Access mode conversion method and RedCap multimode terminal

Abstract

The invention provides an access mode conversion method and a RedCap multi-mode terminal, and relates to the technical field of wireless access, and the method comprises the following steps: the RedCap multi-mode terminal pre-configures and stores a plurality of operation modes according to the wireless access capability of the RedCap multi-mode terminal and the type of an access cell, and stores the conversion relation among the plurality of different operation modes; when the mobile terminal is started, the wireless access capability of the mobile terminal is configured to enter a corresponding operation mode according to the access cell type of the cell where the mobile terminal is located; and when the inter-system conversion process occurs, performing mode conversion. The method has the beneficial effects that multiple operation modes are pre-configured and stored, so that the LTE-containing multimode terminal with the 5G NR RedCap terminal capability flexibly adjusts wireless access capability configuration according to the types of resident cells, and thus, after the inter-system conversion process is carried out among different types of cells, the LTE-containing multimode terminal can smoothly access and obtain a normal service strategy; and the continuity of terminal services is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of wireless access technology, and in particular to an access mode conversion method and a RedCap multi-mode terminal. Background Art

[0002] Existing 3GPP specifications define the capability requirements for 5G NR RedCap terminals, but explicitly restrict such terminals to accessing only 5G NR RedCap cells and preventing them from accessing 5G NR non-RedCap cells. In existing technologies, multi-mode terminals (such as those supporting LTE and 5G NR) can select the appropriate access mode in different network environments by configuring different wireless access capabilities (for example, supporting RedCap capabilities or standard 5G capabilities).

[0003] However, the deployment coverage of 5G NR RedCap cells is low. When a terminal leaves the coverage of a RedCap cell, it cannot access a non-RedCap cell, resulting in service interruption. Although the actual wireless capability requirements of some 5G NR non-RedCap cells are relatively low (such as bandwidth ≤ 20MHz), RedCap terminals can theoretically meet the access conditions. However, for multi-mode terminals that support LTE and 5G NR, the existing technology does not define a dynamic wireless capability switching strategy between different cells such as LTE cells, 5G RedCap cells, and 5G non-RedCap cells. It also does not solve the problem of how to synchronously adjust the wireless capability configuration when the terminal switches across systems (such as 5G to LTE, or LTE to 5G), resulting in the terminal being forcibly restricted to the RedCap cell. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides an access mode conversion method, which is applied in the RedCap multi-mode terminal, comprising:

[0005] Step S1, the RedCap multi-mode terminal pre-configures and stores multiple operating modes according to its own wireless access capability and access cell type, and stores conversion relationships between multiple different operating modes;

[0006] Step S2, when the RedCap multi-mode terminal is powered on, it configures its own wireless access capability according to the access cell type of the cell in which it is located and enters the corresponding operation mode;

[0007] Step S3: When a different system conversion process occurs, the RedCap multi-mode terminal performs mode conversion according to the current operation mode and the corresponding conversion relationship.

[0008] Preferably, the radio access capability includes radio capability A mode or radio capability B mode, and the access cell type includes a 5G NR RedCap cell, a 5G NR non-RedCap cell or an LTE cell;

[0009] The operating modes stored in the RedCap multimode terminal include:

[0010] The first operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability A mode, the second operating mode is to access the 5G NR non-RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, the third operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, and the fourth operating mode is to access the LTE cell in wireless capability A mode.

[0011] Preferably, the step S2 includes:

[0012] When the RedCap multimode terminal is powered on and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell, it configures its own radio access capability to radio capability A mode to enter the corresponding first operating mode;

[0013] and / or the RedCap multimode terminal, when powered on and residing in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell, configures its own radio access capability to radio capability B mode to enter the corresponding second operating mode;

[0014] And / or when the RedCap multi-mode terminal is powered on and resides in an LTE cell, it configures its own wireless access capability to wireless capability mode A to enter the corresponding fourth operation mode.

[0015] Preferably, the inter-system conversion process includes a first inter-system conversion process of cell reselection, redirection, and switching from the 4G standard to the 5G standard, and a second inter-system conversion process of cell reselection, redirection, and switching from the 5G standard to the 4G standard;

[0016] The conversion relationship stored in the RedCap multimode terminal includes:

[0017] A first conversion relationship, corresponding to the first operating mode, indicates that when the system is in the first operating mode and the first different system conversion process occurs, a mode conversion is performed to enter the fourth operating mode;

[0018] The second conversion relationship corresponds to the fourth operation mode, indicating that when the fourth operation mode is in operation and the second different system conversion process occurs, a mode conversion is performed to enter the first operation mode.

[0019] Preferably, the operation mode stored in the RedCap multimode terminal further includes a fifth operation mode of accessing the LTE cell in wireless capability B mode, and the conversion relationship stored in the RedCap multimode terminal further includes:

[0020] The third conversion relationship corresponds to the second operation mode, indicating that when the second operation mode is in progress and the second different system conversion process occurs, the mode is converted to the fifth operation mode;

[0021] The fourth conversion relationship corresponds to the fifth operation mode, indicating that when the system is in the fifth operation mode and the first different system conversion process occurs, the mode is converted to enter the second operation mode.

[0022] Preferably, the method further includes a network recovery process, including:

[0023] The RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state while in the fourth operating mode, and enters the second operating mode when residing in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell after network service is restored;

[0024] and / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state while in the fifth operating mode, and enters the first operating mode when camping on a 5G NR RedCap cell after network service is restored;

[0025] and / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters the fourth operating mode when in the first operating mode or the second operating mode and enters a network-restricted or network-free state, and resides in an LTE cell after network service is restored;

[0026] and / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state while in the fourth operating mode, and enters the first operating mode when camping on a 5G NR RedCap cell after network service is restored;

[0027] And / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state when in the fifth operating mode, and enters the second operating mode when it resides in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell after restoring network service.

[0028] Preferably, the event-driven switching process is also included, including:

[0029] The RedCap multimode terminal enters the first operating mode when it is in the fifth operating mode and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell after network reselection or cell reselection or cell redirection;

[0030] and / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters the third operating mode when in the fifth operating mode and camps on a 5GNR RedCap cell after cell handover;

[0031] and / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters the second operating mode when it is in the fourth operating mode and resides in a 5GNR non-RedCap cell after reselecting a network;

[0032] And / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters the fourth operation mode after being in the fifth operation mode and in a connected state and then entering an idle state from the connected state.

[0033] The present invention also provides a RedCap multi-mode terminal, which applies the above-mentioned access mode conversion method, including:

[0034] A mode storage module, configured to pre-configure and store a plurality of operation modes according to its own wireless access capability and access cell type, and store conversion relationships between a plurality of different operation modes;

[0035] A power-on network selection module, connected to the mode storage module, configured to configure its own wireless access capability to enter a corresponding operation mode according to the access cell type of the cell in which the device is located when the device is powered on;

[0036] The mode switching module is connected to the power-on network selection module and the mode storage module, and is used to perform mode conversion according to the current operating mode and the corresponding conversion relationship when an inter-system conversion process occurs.

[0037] Preferably, the radio access capability includes radio capability A mode or radio capability B mode, and the access cell type includes a 5G NR RedCap cell, a 5G NR non-RedCap cell or an LTE cell;

[0038] The operation modes stored in the mode storage module include:

[0039] The first operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability A mode, the second operating mode is to access the 5G NR non-RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, the third operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, and the fourth operating mode is to access the LTE cell in wireless capability A mode.

[0040] Preferably, the power-on network selection module includes:

[0041] A first network selection unit is configured to configure its own radio access capability to radio capability A mode to enter the corresponding first operation mode when the device is powered on and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell;

[0042] The second network selection unit is configured to configure its own radio access capability to radio capability B mode to enter the corresponding second operation mode when powered on and residing in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell;

[0043] The third network selection unit is configured to configure its own wireless access capability to wireless capability mode A to enter the corresponding fourth operation mode when the device is powered on and resides in an LTE cell.

[0044] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0045] By pre-configuring and storing multiple operating modes, multi-mode terminals with LTE and 5G NR RedCap capabilities can flexibly adjust their radio access capability configuration based on the type of cell they reside in. This allows them to smoothly access and obtain normal service strategies after performing inter-system transitions such as reselection, handover, and network loss recovery between different cell types (such as LTE cells, 5G NR RedCap cells, and 5G NR non-RedCap cells) in accordance with 3GPP technical specifications. Multi-mode terminals can flexibly access between LTE cells, 5G NR RedCap cells, and 5G NR non-RedCap cells, thereby further facilitating terminal service continuity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Figure 1 FIG1 is a flow chart of a method for converting an access mode in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the conversion relationship between various operating modes in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a RedCap multi-mode terminal in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and other embodiments may also fall within the scope of the present invention as long as they conform to the gist of the present invention.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, based on the above problems existing in the prior art, an access mode conversion method is provided, which is applied in a RedCap multimode terminal. Figure 1 As shown, including:

[0051] Step S1, the RedCap multi-mode terminal pre-configures and stores multiple operating modes according to its own wireless access capabilities and access cell types, and stores conversion relationships between multiple different operating modes;

[0052] Step S2, when the RedCap multi-mode terminal is powered on, it configures its own wireless access capability according to the access cell type of the cell in which it is located and enters the corresponding operation mode;

[0053] Step S3: When a different system conversion process occurs, the RedCap multi-mode terminal performs mode conversion according to the current operation mode and the corresponding conversion relationship.

[0054] Specifically, by pre-configuring and storing multiple operating modes, multi-mode terminals with LTE and 5G NR RedCap terminal capabilities can flexibly adjust their wireless access capability configuration according to the type of cell they reside in. This allows them to smoothly access and obtain normal service strategies after performing inter-system conversion processes such as reselection, handover, and recovery after network loss that comply with 3GPP technical specifications between different types of cells (such as LTE cells, 5G NR RedCap cells, and 5G NR non-RedCap cells). Multi-mode terminals can flexibly access between LTE cells, 5G NR RedCap cells, and 5G NR non-RedCap cells, which is more conducive to the continuity of terminal services.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wireless access capability includes wireless capability A mode or wireless capability B mode, and the access cell type includes a 5G NR RedCap cell, a 5G NR non-RedCap cell, or an LTE cell;

[0056] The operating modes stored in the RedCap multimode terminal include:

[0057] The first operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability A mode, the second operating mode is to access the 5G NR non-RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, the third operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, and the fourth operating mode is to access the LTE cell in wireless capability A mode.

[0058] The above-mentioned names are explained as follows:

[0059] RedCap: Reduced Capability, reduced capability;

[0060] AS: access stratum, 3GPP access layer;

[0061] RAT: Radio Access Technology;

[0062] NR: new radio, also known as new air interface;

[0063] 5G NR RedCap Terminal: A terminal that supports the RedCap terminal capability defined by 3GPP, including 5G NR single-mode terminals with RedCap terminal capabilities, 5G NR and LTE dual-mode terminals, and multi-mode terminals (such as 6G multi-mode terminals).

[0064] LTE cell: A network cell using 4G LTE access technology

[0065] 5G NR RedCap cell: 5G NR cell that allows RedCap terminals to access

[0066] 5G NR non-RedCap cell: 5G NR cell that does not allow RedCap terminals to access and only allows access by common 5G terminals that do not meet RedCap terminal capabilities

[0067] Radio Capability A Mode: A configuration of UE radio access capabilities. Specifically, the terminal's hardware and software are configured to a multi-mode access mode that meets RedCap terminal capabilities, including 5G NR. In this mode, the terminal can access 5G NR RedCap cells. In particular, for multi-mode terminals that support LTE, the terminal can also access LTE cells in this radio capability mode.

[0068] Radio Capability Mode B: A configuration of UE radio access capabilities. Specifically, the terminal's hardware and software are configured for a multi-mode access mode, including 5G NR, that does not meet RedCap terminal capabilities. In this mode, the terminal can access 5G NR non-RedCap cells. Specifically, for multi-mode terminals that support LTE, the terminal can also access LTE cells in this radio capability mode.

[0069] Specifically, in this embodiment, the RedCap multi-mode terminal dynamically binds the terminal's wireless capability configuration with the cell type by predefining and storing multiple operation modes (such as the first to fourth operation modes).

[0070] More specifically, according to the network capability requirements in the 3GPP specifications, RedCap multi-mode terminals are assigned corresponding radio capability modes (A or B) for different cell types (such as RedCap cells, non-RedCap cells, and LTE cells). Radio capability mode A: Adapts to RedCap terminal capabilities and allows access to RedCap cells (first operating mode) and LTE cells (fourth operating mode); Radio capability mode B: Adapts to ordinary 5G terminal capabilities and allows access to non-RedCap cells (second operating mode) and composite RedCap cells (third operating mode).

[0071] To be more specific, the configuration process of different operation modes is as follows:

[0072] In the first operation mode, the terminal is set to wireless capability A mode and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell and performs cell access and service operations. When the terminal accesses a 5G NR RedCap cell in the first operation mode, it reports its RedCap terminal capabilities to the access network in the NR AS uplink signaling, including the supported corresponding 3GPP protocol version (such as Release 17 and above) and 5G frequency band, bandwidth and other information.

[0073] In the second operation mode, the terminal is set to wireless capability mode B and resides in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell and performs cell access and service operations. When the terminal accesses a 5G NR non-RedCap cell in the second operation mode, it reports its general 5G terminal capabilities of non-RedCap terminal capabilities to the access network in the NR AS uplink signaling, including the supported corresponding 3GPP protocol version and 5G frequency band, bandwidth and other information.

[0074] In the third operating mode, the terminal is set to wireless capability mode B and resides in the 5G NR RedCap cell and performs cell access and service operations. Since the 5G NR RedCap cell is currently configured as a composite 5G NR cell, that is, the 5G NR cell allows RedCap terminals to access, and also allows ordinary 5G terminals that do not meet the RedCap terminal capabilities to access. Therefore, when the terminal accesses the 5G NR RedCap cell (that is, the composite 5G NR cell, the same below) in the third operating mode, it reports its general 5G terminal capabilities of non-RedCap terminal capabilities to the access network in the NR's AS uplink signaling, including the supported corresponding 3GPP protocol version and 5G frequency band, bandwidth and other information.

[0075] In the fourth operating mode, for LTE-capable terminals, the terminal is set to radio capability A mode and resides in an LTE cell, performing cell access and service operations. When the terminal accesses an LTE cell in the fourth operating mode, it reports its 5G RedCap terminal capabilities to the access network in LTE AS uplink signaling, including the supported corresponding 3GPP protocol versions and 5G frequency bands and bandwidths.

[0076] By pre-configuring RedCap multi-mode terminals, the terminals no longer need to rely on dynamic network-side adjustment capabilities, resolving the existing problem of service interruptions caused by insufficient coverage for RedCap terminals. For example, when a terminal moves from a RedCap cell to a non-RedCap cell, it automatically switches to wireless capability mode B (the second operating mode), leveraging the lower capability requirements of the non-RedCap cell (e.g., bandwidth ≤ 20MHz) for seamless access, significantly expanding the service range.

[0077] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, step S2 includes:

[0078] In the first network selection process, when the RedCap multimode terminal is powered on and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell, it configures its own radio access capability to radio capability mode A and enters the corresponding first operation mode;

[0079] and / or the second network selection process, when the RedCap multimode terminal is powered on and resides in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell, it configures its own radio access capability to radio capability B mode to enter the corresponding second operating mode;

[0080] And / or the third network selection process, when the RedCap multi-mode terminal is powered on and resides in the LTE cell, it configures its own wireless access capability to wireless capability A mode to enter the corresponding fourth operation mode.

[0081] Specifically, in this embodiment, the network selection process during startup is quickly adapted by:

[0082] When the terminal is powered on and resides in a RedCap cell, it immediately activates wireless capability A mode (the first operating mode) and reports the RedCap capability via AS uplink signaling to ensure protocol compliance;

[0083] If camping on a non-RedCap cell, it switches to wireless capability B mode (second operating mode) and hides the RedCap capability to avoid access conflicts;

[0084] If camping on an LTE cell, the wireless capability A mode (the fourth operation mode) is maintained, and support for the RedCap capability is retained in the LTE network.

[0085] This network selection process solves the existing issue of access failures caused by incorrect mode configuration after terminal power-up. For example, in areas with insufficient RedCap cell coverage, the terminal automatically selects a non-RedCap cell (the second operating mode) upon power-up, leveraging its lower bandwidth requirements to access the network. This ensures compliance with 3GPP specifications while ensuring service continuity.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inter-system conversion process includes a first inter-system conversion process of cell reselection, redirection, and switching from the 4G standard to the 5G standard, and a second inter-system conversion process of cell reselection, redirection, and switching from the 5G standard to the 4G standard;

[0087] The conversion relationships stored in the RedCap multimode terminal include:

[0088] The first conversion relationship corresponds to the first operating mode, indicating that when the system is in the first operating mode and the first different system conversion process occurs, the mode is converted to enter the fourth operating mode;

[0089] The second conversion relationship corresponds to the fourth operating mode, indicating that when the system is in the fourth operating mode and the second different system conversion process occurs, the mode is converted to enter the first operating mode.

[0090] Specifically, the 3GPP specification clearly stipulates the restrictions on terminal capabilities of different network cells (such as RedCap cells, non-RedCap cells, and LTE cells). For example, RedCap terminals can only access RedCap cells by default, but some non-RedCap cells may actually allow RedCap terminals to access due to lower bandwidth requirements (such as ≤20MHz). In mobile scenarios, terminals may frequently cross LTE cells, 5G RedCap cells, and non-RedCap cells. During the crossing process, the 3GPP specification's 5G standard and 4G standard will undergo cell reselection, redirection, switching, and other inter-system conversion processes. If the conversion relationship is not defined, the terminal may be denied access due to capability mismatch. If there is no predefined conversion rule (such as switching to wireless capability A mode when switching from 5G to LTE), the terminal cannot quickly adapt to the new network, resulting in service interruption due to mode conflict. Therefore, the following conversion relationship is established in this embodiment:

[0091] First conversion relationship: When the terminal switches from a 5G RedCap cell (first operation mode) to an LTE cell, the continuation of the wireless capability A mode (fourth operation mode) is triggered to ensure that the potential demand for RedCap capability is still supported in the LTE network (such as subsequent return to the RedCap cell);

[0092] Second conversion relationship: When the terminal returns from the LTE cell (fourth operating mode) to the 5G RedCap cell, it automatically returns to the first operating mode, avoiding the complexity of manual configuration.

[0093] In this embodiment, dual-mode interoperability requires the terminal to adjust its reported wireless capabilities (such as RedCap capabilities or ordinary 5G capabilities) in real time when switching between different network standards (such as LTE and 5G NR) to meet the protocol requirements of the target cell. This design solves the protocol conflict caused by capability configuration mismatch when multi-mode terminals switch across systems. For example, during the redirection process from 5G to LTE, the terminal maintains the wireless capability A mode through the first conversion relationship, ensuring that no reconfiguration is required when returning to the 5G network later, significantly reducing signaling overhead.

[0094] In addition, due to the low deployment coverage of 5G RedCap cells, terminals need to rely on non-RedCap cells or LTE cells to provide backup access. The conversion relationship stored in this embodiment ensures automatic adaptation of the mode when switching across systems (such as 5G to LTE), solves the problem of service interruption of multi-mode terminals when switching between RedCap and non-RedCap cells in the prior art, and significantly improves business continuity. Dual-mode interoperability ensures that the terminal can still maintain connection through other networks when it leaves RedCap coverage.

[0095] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operating mode stored in the RedCap multimode terminal also includes a fifth operating mode of accessing the LTE cell in wireless capability B mode, and the conversion relationship stored in the RedCap multimode terminal also includes:

[0096] The third conversion relationship corresponds to the second operating mode, indicating that when the system is in the second operating mode and the second different system conversion process occurs, the mode is converted to enter the fifth operating mode;

[0097] The fourth conversion relationship corresponds to the fifth operation mode, indicating that when the system is in the fifth operation mode and the first different system conversion process occurs, the system performs a mode conversion to enter the second operation mode.

[0098] Specifically, in this embodiment, the RedCap multi-mode terminal also includes a fifth operating mode (this is an optional operating mode). For terminals that support LTE, the terminal is set to wireless capability mode B and resides in an LTE cell. When the terminal accesses an LTE cell in the fifth operating mode, it reports its general 5G terminal capabilities of non-RedCap terminal capabilities to the access network in LTE AS uplink signaling, including the supported corresponding 3GPP protocol version and 5G frequency band, bandwidth and other information.

[0099] The fifth operating mode is an optional mode, suitable for scenarios where operators have special capability requirements for LTE networks. For the fifth operating mode, two corresponding conversion relationships are also configured:

[0100] Third conversion relationship: When the terminal switches from a non-RedCap cell (second operating mode) to LTE, it selects wireless capability mode B (fifth operating mode) and hides the RedCap capability to adapt to a specific LTE policy (this is optional. The terminal can avoid the above-mentioned inter-system conversion process by restricting the access standard, for example, setting it to prohibit access to LTE);

[0101] Fourth conversion relationship: When the terminal returns to the non-RedCap cell from LTE (fifth operating mode), the wireless capability B mode (second operating mode) is restored to avoid service interruption caused by mode switching (this is an optional operation, and the terminal can avoid the above-mentioned inter-system conversion process through access standard restrictions).

[0102] The introduction of the fifth operating mode significantly enhances the flexibility of terminals in LTE networks. For example, in scenarios where 5G service continuity is a priority, terminals can be restricted to the fifth operating mode, avoiding the impact of frequent mode switching on power consumption and performance.

[0103] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a network recovery process is also included, including:

[0104] In the first recovery process, the RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state while in the fourth operating mode, and enters the second operating mode while residing in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell after network service is restored;

[0105] and / or a second recovery process, the RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state while in the fifth operating mode, and enters the first operating mode while residing in the 5G NR RedCap cell after network service is restored;

[0106] and / or a third recovery process, wherein the RedCap multimode terminal enters a fourth operating mode while in the first operating mode or the second operating mode and enters a network-restricted or network-free state, and resides in an LTE cell after network service is restored;

[0107] and / or a fourth recovery process, the RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state while in the fourth operating mode and enters the first operating mode while residing in the 5G NR RedCap cell after network service is restored;

[0108] And / or the fifth recovery process, the RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state when in the fifth operating mode, and enters the second operating mode when residing in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell after the network service is restored.

[0109] Specifically, in this embodiment, the network recovery process is closely linked to the mode switching process, and the network recovery process set in this embodiment is used to achieve different processing requirements for scenario diversity:

[0110] Different recovery scenarios (such as recovery from LTE to a RedCap cell vs. recovery to a non-RedCap cell) have different requirements on terminal capabilities. For example:

[0111] Restoring to RedCap cell: Need to maintain or restore RedCap capability (wireless capability A mode);

[0112] Restoring to a non-RedCap cell: The RedCap capability needs to be hidden (wireless capability B mode).

[0113] If you rely on only a single recovery logic, the terminal may not be able to correctly adapt to all scenarios.

[0114] The network recovery process provided in this embodiment also avoids mode conflicts and access failures. If a terminal maintains its original mode after an abnormal recovery, this may result in a capability mismatch with the target cell. For example, if a terminal loses connection in the fourth operating mode (LTE) and then recovers to a non-RedCap cell while maintaining wireless capability mode A, it will be denied access due to capability incompatibility. The network recovery process provided in this embodiment avoids this risk by forcing a mode switch.

[0115] The network recovery process set in this embodiment also supports complex network environments. In actual networks, 5G RedCap cells, non-RedCap cells, and LTE cells may be staggered. RedCap multi-mode terminals cover all possible recovery paths through multi-branch logic (such as the first to fifth recovery processes), ensuring that the terminal can adapt to any scenario. The user-unaware automatic recovery mechanism (such as automatically reconnecting to the best available network after a network disconnection) reduces the need for manual operation and enhances the terminal's intelligence level.

[0116] When the terminal recovers from a no-network or limited-service state, the RedCap multi-mode terminal automatically switches to the appropriate wireless capability mode (A / B) according to the target cell type (such as 5GNR RedCap cell, non-RedCap cell, LTE cell), avoiding secondary access failures caused by capability configuration errors. For example, after the terminal is disconnected from the LTE cell (fourth operating mode) and restored to a 5G non-RedCap cell, the first recovery process immediately triggers a switch to wireless capability mode B (second operating mode), ensuring that the terminal quickly accesses with normal 5G capabilities.

[0117] Through predefined recovery logic, the terminal can directly adapt to the optimal access mode after an abnormality is recovered without having to rescan the entire network or manually adjust the configuration, thus reducing service interruption time. For example, if the terminal recovers from the fifth operating mode (LTE) to a RedCap cell, the second recovery process automatically switches back to the first operating mode (RedCap capability) and continues the previous service status.

[0118] To be more specific, for each recovery process:

[0119] First recovery process: When the terminal recovers to a 5G NR non-RedCap cell after being disconnected from the LTE cell (fourth operating mode, wireless capability A mode), it immediately switches to wireless capability B mode (second operating mode), hides the RedCap capability to ensure that the terminal can quickly access the non-RedCap cell with ordinary 5G capabilities, and avoids protocol conflicts.

[0120] Second recovery process: When the terminal recovers from the 5G NR RedCap cell after being disconnected from the LTE cell (fifth operating mode, wireless capability B mode), it immediately switches to wireless capability A mode (first operating mode) and re-enables the RedCap capability to ensure that the terminal accesses the RedCap cell in accordance with the RedCap specification requirements.

[0121] The third recovery process: When the terminal recovers to the LTE cell after being disconnected from the 5G NR RedCap cell (first operating mode) or the 5G NR non-RedCap cell (second operating mode), it is forced to switch to the wireless capability A mode (fourth operating mode) and retain the RedCap capability to support rapid adaptation when returning to the RedCap cell.

[0122] Fourth recovery process: When the terminal recovers from the 5G NR RedCap cell after being disconnected from the LTE cell (fourth operating mode, wireless capability mode A), it immediately switches back to the first operating mode (wireless capability mode A) to maintain the consistency of the RedCap capability and ensure that the terminal accesses the RedCap cell with compliant capabilities.

[0123] Fifth recovery process: When the terminal recovers to a 5G NR non-RedCap cell after being disconnected from the LTE cell (fifth operating mode, wireless capability mode B), it maintains the wireless capability mode B (second operating mode) and continues the normal 5G capability configuration to avoid additional signaling overhead or access delay caused by mode switching.

[0124] In general, network recovery is achieved by setting up multiple recovery processes and pre-defining adaptation rules for different recovery scenarios to achieve the following goals:

[0125] 1. Precise adaptation: Dynamically adjust terminal capabilities based on the target cell type to ensure protocol compliance.

[0126] 2. Seamless recovery: Reduce service interruption time and improve user experience.

[0127] 3. Resource efficiency: Optimize signaling and energy consumption through event-driven.

[0128] 4. Comprehensive coverage: Addresses all possible recovery paths in complex network environments.

[0129] This design not only solves the problem of rigid recovery process in traditional solutions, but also provides key guarantees for the robustness of multi-mode terminals in dynamic network environments.

[0130] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an event-driven switching process is further included, including:

[0131] First handover process: The RedCap multimode terminal enters the first operation mode when it is in the fifth operation mode and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell after network reselection or cell reselection or cell redirection;

[0132] and / or a second handover procedure: the RedCap multimode terminal enters the third operating mode when in the fifth operating mode and camps on the 5G NR RedCap cell after cell handover;

[0133] and / or a third handover process: the RedCap multimode terminal enters the second operating mode when it is in the fourth operating mode and resides in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell after reselecting a network;

[0134] And / or a fourth switching process: the RedCap multimode terminal enters the fourth operating mode after being in the fifth operating mode and in the connected state and then entering the idle state from the connected state.

[0135] Specifically, in this embodiment, the core function of the multi-mode dynamic switching process is to achieve dynamic adaptation of the terminal in different network environments, operation modes and connection states through event-driven and state-aware mechanisms.

[0136] Its design directly addresses the following technical issues:

[0137] 1. Capability conflict during cross-network switching: In the existing technology, when a terminal switches between a 5G NR RedCap cell, a non-RedCap cell, and an LTE cell, access failure or service interruption may occur due to capability configuration mismatch.

[0138] 2. Conflict between business continuity and energy efficiency: Traditional solutions frequently switch modes in connected state, which may interrupt business, while maintaining high power consumption mode in idle state wastes resources.

[0139] 3. Access rigidity in non-RedCap cells: When a terminal reselects a network from LTE to a non-RedCap cell, it may be denied access by the network because its capability mode is not dynamically adjusted.

[0140] To be more specific, through the first and third switching processes, the capability adaptation problem from LTE to 5G RedCap / non-RedCap cells is solved to avoid protocol conflicts. The second switching process allows the terminal to access the composite RedCap cell with ordinary capabilities, simplifying the interaction process and improving network compatibility. The fourth switching process optimizes the mode switching strategy through state perception of connected state / idle state, which not only ensures uninterrupted business but also reduces idle state power consumption. All switching processes are triggered based on network events (such as reselection, switching, and state changes), reducing invalid signaling and improving terminal and network resource utilization.

[0141] The specific functions are:

[0142] 1. First switching process

[0143] Scenario: The terminal is in the fifth operating mode (radio capability mode B accessing LTE) and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell through network reselection, cell reselection, or redirection. It switches to the first operating mode (radio capability mode A).

[0144] This solution has the following benefits: resolving capability conflicts by restoring RedCap capabilities (radio capability A) when switching from LTE (radio capability B) to a RedCap cell, thus avoiding rejection by the RedCap cell due to capability mismatches. It also optimizes access efficiency by triggering mode switching through events (such as cell reselection completion) and reducing manual configuration delays.

[0145] 2. Second switching process

[0146] Scenario: The terminal is in the fifth operation mode (radio capability B mode accessing LTE) and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell through cell handover. Switches to the third operation mode (radio capability B mode accessing a RedCap cell).

[0147] The benefits include avoiding handover conflicts by maintaining wireless capability B mode (normal 5G capabilities) to access RedCap cells during cell handover, thus avoiding access failures caused by conflicts between handover signaling and RedCap capabilities. Furthermore, the system adapts to the characteristics of composite cells. For composite RedCap cells that allow the coexistence of RedCap and normal 5G terminals, terminals can access with normal capabilities to simplify the interaction process.

[0148] 3. The third switching process

[0149] Scenario: The terminal is in the fourth operating mode (radio capability mode A accessing LTE) and camps on a 5G NR non-RedCap cell by reselecting the network. It switches to the second operating mode (radio capability mode B).

[0150] Its beneficial effects include: resolving protocol limitations by hiding the RedCap capability (switching to Radio Capability B) when switching from LTE (Radio Capability A) to a non-RedCap cell, circumventing 3GPP restrictions on RedCap terminals accessing non-RedCap cells. Furthermore, it improves access success rates. Through dynamic adaptation, terminals access non-RedCap cells with standard 5G capabilities, meeting network-side capability requirements.

[0151] 4. The fourth switching process

[0152] Scenario: The terminal is in the fifth operation mode (radio capability B mode accessing LTE) and is in the connected state, then enters the idle state and switches to the fourth operation mode (radio capability A mode accessing LTE).

[0153] This approach offers the following benefits: balancing services and energy efficiency, maintaining wireless capability mode B when connected to maintain service continuity (e.g., VoLTE calls), and falling back to wireless capability mode A (RedCap capability) when idle, reducing power consumption and preparing for a subsequent return to the RedCap cell. It also reduces mode switching overhead by triggering switching only when the state changes, avoiding signaling storms caused by frequent mode adjustments.

[0154] Specifically, such as Figure 2 The figure shows the conversion relationship between various operating modes.

[0155] The present invention also provides a RedCap multi-mode terminal, which applies the above-mentioned access mode conversion method, such as Figure 3 As shown, including:

[0156] Mode storage module 1, used to pre-configure and store multiple operating modes according to its own wireless access capabilities and access cell types, and store conversion relationships between multiple different operating modes;

[0157] Power-on network selection module 2, connection mode storage module, used to configure its own wireless access capability to enter the corresponding operation mode according to the access cell type of the cell when the device is powered on;

[0158] The mode switching module 3 is connected to the power-on network selection module and the mode storage module, and is used to perform mode switching according to the current operating mode and the corresponding conversion relationship when a different system switching process occurs.

[0159] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wireless access capability includes wireless capability A mode or wireless capability B mode, and the access cell type includes a 5G NR RedCap cell, a 5G NR non-RedCap cell, or an LTE cell;

[0160] The operation modes stored in the mode storage module 1 include:

[0161] The first operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability A mode, the second operating mode is to access the 5G NR non-RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, the third operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, and the fourth operating mode is to access the LTE cell in wireless capability A mode.

[0162] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power-on network selection module 2 includes:

[0163] The first network selection unit 21 is configured to configure its own radio access capability to radio capability A mode to enter the corresponding first operation mode when the device is powered on and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell;

[0164] The second network selection unit 22 is configured to configure its own radio access capability to radio capability B mode to enter the corresponding second operation mode when powered on and residing in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell;

[0165] The third network selection unit 23 is configured to configure its own wireless access capability to wireless capability mode A to enter the corresponding fourth operation mode when the device is powered on and resides in an LTE cell.

[0166] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the implementation mode and protection scope of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, it should be aware that all solutions obtained by equivalent substitutions and obvious changes made using the contents of this specification and illustrations should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An access mode conversion method, applied in the RedCap multi-mode terminal, characterized in that: include: Step S1, the RedCap multi-mode terminal pre-configures and stores multiple operating modes according to its own wireless access capability and access cell type, and stores conversion relationships between multiple different operating modes; Step S2, when the RedCap multi-mode terminal is powered on, it configures its own wireless access capability according to the access cell type of the cell in which it is located and enters the corresponding operation mode; Step S3: When a different system conversion process occurs, the RedCap multi-mode terminal performs mode conversion according to the current operation mode and the corresponding conversion relationship.

2. The access mode conversion method according to claim 1, wherein: The radio access capability includes radio capability A mode or radio capability B mode, and the access cell type includes a 5G NR RedCap cell, a 5G NR non-RedCap cell, or an LTE cell; The operating modes stored in the RedCap multimode terminal include: The first operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability A mode, the second operating mode is to access the 5GNR non-RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, the third operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, and the fourth operating mode is to access the LTE cell in wireless capability A mode.

3. The access mode conversion method according to claim 2, wherein: The step S2 comprises: When the RedCap multimode terminal is powered on and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell, it configures its own radio access capability to radio capability A mode to enter the corresponding first operating mode; and / or the RedCap multimode terminal, when powered on and residing in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell, configures its own radio access capability to radio capability B mode to enter the corresponding second operating mode; And / or when the RedCap multi-mode terminal is powered on and resides in an LTE cell, it configures its own wireless access capability to wireless capability mode A to enter the corresponding fourth operation mode.

4. The access mode conversion method according to claim 3, wherein: The inter-system conversion process includes a first inter-system conversion process of cell reselection, redirection, and switching from the 4G standard to the 5G standard, and a second inter-system conversion process of cell reselection, redirection, and switching from the 5G standard to the 4G standard; The conversion relationship stored in the RedCap multimode terminal includes: A first conversion relationship, corresponding to the first operating mode, indicates that when the system is in the first operating mode and the first different system conversion process occurs, a mode conversion is performed to enter the fourth operating mode; The second conversion relationship corresponds to the fourth operation mode, indicating that when the fourth operation mode is in operation and the second different system conversion process occurs, a mode conversion is performed to enter the first operation mode.

5. The access mode conversion method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The operation mode stored in the RedCap multimode terminal further includes a fifth operation mode of accessing an LTE cell in wireless capability B mode, and the conversion relationship stored in the RedCap multimode terminal further includes: The third conversion relationship corresponds to the second operation mode, indicating that when the second operation mode is in progress and the second different system conversion process occurs, the mode is converted to the fifth operation mode; The fourth conversion relationship corresponds to the fifth operation mode, indicating that when the system is in the fifth operation mode and the first different system conversion process occurs, the mode is converted to enter the second operation mode.

6. The access mode conversion method according to claim 5, characterized in that: Also included are network recovery procedures, including: The RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state while in the fourth operating mode, and enters the second operating mode when residing in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell after network service is restored; and / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state while in the fifth operating mode, and enters the first operating mode when camping on a 5G NR RedCap cell after network service is restored; and / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters the fourth operating mode when in the first operating mode or the second operating mode and enters a network-restricted or network-free state, and resides in an LTE cell after network service is restored; and / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state while in the fourth operating mode, and enters the first operating mode when camping on a 5G NR RedCap cell after network service is restored; And / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters a network-restricted or network-free state when in the fifth operating mode, and enters the second operating mode when it resides in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell after restoring network service.

7. The access mode conversion method according to claim 5, characterized in that: Also included is an event-driven switching process, including: The RedCap multimode terminal enters the first operating mode when it is in the fifth operating mode and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell after network reselection or cell reselection or cell redirection; and / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters the third operating mode when in the fifth operating mode and camps on a 5G NRRedCap cell after cell switching; and / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters the second operating mode when it is in the fourth operating mode and resides in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell after reselecting a network; And / or the RedCap multimode terminal enters the fourth operation mode after being in the fifth operation mode and in a connected state and then entering an idle state from the connected state.

8. A RedCap multi-mode terminal, applying the access mode conversion method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising: A mode storage module, configured to pre-configure and store a plurality of operation modes according to its own wireless access capability and access cell type, and store conversion relationships between a plurality of different operation modes; A power-on network selection module, connected to the mode storage module, configured to configure its own wireless access capability to enter a corresponding operation mode according to the access cell type of the cell in which the device is located when the device is powered on; The mode switching module is connected to the power-on network selection module and the mode storage module, and is used to perform mode conversion according to the current operating mode and the corresponding conversion relationship when an inter-system conversion process occurs.

9. The RedCap multimode terminal according to claim 8, characterized in that: The radio access capability includes radio capability A mode or radio capability B mode, and the access cell type includes a 5G NR RedCap cell, a 5G NR non-RedCap cell, or an LTE cell; The operation modes stored in the mode storage module include: The first operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability A mode, the second operating mode is to access the 5GNR non-RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, the third operating mode is to access the 5G NR RedCap cell in wireless capability B mode, and the fourth operating mode is to access the LTE cell in wireless capability A mode.

10. The RedCap multimode terminal according to claim 9, characterized in that: The power-on network selection module includes: A first network selection unit is configured to configure its own radio access capability to radio capability A mode to enter the corresponding first operation mode when the device is powered on and resides in a 5G NR RedCap cell; The second network selection unit is configured to configure its own radio access capability to radio capability B mode to enter the corresponding second operation mode when powered on and residing in a 5G NR non-RedCap cell; The third network selection unit is configured to configure its own wireless access capability to wireless capability mode A to enter the corresponding fourth operation mode when the device is powered on and resides in an LTE cell.

Images