Communication method, communication device, and computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

The application provides a communication method, a communication device and a computer readable storage medium. The method can include: sending a first message (message 1) including a first random number through a first access resource in an access resource set; receiving a second message (message 2) indicating T access resources and T random numbers in the access resource set, wherein the T access resources correspond to successfully contended devices. If the T random numbers do not include the first random number, sending a third message (message 1) through a first transmission resource in a transmission resource set. The first transmission resource is a transmission resource corresponding to an idle access resource. In this way, the A-IoT device that fails to contend can resend the message 1 through the idle transmission resource to reinitiate the random access process, thereby improving the efficiency of the random access.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of communication, in particular to a communication method, a communication device and a computer readable storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] Ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) is a kind of Internet of Things technology that collects energy (such as light, heat, electromagnetic waves, etc.) in the environment for data transmission.

[0003] Contention-based random access is one of the key technologies of A-IoT. In order to improve system capacity or reduce access delay, the reader in the A-IoT system indicates multiple time-frequency resources (also referred to as access resources) through a paging message, and these access resources are used for A-IoT devices to send message 1 (random access request message). One paging cycle can contain multiple trigger periods, and each trigger period contains a set of access resources for transmitting message 1. The reader can indicate the starting position of the set of access resources through an access opportunity trigger message to the A-IoT device. Then, the A-IoT device can send message 1 based on the set of access resources and the starting position of the set of access resources. If the A-IoT device fails to send message 1 based on an access resource in the set of access resources, or determines that the A-IoT device fails to compete through message 2, then the A-IoT device needs to resend message 1 based on the starting position indicated by the access opportunity trigger message in the case of receiving the access opportunity trigger message again.

[0004] It can be seen that how to reduce the time required for A-IoT devices to perform random access and thereby improve the efficiency of random access is a technical problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, a communication device and a computer readable storage medium. In the scenario of contention-based random access, the A-IoT device that fails to compete can resend message 1 through the idle transmission resource to reinitiate the random access process, which can effectively improve the efficiency of random access and improve the resource utilization.

[0006] In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which can be executed by an A-IoT device, or can be executed by a component (such as a circuit, a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.) configured in the A-IoT device, and can also be implemented by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the A-IoT device. The present application does not make any limitation in this regard.

[0007] The method can comprise: the A-IoT device transmits, through a first access resource in the set of access resources, a first message, the first message being a message 1 comprising a first random number; receives a second message, the second message being a message 2 used for indicating T access resources in the set of access resources and T random numbers, one access resource in the T access resources corresponding to one random number in the T random numbers; wherein the devices corresponding to the T access resources win the competition, the random number corresponding to one access resource is the random number included in the message 1 carried by the one access resource; T is an integer greater than or equal to 0. The T access resources can be referred to as occupied resources or non-idle resources. In the case that the T random numbers do not contain the first random number, a third message is transmitted through a first transmission resource in the set of transmission resources, the third message being a message 1 comprising a second random number.

[0008] wherein P is a positive integer. The transmission resources in the set of transmission resources have a corresponding relationship with the access resources in the set of access resources, and the first transmission resource is one of the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources. The P access resources are the access resources in the set of access resources except the T access resources. In other words, the P access resources do not carry the message 1, or the devices corresponding to the P access resources lose the competition. Based on this, the devices that win the competition will not transmit the message 3 through the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources, and therefore, the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources can be referred to as idle transmission resources.

[0009] It can be seen that, through the embodiments of the present application, the A-IoT device can determine whether it wins the competition by whether the T random numbers indicated by the second information contain its own random number. The A-IoT device that wins the competition can transmit the message 3 to the reader through the transmission resources corresponding to the access resources. The A-IoT device that loses the competition can transmit the message 1 to the reader again through the idle transmission resources (i.e., the P transmission resources described above), so as to reinitiate the contention-based random access request. In this way, the efficiency of the random access of the A-IoT device can be improved, and the success rate of the random access can be improved. Moreover, the transmission of the message 1 through the idle transmission resources can also improve the resource utilization and reduce resource waste.

[0010] In a possible implementation manner, the second message comprises a first bit field, the first bit field comprises a plurality of bits, and bit i in the plurality of bits corresponds to access resource j in the set of access resources, and the value of bit i is used to indicate whether the device corresponding to access resource j wins the competition or loses the competition. Based on this, the method can further comprise: determining the first transmission resource from the set of transmission resources based on the first bit field and the corresponding relationship.

[0011] It can be seen that the A-IoT device can determine whether it has successfully competed through the value of each bit in the first bit field. Through the first bit field, an idle transmission resource can also be determined, so that a transmission resource can be selected from it to resend the message 1.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a fourth message, the fourth message being a message 2 used to indicate R access resources and R random numbers. Wherein, R is a positive integer. One of the R access resources corresponds to one of the R random numbers; the devices corresponding to the R access resources have successfully competed; the P access resources include the R access resources. Based on this, the A-IoT device can send the message 3 in the case that the R random numbers contain the second random number.

[0013] It can be seen that if the R random numbers contain the second random number, the A-IoT device can determine that it has successfully competed this time, and then can send the message 3 to complete the random access process.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the specific manner of sending the message 3 can include: in the case that the fourth message is also used to indicate an access stratum (AS) identifier (ID) corresponding to the second random number, sending the message 3. Wherein, the message 3 includes the AS ID. Or, in the case that the fourth message does not indicate the AS ID corresponding to the second random number, sending the message 3. Wherein, the message 3 includes the second random number.

[0015] Wherein, if the fourth message is also used to indicate the AS ID corresponding to the second random number, it means that the reader can have received other random numbers same as the second random number, and the reader can solve the conflict by allocating the AS ID to the second random number. Therefore, the A-IoT device also needs to carry the second random number in the message 3 to distinguish itself from other devices using the same random number, so as to avoid conflicts with the message 3 sent by other devices and improve the success rate of sending the message 3.

[0016] Correspondingly, if the fourth message does not indicate the AS ID corresponding to the second random number, it means that the second random number is unique among the multiple random numbers received by the reader. Therefore, the A-IoT device can distinguish itself from other devices through the second random number, which can also achieve the purpose of avoiding conflicts, thereby improving the success rate of sending the message 3.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the specific manner of sending the message 3 can include: sending the message 3 through a first retransmission resource in a retransmission resource set.

[0018] The retransmission resource in the retransmission resource set has a corresponding relationship with the transmission resource in the transmission resource set; the first retransmission resource is a retransmission resource corresponding to the first transmission resource.

[0019] It can be seen that the A-IoT device can send the message 3 through the retransmission resource, and the sending efficiency and success rate of the message 3 can be improved.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the specific manner of sending the message 3 can include: in the case that the fourth message is also used to indicate the reference resource, sending the message 3 through the reference resource.

[0021] It can be seen that the A-IoT device can send the message 3 through the reference resource indicated by the fourth message, so that the flexibility of sending the message 3 can be improved, and the sending success rate of the message 3 can be effectively improved.

[0022] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication method, which can be executed by a reader or a component (such as a circuit, a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.) configured in the reader, and can also be implemented by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the reader. The present application does not make any limitation in this regard.

[0023] The method can include: the reader receiving a first message through a first access resource in an access resource set, the first message being a message 1 including a first random number; sending a second message to the A-IoT device, the second message being a message 2 used to indicate T access resources in the access resource set and T random numbers, one access resource in the T access resources corresponding to one random number in the T random numbers; wherein the T access resources correspond to the successful competition of the devices, and the random number corresponding to one access resource is the random number included in the message 1 carried by one access resource; T is an integer greater than or equal to 0; and receiving a third message through a first transmission resource in a transmission resource set, the third message being a message 1 including a second random number. Wherein the T access resources can be referred to as occupied resources or non-idle resources. The devices that successfully compete can send a message 3 through the transmission resources corresponding to the T access resources.

[0024] Wherein, P is a positive integer. The transmission resources in the transmission resource set have a corresponding relationship with the access resources in the access resource set, the first transmission resource is one of the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources, and the P access resources are the access resources in the access resource set except the T access resources. In other words, the P access resources do not carry the message 1, or the devices corresponding to the P access resources fail to compete. Based on this, the devices that successfully compete will not transmit the message 3 through the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources, and therefore, the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources can be referred to as idle transmission resources.

[0025] Through the embodiments of the present application, in the scenario that the A-IoT device performs contention-based random access, after receiving the message 1 from the A-IoT device, the reader can indicate, through the message 2, which devices successfully or unsuccessfully contend to each A-IoT device participating in the contention. For the A-IoT device that unsuccessfully contends, the message 1 retransmitted by the A-IoT device that unsuccessfully contends can be received through the idle transmission resource (i.e., the P transmission resources described above), so as to contend again, thereby improving the success rate of the A-IoT device performing random access. Moreover, the idle transmission resource can also effectively improve the resource utilization rate.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the second message includes a first bit field, the first bit field includes a plurality of bits, and bit i in the plurality of bits corresponds to access resource j in the set of access resources, and the value of bit i is used to indicate that the device corresponding to the access resource j successfully contends or unsuccessfully contends.

[0027] The reader can indicate, through the first bit field in the second message, which access resource carrying the message 1 of the device successfully contends, which is beneficial to the A-IoT device determining whether it successfully contends based on the first bit field. In this way, the signaling consumption can be reduced, and the information whether to successfully contend can be accurately provided.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the method can further include: sending a fourth message to the A-IoT device. The fourth message is the message 2 used to indicate the R access resources and the R random numbers. One access resource in the R access resources corresponds to one random number in the R random numbers; the devices corresponding to the R access resources successfully contend; the P access resources include the R access resources; R is a positive integer. In the case that the R access resources include the second random number, the message 3 from the A-IoT device is received.

[0029] It can be seen that if the reader determines that one A-IoT device successfully contends, the access resource and the random number used by the A-IoT device can be carried in the fourth message. In this way, the A-IoT device can determine that it successfully contends this time through the fourth message, and then can send the message 3 to complete the random access process.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the method can further include: in the case that the second random number is the same as at least one random number in the R random numbers except the second random number, the fourth message is further used to indicate the access stratum (AS) identifier (ID) corresponding to the second random number. Based on this, the above-mentioned manner of receiving the message 3 can include: receiving the message 3, and the message 3 includes the AS ID.

[0031] In the case that the reader receives a random number identical to the second random number, the conflict can be solved by allocating an AS ID for the second random number. Therefore, the A-IoT device also needs to carry the second random number in the message 3 to distinguish itself from other devices using the same random number, so as to avoid conflict with the message 3 sent by other devices and improve the success rate of sending the message 3.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the manner of receiving the message 3 can include: in the case that the second random number is different from the random numbers other than the second random number in the R random numbers, receiving the message 3, and the message 3 includes the second random number.

[0033] It can be seen that, if the second random number is unique in the multiple random numbers received by the reader, the reader does not need to allocate an AS ID for the second random number. Therefore, the A-IoT device can distinguish itself from other devices through the second random number, so as to avoid conflict and improve the success rate of sending the message 3.

[0034] In a possible implementation, the manner of receiving the message 3 can include: receiving the message 3 through a first retransmission resource in a retransmission resource set.

[0035] The retransmission resources in the retransmission resource set have a corresponding relationship with the transmission resources in the transmission resource set; and the first retransmission resource is a retransmission resource corresponding to the first transmission resource.

[0036] It can be seen that the reader can receive the message 3 through the retransmission resource, which can improve the efficiency and success rate of sending the message 3.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the manner of receiving the message 3 can include: in the case that the fourth message is also used to indicate a reference resource, receiving the message 3 through the reference resource.

[0038] It can be seen that the reader can indicate the reference resource through the fourth message, so that the A-IoT device can send the message 3 through the reference resource. In this way, the flexibility of sending the message 3 can be improved, so as to effectively improve the success rate of sending the message 3.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving T messages 3 through T transmission resources in the transmission resource set. The T transmission resources are transmission resources corresponding to T access resources.

[0040] It can be seen that the A-IoT device that successfully competes can send the message 3 through the transmission resource corresponding to the access resource, so that the information of the corresponding transmission resource does not need to be carried in the message 2, and the signaling overhead of the message 2 can be reduced.

[0041] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, which comprises a communication module, configured to: send a first message through a first access resource in a set of access resources, the first message being a message 1 comprising a first random number; receive a second message, the second message being a message 2 used for indicating T access resources in the set of access resources and T random numbers, one access resource in the T access resources corresponding to one random number in the T random numbers; wherein the devices corresponding to the T access resources win the competition, and the random number corresponding to one access resource is the random number included in the message 1 carried by the one access resource; T is an integer greater than or equal to 0. In the case that the T random numbers do not contain the first random number, send a third message through a first transmission resource in a set of transmission resources, the third message being a message 1 comprising a second random number.

[0042] wherein P is a positive integer. The transmission resources in the set of transmission resources have a corresponding relationship with the access resources in the set of access resources, the first transmission resource is one of the transmission resources corresponding to P access resources, and the P access resources are the access resources in the set of access resources except the T access resources. In other words, the P access resources do not carry the message 1, or the devices corresponding to the P access resources lose the competition. Based on this, the devices that win the competition will not transmit the message 3 through the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources, and therefore, the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources can be called idle transmission resources.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the second message comprises a first bit field, the first bit field comprises a plurality of bits, and bit i in the plurality of bits corresponds to access resource j in the set of access resources, and the value of bit i is used to indicate whether the device corresponding to access resource j wins the competition or loses the competition.

[0044] Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises a processing module, configured to determine the first transmission resource from the set of transmission resources based on the first bit field and the corresponding relationship.

[0045] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication apparatus, which comprises a communication module, configured to: receive a first message through a first access resource in a set of access resources, the first message being a message 1 comprising a first random number; send a second message to an A-IoT device, the second message being a message 2 used for indicating T access resources in the set of access resources and T random numbers, one access resource in the T access resources corresponding to one random number in the T random numbers; wherein the devices corresponding to the T access resources win the competition, and the random number corresponding to one access resource is the random number included in the message 1 carried by the one access resource; T is an integer greater than or equal to 0. Receive a third message through a first transmission resource in a set of transmission resources.

[0046] The transmission resource in the transmission resource set has a corresponding relationship with the access resource in the access resource set, the first transmission resource is one of the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources, the P access resources are the access resources in the access resource set except for the T access resources, and the third message is a message 1 including the second random number; P is a positive integer.

[0047] The implementation and effects of the third aspect and the fourth aspect can refer to the first aspect or the second aspect, and details are not described herein.

[0048] In the fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a processor. The processor is coupled with a memory and is configured to execute instructions or data in the memory to implement the method in any possible implementation manner of the first aspect or the method in any possible implementation manner of the second aspect. Optionally, the communication device further includes the memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled with the communication interface.

[0049] In the six implementation manners, the communication interface can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface.

[0050] In another implementation manner, the communication device is a chip configured in an A-IoT device. When the communication device is the chip configured in the A-IoT device, the communication interface can be an input / output interface.

[0051] In the sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a processor, including an input circuit, an output circuit and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal through the input circuit and transmit a signal through the output circuit, so that the processor executes the method in any possible implementation manner of any aspect.

[0052] In the specific implementation process, the processor can be one or more chips, the input circuit can be an input pin, the output circuit can be an output pin, and the processing circuit can be a transistor, a gate circuit, a flip-flop and various logic circuits and the like. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example but not limited to, a receiver, the output signal output by the output circuit can be output to and transmitted by, for example but not limited to, a transmitter, and the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as the input circuit and the output circuit at different times. The specific implementation manner of the processor and various circuits is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0053] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, including a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to read instructions stored in the memory, and is configured to receive a signal via a receiver, and transmit a signal via a transmitter, so as to execute the method in any possible implementation manner of any of the aspects.

[0054] Optionally, the processor is one or more, and the memory is one or more.

[0055] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, including a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions), which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the method in any possible implementation manner of any of the aspects.

[0056] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions), which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the method in any possible implementation manner of any of the aspects.

[0057] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, including one or more processors, configured to call and execute instructions stored in a memory, so as to execute the method in any possible implementation manner of any of the aspects. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0058] Optionally, the chip system can include an input circuit or interface for transmitting information or data, and an output circuit or interface for receiving information or data.

[0059] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, including the A-IoT device and the reader as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0060] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic diagrams of two topologies of A-IoT;

[0061] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a random access procedure of an A-IoT device;

[0062] FIG. 3 is an example diagram of allocation of access resources provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of access resources and transmission resources;

[0064] FIG. 5A flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. 1.

[0065] FIG. 6 A schematic diagram of an access resource, a transmission resource and a retransmission resource is shown in FIG. 2.

[0066] FIG. 7 A flowchart of processing a message 2 by an A-IoT device provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. 3.

[0067] FIG. 8 A flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. 4.

[0068] FIG. 9 A schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. 5.

[0069] FIG. 10 A schematic block diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, but not all the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0071] The terms “first”, “second”, “third” and the like in the embodiments of the present application are to distinguish different objects, but not to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms “include” and “have” and any variations thereof are intended to cover the inclusions without exclusivity. For example, a series of steps or units are included, or optionally, other steps or units not listed are included, or optionally, other steps or units inherent to the process, method, product or equipment are included. The terms “one embodiment” or “some embodiments” and the like mean that the specific features, structures or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment are included in one or more embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the statements “in one embodiment”, “in some embodiments”, “in other some embodiments”, “in yet some embodiments” and the like appearing in different places in the embodiments of the present application do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, but mean “one or more but not all embodiments”, unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0072] Further, "at least one" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more. "And / or" describes an associative relationship between associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can represent the following cases: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects. "At least one of" or similar expressions means any combination of these items, including single item or any combination of multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b and c, can represent: a, or b, or c, or a and b, or a and c, or b and c, or a, b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0073] The terms used in the following embodiments of the present application are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments and are not intended to be limiting to the present application.

[0074] I. Ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT)

[0075] With the wide application of Internet of Things (IoT) technology in the field of wireless communication, how to reduce the size, complexity and power consumption of IoT devices is of great concern. Since most wireless communication devices need to be replaced by manual battery or powered by rechargeable battery, to a certain extent, it will lead to high maintenance cost and even cause safety hazards. With the continuous introduction of digital era demand and the improvement of automation level, it is urgent to introduce new IoT technology to support energy storage devices without energy storage capacity or manual battery replacement or charging. Therefore, A-IoT, which supports higher density connection, lower complexity and lower power consumption, emerges as the times require. A-IoT is an IoT technology that collects energy from the environment, such as light, heat, electromagnetic waves, etc. for data transmission. With the evolution of standards, A-IoT may have other names.

[0076] 1. Topology of A-IoT

[0077] The topology of A-IoT defined by the 3rd-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) can include FIG. 1A the topology shown in FIG. 1B the topology shown in.

[0078] In the case of FIG. 1AIn the first topology shown, bidirectional communication is possible between the base station and the A-IoT device, including the base station sending a reader to A-IoT device (R2D) signal to the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device sending an A-IoT device to reader (D2R) signal to the base station.

[0079] The communication links between the reader and A-IoT devices include R2D links and D2R links.

[0080] R2D link refers to a dedicated channel for readers to unidirectionally transmit service commands, control commands, or configuration information to A-IoT devices. The information transmitted through the R2D link can be called R2D information.

[0081] A D2R link refers to a dedicated channel for A-IoT devices to transmit service messages such as sensor data, status reports, and acknowledgment (ACK) messages to readers. Messages transmitted through a D2R link are called D2R messages.

[0082] In such FIG. 1B In the second topology shown, the base station and the intermediate node can communicate via Uu, and the intermediate node and the A-IoT device can communicate bidirectionally, including the intermediate node sending R2D signals to the A-IoT device and the A-IoT device sending D2R signals to the intermediate node.

[0083] exist FIG. 1B In the topology shown, the intermediate node acts as a reader, communicating with the A-IoT devices. In this topology, the base station and A-IoT devices cannot communicate directly; the reader, acting as an intermediate node, relays the communication between them. This topology is suitable for base stations deployed outdoors and A-IoT devices deployed indoors, where the limited communication range of A-IoT devices necessitates the reader as an intermediate node for relay communication.

[0084] exist FIG. 1B In the topology shown, the process of the intermediate node acting as a reader communicating with A-IoT devices can be referenced from the process of the base station acting as a reader communicating with A-IoT devices described above, and will not be repeated here. Furthermore, in FIG. 1B In the topology shown, the base station only allocates transmission resources to the reader and does not participate in the communication between the A-IoT device and the reader. The base station transparently forwards data and / or signaling from the core network to the intermediate node, and transparently forwards data and / or signaling from the intermediate node to the core network.

[0085] 2. Reader

[0086] In A-IoT, a reader is a device used to read and parse data from smart tags or sensors. For example, smart tags may include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, A-IoT tags, etc. In other words, a reader can be used to read and parse data from A-IoT devices.

[0087] FIG. 1A Base stations in the middle, and FIG. 1B The intermediate nodes in this process can be collectively referred to as readers. A reader can be a device with A-IoT capabilities, capable of powering A-IoT devices or providing them with carrier signals for backscattering. Readers may also be called reader-writers, IoT-capable devices, IoT-functional devices, etc., and may acquire other names as standards evolve.

[0088] A base station can be a base station in a new radio (NR) system, such as a next-generation node B (gNB), an evolved node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., a home evolved node B or home node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a transmission and reception point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a mobile switching center, etc. It can also be a base station in a future communication system, such as a sixth-generation (6G) base station. th Base stations, etc., in 6G (generation, 6G) communication systems.

[0089] Intermediate nodes can also be described as relay nodes or auxiliary nodes, and can be devices with A-IoT capabilities such as relays, repeaters, integrated access backhaul (IAB) nodes, and user equipment (UE).

[0090] The UE can also be referred to as a terminal, a terminal device, a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), an access terminal device, a vehicle-mounted terminal device, an industrial control terminal device, a UE unit, a UE station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal device, a mobile device, a wireless communication device, a UE agent, or a UE apparatus, etc. The UE can be fixed or mobile. It should be noted that the UE can support at least one wireless communication technology, such as wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), long time evolution (LTE), NR, 6G or next-generation wireless communication technology, etc. For example, the UE can be a mobile phone, a pad, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, an all-in-one machine, a vehicle-mounted terminal, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a mixed reality (MR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a wearable device, a UE in future mobile communication network, or a UE in future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc.

[0091] 3. A-IoT device

[0092] An A-IoT device has the characteristics of low power consumption, low complexity, small size, and long life cycle, and usually does not have a traditional battery, mainly using energy obtained from environmental energy, which can include radio waves, solar energy, kinetic energy, thermal energy, and pressure energy or any other form of energy. Radio waves can come from a base station or an intermediate node. An A-IoT device can also be referred to as an Internet of Things device, and as the standard evolves, an A-IoT device can have other names.

[0093] 4. Random access procedure of A-IoT device

[0094] Contention based random access (CBRA) is one of the key technologies of A-IoT, and the 19th release (Rel 19) of 3GPP proposes to design the random access procedure of A-IoT system based on slotted-aloha.

[0095] In A-IoT, CBRA refers to the process in which an A-IoT device randomly selects a preamble and initiates random access without being allocated a dedicated preamble by the A-IoT device. Since multiple A-IoT devices may simultaneously select the same preamble for access, this access method competes and needs to determine which A-IoT device successfully accesses through a subsequent contention resolution process.

[0096] Please refer to FIG. 2 , FIG. 2 A flowchart of a random access procedure of an A-IoT device, which can include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0097] S201, the reader sends a message 0 to the A-IoT device. Correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives the message 0 from the reader.

[0098] Wherein, the message 0 (msg 0) refers to an A-IoT paging message or an access trigger message (occasion trigger message). The access trigger message can also be referred to as an R2D trigger message.

[0099] The A-IoT paging message can provide configuration of an A-IoT random access procedure. One paging cycle can contain multiple R2D trigger periods, each R2D trigger period contains an access occasion set (OS set) for transmitting message 1. The OS set can also be referred to as an access resource set. The OS set is composed of time-frequency two-dimensional resources. Through one R2D trigger, the starting position of the OS set in the R2D trigger period can be indicated.

[0100] For example, the A-IoT paging message can include configuration information of 18 access resources, the A-IoT paging message can indicate allocation of 6 access resources, and allocation of the remaining 12 access resources can be indicated by two R2D trigger messages, one R2D trigger message indicating allocation of 6 access resources. The access resources are used for the A-IoT device to send message 1 (msg 1).

[0101] For example, refer to the access resource allocation example diagram shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 FIG. 3 In FIG. 1, the A-IoT paging message indicates allocation of 6 access resources, the R2D trigger message 1 indicates allocation of 6 access resources, and the R2D trigger message 2 indicates allocation of another 6 access resources. FIG. 3 In FIG. 1, the multiplexing mode of the access resources indicated by the A-IoT paging message or the R2D trigger message is time division multiplexing (TDM) and frequency division multiplexing (FDM).

[0102] Optionally, the A-IoT paging message can also include CBRA indication information to indicate the A-IoT device to initiate an A-IoT CBRA procedure.

[0103] S202, the A-IoT device sends message 1 to the reader, and the message 1 includes a random number. Correspondingly, the reader receives the message 1.

[0104] The message 1 is a random access request message. In the message 1 sent by one A-IoT device, a random number randomly generated by the A-IoT device is contained. The random number is a random identification (ID). Its size can be 16 bits.

[0105] ​In case the A-IoT device receives the A-IoT paging message, the A-IoT device randomly selects one access resource among all the access resources configured by the A-IoT message, and initiates a random access request by message 1 on one access resource in the R2D trigger message. The message 1 includes a random number.

[0106] S203, the reader sends message 2 to the A-IoT device. Correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives the message 2 from the reader.

[0107] After receiving the message 1 from the A-IoT device, the reader sends the message 2 (msg 2) to the A-IoT device.

[0108] After sending the message 1, the A-IoT device monitors the message 2 from the reader to solve the contention problem. The message 2 can carry a random number. In case the A-IoT device receives the message 2, the A-IoT device judges whether the random number carried by the message 2 is the same as the random number sent in the message 1. If yes, the contention is successful. If no, the contention is failed.

[0109] If the A-IoT device confirms that it fails in the contention through the message 2, the A-IoT device needs to send the message 1 to the reader again based on the access opportunity indicated by the R2D trigger message after receiving the R2D trigger message again, so as to re-initiate the CBRA process.

[0110] S204, in case the A-IoT device succeeds in the contention, the A-IoT device sends the message 3 to the reader.

[0111] The message 3 is the first scheduled transmission in the CBRA process, and is used to send a payload, such as an RRC connection request message. The A-IoT device can send the message 3 on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0112] Optionally, the message 3 can include upper layer data and a device ID of the A-IoT device.

[0113] Each R2D trigger period can include a transfer occasion set (TO set) for transmitting the message 3. The TO set can also be referred to as a transmission resource set.

[0114] S205, the reader sends the message 4 to the A-IoT device. Correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives the message 4.

[0115] Message 4 is the response information of the reader to message 3, used to indicate whether the A-IoT device successfully accesses the reader. Among them, the device ID of the A-IoT device can be included in message 4, and the A-IoT device will judge whether itself successfully accesses according to the information.

[0116] If the contention resolution is successful, the A-IoT device establishes a connection with the reader, thereby communicating. If the contention resolution fails, the A-IoT device may need to re-initiate the CBRA process.

[0117] 5, Time-frequency resource allocation mode of message 3 in A-IoT

[0118] The transmission of message 3 is mandatory in the A-IoT system, and the A-IoT device that successfully accesses the contention needs to send message 3 to the reader to report its own device ID.

[0119] The meeting of 3GPP Release 19 (Rel 19) radio access network working group 1 (RAN1) proposed that the time-frequency resource allocation mode of message 3 mainly includes the following two modes:

[0120] Mode 1: The data transmission resource index number occupied by message 3 is the same as the random access opportunity index number in the access opportunity set (OS set) occupied by message 2.

[0121] Mode 2: The frequency domain resource for message 3 transmission (of one or more devices) can be determined based on the explicit indication in the PRDCH where message 2 is transmitted. That is, the transmission resource allocated for message 3 is indicated by message 2.

[0122] In actual application scenarios, if mode 1 is used to allocate the time-frequency resource of message 3, message 2 does not need to carry information (such as resource index number) indicating the transmission resource allocated for message 3, which can reduce the resources occupied by message 2. Moreover, mode 2 can effectively avoid the conflict of resource allocation for message 3.

[0123] At present, the maximum successful access probability based on slotted Aloha is 36.8%. As shown in FIG. 3 , assuming that the total number of access opportunities of an OS set is 8, the maximum number of A-IoT devices that successfully access on an OS set is 3. If mode 1 is used, the 3 A-IoT devices that successfully access send message 3 using only 37.5% (3 / 8) of the transmission resources, and a large amount of wireless resources are wasted.

[0124] For example, as shown in FIG. 4As shown, one OS set includes 8 access opportunities (representing 8 access resources) in total, and the resource index numbers of the 8 access resources are #0 to #7 in turn. For the sake of concise description, FIG. 4 For example, the access resource with index 0 in the access resource set (AO set) can represent AO #0. Assuming that the 3 A-IoT devices whose message 1 is carried by the 3 access resources of AO #0, AO #2 and AO #5 win the competition, and the message 1 carried on the remaining access resources or the devices whose message 1 is carried fail in the competition, as shown in FIG. 4 As shown, the remaining access resources in the AO set can be represented by the symbol ×.

[0125] Therefore, the 3 A-IoT devices that win the competition can continue to send message 3 on the 3 transmission resources with resource index numbers #0, #2 and #5 in the transmission resource set (TO set) respectively. The three transmission resources can be represented as TO #0, TO #2 and TO #5 respectively, as shown in FIG. 4 The transmission resources with indexes 0, 2 and 5 in the TO set as shown in. In this case, there is no data transmission on the transmission resources in the transmission resource set except the 3 transmission resources of TO #0, TO #2 and TO #5 (which can be called idle transmission resources), resulting in resource waste.

[0126] If an A-IoT device sends message 1 and determines that it fails in the competition through the received message 2, the A-IoT device needs to resend message 1 after receiving the R2D trigger message, that is, after entering the next R2D trigger period, so as to reinitiate the CBRA process, resulting in a certain time difference between the two times of sending message 1 by the A-IoT device, thereby reducing the efficiency of random access of the A-IoT device.

[0127] Based on this, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, a communication device and a computer readable storage medium. An A-IoT device can send a first message containing a first random number to a reader through a first access resource in an access resource set. The first message is message 1 containing the first random number. After receiving a second message fed back by the reader, it can be determined whether the competition is successful based on whether the first random number is contained in T random numbers indicated by the second message. The second message is message 2 used to indicate T access resources and T random numbers, and T is an integer greater than or equal to 0. The devices corresponding to the T access resources win the competition. One access resource in the T access resources can be used to carry one message 1, and one message 1 includes one random number. If the second random number is not contained in the T random numbers, the A-IoT device can resend a third message to the reader through a first transmission resource in a transmission resource set, and the third message is message 1 containing the second random number.

[0128] The transmission resource in the transmission resource set has a corresponding relationship with the access resource in the access resource set, the first transmission resource is one of the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources, and the P access resources are the access resources in the access resource set except for the T access resources. P is a positive integer.

[0129] In the embodiment of the application, each transmission resource in the transmission resource set is a resource for transmitting the message 3, but only the T transmission resources corresponding to the T access resources have successfully competed, so only the T transmission resources carry the message 3 and transmit the message 3 to the reader. All the transmission resources in the transmission resource set except for the T transmission resources, i.e. the P transmission resources, are not used to carry the message 3. Therefore, an A-IoT device that fails to compete can select one of the P transmission resources to retransmit the message 1, so that the A-IoT device does not need to wait for the next R2D trigger period, and time can be saved. In this way, not only the efficiency of the A-IoT device in random access can be improved, but also the transmission resources can be fully utilized, and the resource utilization rate can be improved.

[0130] The scheme provided by the application will be described in detail below in combination with the corresponding flowchart. It can be understood that the main devices (such as A-IoT devices, readers) in the illustrative flowchart are taken as examples of the execution subject of the interaction to illustrate the method, but the application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction. For example, the devices (such as A-IoT devices, readers) in the illustrative flowchart can also be chips, chip systems, or processors that support the devices to implement the method, and can also be logical modules or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the devices.

[0131] Here, it is uniformly stated that the message or signaling interaction involved in the interaction flow of the embodiment of the application can use the message or signaling in the standard or newly introduced message or signaling, and the embodiment of the application does not make a specific limitation.

[0132] Please refer to FIG. 5 A flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiment of the application is shown, which mainly introduces that the A-IoT device retransmits the message 1 through the idle transmission resource after transmitting the message 1 and determining that the A-IoT device fails to compete, so as to reinitiate the contention-based random access process.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 5 , the method can include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0134] S501, the A-IoT device transmits a first message through a first access resource in an access resource set, the first message including a first random number. Correspondingly, the reader receives the first message.

[0135] The first message is a message 1 including a first random number. The first random number is a random number randomly generated by the A-IoT device, and the size of the random number can be 16 bits.

[0136] The access resource set, which can also be referred to as an access opportunity set (AO set), is a set of time-frequency resources configured by the reader for the message 1. The first access resource can be any one of the access resources in the access resource set. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the access resource set can include 8 access resources. FIG. 4

[0137] In a possible implementation, the A-IoT device can receive a paging message broadcast by the reader. The paging message is used to indicate the access resource set.

[0138] S502, the reader sends a second message to the A-IoT device, and the second message is used to indicate T access resources and T random numbers. Correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives the second message.

[0139] The second message is a message 2 used to indicate T access resources and T random numbers in the access resource set; T is an integer greater than or equal to 0. One access resource of the T access resources corresponds to one random number of the T random numbers. The random number corresponding to one access resource is a random number included in a message 1 carried by one access resource. The T access resources correspond to successful device competition.

[0140] For example, the T access resources can refer to, as shown in FIG. 3, AO #0, AO #2, and AO #5 indicated by indexes 0, 2, and 5 in the AO set, respectively. The three access resources correspond to successful device competition. FIG. 4

[0141] In a possible implementation, the reader can receive T messages 3 through T transfer resources in a transfer resource set (TO set). The T transfer resources are T transfer resources corresponding to the T access resources. In other words, the device that successfully competes on the access resource set can send the message 3 to the reader through T transfer resources corresponding to the T transfer resources in the transfer resource set.

[0142] For example, the device 1 sends the message 1 through the AO #0 and successfully competes, and then the device 1 can send the message 3 to the reader through the TO #0 in the transfer resource set.

[0143] ​​The TO set can also be referred to as a transmission opportunity set, and one transmission resource can also be referred to as one transmission opportunity. The TO set is used for transmitting the message 3. The transmission resources in the TO set have a corresponding relationship with the access resources in the access resource set. For example, if the access resource set includes a total of 8 access resources, AO #0 to AO #7, the TO set can include a total of 8 transmission resources, TO #0 to TO #7. AO #0 corresponds to TO #0, AO #1 corresponds to TO #1, and so on, and AO #7 corresponds to TO #7.

[0144] Optionally, the TO set and the AO set can be resource blocks of the same frequency domain resource at different time frequencies. After the reader allocates the access resource set, the A-IoT device can determine the TO set based on the TO set, so that the reader does not need to indicate the transmission resources for transmitting the message 3 through the message 2.

[0145] In a possible implementation, the second message includes a first bit field, the first bit field includes a plurality of bits, and a bit i in the plurality of bits corresponds to an access resource j in the access resource set. A value of the bit i is used to indicate that a device corresponding to the access resource j succeeds in contention or fails in contention.

[0146] Optionally, the first bit field can be a bit string. The number of bit positions of the bit string is the same as the number of access resources in the access resource set. An index value of a bit position is the same as an index number of an access resource. For example, a first bit position (ID 1) in the bit string corresponds to a first access resource in the access resource set, that is, AO #0.

[0147] Optionally, a bit position corresponding to an access resource with a value of 1 can represent that a device corresponding to the access resource succeeds in contention, and a bit position corresponding to an access resource with a value of 0 can represent that a device corresponding to the access resource fails in contention.

[0148] For example, it is assumed that the access resource set includes 8 access resources, which can be represented as AO #0 to AO #7 in turn. Therefore, the first bit field can include 8 bits, and the first bit to the eighth bit corresponds to the above-mentioned 8 access resources in turn. If the devices corresponding to AO #0, AO #2, and AO #5 succeed in contention, the first bit field can be represented as 000100101 (in the order from right to left) or 101001000 (in the order from left to right). The embodiment of the present application takes the order from right to left of the first bit field as an example for description.

[0149] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the first bit field can be represented as 000100101 (in the order from right to left). FIG. 4As shown, the A-IoT devices compete on 8 random access opportunities in the set of access resources, only devices 1, 3 and 6 successfully compete on AO #0, AO #2 and AO #5 respectively. The reader receives the messages 1 from the 3 A-IoT devices on the 3 random access opportunities respectively. The reader can read the random numbers of the respective A-IoT devices from the 3 messages 1, which are random number 1 of device 1, random number 3 of device 3 and random number 6 of device 6 respectively. In this case, the reader can construct the message 2 as shown in Table 1.

[0150] Alternatively, the second message can contain the content and structure as shown in Table 1. In Table 1, the first row indicates the number (ID) of each bit in the first bit field. IDs 0 to 7 represent the 8 bits in the first bit field respectively, which correspond to AO #0 to AO #7 in the set of access resources in turn. The second row indicates the value of each bit respectively. For example, the value of ID 0 is 1, which indicates that the value of the first bit in the first bit field is 1, and also indicates that the device corresponding to AO #0 in the set of access resources successfully competes. The third to fifth rows in Table 1 list the access resource with each value of 1 and the random number in the message 1 carried by the access resource in the order of ID from small to large (which can also be said in the order of resource index number from small to large).

[0151] Table 1: One structure of message 2

[0152]

[0153] After receiving the message 2, the A-IoT device can determine whether it successfully competes from the random numbers carried in the message 2. For example, if a certain A-IoT device carries random number 6 in the message 1 sent through AO #5, and the message 2 as shown in Table 1 contains random number 6, then the A-IoT device can determine that it successfully competes this time. Alternatively, the A-IoT device that successfully competes can perform S204 and S205 as shown, thereby completing the contention-based random access process. FIG. 2

[0154] In one possible implementation, for any one of the T random numbers, such as random number j, if the random number j is the same as at least one of the T random numbers except the random number j, then the message 2 also includes the AS ID corresponding to the random number j. The AS ID corresponding to the random number j is the ID allocated by the reader to the A-IoT device to which the random number j belongs.

[0155] ​The AS ID is the access layer ID, primarily used for scheduling received and D2R information. If the reader generates an AS ID corresponding to a random number, then message 2 must carry that AS ID. If the reader does not generate an AS ID for a given random number, then message 2 can carry that random number as the AS ID.

[0156] Optionally, if the random number 1 in message 2 as shown in Table 1 is the same as at least one of the multiple random numbers received by the reader, the reader will assign an AS ID to random number 1, which can be represented as AS ID #1. In this case, message 2 can be as shown in Table 2.

[0157] Table 2. Another structure for message 2

[0158]

[0159] It should be noted that the structure of message 2 shown in Tables 1 and 2 is only used as an example and does not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this application.

[0160] S503, if the first random number is not included among the T random numbers, the A-IoT device sends a third message through the first transmission resource in the transmission resource set. Correspondingly, the reader receives the third message.

[0161] The third message is message 1, which includes the second random number.

[0162] The transport resource set (TO set) is used to transmit message 3. The transport resources in the transport resource set correspond to the access resources in the access resource set.

[0163] Here, the first transmission resource is one of the transmission resources corresponding to P access resources, and the P access resources are the access resources in the access resource set excluding T access resources; P is a positive integer. In other words, the devices corresponding to these P access resources fail to compete in S501.

[0164] For example, such as FIG. 4 As shown, the three access resources AO #0, AO #2, and AO #5 constitute T access resources (i.e., T=3). In this case, the P access resources (P=5) are AO #1, AO #3, AO #4, AO #6, and AO #7. Therefore, the transmission resources corresponding to these P access resources can be represented as TO #1, TO #3, TO #4, TO #6, and TO #7, respectively.

[0165] For example, such as FIG. 6As shown, one access resource set (AO set) includes 8 access resources, which can be sequentially represented as AO #0 to AO #7. FIG. 6 The 8 access resources shown in the index 0 to 7 in the AO set. Assuming that the 3 devices whose message 1 is carried by the 3 access resources AO #0, AO #2 and AO #5 successfully compete, then the 3 A-IoT devices can continue to send the message 3 on the 3 transmission resources TO #0, TO #2 and TO #5 in the transmission resource set respectively. In this case, the A-IoT device can select a transmission resource from the idle TO #1, TO #3, TO #4, TO #6 and TO #7 (represented by the bolded boxes in the transmission resource set (TO set) shown in FIG. 6 The 8 access resources shown in the index 0 to 7 in the AO set. Assuming that the 3 devices whose message 1 is carried by the 3 access resources AO #0, AO #2 and AO #5 successfully compete, then the 3 A-IoT devices can continue to send the message 3 on the 3 transmission resources TO #0, TO #2 and TO #5 in the transmission resource set respectively. In this case, the A-IoT device can select a transmission resource from the idle TO #1, TO #3, TO #4, TO #6 and TO #7 (represented by the bolded boxes in the transmission resource set (TO set) shown in

[0166] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 6 The failed message 3 and the message 3 sent by the device successfully re-sending the message 1 through the transmission resource can be transmitted through the retransmission resource set (retransmit occasion set, RO set).

[0167] The retransmission resource set can also be referred to as a retransmission opportunity set, which is mainly used for retransmission of the message 3 and for transmission of the message 3 of the A-IoT device that successfully accesses the transmission resource set (TO set). The retransmission resource set can be pre-configured by the reader.

[0168] In one possible implementation, the A-IoT device can determine the first transmission resource from the transmission resource set based on the first bit field and the correspondence between the access resource and the transmission resource.

[0169] To avoid competition conflicts as much as possible in re-sending the message 1, the terminal device can randomly determine a transmission resource from the P transmission resources as the first transmission resource.

[0170] Optionally, the A-IoT device can determine the first transmission resource from the P access resources through a randomly generated serial number. For example, the A-IoT device can read the first bit field in the second message to determine the number K of bits with a value of 0. The A-IoT device can generate a random integer n, which satisfies 1≤n≤K. In the first bit field, the nth bit with a value of 0 is found from the low bit to the high bit, and the ID of the bit is recorded. Then, the A-IoT device can determine the transmission resource corresponding to the access resource corresponding to the bit as the first transmission resource.

[0171] For example, in the first bit field as shown in Table 2, the number of bits K=5 can be determined as the value of 0. If n=2, it means that this is the second bit with the value of 0 in the first bit field, and in the first bit field as shown in Table 2, the ID of the nth bit with the value of 0 is ID 3. The access resource corresponding to ID 3 is AO #3, and the transmission resource corresponding to AO #3 is TO #3. Therefore, the A-IoT device can send the third message through TO #3.

[0172] Through the embodiments of the present application, after the A-IoT device fails in the contention through the first message 1, the A-IoT device can send the first message 1 to the reader again on the idle transmission resource, such as the first transmission resource, so as to initiate the contention-based random access process again. In this way, the A-IoT device can avoid waiting for the time of the R2D trigger message, can efficiently resend the first message 1, and improve the success rate of the random access of the A-IoT device. Moreover, the A-IoT device sends the first message 1 through the idle transmission resource, which can improve the resource utilization rate.

[0173] In a possible implementation, if the first random number is included in the second message, the A-IoT device can send the third message to the reader through the transmission resource corresponding to the first access resource.

[0174] For example, please refer to FIG. 7 A flowchart of processing the second message by the A-IoT device according to an embodiment of the present application is provided. As shown in FIG. 7 , the flowchart can include the following steps:

[0175] P1, based on the received second message, reading the T random numbers in the second message.

[0176] P2, in the case that the T random numbers include the first random number, judging whether the second message includes the AS ID corresponding to the first random number. If the second message includes the AS ID corresponding to the first random number, performing P3, otherwise performing P4.

[0177] In the case that the second message includes the AS ID corresponding to the first random number:

[0178] P3, sending the third message through the transmission resource corresponding to the first access resource, and the third message includes the AS ID corresponding to the first random number.

[0179] If the second message includes the AS ID corresponding to the first random number, it means that there is at least one random number identical to the first random number in the random numbers received by the reader, so the reader distinguishes the two devices using the same random number by assigning an AS ID to the first random number. Therefore, the A-IoT device needs to carry the AS ID corresponding to the first random number in the message 3, so as to indicate its own identity to the reader and avoid sending conflicts again.

[0180] In the case where the second message does not include the AS ID corresponding to the first random number:

[0181] P4, sends the message 3 through the transmission resource corresponding to the first access resource, and the message 3 includes the first random number.

[0182] In other words, the content in the AS ID field in the message 3 is the first random number.

[0183] The second message does not include the AS ID corresponding to the first random number, which means that the first random number is not identical to other random numbers received by the reader, and the first random number in the message 3 can distinguish different A-IoT devices.

[0184] According to the embodiments of the present application, the A-IoT device that successfully competes can send the message 3 to the reader through the transmission resource corresponding to the access resource used to send the message 1. In this way, the reader does not need to indicate the transmission resource used to transmit the message 3 through the message 2 (i.e., the second message), which can reduce the signaling size of the message 2 and save the signaling overhead.

[0185] Please refer to FIG. 8 , FIG. 8 Another flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application is shown in FIG. 6, which mainly introduces the flow of the random access process of the A-IoT device after sending the third message (message 2) through the idle transmission resource. As shown in FIG. 6, the method includes but is not limited to the following steps: FIG. 7

[0186] S801, the reader sends a fourth message to the A-IoT device, and the fourth message is used to indicate R access resources and R random numbers. Correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives the fourth message.

[0187] Wherein, R is a positive integer. One of the R access resources corresponds to one of the R random numbers, and the devices corresponding to the R access resources successfully compete. The P access resources include the R access resources. In other words, the R access resources carry R message 1s, and each of the R message 1s includes a random number.

[0188] ​In a possible implementation, the fourth message further includes a second bit field, the second bit field includes a plurality of bits, and a bit g in the plurality of bits corresponds to an access resource f in the set of access resources, and a value of the bit g is used to indicate that the access resource f corresponds to a device competition success or a device competition failure.

[0189] Optionally, in the second bit field, values of T bits corresponding to T access resources are set as 1, indicating that the T access resources are occupied.

[0190] Optionally, in the second bit field, a number of bits is the same as a number of access resources in the set of access resources.

[0191] S802, in a case where the R random numbers include the second random number, sending a message 3 to the reader.

[0192] The content included in the message 3 can include the following cases:

[0193] A: in a case where the fourth message is further used to indicate an AS ID corresponding to the second random number, the message 3 includes the AS ID.

[0194] As shown in Table 2, if the reader detects that the second random number is the same as at least one of the R random numbers, the reader can assign an AS ID to the second random number, and carry the AS ID in the fourth message.

[0195] When the A-IoT device reads, from the fourth message, that the second random number has a corresponding AS ID, the A-IoT device needs to carry the AS ID in the message 3, so as to indicate itself to the reader as a device of competition success.

[0196] B: in a case where the fourth message does not indicate the AS ID corresponding to the second random number, the message 3 includes the second random number.

[0197] Optionally, in addition to the content in the above-mentioned cases A and B, the message 3 can further include a device ID of the A-IoT device, used to identify the identity of the A-IoT device.

[0198] In a possible implementation, the A-IoT device can send the message 3 to the reader through a first retransmission resource in a retransmission resource set (RO set).

[0199] Optionally, the retransmission resources in the retransmission resource set have a corresponding relationship with the transmission resources in the transmission resource set, and the first retransmission resource is a retransmission resource corresponding to a first transmission resource. For example, TO #0 in the transmission resource set corresponds to RO #0 in the retransmission resource set. If the first transmission resource is TO #1, the first retransmission resource is RO #1.

[0200] In another possible implementation, if the fourth message is also used to indicate a reference resource, the A-IoT device can send the message 3 to the reader through the reference resource. In other words, the reader can indicate a time-frequency resource for transmitting the message 3 through the fourth message, so that the A-IoT device can send the message 3 through the time-frequency resource indicated in the fourth message. In this way, the success rate and reliability of the message 3 transmission can be effectively improved.

[0201] S803, the reader sends a message 4 to the A-IoT device. Correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives the message 4.

[0202] The message 4 is used to indicate whether the A-IoT device successfully accesses the reader. The message 4 can include a device ID of the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device can determine whether it successfully accesses the reader according to the device ID.

[0203] If the contention resolution is successful, the A-IoT device establishes a connection with the reader, and thus performs communication.

[0204] In a possible implementation, if the A-IoT device does not receive the message 4 after sending the message 3, but receives a negative acknowledgement (NACK) message for the message 3, it indicates that the A-IoT device fails to access this time. Optionally, the reader can send an R2D trigger message to the A-IoT device after sending the NACK message, so as to instruct the A-IoT device to access again in the next paging cycle, that is, to send the message 3 to the reader again in the next paging cycle.

[0205] It can be seen that, through the embodiments of the present application, after sending the message 1 to initiate the contention-based random access procedure and determining that the contention fails through the message 2, the A-IoT device can send the message 1 again through the idle transmission resource, so as to re-initiate the contention-based random access procedure, thereby improving the efficiency and success rate of the random access, and also improving the resource utilization rate.

[0206] It should be understood that, FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 The flowcharts or scenario charts shown are only for understanding, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present application to the examples shown in the charts. In fact, those skilled in the art can make equivalent transformations based on the examples in the specification to obtain more implementation manners. FIG. 5 to FIG. 8

[0207] The above describes in detail the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application in combination with FIG. 7 to FIG. 8 FIG. 9 to FIG. 10 ​​The device embodiments of the present application are described in detail. It should be understood that the communication device of the embodiments of the present application can perform the various communication methods of the foregoing embodiments of the present application, i.e., the specific working processes of the following various products can refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0208] In the foregoing embodiments, the A-IoT device can perform part or all of the steps in the embodiments; the reader can perform part or all of the steps in the embodiments. These steps or operations are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present application can also perform other operations or variations of the various operations. In addition, the various steps can be performed in different orders according to the embodiments, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application are performed. Moreover, the magnitude of the serial number of each step does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined according to its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0209] FIG. 9 A schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application is provided. As shown in FIG. 9 the communication device 900 can include a communication module 910. The communication module 910 can implement a corresponding communication function, which can be an internal communication function of the communication device 900, or a communication function of the communication device 900 and other devices. Optionally, the communication module 910 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a transceiver module. Optionally, the communication device 900 further includes a processing module 920. The processing module 920 can implement a corresponding processing function.

[0210] Optionally, the communication device 900 further includes a storage module, which can be used to store instructions and / or data; the processing module 920 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage module, so that the communication device 900 implements the foregoing method embodiments.

[0211] In a possible design, the communication device 900 can correspond to the A-IoT device in the foregoing method embodiments, or a component (such as a circuit, a chip or a chip system, etc.) configured in the A-IoT device. The communication device 900 can be used to perform the steps or processes performed by the A-IoT device in any of the foregoing method embodiments.

[0212] The communication module 910 is configured to: transmit a first message by using a first access resource in an access resource set, the first message being a message 1 including a first random number; and receive a second message, the second message being a message 2 used to indicate T access resources in the access resource set and T random numbers, one access resource in the T access resources corresponding to one random number in the T random numbers; wherein a device corresponding to the T access resources competes successfully, and the random number corresponding to one access resource is the random number included in the message 1 carried by the one access resource; T is an integer greater than or equal to 0. In a case where the T random numbers do not include the first random number, the third message is transmitted by using a first transmission resource in a transmission resource set, the third message being a message 1 including a second random number.

[0213] The transmission resource set includes P transmission resources, and the access resource set includes P access resources, the P transmission resources having a corresponding relationship with the P access resources, the first transmission resource being one of the P transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources.

[0214] In a possible implementation, the second message includes a first bit field, the first bit field including a plurality of bits, a bit i in the plurality of bits corresponding to an access resource j in the access resource set, and a value of the bit i being used to indicate that a device corresponding to the access resource j competes successfully or fails.

[0215] Based on this, the processing module 920 is configured to determine the first transmission resource from the transmission resource set based on the first bit field and the corresponding relationship.

[0216] In a possible implementation, the communication module 910 is further configured to receive a fourth message, the fourth message being a message 2 used to indicate R access resources and R random numbers; wherein one access resource in the R access resources corresponds to one random number in the R random numbers; a device corresponding to the R access resources competes successfully; the P access resources include the R access resources; and R is a positive integer. In a case where the R random numbers include the second random number, the message 3 is transmitted.

[0217] In a possible implementation, the communication module 910 is further configured to, in a case where the fourth message is further used to indicate an access stratum (AS) identifier (ID) corresponding to the second random number, transmit the message 3, the message 3 including the AS ID; or,

[0218] The communication module 910 is further configured to, in a case where the fourth message does not indicate the AS ID corresponding to the second random number, transmit the message 3, the message 3 including the second random number.

[0219] In a possible implementation, the communication module 910 is further configured to transmit the message 3 by using a first retransmission resource in a retransmission resource set.

[0220] The retransmission resource in the retransmission resource set has a corresponding relationship with the transmission resource in the transmission resource set; the first retransmission resource is a retransmission resource corresponding to the first transmission resource.

[0221] In a possible implementation, the communication module 910 is further configured to, in the case that the fourth message is further configured to indicate the reference resource, send the message 3 through the reference resource.

[0222] In a possible implementation, the communication module 910 is further configured to receive T messages 3 through T transmission resources in the transmission resource set. The T transmission resources are transmission resources corresponding to the T access resources.

[0223] In a possible design, the communication device 900 can correspond to the reader in the above method embodiments, or be a component (such as a circuit, a chip or a chip system, etc.) configured in the reader. The communication device 900 can be configured to perform the steps or processes performed by the reader in any of the above method embodiments.

[0224] The communication module 910 is configured to receive a first message through a first access resource in the access resource set, the first message being a message 1 including a first random number. The communication module 910 is configured to send a second message to the A-IoT device, the second message being a message 2 configured to indicate T access resources in the access resource set and T random numbers, one access resource in the T access resources corresponding to one random number in the T random numbers; wherein the T access resources correspond to successful device contention, the random number corresponding to one access resource being the random number included in the message 1 carried by one access resource; T being an integer greater than or equal to 0. The communication module 910 is configured to receive a third message through a first transmission resource in the transmission resource set, the third message being a message 1 including a second random number.

[0225] P is a positive integer. The transmission resources in the transmission resource set have a corresponding relationship with the access resources in the access resource set, the first transmission resource being one of the transmission resources corresponding to the P access resources, the P access resources being access resources in the access resource set other than the T access resources.

[0226] In a possible implementation, the second message includes a first bit field, the first bit field including a plurality of bits, a bit i in the plurality of bits corresponding to an access resource j in the access resource set, a value of the bit i being configured to indicate that the device corresponding to the access resource j succeeds or fails in the contention.

[0227] In a possible implementation, the communication module 910 is further configured to send a fourth message. The fourth message is a message 2 configured to indicate R access resources and R random numbers.

[0228] The one access resource of the R access resources corresponds to one random number of the R random numbers; the device corresponding to the R access resources competes successfully; the P access resources include the R access resources; R is a positive integer. In a case where the R access resources include the second random number, the message 3 is received from the A-IoT device.

[0229] In a possible implementation, the communication module 910 is further configured to, in a case where the second random number is the same as at least one random number of the R random numbers except the second random number, the fourth message is further used to indicate an access stratum, AS, identity, ID, corresponding to the second random number. Based on this, the communication module 910 is further configured to receive the message 3, and the message 3 includes the AS ID.

[0230] In a possible implementation, the communication module 910 is further configured to, in a case where the second random number is different from the random number of the R random numbers except the second random number, receive the message 3, and the message 3 includes the second random number.

[0231] In a possible implementation, the communication module 910 is further configured to receive the message 3 by using the first retransmission resource in the retransmission resource set.

[0232] The retransmission resources in the retransmission resource set have a corresponding relationship with the transmission resources in the transmission resource set; and the first retransmission resource is a retransmission resource corresponding to the first transmission resource.

[0233] In a possible implementation, the communication module 910 is further configured to, in a case where the fourth message is further used to indicate a reference resource, receive the message 3 by using the reference resource.

[0234] The above is only an example, and the detailed steps or processes can refer to the descriptions of the foregoing embodiments.

[0235] FIG. 10 Another schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application is provided. The communication device 1000 can be a chip, a chip system, or a processor, etc. of an A-IoT device or a reader, which implements the above method. The communication device 1000 can be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiments, and the details can be referred to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0236] As FIG. 10As shown, the communication apparatus 1000 can include one or more processors 1010, which can also be referred to as processing units or processing modules, and can implement certain control functions. The processor 1010 can be a general processor or a special purpose processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication apparatus 1000 (e.g., a base station, a baseband chip, a user, or a user chip), execute software programs, and process data of the software programs.

[0237] In an alternative design, the processor 1010 can also store instructions and / or data, which can be executed by the processor 1010, so that the communication apparatus 1000 performs the methods described in the above method embodiments.

[0238] In another alternative design, the communication apparatus 1000 can include a communication interface 1020 for implementing receiving and sending functions. For example, the communication interface 1020 can be a transceiver circuit, an interface, an interface circuit, or a transceiver, etc. The transceiver circuit, the interface, the interface circuit, or the transceiver for implementing receiving and sending functions can be separate or integrated together. The transceiver circuit, the interface, the interface circuit, or the transceiver described above can be used for reading and writing of codes / data, or the transceiver circuit, the interface, the interface circuit, or the transceiver described above can be used for transmission or transfer of signals.

[0239] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1000 can include one or more memories 1030, which can store instructions that can be executed by the processor 1010, so that the communication apparatus 1000 performs the methods described in the above method embodiments. Optionally, the memory 1030 can also store data. Optionally, the processor 1010 can also store instructions and / or data. The processor 1010 and the memory 1030 can be separately arranged or integrated together.

[0240] It should be understood that, in a possible design, the steps in the method embodiments provided in the present application can be completed by integrated logic circuits of hardware in the processor or instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as being completed by a hardware processor, or being completed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software modules can be located in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, or other mature storage media in the art. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads information in the memory and combines the hardware to complete the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, it will not be described in detail here.

[0241] In an implementation, the communication apparatus 1000 can correspond to the A-IoT device in the above method embodiments, and can be configured to perform each step and / or procedure performed by the A-IoT device in the above method embodiments. The processor 1010 can be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory 1030, and when the processor 1010 executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor 1010 is configured to perform each step and / or procedure of the above method embodiments corresponding to the A-IoT device.

[0242] In another implementation, the communication apparatus 1000 can correspond to the reader in the above method embodiments, and can be configured to perform each step and / or procedure performed by the reader in the above method embodiments. The processor 1010 can be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory 1030, and when the processor 1010 executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor 1010 is configured to perform each step and / or procedure of the above method embodiments corresponding to the reader.

[0243] It should be understood that the above processing apparatus can be one or more chips. For example, the processing apparatus can be a field programmable gate array (FPGA), can be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), can be a system on chip (SoC), can be a central processor unit (CPU), can be a network processor (NP), can be a digital signal processor (DSP), can be a micro controller unit (MCU), can be a programmable logic device (PLD), or other integrated chip.

[0244] It is to be appreciated that the memory in the embodiments of the application can be volatile or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. In one example, a non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically EPROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. A volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DR RAM). It is to be appreciated that the memory described herein is intended to include, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0245] According to the method provided in the embodiments of the application, the application further provides a chip system, which comprises one or more processors, and is used for calling and running instructions stored in a memory, so that the method provided in the embodiments of the application is executed. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can comprise a chip and other discrete devices.

[0246] The chip system can comprise an input circuit or interface for sending information or data, and an output circuit or interface for receiving information or data.

[0247] According to the method provided in the embodiments of the application, the application further provides a communication system, which comprises the A-IoT device and the reader described above.

[0248] According to the method provided in the embodiments of the application, the application further provides a computer program product, which comprises computer program codes, and when the computer program codes run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute each step or process executed by the A-IoT device and the reader in any of the method embodiments described above.

[0249] According to the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores program codes, and when the program codes are run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute each step or process performed by the A-IoT device and the reader in any of the foregoing method embodiments.

[0250] The computer readable storage medium can be the volatile memory or the non-volatile memory described above, or can simultaneously include the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory.

[0251] In the embodiments of the present application, each term and English abbreviation is an exemplary example given for convenience of description, and should not constitute any limitation on the present application. The present application does not exclude the possibility of defining other terms capable of achieving the same or similar functions in the existing or future protocols.

[0252] In the foregoing embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be realized by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When realized by software, all or part of the embodiments can be realized in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, the computer instructions produce all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application.

[0253] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, another division mode can be used, for example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the displayed or discussed units can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0254] It should be understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial number of each process does not mean the execution order, and the execution order of each process should be determined according to its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0255] In summary, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the technical scheme of the present application, and is not used to limit the protection scope of the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send a first message through the first access resource in the access resource set, wherein the first message is message 1 including a first random number; Receive a second message, which is message 2 indicating T access resources and T random numbers in the access resource set, wherein one of the T access resources corresponds to one of the T random numbers; wherein the device corresponding to the T access resources successfully competes for the resource, and the random number corresponding to the access resource is the random number included in message 1 carried by the access resource; T is an integer greater than or equal to 0. If the first random number is not included in the T random numbers, a third message is sent through the first transmission resource in the transmission resource set; wherein, the transmission resource set is used to transmit message 1 and / or message 3; the transmission resources in the transmission resource set correspond to the access resources in the access resource set, the first transmission resource is one of the transmission resources corresponding to P access resources, the P access resources are the access resources in the access resource set other than the T access resources, and the third message is message 1 including the second random number; P is a positive integer.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second message includes a first bit field, which includes multiple bits. Bit i in the multiple bits corresponds to access resource j in the access resource set. The value of bit i is used to indicate whether the device corresponding to access resource j has successfully or failed to compete for access. The method further includes: Based on the first bit field and the correspondence, a first transmission resource is determined from the set of transmission resources.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive a fourth message, which is message 2 indicating R access resources and R random numbers; wherein, one of the R access resources corresponds to one of the R random numbers; the device corresponding to the R access resources has successfully competed for the resource; the P access resources include the R access resources; R is a positive integer; If the second random number is included among the R random numbers, then message 3 is sent.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The message 3 being sent includes: If the fourth message is also used to indicate the access layer AS identifier ID corresponding to the second random number, then message 3 is sent, wherein message 3 includes the AS ID; or, If the fourth message does not indicate the access layer AS identifier ID corresponding to the second random number, message 3 is sent, and message 3 includes the second random number.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The message 3 being sent includes: Send message 3 using the first retransmission resource in the retransmission resource set; The retransmission resources in the retransmission resource set correspond to the transmission resources in the transmission resource set; the first retransmission resource is the retransmission resource corresponding to the first transmission resource.

6. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The message 3 being sent includes: If the fourth message is also used to indicate a reference resource, message 3 is sent through the reference resource.

7. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: By accessing the first access resource in the access resource set, a first message is received, wherein the first message is message 1 which includes a first random number; Send a second message, which is message 2 indicating T access resources and T random numbers in the access resource set, wherein one of the T access resources corresponds to one of the T random numbers; wherein the device corresponding to the T access resources successfully competes for the resource, and the random number corresponding to the access resource is the random number included in message 1 carried by the access resource; T is an integer greater than or equal to 0. A third message is received through a first transmission resource in the transmission resource set; wherein the transmission resource set is used to transmit message 1 and / or message 3; the transmission resources in the transmission resource set correspond to the access resources in the access resource set, the first transmission resource is one of the transmission resources corresponding to P access resources, the P access resources are the access resources in the access resource set excluding the T access resources, and the third message is message 1 including a second random number; P is a positive integer.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second message includes a first bit field, which includes multiple bits. Bit i in the multiple bits corresponds to access resource j in the access resource set. The value of bit i is used to indicate whether the device corresponding to access resource j has successfully or failed to compete for access.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a fourth message; the fourth message is message 2 indicating R access resources and R random numbers; wherein, one of the R access resources corresponds to one of the R random numbers; the device corresponding to the R access resources has successfully competed for the resource; the P access resources include the R access resources; R is a positive integer; If the R access resources include the second random number, then message 3 is received.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, If the second random number is the same as at least one of the R random numbers other than the second random number, the fourth message is also used to indicate the access layer AS identifier ID corresponding to the second random number; The received message 3 includes: Receive message 3, which includes the AS ID.

11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The received message 3 includes: If the second random number is different from any of the R random numbers other than the second random number, then message 3 is received, and message 3 includes the second random number.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that, The received message 3 includes: Message 3 is received using the first retransmission resource in the retransmission resource set. The retransmission resources in the retransmission resource set correspond to the transmission resources in the transmission resource set; the first retransmission resource is the retransmission resource corresponding to the first transmission resource.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that, The received message 3 includes: If the fourth message is also used to indicate a reference resource, message 3 is received through the reference resource.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive T messages 3 through T transmission resources in the set of transmission resources; Wherein, the T transmission resources are the transmission resources corresponding to the T access resources.

15. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a unit for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-6, or includes a unit for performing the method as described in any one of claims 7-14.

16. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-6, or the method as described in any one of claims 7-14.

17. A computer program product, characterized in that, It includes computer program code, which, when run on a communication device, implements the method as described in any one of claims 1-6, or the method as described in any one of claims 7-14.

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