Communication method and related device

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and a related device, which are beneficial to reducing the influence on the energy-saving gain of terminal equipment and avoiding the resource waste of network equipment. The method comprises the following steps: a network device sends first information to a terminal device, wherein the first information is used for indicating an activation wake-up signal; the terminal equipment activates the wake-up signal at a first moment, the first moment is a moment after the terminal equipment enters a DRX inactive period and sends second information, and the second information is response information of the first information; and the network equipment sends a wake-up signal after the terminal equipment enters a DRX inactive period and the network equipment receives the second information.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Wake-up radio (WUR) can be understood as a function to reduce the power consumption of terminal devices. For terminal devices, WUR refers to the introduction of a low-power (LP) interface on top of the traditional main radio (MR) module / circuit. This LP interface is implemented through a simple circuit or chip with low power consumption. For example, the LP interface can be implemented through a wake-up receiver (WUR). The MR is used to receive data / service transmissions normally. When there is no ongoing data / service transmission on the MR, it can enter a sleep state to minimize the power consumption of the terminal device. When there is a need for data / service transmission, the WUR can be used to receive a wake-up signal (WUS), which is used to wake up the MR.

[0003] Network devices can instruct terminal devices to activate wake-up signals through signaling. For example, network devices can activate wake-up signals through radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration messages. If the terminal device is currently in the active period of discontinuous reception (DRX), the terminal device needs to wait for the DRX active period to end before switching from MR to WUR to listen for wake-up signals, thereby achieving the purpose of activating the wake-up signal.

[0004] However, the current method of activating the wake-up signal may cause network devices and terminal devices to misalign the timing of activating the wake-up signal, thereby affecting the energy-saving gains of the terminal devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method and related apparatus that helps to reduce the impact on the energy-saving gains of terminal equipment.

[0006] Firstly, a communication method is provided that can be applied to the terminal side, such as a terminal device or a communication module in a terminal device, or a circuit or chip in a terminal device that is responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip or system-in-package (SIP) chip containing a modem core). The following description uses the application of this method to a terminal device as an example.

[0007] The method includes: receiving first information, the first information being used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal, the wake-up signal being used to indicate the listening of the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and / or the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH); activating the wake-up signal at a first moment, wherein the first moment is the moment after the terminal device enters the inactive period of DRX and sends the second information, the second information being the response information of the first information.

[0008] Activating the wake-up signal can also be described as triggering the wake-up signal, or activating the listening to the wake-up signal, or triggering the listening to the wake-up signal, or starting the listening to the wake-up signal.

[0009] The second information is a response to the first information, or it can be described as feedback to the first information, or as feedback to the first information.

[0010] In this application, the conditions that the terminal device needs to simultaneously meet to activate the wake-up signal include: the terminal device is in the DRX inactive period, and the terminal device has completed sending the second information. This can be understood as the terminal device being able to start listening for the wake-up signal after entering the DRX inactive period and sending the second information. This helps avoid the problem of the terminal device and network device being unable to align the timing of the wake-up signal activation due to the terminal device feeding back the second information outside the DRX active period, thereby reducing the impact on the energy-saving gains of the terminal device.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, after receiving the first information, the method further includes: starting a first timer, the first timer being a timer triggered by the first information, the activation period of the DRX including the running period of the first timer.

[0012] During the first timer operation, the terminal device is in the DRX activation period. The terminal device can listen to DPCCH and / or PDSCH during the first timer operation to ensure data transmission.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration message, and the second information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration completion message. The RRC reconfiguration completion message is a response message to the RRC reconfiguration message.

[0014] Secondly, a communication method is provided that can be applied to the network side, such as network devices or communication modules in network devices, or circuits or chips in network devices that are responsible for communication functions (such as modem chips, also known as baseband chips, or SoC chips or SIP chips containing modem cores). The following description uses the application of this method to network devices as an example.

[0015] The method includes: sending a first message, the first message being used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal, the wake-up signal being used to indicate listening to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH; after the terminal device enters the inactive period of DRX and the network device receives a second message, sending a wake-up signal, wherein the second message is a response message to the first message.

[0016] Activating the wake-up signal can also be described as triggering the wake-up signal, or activating the listening to the wake-up signal, or triggering the listening to the wake-up signal, or starting the listening to the wake-up signal.

[0017] The second information is a response to the first information, or it can be described as feedback to the first information, or as feedback to the first information.

[0018] In this application, after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period and the network device receives the second information, the network device can send a wake-up signal. Correspondingly, after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period and sends the second information, the terminal device can start listening for the wake-up signal. This helps to avoid the problem that the terminal device and the network device cannot align the timing of the activation wake-up signal due to the network device receiving the second information outside the DRX active period, thereby helping to avoid wasting the signaling overhead of the network device.

[0019] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, after sending the first information, the method further includes: starting a first timer, the first timer being a timer triggered by the first information, and the activation period of DRX including the running period of the first timer.

[0020] During the first timer operation, the terminal device is in the DRX activation period. The terminal device can listen to DPCCH and / or PDSCH during the first timer operation to ensure data transmission.

[0021] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration message, and the second information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration completion message. The RRC reconfiguration completion message is a response message to the RRC reconfiguration message.

[0022] It should be understood that the second aspect of this application corresponds to the technical solution of the first aspect of this application, and the beneficial effects achieved by each aspect and the corresponding feasible implementation are similar, and will not be repeated here.

[0023] Thirdly, a communication method is provided that can be applied to the terminal side, such as a terminal device or a communication module in a terminal device, or a circuit or chip in a terminal device that is responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core). The following description uses the application of this method to a terminal device as an example.

[0024] The method includes: receiving first information, the first information being used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal, the wake-up signal being used to indicate listening to PDCCH and / or PDSCH; starting a first timer, the first timer being a timer triggered by the first information, the length of the first timer being greater than a first threshold, the first threshold being the time delay requirement from the terminal device receiving the first information to the terminal device sending second information, the second information being the response information of the first information; and activating the wake-up signal at a second time, the second time being the time after the first timer has finished counting down and the terminal device has entered the inactive period of DRX.

[0025] In this application, by limiting the length of the first timer to be greater than a first threshold, it can be ensured that the terminal device feeds back the second information during the DRX activation period. In this way, the terminal device listens for the wake-up signal after entering the DRX inactive period, and the network device sends the wake-up signal after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period. Since the terminal device has completed sending the second information after entering the DRX inactive period, this helps to avoid the problem of the terminal device and the network device being unable to align the timing of the activation wake-up signal due to the terminal device feeding back the second information outside the DRX activation period, thereby reducing the impact on the energy-saving gain of the terminal device.

[0026] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: sending third information, which indicates the length of the first timer. The length of the first timer is greater than a first threshold.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the length of the first timer indicated by the terminal device is the length of the first timer preferred by the terminal device, and the length of the first timer preferred by the terminal device is greater than a first threshold. This allows the network device to configure the length of the first timer according to the terminal device's preference, thereby helping to avoid the problem of the terminal device feeding back second information outside the DRX activation period, causing the terminal device and network device to misalign the timing of the activation wake-up signal, and reducing the impact on the power-saving gains of the terminal device.

[0028] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the third information is carried in the user equipment assistance information (UAI).

[0029] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: receiving DRX configuration information, which indicates the length of a first timer. The length of the first timer is greater than a first threshold.

[0030] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the DRX configuration information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration message.

[0031] Fourthly, a communication method is provided that can be applied to the network side, such as network devices or communication modules in network devices, or circuits or chips in network devices that are responsible for communication functions (such as modem chips, also known as baseband chips, or SoC chips or SIP chips containing modem cores). The following description uses the application of this method to network devices as an example.

[0032] The method includes: sending a first message, the first message being used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal, the wake-up signal being used to indicate listening to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH; starting a first timer, the first timer being a timer triggered by the first message, the length of the first timer being greater than a first threshold, the first threshold being the time delay requirement from the terminal device receiving the first message to the terminal device sending a second message, the second message being the response information of the first message; and sending a wake-up signal after the first timer expires and the terminal device enters the inactive period of DRX.

[0033] In this application, by limiting the length of the first timer to be greater than a first threshold, it can be ensured that the terminal device feeds back the second information during the DRX activation period. In this way, the terminal device listens for the wake-up signal after entering the DRX inactive period, and the network device sends the wake-up signal after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period. Since the terminal device has completed sending the second information after entering the DRX inactive period, this helps to avoid the problem of the terminal device feeding back the second information outside the DRX activation period, which would cause the terminal device and the network device to be unable to align the timing of the activation wake-up signal, thereby reducing the waste of signaling overhead of the network device.

[0034] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: receiving third information, the third information being used to indicate the length of the first timer. Wherein, the length of the first timer indicated by the third information is greater than a first threshold.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the length of the first timer indicated by the terminal device is the length of the first timer preferred by the terminal device, and the length of the first timer preferred by the terminal device is greater than a first threshold. This allows the network device to configure the length of the first timer according to the terminal device's preference, thereby helping to avoid the problem of the terminal device feeding back second information outside the DRX activation period, causing the terminal device and network device to misalign the timing of the activation wake-up signal, and avoiding wasting the signaling overhead of the network device.

[0036] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the third information is carried in the UAI.

[0037] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: receiving DRX configuration information, which indicates the length of a first timer. The length of the first timer configured by the network device is greater than a first threshold.

[0038] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the DRX configuration information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration message.

[0039] It should be understood that the fourth aspect of this application corresponds to the technical solution of the third aspect of this application, and the beneficial effects achieved by each aspect and the corresponding feasible implementation are similar, so they will not be repeated here.

[0040] Fifthly, a communication apparatus is provided for executing the method in any possible implementation of any of the above aspects. Specifically, the apparatus includes a module for executing the method in any possible implementation of any of the above aspects.

[0041] In one design, the device may include modules that perform the methods / operations / steps / actions described in any of the above aspects. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software.

[0042] In another design, the device is a communication chip, which may include input circuitry or interface for transmitting information or data, and output circuitry or interface for receiving information or data.

[0043] In another design, the device is a terminal device or a network device, which may include a transmitter for sending information or data and a receiver for receiving information or data.

[0044] In another design, the device is used to perform the method in any possible implementation of any of the above aspects, and the device may be configured in a terminal device or a network device.

[0045] A sixth aspect provides a communication device comprising at least one processor for calling and running a computer program from a memory, such that the device performs a method in any possible implementation of any of the preceding aspects.

[0046] Optionally, the device further includes a memory for storing instructions and data. The memory is coupled to the processor, which, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, can implement the methods described in the foregoing aspects.

[0047] Optionally, the device may also include a transmitter and a receiver, which may be separate or integrated together and referred to as a transceiver.

[0048] In a seventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product comprising: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions), which, when the computer program is run, causes a computer to perform a method in any possible implementation of any of the above aspects.

[0049] Eighthly, a computer-readable storage medium is provided that stores a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods in any possible implementation of any of the preceding aspects.

[0050] Ninthly, this application provides a chip system including at least one processor for supporting the implementation of the functions involved in any possible implementation of any of the above aspects, such as receiving or processing data involved in the above methods.

[0051] In one possible design, the chip system also includes a memory for storing program instructions and data, which may be located within or outside the processor.

[0052] Optionally, the chip system may consist of chips or may include chips and other discrete components.

[0053] In a tenth aspect, this application provides a communication system, including a terminal device for implementing the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and a network device for implementing the method described in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0054] In one aspect, this application provides a communication system, including a terminal device for implementing the method described in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and a network device for implementing the method described in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0055] It should be understood that aspects five to eleven of this application correspond to the technical solutions of aspects one to four of this application, and the beneficial effects achieved by each aspect and the corresponding feasible implementation are similar, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0056] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to embodiments of this application;

[0057] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an O-RAN architecture;

[0058] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a wake-up mechanism in MR (Morphological Resonance).

[0059] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a DRX cycle;

[0060] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a DRX timer;

[0061] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of MAC CE in a DRX mechanism;

[0062] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating how a wake-up signal works.

[0063] Figure 9 and Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating the activation and wake-up signal;

[0064] Figure 11 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of an activation wake-up signal provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0066] Figure 13 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of another activation / wake-up signal provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 15 and Figure 16 This is a schematic block diagram of the communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0069] Figure 17 This is a schematic block diagram of a chip system provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0070] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0071] Before introducing the communication method and related apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application, the following points should be made first.

[0072] First, in the embodiments shown below, the terms and English abbreviations, such as Wake-up Signal (WUS), Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), etc., are merely exemplary examples given for ease of description and should not constitute any limitation on this application. This application does not preclude the possibility of defining other terms that can achieve the same or similar functions in existing or future protocols.

[0073] Second, in the embodiments shown below, the terms "first," "second," and various numerical designations are merely for descriptive convenience to distinguish identical or similar items with substantially the same function and purpose. For example, "first information" and "second information" are only used to distinguish different information and do not limit their order, nor are they used to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first," "second," etc., do not limit the quantity or execution order, and that "first," "second," etc., are not necessarily different.

[0074] Third, "at least one" means one or more, while "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, and c can mean: a, or b, or c, or a and b, or a and c, or b and c, or a, b, and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0075] Fourth, in this application, "instruction" can include direct and indirect instructions, explicit and implicit instructions, and instructions used for determination. When describing certain instruction information to indicate A, it can be understood that the instruction information carries A, directly indicates A, or indirectly indicates A. In this application, the information indicated by the instruction information is called the information to be instructed. In specific implementation, there are many ways to indicate the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly indicate the information to be instructed by indicating other information, where there is a correlation between the other information and the information to be instructed. It can also indicate only a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-defined) arrangement of various information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to some extent. Furthermore, the information to be instructed can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information to be sent separately, and the sending period and / or timing of these sub-information can be the same or different. This application does not limit the specific method of instruction. It is understood that, for the sender of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to indicate the information to be indicated, and for the receiver of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to determine the information to be indicated.

[0076] The information in this application is used to indicate one or more contents, or it may be replaced with the information indicating one or more contents, or the information including one or more contents.

[0077] Fifth, in this application, "when," "if," and "if" all refer to the device taking corresponding actions under certain objective circumstances, not to a time limit, nor do they require the device to perform a judgment action, nor do they imply any other limitations. Unless otherwise specified, "if" and "if" are interchangeable, and "when" and "under the circumstances" are interchangeable. "When" is interchangeable with "if" / "if."

[0078] Sixth, in this application, the words "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to indicate that they are examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplarily" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design options. Specifically, the use of the words "exemplarily" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0079] Seventh, "Sending information / data" only indicates the direction of information / data transmission, including direct transmission via the device's communication interface (such as an air interface). "Sending" can also be understood as the "output" of the module interface. "Sending" can include indirect transmission by the processing unit through the communication interface, that is, after the processing unit outputs information / data through the module interface, it is transmitted to the device's communication interface and then sent out. "Receiving information / data" only indicates the direction of information / data transmission, including direct reception via the communication interface. "Receiving" can also be understood as the "input" of the module interface. "Receiving information / data" can include indirect reception by the processing unit through the communication interface, that is, after the communication interface receives information / data, it is transmitted to the module interface of the processing unit and then input to the processing unit. "Sending information / data to… (such as a terminal device)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal device. It can include sending information / data directly or indirectly to the terminal device. "Receiving information / data from… (such as a terminal device)" can be understood as the source of the information being the terminal device, and can include receiving information / data directly or indirectly from the terminal device. Information / data may undergo necessary processing, such as format changes, between the source and destination, but the destination can understand the valid information / data from the source. Similar statements in this application can be understood in a similar way, and will not be repeated here.

[0080] In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between terminal devices and network devices; or they can occur within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within a device via a bus, wiring, or interface.

[0081] Eighth, in this application, "time unit" refers to any unit of time. A time unit can be a radio frame, subframe, slot, mini-slot, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDM) symbol, millisecond (ms), or fractional milliseconds (e.g., 1 / 32ms). Alternatively, a time unit can be multiple slots, multiple subframes, multiple mini-slots, multiple OFDM symbols, several milliseconds, or several fractional milliseconds. A radio frame may include multiple subframes, a subframe may include one or more slots, and a slot may include at least one symbol. Alternatively, a radio frame may include multiple slots, and a slot may include at least one symbol.

[0082] Ninth, in this application, the solutions in each embodiment can be used in a reasonable combination, and the explanations or descriptions of various terms, similar operations, or steps appearing in the embodiments can be referenced or explained to each other in the various embodiments, without limitation.

[0083] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system used in the embodiments of this application. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a possible, non-limiting system architecture is shown. (e.g.) Figure 1 As shown, the communication system 100 includes a radio access network (RAN) 10 and a core network 20. Optionally, the communication system 100 also includes an Internet 30. The radio access network 10 may include at least one access network device (such as...). Figure 1 110a and 110b in the above), may also include at least one terminal (such as Figure 1 (Referring to devices 120a-120j). Terminals connect wirelessly to access network equipment, which in turn connects wirelessly or via wired connection to the core network 20. Core network equipment and access network equipment can be independent physical devices, or they can integrate the functions of core network equipment and access network equipment onto the same physical device. Alternatively, a single physical device can integrate some core network equipment functions and some access network equipment functions. Terminals and access network equipment can connect to each other via wired or wireless means. Figure 1 This is just an illustration; the communication system may also include other access network devices, such as wireless repeaters and wireless backhaul devices. Figure 1 Not shown in the image.

[0084] The radio access network 10 can be a cellular system related to the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), such as a 4th generation mobile communication technology (4G) system (also known as a long term evolution (LTE) system), a 5th generation mobile communication technology (5G) system (also known as a new radio (NR) system), or it can be applied to future mobile communication systems or other similar communication systems, without specific limitations. The radio access network 10 can also be an open radio access network (open RAN, O-RAN, or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), a non-terrestrial network (NTN), a satellite communication network, a high altitude platform station (HAPS) communication network, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) communication network, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) communication network, etc. The wireless access network 10 can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0085] Access network devices are nodes in a radio access network, also known as RAN nodes or RAN equipment. Access network devices assist terminals in achieving wireless access. Multiple access network devices in communication system 100 can be nodes of the same type or different types.

[0086] In one possible scenario, access network equipment can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, an access point (AP) in a satellite, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, or access network equipment in a mobile switching center non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system. This means it can be deployed on high-altitude platforms or satellites. Access network equipment can also be a macro base station (such as...). Figure 1 110a), micro base stations or indoor stations (such as Figure 1 Access network equipment can be 110b), relay nodes or donor nodes, or wireless controllers in CRAN scenarios. It can also function as a base station in device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, drone communication, or machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. Optionally, access network equipment can also be servers, wearable devices, vehicles, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, the access network equipment can be a roadside unit (RSU).

[0087] In another possible scenario, multiple access network devices collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with each access network device implementing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, access network devices can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs), etc. CUs and DUs can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs). It is understood that access network devices can be CU nodes, DU nodes, or devices including both CU and DU nodes. Furthermore, CUs can be classified as access network devices within the RAN (RAN) or as access network devices within the core network; no restrictions are placed here.

[0088] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an O-RAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0089] A terminal is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, capable of sending signals to or receiving signals from access network equipment. Terminals can also be referred to as terminal devices, terminal equipment, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminals, etc.

[0090] For example, terminal devices include handheld devices and in-vehicle devices with wireless connectivity. Currently, terminal devices can include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices (such as smartwatches, smart bracelets, pedometers, smart glasses, etc.), in-vehicle devices (such as cars, bicycles, electric vehicles, airplanes, ships, trains, high-speed trains, etc.), satellite terminals, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, point-of-sale (POS) machines, customer-premises equipment (CPE), light user equipment (UE), reduced capability user equipment (REDCAP UE), wireless terminals in industrial control, smart home devices (such as refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, electricity meters, etc.), intelligent robots, robotic arms, workshop equipment, wireless terminals in autonomous driving, wireless terminals in telemedicine, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, or wireless terminals in smart homes, and flying equipment (such as intelligent robots, hot air balloons, drones, airplanes), etc. Terminal devices can also be vehicle devices, such as vehicle devices, vehicle modules, vehicle chips, on-board units (OBUs) or telematics boxes (T-BOXs). Terminal devices can also be other devices with terminal functions. For example, a terminal device can also be a device that performs terminal functions in D2D communication.

[0091] The embodiments of this application do not limit the form of the terminal device. The device used to implement the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or it can be a device that supports the terminal device in implementing the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal device or used in conjunction with the terminal device. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. All or part of the functions of the terminal device in this application can also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform).

[0092] Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as D2D, V2X communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, etc.

[0093] Access network devices and terminals can be fixed in location or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can be deployed on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the access network devices and terminals.

[0094] The roles of access network devices and terminals can be relative. For example, Figure 1 The helicopter or drone 120i can be configured as a mobile access network device. For terminals 120j accessing the wireless access network 10 via 120i, terminal 120i is an access network device; however, for access network device 110a, 120i is a terminal, meaning that 110a and 120i communicate via a wireless air interface protocol. Alternatively, 110a and 120i can also communicate via an interface protocol between access network devices; in this case, 120i is also an access network device relative to 110a. Therefore, both access network devices and terminals can be collectively referred to as communication devices. Figure 1 110a and 110b can be referred to as communication devices with access network equipment functions. Figure 1 The 120a-120j in the text can be referred to as communication devices with terminal functions.

[0095] Communication between access network devices and terminals, between access network devices, and between terminals can be conducted using licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both simultaneously. Communication can be conducted using spectrum below 6 GHz, spectrum above 6 GHz, or both simultaneously. The embodiments of this application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0096] In the embodiments of this application, the functions of the access network device can be executed by modules (such as chips) within the access network device, or by a control subsystem that includes access network device functions. This control subsystem, including access network device functions, can be a control center in the aforementioned application scenarios such as smart grids, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart cities. Similarly, the functions of the terminal can be executed by modules (such as chips or modems) within the terminal, or by a device that includes terminal functions.

[0097] Core network equipment refers to the equipment in the core network that provides service support to terminals. Examples of some core network equipment include: access and mobility management function (AMF) network elements, session management function (SMF) network elements, user plane function (UPF) network elements, etc., which will not be listed here.

[0098] In this application, the access network device sends downlink (DL) signals or downlink information to the terminal, which are carried on the downlink channel; the terminal sends uplink (UL) signals or uplink information to the access network device, which are carried on the uplink channel. To communicate with the access network device, the terminal can establish a radio connection on a cell controlled by the access network device. The cell with which the terminal has established a radio connection is called the terminal's serving cell. When the terminal communicates with the serving cell, it may also be subject to interference from signals from neighboring cells.

[0099] In this application, the time-domain symbol can be an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol or a discrete fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbol. Unless otherwise specified, the symbols used in the embodiments of this application refer to time-domain symbols.

[0100] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, PDSCH and PDCCH are just examples of downlink data channel and downlink control channel, respectively. In different systems and different scenarios, data channel and control channel may have different names, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0101] Taking the aforementioned radio access network 100 as an example, which is a next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN), i.e., a 5G radio access network, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to embodiments of this application. See also... Figure 2 The communication system includes a 5G core network (5GC), NG-RAN, and UE.

[0102] 5GC includes multiple network elements, such as Figure 2 The AMF and UPF shown in the diagram, 5GC can also include many other network elements. Figure 2 Not shown in the diagram. NG-RAN includes multiple network elements, such as... Figure 2 The diagram shows gNB (i.e., 5G base station) and ng-eNB (i.e., 4G base station connected to 5GC). NG-RAN can also include many other network elements. Figure 2 Not shown in the image.

[0103] A gNB is a device deployed in a RAN that meets 5G standards to provide wireless communication functions for a UE. A gNB can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small cells), relay stations, access points, wearable devices, and vehicle-mounted equipment. A gNB can also be a TRP (Transmission Measurement Function) or a TMF (Transmission Measurement Function). A gNB can include a CU (Cubic Unit) and DU (Digital Unit) integrated on it.

[0104] exist Figure 2 In this context, the UE's serving base station gNB is responsible for providing the UE with 5G NR user plane and control plane protocol functions, while the UE's serving base station ng-eNB is responsible for providing the UE with the evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (TRAN) user plane and control plane protocol functions.

[0105] Taking the aforementioned wireless access network 100 as an O-RAN as an example, Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an O-RAN architecture provided in an embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 3The O-RAN network architecture further decomposes the network functions of the CU and DU as defined by 3GPP, and these functions are interconnected through open, standardized, and secure interfaces. Compared to the 3GPP architecture, O-RAN defines an orchestration layer with a non-real-time RAN intelligent controller and a function layer with a near-real-time RAN intelligent controller, and defines the switching interface A1 between the two layers. In addition, it defines the E2 interface between the near-real-time RAN intelligent controller and the O-CU and O-DU, the F1 interface between the O-CU and O-DU, and the fronthaul interface between the O-DU and O-RU.

[0106] The orchestration layer includes design, inventory, and configuration. The functional layer includes third-party applications, radio connection management, mobility management, quality of service (QoS) management, interface management, trained models, and the RAN database.

[0107] O-CU and O-DU are deployed with different protocol layers. As one implementation, O-CU-CP deploys the RRC layer and the control plane portion of the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer (referred to as PDCP-C); O-CU-UP deploys the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer and the user face of the PDCP layer (referred to as PDCP-U); and O-DU deploys the radio link control (RLC) layer, media access control (MAC) layer, and physical layer (PHY) layer. O-CU-CP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement control plane functions. These network elements can be access and mobility function (AMF) network elements, such as AMF network elements in a 5G system. O-CU-UP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement user plane functions, such as UPF network elements in a 5G system. O-RU deploys the RRC layer.

[0108] It should be understood that the system architecture described in this application is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0109] To better understand the methods provided in the embodiments of this application, the relevant technologies and concepts involved in this application are briefly described below.

[0110] 1. Wake-up Radio (WUR)

[0111] WUR can be understood as a function that reduces the power consumption of terminal devices. For terminal devices, wake-up radio refers to the introduction of an LP interface on top of the traditional MR (Matching, Memory, and Radio) interface. This LP interface is implemented through a simple circuit or chip with low power consumption. This application does not limit the specific form of the LP interface. For example, the LP interface can be implemented through a low-power wake-up receiver (LP-WUR), a wake-up receiver (WUR), a low-power radio (LR), a wake-up module, or a wake-up circuit. In this document, WUR can refer to a wake-up radio or a wake-up receiver. WUR in this document can be replaced with LP-WUR, LR, a wake-up module, or a wake-up circuit.

[0112] The MR (Mobile Receiver) is used for normal data / service transmission. When there is no ongoing data / service transmission on the MR, or when there is no data / service transmission requirement, the MR can enter a shutdown, sleep, or hibernation state to minimize the power consumption of the terminal device. When there is a data / service transmission requirement, the WUR (Wake-up Controller) can be used to wake up the MR in the shutdown, sleep, or hibernation state.

[0113] See Figure 4 The diagram shown illustrates the wake-up mechanism of the MR. The signal received by the terminal device through the WUR can be referred to as WUS. When the WUR detects / receives the WUS, it can wake up the MR that is in a powered-off, sleep, or hibernation state.

[0114] It should be understood that this application does not limit the type of wake-up signal. For example, a wake-up signal can be a signal, a low-power wake-up signal (LP-WUS), a low-power PDCCH, a low-power PDSCH, a low-power physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), a low-power physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a low-power synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SSB), a low-power synchronization signal (LP-SS), a low-power tracking reference signal (TRS), a low-power channel status information reference signal (CSI-RS), a low-power positioning signal, a low-power sensing communication signal, a low-power sounding reference signal (SRS), a low-power random access channel (RACH), a low-power preamble, a low-power contention resolution message, a low-power downlink control information (DCI) signal, or a low-power uplink control information (UCI) signal, etc.

[0115] WUS bit information can be mapped to time units in various ways, or in other words, WUS bit information can be modulated in various ways. For example, with on-off keying (OOK) modulation, the WUR in the terminal device receives the WUS using envelope detection. Alternatively, with OFDM modulation, the WUR in the terminal device receives the WUS using phase detection.

[0116] OOK modulation uses the presence or absence of a signal to represent digital information. The bit information corresponding to a signal is mapped to at least one time unit through OOK modulation. One time unit corresponds to one bit of information, and the bit information is determined by detecting whether there is a signal in the time unit. A time unit with a signal means that the signal amplitude is not zero; this time unit is also called an ON time unit, or the time unit is in ON mode. Conversely, a time unit without a signal means that the signal amplitude is zero; this time unit is also called an OFF time unit, or the time unit is in OFF mode. Generally, if a sequence is transmitted in a time unit, then that time unit has a signal; if no sequence is transmitted in a time unit, then that time unit has no signal. For a given time unit, being ON or in ON mode can be decoded as 1; conversely, being OFF or in OFF mode can be decoded as 0.

[0117] The modulation method of WUS can be a combination of the above modulation methods. For example, it can be a modulation method that combines OOK and OFDM. It can be simply understood as fusing / superimposing OFDM sequences on the time unit where there is a signal.

[0118] 2. Discontinuous Reception (DRX) Mechanism

[0119] In wireless communication systems, without a DRX mechanism, terminal devices continuously listen to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH to detect information from the serving cell. However, in reality, terminal devices often do not continuously exchange information with network devices, nor do they continuously perform data upload or download operations; voice data is not constantly transmitted during a call either. If the terminal device continues to listen to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH even when there is no data exchange with the network device, it will increase the terminal device's power consumption. Therefore, to save power consumption while ensuring effective data transmission, a DRX mechanism can be introduced to control the terminal device's PDCCH and / or PDSCH listening behavior. It should be noted that the accompanying diagram below uses the terminal device listening to the PDCCH as an example.

[0120] When DRX is configured, the terminal device can periodically enter a sleep state for a period of time. During this period, the terminal device does not need to listen to PDCCH and / or PDSCH. When it is necessary to listen to PDCCH and / or PDSCH, the terminal device wakes up from the sleep state, which can save the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0121] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a DRX cycle. (Example) Figure 5 As shown, DRX is implemented on a periodic basis, and a DRX period includes an active time and a non-active time. Figure 5 The period during which the terminal device is identified as "on duration" after waking up is called the active period. This is the time during which the terminal device listens to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH. During this active period, the terminal device is in a woken-up state. During this period, the terminal device starts a timer (drx-onDurationTimer). The terminal device remains active and listens to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH while the timer is running. After the timer expires, the terminal device enters a sleep state. For ease of description, this timer will be referred to as the DRX wake-up timer below. When the terminal device enters a sleep state, it no longer listens to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH, thereby saving power. The longer the sleep time, the better the energy efficiency of the terminal device.

[0122] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a DRX timer, such as... Figure 6 As shown, during the activation period, the terminal device starts a DRX activation timer. When the terminal device has uplink and downlink data transmission scheduling, if the terminal device successfully decodes a PDCCH and / or PDSCH, then the terminal device will start a DRX inactivity timer (drx-InactivityTimer) and wait for successful decoding of the PDCCH and / or PDSCH again. After successfully decoding and scheduling a newly transmitted PDCCH and / or PDSCH, the terminal device restarts the timer (the timer is not restarted during retransmission). If the DRX inactivity timer is running, even if the DRX wake-up timer has expired, the terminal device still needs to listen to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH until the DRX inactivity timer expires and returns to the sleep state.

[0123] The current protocol defines the DRX activation time, which is the time during which the terminal device needs to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH, including:

[0124] (1) During the DRX wake-up timer (started at the beginning of the DRX cycle) or the DRX inactivity timer (not necessarily at the beginning of the DRX cycle) is running.

[0125] (2) The DRX downlink retransmission timer (drx-RetransmissionTimerDL) or the DRX uplink retransmission timer (drx-RetransmissionTimerUL) is running.

[0126] (3) A scheduling request (SR) was sent on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), and the SR is waiting to be processed (the activation time will only begin after the SR is sent).

[0127] (4) After successfully receiving the random access response (RAR) during the non-contention random access process, i.e. after successful non-contention random access, the PDCCH and / or PDSCH scrambled with the cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) to indicate the new transmission have not yet been received.

[0128] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a MAC CE in the DRX mechanism. The DRX mechanism includes two types of MAC CEs: DRX command MAC CE and DRX long-cycle command MAC CE. The DRX command MAC CE is used to stop the DRX activation timer and the DRX inactivity timer, aiming to terminate the DRX activation time of the terminal device so that the terminal device can enter DRX sleep mode as quickly as possible. The DRX long-cycle command MAC CE is used to stop the DRX activation timer and the DRX inactivity timer, and to instruct the terminal device to switch to using the DRX long-cycle state.

[0129] MAC CE signaling can terminate relevant timers early, but its use introduces significant resource overhead to the network side. Furthermore, the current MAC CE protocol can only terminate early to shorten PDCCH and / or PDSCH listening time, but it cannot extend it. Sending additional PDCCH and / or PDSCH to trigger the DRX inactivity timer introduces additional signaling overhead, and the adjustment granularity may be too large, resulting in unnecessary PDCCH and / or PDSCH listening, thus affecting the energy-saving gain of the terminal device using wake-up signals in connected mode.

[0130] In one possible implementation, the terminal device in connected state can listen for a wake-up signal outside the DRX activation period to trigger the listening of PDCCH and / or PDSCH. That is, the terminal device no longer starts the existing DRX activation timer to listen for PDCCH and / or PDSCH. When the terminal device is operating in WUR state and hears a wake-up signal used to trigger the wake-up of the terminal device during the wake-up signal listening time, WUR wakes up MR after a period of time and starts a new timer. The terminal device listens for PDCCH and / or PDSCH during the operation of this new timer. Currently, whether this new timer reuses an existing timer (such as the aforementioned DRX inactive timer) or designs another timer is still undecided.

[0131] In one possible implementation of the wake-up signal working mode, the other timer behaviors of the terminal device listening to PDCCH and / or PDSCH are unaffected. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating how a wake-up signal works, such as... Figure 8 As shown, after receiving a wake-up signal, the terminal device enters the wake-up state from the sleep state. The terminal device starts a new timer, and during the operation of this new timer, the terminal device listens for the PDCCH and / or PDSCH. When the terminal device successfully decodes the PDCCH and / or PDSCH during the operation of this new timer, the terminal device starts a DRX inactive timer. After the new timer or the DRX inactive timer finishes counting down, the terminal device can enter the sleep state and continue listening for the wake-up signal.

[0132] exist Figure 8 If either the new timer or the DRX inactive timer does not time out, it means that the terminal device is still in the active period, which is the time during which the terminal device listens to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH.

[0133] In one possible implementation, the network device can carry the configuration of the wake-up signal or the activation indication of the wake-up signal via dedicated signaling; exemplarily, this dedicated signaling is an RRC reconfiguration message. Figure 9 As shown, after receiving the RRC reconfiguration message, if the terminal device is still in the DRX activation period, it will wait for the DRX activation period to end. In other words, if the terminal device is not in the DRX activation period, it will switch from MR to WUR and start listening for the wake-up signal.

[0134] After receiving the activation instruction of the wake-up signal sent by the network device, the terminal device needs to send feedback to the network device regarding the activation instruction within a predefined processing delay. Only after receiving the feedback can the network device determine that the terminal device has activated the wake-up signal.

[0135] For example, the processing latency requirements between the terminal device receiving the RRC reconfiguration message and the terminal device sending the RRC reconfiguration completion message are as follows: for RRC reconfiguration messages without secondary decoding, the processing latency requirement is 10ms; for RRC reconfiguration messages with secondary decoding, the processing latency requirement is 16ms; for RRC reconfiguration messages transmitted in segments, the processing latency requirement is 16+(n-1)×10ms, where n is the number of segments.

[0136] For ease of description, the processing delay requirement between the terminal device receiving the RRC reconfiguration message and the terminal device sending the RRC reconfiguration completion message will be referred to as the RRC reconfiguration message delay requirement in the following text.

[0137] The current protocol specifies that the length of the DRX inactivity timer ranges from 0 to 2560 ms. If the length of the DRX inactivity timer configured on the network device is too short, for example, 5 ms, which is less than the latency requirement for the RRC reconfiguration message, then issues such as... Figure 10 The scenario shown, where the terminal device sends the RRC reconfiguration complete message to the network device outside the DRX activation period, results in an ambiguous period between the end of the DRX inactivity timer and the moment the terminal device sends the RRC reconfiguration complete message. During this ambiguous period, the behavior of both the terminal device and the network device is unclear. Specifically, for the network device, if it hasn't received the RRC reconfiguration complete message after the DRX inactivity timer ends, the terminal device may not have activated the wake-up signal yet. In this case, the wake-up signal sent by the network device during this ambiguous period after the DRX inactivity timer ends will not be received by the terminal device, wasting network device resources. For the terminal device, immediately switching to WUR to listen for the wake-up signal after the DRX inactivity timer ends, and then switching to MR to send the RRC reconfiguration complete message, will impact the terminal device's energy-saving gains.

[0138] In view of this, this application provides a communication method in which, after receiving an activation indication of a wake-up signal, the terminal device starts listening for the wake-up signal after both the terminal device is in the inactive period of DRX and the terminal device has sent feedback for the activation indication. Correspondingly, after sending an activation indication of the wake-up signal, the network device sends a wake-up signal after both the terminal device is in the inactive period of DRX and the terminal device has sent feedback for the activation indication. This helps the terminal device and the network device to align the timing of the activation and wake-up signals, thereby reducing the impact on the energy-saving gains of the terminal device and reducing the waste of signaling overhead on the network device.

[0139] The technical solution of this application and how it solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below through specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments.

[0140] Figure 11 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a communication method 1100 provided in an embodiment of this application. The steps of method 1100 can be interactively executed by a terminal device (or modules within the terminal device, such as processors, chips, chip systems, circuits, etc.) and a network device (or modules within the network device, such as processors, chips, chip systems, circuits, etc.). The following description uses a terminal device and a network device as examples. Furthermore, the processing performed by a single execution entity can also be divided into multiple execution entities, which can be logically and / or physically separated. For example, the processing performed by the network device can be divided into execution by at least one of CU, DU, RU, etc.

[0141] Method 1100 includes steps S1101 and S1103, and each step will be described in detail below.

[0142] S1101, the network device sends first information to the terminal device. The first information is used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal, and the wake-up signal is used to indicate listening to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH. Accordingly, the terminal device receives the first information.

[0143] The network device can send the first information to the terminal device when the terminal device is in the DRX activation period. Correspondingly, the terminal device can receive the first information when it is in the DRX activation period. In other words, the terminal device is in the DRX activation period when it receives the first information.

[0144] When the terminal device is in the DRX activation period, it has the ability to listen to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH. For example, when the terminal device is in the DRX activation period, the MR of the terminal device is enabled, and the MR is used to listen to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH.

[0145] The activation period of DRX can be as follows: Figure 5 The period during which the device is identified as "on duration" for wake-up, i.e., the DRX activation period, can be the runtime of the DRX wake-up timer (drx-onDurationTimer), during which the terminal device listens to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH. Alternatively, the DRX activation period can be the runtime of a new timer as shown in Figure 8, during which the terminal device listens to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH.

[0146] In this embodiment, the terminal device is in RRC connection state. When the terminal device has service data transmission, the terminal device can enter the DRX activation period, for example, the terminal device enables MR to listen to PDCCH and / or PDSCH. When the terminal device does not have service data transmission, the terminal device can enter the DRX deactivation period, for example, the terminal device enables WUR. WUR is used to listen for wake-up signals, which can save the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0147] In the embodiments of this application, the first information is used to activate the wake-up signal. This can be understood as the first information being used to activate the listening to the wake-up signal, or the first information being used to instruct the terminal device to listen to the wake-up signal, or the terminal device being able to start listening to the wake-up signal after receiving the first information.

[0148] In the embodiments of this application, the wake-up signal is used to indicate that PDCCH and / or PDSCH are being monitored. It can also be described as the wake-up signal indicating that there is subsequent PDCCH transmission and / or PDSCH transmission, or the wake-up signal indicating that there is subsequent PDCCH transmission and / or service data transmission.

[0149] In one possible implementation, the first information may include configuration information for the wake-up signal. After receiving the configuration information, the terminal device can determine that the network device has instructed to activate the wake-up signal. This is equivalent to implicitly instructing the activation of the wake-up signal through its configuration information.

[0150] In one possible implementation, the first information can be an activation indicator for the wake-up signal. For example, the first information being "1" indicates that the wake-up signal is activated; the first information being "true" indicates that the wake-up signal is activated; and the first information being "activate" indicates that the wake-up signal is activated.

[0151] S1102, the terminal device activates the wake-up signal at the first moment, wherein the first moment is the moment after the terminal device enters the inactive period of DRX and sends the second information, and the second information is the response information of the first information.

[0152] In this embodiment of the application, the terminal device activates the wake-up signal at the first moment after receiving the first information, that is, it starts listening to the wake-up signal at the first moment. The first moment can be the later of the moment when the terminal device enters DRX (e.g., referred to as the third moment) and the moment when the second information is sent (e.g., referred to as the fourth moment). For example, if the third moment is later than the fourth moment, then the first moment is the third moment; if the fourth moment is later than the third moment, then the first moment is the fourth moment.

[0153] Alternatively, the first time point can be a time point offset by a preset time interval from the later of the third and fourth times points. For example, if the third time point is later than the fourth time point, then the first time point is a time point offset by a preset time interval from the third time point; similarly, if the fourth time point is later than the third time point, then the first time point is a time point offset by a preset time interval from the fourth time point. The preset time interval is not zero.

[0154] S1103, after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period and the network device receives the second information, the network device sends a wake-up signal.

[0155] In this embodiment, the network device sends a first message to the terminal device, instructing it to activate a wake-up signal. This means that the network device can send a wake-up signal after sending the first message. Specifically, the network device sends the wake-up signal at a certain time after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period and the network device receives the second message. The timing of the wake-up signal needs to be determined based on service requirements. For example, when the network device has no downlink data transmission, even if the terminal device has entered the DRX inactive period and the network device has received the second message, the network device may not send a wake-up signal. When the network device has downlink data transmission, it can send a wake-up signal after the terminal device has entered the DRX inactive period and the network device has received the second message, so that the terminal device enters the DRX active period and listens to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH. In other words, the earliest time the network device sends the wake-up signal should be after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period and the network device receives the second message.

[0156] In this embodiment, when a terminal device enters the DRX inactive period, it indicates that the terminal device can enable WUR (Wake-Up Signal) monitoring. However, to avoid the terminal device sending the second information outside the DRX active period (i.e., the terminal device has entered the DRX inactive period but has not yet sent the second information), causing the terminal device and network device to misalign the timing of the wake-up signal activation, the technical solution of this embodiment requires the terminal device to simultaneously meet the following conditions to activate the wake-up signal: the terminal device is in the DRX inactive period, and the terminal device has completed sending the second information. This can be understood as the terminal device starting to monitor the wake-up signal immediately after entering the DRX inactive period and sending the second information, or the terminal device starting to monitor the wake-up signal after the later of the times between entering the DRX inactive period and sending the second information. Correspondingly, the network device sends the wake-up signal after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period and receives the second information. In this way, the terminal device and network device can align the timing of the wake-up signal activation, thereby reducing the impact on the energy-saving gains of the terminal device and reducing the waste of signaling overhead on the network device.

[0157] The terminal device is in the DRX inactive period, which can also be described as the terminal device being outside the DRX activation period, or the terminal device not being within the DRX activation period.

[0158] In one possible implementation, after S1101, method 1100 further includes S1103: the terminal device and the network device start a first timer, the first timer being a timer triggered by the first information, and the activation period of DRX including the running period of the first timer.

[0159] The first timer is a timer maintained simultaneously by both the network device and the terminal device. The first timer is triggered by the first piece of information; that is, the first timer is started after the terminal device receives the first piece of information, and the first timer is started after the network device sends the first piece of information.

[0160] For example Figure 12 The diagram illustrates the activation / wake-up signal. During the second timer's operation, the terminal device receives the first information. During this period, the terminal device is in the DRX activation phase, and the first information triggers the start of the first timer. During the first timer's operation, the terminal device listens to the PDCCH and / or PDSCH. The first timer can be considered an extension of the second timer, or an extension of the activation phase. After the DRX activation phase ends, the terminal device enters the DRX deactivation phase. Immediately after the terminal device enters the DRX deactivation phase and sends the second information, it activates the wake-up signal, i.e., it begins listening for the wake-up signal.

[0161] The first timer is, for example, the DRX inactivity timer described above, and the second timer is, for example, the timer described above. Figure 7 The DRX wake-up timer shown, or Figure 8 The new timer shown.

[0162] In one possible implementation, the first information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration message, and the second information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration completion message.

[0163] In another possible implementation, the first message is carried in the DCI, and the second message is carried in the DCI's acknowledgment (ACK) message.

[0164] Figure 13 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a communication method 1300 provided in an embodiment of this application. The steps of method 1300 can be interactively executed by a terminal device (or modules within the terminal device, such as processors, chips, chip systems, circuits, etc.) and a network device (or modules within the network device, such as processors, chips, chip systems, circuits, etc.). The following description uses a terminal device and a network device as examples. Furthermore, the processing performed by a single execution entity can also be divided into multiple execution entities, which can be logically and / or physically separated. For example, the processing performed by the network device can be divided into execution by at least one of CU, DU, RU, etc.

[0165] Method 1300 includes steps S1301 and S1303, and each step will be described in detail below.

[0166] S1301, the network device sends first information to the terminal device. The first information is used to activate a wake-up signal, which is used to indicate that the PDCCH and / or PDSCH should be monitored. Accordingly, the terminal device receives the first information.

[0167] For an introduction to S1301, please refer to the description of S1101 above; it will not be repeated here.

[0168] S1302, the terminal device and the network device start a first timer. The first timer is a timer triggered by the first information. The length of the first timer is greater than a first threshold. The first threshold is the time delay requirement from when the terminal device receives the first information to when the terminal device sends the second information. The second information is the response information to the first information.

[0169] In this embodiment, after receiving the first information, the terminal device starts a first timer. After the network device sends the first information, it starts a first timer. During the operation of the first timer, the terminal device is in the active period of DRX. If the length of the first timer is short and no other timers are running, then according to the existing scheme, after the first timer ends, the terminal device immediately activates the wake-up signal. However, at this time, the terminal device may not have sent the second information to the network device. To avoid the terminal device sending the second information outside the active period of DRX (i.e., the terminal device has entered the inactive period of DRX, but the terminal device has not yet sent the second information), causing the terminal device and the network device to be unable to align the timing of activating the wake-up signal, based on the technical solution of this embodiment, the length of the first timer is limited to be greater than the delay requirement from the terminal device receiving the first information to the terminal device sending the second information, ensuring that the length of the first timer can cover the entire processing delay from the terminal device receiving the first information to the terminal device sending the second information.

[0170] For more information on the first timer, please refer to the description in Method 1100 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0171] S1303, the terminal device activates the wake-up signal at the second moment, which is the moment after the first timer ends and the terminal device enters the inactive period of DRX.

[0172] In one possible scenario, after the terminal device receives the first information, apart from the situation where the terminal device needs to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH during the first timer's execution, there are no other situations where the terminal device needs to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH. Then, as follows... Figure 14 As shown, after the first timer expires, the DRX activation period ends, and the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period. The second time can be the moment the first timer expires, or the moment the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period. Alternatively, the second time can be a time offset by a preset time interval from the moment the first timer expires.

[0173] Other situations requiring the terminal device to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH can be found above, including: when the DRX uplink retransmission timer or DRX downlink retransmission timer is running; when an SR has been sent on the PUCCH and the SR is waiting to be processed; or when the terminal device has successfully received the RAR during a non-contention-based random access process but has not yet received the PDCCH with the instruction to be newly transmitted scrambled by C-RNTI.

[0174] In another possible scenario, after the terminal device receives the first information, besides the situation where the terminal device needs to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH during the first timer's operation, there are other situations where the terminal device needs to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH. If, after the first timer expires, these other situations where the terminal device needs to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH are still ongoing (e.g., the DRX uplink retransmission timer or DRX downlink retransmission timer is running, or the terminal device sends an SR on the PUCCH and the SR is awaiting processing, or the terminal device successfully receives the RAR during a non-contention-based random access process but has not yet received a newly transmitted PDCCH scrambled with C-RNTI), then the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period after all situations requiring it to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH have ended. At this time, the second time step can be used for situations where the terminal device needs to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH. The latest ending time among all scenarios corresponds to the following: For example, after the terminal device receives the first information, there are two scenarios: the first timer is running and the DRX uplink retransmission timer is running. If the first timer ends later than the DRX uplink retransmission timer, the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period after the first timer ends. The second time can be the time when the first timer ends, or the time after a preset time interval from the time when the first timer ends. If the DRX uplink retransmission timer ends later than the time when the first timer ends, the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period after the DRX uplink retransmission timer ends. The second time can be the time when the DRX uplink retransmission timer ends, or the time after a preset time interval from the time when the DRX uplink retransmission timer ends.

[0175] As described above, after the first timer expires, there may still be other situations where the terminal device needs to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH. Therefore, the terminal device may not have entered the DRX inactive period. However, if the terminal device has entered the DRX inactive period and the first timer has been started, then the first timer will have expired. Therefore, the phrase "the second moment is the moment after the first timer expires and the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period" in this step can be replaced with "the second moment is the moment after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period, wherein the moment the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period is after the first timer expires."

[0176] S1104, after the first timer expires and the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period, the network device sends a wake-up signal.

[0177] As described above, after the first timer expires, there may still be other situations requiring the terminal device to remain awake and listen to the PDCCH. Therefore, the terminal device may not have entered the DRX inactive period. However, if the terminal device has entered the DRX inactive period and the first timer has been started, then the first timer will have ended. Therefore, the statement "the network device sends a wake-up signal after the first timer expires and the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period" in this step can be replaced with "the network device sends a wake-up signal after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period." Here, the moment the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period is after the first timer expires, and after the first timer expires, the network device has completed receiving the second information.

[0178] In this embodiment, after the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period, the terminal device has completed the transmission of the second information and the network device has completed the reception of the second information. This is beneficial for the terminal device and the network device to align the timing of the activation wake-up signal, thereby reducing the impact on the energy-saving gain of the terminal device and reducing the waste of signaling overhead of the network device.

[0179] In one possible implementation, the first information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration message, and the second information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration complete message.

[0180] In another possible implementation, the first message is carried in the DCI, and the second message is carried in the DCI's ACK message.

[0181] In one possible implementation, the length of the first timer can be predefined, such as by the protocol. For example, the protocol predefines the length of the first timer to be greater than a first threshold, such as 10ms, and the protocol predefines the length of the first timer to be between 10ms and 2560ms.

[0182] In one possible implementation, the terminal device may indicate the length of a preferred first timer to the network device. For example, the terminal device may send third information to the network device to indicate the length of the first timer, which is greater than a first threshold. The first threshold is the time delay requirement from when the terminal device receives the first information to when the terminal device sends the second information.

[0183] In one possible implementation, the third information is carried in the UAI. For example, if the first timer is a DRX inactivity timer, then the third information indicates the preferred DRX inactivity timer, the length of which is greater than a first threshold.

[0184] In one possible implementation, the network device can send DRX configuration information to the terminal device. This DRX configuration information indicates the length of a first timer, which is greater than a first threshold. In other words, the network device can configure the length of the first timer to be greater than the first threshold in the DRX configuration information.

[0185] In one possible implementation, the length of the first timer configured by the network device in the DRX configuration information is selected from the preferred length of the first timer reported by the terminal device.

[0186] The first threshold is explained below using the example of a network device activating a wake-up signal via an RRC reconfiguration message.

[0187] If the network device is not configured with downlink RRC message segmentation, the first threshold can be the latency requirement of the RRC message reconfiguration process. For example, for an RRC reconfiguration message without secondary decoding, the required processing latency is 10ms, so the first threshold can be 10ms; or for an RRC message with secondary decoding, the required processing latency is 16ms, so the first threshold can be 16ms.

[0188] If the network device is configured with downlink RRC message segmentation, in one possible implementation, the first threshold can be the latency requirement of the RRC reconfiguration process in a scenario where the network device supports a maximum of N segments, where the first threshold = 16 + (N-1) × 10. In another possible implementation, the first threshold is the latency requirement of the RRC message reconfiguration process in a scenario where the protocol specifies a maximum of M segments, for example, if M = 5, the first threshold = 16 + (5-1) × 10 = 56 ms.

[0189] It is understood that the various numerical designations used in the embodiments of this application are merely for descriptive convenience and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the process numbers does not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

[0190] The methods provided in the embodiments of this application above are described using terminal devices and network devices as examples. In this application, each embodiment can be implemented independently or in combination based on certain inherent connections; in each embodiment, different implementation methods can be implemented in combination or independently. To achieve the functions of the methods provided in the embodiments of this application above, the steps executed by the terminal device can be implemented by the terminal device itself or by different functional entities constituting the terminal device. The steps executed by the network device can be implemented by the network device itself or by different functional entities constituting the network device. For example, the network device is an access network device, which can be a CU-DU architecture, where the CU can generate indication information and the DU can send indication information. To achieve the functions of the methods provided in the embodiments of this application above, the terminal device and network device can include hardware structures and / or software modules, implementing the above functions in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or hardware structures plus software modules. Whether a particular function is executed in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or hardware structures plus software modules depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0191] The above text combines Figure 11 and Figure 13 The communication method according to the embodiments of this application is described in detail below, in conjunction with Figure 15 and Figure 16 The present application provides a detailed description of a communication apparatus according to embodiments thereof.

[0192] Figure 15 and Figure 16 This is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments, and therefore can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments.

[0193] like Figure 15 As shown, the communication device 1500 includes a transceiver module 1510 and a processing module 1520. The transceiver module 1510 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication module.

[0194] The device 1500 can be used to perform the actions performed by the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments. Alternatively, the device 1500 can be a component (e.g., a chip) configured in the terminal device or network device. The processing module 1520 is used to perform processing-related operations of the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments. The transceiver module 1510 is used to perform receiving and transmitting-related operations of the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments.

[0195] Optionally, the transceiver module 1510 may include a sending module and a receiving module. The sending module is used to perform the sending operation in the above method embodiments. The receiving module is used to perform the receiving operation in the above method embodiments.

[0196] It should be noted that device 1500 may include a transmitting module but not a receiving module. Alternatively, device 1500 may include a receiving module but not a transmitting module. Specifically, it depends on whether the above-described scheme executed by device 1500 includes both transmitting and receiving actions.

[0197] Optionally, the device 1500 is used to perform the above. Figure 11 and Figure 13 The actions performed by the terminal device or network device in the illustrated embodiments are shown above. For details, please refer to the above. Figure 11 and Figure 13 The relevant descriptions in the illustrated embodiments will not be repeated here.

[0198] Optionally, the device 1500 may further include a storage module, which can be used to store data and / or to store computer programs or instructions. The processing module 1520 can read the computer programs / instructions and / or data in the storage module so that the device 1500 can implement the above-described method embodiments.

[0199] When device 1500 is used to achieve, as Figure 11 In the method embodiment shown, when the terminal device functions as follows, the transceiver module 1510 receives first information, which is used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal, and the wake-up signal is used to indicate listening to PDCCH and / or PDSCH; the processing module 1520 is used to activate the wake-up signal at a first moment, wherein the first moment is the moment after the terminal device enters the inactive period of DRX and sends the second information, and the second information is the response information of the first information.

[0200] Optionally, the processing module 1520 is used to: start a first timer, which is a timer triggered by the first information, and the activation period of the DRX includes the running period of the first timer.

[0201] Optionally, the first information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration message, and the second information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration completion message.

[0202] When device 1500 is used to achieve, as Figure 11When the network device functions as shown in the method embodiment, the transceiver module 1510 is used to: send first information, the first information being used to indicate an activation wake-up signal, the wake-up signal being used to indicate listening to PDCCH and / or PDSCH; and, after the terminal device enters the inactive period of DRX and the network device receives second information, send a wake-up signal, wherein the second information is the corresponding information of the first information.

[0203] Optionally, the processing module 1520 is used to: start a first timer, which is a timer triggered by the first information, and the activation period of the DRX includes the running period of the first timer.

[0204] Optionally, the first information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration message, and the second information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration completion message.

[0205] For a more detailed description of each step, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the method embodiments above, which will not be repeated here.

[0206] When device 1500 is used to achieve, as Figure 13 In the method embodiment shown, when the terminal device functions as follows: the transceiver module 1510 receives first information, which is used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal. The wake-up signal is used to indicate the listening of the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and / or the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH); the processing module 1520 is used to: start a first timer, which is a timer triggered by the first information. The length of the first timer is greater than a first threshold, which is the time delay requirement from when the terminal device receives the first information to when the terminal device sends the second information. The second information is the response information of the first information; and activate the wake-up signal at a second time, which is the time after the first timer ends and the terminal device enters the inactive period of DRX.

[0207] Optionally, the transceiver module 1510 is used to: send third information, which is used to indicate the length of the first timer.

[0208] Optionally, the third information is carried in the UAI.

[0209] Optionally, the transceiver module 1510 is used to: receive DRX configuration information, which is used to indicate the length of the first timer.

[0210] When device 1500 is used to achieve, as Figure 13In the method embodiment shown, when the network device functions as follows, the transceiver module 1510 is used to: send first information, the first information being used to indicate an activation wake-up signal, the wake-up signal being used to indicate listening to PDCCH and / or PDSCH; the processing module 1520 is used to: start a first timer, the first timer being a timer triggered by the first information, the length of the first timer being greater than a first threshold, the first threshold being the delay requirement from the terminal device receiving the first information to the terminal device sending the second information, the second information being the response information of the first information; the transceiver module 1510 is also used to: send a wake-up signal after the first timer expires and the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period.

[0211] Optionally, the transceiver module 1510 is used to: receive third information, which is used to indicate the length of the first timer.

[0212] Optionally, the third information is carried in the UAI.

[0213] Optionally, the transceiver module 1510 is used to: send DRX configuration information, which is used to indicate the length of the first timer.

[0214] Figure 16 This is a schematic block diagram of another communication device 1600 provided in the embodiments of this application, such as... Figure 16 As shown, device 1600 includes one or more processors 1610 and interface circuitry 1620. The one or more processors 1610 and interface circuitry 1620 are coupled to each other. It is understood that interface circuitry 1620 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, device 1600 may also include memory 1630 for storing instructions executed by processor 1610, or for storing input data required by processor 1610 to execute instructions, or for storing data generated after processor 1610 executes instructions. Sometimes, interface circuitry 1620 can also be understood as part of the one or more processors 1610, in which case device 1600 includes the one or more processors 1610.

[0215] The one or more processors 1610 and memory 1630 can be configured separately or integrated, and this application does not limit this.

[0216] When device 1600 is used to achieve Figure 11 or Figure 13 In the method shown, the one or more processors 1610 are used to implement the functions of the processing module 1520, and the interface circuit 1620 is used to implement the functions of the transceiver module 1510.

[0217] When the aforementioned device 1600 is a chip applied to a terminal device, the chip of the terminal device implements the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiments. The chip of the terminal device receives information from the network device, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules (such as an RF module or antenna) in the terminal device, and then sent to the chip of the terminal device by these modules. The chip of the terminal device sends information to the network device, which can be understood as the information being first sent to other modules (such as an RF module or antenna) in the terminal device, and then sent to the network device by these modules.

[0218] When the aforementioned device 1600 is a chip applied to a network device, the chip of the network device implements the functions of the network device in the above method embodiments. The chip of the network device receives information from the terminal device, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the network device, and then sent by these modules to the chip of the terminal device. The chip of the network device sends information to the terminal device, which can be understood as the information being first sent to other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the network device, and then sent by these modules to the terminal device.

[0219] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods described in the above embodiments. Alternatively, the computer program includes instructions for implementing the methods described in the above embodiments.

[0220] This application also provides a computer program product, including: a computer program or instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described above.

[0221] This application also provides a chip, which includes at least one processor for supporting the implementation of the methods in the above embodiments, such as receiving or processing data involved in the methods in the above embodiments.

[0222] This application also provides a communication system, including methods for implementing... Figure 11 The terminal device for the method in, and the device for implementing it. Figure 11 Network devices using the methods described in the text.

[0223] This application also provides a communication system, including methods for implementing... Figure 13 The terminal device for the method in, and the device for implementing it. Figure 13 Network devices using the methods described in the text.

[0224] Figure 17This is a schematic block diagram of a chip system 1700 provided in an embodiment of this application. The chip system 1700 includes a processor module, a storage module, an RF / antenna module, and a power supply module.

[0225] Processor modules: used for various calculations, including the central processing unit (CPU), which is responsible for executing various instructions, including those for applications, operating systems, and other software; the graphics processing unit (GPU) is mainly responsible for graphics processing, but the CPU can also handle some graphics tasks, such as rendering application interfaces; the modem is used to modulate or demodulate signals so that digital signals can be transmitted in space.

[0226] Storage module: Includes random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). RAM is temporary storage space in the terminal device, used to temporarily store data that is currently in use, such as open web pages, messages from chat applications, game status, etc.; ROM is read-only storage space in the terminal device, used to store system files, pre-installed applications, and firmware.

[0227] Power module: Used to provide voltage and current to other modules to maintain the normal operation of the chip;

[0228] Radio frequency / antenna module: used to amplify signals and radiate them into space, or to receive wireless signals in space; for the purposes of this application, the radio frequency / antenna module includes MR and WUR, where WUR is used to receive wake-up signals and MR is used to receive PDCCH and / or PDSCH.

[0229] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of this application, the processor can be a CPU, but it can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0230] In implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by integrated logic circuits in the processor's hardware or by instructions in software. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as execution by a hardware processor, or as a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor. The software modules can reside in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor executes the instructions in the memory, combining them with its hardware to complete the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are omitted here.

[0231] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the modules and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0232] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and modules described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0233] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple modules or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or modules may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0234] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0235] In addition, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing module, or each module can exist physically separately, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module.

[0236] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, external hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0237] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Receive first information, the first information being used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal, the wake-up signal being used to indicate the monitoring of the physical downlink control channel PDCCH and / or the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH; The wake-up signal is activated at the first moment; Wherein, the first moment is the moment after the terminal device enters the inactive period of discontinuous DRX reception and sends the second information, and the second information is the response information of the first information.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After receiving the first information, the method further includes: Start the first timer, which is the timer triggered by the first information, and the activation period of the DRX includes the running period of the first timer.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first information is carried in the Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message, and the second information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration complete message.

4. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Send a first message, the first message being used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal, the wake-up signal being used to indicate the monitoring of the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and / or the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH); After the terminal device enters the inactive period of discontinuous DRX reception and the network device receives the second information, the wake-up signal is sent. The second information is the response information to the first information.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, After sending the first information, the method further includes: Start the first timer, which is the timer triggered by the first information, and the activation period of the DRX includes the running period of the first timer.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The first information is carried in the Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message, and the second information is carried in the RRC reconfiguration complete message.

7. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Receive first information, the first information being used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal, the wake-up signal being used to indicate the monitoring of the physical downlink control channel PDCCH and / or the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH; Start a first timer, which is a timer triggered by the first information. The length of the first timer is greater than a first threshold, which is the time delay requirement from when the terminal device receives the first information to when the terminal device sends the second information. The second information is the response information of the first information. The wake-up signal is activated at a second time point, which is the time after the first timer ends and the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a third message, which indicates the length of the first timer.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The third information is carried in the User Equipment Assistance Information (UAI).

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive DRX configuration information, which is used to indicate the length of the first timer.

11. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Send a first message, the first message being used to indicate the activation of a wake-up signal, the wake-up signal being used to indicate the monitoring of the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and / or the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH); Start a first timer, which is a timer triggered by the first information. The length of the first timer is greater than a first threshold, which is the time delay requirement from when the terminal device receives the first information to when the terminal device sends the second information. The second information is the response information of the first information. The wake-up signal is sent after the first timer expires and the terminal device enters the DRX inactive period.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive third information, which indicates the length of the first timer.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The third information is carried in the User Equipment Assistance Information (UAI).

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send DRX configuration information, which is used to indicate the length of the first timer.

15. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes modules for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, or modules for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 4 to 6, or modules for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 7 to 10, or modules for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 14.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, The method includes at least one processor coupled to a memory for storing a program or instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the method of any one of claims 1 to 3 to be executed, or cause the method of any one of claims 4 to 6 to be executed, or cause the method of any one of claims 7 to 10 to be executed, or cause the method of any one of claims 11 to 14 to be executed.

17. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, Used to store a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 3 to be executed, or causes the method as described in any one of claims 4 to 6 to be executed, or causes the method as described in any one of claims 7 to 10 to be executed, or causes the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 14 to be executed.

18. A computer program product, characterized in that, include: A computer program or instruction that, when executed, causes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 3 to be performed, or causes the method as described in any one of claims 4 to 6 to be performed, or causes the method as described in any one of claims 7 to 10 to be performed, or causes the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 14 to be performed.

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