Communication method and device

Abstract

Provided are a communication method and device, the method comprising: sending a first sequence for P devices to request access to a second device, the P devices comprising the first device, P being an integer greater than or equal to 1; first response information is received, the first response information comprises a first index, the first index is associated with the first sequence, the first response information is used for indicating N access opportunities, time domain resources corresponding to the N access opportunities are different, and / or frequency domain resources corresponding to the N access opportunities are different, and N is a positive integer; and sending first data and / or first identification information corresponding to the first device on a first access opportunity in the N access opportunities, wherein the first access opportunity is selected from the N access opportunities. According to the method and the device, a plurality of terminal devices using one sequence can be allowed to access, so that the access efficiency and the system capacity are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is a non-contact automatic identification technology. An RFID system typically includes a reader and a tag. The reader can read information from the tag or write information that needs to be stored in the tag. The tag converts the wireless signals emitted by the reader into energy, which powers itself to operate.

[0003] With the development of communication technology, to save power consumption of terminal devices, it is proposed to introduce RFID technology into mobile communication network systems to realize passive Internet of Things (IoT), that is, network devices can act as readers, realizing the functions of readers. For example, there is the ambient internet of things (A-IoT) technology. A-IoT consists of reader devices (e.g., base stations) and passive, semi-passive, or active A-IoT terminals. A-IoT terminals are terminal devices in cellular network systems, and can also be understood as IoT terminals with extremely low power consumption and extremely low complexity. Main functions include inventory, positioning, sensing, and command; typical application scenarios include logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, and environmental monitoring.

[0004] Currently, Aloha-based access technology uses time-division access, which divides time into equal time segments, with terminal devices synchronously accessing the network at the beginning of each time segment. Therefore, this approach has relatively low access efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, a random access scheme is urgently needed to improve access efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method and apparatus to improve access efficiency.

[0007] Firstly, a communication method is provided. This method can be applied to a first device; that is, the method can be executed by the first device or by components of the first device (such as a chip, chip system, circuit, or communication module), and this application does not limit this. The following description mainly uses the first device as an example.

[0008] The method may include: sending a first sequence for P devices to request access to a second device, the P devices including the first device, where P ≥ 1 and is an integer; receiving first response information, the first response information including a first index associated with the first sequence, the first response information indicating N access opportunities, the N access opportunities corresponding to different time-domain resources and / or different frequency-domain resources, where N is a positive integer; sending first data and / or first identification information corresponding to the first device on a first access opportunity among the N access opportunities, the first access opportunity being selected from the N access opportunities.

[0009] The first identification information can be identification information assigned by the system to the first device, or it can be generated by the first device according to preset rules. For example, among P devices, one identification information can uniquely identify one device, thereby enabling the identification of the data source based on the identification information. Alternatively, the first identification information can be identification information stored within the first device; for instance, it can be randomly generated or pre-existing in the first device's storage area / register / buffer.

[0010] It should be noted that the time-domain resources corresponding to the N access opportunities and the time-domain resources used by the first sequence when accessing the second device can be different sub-time-domain resources of the same time-domain resource, different frequency-domain resources of the same time-domain resource, or different time-domain resources.

[0011] Based on the above scheme, when multiple terminal devices choose to access the system randomly within a sequence (e.g., a first sequence), they send first data and / or first identification information from the first access opportunity among the N access opportunities indicated by the first response information. Since the N access opportunities correspond to different time-domain resources and / or frequency-domain resources, terminal devices selecting the same sequence can use different time-domain resources and / or different frequency-domain resources for random access. This allows multiple terminal devices using a single sequence to access the second device, thereby improving access efficiency and system capacity.

[0012] Optionally, the first response information may further include a first parameter, wherein the N access opportunities are access opportunities corresponding to the first parameter indicated by a first mapping relationship, and the first mapping relationship is used to indicate the access opportunity corresponding to each of the plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters including the first parameter.

[0013] The number of access opportunities is determined by the first parameter in the first response information, so that multiple terminal devices using a sequence can access the second device, thereby improving access efficiency and system capacity.

[0014] Optionally, the second device selects one access opportunity from the N access opportunities as the first access opportunity based on the first parameter, wherein the first parameter includes at least one of the following: the pseudo-random number corresponding to the first device; and the identifier of the first device.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving first indication information, the first indication information being used to trigger the first access opportunity.

[0016] Optionally, the first indication information is also used to indicate a first time interval, and that the first access opportunity is an access opportunity with the first time interval between it and a second access opportunity, wherein the second access opportunity is the access opportunity to which the first indication information is located.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first indication information is also used to indicate that the first device successfully transmits data during the first access opportunity.

[0018] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first response information includes K indices, the K indices include the first index, the K indices are associated with K sequences, each index corresponds to at least one access opportunity, and K ≥ 2 and is an integer.

[0019] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, before sending the first sequence, the method further includes: receiving a first message, the first message including a sequence group, the sequence group including at least one sequence, the first sequence being selected from the at least one sequence.

[0020] Optionally, the at least one sequence is used for multiple terminal devices to access the second device; the sequence group is predetermined by the protocol, or pre-configured by the second device, or indicated by the second device, or generated according to a root sequence indicated by first indication information.

[0021] Based on the above scheme, the sequence in the sequence group allows multiple terminal devices to access the second device in one time domain resource and / or frequency domain resource. This can avoid data collisions when multiple terminal devices use the same sequence, thereby improving access efficiency and system capacity.

[0022] Secondly, a communication method is provided. This method can be applied to a second device, meaning it can be executed by the second device itself, or by components of the second device (such as a chip, chip system, circuit, or communication module). This application does not limit the scope of the method. The following description primarily uses a second device as an example.

[0023] The method may include: receiving a first sequence for P devices to request access to the second device, the P devices including the first device, where P ≥ 1 and is an integer; sending first response information, the first response information including a first index associated with the first sequence, the first response information indicating N access opportunities, the N access opportunities corresponding to different time-domain resources and / or different frequency-domain resources, where N is a positive integer; receiving first data and / or first identification information corresponding to the first device on a first access opportunity among the N access opportunities, the first access opportunity being selected from the N access opportunities.

[0024] Optionally, the first response information may further include a first parameter, wherein the N access opportunities are access opportunities corresponding to the first parameter indicated by a first mapping relationship, and the first mapping relationship is used to indicate the access opportunity corresponding to each of the plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters including the first parameter.

[0025] Optionally, the first parameter includes at least one of the following: a pseudo-random number corresponding to the first device; and an identifier of the first device.

[0026] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending first indication information, which is used to trigger the first access opportunity.

[0027] Optionally, the first indication information is also used to indicate a first time interval, and that the first access opportunity is an access opportunity with the first time interval between it and a second access opportunity, wherein the second access opportunity is the access opportunity to which the first indication information is located.

[0028] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first indication information of the method is also used to indicate that the first device successfully transmits data during the first access opportunity.

[0029] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first response information includes K indices, the K indices include the first index, the K indices are associated with K sequences, each index corresponds to at least one access opportunity, and K ≥ 2 and is an integer.

[0030] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, before receiving the first sequence, the method further includes: sending a first message comprising a sequence group, the sequence group comprising at least one sequence, the first sequence being selected from the at least one sequence.

[0031] Optionally, the at least one sequence is used for multiple terminal devices to access the second device; the sequence group is predetermined by the protocol, or pre-configured by the second device, or indicated by the second device, or generated according to a root sequence indicated by first indication information.

[0032] Thirdly, a communication method is provided. This method can be applied to a first device; that is, the method can be executed by the first device or by components of the first device (such as a chip, chip system, circuit, or communication module). This application does not limit this. The following description mainly uses the first device as an example.

[0033] The method may include: sending a first sequence for P devices to request access to a second device, the P devices including the first device, where P ≥ 1 and is an integer; receiving first response information, the first response information including a first index associated with the first sequence, the first response information indicating that the first sequence is allowed to access the second device; and receiving second indication information, the second indication information indicating that the first device associated with the first sequence sends first data and / or first identification information corresponding to the first device.

[0034] Based on the above scheme, when multiple terminal devices choose to access the system randomly within a sequence (e.g., a first sequence), they are associated with the first sequence through a first index included in the first response information, and the data and / or identification information of the devices associated with the sequence are sent through second indication information. This allows data corresponding to multiple terminal devices using the same sequence to be sent according to the instructions of the second indication information, avoiding signaling overhead and thus improving access efficiency and system capacity.

[0035] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the second indication information is associated with the first index.

[0036] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: receiving third indication information, the third indication information being used to indicate the N access opportunities, the N access opportunities corresponding to different time-domain resources, and / or, the N access opportunities corresponding to different frequency-domain resources, where N is a positive integer; transmitting first data and / or first identification information corresponding to the first device on a first access opportunity among the N access opportunities, the first access opportunity being selected from the N access opportunities.

[0037] Optionally, the third indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate the N access opportunities. The N access opportunities are access opportunities corresponding to the first parameter indicated by a first mapping relationship. The first mapping relationship is used to indicate the access opportunity corresponding to each of the multiple parameters, including the first parameter.

[0038] Optionally, the second device selects one access opportunity from the N access opportunities as the first access opportunity based on the first parameter, wherein the first parameter includes at least one of the following: the pseudo-random number corresponding to the first device; and the identifier of the first device.

[0039] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: receiving first indication information, the first indication information being used to trigger the first access opportunity.

[0040] Optionally, the first indication information is also used to indicate a first time interval, and that the first access opportunity is an access opportunity with the first time interval between it and a second access opportunity, wherein the second access opportunity is the access opportunity to which the first indication information is located.

[0041] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first indication information is also used to indicate that the first device successfully transmits data during the first access opportunity.

[0042] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first response information includes K indices, which include the first index, and the K indices are associated with K sequences, where K ≥ 2 and are integers.

[0043] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, before sending the first sequence, the method further includes: receiving a first message comprising a sequence group, the sequence group comprising at least one sequence, the first sequence being selected from the at least one sequence.

[0044] Optionally, the at least one sequence is used for multiple terminal devices to access the second device; the sequence group is predetermined by the protocol, or pre-configured by the second device, or indicated by the second device, or generated according to a root sequence indicated by first indication information.

[0045] Fourthly, a communication method is provided. This method can be applied to the second device side; that is, the method can be executed by the second device or by components of the second device (such as a chip, chip system, circuit, or communication module). This application does not limit this. The following description mainly uses the second device as an example.

[0046] The method may include: receiving a first sequence for P devices to request access to the second device, the P devices including a first device, where P ≥ 1 and is an integer; sending first response information, the first response information including a first index associated with the first sequence, the first response information indicating that the first sequence is allowed to access the second device; and sending second indication information, the second indication information indicating that the first device associated with the first sequence sends first data and / or first identification information corresponding to the first device.

[0047] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the second instruction information is associated with the first index.

[0048] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: sending third indication information, the third indication information being used to indicate N access opportunities, the N access opportunities corresponding to different time-domain resources, and / or, the N access opportunities corresponding to different frequency-domain resources, where N is a positive integer; sending first data and / or first identification information corresponding to the first device on a first access opportunity among the N access opportunities, the first access opportunity being selected from the N access opportunities.

[0049] Optionally, the third indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate the N access opportunities. The N access opportunities are access opportunities corresponding to the first parameter indicated by a first mapping relationship. The first mapping relationship is used to indicate the access opportunity corresponding to each of the multiple parameters, including the first parameter.

[0050] Optionally, the first parameter includes at least one of the following: a pseudo-random number corresponding to the first device; and an identifier of the first device.

[0051] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: sending first indication information, which is used to trigger the first access opportunity.

[0052] Optionally, the first indication information is also used to indicate a first time interval, and that the first access opportunity is an access opportunity with the first time interval between it and a second access opportunity, wherein the second access opportunity is the access opportunity to which the first indication information is located.

[0053] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first indication information is also used to indicate that the first device successfully transmits data during the first access opportunity.

[0054] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first response information includes K indices, which include the first index, and the K indices are associated with K sequences, where K ≥ 2 and are integers.

[0055] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, before receiving the first sequence, the method further includes: sending a first message comprising a sequence group, the sequence group comprising at least one sequence, the first sequence being selected from the at least one sequence.

[0056] Optionally, the at least one sequence is used for multiple terminal devices to access the second device; the sequence group is predetermined by the protocol, or pre-configured by the second device, or indicated by the second device, or generated according to a root sequence indicated by first indication information.

[0057] For details regarding the beneficial effects and possible designs of aspects two through four that are not fully described, please refer to the relevant descriptions in aspect one, which will not be repeated here.

[0058] Fifthly, a communication apparatus is provided for performing the methods of any one of the first to fourth aspects and any possible implementation thereof. Specifically, the apparatus may include units and / or modules for performing the methods of any one of the first to fourth aspects and any possible implementation thereof, such as processing units and / or communication units.

[0059] In one implementation, the device is a communication device (such as the first device, or the second device). When the device is a communication device, the communication unit can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface; the processing unit can be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0060] In another implementation, the device is a chip, chip system, circuit, or communication module for a communication device (such as the first device or the second device). When the device is a chip, chip system, or circuit for a communication device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip, chip system, or circuit; the processing unit may be at least one processor, processing circuit, or logic circuit.

[0061] A sixth aspect provides a communication device comprising: at least one processor configured to cause the device to perform any one of the first to second aspects and any possible implementation thereof.

[0062] Optionally, the at least one processor is configured to execute a computer program or instructions to perform the methods of any of the first to fourth aspects and any possible implementation thereof.

[0063] Optionally, the device further includes a memory for storing the computer program or instructions.

[0064] Optionally, the at least one processor is coupled to a memory for storing the computer program or instructions. The memory may be located externally to the device.

[0065] Optionally, the device also includes a communication interface through which the processor reads instructions from memory. This can be understood as the communication interface being coupled to the processor and used to input computer programs or instructions to the processor, or to output information from the processor.

[0066] Unless otherwise specified, or if the transmission and acquisition / reception operations involved do not contradict their actual function or internal logic in the relevant description, they can be understood as output, input, or other operations, or as transmission and reception operations performed by radio frequency circuits and antennas. This application does not limit them in this regard.

[0067] In one implementation, the device is a communication device (such as a first device, or a second device).

[0068] In another implementation, the device is a chip, chip system, circuit, or communication module for a communication device (such as the first device, or the second device). Optionally, the chip is a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, or a system-in-package (SIP) chip.

[0069] In a seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, on which a computer program (e.g., program code) or instructions are stored, which, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the methods of any one of the first to fourth aspects and any possible implementation thereof.

[0070] Eighthly, a computer program product containing instructions is provided, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the first to fourth aspects and any possible implementation thereof.

[0071] A ninth aspect provides a communication system, including a first device and a second apparatus. The first device is configured to execute a method provided in any implementation of the first aspect, or to execute a method provided in any implementation of the third aspect; the second apparatus is configured to execute a method provided in any implementation of the second aspect, or to execute a method provided in any implementation of the fourth aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0072] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of this application.

[0073] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to embodiments of this application.

[0074] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to embodiments of this application.

[0075] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to embodiments of this application.

[0076] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the RFID process.

[0077] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the Aloha time-slot access process.

[0078] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0079] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the frequency domain resources provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0080] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of another communication method provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0081] Figure 10 This is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0082] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0083] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a chip system provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0084] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0085] Before introducing the scheme of this application, the following points should be noted.

[0086] (1) In this application, "instruction" can include direct instruction, indirect instruction, explicit instruction, implicit instruction, etc. When describing an instruction information as indicating A, it can be understood that the instruction information carries A, carries the identifier of A, carries B which is associated with A, carries the identifier of B which is associated with A, etc. In other words, if the receiving side of an instruction information can determine A based on the instruction information, it can be described as the instruction information indicating A, and the specific method of determination is not limited. When it is understood that the instruction information carries A, "instruction" can be replaced with "includes". In this case, a statement such as "send / receive instruction information, the instruction information indicates A" can be replaced with "send / receive A".

[0087] In this application, the information indicated by the instruction information is called the information to be instructed. In specific implementations, there are many ways to indicate the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly indicate the information to be instructed by indicating other information, where there is a relationship between the other information and the information to be instructed. It can also indicate only a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-defined) arrangement of various pieces of information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to some extent. Furthermore, the information to be instructed can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information pieces, and the sending period and / or timing of these sub-information pieces can be the same or different.

[0088] (2) In this application, the expression " / " is used to indicate that the objects before and after are in an "or" relationship; for example, A / B can mean: A or B. The expression "and / or" is used to indicate that the objects before and after are in a relationship of either "and" or "or"; for example, A and / or B can mean the following: A exists alone, B exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be single or multiple. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions are used to indicate any combination of the listed items; for example, at least one of A, B and / or C can mean the following: A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, B and C exist simultaneously, A and C exist simultaneously, A, B and C exist simultaneously, where A, B, and C can be single or multiple.

[0089] (3) In this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which may include direct transmission via the air interface or indirect transmission by other units or modules via the air interface. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which may include direct reception from YY via the air interface or indirect reception from YY by other units or modules via the air interface. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via a bus, wiring, or interface.

[0090] (4) In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features of different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0091] (5) In this application, terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used merely for descriptive convenience to distinguish objects and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. They are not used to describe the order or sequence of features. It should be understood that such described objects can be interchanged where appropriate to describe solutions other than those in the embodiments of this application.

[0092] (6) In this application, the words “exemplary,” “for example,” etc., are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as an “example” in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the word “example” is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner. In the embodiments of this application, “of,” “corresponding, relevant,” and “corresponding” may sometimes be used interchangeably, and it should be noted that their intended meanings are consistent unless their distinction is emphasized.

[0093] (7) The terms “comprising” and “having” and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to such process, method, product or device.

[0094] First, let me introduce the communication system to which this application applies.

[0095] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to 5th generation (5G) or new radio (NR) communication systems, as well as other communication systems, such as 5th generation (5G) or new radio (NR) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, and LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems. The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to future communication systems, such as 6th generation (6G) mobile communication systems. The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), and Internet of Things (IoT) communication systems. The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to non-terrestrial network (NTN) systems such as inter-satellite communication and satellite communication.

[0096] As an example, a satellite communication system includes a satellite base station and terminal equipment. The satellite base station provides communication services to the terminal equipment. Satellite base stations can also communicate with each other. A satellite can act as a base station or as a terminal device. Here, "satellite" can refer to drones, hot air balloons, low-Earth orbit satellites, medium-Earth orbit satellites, high-Earth orbit satellites, etc. "Satellite" can also refer to non-terrestrial base stations or non-terrestrial equipment.

[0097] As an example, V2X communication can include: vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, and vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication.

[0098] In a communication system, a device can send signals to or receive signals from another device. These signals can include information, signaling, or data. The device can also be replaced by an entity, network entity, communication equipment, communication module, node, communication node, etc. This application uses a device as an example for description.

[0099] The terminal device in this application embodiment can be a device or module that accesses the aforementioned communication system and has corresponding communication functions. The terminal device can include various devices with wireless communication capabilities, which can be used to connect people, objects, machines, etc. The terminal device can be widely applied in various scenarios, such as: cellular communication, D2D, V2X, peer-to-peer (P2P), M2M, MTC, IoT, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, drones, robots, remote sensing, passive sensing, positioning, navigation and tracking, autonomous delivery, etc. The terminal device can be a terminal in any of the above scenarios, such as an MTC terminal, an IoT terminal, etc. Terminal equipment can be user equipment (UE), terminal, fixed equipment, mobile station equipment or mobile equipment, subscriber unit, handheld device, vehicle-mounted equipment, wearable device, cellular phone, smartphone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless data card, personal digital assistant (PDA), computer, tablet computer, laptop computer, wireless modem, handset, laptop computer, computer with wireless transceiver capability, smart book, vehicle, satellite, global positioning system (GPS) device, target tracking device, aircraft (e.g., drone, helicopter, multiple helicopters, four helicopters, or airplanes), ship, remote control device, smart home device, industrial equipment, transportation vehicle with wireless communication capability, communication module, or roadside unit with terminal function, all conforming to the 3GPP standard. The device may be a wireless communication unit (RSU), or a device built into the aforementioned device (e.g., a communication module, modem, or chip in the aforementioned device), or other processing devices connected to the wireless modem.

[0100] It should be understood that in certain scenarios, a UE can also be used as a base station. For example, a UE can act as a scheduling entity, providing sidelink signaling between UEs in scenarios such as V2X, D2D, or P2P.

[0101] In this embodiment, the device for implementing the functions of a terminal device, i.e., the terminal device, can be the terminal device itself, or it can be any device capable of supporting the terminal device in implementing the functions, such as a chip system, chip, circuit, or communication module (i.e., a communication module that performs communication functions). This device can be installed in the terminal device. In this embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. Furthermore, the device can also be configured with program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions.

[0102] The network device in this application embodiment can be a device or module with corresponding communication functions. The network device can be a device used to communicate with terminal devices; it can also be called an access network device or a wireless access network device, such as a base station. In this application embodiment, the network device can refer to a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects the terminal device to the wireless network. A base station can broadly encompass, or be replaced by, various names including: NodeB, evolved NodeB (eNB), next-generation NodeB (gNB), relay station, access point, transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmitter, master station, auxiliary station, motor slide retainer (MSR) node, home base station, network controller, access node, wireless node, access point (AP), transmission node, transceiver node, baseband unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), positioning node, etc. A base station can be a macro base station, micro base station, relay node, donor node, or a combination thereof. A base station can also refer to a communication module, modem, or chip installed within the aforementioned equipment or apparatus. Base stations can also be mobile switching centers, devices that perform base station functions in D2D, V2X, and M2M communications, network-side devices in 6G networks, and devices that perform base station functions in future communication systems. Base stations can support networks with the same or different access technologies. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or device forms used in the network equipment.

[0103] Base stations can be fixed or mobile. For example, a helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a mobile base station, and one or more cells can move depending on the location of the mobile base station. In other examples, a helicopter or drone can be configured as a device to communicate with another base station.

[0104] In some deployments, the network devices mentioned in the embodiments of this application may be devices including CU, or DU, or devices including CU and DU, or devices with control plane CU nodes (central unit-control plane (CU-CP)) and user plane CU nodes (central unit-user plane (CU-UP)) and DU nodes.

[0105] In some deployments, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes each implementing some of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be CUs, DUs, CU-CPs, CU-UPs, or radio units (RUs). CUs and DUs can be configured separately or included in the same network element, such as a BBU. RUs can be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as RRUs, AAUs, or RRHs.

[0106] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, a radio access network can also be an open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture. In an O-RAN system, CU can also be called an open CU (open CU, O-CU), DU can also be called an open DU (open DU, O-DU), CU-CP can also be called an open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), CU-UP can also be called an open CU-UP (O-CU-UP), and RU can also be called an open RU (open RU, O-RU). Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0107] In some deployments, the O-RAN system includes a RAN intelligent controller (RIC) module. This RIC includes near-real-time (near-RT) RICs and non-real-time (non-RT) RICs. Near-real-time RICs are used for model training and inference. For example, they are used to train artificial intelligence (AI) models and then use these AI models for inference. Near-real-time RICs can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CUs, CU-CPs, CU-UPs, DUs, and / or RUs) and / or terminal devices. This information can be used as training data or inference data. Optionally, near-real-time RICs can deliver inference results to RAN nodes and / or terminal devices. Optionally, inference results can be exchanged between CUs and DUs, and / or between DUs and RUs. For example, a near-real-time RIC delivers an inference result to a DU, which then forwards it to an RU.

[0108] Non-real-time RICs are used for model training and inference. For example, they are 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 RAN nodes (e.g., CUs, CU-CPs, CU-UPs, DUs, and / or RUs) and / or terminal devices. This information can be used as training data or inference data, and the inference results can be delivered to RAN nodes and / or terminal devices. 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.

[0109] In the embodiments of this application, the near real-time RIC and the non-real-time RIC can also be set up as separate network elements. Alternatively, the near real-time RIC and the non-real-time RIC can also be part of other devices. For example, the near real-time RIC can be set in the RAN node (e.g., in the CU, DU), while the non-real-time RIC can be set in the operation administration and maintenance (OAM) system, cloud server, core network device, or other network device.

[0110] In this embodiment, the device for implementing the functions of a network device can be a network device itself, or a device capable of supporting the network device in implementing those functions, such as a chip system, chip, circuit, or communication module (i.e., a communication module that performs communication functions). This device can be installed within the network device. In this embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. Furthermore, the device can be configured with program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions. This embodiment only uses a network device as an example to illustrate the device for implementing the functions of a network device, and does not limit the solution of this embodiment.

[0111] Network devices and terminal devices can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can also be deployed in the air on airplanes, balloons, and satellites. This application does not limit the scenario in which the network devices and terminal devices are located.

[0112] As an example, and not a limitation, in this embodiment, the terminal device can be a first type of terminal device in the Ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) technology defined in 3GPP. This first type of terminal device can be a device with the functionality of an A-IoT terminal device. Specifically, A-IoT in A-IoT technology includes network devices and first type of terminal devices, or in other words, an A-IoT-based communication system includes network devices and first type of terminal devices. The first type of terminal device can be a device with the functionality of an A-IoT terminal device. In this case, both the reader / writer and the A-IoT terminal device can be implemented based on cellular network infrastructure. In other words, both the reader / writer and the A-IoT terminal device can be devices within a cellular network. For example, the functionality of the reader / writer can be implemented by a network device, such as a base station. The A-IoT terminal device can be implemented by a terminal within a cellular network, such as an ultra-low power, ultra-low complexity IoT terminal, i.e., a first type of terminal. The network device and the first type of terminal can perform contactless data communication, thereby reading information from the first type of terminal and / or writing information that needs to be stored into the first type of terminal. A-IoT technology can be used to implement one or more of the following functions: inventory management, location tracking, sensing, and commands. Command functions can be understood as implementing write or lock processes. In terms of application scope, A-IoT technology can be applied to scenarios such as logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, or environmental monitoring.

[0113] Combination Figures 1 to 4 The communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application is briefly described below.

[0114] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 applicable to an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the communication system includes a network device 110 and an A-IoT terminal 120. The network device 110 and the A-IoT terminal 120 communicate bidirectionally. The communication between the network device 110 and the A-IoT terminal 120 includes environmental IoT data and / or signaling. Specifically, the network device 110 sends downlink data and / or signaling to the A-IoT terminal 120, and the A-IoT terminal 120 sends uplink data and / or signaling to the network device 110. Alternatively, it can be understood that the network device 110 and the A-IoT terminal 120 transmit uplink and downlink data and / or signaling.

[0115] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a communication system 200 applicable to an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the communication system includes a network device 210, an intermediate node 220, and an A-IoT terminal 230. The network device 210 and the A-IoT terminal 230 communicate bidirectionally with the intermediate node 220. For example, the network device 210 communicates bidirectionally with the intermediate node 220, and then the intermediate node 220 communicates bidirectionally with the A-IoT terminal 120. That is, the network device 210 transmits uplink and downlink data and / or signaling between itself and the intermediate node 220, and the intermediate node 220 transmits uplink and downlink data and / or signaling between itself and the A-IoT terminal 120. In this embodiment, the intermediate node 220 can be a repeater, an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node, a UE, etc.

[0116] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a communication system 300 applicable to an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 3 As shown in (a) and (b), the communication system includes a network device 310, an auxiliary node 320, and an A-IoT terminal 330. Figure 3 In (a), the A-IoT terminal 330 sends data and / or signaling to the network device 310, the network device 310 sends data and / or signaling to the auxiliary node 320 via Uu, and then the A-IoT terminal 330 receives data and / or signaling from the auxiliary node 320. Figure 3 In (b), the A-IoT terminal 330 receives data and / or signaling sent by the network device 310 and sends data and / or signaling to the auxiliary node 320. Then, the network device 310 receives data and / or signaling from the auxiliary node 320 through the Uu interface. In this embodiment, the intermediate node of the auxiliary node 320 may be a repeater, an IAB node, a UE, etc.

[0117] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of a communication system 400 applicable to an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the communication system includes a terminal device 410 and an A-IoT terminal 420. The terminal device 410 and the A-IoT terminal 420 communicate bidirectionally. The communication between the terminal device 410 and the A-IoT terminal 420 includes environmental IoT data and / or signaling. Specifically, the terminal device 410 sends downlink data and / or signaling to the A-IoT terminal 420, and the A-IoT terminal 420 sends uplink data and / or signaling to the terminal device 410. Alternatively, it can be understood that the terminal device 410 and the A-IoT terminal 420 transmit uplink and downlink data and / or signaling.

[0118] Figures 1 to 4 This is merely an illustration; the communication system to which this application's embodiments apply may also include other devices, such as core network equipment, wireless relay equipment, and / or wireless backhaul equipment. Figures 1 to 4 It is not shown in the middle.

[0119] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the terms used in this application will be briefly explained.

[0120] 1. RFID

[0121] An RFID system consists of a reader and tags. The reader and tag devices communicate via contactless data transmission. The tag's function is simple; it requires activation from the reader to send information. Specifically, the tag converts the wireless signal emitted by the reader into energy, which powers it to operate. RFID tags are characterized by low power consumption.

[0122] The primary application of RFID is identification, but it can also be used for data reading and writing. The tags have the following characteristics:

[0123] 1) The label design is simple, for example, the application layer and air interface signaling are combined into one design.

[0124] 2) The tag supports power consumption in the microwatt (μW) level or hundreds of microwatts level, but cannot support complex designs or complex measurements.

[0125] 3) When using multi-tag communication, time-division multiplexing is used, and multiple tags are read serially. It does not support the distinction between the frequency domain and the code domain, and its parallel performance is poor.

[0126] The power consumption of RFID tags varies depending on the type, as detailed below.

[0127] Passive tags: Support power consumption in the 1μW range. Passive tags do not have an independent power supply to drive the circuitry within the tag; therefore, they have no energy storage capacity. The energy for receiving and transmitting signals comes entirely from the reader's radio frequency (RF) energy. Furthermore, passive tags rely on reflection communication for uplink transmission. The reader needs to send a carrier signal to trigger the passive tag to send a reflected signal, which is then transmitted back to the reader using RF energy.

[0128] Semi-passive tags: Support power consumption in the 100μW range. Compared to passive tags, semi-passive tags have some circuitry that can store some energy (e.g., using capacitors), therefore, the transmit power consumption of semi-passive tags can be greater than that of passive tags. Semi-passive tags also rely on reflection communication for uplink transmission, but their communication capabilities are stronger than those of passive tags (e.g., the transmission rate of semi-passive tags is higher than that of passive tags).

[0129] Active tag: Supports 50mW power consumption. Active tags have a battery and can actively transmit signals. They do not rely on reflected signals during communication and have stronger communication capabilities than semi-passive tags.

[0130] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the RFID process. (For example...) Figure 5 As shown, the specific working process of RFID is as follows.

[0131] 510. The reader sends a select signal to the tag. Correspondingly, the tag receives the select signal from the reader.

[0132] The select signaling is used to select one or a group of tags. This select signaling includes the tag's memory information. Specifically, the reader uses the select signaling to cause tags that meet and / or do not meet the selection criteria to set a specific session in the inventory flag.

[0133] For example, the inventory flag can have four independent sections: section 0 (S0), section 1 (S1), section 2 (S2), and section 3 (S3). Each section can be in state A or state B. Specifically, the select signaling also carries the fields of inventorySession, action, and mask. The select signaling sets the selected tag's session and corresponding flag positions. Assuming the inventorySession is set to S0 and action = 0, if the mask matches, the tag will set the flag position of S0 to A, the initial flag position, and if the electronic product code (EPC) is successfully transmitted, it will be flipped to B. Thus, the tag in state A is the tag that has not yet transmitted the EPC, and the tag in state B is the tag that has successfully transmitted the EPC.

[0134] The session and the subsequent flags are bound together; each flag corresponds to a session, and the inventorySession specifies which session's flag is set. The action specifies how to set the flag, for example, action = 1 or 0. When a tag is received, if the mask matches, the flag corresponding to the session will be set to A (action = 1) or B (action = 0). The mask is used to filter which tags are selected. For example, if a tag stores a complete 96-bit identifier, the mask can indicate that tags with the first 16 bits being 111…111 are selected. If the mask matches, the action can be further set, and the system can then listen for subsequent query commands.

[0135] Optionally, the above-mentioned select signaling can also be paging signaling, used to page one or a group of tags.

[0136] 520. The reader sends a query command to the tag. Correspondingly, the tag receives the query command from the reader.

[0137] The query command carries the value of parameter Q, session, and disk flag. Assuming session is S0 and disk flag is A, when the tag's session matches the flag, a value between 0 and 2Q-1 is randomly generated based on parameter Q as the initial value of the counter. The tag determines whether to immediately send a random number (RN) back to the reader based on the value of this counter. For example, when counter = 0, the tag will send an RN back to the reader (e.g., RN(16), where RN(16) is a 16-bit random number). When counter is not 0, the tag does not send an RN back to the reader. If the reader does not receive an RN from the tag within a certain period, it will send a queryRep command to the tag.

[0138] Specifically, there are two scenarios for the subsequent execution steps: scenario 1 and scenario 2.

[0139] Case 1: Counter = 0, specifically including step 521.

[0140] 521. The tag sends a random number to the reader. Correspondingly, the reader receives the random number from the tag.

[0141] The random number (RN) can be a 16-bit random number or an 8-bit random number; this application does not limit this.

[0142] Case 2: Counter is an integer greater than or equal to 1, specifically including steps 522 and 523.

[0143] 522. The reader sends a queryRep command to the tag. Correspondingly, the tag receives the queryRep command from the reader.

[0144] The number of times the queryRep command is sent is determined by the value of counter. Specifically, each time a queryRep command is sent, the counter value is decremented by 1; that is, every time the tag receives a queryRep command, counter = counter - 1. This continues until the counter value reaches 0, at which point the tag sends an RN to the reader.

[0145] More specifically, the tag can calculate the available time slot range [0, 2Q-1] based on the value of the random parameter Q. The tag can then randomly select a value from [0, 2Q-1] and assign it to the counter. Each time the tag receives a queryRep command, the counter's count is decremented by 1. When the counter's count reaches 0, step 523 can be executed.

[0146] For example, each queryRep command corresponds to the start or end of an access time slot. That is, each time a tag receives a queryRep command, it signifies the end of the previous time slot and the start of the next time slot.

[0147] 523. The tag sends a random number to the reader. Correspondingly, the reader receives the random number from the tag.

[0148] When the counter count is 0, the tag sends a random number in its randomly selected access time slot.

[0149] 530. The reader sends an acknowledgment (ACK) message to the tag. Correspondingly, the tag receives an acknowledgment (ACK) message from the reader.

[0150] When a reader receives the aforementioned RN from a tag, if there is no collision (i.e., the reader receives only one RN from a tag), it will send an ACK message to the reader. This ACK message includes the received RN, indicating that the tag contention has been successfully resolved.

[0151] 540. The tag sends uplink data to the reader.

[0152] The upstream data can be EPC.

[0153] 550. The reader sends a repeat query (queryRep) command to the tag again. Correspondingly, the tag receives the repeat query (queryRep) command from the reader.

[0154] 560. The label will reverse the state of the SL or disk flag.

[0155] After a tag receives the queryRep command, indicating successful data transmission, the state of the disk flag can be reversed. For example, the state of section 0 can be set from state A to state B. The queryRep command can be used to trigger tags that have not yet successfully connected to the reader. Specifically, the count value of tags whose counter value is not 0 is decremented by 1 until the counter value reaches 0. Steps 523 to 560 are then repeated until all tags have successfully connected to the reader.

[0156] 2. A-IoT

[0157] A-IoT is an infrastructure based on cellular network communication, consisting of readers (such as base stations) and passive, semi-passive, or active A-IoT terminals. A-IoT terminals are terminal devices within the cellular network, such as IoT terminals with extremely low power consumption and low complexity. Main functions include inventory management, positioning, sensing, and command processing; typical application scenarios include logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, and environmental monitoring.

[0158] For example, inventory management involves using a reader (e.g., a base station or terminal device) to access A-IoT terminals (or A-IoT terminal devices) within the coverage area. Successfully connected devices need to send their unique identifier (which can be recognized by the network, such as the EPC in RFID) to the reader. Positioning uses location signals to pinpoint the location of the A-IoT terminal. Sensing involves the A-IoT terminal reporting sensor data to the base station, such as temperature data. Commands can be operation instructions, such as write and lock. Specifically, the write process involves the network device (e.g., the base station) sending a downlink command and data to instruct the A-IoT terminal to write data into its memory. The lock process involves the network device sending a downlink command to lock the A-IoT terminal at a specified address in the memory, making the contents of that memory area unchangeable and / or unreadable.

[0159] Terminal devices in A-IoT can be divided into three categories: devices A, B, and C.

[0160] 1) Device A (similar to a passive A-IoT terminal): It has no energy storage and does not rely on signal generation or signal amplification. For example, backscatter communication.

[0161] 2) Device B (similar to a semi-passive A-IoT terminal): Has energy storage. Does not rely on signal generation, for example, backscatter communication. The use of stored energy may include amplifying the reflected signal.

[0162] 3) Device C (similar to an active A-IoT terminal): It has energy storage and relies on signal generation, such as an active radio frequency (RF) element used for transmission.

[0163] 3. Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

[0164] CDMA is a channel-sharing method that allows multiple terminal devices to communicate simultaneously in the same time and frequency domain without collisions. CDMA distinguishes information from different terminal devices through encoding. Specifically, in a CDMA system, each terminal device is assigned a different chip sequence. When multiple terminal devices transmit data, the chip sequences used by each terminal device are orthogonal to each other; therefore, the data transmitted by these multiple terminal devices does not collide in that time slot. The chip sequence can be a pseudo-random code sequence.

[0165] In this embodiment of the application, by way of example and not limitation, CDMA can be implemented using a preamble sequence, that is, a preamble sequence is assigned to each terminal device.

[0166] 4. Preamble sequence

[0167] When a terminal device randomly accesses a network device, it needs to send a preamble sequence to request access. The preamble sequence is obtained by cyclically shifting a root sequence. Specifically, a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) root sequence is generated, which serves as the base sequence. This base sequence is then cyclically shifted to generate 64 different cyclic sequences. When the terminal device uses a contention-based access method, it needs to randomly select a preamble sequence from this group to request access to the network device.

[0168] 5. Send data

[0169] The data transmission (also referred to as data transmission) in this application embodiment can be replaced by: access, or random access, or random access contention resolution, or random access identification. In this application, successful data transmission can also be referred to as successful access, or successful random access, or successful random access contention resolution, or successful random access identification.

[0170] Successful random access means that the terminal device receives the signaling used to page the terminal device and successfully initiates random access. Failed random access after being paged means that the terminal device receives the signaling used to page the terminal device but fails to successfully initiate random access. In this application, failed random access includes two situations: the first is that random access has not yet started, and the second is that random access has failed.

[0171] Successful random access can also be replaced with: successful access, successful data transmission, successful contention resolution, successful identification, or successful service completion. Unsuccessful random access can be replaced with: unsuccessful access, unsuccessful data transmission, unsuccessful contention resolution, unsuccessful identification, or unsuccessful service completion. Unsuccessful random access after being paged can be replaced with: unsuccessful access after being paged, unsuccessful data transmission after being paged, unsuccessful contention resolution after being paged, unsuccessful identification after being paged, unsuccessful service completion after being paged, pending random access, pending data transmission, or pending contention resolution. For example, if the first device completes its service, it means that the first device achieved successful data transmission, successful access, successful random access, and successful identification; if the first device does not complete its service, it means at least one of the following: unsuccessful access, unsuccessful random access, unsuccessful data transmission, or unsuccessful identification. "Success" can also be understood as "completed" or "successfully completed."

[0172] With the development of communication technology, RFID technology has been introduced into mobile communication. For example, time-slot-based Aloha access technology. The following section will combine... Figure 6 The technology of slotted Aloha-based access networks is described.

[0173] like Figure 6 As shown, the Aloha-based access technology includes terminal devices and readers, where the reader can also be the aforementioned network device, specifically a network device capable of implementing reader functionality. For ease of description, in... Figure 6 The terminal equipment will be described using a UE as an example. The time-slot Aloha-based access technology includes the following steps.

[0174] 610. The reader sends a selection signaling message to the UE. Correspondingly, the UE receives the selection signaling message from the reader.

[0175] The selection signaling is used to select a group of UEs. For ease of description, the following text will use the select signaling as an example to describe the selection signaling.

[0176] Optionally, the above select signaling can also be paging signaling, used to page a group of UEs.

[0177] 620. The reader sends a query command to the UE. Correspondingly, the UE receives the query command from the reader.

[0178] For ease of description, the query command will be used as an example in the following text.

[0179] The query command carries the value of parameter Q. The UE generates a random number between [0, 2Q-1] based on this Q value. This random number is the access time unit selected by the UE and is recorded as the initial value of the counter. For example, if Q = 4, the UE generates a random number between [0, 15]. For example, if Q = 6, the initial value of the counter is recorded as 6.

[0180] It should be noted that each UE in the selected group of UEs will generate a random number based on the Q value. The random numbers generated by each UE can be the same or different, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this. The random number generated by each UE is the time slot for that UE to access the reader.

[0181] 630. The reader sends a repeat query command to the UE. Correspondingly, the UE receives the repeat query command from the reader.

[0182] For ease of description, the queryRep command will be used as an example to describe the repeated query command below.

[0183] The reader sends queryRep commands to a selected group of UEs, and sends a total of 2Q queryRep commands. Each time the reader sends a queryRep command, the counter value for each UE is decremented by 1; that is, for each UE that receives a queryRep command, counter = counter - 1. This continues until the counter value reaches 0, at which point the tag sends an RN to the reader. For example, if the initial counter value is 6, then after the reader sends 6 queryRep commands, the counter becomes 0.

[0184] More specifically, the tag can calculate the available time slot range [0, 2Q-1] based on the value of the random parameter Q, and the tag can randomly select a value from [0, 2Q-1] and assign it to the counter. Each time the tag receives a queryRep command, the counter's count is decremented by 1. When the counter's count is 0, step 640 can be executed.

[0185] For example, each queryRep command can be considered as an access time slot, meaning that each queryRep command sent corresponds to the start or end of an access time slot. In other words, each time the UE receives a queryRep command, it signifies the end of the previous time slot and the start of the next time slot.

[0186] 640. The UE sends a random number to the reader. Correspondingly, the reader receives the random number from the UE.

[0187] When the counter count is 0, the UE sends the random number in its randomly selected access time slot. This random number is used for contention resolution.

[0188] 650. The reader sends an ACK message to the UE. Correspondingly, the UE receives the ACK message from the reader.

[0189] After receiving the aforementioned RN sent by the UE, the reader will send an ACK message back to the reader to indicate that the UE has successfully resolved the contention.

[0190] 660. The UE sends uplink data to the reader.

[0191] The uplink data can be EPC. The UE is the UE that successfully competed among the selected group of UEs.

[0192] 670. The reader sends a queryRep command to the UE. Correspondingly, the UE receives the queryRep command from the reader.

[0193] The queryRep command is used to trigger the next UE to access the reader / writer. In other words, the queryRep command is used to indicate to the selected UEs that have not yet successfully accessed the reader / writer.

[0194] It should be noted that after a UE that has not yet successfully connected receives the queryRep command, the subsequent steps executed will repeat the process from steps 630 to 660.

[0195] It should also be noted that a total of 2Q queryRep commands were sent in steps 630 to 670. In step 630, the number of queryRep commands sent by the reader corresponds to a random value generated by a UE within the range [0, 2Q-1]. For example, if a UE selects a group of UEs based on a select signaling, and this group includes three UEs (specifically UE 1 and UE 2), then UE 1 and UE 2 randomly select a value between [0, 2Q-1]. For instance, when Q = 4, UE 1 selects the value 6 as the initial value of the counter, and UE 2 selects the value 10 as the initial value of the counter. Therefore, after the reader sends 6 queryRep commands to UE 1, the counter is reduced to 0; after the reader sends 10 queryRep commands to UE 2, the counter is reduced to 0. For UE 1, the queryRep commands sent by the reader correspond to step 630 above. For UE 2, the queryRep command sent by the reader corresponds to step 670 above.

[0196] As shown above, time-slot Aloha-based access technology primarily uses time-division multiplexing to enable multiple UEs to access the reader. In other words, time-slot Aloha-based access technology divides time into equal time slices, and each UE accesses the reader at the beginning of each time slice. However... Figure 6 The current solution still has the problem that the same UE may choose to access the reader in the same time segment, which will cause a collision. For UEs that have a collision, they need to wait for the next time segment to arrive before they can initiate access again, which will reduce access efficiency.

[0197] In view of this, this application proposes that, based on a CDMA-based access scheme, multiple terminal devices using the same sequence can be allocated different time-domain resources and / or different frequency-domain resources to access a second device, thereby avoiding sequence collisions caused by multiple terminal devices selecting the same sequence and improving access efficiency.

[0198] The methods provided by the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments provided by this application can be applied to the scenarios shown in the above figures, and are not limited thereto.

[0199] First, the execution entity in the embodiments of this application is described as follows:

[0200] In this embodiment of the application, as an example, the first device is a terminal device and the second device is a network device. Accordingly, the communication link between the first device and the second device can be an uplink or downlink communication link. The information received by the first device (e.g., first indication information or second indication information, etc.) can be downlink (DL) information / downlink signal / downlink signaling / downlink data, etc., and the information sent by the first device (e.g., first data or first identification information, etc., described below) can be uplink (UL) information / uplink signal / uplink signaling / uplink data, etc.

[0201] As another example, the first device and the second device can be different terminal devices. Accordingly, the communication link between the first device and the second device can be a communication link between terminal devices, such as a side link.

[0202] As another example, the first device can be an A-IoT device (the device can be an example of an implementation of a terminal device), and the second device can be a reader. Accordingly, the communication link between the first device and the second device can include a device-to-reader (DR or D2R) link and a reader-to-device (RD or R2D) link.

[0203] In the embodiments of this application, "uplink" can be replaced with "DR" or "D2R", and "downlink" can be replaced with "RD" or "R2D". For example, "uplink signaling" can be replaced with "D2R signaling".

[0204] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a communication method 700 provided in an embodiment of this application. For ease of description, the following example uses a first device and a second device. The first device can be replaced by a terminal device or an A-IoT terminal device or a component of an A-IoT terminal device (e.g., a chip, chip system, circuit, or communication module), and the second device can be replaced by a component of a network device (e.g., a chip, chip system, circuit, or communication module), and the second device has a reader / writer function. Furthermore, the steps described below as being performed by a single execution entity can also be divided into steps performed by multiple execution entities, which can be logically and / or physically separated. Figure 7 The method 700 shown may include the following steps.

[0205] 710. The first device sends a first sequence to the second device. Correspondingly, the second device receives the first sequence from the first device.

[0206] The first sequence is used for P devices to request access to the second device, where the P devices include the first device, and P ≥ 1 and is an integer. The use of the first sequence for P devices to request access to the second device can be understood as P devices selecting the same sequence (i.e., the first sequence) from the sequence group to access the second device. For example, each of the P devices randomly selects the same preamble sequence from the sequence group (e.g., preamble sequence 1).

[0207] It should be noted that the first sequence can be a string or a bit string, such as a sequence of binary numbers. This application does not limit the specific number of bits.

[0208] Optionally, the first sequence can be carried in the fourth message, which can be used to request / initiate access / random access, or to request / initiate access / random access to the access network device / second device / network.

[0209] Optionally, the fourth message may include a first sequence and identification information. This identification information may be generated by the first device or stored within the first device. For example, the identification information may be randomly generated or pre-existing in the first device's storage area / register / buffer. The identification information (also known as a random ID) can be used for contention resolution.

[0210] Optionally, the identification information is associated with the first sequence, for example, the first sequence is generated based on the identification information.

[0211] The first sequence is used for P devices to request access to the second device. This can be: the first sequence is used for P devices to request access to the second device in the frequency domain; the first sequence is used for P devices to request access to the second device in the time domain; or the first sequence is used for P devices to request access to the second device in both the time domain and frequency shift resources. The time domain resources accessed by the first sequence to the second device, corresponding to the N access opportunities, can be different sub-time domain resources of the same time domain resource, different frequency domain resources of the same time domain resource, or different time domain resources.

[0212] For ease of description, the following description uses the device as an example of a terminal equipment. It should be understood that the first device can be replaced by the first terminal equipment.

[0213] As one possible implementation, the first sequence is used when P terminal devices request access to the second device on frequency domain resources. In this case, the first sequence is a sequence used for frequency division multiple access (FDMA). This first sequence is selected from a sequence group, which contains sequences used by multiple terminal devices to access the second device on frequency domain resources.

[0214] In this embodiment of the application, the first device may be an IoT terminal device with extremely low power consumption and extremely low data usage, such as an A-IoT terminal.

[0215] It should be noted that the first sequence is a sequence within a sequence group, which includes at least one sequence used by multiple terminal devices to access the second device. That is, multiple terminal devices can select one sequence from this sequence group as the sequence used when requesting access to the second device. The sequences in this sequence group can be sequences with orthogonal codes obtained using CDMA technology, and the data transmission between the multiple terminal devices is achieved using the sequences in this sequence group. This sequence group can also be called a sequence set, for example, a preamble sequence group or a preamble sequence set.

[0216] It should also be noted that the sequences in this sequence group can also be sequences with pseudo-orthogonal codes.

[0217] For ease of description, the following description will use a preamble sequence group as an example.

[0218] As an example, the first sequence can be a sequence for CDMA. For instance, the first sequence can be a preamble sequence selected by the terminal device from a sequence group (e.g., a preamble sequence group). Each preamble sequence in this sequence group can be generated based on a root sequence or generated by spreading the root sequence. The generation of a preamble sequence based on a root sequence is described above and will not be repeated here. Furthermore, the first sequence in this embodiment can be a sequence capable of implementing CDMA, and this application does not limit this.

[0219] Optionally, the sequence group can be predefined by the protocol, indicated by a second device, or pre-configured.

[0220] As an example, the second device can indicate the sequences included in the sequence group via downlink messages or R2D messages. These downlink messages or R2D messages include, for example, paging messages (hereinafter also referred to as paging signaling), initial trigger messages, trigger messages, downlink (DL) trigger messages, paging-like messages, select signaling, etc.

[0221] As another example, the available sequences included in a sequence group can be predefined by the protocol.

[0222] As another example, the sequences included in the sequence group can be configured to the first device through pre-configuration. For example, the sequence group can be saved in the storage area, register, or buffer of the terminal device through a write operation. The write operation can be performed by signaling instruction or through a physical interface, and this application does not limit this.

[0223] It should be noted that the first device may select a sequence from the aforementioned sequence group as the first sequence. For example, the first device may randomly select a sequence from the sequence group as the first sequence; or, the first device may select a sequence from the sequence group as the first sequence based on its own type, remaining energy, or service type. This application does not limit the method by which the first device selects the first sequence from the sequence group.

[0224] In one implementation, the first sequence can also be a sequence generated based on RN(16). That is, the first sequence can be generated by random numbers, and this application embodiment is not limited to selecting from a sequence group. For example, the first sequence = kron(RN(16), orthogonal sequence X), where kron is the Kronecker product, which represents an operation between two matrices of arbitrary size. Specifically, it multiplies each element of the first matrix by the second complete matrix, that is, multiplies each element in RN(16) by the orthogonal sequence X. The orthogonal sequence X can be pre-configured or network-indicated.

[0225] 720. The second device sends a first response message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first response message from the second device.

[0226] The first response information includes a first index associated with the first sequence. The first response information is used to indicate N access opportunities, the time domain resources corresponding to the N access opportunities are different, and / or the frequency domain resources corresponding to the N access opportunities are different, where N is a positive integer.

[0227] For example, the value of N can be greater than or equal to the value of P, or it can be less than the value of P. It should be understood that when the value of N is less than the value of P, some of the access opportunities indicated by the first response information may be selected (or used) by multiple devices. That is, a certain access opportunity may correspond to multiple devices.

[0228] Optionally, the first response information can also be used to indicate successful contention resolution, or to respond to a random access message. The first response information can also be used to indicate that the first sequence corresponding to the first index was successfully received by the second device, or that the first sequence was successfully parsed by the second device, or that the first sequence was successfully responded to by the second device.

[0229] For example, the first index is associated with the first sequence, which can be understood as a one-to-one correspondence between the first sequence and the first index.

[0230] In the embodiments of this application, "access opportunity" can also be called "access timing" or "access slot". The terms "access opportunity", "access timing" and "access slot" can be used interchangeably. This application does not limit the name of the access opportunity.

[0231] It should be noted that the N access opportunities correspond to different time-domain resources and / or different frequency-domain resources. This can be understood as allocating time-domain resources and / or frequency-domain resources to the P devices using the first sequence. In other words, the P devices using the first sequence will transmit data or device-specific identification information on different time-domain resources and / or different frequency-domain resources. For example, the first device may transmit first data and / or its corresponding first identification information on the first access opportunity. The first access opportunity can be a first time-domain resource or a first frequency-domain resource. For example, the first device may transmit first data and / or its corresponding first identification information on the first time-domain resource. Another example is that the first device may transmit first data and / or its corresponding first identification information on the first frequency-domain resource.

[0232] It should also be noted that the first access opportunity may correspond to a time domain resource, or a frequency domain resource, or a time domain resource and a frequency domain resource; this application does not limit this.

[0233] It should also be noted that the first response information can directly indicate N access opportunities, or it can indirectly indicate those N access opportunities. This application does not limit this.

[0234] The first response information indirectly indicates the N access opportunities, specifically including: the first response information also includes a first parameter, the N access opportunities are access opportunities corresponding to the first parameter indicated by a first mapping relationship, the first mapping relationship is used to indicate the access opportunity corresponding to each of the multiple parameters, the multiple parameters include the first parameter.

[0235] For example, the second device can select one access opportunity from N access opportunities as the first access opportunity based on the first parameter, wherein the first parameter includes at least one of the following: a pseudo-random number corresponding to the first device; and an identifier of the first device. Selecting an access opportunity from N access opportunities as the first access opportunity can be done by randomly selecting one access opportunity from the N access opportunities; or by randomly selecting at least one access opportunity from the N access opportunities as the first access opportunity. That is, the first access opportunity can include at least one access opportunity.

[0236] For example, the pseudo-random number can be generated by a pseudo-random generator carried by the first device itself. Based on the pseudo-random number, the first device randomly selects one access opportunity from N access opportunities as the first access opportunity to be used by the first device. The identifier of the first device is a unique identifier, such as a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI).

[0237] Optionally, the first response information includes K indices, each including the first index. These K indices are associated with K sequences, and each index corresponds to at least one access opportunity, where K ≥ 2 and is an integer. In other words, the first response information may also include multiple indices, each associated with at least one terminal device. The association of the K indices with the K sequences can be understood as a one-to-one correspondence between the K indices and the K sequences. That is, different indices correspond to different sequences.

[0238] In one possible approach, the first response information may also include an index that is associated with a sequence.

[0239] For example, when the first response information includes K indices, some of these K indices can be indicated to the device by the first indication information, or all of these K indices can be indicated to the device by the first indication information, or each of the K indices can be indicated to the device sequentially by the first indication information. This application does not limit this. For example, if the first response information includes 3 indices, taking a preamble sequence as an example, the 3 indices are preamble index 1, preamble index 2, and preamble index 3. Then the first indication information can indicate preamble index 1, preamble index 2, and preamble index 3 at the same time; it can also indicate them in three parts, first indicating preamble index 1, second indicating preamble index 2, and third indicating preamble index 3; or it can indicate a portion of the preamble indexes, for example, first indicating preamble index 1 and preamble index 2, and second indicating preamble index 3.

[0240] It should be noted that each index corresponds to multiple access opportunities. Specifically, each index is associated with (or corresponds to) a sequence, which in turn is associated with multiple devices. These multiple devices can use multiple access opportunities to access the second device. In other words, multiple devices corresponding to the same sequence can access the second device through multiple access opportunities. The access opportunities used (or selected) by each of these multiple devices can be the same or different. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0241] For ease of description, the following text assumes that the first response information includes K preamble indices and uses K preamble sequences as an example.

[0242] For example, assuming the value of the first parameter is Q', when the first device receives the first response information, if the first response information includes a first index corresponding to the first sequence, the first device determines the value of N based on the value of Q', and randomly selects one access opportunity from the N access opportunities as the first access opportunity, where Q' ≥ N and is an integer. That is, the first device sends data on the first access opportunity.

[0243] For example, the first device determines the range of access opportunities as [0 to 2Q] based on Q'. ′ -1], then the first device from the 2Q ′ For example, if the first device determines the value of N to be Q' based on Q', then the first device will randomly select one access opportunity from the Q' access opportunities as the first access opportunity.

[0244] For ease of description, the device will be described using a terminal device as an example below. It should be understood that the first device can be replaced by the first terminal device.

[0245] For example, suppose there are 6 terminal devices requesting access to the second device, denoted as: Terminal Device 1, Terminal Device 2, Terminal Device 3, Terminal Device 4, Terminal Device 5, and Terminal Device 6. Also assume Q' = 6 and K = 3, meaning there are 3 preamble indices and 3 preamble sequences. For instance, Terminal Device 1 and Terminal Device 2 both choose preamble sequence 1, which corresponds to preamble index 1; Terminal Device 3 chooses preamble sequence 2, which corresponds to preamble index 2; and Terminal Devices 4, 5, and 6 all choose preamble sequence 3, which corresponds to preamble index 3. Since Terminal Device 1 and Terminal Device 2 have chosen the same preamble sequence, and Terminal Devices 4 through 6 have also chosen the same preamble sequence, to avoid collisions, Terminal Devices 1 through 6 can randomly select an access opportunity from [0 to 2^6 - 1] to use that access opportunity to send data. Among them, preamble sequence 1 can be considered as the first sequence, and the terminal devices using the first sequence are terminal device 1 and terminal device 2, i.e., I = 2.

[0246] It should be noted that if the preamble sequence sent by the first device does not correspond to the K preamble sequence indices in the first response information, it indicates that the first device has failed to connect to the second device, and it will wait for the next round of connection. In other words, if the indices included in the first response information do not correspond to the first sequence, it is considered that the first device has failed to connect to the second device, and it will wait for the next round of connection. The next round of connection can be understood as the first device reselecting a time-domain resource or a frequency-domain resource for connection. As one implementation, the first response information is used to indicate or allocate available frequency-domain resources. After receiving the first response information, the first device reselects a frequency-domain resource as its first access opportunity to connect to the second device.

[0247] As an example, the first or second message below may also indicate available frequency domain resources. For example, paging signaling indicates available frequency domain resources. As another example, query signaling indicates available frequency domain resources. Furthermore, the first device may select a frequency domain resource as the first frequency domain resource to access the second device.

[0248] For example, the first device selects a frequency domain resource, which can be understood as the first device selecting a frequency shift position. Different terminal devices select different frequency shift positions, so that different terminal devices can send messages at different frequency shift positions, thereby realizing FDMA. The messages sent by different terminal devices are orthogonal or do not overlap in the frequency resources.

[0249] Optionally, the first response information may include frequency domain resource indication information. This frequency domain resource indication information includes a second parameter used to determine the first frequency domain resource. The first device receives the frequency domain resource indication information and determines the first frequency domain resource based on the second parameter included in the frequency domain resource indication information. This enables the sender of the frequency resource indication information (e.g., the second device) to flexibly configure the first frequency domain resource.

[0250] It should be noted that there is a correspondence between the frequency domain resource indicated by the first response information and the first frequency domain resource. For example, if the first response information indicates B frequency domain resources, then the first frequency domain resource is one of these B frequency domain resources.

[0251] Optionally, the second parameter may also be used to indicate the frequency information, frequency domain location, or frequency point location of the first frequency domain resource.

[0252] Optionally, the second parameter is also used to indicate the frequency shift between the first frequency domain resource and the default frequency domain location (or the pre-configured frequency domain location).

[0253] The second parameter includes at least one of the following:

[0254] Parameter 1: Time parameter (denoted as Tpri), for example, the time parameter can indicate the uplink or downlink or uplink-downlink transmission time unit, or parameters related to the uplink or downlink or uplink-downlink transmission time unit, etc.

[0255] Parameter 2: Code length parameter (denoted as M). For example, the code length parameter can be the number of Manchester code repetitions, or a parameter related to the number of Manchester code repetitions, etc.

[0256] Parameter 3: Scaling parameter (denoted as Rchip). For example, the scaling parameter can be the number of level repetitions, or a parameter related to the level length, etc.

[0257] As one implementation method, parameters 1 to 3 can be configured using the following Table 1.

[0258] Table 1

[0259]

[0260] As shown in Table 1, when index = 0, the corresponding time interval is Tpri = 25 microseconds (μs), Rchip = 4, and M = 1; when index = 1, the corresponding time interval is Tpri = 25 μs, Rchip = 4, and M = 2, and so on. Therefore, by configuring the three parameters (Tpri, Rchip, and M) in Table 1, the frequency domain resource / location can be determined, that is, the first frequency domain resource can be determined.

[0261] like Figure 8 As shown, the uplink carrier bandwidth (BW) can be determined by parameter 1 mentioned above; that is, parameter 1 can determine the frequency domain bandwidth. Figure 8 In the table above, the frequency domain resources corresponding to "M=1, Rchip=16" represent the frequency domain resources corresponding to index 9 in Table 1 above; the frequency domain resources corresponding to "M=2, Rchip=8" represent the frequency domain resources corresponding to index 6 in Table 1 above; and the frequency domain resources corresponding to "M=4, Rchip=4" represent the frequency domain resources corresponding to index 2 in Table 1 above.

[0262] As an example, through Figure 8 It can be seen that the product of parameter 2 and parameter 3 (i.e., M and Rchip) determines the effective bandwidth. Figure 8 (The part indicated by the middle arrow in the brackets). When the product is the same, the effective bandwidth is the same, and the effective rate is also the same. The same effective bandwidth ensures that the communication performance remains consistent after different frequency shifts. In addition, the product of M and Rchip is the same, and the effective bandwidth is the same. By configuring different combinations of M and Rchip in Table 1, different frequency shifts with the same bandwidth can be achieved, thereby realizing uplink frequency division multiplexing.

[0263] Optionally, in the example shown in Table 1, each index can be configured with three parameters (i.e., Tpri, Rchip, and M). Besides the example shown in Table 1, these three parameters can also be configured in other ways. For example, they can be configured using three different fields / elements / domains; or, they can be configured using two different fields / elements / domains, where one field / element / domain is used to configure one parameter, and the other field / element / domain is used to configure the other two parameters. This application does not limit this approach.

[0264] Optionally, the frequency domain resource indication information may also be information carrying frequency domain-related parameters. For example, the frequency domain resource indication information may be paging signaling, query messages, queryRep messages, ACKs, etc., as mentioned below. Alternatively, the frequency domain resource indication information may have other message names, such as access round trigger / indication messages, access ID responses, or random access ID responses.

[0265] Optionally, the first device may also determine the first frequency domain resource through other information besides the frequency resource indication information, that is, the other information may indicate the first frequency domain resource.

[0266] Optionally, the first device can determine the first frequency domain resource through pre-configuration to save signaling overhead.

[0267] It should be noted that when the first response information is used to indicate / allocate frequency domain resources, or when the first response information is frequency domain resource indication information, after the first device selects the first frequency domain resource, it can directly send the first data or the first identification information to the second device.

[0268] In this embodiment of the application, the first response information may be, for example, an access response.

[0269] Furthermore, the second device sends a first instruction message to the first device. That is, step 721 is executed.

[0270] 721. The second device sends a first instruction message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first instruction message from the second device.

[0271] Optionally, the first indication information is used to trigger the first access opportunity. Specifically, after the first device selects the first access opportunity, it needs to wait for the arrival of the first access opportunity by triggering the first indication information, and then send the first data to the second device. Here, triggering N access opportunities can be understood as the first indication information corresponding to the boundary (or start position or end position) of an access opportunity when the second device sends it or the first device receives it.

[0272] The first indication message triggering the first access opportunity can be achieved by the second device sending multiple second indication messages before triggering the first access opportunity. That is, the second device will send multiple second indication messages until the first access opportunity arrives. Optionally, the first indication message can also be used to indicate successful contention resolution or to respond to a random access message.

[0273] It should be noted that the first indication information can be used to indicate the position of the first access opportunity among the N access opportunities. That is, the first access opportunity used by the first device can be indicated by the second device through the first indication information.

[0274] Optionally, the first indication information is also used to indicate a first time interval, and that the first access opportunity is an access opportunity with a first time interval between it and a second access opportunity, the second access opportunity being the access opportunity where the first indication information is located.

[0275] It should be noted that the first time interval can be understood as follows: after receiving the first indication information, the first device delays sending data for a first time interval; or, the first device needs to receive the same number of first indication messages as the first time interval before sending data, for example, sending the first data; or, the first time interval decreases with the number of times the first indication information is sent, for example, the first time interval decreases by 1 each time the first indication information is sent, meaning that the first time interval indicated by each sent first indication information is different. Specifically, the first time interval indicated by the second sent first indication information is 1 less than the first sent first indication information, and so on, until the first time interval is 0. This can be understood as the first device being able to determine the timing for sending the first data based on the first indication information.

[0276] It should also be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, the first time interval can also be considered as an access opportunity counter (e.g., a sub-occasion counter). The first indication information can be access opportunity triggering signaling (e.g., a sub-occasion trigger), that is, the first indication information can be used to trigger an access opportunity, and the first indication information can be other signaling that triggers the sub-occasion counter to decrement. The embodiments of this application do not limit this. For ease of description, the following description uses a sub-occasion trigger as an example of the first indication information.

[0277] For example, each time the first device receives the sub-occasion trigger, the initial value of the sub-occasion counter is decremented by 1. Taking Q' = 6 as an example, assuming the first access opportunity is the 4th access opportunity out of [0 to 26-1] access opportunities, the first time interval is 4, that is, the initial value of the sub-occasion counter is 4, denoted as T = 4. Then, each time the first device receives the sub-occasion trigger, T = T - 1. After the first device receives 4 sub-occasion triggers, T = 0. At this time, the first device sends the first data on the 4th access opportunity (i.e., the first access opportunity). Here, the initial value of the aforementioned sub-occasion counter is the first time interval.

[0278] It should be noted that the first response information in step 720 and the first indication information in step 721 can also be used as a single piece of information. In one possible approach, the first response information, in addition to its own function, also functions as the first indication information. For example, the first response information can also trigger the first access opportunity.

[0279] In another possible approach, the first indication information, in addition to its own function, also functions as first response information. For example, the first indication information includes a first index associated with a first sequence, and the first indication information is used to indicate N access opportunities. In other words, the second device can simultaneously achieve all the functions of both the first response information and the first indication information by sending only the first response information or only the first indication information.

[0280] 730. The first device sends first data and / or first identification information to the second device. Correspondingly, the second device receives the first data and / or first identification information from the first device.

[0281] Specifically, the first device sends first data and / or first identification information corresponding to the first device on a first access opportunity out of the aforementioned N access opportunities. This first access opportunity is randomly selected from the aforementioned N access opportunities. The first identification information (also known as a random ID) can be used for contention resolution.

[0282] For example, the first identification information can be an RN or a random access identifier. The random access identifier is temporarily assigned by the network device or pre-stored in hardware, such as in a storage area. In this application, the RN (16) can also be called a random access identifier (ID), which can be used for contention resolution or to indicate the access of a terminal device.

[0283] Furthermore, the first device determines whether the first data was successfully sent based on the received feedback information.

[0284] As an example, if the second device does not receive the first data after the first device sends the first data, the second device sends a non-acknowledged (NACK) message to the first device, indicating that the first data transmission failed and it needs to wait for the next round of access.

[0285] As another example, the first indication information is also used to indicate that the first device successfully transmitted data during the first access opportunity. Specifically, after the first device transmits the first data, if the second device receives the first data, then when the first device receives the first indication information again, it indicates that the first data transmission was successful. For example, the first indication information is a sub-occasion trigger. In this case, the sub-occasion trigger is used to trigger the next access opportunity. It can be understood that when the first device receives the sub-occasion trigger again after transmitting the first data, the sub-occasion trigger sent by the second device at this time is used to indicate that the first device successfully transmitted data during the first access opportunity. Furthermore, the sub-occasion trigger is also used to trigger a third access opportunity, which is located after the first access opportunity in the time domain or frequency domain, so that the second device using the third access opportunity can perform data transmission. It should be understood that the third access opportunity is an access opportunity selected by another terminal device from N access opportunities, and the third access opportunity is located after the first access opportunity in the time domain or frequency domain. Here, the second device is one of P terminal devices. In other words, when the first device sends the first data and receives the sub-occasion trigger, the second device repeats steps 721 to 730 above so that the second device using the third access opportunity completes the data transmission.

[0286] As another example, when the first access opportunity arrives, the first device can send first identification information to the second device. At this time, the first device will only send the first data to the second device after receiving an acknowledgement (ACK) message. If the first device does not receive an ACK message, it means that the first device has failed to compete for access and needs to wait for the next round of access.

[0287] In this embodiment of the application, the ACK message can also be called an access ID response or a random access ID response.

[0288] Furthermore, if the first device receives an access occasion trigger, the access occasion trigger is used to indicate that the data transmission of the P devices is complete. This access occasion trigger is also used to trigger at least one device using the second sequence to access the second device. Steps 710 to 730 are then repeated to ensure that the device using the second sequence completes data transmission.

[0289] For example, before step 710, method 700 further includes steps 701 to 703. Specifically:

[0290] 701. The second device sends a first message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first message from the second device.

[0291] The first message includes the aforementioned sequence group, which comprises at least one sequence, the first sequence being randomly selected from the at least one sequence. The sequences in the sequence group are available sequences. The sequence group can also be referred to as a sequence set, for example, a preamble sequence group. For ease of description, the device will be described below using a terminal device as an example, and the sequence group will be a preamble sequence group as an example.

[0292] Optionally, different preamble sequences in the preamble sequence group correspond to different terminal device identifiers (IDs); or different preamble sequences in the preamble sequence group correspond to different uplink data (ULdata) lengths. In this embodiment, UL data can be interchanged with EPC and device ID, and this embodiment does not limit this usage.

[0293] In this embodiment, the first message is used to page (or select or trigger) multiple terminal devices to access the second device or send uplink data, and these multiple terminal devices are referred to as a terminal device group. Each terminal device in the terminal device group is a terminal device capable of supporting CDMA.

[0294] Optionally, the first message may also include capability indication information to indicate whether a terminal device supports CDMA access. For example, if the first message is a paging signaling message, and a 1-bit indication information is used (i.e., capability indication information = 1), this capability indication information is used to indicate whether a terminal device supports Code Division (CDMA) access. A terminal device receiving this capability indication information = 1 can respond to the paging signaling message if it supports CDMA access. Alternatively, if the capability indication information = 0 or the second indication information does not carry this capability indication information (i.e., the capability indication information is blank), then the first message is used to page a terminal device that does not support CDMA access. In this case, the terminal device does not respond to the second indication information. In this embodiment, the form of the capability indication information is not limited; any information that can be used to indicate whether a terminal supports CDMA access or has CDMA access capability can be used as capability indication information.

[0295] It should be noted that not responding to the first message can also mean not performing the related procedures triggered by the first message. For example, when the first message is paging signaling, not responding to the paging signaling can be understood as not responding to / not processing the parameter configuration carried in the paging signaling, or not performing the random access and data transmission procedures triggered after the paging signaling is successful. Here, "not responding" can also be replaced with "ignore" or "discard".

[0296] For example, the first message may also include mask information, flag information, identification information, type information, or group identification information of the terminal device group. This information may be provided by the core network, server, or access network equipment. The terminal device group consists of terminal devices supporting CDMA access.

[0297] For example, the first message may be signaling used to page the first device, such as paging signaling. Alternatively, the first message may also be other signaling indicating that the first device accesses the second device (which may be an access network device or a terminal device, such as a relay device), and this application embodiment does not limit the scope.

[0298] In this application embodiment, "paging" can also be replaced by "selection," "trigger," "indication," or "filtering." For ease of description, this application embodiment uses "paging" as an example. The following description also uses the first message as an example of signaling used to paging the first device. Furthermore, paging signaling can also be replaced by initial trigger (message), trigger message, DL trigger (message), paging-like message, or select signaling. Paging signaling can be used to instruct a terminal device to access a second device. Taking the access of a device to a second device in A-IoT as an example, when the second device is a base station or access network device, paging signaling can be used to instruct the device to access the network device; when the second device is a terminal device, paging signaling can be used to instruct the device to access the terminal device. Furthermore, the device can access the network device through the terminal device.

[0299] Optionally, the paging signaling can indicate the terminal device type or energy threshold. The first device will only respond to the paging signaling and send a first sequence selected from the sequence group when the indicated terminal device type or energy threshold is met, for random access / contention resolution.

[0300] As an example, paging signaling indicates the terminal device type. For instance, if paging signaling indicates that the terminal device type is terminal device type 1, then only if the first device is terminal device type 1 will it send the first sequence selected from the sequence group during the random access process; otherwise, the first device will not respond to the paging signaling; or the first device will send the first identification information during the random access process. This allows for the selection of terminal devices that support CDMA. However, for some terminal devices with lower capabilities or lower power consumption, supporting CDMA would incur significant power or storage overhead. Furthermore, CDMA has timing requirements, and for low-capability terminal devices, the timing accuracy cannot meet the requirements of CDMA. Therefore, paging signaling can be used to indicate the terminal device type to filter out terminal devices with lower capabilities or lower power consumption.

[0301] The types of terminal devices include a first device type and a second terminal device type. The first device type includes one or more of the following: device 1, passive device, and semi-passive device; the second terminal device type includes one or more of the following: device 2b, device 2a, active device, and semi-passive device. Device 1 must meet the following conditions: peak power consumption of ~1 μW (microwatt), energy storage, initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) not exceeding 10X (e.g., X is 5) ppm (parts per million), no DL or UL amplification in the device, and UL transmission of the device backscattered on an externally provided carrier. Device 2a must meet the following conditions: peak power consumption of ≤ several hundred μW (hundred microwatts), energy storage, initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) not exceeding 10X (e.g., X is 5) ppm, DL and / or UL amplification in the device, and UL transmission of the device backscattered on an externally provided carrier. Device 2b must meet the following conditions: peak power consumption of ≤ several hundred μW, energy storage, initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) not exceeding 10X (e.g., X is 5) ppm, DL and / or UL amplification in the device, and UL transmission of the device generated internally. This application does not limit the specific definitions of Device 1, Device 2a, and Device 2b.

[0302] Optionally, the paging signaling can also be used to trigger or instruct the first device to send uplink data, or to trigger / instruct / request the first device to perform a first service, wherein the first service may include at least one of the following: paging service; inventory service; command service (such as read, write, deactivate, lock, etc.); positioning service; sensing service.

[0303] For example, paging signaling can be triggered by core network elements (such as access and mobility management function (AMF), or ambient IoT management function (A-IoTMF), ambient IoT function (AIoTF), etc.). For instance, a core network element sends a first service request message or paging signaling to a second device, where the first service can be an inventory service, a command service, or a location service, etc. The second device confirms the first service request message or paging signaling and sends second indication information.

[0304] Optionally, the first message may also carry commands such as read, write, lock, or sense. Specifically, after receiving the first message, the first device responds to the second device with different information based on the information carried in the fifth instruction information.

[0305] In one example, the first message carries a read command, specifically indicating at least one of the following: the storage location or type of the data to be read (e.g., a user-defined area, an EPC area, etc.); the length of the data to be read; and the starting byte of the data to be read. Upon receiving the read command, the first device then reads the data and sends it to the second device.

[0306] In another example, the first message carries a write command, specifically indicating at least one of the following: the location or type of the storage area where the data is to be written; the length of the data to be written; the starting byte of the data to be written; and the content of the data to be written. Upon receiving the write command, the first device writes the data content to the storage area. And upon successful data writing, it sends a response message to the second device confirming that the data has been written.

[0307] In another example, the first message carries a lock command, which can also be called a deactivation command. After receiving the lock command, the first device ceases all subsequent operations. In this case, the first device will not send any messages to the second device.

[0308] In another example, the first message carries a sensing command, and after receiving the sensing command, the first device sends the sensing data to the second device.

[0309] 702. The second device sends a second message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the second message from the second device.

[0310] The second message includes a third parameter. Based on this third parameter, it can be determined that the second time-domain resource or the second frequency-domain resource is divided into H parts, where H is a positive integer. That is, the second time-domain resource includes H time-domain resources, or the second frequency-domain resource includes H frequency-domain resources. The first device selects one time-domain resource or frequency-domain resource from the H time-domain resources or frequency-domain resources as the third time-domain resource or the third frequency-domain resource.

[0311] It should be noted that the third time-domain resource or the third frequency-domain resource is used for the first sequence to access the second device. When multiple terminal devices select the first sequence, it is necessary to allocate time-domain resources and / or allocate frequency-domain resources to the P terminal devices using the first sequence through the above steps 710 to 730.

[0312] For ease of description, the device will be described below using a terminal device as an example, and the third time-domain resource as an example. The method for determining the third frequency-domain resource is described in step 720 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0313] For example, the second message is used to trigger the first device to randomly access the second device. The second message includes random access resource configuration. The second message can be a query signaling message (or an access round indication / trigger message).

[0314] As an example, random access resource configuration may include the maximum range of the second time-domain resources. Specifically, the random access resource configuration includes a third parameter indicating that the second time-domain resources include H time-domain resources.

[0315] For example, the third parameter indicates that the second time-domain resource includes H time-domain resources. This can be understood as the value of H being determined by the third parameter. For instance, assuming the value of the third parameter is Q, the first device determines the range of the second time-domain resources based on Q and randomly selects a value from this range as the second time-domain resource for the first device to access the second device. The range of the second time-domain resource is [0 to 2Q-1], so the value can be any value within [0 to 2Q-1]. In other words, the first device calculates the maximum value of H based on the third parameter and randomly selects a time-domain resource for random access; the maximum value of H can be 2Q-1. For another example, assuming Q = 4, the maximum value of H is 16. In this case, the range of the second time-domain resource is [0 to 15]. Assuming the first device selects a value of 6 from [0 to 15], the third time-domain resource is the 6th of the 16 time-domain resources. Further, this value is used as the initial value of the counter, i.e., counter = 6.

[0316] It should be noted that each terminal device in the aforementioned terminal device group can select an access time domain resource for itself after receiving the second message. Some terminal devices in the terminal device group may select the same time domain resource, or each terminal device may select a different time domain resource. In this embodiment, the example of some terminal devices in the terminal device group selecting the same time domain resource is used for illustration. For example, in the aforementioned terminal device group, L terminal devices select the same time domain resource from the second time domain resource as the aforementioned third time domain resource. That is, L terminal devices use the third time domain resource to transmit data, where the L terminal devices include the aforementioned P terminal devices, and L ≥ M and is an integer.

[0317] It should also be noted that the L terminal devices randomly select one preamble sequence from the preamble sequence group to request access to the second device. The preamble sequence selected by each terminal device can be the same or different. Each preamble sequence in the preamble sequence group corresponds to a preamble index. In this embodiment, the example given is that some of the L terminal devices select the same preamble sequence. For example, P terminal devices choose to use preamble sequence 1 (i.e., the first sequence) to access the second device.

[0318] Steps 701 and 702 described above can be combined into one step. For example, method 700 executes step 701, in which case the first message in step 701 also includes the second message. More specifically, the first message also includes random access resource configuration. Alternatively, method 700 may directly execute step 702, meaning the second device sends the second message to the first device. In this case, the second message, in addition to including the random access resource configuration, also includes the mask information, flag information, identification information, type information, or group identification information of the first device mentioned in step 701.

[0319] In one implementation, when the third time-domain resource selected by the first device is the 0th time-domain resource in the second time-domain resources, counter = 0. At this time, the first device immediately sends the first identification information to the second device.

[0320] Optionally, the third parameter also indicates whether CDMA access is triggered. Specifically, when the value of the third parameter is less than the threshold β, the first device does not use CDMA access. When the value of the third parameter is greater than the threshold β, the first device uses CDMA access. It should be noted that when the value of the third parameter is less than the threshold β, the first device does not use CDMA access, which can be understood as the first device not sending a preamble sequence and directly sending an RN for access. A small value of the third parameter can be understood as the second device having less allocated time-domain resources. In this case, the second device wants to store fewer first devices, therefore, it does not need to use CDMA access to expand time-domain resources.

[0321] It should also be noted that, alternatively, the first device may not use CDMA access when the value of the third parameter is greater than the threshold β. Conversely, the first device may use CDMA access when the value of the third parameter is less than the threshold β. In this case, the use of CDMA access by the first device when the value of the third parameter is less than the threshold β can be understood as the availability of time-frequency resources being limited, necessitating the expansion of time-domain resources through CDMA.

[0322] 703. The second device sends a third message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the third message from the second device.

[0323] Specifically, the first device determines whether it is its turn to select the third time domain resource and / or the third frequency domain resource based on the second message. When the counter corresponding to the first device is reduced to 0, it means that it is the turn of the first device to select the third time domain resource and / or the third frequency domain resource.

[0324] For example, each time the first device receives the third message, the initial value of the counter corresponding to the first device is decremented by 1. For instance, assuming Q = 4, taking the third time-domain resource as an example, the time-domain resource is divided into 16 time-domain resources. The third time-domain resource selected by the first device is the 6th time-domain resource among the 16 time-domain resources. Therefore, the initial value of the counter is 6. After the first device receives the third message 6 times, the value of the counter is reduced to 0. Then, the first device sends the first sequence to the second device, i.e., executes step 710.

[0325] In this embodiment, the third message can be either a queryRep signaling message or an access occasion trigger message. In this application, queryRep signaling messages and access occasion trigger messages can be interchanged, and this embodiment does not limit the scope of the application.

[0326] In one implementation, the second or third message can be the frequency domain resource indication information mentioned above. For example, when the second message is frequency domain resource indication information, the first device selects a first frequency domain resource from multiple frequency domain resources to access the second device. As another example, when the third message is frequency domain resource indication information, the first device selects a first frequency domain resource from multiple frequency domain resources to access the second device. A description of the frequency domain resource indication information is given in step 720 above and will not be repeated here.

[0327] It should be noted that, in this application, when the first device selects a third time-domain resource to access the second device and selects a first access opportunity from N access opportunities to send first data or first identification information, it can continue to select the frequency domain of the first access opportunity through frequency domain resource indication information. That is, FDMA technology is used in the first access opportunity to achieve frequency division multiplexing on the first access opportunity to avoid data collisions. For example, when both the first device and the second terminal device select the first access opportunity, the second device sends frequency domain resource indication information to the first device, which is used to determine the first frequency domain resource.

[0328] In this embodiment, when multiple terminal devices select a sequence (e.g., a first sequence) for random access, first data or first identification information is sent from the first access opportunity among the N access opportunities indicated by the first response information. Since the N access opportunities correspond to different time-domain resources or frequency-domain resources, terminal devices selecting the same sequence can use different time-domain resources or different frequency-domain resources for random access. This allows multiple terminal devices using a sequence to access a second device, thereby improving access efficiency and system capacity.

[0329] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a communication method 800 provided in an embodiment of this application. For ease of description, the following example uses a first device and a second device. The first device can be replaced by an A-IoT terminal device or a component of an A-IoT terminal device (e.g., a chip, chip system, circuit, or communication module), and the second device can be replaced by a component of a network device (e.g., a chip, chip system, circuit, or communication module), and the second device has a reader / writer function. Furthermore, the steps described below as being performed by a single execution entity can also be divided into steps performed by multiple execution entities, which can be logically and / or physically separated. Figure 9 The method 800 shown may include the following steps.

[0330] 810. The first device sends a first sequence to the second device. Correspondingly, the second device receives the first sequence from the first device.

[0331] For a detailed description of step 810, please refer to step 710 above, and it will not be repeated here.

[0332] 820. The second device sends a first response message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first response message from the second device.

[0333] The first response information includes a first index associated with the first sequence, and the first response information is used to indicate that the first sequence is allowed to access the second device.

[0334] Optionally, the first response information includes K indices, each of which includes the first index. These K indices are associated with K sequences, where K ≥ 2. In other words, the first response information may also include multiple indices, each of which is associated with at least one terminal device.

[0335] As an example, if the first response information includes K indices, and one of them corresponds to the first sequence, then the first sequence has successfully connected to the second device. For instance, the first response information includes preamble index 1, preamble index 2, and preamble index 3. In this case, preamble index 1 corresponds to preamble sequence 1, indicating that preamble sequence 1 has successfully connected to the second device.

[0336] It should be noted that if the preamble sequence sent by the first device does not correspond to the K preamble sequence indices in the first response information, it indicates that the first sequence has failed to access the second device, and the device will wait for the next round of access. In other words, if the indices included in the first response information do not correspond to the first sequence, it is considered that the first sequence has failed to access the second device, and the device will wait for the next round of access. The next round of access can be understood as the first device reselecting a time-domain resource and / or a frequency-domain resource for access.

[0337] For any parts of the first response information that are not detailed, please refer to step 720, which will not be repeated here.

[0338] 830. The second device sends a second instruction message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the second instruction message from the second device.

[0339] The second instruction information is used to instruct the first device associated with the first sequence to send first data and / or the first identification information corresponding to the first device.

[0340] It should be noted that when there are P devices associated with the first sequence, all P devices will send the first data or the first identification information.

[0341] For ease of description, the device will be described below using a terminal device as an example.

[0342] In this embodiment, the second indication information can be a preamble index trigger signaling. For example, when preamble sequence 1 (i.e., an example of the first sequence) corresponds to preamble index 1 in the first response information, the second indication information instructs P terminal devices using the first sequence to send data or identification information. This data or identification information includes first data or first identification information sent by the first device using the first sequence. In this case, the second indication information can be a preamble index 1 trigger signaling, used to instruct the terminal devices using preamble sequence 1 to send data.

[0343] As one implementation, when the first response information includes K indices, the second indication information is also used to instruct terminal devices associated with multiple preamble indices among the K preamble sequence indices to send data or identification information. For example, preamble sequence 1 (i.e., an example of the first sequence) corresponds to preamble index 1 in the first response information, and preamble sequence 2 (denoted as the second sequence) corresponds to preamble index 2 in the first response information. Then, the second indication information can be used to instruct terminal devices using the first sequence and terminal devices using the second sequence to send data or identification information.

[0344] Optionally, the second indication information is associated with the first index. Specifically, the second indication information can be associated with the first index in sequence. For example, when the second indication information is "preamble index 1 trigger", it is associated with the first index (i.e., preambleindex1); when the second indication information is "preamble index 2 trigger", it is associated with the second index (i.e., preambleindex2), and so on. The association of the second indication information with the first index can be understood as the second indication information corresponding to the first index. For another example, when the first response information includes K indices, the i-th index among these K indices is the first index. In this case, the second device can send K indication information, which includes the second indication information. The sending order of the K indication information corresponds to the order of the K indices in the first response information, that is, the first i-th indication information is the second indication information, where i ≤ K and is an integer.

[0345] For example, the function of the second indication information can have the function of the first response information, and the function of the first response information can have the function of the second indication information. When the function of the second indication information has the function of the first response information, method 800 can skip step 830 and directly use the first response information to complete the function of the second indication information. For example, the first response information is used to instruct the first device associated with the first sequence to send first data and / or the first identification information corresponding to the first device. When the function of the first response information has the function of the second indication information, method 800 can skip step 820 and directly use the second indication information to complete the function of the first response information. For example, the second indication information includes a first index associated with the first sequence, and the first response information is used to indicate that the first sequence is allowed to access the second device.

[0346] Furthermore, when the first data sent by the first device and / or the first identification information corresponding to the first device collides with the first data sent by the third device and / or the first identification information corresponding to the third device, the second device sends third indication information to the first device, wherein the third terminal device is one of the P devices associated with the first sequence. That is, step 831 is executed. Specifically, as follows:

[0347] 831. The second device sends a third instruction message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the third instruction message from the second device.

[0348] The third indication information is used to indicate N access opportunities, which have different time-domain resources and / or different frequency-domain resources, where N is a positive integer.

[0349] It should be noted that the third indication information can directly indicate the N access opportunities, or it can indirectly indicate the N access opportunities. This application does not limit this.

[0350] The third indication information indirectly indicates the N access opportunities, specifically including: the third indication information also includes a first parameter, the first parameter is used to indicate the N access opportunities, the N access opportunities are access opportunities corresponding to the first parameter indicated by the first mapping relationship, the first mapping relationship is used to indicate the access opportunity corresponding to each of the multiple parameters, the multiple parameters include the first parameter.

[0351] As an example, when the second indication information is preamble index1 trigger, the third indication information can be preamble index1 backoff signaling. The Preamble index1 backoff information is used to indicate the maximum number of sub-occasions that the first device corresponding to Preamble index1 can back off, i.e., the aforementioned N access opportunities.

[0352] As another example, when the second indication information is preamble index2 trigger, the third indication information can be preamble index2 backoff signaling. The Preamble index2 backoff information is used to indicate the maximum number of sub-occasions that the first device corresponding to Preamble index2 can back off, i.e., the aforementioned N access opportunities.

[0353] It should be understood that when the second indication information is a preamble index K trigger, the third indication information can be a preamble index K backoff signaling. This preamble index K backoff information is used to indicate the maximum number of sub-occasions that the first device corresponding to the preamble index K can back off, i.e., the aforementioned N access opportunities. In other words, depending on the associated index, the second indication information can instruct the terminal devices associated with different sequences to send data or identification information.

[0354] The description of the first parameter is given in step 720 above and will not be repeated here. The description of the first identification information is given in step 730 above and will not be repeated here.

[0355] Furthermore, the second device sends a first instruction message to the first device. That is, step 832 is executed.

[0356] 832. The second device sends a first instruction message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first instruction message from the second device.

[0357] For a detailed description of step 832, please refer to step 721, which will not be repeated here.

[0358] 840. The first device sends first data and / or first identification information to the second device. Correspondingly, the second device receives the first data and / or first identification information from the first device.

[0359] For a detailed description of step 840, please refer to step 730, which will not be repeated here.

[0360] It should be noted that if the first device receives the preamble index2 trigger message, the preamble index2 trigger message is used to indicate that the data transmission of P terminal devices is complete. This preamble index2 trigger is also used to trigger the access of the preamble sequence 2 associated with preamble index2 to the second device. In other words, this preamble index2 trigger can instruct the terminal device that selects the sequence corresponding to preamble index2 to send data or identification information.

[0361] Optionally, before step 810, method 800 further includes steps 801 to 803. Specifically:

[0362] 801. The second device sends a first message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first message from the second device.

[0363] 802. The second device sends a second message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the second message from the second device.

[0364] 803. The second device sends a third message to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the third message from the second device.

[0365] For a detailed description of steps 801 to 803, please refer to steps 701 to 703, which will not be repeated here.

[0366] In this embodiment, when multiple terminal devices choose to access a sequence (e.g., a first sequence) randomly, they are associated with the sequence through an index included in the first response information, and the data and / or identification information of the devices associated with the sequence are sent through the second indication information. This allows data from multiple terminal devices using different sequences to be sent at different times, thereby improving access efficiency and system capacity.

[0367] The above, combined with Figures 7 to 9 The methods provided in the embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Figures 10 to 12 The apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application is described in detail. It should be understood that the description of the apparatus embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments. Therefore, for content not described in detail, please refer to the method embodiments above. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0368] Figure 10This is a schematic diagram of a communication device 1000 provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 1000 includes a transceiver unit 1010 and a processing unit 1020. The transceiver unit 1010 can be used to implement corresponding communication functions. The transceiver unit 1010 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit. The processing unit 1020 can be used to perform processing.

[0369] Optionally, the device 1000 may further include a storage unit, which can be used to store instructions and / or data, and the processing unit 1020 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit to enable the device to implement the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0370] In a first possible design, the device 1000 can be the first device in the foregoing embodiments, which can implement the steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the first device in the above method embodiments. Specifically, the transceiver unit 1010 can be used to perform transceiver-related operations (such as sending and / or receiving data or messages) of the first device in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 1020 can be used to perform processing-related operations of the first device in the above method embodiments, or operations other than transceiver (such as operations other than sending and / or receiving data or messages).

[0371] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1010 is used to send a first sequence, which is used for P devices to request access to the second device, wherein the P devices include the first device, and P ≥ 1 and is an integer.

[0372] The transceiver unit 1010 is also configured to receive first response information, the first response information including a first index associated with the first sequence, the first response information being used to indicate N access opportunities, the N access opportunities corresponding to different time-domain resources and / or different frequency-domain resources, where N is a positive integer.

[0373] The transceiver unit 1010 is also configured to transmit first data and / or first identification information of the first device on a first access opportunity among the N access opportunities, the first access opportunity being selected from the N access opportunities.

[0374] Another possible implementation is that the transceiver unit 1010 is used to send a first sequence for P devices to request access to the second device, the P devices including the first device, where P ≥ 1 and is an integer.

[0375] The transceiver unit 1010 is also configured to receive first response information, the first response information including a first index associated with the first sequence, and the first response information being used to indicate that the first sequence is allowed to access the second device.

[0376] The transceiver unit 1010 is also configured to receive second instruction information, which is used to instruct the first device associated with the first sequence to send first data and / or the first identification information corresponding to the first device.

[0377] In a second possible design, the device 1000 can be the second device in the foregoing embodiments, which can implement the steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the second device in the above method embodiments. Specifically, the transceiver unit 1010 can be used to perform transceiver-related operations (such as sending and / or receiving data or messages) of the second device in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 1020 can be used to perform processing-related operations of the second device in the above method embodiments, or operations other than transceiver (such as operations other than sending and / or receiving data or messages).

[0378] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1010 is used to receive a first sequence, which is used for P devices to request access to the second device, the P devices including the first device, where P ≥ 1 and is an integer.

[0379] The transceiver unit 1010 is also used to send first response information, which includes a first index associated with the first sequence. The first response information is used to indicate N access opportunities, which correspond to different time-domain resources and / or different frequency-domain resources, where N is a positive integer.

[0380] The transceiver unit 1010 is further configured to receive first data and / or first identification information of the first device on a first access opportunity among the N access opportunities, the first access opportunity being selected from the N access opportunities.

[0381] Another possible implementation is that the transceiver unit 1010 is used to receive a first sequence, which requests access to the second device using P devices, where the P devices include the first device, and P ≥ 1 and are integers.

[0382] The transceiver unit 1010 is also configured to send first response information, the first response information including a first index associated with the first sequence, the first response information being used to indicate that the first sequence is allowed to access the second device.

[0383] The transceiver unit 1010 is also configured to send second instruction information, which is used to instruct the first device associated with the first sequence to send first data and / or the first identification information corresponding to the first device.

[0384] It should be understood that the specific process of each unit performing the above-mentioned corresponding steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0385] It should also be understood that the device 1000 here is embodied in the form of a functional unit. The term "unit" here can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), electronic circuitry, a processor (e.g., a shared processor, a proprietary processor, or a group processor, etc.) and memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuitry, and / or other suitable components supporting the described functions. In an alternative example, those skilled in the art will understand that the device 1000 can be specifically the communication device in the above embodiments, and can be used to execute the various processes and / or steps corresponding to the communication device in the above method embodiments; to avoid repetition, these will not be described again here.

[0386] The apparatus 1000 of each of the above-described schemes has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the communication device (such as the first apparatus, or the second device) in the above-described methods. The function can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described functions; for example, a transceiver unit can be replaced by a transceiver (e.g., the transmitting unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a receiver), and other units, such as processing units, can be replaced by processors, each performing the transmission and reception operations and related processing operations in the respective method embodiments.

[0387] In addition, the transceiver unit 1010 may also be a transceiver circuit (for example, it may include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing unit may be a processing circuit.

[0388] It should be pointed out that, Figure 10 The device mentioned can be the communication device in the foregoing embodiments (such as the first device or the second device), or it can be a chip or a chip system, such as a system on a chip (SoC). The transceiver unit can be an input / output circuit or a communication interface; the processing unit is a processor, microprocessor, or integrated circuit integrated on the chip. No limitations are imposed here.

[0389] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device 2000 provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 2000 includes a processor 2010, which is coupled to a memory 2020. The memory 2020 is used to store computer programs or instructions and / or data. The processor 2010 is used to execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 2020, or to read the data stored in the memory 2020, in order to execute the methods in the above method embodiments.

[0390] Optionally, there may be one or more processors 2010.

[0391] Optionally, the memory 2020 may be one or more.

[0392] Alternatively, the memory 2020 can be integrated with the processor 2010, or it can be set up separately.

[0393] Optionally, such as Figure 11 As shown, the device 2000 also includes a transceiver 2030, which is used for receiving and / or transmitting signals. For example, the processor 2010 is used to control the transceiver 2030 to receive and / or transmit signals.

[0394] As an example, processor 2010 may have Figure 10 The processing unit 1020 shown has the function of a storage unit, the memory 2020 may have the function of a storage unit, and the transceiver 2030 may have the function of a storage unit. Figure 10 The function of the transceiver unit 1010 shown is illustrated.

[0395] As one option, the device 2000 is used to implement the operations performed by a communication device (such as the first device or the second device) in the various method embodiments described above.

[0396] For example, processor 2010 is used to execute computer programs or instructions stored in memory 2020 to implement the relevant operations of the communication device in the various method embodiments above.

[0397] It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a central processing unit (CPU), or 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. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0398] It should also be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory and / or non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM). For example, RAM can be used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, RAM includes the following forms: static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0399] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated into the processor.

[0400] It should also be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0401] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a chip system 3000 provided in an embodiment of this application. The chip system 3000 (or may also be called a processing system) includes logic circuitry 3010 and an input / output interface 3020.

[0402] The logic circuit 3010 can be a processing circuit in the chip system 3000. The logic circuit 3010 can be coupled to a memory unit, calling instructions from the memory unit, enabling the chip system 3000 to implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application. The input / output interface 3020 can be an input / output circuit in the chip system 3000, outputting processed information from the chip system 3000, or inputting data or signaling information to be processed into the chip system 3000 for processing.

[0403] As one approach, the chip system 3000 is used to implement operations performed by a communication device (such as the first device or the second device) in the various method embodiments described above.

[0404] For example, logic circuit 3010 is used to implement processing-related operations performed by a communication device (such as a first device or a second device) in the above method embodiments; input / output interface 3020 is used to implement sending and / or receiving-related operations performed by a communication device (such as a first device or a second device) in the above method embodiments.

[0405] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions for implementing the methods executed by a communication device (such as a first device or a second device) in the above-described method embodiments. For example, when the computer program or instructions are run on the communication device, the communication device (such as the first device or the second device) performs the above-described methods.

[0406] This application also provides a computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, implement the methods described above, performed by a communication device (such as a first device or a second device). For example, when the computer program or instructions are run on the communication device, the communication device (such as the first device or the second device) performs the methods described above.

[0407] This application also provides a communication system, which includes the first device and / or second device described in the above embodiments. For example, the system includes... Figure 7 The first device and the second equipment in the embodiments.

[0408] The explanations and beneficial effects of the relevant contents in any of the devices provided above can be found in the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0409] 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.

[0410] 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.

[0411] 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.

[0412] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, 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 described in 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, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0413] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to the first device, comprising: Send a first sequence, which is used for P devices to request access to the second device, wherein the P devices include the first device, and P ≥ 1 and is an integer; Receive first response information, the first response information includes a first index, the first index is associated with the first sequence, the first response information is used to indicate N access opportunities, the N access opportunities correspond to different time domain resources, and / or, the N access opportunities correspond to different frequency domain resources, where N is a positive integer; Send first data and / or first identification information corresponding to the first device on a first access opportunity among the N access opportunities, wherein the first access opportunity is selected from the N access opportunities.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first indication information, which is used to trigger the first access opportunity.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first indication information is also used to indicate that the first device successfully sends data when the first access opportunity is available.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The first response information also includes K indices, the K indices include the first index, the K indices are associated with K sequences, each index corresponds to at least one access opportunity, and K≥2 and are integers.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Before sending the first sequence, the method further includes: A first message is received, the first message including a sequence group, the sequence group including at least one sequence, the first sequence being selected from the at least one sequence.

6. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a second device, including: Receive a first sequence, the first sequence being used for P devices to request access to the second device, the P devices including the first device, where P≥1 and is an integer; Send a first response message, the first response message including a first index, the first index being associated with the first sequence, the first response message being used to indicate N access opportunities, the N access opportunities corresponding to different time-domain resources, and / or, the N access opportunities corresponding to different frequency-domain resources, where N is a positive integer; The first access opportunity is selected from the N access opportunities to receive first data and / or first identification information corresponding to the first device.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a first indication message, which is used to trigger the first access opportunity.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first indication information is also used to indicate that the first device successfully sends data when the first access opportunity is available.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6-8, characterized in that, The first response information has K indices, the K indices include the first index, the K indices are associated with K sequences, each index corresponds to at least one access opportunity, and K≥2 and are integers.

10. The method according to any one of claims 6-9, characterized in that, Before receiving the first sequence, the method further includes: Send a first message, the first message including the sequence group, the sequence group including at least one sequence, the first sequence being selected from the at least one sequence.

11. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to the first device, comprising: Send a first sequence, which is used for P devices to request access to the second device, wherein the P devices include the first device, and P ≥ 1 and is an integer; Receive first response information, the first response information including a first index, the first index being associated with the first sequence, the first response information being used to indicate that the first sequence is allowed to access the second device; Receive second instruction information, which is used to instruct the first device associated with the first sequence to send first data and / or the first identification information corresponding to the first device.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The second indication information is associated with the first index.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive third indication information, the third indication information being used to indicate N access opportunities, the N access opportunities corresponding to different time domain resources, and / or, the N access opportunities corresponding to different frequency domain resources, where N is a positive integer; First data or first identification information is sent on the first access opportunity among the N access opportunities, wherein the first access opportunity is selected from the N access opportunities.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first indication information, which is used to trigger the first access opportunity.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The first indication information is also used to indicate that the first device successfully sends data when the first access opportunity is available.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11-15, characterized in that, The first response information includes K indices, the K indices include the first index, and the K indices are associated with K sequences, where K ≥ 2 and are integers.

17. The method according to any one of claims 11-16, characterized in that, Before sending the first sequence, the method further includes: A first message is received, the first message including a sequence group, the sequence group including at least one sequence, the first sequence being selected from the at least one sequence.

18. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a second device, including: Receive a first sequence, the first sequence being used for P devices to request access to the second device, the P devices including the first device, where P≥1 and is an integer; Send a first response message, the first response message including a first index, the first index being associated with the first sequence, the first response message being used to indicate that the first sequence is allowed to access the second device; Send a second instruction message, which is used to instruct the first device associated with the first sequence to send first data and / or the first identification information corresponding to the first device.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The second indication information is associated with the first index.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a third indication message, the third indication message being used to indicate N access opportunities, the N access opportunities corresponding to different time domain resources, and / or, the N access opportunities corresponding to different frequency domain resources; The first data or first identification information is received on the first access opportunity among the N access opportunities, wherein the first access opportunity is selected from the N access opportunities.

21. The method according to any one of claims 18-20, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first indication information, which is used to trigger the first access opportunity.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The first indication information is also used to indicate that the first device successfully sends data when the first access opportunity is available.

23. The method according to any one of claims 18-22, characterized in that, The first response information includes K indices, the K indices include the first index, and the K indices are associated with K sequences, where K ≥ 2 and are integers.

24. The method according to any one of claims 18-23, characterized in that, Before sending the first sequence, the method further includes: A first message is received, the first message including a sequence group, the sequence group including at least one sequence, the first sequence being selected from the at least one sequence.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes modules or units for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 5; or, it includes modules or units for performing the method of any one of claims 6 to 10; or, it includes modules or units for performing the method of any one of claims 11 to 17; or, it includes modules or units for performing the method of any one of claims 18 to 24.

26. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor configured to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 5, or to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 6 to 10, or to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 11 to 17, or to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 18 to 24.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, or cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 6 to 10, or cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 17, or cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 18 to 24.

28. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, or cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 6 to 10, or cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 17, or cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 18 to 24.

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