a fourth activation time period, where the fourth activation time period is a time period during which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device. The fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period, and the contention resolution timer is used to receive contention resolution messages. The contention resolution timer does not run during a fourth inactive time period, where the fourth inactive time period is a time period during which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0238] Optionally, the processing unit 1202 is also used to determine a second moment, where the second moment is the sum of the end moment of the first information and the RTT, or the second moment is the sum of the end moment of the first information, N time domain units and the RTT, where N is a positive integer; the processing unit 1202 is also used to start the contention resolution timer at the start moment of the next activation time period or at a certain moment after the start moment when the second moment is in the fourth non-activation time period.

[0239] Optionally, the processing unit 1202 is further configured to, when a second preset condition is met during the running of the contention resolution timer, increase a second duration for the contention resolution timer, where the second duration is at least one fourth inactive time period; the contention resolution timer continues to run during the fourth inactive time period, but no contention resolution message is received during the fourth inactive time period;

[0240] The second preset condition includes any one of the following: expiration of the fourth active time period, end of the fourth active time period, or the contention resolution timer is within the fourth inactive time period.

[0241] Optionally, the processing unit 1202 is further configured to, when a second preset condition is satisfied during the running of the contention resolution timer, suspend the contention resolution timer, and resume running the suspended contention resolution timer at a start time of the next activation time period or at a time after the start time;

[0242] The second preset condition includes any one of the following: expiration of the fourth active time period, end of the fourth active time period, or the contention resolution timer is within the fourth inactive time period.

[0243] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1201 is specifically used to send the second information when the third time period is greater than half of the round-trip time RTT between the terminal device and the network device. The third time period is the time period between the end time of the second information and the end time of the fifth activation time period. The second information includes the preamble code and the effective load carried by the uplink shared channel. The end time of the second information includes the end time of the preamble code and / or the end time of the uplink data. The fifth activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive the uplink data sent by the terminal device.

[0244] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1201 is also used to receive configuration information sent by the network device, where the configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a first activation time period, a first non-activation time period, a second activation time period, a third activation time period, a fourth activation time period, and a fourth non-activation time period. The second activation time period is a time period in which the network device receives uplink data sent by the terminal device. The third activation time period is a time period in which the network device receives uplink data from the terminal device. The fourth activation time period is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device. The fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period. The fourth non-activation time period is a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0245] In this embodiment, the operations performed by each unit in the communication device are the same as those described above. Figures 1 to 11 The description of the terminal device in the illustrated embodiment is similar and will not be repeated here.

[0246] In this embodiment, processing unit 1202 executes a random access response window during a first active time period in which the network device sends downlink data. The random access response window is not executed during a first inactive time period in which the network device does not send downlink data. Compared to the prior art method of determining whether to receive a random access response based solely on whether the random access response window is executed, this method can reduce ineffective monitoring by the terminal device during the first inactive time period, thereby saving energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0247] In another possible implementation, the communication device 1200 is the aforementioned Figures 1 to 11 In the network device of the embodiment shown, the functions of each unit in this case are as follows:

[0248] The transceiver unit 1201 is configured to receive a preamble;

[0249] The transceiver unit 1201 is also used to send a random access response within a first activation time period, where the first activation time period is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device. No random access response is sent within a first inactive time period, where the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0250] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1201 is also used to receive first information, which carries an identifier of the terminal device; the transceiver unit 1201 is also used to send a contention resolution message within a fourth activation time period, which is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, and no contention resolution message is sent within the fourth inactive time period, which is a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device, and the fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period.

[0251] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to receive second information, where the second information includes a preamble code and a valid payload carried by an uplink shared channel.

[0252] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1201 is also used to send configuration information, and the configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a first activation time period, a first non-activation time period, a second activation time period, a third activation time period, a fourth activation time period, and a fourth non-activation time period. The second activation time period is a time period in which the network device receives uplink data sent by the terminal device. The third activation time period is a time period in which the network device receives uplink data from the terminal device. The fourth activation time period is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device. The fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period. The fourth non-activation time period is a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

[0253] In this embodiment, the operations performed by each unit in the communication device are the same as those described above. Figures 1 to 11The description of the network devices in the illustrated embodiment is similar and will not be repeated here.

[0254] In this embodiment, the transceiver unit 1201 sends a random access response during the first active time period, and does not send a random access response during the first inactive time period. Compared to the prior art in which whether to receive a random access response is determined solely based on whether the random access response window is running, this can reduce ineffective monitoring by the terminal device during the first inactive time period, thereby saving energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0255] See also Figure 13 , is another schematic structural diagram of the communication device 1300 provided in this application, wherein the communication device 1300 includes a logic circuit 1301 and an input / output interface 1302. The communication device 1300 may be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0256] in, Figure 12 The transceiver unit 1201 shown may be a communication interface, which may be Figure 13 The input / output interface 1302 in the embodiment may include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the communication interface may be a transceiver circuit, which may include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit. Figure 12 The processing unit 1202 shown may be Figure 13 Logic circuit 1301 in.

[0257] Optionally, when the communication apparatus is a terminal device in the aforementioned embodiment, the logic circuit 1301 is configured to perform at least one of the following: determine that a random access response window is to be executed during the first active time period, and that the random access response window is not to be executed during the first inactive time period. The input / output interface 1302 is configured to perform at least one of the following: transmit a preamble, transmit first information, transmit second information, receive configuration information, receive a random access response, receive a contention resolution message, etc.

[0258] Optionally, when the communication device is the network device in the aforementioned embodiment, the input and output interface 1302 is used for at least one of the following: receiving a preamble code, receiving first information, receiving second information, sending configuration information, sending a random access response, sending a contention resolution message, etc.

[0259] The logic circuit 1301 and the input / output interface 1302 may also execute other steps executed by the terminal device or the network device in any embodiment and achieve corresponding beneficial effects, which will not be described in detail here.

[0260] Optionally, the logic circuit 1301 may be a processing device, and the functions of the processing device may be partially or entirely implemented by software. The functions of the processing device may be partially or entirely implemented by software.

[0261] Optionally, the processing device may include a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor reads and executes the computer program stored in the memory to perform corresponding processing and / or steps in any one of the method embodiments.

[0262] Alternatively, the processing device may include only a processor. A memory for storing the computer program is located outside the processing device, and the processor is connected to the memory via circuits / wires to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory. The memory and processor may be integrated or physically separate.

[0263] Optionally, the processing device may be one or more chips, or one or more integrated circuits. For example, the processing device may be one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), system-on-chips (SoCs), central processor units (CPUs), network processors (NPs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontroller units (MCUs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other integrated chips, or any combination of the above chips or processors.

[0264] See also Figure 14 , is the communication device 1400 involved in the above embodiments provided in the embodiments of the present application. The communication device 1400 can specifically be the communication device serving as the terminal device in the above embodiments.

[0265] Herein, a possible logical structure diagram of the communication device 1400 is shown. The communication device 1400 may include but is not limited to at least one processor 1401 and a communication port 1402 .

[0266] in, Figure 12 The transceiver unit 1201 shown may be a communication interface, which may be Figure 14 The communication port 1402 may include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the communication port 1402 may also be a transceiver circuit, which may include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit.

[0267] It is understandable that Figure 14 The communication port 1402 in the embodiment can be used to transmit at least one of the following: a preamble, first information, second information, a random access response, a contention resolution message, configuration information, etc. For example, when the communication apparatus 1400 is a terminal device in the aforementioned embodiment, the communication port 1402 is used for at least one of the following: sending a preamble, sending the first information, sending the second information, receiving configuration information, receiving a random access response, receiving a contention resolution message, etc. For another example, when the communication apparatus 1400 is a network device in the aforementioned embodiment, the communication port 1402 is used for at least one of the following: receiving a preamble, receiving the first information, receiving the second information, sending configuration information, sending a random access response, sending a contention resolution message, etc.

[0268] Further optionally, the device may also include at least one of a memory 1403 and a bus. In an embodiment of the present application, the at least one processor 1401 is used to control and process the actions of the communication device 1400.

[0269] In addition, processor 1401 can be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field-programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application. The processor can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, and so on. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that for the sake of convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0270] It is understandable that this application Figure 14 The number of each component shown is not limited. For example, the number of processors 1401, the number of communication ports 1402, and the number of memories 1403 can be one or more, and are not specifically limited here.

[0271] It should be noted that Figure 14 The communication device 1400 shown can be specifically used to implement the steps implemented by the terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiment and achieve the corresponding technical effects of the terminal device. Figure 14 The specific implementation of the communication device shown can refer to the description in the aforementioned method embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0272] See also Figure 15, is a structural diagram of the communication device 1500 involved in the above embodiment provided in the embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1500 can specifically be the communication device as the network device in the above embodiment. The structure of the communication device can refer to Figure 15 The structure shown.

[0273] The communication device 1500 includes at least one processor 1511 and at least one network interface 1514. Further optionally, the communication device also includes at least one memory 1512, at least one transceiver 1513 and one or more antennas 1515. The processor 1511, the memory 1512, the transceiver 1513 and the network interface 1514 are connected, for example, via a bus. In an embodiment of the present application, the connection may include various interfaces, transmission lines or buses, etc., which are not limited in this embodiment. The antenna 1515 is connected to the transceiver 1513. The network interface 1514 is used to enable the communication device to communicate with other communication devices through a communication link. For example, the network interface 1514 may include a network interface between the communication device and the core network device, such as an S1 interface, and the network interface may include a network interface between the communication device and other communication devices (such as other network devices or core network devices), such as an X2 or Xn interface.

[0274] in, Figure 12 The transceiver unit 1201 shown may be a communication interface, which may be Figure 15 The network interface 1514 in the embodiment may include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the network interface 1514 may also be a transceiver circuit, which may include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit.

[0275] Processor 1511 is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process software program data, for example, to support the communication device in performing the actions described in the embodiments. The communication device may include a baseband processor and a central processing unit. The baseband processor is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the central processing unit is primarily used to control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process software program data. Figure 15The processor 1511 in the embodiment can integrate the functions of a baseband processor and a central processing unit. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the baseband processor and the central processing unit can also be independent processors interconnected via a bus or other technology. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a communication device can include multiple baseband processors to adapt to different network standards, and a communication device can include multiple central processing units to enhance its processing capabilities. The various components of the communication device can be connected via various buses. The baseband processor can also be expressed as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The central processing unit can also be expressed as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The function of processing the communication protocol and communication data can be built into the processor, or stored in the memory in the form of a software program, and the processor executes the software program to implement the baseband processing function.

[0276] The memory is primarily used to store software programs and data. Memory 1512 may be independent and connected to processor 1511. Alternatively, memory 1512 may be integrated with processor 1511, for example, within a single chip. Memory 1512 can store program code for executing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and execution is controlled by processor 1511. The various computer program codes executed may also be considered drivers for processor 1511.

[0277] Figure 15 Only one memory and one processor are shown. In an actual communication device, multiple processors and multiple memories may exist. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device. The memory may be a storage element on the same chip as the processor, i.e., an on-chip storage element, or an independent storage element, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0278] The transceiver 1513 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the communication device and the terminal. The transceiver 1513 can be connected to the antenna 1515. The transceiver 1513 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, one or more antennas 1515 can receive radio frequency signals. The receiver Rx of the transceiver 1513 is used to receive the radio frequency signal from the antenna, convert the radio frequency signal into a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal, and provide the digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal to the processor 1511 so that the processor 1511 can further process the digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal, such as demodulation and decoding. In addition, the transmitter Tx in the transceiver 1513 is also used to receive a modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal from the processor 1511, convert the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal into a radio frequency signal, and transmit the radio frequency signal through one or more antennas 1515. Specifically, the receiver Rx can selectively perform one or more stages of down-mixing and analog-to-digital conversion on the RF signal to obtain a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal. The order of the down-mixing and analog-to-digital conversion processes is adjustable. The transmitter Tx can selectively perform one or more stages of up-mixing and digital-to-analog conversion on the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal to obtain a RF signal. The order of the up-mixing and digital-to-analog conversion processes is adjustable. The digital baseband signal and the digital intermediate frequency signal may be collectively referred to as digital signals.

[0279] The transceiver 1513 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver device, etc. Optionally, a device in the transceiver unit that implements a receiving function may be referred to as a receiving unit, and a device in the transceiver unit that implements a transmitting function may be referred to as a transmitting unit. That is, the transceiver unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiver, an input port, a receiving circuit, etc., and the transmitting unit may be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

[0280] It should be noted that Figure 15 The communication device 1500 shown can be specifically used to implement the steps implemented by the network device in the aforementioned method embodiment and achieve the corresponding technical effects of the network device. Figure 15 The specific implementation of the communication device 1500 shown can refer to the description in the aforementioned method embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0281] When the above-mentioned communication device is a chip applied to a terminal, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The terminal chip receives information from other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or antenna), and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal; or the terminal chip sends information to other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station. For example, when the first device is a terminal, the terminal sending the indication information can be understood as the process of the terminal chip outputting the indication information.

[0282] When the above-mentioned communication device is a module applied to a base station, the base station module implements the function of the base station in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The base station module receives information from other modules in the base station (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station; or, the base station module sends information to other modules in the base station (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal. The base station module here can be a baseband chip of the base station, or it can be a DU or other module. The DU here can be a DU under an open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture. For example, when the first device is a base station, the base station sending indication information can be understood as a process in which the base station chip outputs indication information.

[0283] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions that can be executed by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disk, mobile hard disk, 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 write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. The processor and storage medium can also exist in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

[0284] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented 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 instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed 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 instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer 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, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; an optical medium, such as a digital video disk; or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0285] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a random access process, and the method includes: Send preamble; A random access response window is run within a first activation time period, where the first activation time period is a time period in which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, and the random access response window is used to receive a random access response; the random access response window is not run within a first inactive time period, where the first inactive time period is a time period in which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: Determine a first moment, where the first moment is the sum of the end moment of the preamble and the round-trip time RTT, or the first moment is the sum of the end moment of the preamble, N time domain units, and the RTT, where the RTT is the round-trip time between the terminal device and the network device, and N is an integer; The first moment is within the first inactive time period, and the random access response window is opened at a start moment of a next active time period or after the start moment.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The first time period is greater than half of the round-trip time RTT between the terminal device and the network device. The first time period is the time period between the end time of the preamble code and the end time of the second activation time period. The second activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive the uplink data sent by the terminal device.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: During the operation of the random access response window, if a first preset condition is met, a first duration is added to the random access response window, where the first duration is at least one of the first inactive time periods, the random access response window continues to operate during the first inactive time period, and no random access response is received during the first inactive time period; The first preset condition includes any one of the following: expiration of the first activation time period, end of the first activation time period, or the random access response window is within the first inactive time period.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: During the operation of the random access response window, if a first preset condition is met, suspending the random access response window, and continuing to operate the suspended random access response window at a start time of a next activation time period or after the start time; The first preset condition includes any one of the following: expiration of the first activation time period, end of the first activation time period, or the random access response window is within the first inactive time period.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that After sending the preamble, the method further includes: receiving the random access response within the random access response window; When the second time period is greater than half of the RTT, the first information is sent, and the first information carries the identification of the terminal device. The second time period is the time period between the end time of the first information and the end time of the third activation time period. The third activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive the uplink data sent by the terminal device.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The method further comprises: A contention resolution timer is run during a fourth activation time period, the fourth activation time period being a time period during which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device, the fourth activation time period being after the first activation time period, and the contention resolution timer being used to receive contention resolution messages; the contention resolution timer does not run during a fourth inactive time period, the fourth inactive time period being a time period during which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: Determine a second time, where the second time is the sum of the end time of the first information and the RTT, or the second time is the sum of the end time of the first information, N time domain units, and the RTT, where N is a positive integer; The second moment is within the fourth inactive time period, and the contention resolution timer is started at a start moment of a next active time period or after the start moment.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: During the running of the contention resolution timer, if a second preset condition is met, a second duration is added to the contention resolution timer, where the second duration is at least one of the fourth inactive time periods, the contention resolution timer continues to run during the fourth inactive time period, but the contention resolution message is not received during the fourth inactive time period; The second preset condition includes any one of the following: the fourth active time period expires, the fourth active time period ends, or the contention resolution timer is within the fourth inactive time period.

10. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: During the running of the contention resolution timer, if a second preset condition is met, the contention resolution timer is suspended, and the suspended contention resolution timer is continued to run at the start time of the next activation time period or after the start time; The second preset condition includes any one of the following: the fourth active time period expires, the fourth active time period ends, or the contention resolution timer is within the fourth inactive time period.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The sending of the preamble comprises: When the third time period is greater than half of the round-trip time RTT between the terminal device and the network device, the second information is sent, the third time period is the time period between the end time of the second information and the end time of the fifth activation time period, the second information includes the preamble code and the effective load carried by the uplink shared channel, the end time of the second information includes the end time of the preamble code and / or the end time of the uplink data, and the fifth activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive the uplink data sent by the terminal device.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive configuration information sent by the network device, the configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the first activation time period, the first non-activation time period, the second activation time period, the third activation time period, the fourth activation time period, and the fourth non-activation time period, the second activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device, the third activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data from the terminal device, the fourth activation time period is the time period for the network device to send downlink data to the terminal device, the fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period, and the fourth non-activation time period is the time period for the network device not to send downlink data to the terminal device.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receive preamble; A random access response is sent within a first activation time period, where the first activation time period is the time period during which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device. The random access response is not sent within a first non-activation time period, where the first non-activation time period is the time period during which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that After receiving the preamble, the method further includes: receiving first information, where the first information carries an identifier of a terminal device; A contention resolution message is sent during a fourth activation time period, where the fourth activation time period is a time period during which the network device sends downlink data to the terminal device. The contention resolution message is not sent during a fourth non-activation time period, where the fourth non-activation time period is a time period during which the network device does not send downlink data to the terminal device. The fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The receiving preamble code includes: Second information is received, where the second information includes the preamble and a payload carried by an uplink shared channel.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send configuration information, the configuration information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the first activation time period, the first non-activation time period, the second activation time period, the third activation time period, the fourth activation time period, and the fourth non-activation time period, the second activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data sent by the terminal device, the third activation time period is the time period for the network device to receive uplink data from the terminal device, the fourth activation time period is the time period for the network device to send downlink data to the terminal device, the fourth activation time period is after the first activation time period, and the fourth non-activation time period is the time period for the network device not to send downlink data to the terminal device.

17. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes: a processing unit and a transceiver unit; The processing unit and the transceiver unit are configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises at least one processor coupled to at least one memory; the at least one processor is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A chip or a chip system, characterized in that: The chip or chip system is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

20. A communication system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a communication device for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, and a communication device for executing the method according to any one of claims 13 to 16.

21. A readable storage medium, characterized in that The storage medium stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16 is implemented.

22. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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