Communication method and communication device

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and a communication device, relates to the technical field of communication, and is beneficial to improving the communication efficiency. The method comprises: a first communication device sending a first signaling to a second communication device, the first signaling being used for indicating to initiate access to the second communication device, the first signaling comprising a first identifier, the first identifier being generated by the first communication device or pre-stored in the first communication device; the second communication device sends a second signaling, the second signaling is used for indicating that the first communication device is successfully accessed and / or indicating that the first communication device successfully resolves the competition, the second signaling comprises a first identifier or a second identifier, and the second identifier is an identifier specified by the second communication device for the first communication device; the first communication device takes the first identification as the identification of the first communication device under the condition that the second signaling comprises the first identification, and takes the second identification as the identification of the first communication device under the condition that the second signaling comprises the second identification.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a communication method and a communication device. Background Technology

[0002] Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is a non-contact automatic identification technology. The reader and the tag can communicate wirelessly and bi-directionally. The reader can read and write to the tag using radio frequency, thereby achieving the purpose of identifying the target and exchanging data.

[0003] During the communication process between the tag and the reader, since multiple tags use a shared channel, they need to compete for the opportunity to send data. Especially in periodic business scenarios, the tags need to send data to the reader multiple times, and each time they need to compete to resolve the issue before they can send the data. This method results in low efficiency of the communication system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and a communication device, which helps to save time consumed by competition and improve communication efficiency.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method applied to a first communication device, the method comprising: sending a first signaling message, the first signaling message being used to indicate an initiation of access to a second communication device, the first signaling message including a first identifier, the first identifier being generated by the first communication device or pre-stored in the first communication device; receiving a second signaling message, the second signaling message being used to indicate that the first communication device has successfully accessed the device, and / or being used to indicate that the first communication device has successfully resolved a contention, the second signaling message including the first identifier or a second identifier, the second identifier being an identifier designated by the second communication device for the first communication device; when the second signaling message includes the first identifier, using the first identifier as the identifier of the first communication device, and when the second signaling message includes the second identifier, using the second identifier as the identifier of the first communication device.

[0006] Optionally, the first communication device may be referred to as a tag, user equipment (UE), or ambient internet of things (A-IoT) device, and the second communication device may be referred to as a reader, radio access network (RAN) device, or user equipment, etc. This application does not limit the specific form of the first and second communication devices.

[0007] Optionally, the meaning of the first signaling may include one or more of the following: indicating access to the second communication device, initiating access to the network, initiating access to the second communication device, requesting access to the network, or requesting access to the second communication device. This application does not limit the meaning of the first signaling.

[0008] Optionally, the first signaling can be any of the following: downlink trigger (DL trigger), paging, trigger, initial trigger, or indication signaling; this application does not limit this.

[0009] Optionally, the first identifier may be a 16-bit random number (RN16) or an 8-bit random number generated by the first communication device, or it may be any other random number or identifier of any number of bits. This application does not limit this.

[0010] Optionally, the second signaling may be, for example, ACK signaling, access response, contention resolution identity, or access ID response, etc. This application does not specifically limit the name of the second signaling.

[0011] Optionally, the meaning of the second signaling can be one or more of the following: indicating that the first communication device has successfully accessed the network, indicating that the first communication device has successfully accessed the network randomly, indicating that the first communication device has sent data (such as EPC or device ID), or implicitly indicating that the first communication device uses the first identifier or the second identifier carried in the second signaling as the identifier of the first communication device. This application does not limit the specific meaning of the second signaling.

[0012] The method provided in this application embodiment involves a second communication device, after receiving a first signaling message from a first communication device, determining whether any identifiers received from other communication devices in the past are duplicates of the first identifier carried in the first signaling message. If so, the second communication device assigns a new second identifier to the first communication device and includes the second identifier in the second signaling message before sending it to the first communication device. If not, the second communication device includes the first identifier in the second signaling message before sending it to the first communication device. Upon receiving the second signaling message, if the second signaling message includes the first identifier, the first communication device uses the first identifier as its identifier; if the second signaling message includes the second identifier, the second identifier is used as its identifier. Thus, the second communication device assigns a unique identifier to the first communication device via the second signaling. In subsequent scenarios where the first and second communication devices need to communicate again, for example, the second communication device can instruct the first communication device to perform a contention-free random access (CFRA) procedure based on the identifier of the first communication device, or trigger the first communication device to perform uplink / downlink data transmission with the second communication device, skipping the contention resolution process. This helps save the time for the first communication device to access the second communication device and improves communication efficiency. For another example, the second communication device can instruct / trigger at least one specified first communication device to access the second communication device or perform uplink / downlink data transmission based on the identifier of the first communication device.

[0013] It is worth noting that the identifier of the first communication device uniquely corresponds to the first communication device. It can be understood as the unique identifier of the first communication device within the coverage area of ​​the second communication device, or it can be understood as the unique identifier within the range of at least one communication device during the execution of the target business process. It can be a temporary identifier or a permanent identifier. This application does not make any specific limitation in this regard.

[0014] Optionally, the identifier of the first communication device may be called the access stratum identifier (AS ID) of the first communication device, but this application does not limit it to this.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the second identifier includes the first identifier and the third identifier, or the third identifier is an identifier assigned by the second communication device to the first communication device.

[0016] In some examples, the third identifier can be an identifier related to the first identifier, such as adding or subtracting several bits to the first identifier, or modifying several bits in the first identifier. This application does not limit this.

[0017] In other examples, the third identifier can be a completely new identifier (newID) that is entirely different from the first identifier. Optionally, the third identifier can include the following three implementations:

[0018] Method 1: The third identifier can be a random number identifier (random ID) generated by the second communication device. This application does not limit the number of bits in this random number.

[0019] Method 2: The third identifier can also be the time-domain resource identifier and frequency-domain resource identifier used by the first communication device when sending the first signaling, or the time-domain resource identifier and frequency-domain resource identifier used by the second communication device when sending the second signaling to the first communication device. For example, the time-domain resource identifier can be a time slot identifier, a time slot identifier corresponding to absolute time, or a relative time slot identifier specified by the second communication device; the frequency-domain resource identifier can be one or more of carrier frequency, frequency shift information, or frequency point information, and this application does not limit this.

[0020] Method 3: The third identifier can also be the code field identifier used by the first communication device and the second communication device for communication, such as a preamble sequence. This application does not limit this.

[0021] The method provided in this application embodiment is advantageous in making the identifier of the first communication device different from the identifiers of other communication devices, so that the second communication device can instruct the first communication device to send data based on the identifier of the first communication device, and will not mistakenly trigger other communication devices to send data, which is beneficial to reducing the probability of collision with other communication devices when the first communication device sends data, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0022] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: sending first data; and storing the identifier of the first communication device if the first data transmission is successful.

[0023] Optionally, the first data may include information about the first communication device, such as the EPC, device ID, or uplink data of the first communication device, which is not limited in this application.

[0024] Optionally, the successful transmission of the first data may include the first communication device receiving an acknowledgment (ACK) signaling or an access ID response signaling from the second communication device after sending the first data, or receiving a seventh signaling from the second communication device. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0025] Optionally, the seventh signaling can be any of the following: queryrep, access occasion trigger, next access occasion trigger, or indication signaling. The seventh signaling can be used to indicate or trigger at least one access occasion, or to indicate or associate the boundary of an access occasion (the start or end of the access occasion). This application does not limit the name and meaning of the seventh signaling.

[0026] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving a third signaling message, the third signaling message being used to instruct the first communication device to send data, the third signaling message including an identifier of the first communication device.

[0027] Optionally, the third signaling can be any of downlink trigger (DL Trigger) signaling, paging, query, or queryrep. This application does not limit the specific name format of the third signaling.

[0028] Optionally, the meaning of the third signaling can be one or more of the following: for paging the first communication device to access the network, for triggering the first communication device to access the network, for selecting the first communication device to access the network, for paging the first communication device to access the second communication device, for triggering the first communication device to access the second communication device, for selecting the first communication device to access the second communication device, for sending uplink data, for instructing the first communication device to send data, for instructing the first communication device to access the second communication device, for instructing the first communication device to access the network, for instructing the first communication device to skip the contention resolution process, or for instructing the first communication device to skip the random access process. This application does not limit the meaning of the third signaling.

[0029] It is worth noting that the third signaling carries the identifier of the first communication device that has been stored in the first communication device, indicating that the first communication device can access the second communication device without contention (contention-free random access, CFRA). This method reduces the complexity of the first communication device accessing the second communication device and improves communication efficiency.

[0030] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: sending second data; receiving fourth signaling, the fourth signaling being used to instruct a third communication device to send data, and to instruct that the second data transmission was successful.

[0031] Optionally, the second data may be the same as or different from the first data; this application does not limit this.

[0032] Optionally, the fourth signaling may be DL Trigger signaling, which may include the identifier of the third communication device, but this application does not limit this.

[0033] Optionally, the meaning of the fourth signaling can be one or more of the following: indicating that the third communication device can access the second communication device without contention (CFRA), indicating that the third communication device can send uplink data, indicating that the third communication device can send data, indicating that the third communication device can access the second communication device, indicating that the third communication device can access the network, indicating that the third communication device can skip the contention resolution process, or indicating that the third communication device can skip the random access process, implicitly indicating that the second data was successfully sent, or indicating that the second data was successfully transmitted. This application does not limit the specific meaning of the fourth signaling.

[0034] In some possible implementations, the fourth signaling may include indication information to indicate that the second data transmission was successful, for example, by identifying the indication information with 1 bit. Optionally, setting the bit to 1 can indicate that the second data transmission was successful, but this application does not limit this.

[0035] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving a fifth signaling message, the fifth signaling message being used to indicate at least one communication device, the at least one communication device including the first communication device, the fifth signaling message including first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that the first communication device stores an identifier of the first communication device.

[0036] Optionally, the fifth signaling instruction indicating at least one communication device can also be understood as the second communication device selecting, paging, commanding, or triggering at least one communication device to implement one or more of the following services: inventory service, paging service, command service (e.g., read, write, deactivate, lock, etc.), positioning service, or sensing service.

[0037] Optionally, the fifth signaling can be any of the following: select, paging, trigger, initial trigger, or indication signaling; this application does not limit this.

[0038] Optionally, the meaning of the fifth signaling may include one or more of the following: for paging the first communication device to access the network, for selecting the first communication device to access the network, for triggering the first communication device to access the network, for paging the first communication device to access the second communication device, for selecting the first communication device to access the second communication device, for triggering the first communication device to access the second communication device, for paging the first communication device to send uplink data, for selecting the first communication device to send uplink data, or for triggering the first communication device to send uplink data. This application does not specifically limit the meaning of the fifth signaling.

[0039] After the first communication device receives the fifth signaling, it may optionally receive a sixth signaling. Optionally, the sixth signaling may be any one of query, access round trigger, or indication signaling. The sixth signaling may be used to indicate or trigger at least one access opportunity (e.g., to directly or indirectly indicate the total number of access opportunities), and / or to indicate the first access opportunity (or the initial access opportunity). This application does not specifically limit the name and meaning of the sixth signaling.

[0040] In some implementations, the first indication information may be a display indication. For example, the first indication information may occupy 1 bit. If the bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first communication device stores the identifier of the first communication device. If the bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first communication device does not need to store the identifier of the first communication device. Alternatively, if the bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first communication device stores the identifier of the first communication device. If the bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first communication device does not need to store the identifier of the first communication device. This application does not limit this.

[0041] In other implementations, the first indication information can be implicitly indicated. For example, if the fifth signaling indicates that at least one communication device needs to perform a periodic service, such as a periodic inventory service, then it implicitly indicates that the first communication device stores the identifier of the first communication device.

[0042] Secondly, this application provides a communication method applied to a second communication device, the method comprising: receiving a first signaling, the first signaling being used to indicate an initiation of access to the second communication device, the first signaling including a first identifier, the first identifier being generated by the first communication device or pre-stored in the first communication device; sending a second signaling, the second signaling being used to indicate that the first communication device has successfully accessed, and / or to indicate that the first communication device has successfully resolved contention, the second signaling including the first identifier or a second identifier, the second identifier being an identifier designated by the second communication device for the first communication device.

[0043] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the second signaling includes the first identifier when the first identifier does not overlap with other communication devices, and the second signaling includes the second identifier when the first identifier overlaps with other communication devices.

[0044] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the second identifier includes the first identifier and the third identifier, or the third identifier is an identifier assigned by the second communication device to the first communication device.

[0045] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending a third signaling message, the third signaling message being used to instruct the first communication device to send data, the third signaling message including an identifier of the first communication device.

[0046] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: receiving second data; sending a fourth signaling message, the fourth signaling message being used to instruct a third communication device to send data, and to indicate that the second data transmission was successful.

[0047] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: receiving a fifth signaling message, the fifth signaling message being used to indicate at least one communication device, the at least one communication device including the first communication device, the signaling message including first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that the first communication device stores an identifier of the first communication device.

[0048] Thirdly, this application also provides a communication method applied to a first communication device, the method comprising: receiving an eighth signaling message, the eighth signaling message being used to instruct at least one communication device to perform a periodic service; receiving a ninth signaling message, the ninth signaling message being used to instruct at least one access opportunity, including a periodic identifier; sending an eleventh signaling message, the eleventh signaling message being used to instruct the initiation of access to a second communication device, including a fourth identifier; receiving a twelfth signaling message, the twelfth signaling message being used to instruct the first communication device to successfully access the device, and / or, to instruct the first communication device, including a fourth identifier; sending third data; receiving a thirteenth signaling message, the thirteenth signaling message being used to instruct the first communication device to send data, including a periodic identifier, a contention resolution identifier, and a resource identifier related to the first communication device, the contention resolution identifier including the fourth identifier; and sending fourth data.

[0049] Optionally, the name and meaning of the eighth signaling can be similar to the fifth signaling mentioned above, and the name and meaning of the ninth signaling can be similar to the sixth signaling mentioned above, which will not be repeated here.

[0050] Optionally, the name and meaning of the eleventh signaling can be similar to the first signaling mentioned above, the name and meaning of the twelfth signaling can be similar to the second signaling mentioned above, and the meaning of the fourth identifier can be similar to the first identifier mentioned above. These will not be elaborated further here.

[0051] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of this application, the fourth identifier contained in the twelfth signaling sent by the second communication device is only used to instruct the first communication device to identify the twelfth signaling as the eleventh signaling response.

[0052] Optionally, the third data may be the same as or different from the first or second data mentioned above, and the fourth data may be the same as or different from the third data. This application does not limit this.

[0053] It should be understood that the period identifier, contention resolution identifier, and resource identifier included in the thirteenth signaling are corresponding; that is, the contention resolution identifier and resource identifier can be those used by the first communication device during communication with the second communication device within the period corresponding to the period identifier. The fourteenth signaling has the same meaning as the thirteenth signaling, the difference being that it targets different communication devices.

[0054] In one possible implementation, within the period corresponding to period identifier 1, the second communication device sends a fourth identifier to the first communication device as a contention resolution identifier, and the resource identifier included in the thirteenth signaling can be an identifier of a resource used by the first communication device within that period. The resource identifier may include, for example, an identifier of a time-domain resource and / or an identifier of a frequency-domain resource. For example, in an uplink frequency division multiplexing (UL FDM) scenario, the frequency-domain resource identifier may include an identifier of an uplink frequency used by the first communication device.

[0055] In one possible implementation, to expedite business processes, the second communication device can initiate multiple different processes within the same cycle. These processes can each correspond to multiple groups within at least one communication device. The second communication device can carry the process number of each group in the aforementioned ninth or tenth signaling, enabling the multiple processes to execute in parallel. In this case, the aforementioned thirteenth signaling may also include the process number of the first communication device.

[0056] In this embodiment of the application, after each of the at least one communication devices indicated by the second communication device has communicated with the second communication device at least once, the second communication device can use the periodic identifier, contention access identifier, and resource identifier of the first communication device's historical communication with the second communication device to instruct the first communication device to send data. This helps to reduce the probability of collisions between the first communication device and other communication devices when the first communication device sends data, saves communication time, and improves communication efficiency.

[0057] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: receiving a tenth signaling message, the tenth signaling message being used to repeatedly indicate access opportunities, including a periodic identifier.

[0058] Optionally, the name and meaning of the tenth signaling can be similar to those of the seventh signaling mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0059] In one possible implementation, within each cycle of the periodic service, the second communication device may send a ninth signaling message and at least a tenth signaling message, such as a query and at least a queryrep. Within the same cycle, the cycle identifier (round ID) contained in the query and / or queryrep sent by the second communication device may be the same.

[0060] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: receiving a fourteenth signaling message, the fourteenth signaling message being used to instruct a third communication device to send data, including a period identifier, a contention resolution identifier, and a resource identifier related to the third communication device.

[0061] It should be understood that the fourteenth signaling and the thirteenth signaling have the same meaning, the difference being that they are applied to different communication devices.

[0062] In this embodiment of the application, the success of the fourth data transmission can be implicitly indicated by the fourteenth signaling, which helps to save the signaling overhead of the second communication device.

[0063] Fourthly, this application also provides a communication method applied to a second communication device, the method comprising: sending an eighth signaling message, the eighth signaling message being used to instruct at least one communication device to perform a periodic service; sending a ninth signaling message, the ninth signaling message being used to instruct at least one access opportunity, including a periodic identifier; receiving an eleventh signaling message, the eleventh signaling message being used to instruct the initiation of access to the second communication device, including a fourth identifier; sending a twelfth signaling message, the twelfth signaling message being used to instruct a first communication device to successfully access the second communication device, and / or, to instruct the first communication device, including a fourth identifier; receiving third data; sending a thirteenth signaling message, the thirteenth signaling message being used to instruct the first communication device to send data, including a periodic identifier, a contention resolution identifier, and a resource identifier related to the first communication device, the contention resolution identifier including the fourth identifier; and receiving fourth data.

[0064] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: sending a tenth signaling message, the tenth signaling message being used to repeatedly indicate access opportunities, including a periodic identifier.

[0065] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: sending a fourteenth signaling message, the fourteenth signaling message being used to instruct the third communication device to send data, including a period identifier, a contention resolution identifier, and a resource identifier related to the third communication device.

[0066] Fifthly, a communication apparatus is provided for performing the method in any one of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above. Specifically, the apparatus includes a module for performing the method in any one of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above.

[0067] A sixth aspect provides another communication device, including a processor coupled to a memory, which can be used to execute instructions in the memory to implement the methods in any of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above. Optionally, the device further includes a memory. Optionally, the device further includes a communication interface, to which the processor is coupled.

[0068] A seventh aspect provides a processor, comprising: an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive signals through the input circuit and transmit signals through the output circuit, causing the processor to execute the method in any of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above.

[0069] In specific implementation, the processor can be a chip, the input circuit can be an input pin, the output circuit can be an output pin, and the processing circuit can be a transistor, gate circuit, flip-flop, and various logic circuits. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example, but not limited to, a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit can be output to, for example, but not limited to, a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter. Furthermore, the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as the input circuit and the output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the processor and various circuits.

[0070] Eighthly, a processing apparatus is provided, including a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to read instructions stored in the memory and to receive signals via a receiver and transmit signals via a transmitter to execute the methods in any of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above.

[0071] Optionally, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories.

[0072] Alternatively, the memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory can be set up separately from the processor.

[0073] In specific implementation, the memory can be a non-transitory memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), which can be integrated with the processor on the same chip or set on different chips. The embodiments of this application do not limit the type of memory or the way the memory and processor are set.

[0074] It should be understood that the relevant data interaction process, such as sending indication information, can be the process of outputting indication information from the processor, and receiving capability information can be the process of the processor receiving input capability information. Specifically, the processed output data can be output to the transmitter, and the input data received by the processor can come from the receiver. Here, the transmitter and receiver can be collectively referred to as a transceiver.

[0075] The processing device in the eighth aspect above can be a chip. The processor can be implemented in hardware or software. When implemented in hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, integrated circuit, etc. When implemented in software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor that reads software code stored in memory. The memory can be integrated into the processor or located outside the processor and exist independently.

[0076] A ninth aspect provides a chip or chip system including at least one processor and a communication interface, the communication interface and the at least one processor being interconnected via a circuit, the at least one processor being configured to run computer programs or instructions to perform the methods in any of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above. The communication interface in the chip may be an input / output interface, pins, or circuits, etc.

[0077] In a tenth aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when executed, causes a computer to perform the methods in any of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above.

[0078] Eleventhly, a computer-readable storage medium is provided that stores a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods in any of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above. Attached Figure Description

[0079] Figure 1 A schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0080] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0081] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of another communication system provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0082] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of yet another communication system provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0083] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of another communication system provided in this application embodiment;

[0084] Figure 6 A schematic flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0085] Figure 7 A schematic flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0086] Figure 8 A schematic flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0087] Figure 9 A schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0088] Figure 10 A schematic block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0089] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0090] The technical solutions of this application embodiment can be applied to various communication systems, such as: radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, wireless local area network (WLAN), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems, wired networks, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems, device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems, and 4G (4G) communication systems. th Generation 4G mobile communication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, World Wide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) systems, 5th generation (5G) mobile communication systems, such as New Radio (NR) systems, and future communication systems, such as 6th generation (6G) mobile communication systems or other evolved communication systems.

[0091] The terminal equipment involved in the embodiments of this application may include antennas, coupling elements, and chips. Terminal equipment may also be referred to as tag, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device, etc.

[0092] Terminal devices can be devices that provide voice / data connectivity to users, such as handheld devices with wireless connectivity, in-vehicle devices, etc. Currently, examples of terminals include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving vehicles, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks, or future public land mobile communication networks. Terminal devices in a network (PLMN), etc., are not limited to this in the embodiments of this application.

[0093] By way of example and not limitation, in this embodiment, the terminal device can also be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for devices that utilize wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Wearable devices are portable devices that are worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not merely hardware devices, but also achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable smart devices include those that are feature-rich, large in size, and can achieve complete or partial functions without relying on a smartphone, such as smartwatches or smart glasses, as well as those that focus on a specific type of application function and require the use of other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0094] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the terminal device can also be an ambient internet of things (A-IoT) device. A-IoT is an important component of future information technology development, and its main technical feature is connecting objects to networks via communication technology, thereby realizing an intelligent network for human-machine interconnection and object-to-object interconnection. The A-IoT terminal device can be implemented using terminals in a cellular network, such as ultra-low power, ultra-low complexity IoT terminals. Non-contact data communication can be performed between the network device and the A-IoT terminal device, thereby reading information from the A-IoT terminal device and / or writing information that needs to be stored into the A-IoT terminal device.

[0095] An RFID system, composed of network devices (which can be viewed as readers in RFID technology) and passive / semi-passive / active A-IoT terminal devices, can perform tasks such as inventory management, positioning, sensing, and command execution. Typical application scenarios include logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identification, and environmental monitoring. For example, passive A-IoT terminal devices can also be referred to as passive Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

[0096] Terminal devices can include passive terminal devices, semi-passive terminal devices, and active terminal devices. Passive terminal devices require an excitation signal from the network device; some energy is used for internal processing such as encoding / decoding and modulation / demodulation. This excitation signal can also serve as a carrier wave for reflecting uplink information from the terminal device. Semi-passive terminal devices contain a battery, and their internal processing, including encoding / decoding and modulation / demodulation, can utilize the battery, but they still require the network device to send an excitation signal as a reflected carrier. Active terminal devices contain a battery and perform encoding / decoding and modulation / demodulation, but unlike semi-passive terminal devices, they include a radio transmitter, enabling them to actively transmit data to other devices.

[0097] In addition, the network devices involved in the embodiments of this application may be referred to as readers (or readers-writers), radio access network (RAN) devices, open radio access network (O-RAN) devices or any component node in O-RAN, a node B (gNB) that continues to evolve from a transmission reception point, 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., home-evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU), or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point (AP), etc.

[0098] Figure 1 An exemplary schematic diagram of the network device involved in an embodiment of this application is shown. For example... Figure 1 As shown, network equipment can be RAN equipment including centralized unit (CU) nodes, distributed unit (DU) nodes, or RAN equipment including both CU and DU nodes. RAN equipment including CU and DU nodes separates the protocol layers of the eNB in ​​a long term evolution (LTE) system. Some protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining partial or complete protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU.

[0099] In some examples, the CU is a logical node that carries the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, and other control functions of the access network equipment. The CU connects to network nodes such as the core network through interfaces, which can be interfaces such as E2 interfaces. Optionally, the CU may have some core network functions. The CU (e.g., the PDCP layer and higher layers) connects to the DU (e.g., the RLC layer and lower layers) through interfaces, which can be interfaces such as the F1 interface. In some examples, these interfaces (e.g., the F1 interface) can provide control plane (C-Plane) and user plane (U-Plane) functions (e.g., interface management, system information management, UE context management, RRC message transmission, etc.). F1AP is the application protocol of the F1 interface, defining the F1 signaling procedures in some examples. The F1 interface supports control plane F1-C and user plane F1-U.

[0100] In some examples, the CU can be split into CU-CP (Control Unit-Control Plane) and CU-UP (Control Unit-User Plane). CU-CP is a logical node carrying the RRC layer and PDCP-C (Control plane part of PDCP) layer, used to implement the CU's control plane functions. CU-CP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement control plane functions. These network elements in the core network can be Access and Mobility Function (AMF) elements, such as the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) in a 5G system. AMF elements are responsible for mobility management in the mobile network, such as terminal device location updates, terminal device registration with the network, and terminal device handover. CU-UP is a logical node carrying the SDAP layer and PDCP-U (User plane part of PDCP) layer, used to implement the CU's user plane functions. CU-UP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement user plane functions. These network elements in the core network, such as the UPF (User Plane Function) in a 5G system, are responsible for data forwarding and receiving in terminal devices. The above CU and DU configurations are merely examples; the functions of the CU and DU can be configured as needed. For instance, the CU or DU can be configured to have more protocol layer functions, or only some protocol layer processing functions. For example, some RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions above the RLC layer can be placed in the CU, while the remaining RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions below the RLC layer can be placed in the DU. Furthermore, the functions of the CU or DU can be divided according to service type or other system requirements, such as by latency. Functions that require low latency can be placed in the DU, while functions that do not require low latency can be placed in the CU.

[0101] In some examples, a DU is a logical node that carries the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, Higher Physical Layer (Higher PHY) layer, and other functions. In some examples, a DU can control at least one RU. The DU connects to the RU through interfaces, which may be fronthaul interfaces. In some examples, the Higher PHY layer includes the PHY layer processing, such as forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation, and demodulation.

[0102] In some examples, the RU is a logical node carrying both Lower Physical Layer (Lower PHY) and Radio Frequency (RF) processing. In some examples, the RU can be a 3GPP Transmission Reception Point (TRP), a Remote Radio Head (RRH), or other similar entities. In some examples, the Low-PHY includes PHY processing functions such as Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT), digital beamforming, and filtering. The RU communicates with one or more UEs via a radio link.

[0103] The DU and RU can be co-located or not. The DU and RU exchange control plane and user plane information via a fronthaul link through the Lower-Layer Split CUS-Plane (LLS-CUS) interface. LLS-CUS may include LLS-C and LLS-U interfaces providing the control plane (C-Plane) and user plane (U-Plane), respectively. In some examples, the control plane (C-Plane) refers to real-time control between the DU and RU. The DU and RU exchange management information via an LLS-M interface on the fronthaul link; the management plane (M-Plane) refers to non-real-time management operations between the DU and RU.

[0104] DU and RU can cooperate to implement the functions of the PHY layer. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of DU and RU can be configured in various ways depending on the design. For example, a DU can be configured to implement baseband functions, and an RU can be configured to implement mid-RF functions. Another example is that a DU can be configured to implement higher-level functions in the PHY layer, and an RU can be configured to implement lower-level functions in the PHY layer, or to implement both lower-level and RF functions. Higher-level functions in the physical layer can include a portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the MAC layer, while lower-level functions in the physical layer can include another portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the mid-RF side.

[0105] In some examples, network devices also include RAN intelligent controllers (RICs). RICs include near-real-time RICs (near-RT RICs) and non-real-time RICs (non-RT RICs).

[0106] The near real-time RIC is used for model training and inference. For example, it can be used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model and then use that AI model for inference. The near real-time RIC can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from network devices (e.g., CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and / or RU) and / or terminals. This information can be used as training data or inference data. Optionally, the near real-time RIC can deliver the inference results to RAN nodes and / or terminals. Optionally, inference results can be exchanged between CU and DU, and / or between DU and RU. For example, the near real-time RIC delivers the inference results to the DU, and the DU sends them to the RU.

[0107] Non-real-time RICs can also be used for model training and inference. For example, they can be used to train AI models and then use those models for inference. Non-real-time RICs can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from network devices (e.g., CUs, CU-CPs, CU-UPs, DUs, and / or RUs) and / or terminals. This information can be used as training data or inference data, and the inference results can be delivered to RAN nodes and / or terminals. Optionally, inference results can be exchanged between CUs and DUs, and / or between DUs and RUs; for example, a non-real-time RIC delivers inference results to a DU, which then forwards them to an RU.

[0108] Optionally, near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can be configured as separate network elements, or they can be integrated into other devices. For example, near real-time RIC can be configured within network devices (e.g., Figure 1As shown in the diagram), rather than real-time RIC settings are located in operation administration and maintenance (OAM) network elements, cloud servers, core network equipment, or other network equipment.

[0109] Optionally, the network device can be a single RAN node or include multiple RAN nodes, such as CU and DU. The CU and / or DU can also have one or more AI modules configured. In some examples, the CU can also be split into CU-CP and CU-UP. One or more AI models are configured in the CU-CP and / or CU-UP.

[0110] It should be understood that AI modules are used to implement corresponding AI functions. AI modules deployed in different network elements can be the same or different. Depending on the parameter configuration, the AI ​​module can achieve different functions. The AI ​​module model can be configured based on one or more of the following parameters: structural parameters (e.g., at least one of the following: number of neural network layers, neural network width, inter-layer connections, neuron weights, neuron activation function, or bias in the activation function), input parameters (e.g., the type and / or dimension of the input parameters), or output parameters (e.g., the type and / or dimension of the output parameters). The bias in the activation function can also be called the bias of the neural network. An AI module can have one or more models. A model can infer an output, which includes one or more parameters. The learning, training, or inference processes of different models can be deployed on different nodes or devices, or they can be deployed on the same node or device.

[0111] In this embodiment, the terminal device or network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on top of the hardware layer, and an application layer running on top of the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory management unit (MMU), and memory (also called main memory). The operating system can be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through processes, such as Linux, Unix, Android, iOS, or Windows. The application layer includes applications such as browsers, address books, word processing software, and instant messaging software. Furthermore, this embodiment does not specifically limit the specific structure of the execution entity of the method provided in this embodiment, as long as it can communicate according to the method provided in this embodiment by running a program that records the code of the method provided in this embodiment. For example, the execution entity of the method provided in this embodiment can be a terminal device or a network device, or a functional module in the terminal device or network device that can call and execute a program.

[0112] Furthermore, various aspects or features of this application can be implemented as methods, apparatus, or articles of manufacture using standard programming and / or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein encompasses a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or medium. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, or magnetic tapes), optical discs (e.g., compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMs), cards, sticks, or key drives, etc.). Additionally, the various storage media described herein may represent one or more devices and / or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" may include, but is not limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and / or carrying instructions and / or data.

[0113] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, let's first take... Figures 2 to 5 The communication system illustrated herein is used as an example to illustrate a communication system applicable to embodiments of this application. This communication system includes at least a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device can be understood as a tag in an RFID system, and the second communication device can be understood as a reader in an RFID system; however, this application does not specifically limit the role of the two devices.

[0114] under Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 Taking the first communication device as a terminal device and the second communication device as a network device as an example, this application exemplifies the applicable communication system in its embodiments. Figure 5 Taking an example where both the first and second communication devices are terminal devices, an exemplary communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application is shown.

[0115] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a communication system 200 is shown. (For example...) Figure 2 As shown, the network device can communicate bidirectionally with the terminal device. Specifically, the network device can send an excitation signal to the terminal device via the forward link to provide power to the terminal device. The terminal device receives the excitation signal sent by the network device and sends a reflected signal back to the network device via the reverse link. In this way, the network device can identify the ID of the terminal device and perform read and write operations on the terminal device 102.

[0116] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another communication system 300. (For example...) Figure 3 As shown, the communication system 300 includes network devices, intermediate nodes, and terminal devices. The network devices and intermediate nodes, and the intermediate nodes and terminal devices, can exchange information bidirectionally. Specifically, the network devices can send RFID-related signaling to the intermediate nodes via the fronthaul downlink. The intermediate nodes receive this RFID-related signaling and, based on it, send an excitation signal to the terminal devices via the fronthaul link. The terminal devices send a reflected signal via the reverse link. Correspondingly, the intermediate nodes can receive the reflected signal from the terminal devices via the reverse link and send it back to the network devices. Furthermore, the network devices and intermediate nodes can exchange other signaling on the fronthaul uplink and fronthaul downlink, such as resource configuration signaling, which will not be detailed here.

[0117] Optionally, the intermediate node may be a repeater, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, or a UE, etc., and this application does not limit this.

[0118] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of yet another communication system 400. (For example...) Figure 4 As shown, the communication system 400 includes network equipment, an assisting node, and terminal equipment. (As described above...) Figure 2The difference lies in the fact that while network devices and terminal devices engage in bidirectional information exchange, network devices can also exchange information bidirectionally with auxiliary nodes, and auxiliary nodes can also exchange information bidirectionally with terminal devices. For example, a terminal device can send RFID-related signaling to a network device and also to an auxiliary node. The auxiliary node can then send the RFID-related signaling back to the network device to assist the terminal device in sending signals and enhance the network device's reception. The same principle applies when the network device sends RFID-related signaling to the terminal device, which will not be elaborated further. In some implementations, auxiliary nodes and network devices can communicate via the Uu interface.

[0119] Optionally, the auxiliary node can be a repeater, IAB, UE, or other device; this application does not limit this.

[0120] Optionally, the above Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 The network device can be a base station (BS) or any of the network devices involved in this application as described above, and the terminal device can be an A-IoT terminal device or any of the terminal devices involved in this application as described above, but this application does not limit it.

[0121] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of yet another communication system 500. (For example...) Figure 5 As shown, terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 can perform bidirectional information interaction. In one possible implementation, the communication between terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 adopts 5G NR technology or 5G sidelink technology.

[0122] Optionally, the above Figure 5 Terminal device 1 can be a UE, and terminal device 2 can be an A-IoT terminal device. Alternatively, terminal device 2 can be a UE, and terminal device 1 can be an A-IoT terminal device. Terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 can also be any of the terminal devices described above in this application, but this application does not limit them.

[0123] It should be understood that the number of network devices, terminal devices, intermediate nodes, and auxiliary nodes in the above communication system example may be more or less, and this application does not limit this.

[0124] It is worth noting that the first communication device and the second communication device can be implemented in various ways.

[0125] As an example, the first communication device is a terminal device, and the second communication device is a network device. Accordingly, the communication link between the first and second communication devices can be an uplink or downlink communication link. The information received by the first communication device can be downlink (DL) information / downlink signals / downlink signaling / downlink data, etc., and the information sent by the first communication device (such as the third or sixth information described later) can be uplink (UL) information / uplink signals / uplink signaling / uplink data, etc.

[0126] As another example, the first communication device and the second communication device are different terminal devices. Accordingly, the communication link between the first communication device and the second communication device can be a communication link between terminal devices, such as a side link.

[0127] As another example, the first communication device can be called an (Environmental Internet of Things) device (which can be an implementation example of a terminal device), and the second communication device can be called a reader. Accordingly, the communication link between the first and second communication devices can include a device-to-reader (DR or D2R) link and a reader-to-device (RD or R2D) link.

[0128] Optionally, the “uplink” described in the embodiments of this application can also be understood as “D2R” or “DR”, and the “downlink” can also be understood as “R2D” or “RD”. Further, the “uplink signaling” can be “D2R signaling” or “DR signaling”, and the “downlink signaling” can also be called “R2D signaling” or “RD signaling”, but this application does not specifically limit it in this regard.

[0129] To facilitate understanding of this application, the communication process of the first communication device and the second communication device based on RFID technology in the related art will be described in detail below.

[0130] For example, inventory management can be used as an example. It should be understood that inventory management refers to the process by which a second communication device identifies a first communication device using RFID technology, thereby obtaining the ID of the first communication device. This process can be applied in various scenarios, such as logistics management or warehouse management, especially for scenarios with a large number of devices, saving significant manpower and resources and achieving quick and accurate inventory counting.

[0131] Figure 6 A schematic flowchart of a communication method 600 is shown. Method 600 may include the following steps:

[0132] S601, The second communication device sends a selection signal to select a group of communication devices.

[0133] Optionally, the selection signaling carries an inventory session identifier (inventorySession), a flag indicating an action, a mask, etc. For example, the inventorySession selects a communication device whose first 16 bits of the 96-bit identifier stored in the communication device are 111...111. If the mask matches the selected signaling device, the communication device will set the flag corresponding to session:S0 according to action=0, for example, setting the flag to A or B, and then listen for subsequent signaling.

[0134] After sending a selection signaling signal for a certain time interval, the second communication device executes S602.

[0135] S602, the second communication device sends an initial inventory query to indicate at least one access opportunity.

[0136] Optionally, the initial inventory signaling may carry a Q value, session, and flag bits, but this application does not limit this.

[0137] For example, if the initial inventory signaling carries session: S0 and the flag bit is A, then each communication device whose flag bit of session: S0 matches the flag bit in the signaling will randomly generate a value between 0 and 2 based on the Q value. Q A random number of -1 is used as the initial value for the counter.

[0138] Optionally, the Q value is related to the number of communication devices that the reader needs to store; in some implementations, the number of communication devices that the second communication device needs to store is close to or equal to 2. Q .

[0139] If the initial Counter = 0, the communication device executes S604 to start the inventory process of the communication device; if the reader does not receive any RN16 feedback from the communication device after a certain time interval, the second communication device executes S603 to perform the subsequent inventory process.

[0140] S603, the second communication device sends a queryrep message to indicate that there is one less access opportunity.

[0141] It should be understood that during the inventory process, each time a selected communication device within the range of the second communication device receives a queryrep, it will decrement its counter by 1. When the counter is reduced to 0, S604 is executed to start the inventory process of that communication device.

[0142] For example, if the counter of the first communication device in a plurality of communication devices is decremented to 0, then the first communication device executes S604.

[0143] S604, The first communication device sends RN16 to indicate the contention resolution.

[0144] Optionally, RN16 is a 16-bit random number, which is a 16-bit random number selected by the communication device when the value of its own counter is 0.

[0145] Optionally, the random number included in the signaling sent by the first communication device to indicate the resolution of the contention can also be 8 bits or other arbitrary bits, which is not limited in this application.

[0146] In some implementations, multiple communication devices have counters of 0, and these multiple communication devices send RN16 signaling. Due to the collision of RN16 signals sent by multiple communication devices, if the second communication device does not receive any signaling after a certain time interval following S603, it continues to send duplicate inventory signaling (queryrep) to continue the inventory process. It should be understood that if multiple communication devices have counters of 0 after S602, the subsequent steps are similar.

[0147] In other implementations, if the second communication device receives multiple RN16 signaling messages, it confirms a communication device contention conflict and does not perform any operation. After S602 or S603, the second communication device continues to send repeated inventory signaling messages (queryrep) after a certain time interval to continue the inventory process.

[0148] In some implementations, the second communication device receives only the RN16 signaling from one communication device. After a certain time interval, the second communication device executes S605.

[0149] S605, the second communication device sends an acknowledgment (ACK) signal to acknowledge the RNI6 sent by the first communication device, which includes the 16-bit random number fed back by the first communication device when executing S604.

[0150] Upon receiving an ACK and confirming that the ACK contains the RN16 previously sent by itself, the first communication device executes S606.

[0151] S606, The first communication device sends uplink data (UL data) signaling, which includes the electronic product code (EPC) of the first communication device.

[0152] It should be understood that an electronic product code (EPC) can provide a globally unique identifier for objects (including items, boxes, pallets, locations, etc.) in the supply chain. In this embodiment, the objects in the supply chain can be understood as terminal devices, and the EPC can be stored in a microchip.

[0153] The second communication device receives the EPC signaling and verifies it. If the verification passes, after a certain time interval following S606, the second communication device executes S607, that is, it resends the duplicate inventory signaling (queryrep) to continue the inventory process of the next communication device. If the verification fails, that is, the UL data signaling is invalid, after a certain time interval following S606, the second communication device executes S608.

[0154] S607, The second communication device sends a queryrep message to indicate at least one access opportunity.

[0155] In some implementations, after executing S606, the first communication device receives the duplicate inventory signal (queryrep) in S607 above, which indicates that the data transmission was successful. Then, the flag bit can be flipped, for example, the flag bit can be flipped from the initial flag bit A to B. In this way, if the query sent later carries the flag bit A, the first communication device will not respond to the query with the flag bit A after flipping the flag bit to B. This can be used to prevent the communication device that has been inventoryed from being inventoryed again.

[0156] S608, the second communication device sends a negative acknowledgement (NACK) signal.

[0157] After the above Figure 6 After the communication method described above performs one round of inventory (which can be understood as the second communication device deeming the communication devices that need to be inventoried complete), there may be situations where it is necessary to inventory all or some of these communication devices again. If this second inventory is required, the above process needs to be repeated. That is, the selected communication devices need to start a counter competition again, and only after the competition is resolved and they gain access opportunities can they transmit data to the second communication device. Therefore, if there are scenarios where repeated inventory is required, the above communication method is inefficient.

[0158] In view of this, this application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. A first communication device sends a first signaling to a second communication device to indicate that the first communication device has successfully resolved contention. The second communication device, in response to the successful resolution of contention by the first communication device, sends a second signaling that includes either a first identifier of the first communication device or a second identifier designated by the second communication device for the first communication device. Specifically, if the first identifier of the first communication device does not overlap with a first identifier sent to the second communication device by another communication device, the second signaling includes the first identifier of the first communication device; if the first identifier of the first communication device overlaps with a first identifier of another communication device, the second signaling includes the second identifier. The first communication device uses the identifier included in the second signaling as its own identifier. Thus, for example, in the scenario described above where repeated inventory checks are required, if subsequent data transmission between the first and second communication devices is needed after an initial inventory check, the second communication device can instruct the first communication device to obtain access without contention based on the identifier of the first communication device. This improves the communication efficiency between the first and second communication devices and the entire communication system.

[0159] To make the objectives and technical solutions of this application clearer and more intuitive, the communication methods and communication devices provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0160] Before introducing the methods and apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application, the following points should be made first.

[0161] First, in the embodiments shown below, the terms and English abbreviations, such as baseline data or differential data, are merely exemplary examples given for ease of description and should not constitute any limitation on this application. This application does not preclude the possibility of defining other terms that can achieve the same or similar functions in existing or future agreements.

[0162] Second, in the embodiments shown below, the first, second, and various numerical designations are merely distinctions for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0163] Third, "at least one" means one or more, while "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, and c can mean: a, or b, or c, or a and b, or a and c, or b and c, or a, b, and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0164] Figure 7 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a communication method 700 provided in an embodiment of this application. This communication method 700 can be applied to the above-mentioned... Figures 2 to 5 In any of the communication systems shown, the method 700 includes the following steps:

[0165] S701, the second communication device sends a fifth signaling message, the fifth signaling message being used to instruct at least one communication device, the at least one communication device including the first communication device; correspondingly, the first communication device receives the fifth signaling message.

[0166] S702, the second communication device sends a sixth signaling message, which is used to indicate at least one access opportunity; correspondingly, the first communication device receives the sixth signaling message.

[0167] S703, the second communication device sends a seventh signaling message, which is used to repeatedly indicate access opportunities; correspondingly, the first communication device receives the seventh signaling message.

[0168] In one possible implementation, the fifth signaling instruction to at least one communication device can also be understood as the second communication device selecting, paging, commanding, or triggering at least one communication device to implement one or more of the following services: inventory service, paging service, command service (e.g., read, write, deactivate, lock, etc.), positioning service, or sensing service.

[0169] Optionally, the fifth signaling can be any of the following: select, paging, trigger, initial trigger, or indication signaling; this application does not limit this.

[0170] Optionally, the meaning of the fifth signaling may include one or more of the following: for paging the first communication device to access the network, for selecting the first communication device to access the network, for triggering the first communication device to access the network, for paging the first communication device to access the second communication device, for selecting the first communication device to access the second communication device, for triggering the first communication device to access the second communication device, for paging the first communication device to send uplink data, for selecting the first communication device to send uplink data, or for triggering the first communication device to send uplink data. This application does not specifically limit the meaning of the fifth signaling.

[0171] Optionally, after a certain time interval following the second communication device sending the fifth signaling, the second communication device executes S702.

[0172] Optionally, the sixth signaling can be any of the following: query, access round trigger, or indication signaling. The sixth signaling can be used to indicate or trigger at least one access opportunity (e.g., to directly or indirectly indicate the total number of access opportunities), and / or to indicate the first access opportunity (or the initial access opportunity). This application does not specifically limit the name and meaning of the sixth signaling.

[0173] It should be understood that any one of the communication devices must compete for the right to use the channel in order to transmit data with the second communication device. In order to minimize the probability of collisions when these communication devices send data to the second communication device, in one possible implementation, each of the at least one communication device participating in the channel competition maintains a counter, and the value in the counter is randomly generated by each of the multiple communication devices.

[0174] In some examples, each communication device that receives the fifth signaling activates a counter and generates a random value for the counter after receiving the fifth signaling.

[0175] In other examples, each communication device that receives the sixth signaling activates a counter and generates a random value for the counter after receiving the sixth signaling. Optionally, this random value may be related to the Q value carried in the sixth signaling, for example, the random value may be between 0 and 2. Q The Q value is between -1 and 2, and is related to the number of communication devices corresponding to at least one communication device, for example, 2. Q The number of communication devices that correspond to at least one communication device.

[0176] If no signaling is received after a certain time interval following the second communication device sending the sixth signaling, the second communication device may optionally execute S703.

[0177] Optionally, the seventh signaling may be any of the following: queryrep, access occasion trigger, next access occasion trigger, or indication signaling. This application does not limit the name of the seventh signaling.

[0178] Optionally, the meaning of the seventh signaling may include one or more of the following: used to indicate or trigger at least one access opportunity, used to indicate the boundary of an access opportunity (the start or end of the access opportunity), or used to associate the boundary of an access opportunity. This application does not limit the meaning of the seventh signaling.

[0179] It should be understood that the second communication device can repeatedly send the seventh signaling. In one possible implementation, each of the at least one communication device that receives the seventh signaling can decrement the value of its own maintained counter by 1 each time it receives the seventh signaling, until the counter value is reduced to zero, which is considered as the contention resolution of the communication device.

[0180] It is worth noting that the aforementioned access opportunities can also be described as access timing, access time slots, etc. Each access opportunity can allow the communication device to send access (requests), and / or resolve contention, and / or transmit data, etc.

[0181] Optionally, at least one communication device may be an active, semi-active, or passive communication device. When at least one communication device is an active communication device, no external device is required to provide communication power, and it can actively initiate contention for access. Therefore, the above-mentioned S701, S702, and S703 may be optional steps. When at least one communication device is a passive or semi-passive communication device, some or all of the above-mentioned S701, S702, or S703 may provide radio frequency power to at least one communication device.

[0182] In one possible implementation, the counter value of the first communication device is zero, and the first communication device executes S704.

[0183] S704. The first communication device sends a first signaling message, which is used to indicate the initiation of access to the second communication device. The first signaling message includes a first identifier, which is generated by the first communication device or pre-stored in the first communication device. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the first signaling message.

[0184] Optionally, the meaning of the first signaling may include one or more of the following: indicating access to the second communication device, initiating access to the network, initiating access to the second communication device, requesting access to the network, or requesting access to the second communication device. This application does not limit the meaning of the first signaling.

[0185] Optionally, the first signaling can be any of the following: downlink trigger (DL trigger), paging, trigger, initial trigger, or indication signaling; this application does not limit this.

[0186] S705. The second communication device sends a second signaling message, which is used to indicate that the first communication device has successfully accessed the network, and / or to indicate that the first communication device has successfully resolved the contention issue. The second signaling message includes a first identifier or a second identifier, wherein the second identifier is an identifier designated by the second communication device for the first communication device.

[0187] Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the second signaling.

[0188] In one possible implementation, if the first identifier does not overlap with other communication devices, the second signaling includes the first identifier; if the first identifier overlaps with other communication devices, the second signaling includes the second identifier.

[0189] S706. If the first communication device includes a first identifier in the second signaling, the first identifier shall be used as the identifier of the first communication device; if the second signaling includes a second identifier, the second identifier shall be used as the identifier of the first communication device.

[0190] It should be understood that the first communication device can only consider the contention resolution successful or the (random) access successful after receiving the confirmation response of the first signaling. For example, it can complete the contention-based random access (CBRA) contention resolution process or the random access process. Exemplarily, the first communication device that has successfully resolved the contention or successfully accessed the second communication device can send uplink data to the second communication device or receive downlink data from the second communication device.

[0191] Optionally, the first identifier may be a 16-bit random number (RN16) or an 8-bit random number generated by the first communication device, or any other random number or random identifier. This application does not limit this.

[0192] Optionally, the second signaling may be, for example, ACK signaling, access response, contention resolution identity, or access ID response, etc. This application does not specifically limit the name of the second signaling.

[0193] Optionally, the meaning of the second signaling can be one or more of the following: indicating that the first communication device has successfully accessed the network, indicating that the first communication device has successfully accessed the network randomly, indicating that the first communication device has sent data (such as EPC or device ID), or implicitly indicating that the first communication device uses the first identifier or the second identifier carried in the second signaling as the identifier of the first communication device. This application does not limit the specific meaning of the second signaling.

[0194] The method provided in this application embodiment involves a second communication device, after receiving a first signaling message from a first communication device, determining whether any identifiers received from other communication devices in the past are duplicates of the first identifier carried in the first signaling message. If so, the second communication device assigns a new second identifier to the first communication device and includes the second identifier in the second signaling message before sending it to the first communication device. If not, the second communication device includes the first identifier in the second signaling message before sending it to the first communication device. Upon receiving the second signaling message, if the second signaling message includes the first identifier, the first communication device uses the first identifier as its identifier; if the second signaling message includes the second identifier, the second identifier is used as its identifier. Thus, the second communication device assigns a unique identifier to the first communication device via the second signaling. In subsequent scenarios where the first and second communication devices need to communicate again, for example, the second communication device can instruct the first communication device to perform a contention-free random access (CFRA) procedure based on the identifier of the first communication device, or trigger the first communication device to perform uplink / downlink data transmission with the second communication device, skipping the contention resolution process. This helps save the time for the first communication device to access the second communication device and improves communication efficiency. For another example, the second communication device can instruct / trigger at least one specified first communication device to access the second communication device or perform uplink / downlink data transmission based on the identifier of the first communication device.

[0195] It is worth noting that the identifier of the first communication device uniquely corresponds to the first communication device. It can be understood as the unique identifier of the first communication device within the coverage area of ​​the second communication device, or it can be understood as the unique identifier within the range of at least one communication device during the execution of the target business process. It can be a temporary identifier or a permanent identifier. This application does not make any specific limitation in this regard.

[0196] Optionally, the identifier of the first communication device may be called the access stratum identifier (AS ID) of the first communication device. The identifier of the first communication device may be used to indicate that the first communication device sends data, accesses the second communication device, etc. This application does not limit the name and specific meaning of the identifier of the first communication device.

[0197] As an optional embodiment, the second signaling may include the following three cases.

[0198] Case 1: The second signaling includes the first identifier.

[0199] It should be understood that the first identifier may be a random number generated by the first communication device. This random number may be the same as or different from the random numbers generated by other communication devices. Therefore, if the second communication device determines that the first identifier of the first communication device is not repeated with other communication devices based on the random numbers received from other communication devices in the past, the first identifier of the first communication device will be carried in the second signaling so that the first communication device can use the first identifier as the identifier of the first communication device.

[0200] It should also be understood that, in order for the first communication device to recognize that the second signaling is an acknowledgment response to the first signaling, in one possible implementation, the first identifier of the first communication device can be carried in the second signaling. In this embodiment, when the second communication device confirms that the first identifier of the first communication device is not duplicated with that of other communication devices, it carries the first identifier of the first communication device in the second signaling. On the one hand, this facilitates the first communication device's recognition that the second signaling is a response to the first signaling; on the other hand, it instructs the first communication device to use the first identifier as its own identifier. In this way, the second communication device does not need to calculate other identifiers for the first communication device; it can use the first identifier generated by the first communication device to achieve a unique identifier for the first communication device, which helps save power consumption of the second communication device.

[0201] Optionally, the first identifier may also be permanent identifier information and / or temporary identifier information stored locally on the first communication device, and this application does not limit this. The permanent identifier information can be understood as identifier information that the first communication device can store regardless of whether it has power or not; the temporary identifier information can be understood as information that the first communication device can store when it has power (e.g., the power level is not lower than a certain threshold), but cannot store when the power level is lower than the threshold or the power is depleted.

[0202] Case 2: The second signaling includes a second identifier, which includes a first identifier and a third identifier of the first communication device, wherein the third identifier is an identifier assigned by the second communication device to the first communication device.

[0203] In one possible implementation, if the second communication device confirms that the first identifier of the first communication device is duplicated with that of other communication devices, the second communication device assigns a third identifier to the first communication device and carries both the third identifier and the first identifier of the first communication device in the second signaling.

[0204] In some examples, the third identifier can be an identifier related to the first identifier, such as adding or subtracting several bits to the first identifier, or modifying several bits in the first identifier. This application does not limit this.

[0205] In other examples, the third identifier can be a completely new identifier (newID) that is entirely different from the first identifier. Optionally, the third identifier can include one or more of the following three implementations:

[0206] Method 1: The third identifier can be a random number generated by the second communication device. This application does not limit the number of bits in this random number.

[0207] Method 2: The third identifier can also be a time-domain resource identifier and / or a frequency-domain resource identifier used by the first communication device when sending the first signaling, or a time-domain resource identifier and a frequency-domain resource identifier used by the second communication device when sending the second signaling to the first communication device. For example, the time-domain resource identifier can be a time slot identifier, a time slot identifier corresponding to absolute time, or a relative time slot identifier specified by the second communication device. It should be understood that the time-frequency resource identifier here can also be called an access opportunity identifier, access timing identifier, time unit identifier, or time resource identifier, etc.; the frequency-domain resource identifier can be one or more of the carrier frequency, frequency shift information, or frequency point information, and this application does not limit this.

[0208] Method 3: The third identifier may also be a code field identifier used for communication between the first communication device and the second communication device, such as part or all of the preamble sequence, or an index identifier associated with the preamble. This application does not limit this.

[0209] Method 4: In one possible implementation, the second communication device can be an O-RAN, including a RIC, and the third identifier can be related to the inference result obtained by the RIC based on historical data. Historical data, also known as prior information, can include one or more of the following: the number of at least one communication device, the expected completion time of the service (e.g., inventory service expected time), and the type of each communication device in the at least one communication device (e.g., whether the communication device is active, semi-active, or passive). The RIC can infer the inference result based on this historical data. For example, if the inference result is a grouping of at least one communication device, then, for example, the third identifier can be assigned by group. For example, if the number of at least one communication device is 20, then the third identifier can be an integer between 1 and 20, and the at least one communication device can be divided into two groups, with 1 to 10 assigned to group 1 and 11 to 20 assigned to group 2.

[0210] It should be understood that, in this case, the first identifier included in the second identifier can, on the one hand, be used to enable the first communication device to recognize the second signaling as a response to the first signaling, so as to indicate that the first communication device has successfully resolved the contention; on the other hand, it can be used as part of the second identifier.

[0211] Case 3: The second signaling includes a second identifier, and the second identifier includes only the third identifier.

[0212] In one possible implementation, if the second communication device confirms that the first communication device's first identifier is duplicated with that of another communication device, it assigns a third identifier to the first communication device and instructs the first communication device to use the third identifier as its identifier via a second signaling. The third identifier can be implemented in ways such as Method 1, Method 2, Method 3, or Method 4 described above, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0213] In some examples, the second identifier may only include the third identifier, but the second signaling may still include the first identifier of the first communication device. In this case, the first identifier of the first communication device is only used to indicate that the second signaling is a response to the first signaling to indicate that the contention resolution of the first communication device was successful, and is not used as part of the second identifier.

[0214] In other examples, the second identifier only includes the third identifier, and the second signaling does not contain any other information. If the first communication device receives the second signaling after sending the first signaling, the second signaling can be considered as a response to the first signaling.

[0215] In some other examples, the second identifier only includes the third identifier, and the second signaling also includes indication information 1, which can occupy 1 bit to indicate that the second signaling is a successful response to the first signaling. This application does not limit the number of bits occupied by the indication information, its specific value, or the meaning of the specific value.

[0216] In one possible implementation of Situation 2 and Situation 3 above, the second signaling may include the first identifier and the third identifier of the first communication device. The difference is that in the implementation of Situation 2, the first identifier and the third identifier of the first communication device are used together as the second identifier, where the first identifier of the first communication device is both a part of the second identifier and a mark for the first communication device to identify the second signaling; while in the implementation of Situation 3, only the third identifier is used as the second identifier, and the first identifier is only used as a mark for the first communication device to identify the second signaling.

[0217] In one possible implementation, in order to facilitate the first communication device side in distinguishing which identifier is used as the identifier of the first communication device, the second signaling may also include indication information to distinguish the cases in cases 2 and 3 where the second signaling also includes the first identifier of the first communication device.

[0218] For example, this indication information can occupy 2 bits. The first bit of these two bits is used to indicate whether the identifier of the first communication device in the second signaling is the first identifier or the second identifier of the first communication device. For example, if "11" indicates the above-mentioned case 2, it can be understood that if the first bit of these two bits is set to 1, it means that the second signaling includes the second identifier, and if the second bit is also set to 1, it means that the second identifier includes the first identifier of the first communication device. As another example, if "10" indicates case 3, if the first bit of these two bits is set to 1, it means that the second signaling includes the second identifier, and if the second bit is also set to 0, it means that the second identifier does not include the first identifier of the first communication device. In this case, regardless of whether the second signaling includes the first identifier of the first communication device, the first identifier is not considered as part of the second identifier.

[0219] Optionally, for case 1 above, the second signaling may not contain indication information, or it may indicate case 1 by 00 or 01. This application does not limit this.

[0220] Where the second signaling includes a first identifier and the first identifier is used to indicate that the second signaling is a successful response to the first signaling, the first identifier may also be referred to as a contention resolution identifier, but this application does not limit it to that.

[0221] In one possible implementation, the information included in the second signaling (e.g., the first identifier or the second identifier) ​​can be encapsulated ("encapsulated in" can also be understood as "carried on") in a Layer 2 (L2) message, or an access layer (ASlayer), higher layer message, or access layer message.

[0222] For example, the access layer message can be a MAC layer message, such as a MAC control element (MAC CE) or a MAC protocol data unit (MAC PDU), an AIoT MAC layer message (a MAC protocol layer for AIoT), or an RRC layer message, or another AS protocol layer above the MAC layer for AIoT (which can be called an AIoT AS (access stratum) layer), which is not limited in this application.

[0223] As an optional step, the first communication device may execute S707 after the above method S703.

[0224] S707, The first communication device sends first data to the second communication device; correspondingly, the second communication device receives the first data.

[0225] S708, the second communication device sends a seventh signaling message, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the signaling message.

[0226] Optionally, the first data may be uplink data, which may include information about the first communication device, such as the EPC or device ID of the first communication device, etc. This application does not limit this.

[0227] Optionally, the identifier of the first communication device may also be carried in the data (DL data) sent from the first data device or the second communication device to the first communication device. In this case, the identifier of the first communication device can be used to indicate the second communication device. The EPC and / or device ID in this message are associated with the first communication device. In the scenario where multiple communication devices communicate with the second communication device at the same time, the uplink and downlink data of different communication devices can be distinguished by the identifiers of each communication device.

[0228] In one possible implementation, the second communication device (e.g., a base station (BS)) may also use the identifier of the first communication device as an identifier between the BS and the core network (CN) to identify the first communication device. Optionally, the name of this identifier may be the next generation application protocol identity (NG AP ID) or any other arbitrary name. This application does not specifically limit the name of this identifier.

[0229] In some implementations, after the second communication device receives and successfully parses the first data from the first communication device, it executes the above-mentioned S708, that is, it sends a seventh signaling, such as queryrep, to indicate the next access opportunity. This signaling can implicitly indicate that the first data transmission sent by the first communication device was successful.

[0230] In other implementations, the second communication device may also indicate that the first data transmission was successful, for example by sending an ACK, which includes a 1-bit indication information. The bit is set to 1 to indicate that the first data transmission was successful, and the bit is set to 0 to indicate that the first data transmission failed. Upon receiving this ACK, the first communication device that sent data to the second communication device can confirm whether the first data transmission was successful.

[0231] Optionally, if the second communication device fails to parse the first data, it sends a negative acknowledgement (NACK) signal to the first communication device to instruct the first communication device to continue to start the counter and compete for subsequent access opportunities.

[0232] In one possible implementation, two or more communication devices may successfully resolve conflicts in the same time slot, but fail to transmit data due to a collision and need to re-access at another access opportunity. Optionally, the first communication device, upon confirming successful transmission of the first data, stores the identifier of the first communication device identified in S706. This helps avoid the first communication device storing invalid identifiers, reduces the probability of the first communication device being falsely triggered, and saves storage space for the first communication device.

[0233] As an optional embodiment, the second communication device may decide whether to include the first identifier or the second identifier in the second signaling based on one or more factors, such as the device type, power, or service type of the first communication device.

[0234] In one possible implementation, the second communication device can obtain the device type, power, or service type of the first communication device from the core network or server. For example, it can obtain it from the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, the ambient IoT function (AIOTF) network element, or the IoT server. The specific core network element and the method of obtaining it are not limited in this article.

[0235] In one possible implementation, the second communication device can obtain the device type, power, or service type of the first communication device through uplink signaling or D2R signaling from the first communication device. For example, the first communication device can directly or indirectly indicate the device type, power, or service type through the first signaling. For instance, a direct indication method may involve carrying a field indicating the device type in the first signaling. Another indirect indication method may use the number of bits of a first identifier in the first signaling to indirectly indicate the device type; for example, 8 bits might correspond to a first device type, and 16 bits to a second or fourth device type. The terminal device type description is explained below.

[0236] In another possible implementation, the second communication device may indicate the terminal device type, power, or service type in downlink signaling or R2D signaling. Only terminal devices belonging to the indicated terminal device type, meeting the indicated power conditions, or supporting the indicated service type will respond to the downlink signaling or R2D signaling. The downlink signaling or R2D signaling may be a third signaling, a fifth signaling, a sixth signaling, a seventh signaling, etc., without limitation. For example, the third signaling may indicate that the type of the paged or selected terminal device is a first type of device. Only terminal devices of the first type of device will respond to the third signaling, and the second communication device may send a second signaling for the first type of terminal device.

[0237] The following describes in detail whether the second communication device includes the first identifier or the second identifier in the second signaling, from the perspectives of the device type, power, and service type of the first communication device.

[0238] 1. Equipment type of the first communication device

[0239] Optionally, the device type of the first communication device may include three types.

[0240] For example, the first device type can be device 1, or a passive device; the second device type can be device 2b, or an active device; and the third device type can be device 2a, or a semi-passive device. Device 1 should meet the following conditions: peak power consumption of ~1 microwatt (μW), energy storage, and an initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) not exceeding 10. X (X could be 5, for example) per million (ppm), the device has neither DL nor UL amplification, and the UL transmission of the device is backscattered on an externally provided carrier; the conditions that device 2a should meet include: peak power consumption ≤ hundreds of microwatts, energy storage, and initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) not exceeding 10. X (X could be 5) ppm, the device has DL and / or UL amplification functions, and the UL transmission of the device is backscattered on an externally provided carrier; the conditions that device 2b should meet include: ≤ several hundred μW peak power consumption, energy storage, and initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) not exceeding 10. X (X can be, for example, 5) ppm, the device has DL and / or UL amplification functions, and the UL transmission of the device is generated internally by the device, but this application does not limit the specific definitions of device 1, device 2a and device 2b.

[0241] In one possible implementation, when the device type is the first device type mentioned above, the second signaling may not include the first identifier or the second identifier, because saving the first identifier or the second identifier would consume additional power (e.g., temporary saving through registers), and the power consumption level of the first device type is low, such as only microwatts, and does not support saving additional information; when the device type is the second device type or the third device type mentioned above, the second signaling may include the first identifier or the second identifier, because the power consumption level of the second device type or the fourth device type is higher than that of the first device type, reaching hundreds of microwatts, and can support saving the first identifier or the second identifier. In this way, the first or second identifier can be included in the second signaling, and the first communication device can also save the first or second identifier.

[0242] 2. Energy of the first communication device

[0243] In one possible implementation, if the second communication device determines that the energy, current remaining energy, or total storage energy of the first communication device is lower than a preset threshold, the second communication device may not include the first identifier or the second identifier in the second signaling, because storing the first identifier or the second identifier would consume additional power consumption, and a terminal device with insufficient energy may not be able to store the first identifier or the second identifier; if the second communication device determines that the energy, current remaining energy, or total storage energy of the first communication device is not lower than the preset threshold, the second communication device may include the first identifier or the second identifier in the second signaling, so that a terminal device with sufficient energy can store the first identifier or the second identifier.

[0244] 3. Service type corresponding to the first communication device

[0245] In one possible implementation, when the service performed by the first communication device is a periodic service, the second signaling may include a first identifier or a second identifier. The first communication device uses the first identifier or the second identifier as its identifier. In this way, the second communication device can instruct the first communication device to access without contention, send data, or perform other interactions based on the identifier, which is beneficial to improving the communication efficiency between the second and first communication devices. When the service performed by the first communication device is not a periodic service, the second signaling may not include the first identifier or the second identifier. This is beneficial to saving the signaling overhead of the second communication device, improving the efficiency of the first communication device in parsing the second signaling, and thus shortening the overall communication process time.

[0246] In one possible implementation, the second communication device may also store the identifier of the first communication device.

[0247] Optionally, the second communication device may save the identifier of the first communication device during the establishment of the air interface context for use in (subsequent) communication processes or business processes to indicate / paging / select / trigger / associate the first communication device. This application does not limit this.

[0248] In another possible implementation, both the second communication device and the core network element can store a fifth identifier. The fifth identifier can be the identifier of the first communication device, i.e., the first identifier or the second identifier, or it can be an identifier associated with the first communication device, such as a combination of the identifier of the first communication device and the identifier of the second communication device, but this application does not limit it in this way.

[0249] Optionally, the core network element can use the fifth identifier to associate with the first communication device. For example, the fifth identifier can be saved during the context establishment process between the core network element and the second communication device (or access network) to indicate / paging / select / trigger / associate the first communication device in (subsequent) communication processes, service processes, etc. This application does not limit this. For example, the core network element and / or the second communication device can save the fifth identifier during the context establishment process based on the NG AP interface or AIoT AP interface (this application does not limit the interface name).

[0250] It should be understood that core network elements can be access and mobility management functions (AMF) or ambient IoT functions (AIOTF), etc. This application does not specifically limit the functions and names of core network elements.

[0251] As an optional embodiment, the fifth signaling may also include first indication information, which is used to instruct the first communication device to store the identifier of the first communication device.

[0252] In some implementations, the first indication information may be a display indication. For example, the first indication information may occupy 1 bit. If the bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first communication device stores the identifier of the first communication device. If the bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first communication device does not need to store the identifier of the first communication device. Alternatively, if the bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first communication device stores the identifier of the first communication device. If the bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first communication device does not need to store the identifier of the first communication device. This application does not limit this.

[0253] In other implementations, the first indication information can be implicitly indicated. For example, if the fifth signaling indicates that at least one communication device needs to perform a periodic service, such as a periodic inventory service, it means that the communication between the first communication device and the second communication device will occur more than once. This can be used to implicitly indicate that the first communication device stores the identifier of the first communication device, so that the first communication device can respond to the signaling sent by the second communication device that contains the identifier of the first communication device in the future, so as to access the second communication device without contention, save communication time, and improve communication efficiency.

[0254] In some other implementations, the first communication device may decide whether to store the first identifier or the second identifier carried in the second signaling based on one or more factors, including device type, energy, or service type. For example, if the device type of the first communication device is the first or third type mentioned above, the energy of the first communication device, its current remaining energy, or its total stored energy is below a preset threshold, or the service performed by the first communication device is not a periodic service, the first communication device may not store the identifier in the second signaling. If the device type of the first communication device is the second type mentioned above, the energy of the first communication device, its current remaining energy, or its total stored energy is not below a preset threshold, or the service performed by the first communication device is a periodic service, the first communication device may store the first identifier as its identifier if the second signaling includes the first identifier, and store the second identifier as its identifier if the second signaling includes the second identifier. The beneficial effects of this implementation are similar to those described above when the second communication device decides whether to include the first identifier or the second identifier in the second signaling based on one or more factors, including the device type, energy, or service type of the first communication device, and will not be repeated here.

[0255] It should be understood that the first communication device includes memory for permanent storage and memory for temporary storage of information. Optionally, the memory for permanent storage may be called non-volatile memory (NVM), such as electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM); the memory for temporary storage of information may be a register, used to temporarily store information only when there is energy in the energy storage device (battery or capacitor), or to store information in a buffer.

[0256] In one possible implementation, the first communication device stores its identifier (e.g., an AS ID) in a memory used for temporary information storage. In some implementations, the first communication device can clear (or reset / remove / discard / not save) the temporarily stored information under certain conditions, which may be related to network indication, random access status, contention resolution status, data transmission status, service status, etc. For example, these conditions may include one or more of the following: receiving network indication information, random access initiation, contention resolution initiation, contention resolution failure, random access failure, data transmission failure, timer timeout, service completion failure, or link anomaly.

[0257] In one possible implementation, the fifth signaling can indicate at least one communication device through a device ID or mask, where the device ID can be obtained by the second communication device from the core network. The device ID can be understood as a globally unique identifier of the first communication device. When the fifth signaling includes the device ID of the first communication device, the fifth signaling can be used to directly trigger the first communication device to send UL data. Furthermore, the second communication device carries the identifier assigned to the first communication device in its response message (e.g., ACK) to the UL data.

[0258] As an optional embodiment, the fifth signaling may also include a device ID and a third identifier, wherein the third identifier is an identifier assigned by the second communication device to the first communication device to instruct the first communication device to use the third identifier as the identifier of the first communication device. The form of the third identifier can be referred to the description of the third identifier above, and will not be repeated here.

[0259] It should be understood that after S708 above, if the counter value of other communication devices is zero, the process of connecting them to the second communication device is similar to the process of connecting the first communication device to the second communication device, and will not be repeated here.

[0260] In one possible implementation, if the aforementioned fifth signaling indicates that at least one communication device needs to perform a periodic service, then after at least one communication device has communicated with the second communication device at least once, and before the second communication device starts the service corresponding to the next cycle, the second communication device may also send a select, paging, trigger, or indication signaling to instruct all or some of the communication devices in the at least one communication device to perform the periodic service. This may include the device ID of all or some of the communication devices in the at least one communication device and the identifier assigned by the second communication device to all or some of the communication devices in the preceding process. The device ID can be saved even when there is no power. This method can prevent all or part of the communication devices in at least one communication device from being cleared (or reset / cleared / discarded / not saved) due to insufficient power. The second communication device assigns the identifier to all or part of the communication devices in at least one communication device and resends the identifier to all or part of the communication devices in at least one communication device for subsequent CFRA or data transmission. All or part of the communication devices in at least one communication device can resave the identifier based on the permanently saved device ID, which helps to improve the communication efficiency of the communication devices when performing periodic services.

[0261] It should be understood that the signaling sent by the second communication device after at least one communication device has completed at least one cycle of the service process and before entering the next cycle may be the same as or different from the content specifically included in the fifth signaling in S701 above. This application does not make any specific limitation in this regard.

[0262] In some implementations, the fifth signaling in S701 above can be an initial trigger, while the signaling sent by the second communication device after at least one communication device has completed at least one cycle of the service process and before entering the next cycle cannot represent this meaning.

[0263] Optionally, after S708, the second communication device may execute S709.

[0264] S709, the second communication device sends a third signaling message, which is used to instruct the first communication device to send data. The third signaling message includes the identifier of the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the third signaling message.

[0265] S710, the first communication device sends second data to the second communication device; correspondingly, the second communication device receives the second data.

[0266] S711, the second communication device sends a fourth signaling message, which is used to instruct the third communication device to send data and to indicate that the second data transmission was successful.

[0267] Optionally, the second data may be the same as or different from the first data; this application does not limit this.

[0268] Optionally, the third signaling can be any of downlink trigger (DL Trigger) signaling, paging, query, or queryrep, and the name of the third signaling in this application is not limited.

[0269] Optionally, the meaning of the third signaling can be one or more of the following: for paging the first communication device to access the network, for triggering the first communication device to access the network, for selecting the first communication device to access the network, for paging the first communication device to access the second communication device, for triggering the first communication device to access the second communication device, for selecting the first communication device to access the second communication device, for sending uplink data, for instructing the first communication device to send data, for instructing the first communication device to access the second communication device, for instructing the first communication device to access the network, for instructing the first communication device to skip the contention resolution process, or for instructing the first communication device to skip the random access process. This application does not limit the meaning of the third signaling.

[0270] It is worth noting that the third signaling carries the identifier of the first communication device that has been stored in the first communication device, indicating that the first communication device can access the second communication device without contention (contention-free random access, CFRA). This method reduces the complexity of the first communication device accessing the second communication device and improves communication efficiency.

[0271] In one possible implementation, the third signaling may contain the identifiers of one or more communication devices to associate with one or more communication devices; that is, the third signaling may trigger one or more communication devices to send data.

[0272] In one implementation, the identifier of the one or more communication devices includes a group identifier, which can be understood as the same AS ID being assigned to one or more communication devices when the second communication device is assigned an AS ID.

[0273] In another implementation, the identifier of one or more communication devices includes mask information of AS ID. For example, the identifier of one or more communication devices includes a common part of one or more AS IDs of the one or more communication devices assigned by the second communication device. For example, it may be a prefix or suffix of the one or more AS IDs, or a string or bit string between the first preset bit and the second preset bit in the one or more AS IDs.

[0274] Optionally, the third signaling can also indicate access resources (such as the number of access time slots (e.g., Q value), frequency domain resource indication information, code domain resource indication information), and communication devices that meet the AS ID matching rules can choose one of the access resources to access, send uplink data or initiate random access.

[0275] Optionally, the fourth signaling may be DL Trigger signaling, which may include the identifier of the third communication device, but this application does not limit this.

[0276] Optionally, the meaning of the fourth signaling can be one or more of the following: indicating that the third communication device can access the second communication device without contention (CFRA), indicating that the third communication device can send uplink data, indicating that the third communication device can send data, indicating that the third communication device can access the second communication device, indicating that the third communication device can access the network, indicating that the third communication device can skip the contention resolution process, or indicating that the third communication device can skip the random access process, implicitly indicating that the second data was successfully sent, or indicating that the second data was successfully transmitted. This application does not limit the specific meaning of the fourth signaling.

[0277] In some possible implementations, the fourth signaling may include indication information to indicate that the second data transmission was successful, for example, by identifying the indication information with 1 bit. Optionally, setting the bit to 1 can indicate that the second data transmission was successful, but this application does not limit this.

[0278] Optionally, the fourth signaling may also be the third, fifth, sixth, or seventh signaling, or have the functions of the third, fifth, sixth, or seventh signaling. The specific functions will not be elaborated here. This application does not limit the specific name and function of the fourth signaling.

[0279] Optionally, the above-mentioned at least one communication device may include a third communication device.

[0280] In one possible implementation, after each of the at least one communication device has communicated with the second communication device at least once, when the second communication device initiates the next round of service, it can simultaneously indicate CFRA opportunities to multiple communication devices through a single DL Trigger. Furthermore, to avoid collisions when multiple communication devices are transmitting data to the second communication device, the second communication device can also indicate uplink resources to multiple communication devices in the DL Trigger. It should be understood that the multiple communication devices described herein refer to all or some of the at least one communication device.

[0281] In one example, the second communication device can send a DL Trigger signaling message once on a frequency point. The DL Trigger signaling message contains the identifiers of multiple communication devices and the uplink resources allocated by the second communication device to the multiple communication devices, so as to instruct the multiple communication devices to send data on different frequencies in the same time slot, or to send data on different frequencies in different time slots.

[0282] In another example, the second communication device can simultaneously transmit multiple DL Trigger signaling messages on multiple frequency points. Each DL Trigger signaling message contains at least one identifier of the communication device and the uplink resources indicated for that communication device. The resources indicated by the multiple DL Trigger signaling messages are different.

[0283] In one possible implementation, the fifth and / or sixth signaling also indicates at least one initial flag bit (e.g., initial flag bit A) or event ID of the communication device. Taking the first communication device as an example, after confirming the successful transmission of the first data, the first communication device can flip the flag bit to B. In some implementations, after the flag bit is flipped, the first communication device can no longer respond to the queryrep signaling carrying flag bit A, which can prevent the first communication device from repeatedly succeeding in the same cycle, thus improving the efficiency of business process execution. In other implementations, within a certain period of time (the time length can be a business cycle, such as an inventory business cycle, or the time indicated by the second communication device in the downlink signaling), if the first communication device receives multiple DL Triggers containing the same event ID, even if all DL Triggers contain the identifier of the first communication device, it can not respond to or discard the DL Trigger. In yet another implementation, even if the first communication device has flipped the flag bit, and then receives another downlink signaling carrying the identifier of the first communication device (e.g., the AS ID of the first communication device) (e.g., DL), it can still receive a DL Trigger. Even if a signal (such as a Trigger, paging, query, or queryrep) is received, it can still respond to this signal, for example, by sending uplink data or (initiating) a process to access a second communication device.

[0284] Figure 8 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating another communication method 800 provided in an embodiment of this application. This communication method 800 can be applied to the above-mentioned... Figures 2 to 5 In any of the communication systems shown, the method 800 includes the following steps:

[0285] S801, the second communication device sends an eighth signaling message to instruct at least one communication device to perform periodic services; correspondingly, the first communication device receives the eighth signaling message.

[0286] S802, the second communication device sends a ninth signaling message, which is used to indicate at least one access opportunity, including a periodic identifier; correspondingly, the first communication device receives the ninth signaling message.

[0287] S803, the second communication device sends a tenth signaling message, which is used to repeatedly indicate access opportunities, including a periodic identifier; correspondingly, the first communication device receives the tenth signaling message.

[0288] Optionally, the name and meaning of the eighth signaling can be similar to the fifth signaling mentioned above, the name and meaning of the ninth signaling can be similar to the sixth signaling mentioned above, and the name and meaning of the tenth signaling can be similar to the seventh signaling mentioned above, which will not be repeated here.

[0289] In one possible implementation, within each cycle of the periodic service, the second communication device may send a ninth signaling message and at least a tenth signaling message, such as a query and at least a queryrep. Within the same cycle, the cycle identifier (round ID) contained in the query and / or queryrep sent by the second communication device may be the same.

[0290] In one possible implementation, if the counter value of the first communication device is zero after receiving S803, then the first communication device executes S804.

[0291] S804. The first communication device sends an eleventh signaling message, which is used to indicate the initiation of access to the second communication device and includes a fourth identifier; correspondingly, the second communication device receives the signaling message.

[0292] S805, the second communication device sends a twelfth signaling message, which is used to indicate that the first communication device has successfully accessed the network, and / or to indicate the first communication device, including a fourth identifier; the corresponding first communication device receives the signaling message.

[0293] S806, the first communication device sends third data to the second communication device; correspondingly, the second communication device receives the third data.

[0294] S807, the second communication device sends a tenth signaling message to indicate / trigger an access opportunity; correspondingly, the first communication device receives the signaling message.

[0295] Optionally, the name and meaning of the eleventh signaling can be similar to the first signaling mentioned above, the name and meaning of the twelfth signaling can be similar to the second signaling mentioned above, and the meaning of the fourth identifier can be similar to the first identifier mentioned above. These will not be elaborated further here.

[0296] Unlike the method 700 described above, the fourth identifier contained in the twelfth signaling sent by the second communication device is only used to instruct the first communication device to identify the twelfth signaling as a response to the eleventh signaling.

[0297] Optionally, the third data may be the same as or different from the first or second data mentioned above, and this application does not limit this.

[0298] The above-mentioned S807 can be an optional step. If the periodic service performed by at least one communication device after S806 has completed at least one cycle, then it is not necessary to send S807. If the periodic service performed by at least one communication device after S806 has not completed a full cycle, then the second communication device continues to perform S807 to continue to indicate access opportunities.

[0299] As a possible scenario, if the second communication device executes S808 after the periodic service of at least one communication device has completed at least one full cycle and the next cycle is required, the second communication device will execute S808.

[0300] S808, the second communication device sends a thirteenth signaling message to instruct the first communication device to send data, including a period identifier, a contention resolution identifier, and a resource identifier related to the first communication device; correspondingly, the first communication device receives the signaling message.

[0301] S809, the first communication device sends fourth data to the second communication device; correspondingly, the second communication device receives the fourth data.

[0302] Optionally, the fourth data may be the same as or different from the third data; this application does not limit this.

[0303] S810, the second communication device sends the fourteenth signaling to instruct the third communication device to send data, including a period identifier, a contention resolution identifier, and a resource identifier related to the third communication device.

[0304] It should be understood that the period identifier, contention resolution identifier, and resource identifier included in the thirteenth signaling are corresponding; that is, the contention resolution identifier and resource identifier can be those used by the first communication device during communication with the second communication device within the period corresponding to the period identifier. The fourteenth signaling has the same meaning as the thirteenth signaling, the difference being that it targets different communication devices.

[0305] For example, within the period corresponding to round ID 1, the second communication device sends a fourth identifier to the first communication device as a contention resolution identifier, and the resource identifier included in the thirteenth signaling can be an identifier of a resource used by the first communication device within that period. The resource identifier may include, for example, an identifier of a time-domain resource and / or an identifier of a frequency-domain resource. For example, in an uplink frequency division multiplexing (UL FDM) scenario, the frequency-domain resource identifier may include an identifier of an uplink frequency used by the first communication device.

[0306] In one possible implementation, to expedite business processes, the second communication device can initiate multiple different processes within the same cycle. These processes can each correspond to multiple groups within at least one communication device. The second communication device can carry the process number of each group in the aforementioned ninth or tenth signaling, enabling the multiple processes to execute in parallel. In this case, the aforementioned thirteenth signaling may also include the process number of the first communication device.

[0307] In this embodiment of the application, after each of the at least one communication devices indicated by the second communication device has communicated with the second communication device at least once, the second communication device can use the periodic identifier, contention access identifier, and resource identifier of the first communication device's historical communication with the second communication device to instruct the first communication device to send data. This helps to reduce the probability of collisions between the first communication device and other communication devices when the first communication device sends data, saves communication time, and improves communication efficiency.

[0308] It should be understood that the steps in the above embodiments can also be coupled to each other, and this application does not limit this. Furthermore, the sequence numbers of the above processes do not imply a specific order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0309] The above text combines Figure 7 and Figure 8 The communication method of the embodiments of this application is described in detail below. Figure 9 and Figure 10 This application describes in detail the communication device according to embodiments of the present application.

[0310] Figure 9 A communication device 900 provided in an embodiment of this application is shown. The communication device 900 includes a transceiver module 901 and a processing module 902.

[0311] In one possible implementation, the communication device 900 is used to implement the steps and processes corresponding to the first communication device described above.

[0312] The transceiver module 901 is configured to: send a first signaling message, which is used to indicate the initiation of access to the second communication device, the first signaling message including a first identifier, which is generated by the first communication device or pre-stored in the first communication device; and receive a second signaling message, which is used to indicate that the first communication device has successfully accessed the device, and / or to indicate that the first communication device has successfully resolved the contention, the second signaling message including a first identifier or a second identifier, the second identifier being an identifier designated by the second communication device for the first communication device; the processing module 902 is configured to: if the second signaling message includes a first identifier, use the first identifier as the identifier of the first communication device; if the second signaling message includes a second identifier, use the second identifier as the identifier of the first communication device.

[0313] Optionally, the second identifier includes the first identifier and the third identifier, or the third identifier is an identifier assigned by the second communication device to the first communication device.

[0314] The transceiver module 901 is further configured to send first data; the processing module 902 is further configured to store the identifier of the first communication device if the first data transmission is successful.

[0315] The transceiver module 901 is also used to receive a third signaling, which instructs the first communication device to send data, and the third signaling includes the identifier of the first communication device.

[0316] The transceiver module 901 is also used to send second data; and to receive a fourth signaling, the fourth signaling being used to instruct the third communication device to send data and to indicate that the second data transmission was successful.

[0317] The transceiver module 901 is also configured to receive a fifth signaling message, the fifth signaling message being used to instruct at least one communication device, the at least one communication device including a first communication device, the fifth signaling message including first indication information, the first indication information being used to instruct the first communication device to store the identifier of the first communication device.

[0318] In another possible implementation, the communication device 900 is also used to implement the steps and processes corresponding to the second communication device described above.

[0319] The transceiver module 901 is configured to: receive a first signaling message, which is used to indicate the initiation of access to the second communication device, the first signaling message including a first identifier, which is generated by the first communication device or pre-stored in the first communication device; and send a second signaling message, which is used to indicate that the first communication device has successfully accessed the device, and / or to indicate that the first communication device has successfully resolved the contention, the second signaling message including a first identifier or a second identifier, the second identifier being an identifier designated by the second communication device for the first communication device.

[0320] Optionally, if the first identifier does not overlap with other communication devices, the second signaling includes the first identifier; if the first identifier overlaps with other communication devices, the second signaling includes the second identifier.

[0321] Optionally, the second identifier includes the first identifier and the third identifier, or the third identifier is an identifier assigned by the second communication device to the first communication device.

[0322] The transceiver module 901 is also used to send a third signaling message, which instructs the first communication device to send data. The third signaling message includes the identifier of the first communication device.

[0323] The transceiver module 901 is also configured to receive second data; and to send a fourth signaling, the fourth signaling being used to instruct the third communication device to send data, and to indicate that the second data transmission was successful.

[0324] The transceiver module 901 is also configured to receive a fifth signaling message, the fifth signaling message being used to instruct at least one communication device, the at least one communication device including a first communication device, the signaling message including first indication information, the first indication information being used to instruct the first communication device to store the identifier of the first communication device.

[0325] It should be understood that the device 900 here is embodied in the form of a functional module. The term "module" here can refer to application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), electronic circuits, processors (e.g., shared processors, proprietary processors, or group processors, etc.) and memories for executing one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuits, and / or other suitable components supporting the described functions. In an alternative example, those skilled in the art will understand that the device 900 may specifically be the first communication device or the second communication device in the above embodiments, or the functions described in the above embodiments may be integrated into the device 900. The device 900 may be used to execute the various processes and / or steps corresponding to the first or second communication device in the above method embodiments; to avoid repetition, these will not be described again here.

[0326] The aforementioned device 900 has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the first or second communication device in the above method; the above function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above function.

[0327] In the embodiments of this application, Figure 9 The device 900 in the text can also be a chip or a chip system, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system on chip (SoC), a central processor unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a micro controller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other integrated chips.

[0328] Figure 10A schematic block diagram of a communication device 1000 provided in an embodiment of this application is shown. The device 1000 includes a processor 1001, a transceiver 1002, and a memory 1003. The processor 1001, transceiver 1002, and memory 1003 communicate with each other via internal interconnection paths. The memory 1003 stores instructions, and the processor 1001 executes the instructions stored in the memory 1003 to control the transceiver 1002 to transmit and / or receive signals.

[0329] It should be understood that device 1000 may specifically be the first communication device or the second communication device in the above embodiments, and may be used to execute the various steps and / or processes corresponding to the first communication device or the second communication device in the above method embodiments. Optionally, the memory 1003 may include read-only memory and random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor. A portion of the memory may also include non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory may also store device type information. The processor 1001 may be used to execute instructions stored in the memory, and when the processor 1001 executes instructions stored in the memory, the processor 1001 is used to execute the various steps and / or processes of the above method embodiments. The transceiver 1002 may include a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter may be used to implement the various steps and / or processes corresponding to the transceiver for performing a transmitting action, and the receiver may be used to implement the various steps and / or processes corresponding to the transceiver for performing a receiving action.

[0330] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of this application, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), or it may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0331] In implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by integrated logic circuits in the processor's hardware or by instructions in software. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as execution by a hardware processor, or as a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor. The software modules can reside in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor executes the instructions in the memory, combining them with its hardware to complete the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are omitted here.

[0332] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program for implementing the methods shown in the above-described method embodiments.

[0333] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer program code (also referred to as computer program instructions or computer program), and when the computer program is run on a computer, the computer can perform the methods shown in the above-described method embodiments.

[0334] This application also provides a chip system including at least one processor and a communication interface, the communication interface and at least one processor being interconnected via a line, the at least one processor being used to run computer programs or instructions, such that the computer can perform the methods shown in the above-described method embodiments.

[0335] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0336] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0337] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0338] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0339] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0340] If a function is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a first communication device, the method includes: Send a first signaling message, the first signaling message being used to indicate the initiation of access to the second communication device, the first signaling message including a first identifier, the first identifier being generated by the first communication device or pre-stored in the first communication device; Receive a second signaling message, the second signaling message being used to indicate that the first communication device has successfully accessed the network, and / or to indicate that the first communication device has successfully resolved the contention issue, the second signaling message including the first identifier or the second identifier, the second identifier being an identifier designated by the second communication device for the first communication device; If the second signaling includes the first identifier, the first identifier shall be used as the identifier of the first communication device; if the second signaling includes the second identifier, the second identifier shall be used as the identifier of the first communication device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second identifier includes the first identifier and the third identifier, or the third identifier is an identifier assigned by the second communication device to the first communication device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send the first data; If the first data transmission is successful, the identifier of the first communication device is stored.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: A third signaling is received, the third signaling being used to instruct the first communication device to send data, the third signaling including the identifier of the first communication device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 4, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send the second data; A fourth signaling is received, which is used to instruct the third communication device to send data and to indicate that the second data transmission was successful.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: A fifth signaling is received, the fifth signaling being used to instruct at least one communication device, the at least one communication device including the first communication device, the fifth signaling including first indication information, the first indication information being used to instruct the first communication device to store the identifier of the first communication device.

7. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a second communication device, the method includes: Receive a first signaling message, the first signaling message being used to indicate initiating access to the second communication device, the first signaling message including a first identifier, the first identifier being generated by the first communication device or pre-stored in the first communication device; Send a second signaling message, which is used to indicate that the first communication device has successfully accessed the network, and / or to indicate that the first communication device has successfully resolved the contention issue. The second signaling message includes the first identifier or the second identifier, where the second identifier is an identifier designated by the second communication device for the first communication device.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, If the first identifier does not overlap with other communication devices, the second signaling includes the first identifier; if the first identifier overlaps with other communication devices, the second signaling includes the second identifier.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The second identifier includes the first identifier and the third identifier, or the third identifier is an identifier assigned by the second communication device to the first communication device.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a third signaling message, the third signaling message being used to instruct the first communication device to send data, the third signaling message including the identifier of the first communication device.

11. The method according to any one of claims 10, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive the second data; A fourth signaling message is sent, which is used to instruct the third communication device to send data and to indicate that the second data transmission was successful.

12. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: A fifth signaling message is received, the fifth signaling message being used to instruct at least one communication device, the at least one communication device including the first communication device, the signaling message including first indication information, the first indication information being used to instruct the first communication device to store the identifier of the first communication device.

13. A communication device, characterized in that, The module includes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, or the module includes the method as described in any one of claims 7 to 12.

14. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A processor coupled to a memory storing computer-executable instructions, the processor executing the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory, such that the processor performs the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, or performs the method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12.

15. A chip system, characterized in that, It includes at least one processor and a communication interface, the communication interface and the at least one processor being interconnected via a line, the at least one processor being configured to run a computer program or instructions to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, or to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12.

16. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, Used to store a computer program, the computer program including instructions for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, or instructions for performing the method as described in any one of claims 7 to 12.

17. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes computer program code that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, or to perform the method as described in any one of claims 7 to 12.

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