Method, apparatus and device for detecting control channel, and storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a control channel detection method, device and equipment and a storage medium, and belongs to the technical field of communication. The method comprises the following steps: receiving a first signal through the first receiver; and controlling the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the indication of the first signal. Since the power consumption of the first receiver is less than that of the second receiver, better energy-saving effect can be achieved.

Description

Control channel detection method, device, equipment and storage medium Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a detection method, apparatus, device, and storage medium for a control channel. Background Art

[0002] In the non-power saving mode, the terminal device needs to detect the control channel even when there is no data transmission. Since the power consumption of the receiver detecting the control channel is high, detecting the control channel when there is no data transmission will cause a large power loss of the terminal device.

[0003] In related technologies, terminal devices detect power-saving signals and then monitor control channels according to the signals, thereby achieving a certain degree of power savings. However, in this method, detecting power-saving signals also consumes power. Ensuring optimal power consumption in terminal devices remains an unresolved technical challenge.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a control channel detection method, apparatus, device, and storage medium. The technical solution is as follows:

[0006] In one aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a control channel detection method, the method being performed by a terminal device, the terminal device including a first receiver and a second receiver, the power consumption of the first receiver being less than the power consumption of the second receiver, the method including:

[0007] receiving a first signal through the first receiver;

[0008] Based on the instruction of the first signal, the second receiver is controlled to detect the control channel.

[0009] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a control channel detection method, the method being performed by a network device, the method comprising:

[0010] A first signal is sent, where the first signal is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to detect the control channel. The first signal is received by the first receiver of the terminal device, and the power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver.

[0011] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a control channel detection device, the device including a first receiver and a second receiver, the power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver, and the device further includes:

[0012] a receiving module, configured to receive a first signal through the first receiver;

[0013] The control module is configured to control the second receiver to detect the control channel based on an instruction of the first signal.

[0014] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a control channel detection device, the device comprising:

[0015] A sending module is used to send a first signal, where the first signal is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to detect the control channel. The first signal is received by the first receiver of the terminal device, and the power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver.

[0016] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a terminal device, comprising a first receiver and a second receiver, wherein power consumption of the first receiver is less than power consumption of the second receiver;

[0017] The terminal device includes a processor and a receiver connected to the processor; wherein:

[0018] The receiver is configured to receive a first signal via the first receiver;

[0019] The processor is configured to control the second receiver to detect the control channel based on an instruction of the first signal.

[0020] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a network device, comprising a processor and a transmitter connected to the processor; wherein:

[0021] The transmitter is used to send a first signal, where the first signal is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to detect the control channel. The first signal is received by the first receiver of the terminal device, and the power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver.

[0022] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. The computer program is used to be executed by a processor to implement the above-mentioned control channel detection method.

[0023] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, which includes a programmable logic circuit and / or program instructions. When the chip runs on a terminal or a network device, it is used to implement the above-mentioned control channel detection method.

[0024] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which includes computer instructions, and the computer instructions are stored in a computer-readable storage medium; the processor of the communication device reads the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium and executes the computer instructions, so that the communication device implements the above-mentioned control channel detection method.

[0025] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program, which is executed by a processor of a communication device to implement the above-mentioned control channel detection method.

[0026] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application may have the following beneficial effects:

[0027] By receiving the first signal through the first receiver and controlling the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the indication of the first signal, the terminal device can use the first receiver with lower power consumption to detect the first signal in most cases. Only in some cases, such as when there is data transmission, the terminal device will control the second receiver to detect the control channel, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device as much as possible and achieving better energy saving effects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG1 shows a schematic diagram of a discontinuous reception transmission mechanism provided by the related art;

[0029] FIG2 shows a schematic diagram of a wake-up receiver provided by the related art;

[0030] FIG3 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] FIG4 shows a flow chart of a control channel detection method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] FIG5 shows a flow chart of a control channel detection method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] FIG6 shows a schematic diagram of a control channel detection method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] FIG7 shows a schematic diagram of a control channel detection method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG8 is a schematic diagram showing a control channel detection method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG9 is a schematic diagram showing a control channel detection method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG10 shows a flow chart of a control channel detection method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] FIG11 shows a flow chart of a control channel detection method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG12 shows a schematic diagram of generating a first signal according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] FIG13 shows a flow chart of a control channel detection method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG14 shows a structural block diagram of a control channel detection device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG15 shows a structural block diagram of a control channel detection device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG16 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments will be described in detail here, and examples thereof are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present application. On the contrary, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the attached claims. With respect to the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0045] The terms used in this disclosure are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the disclosure. As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," "the," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0046] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used in this disclosure to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from each other. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "at the time of" or "when" or "in response to determining."

[0047] First, the relevant technologies involved in the embodiments of this application are introduced:

[0048] Discontinuous Reception (DRX):

[0049] To conserve power in terminal devices, existing systems all support the DRX transmission mechanism. The main principle is to achieve discontinuous reception of signals in the time domain through semi-static configuration. When there is no data transmission, power consumption can be reduced by stopping reception of the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

[0050] The DRX configuration method is to configure a DRX cycle for a terminal device in the Radio Resource Control (RRC_CONNECTED) state. As shown in Figure 1, a DRX cycle consists of an active period (Active Time) and an inactive period (Inactive Time). During the "Active Time", the terminal device monitors and receives the PDCCH; during the "Inactive Time", the terminal device does not receive the PDCCH to reduce power consumption.

[0051] Control channel skipping:

[0052] In the 5th Generation (5G) evolution project, enhanced energy-saving mechanisms are being discussed. Similar to the DRX mechanism, the PDCCH skipping mechanism is also designed to reduce the number of PDCCH detections.

[0053] The specific method is to allow the terminal device to receive a control channel indication format. Taking downlink scheduling as an example, the PDCCH indication format provides a certain number of bits to indicate the unit of subsequent PDCCH skipping. For example, two bits in the control channel indication format are used to indicate the unit of subsequent PDCCH skipping.

[0054] Terminal energy saving based on wake-up receiver:

[0055] In order to further save power in terminal devices, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 18 (R18) standard considers introducing a wake-up receiver (WUR) to receive wake-up signals. The wake-up receiver is a deeper sleep mode with the characteristics of extremely low cost, extremely low complexity and extremely low power consumption. It mainly receives the wake-up signal through an envelope detection-based method. In other ways, the use of similar traditional receiver methods is not ruled out. In short, the power consumption level of the wake-up receiver is several orders of magnitude lower than that of the traditional sleep mode. Generally, the power consumption of a traditional receiver is greater than 100 milliwatts, while the power consumption of a low-power receiver can be less than 1 milliwatt. Therefore, the wake-up signal (WUS) received by the wake-up receiver is different from the modulation method, waveform, etc. of the signal carried by the PDCCH defined in the existing 3GPP New Radio (NR) standard. The wake-up signal can be an envelope signal modulated by amplitude shift keying (ASK) of the carrier signal. The demodulation of the envelope signal is primarily accomplished by driving a low-power circuit using energy provided by the wireless RF signal, making it passive. The wake-up receiver can also be powered by the terminal device. Regardless of the power supply method, the wake-up receiver significantly reduces power consumption compared to traditional receivers. The wake-up receiver can be integrated with the terminal device as an additional module to the terminal device's receiver, or it can function independently as a wake-up module for the terminal device.

[0056] For example, as shown in FIG2 , a terminal device 110 includes a main receiver 11 and a wake-up receiver 12. The power consumption of the main receiver 11 is greater than that of the wake-up receiver 12. The wake-up receiver 12 receives a wake-up signal and, when the terminal device 110 needs to turn on the main receiver 11, instructs the terminal device 110 to do so through the wake-up signal. Otherwise, the main receiver 11 can remain in a dormant state.

[0057] The WUR can be activated by the WUS at any time and receive a wake-up signal. The wake-up signal is mainly an envelope signal that performs ASK modulation on the carrier signal. For example, the WUS signal used in 802.11 technology uses on-off keying (OOK) modulation. The principle of OOK modulation is to modulate the amplitude of the carrier signal to a non-zero value (1) and a zero value (0), corresponding to On and Off, respectively, to represent the information bit. OOK is also known as binary amplitude keying (2-ASK). For example, bit 1 is modulated to On and bit 0 is modulated to Off.

[0058] 3 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The communication system 100 includes a terminal device 110 and a network device 120 .

[0059] The terminal device 110 in this application may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, and user device. The terminals include, but are not limited to, handheld devices, wearable devices, vehicle-mounted devices, and Internet of Things devices, such as mobile phones, tablet computers, e-book readers, laptop computers, desktop computers, televisions, game consoles, mobile Internet devices (MIDs), augmented reality (AR) terminals, virtual reality (VR) terminals, and mixed reality (MR) terminals, wearable devices, handles, electronic tags, controllers, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical care, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loops (WLANs), and wireless terminals in industrial control. Loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDA), TV set-top boxes (STB), customer premises equipment (CPE), etc.

[0060] The network device 120 in the present application provides wireless communication functions, and the network device 120 includes but is not limited to: Evolved Node B (eNB), Radio Network Controller (RNC), Node B (NB), Base Station Controller (BSC), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), Home Base Station (e.g., Home Evolved Node B, or Home Node B, HNB), Baseband Unit (BBU), Access Point (AP) in Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, Wireless Relay Node, Wireless Backhaul Node, Transmission Point (TP) or Transmission and Reception Point (TRP), etc., and can also be the Next Generation Node B (NGNB) in the fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system. B, gNB) or transmission point (TRP or TP), or one or a group of (including multiple antenna panels) antenna panels of a base station in a 5G system, or a network node constituting a gNB or transmission point, such as a baseband unit (BBU) or a distributed unit (DU), or a base station in a Beyond Fifth Generation (B5G) mobile communication system or a sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system, or a core network (CN), fronthaul (Fronthaul), backhaul (Backhaul), radio access network (RAN), network slicing, or a serving cell, primary cell (PCell), primary secondary cell (PSCell), special cell (SpCell), secondary cell (SCell), neighboring cell, etc. of a terminal device.

[0061] Terminal device 110 and network device 120 communicate with each other via an air interface technology, such as a Uu interface. For example, there are two communication scenarios between terminal device 110 and network device 120: uplink communication and downlink communication. Uplink communication refers to the transmission of signals from terminal device 110 to network device 120; downlink communication refers to the transmission of signals from network device 120 to terminal device 110.

[0062] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Global System of Mobile communication (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, 5G mobile communication system, NR system, NR system evolution system, LTE on unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) system, NR on unlicensed spectrum (NR-based access to unlicensed spectrum) The 5G NR system can be applied to terrestrial communication networks (TN) and non-terrestrial communication networks (NTN), wireless local area networks (WLAN), Wi-Fi, cellular Internet of Things (IoT) systems, and cellular passive IoT systems. It can also be applied to subsequent evolution systems of 5G NR systems, as well as B5G, 6G and subsequent evolution systems.

[0063] In some embodiments of the present application, "NR" may also be referred to as a 5G NR system or a 5G system. Among them, the 5G mobile communication system may include non-standalone networking (NSA) and / or standalone networking (SA). The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application may also be applied to machine type communication (MTC), long term evolution technology for machine-to-machine communication (LTE-M), device to device (D2D) network, machine to machine (M2M) network, Internet of Things (IoT) network or other networks. Among them, the IoT network may include, for example, the Internet of Vehicles. Among them, the communication methods in the Internet of Vehicles system are collectively referred to as vehicle to other devices (Vehicle to X, V2X, X can represent anything). For example, the V2X may include: vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle to pedestrian (V2P) communication or vehicle to network (V2N) communication, etc.

[0064] It should be understood that in the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "corresponding" may indicate a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, or an association relationship between the two, or a relationship between indication and being indicated, configuration and being configured, etc. In the embodiments of the present application, "pre-definition" can be implemented by pre-saving corresponding codes, tables or other methods that can be used to indicate relevant information in a device (for example, including terminal devices and network devices), and the present application does not limit its specific implementation method. For example, pre-definition may refer to a definition in a protocol. In the embodiments of the present application, "protocol" may refer to a standard protocol in the field of communications, for example, it may include LTE protocol, NR protocol, Internet of Things protocol, and related protocols used in future communication systems, and the present application does not limit this.

[0065] The terminal device 110 involved in the embodiments of the present application can be an active device, which refers to a device that has its own power supply and can actively generate and transmit signals, such as a mobile phone, computer, smart watch, smart bracelet, etc.; it can also be a passive device, which refers to a device that does not require a power supply or can work by receiving energy from other devices, which can be called a zero-power device, a zero-power terminal, a low-power device, a low-power terminal, etc.; it can also be a device that obtains energy from the environment, which can be called an ambient energy Internet of Things device; it can also be a device deployed at a fixed location, which can be called a zero-power site, a low-power site, etc., or it can be a terminal with a low-power wake-up receiver (Low Power Wake-Up Receiver, LP-WUR) in a cellular system, or it can be a STA with WUR in a WiFi system.

[0066] In non-power-saving mode, terminal devices need to monitor control channels even when not transmitting data. Because the receivers that monitor control channels consume a lot of power, monitoring control channels without transmitting data can result in significant power loss for the terminal device. Related technologies achieve a certain degree of power savings by detecting power-saving signals and then monitoring control channels in accordance with the signals. However, in this solution, detecting power-saving signals also consumes power.

[0067] In response to the above problems, a control channel detection method is proposed in an embodiment of the present application, by utilizing a first receiver with lower power consumption in a terminal device to receive a first signal, and then based on the indication of the first signal, controlling a second receiver with higher power consumption to detect a control channel or enter a sleep state.

[0068] FIG4 shows a flow chart of a control channel detection method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The method is executed by a terminal device and includes:

[0069] Step 220: Receive a first signal through a first receiver;

[0070] In some embodiments, a terminal device includes a first receiver and a second receiver. The first receiver consumes less power than the second receiver. For example, as shown in FIG2 , the first receiver may also be referred to as a wake-up receiver, and the second receiver may also be referred to as a main receiver. The first signal received by the first receiver indicates whether the terminal device needs to detect a control channel, and indicates a method for detecting the control channel.

[0071] Optionally, the method of detecting the control channel includes at least one of the timing of detecting the control channel, the duration of detecting the control channel (referred to as detection duration), the period of detecting the control channel (referred to as detection period), and the number of times the control channel is detected (referred to as detection number).

[0072] In some embodiments, the first signal is used to instruct the terminal device to wake up the second receiver when it is necessary to wake up the second receiver to detect the control channel, and to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state after the detection is completed. It should be understood that if it is not necessary to wake up the second receiver to detect the control channel, the first receiver does not wake up the second receiver, and the second receiver remains in the dormant state.

[0073] In some embodiments, the first signal may also be referred to as a wake-up signal. The wake-up signal is received by a wake-up receiver with lower power consumption. This wake-up signal is used to instruct the terminal device to wake up the main receiver with higher power consumption when it is necessary to wake up the main receiver of the terminal device to detect the control channel, and to control the main receiver to enter a dormant state after the detection is completed. It should be understood that if it is not necessary to wake up the main receiver of the terminal device to detect the control channel, the wake-up receiver will not wake up the main receiver, and the main receiver will remain in a dormant state.

[0074] In some embodiments, the control channel includes a PDCCH and a side control channel. In the embodiments of the present application, the PDCCH is used as an example for illustration.

[0075] In some embodiments, the waveforms of the first signal and the control channel are different. Optionally, the waveform of the first signal is a first waveform corresponding to a single-carrier signal, and the waveform of the control channel is a second waveform corresponding to a multi-carrier signal. Single-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses only one carrier within a fixed frequency band, such as 2-ASK. Multi-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses multiple carriers within a fixed frequency band, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

[0076] In some embodiments, the first signal and the control channel have different modulation schemes. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a single-carrier modulation scheme. The control channel is obtained using a multi-carrier modulation scheme, i.e., the control signaling carried on the control channel is obtained using a multi-carrier modulation scheme. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a target modulation scheme.

[0077] In some embodiments, the target modulation mode used to modulate the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0078] Single carrier amplitude modulation;

[0079] Single carrier frequency modulation;

[0080] Single carrier phase modulation.

[0081] In some embodiments, the first signal carries a first identifier of a target terminal device. When the first signal carries the first identifier of the target terminal device, the target terminal device receives the first signal via a first receiver. In some embodiments, the first signal carries a second identifier of a target terminal device group. When the first signal carries the second identifier of the target terminal device group, all or some of the terminal devices in the target terminal device group receive the first identifier via the first receiver.

[0082] Step 240: Based on the instruction of the first signal, control the second receiver to detect the control channel.

[0083] In some embodiments, the first signal is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel, or to instruct the second receiver not to detect the control channel.

[0084] Optionally, the terminal device wakes up the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the indication of detecting the control channel in the first signal, and controls the second receiver to enter a sleep state after the detection is completed.

[0085] Optionally, the terminal device does not wake up the second receiver based on the indication of not detecting the control channel in the first signal, so that the second receiver remains in a dormant state.

[0086] Optionally, when the second receiver detects the control channel, the first receiver enters a sleep state.

[0087] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment receives the first signal through the first receiver, and controls the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the indication of the first signal, so that the terminal device can use the first receiver with lower power consumption to detect the first signal in most cases. Only in some cases, such as when there is data transmission, the terminal device will control the second receiver to detect the control channel, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device as much as possible and achieving better energy saving effects.

[0088] In some embodiments, the first signal carries a detection parameter of the control channel. As shown in FIG5 , the above step 240 can be replaced by the following sub-steps:

[0089] Step 241: Based on the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal, control the second receiver to detect the control channel.

[0090] In some embodiments, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0091] Start detection instruction;

[0092] ·Test duration;

[0093] Testing cycle;

[0094] Number of tests;

[0095] • The first search space group.

[0096] In some embodiments, the above step 241 may be replaced by at least one of the following sub-steps:

[0097] Sub-step 1: Based on the start detection indication, control the second receiver to start detecting the control channel in the first time domain unit.

[0098] Optionally, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a start detection indication. The start detection indication is used to indicate the start timing of the second receiver detecting the control channel. For example, the start detection indication is used to indicate the second receiver to start detecting the control channel in the first time domain unit.

[0099] In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is the time domain unit in which the first signal is received. In some embodiments, considering that it takes a certain amount of time to wake up the second receiver, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal. The value of N is a positive integer. It should be understood that, assuming that the first signal is received in the 1st time domain unit, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal, that is, the first time domain unit is actually the N+1th time domain unit. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the N+1th time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the 1st time domain unit. In some embodiments, N is determined based on high-level configuration, or N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system.

[0100] Optionally, N is determined based on a high-level configuration. For example, assuming the first signal is received in the first time domain unit and the high-level configuration specifies N=5, the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the sixth time domain unit. Optionally, N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system. For example, if the system parameters indicate a target subcarrier spacing, based on the target subcarrier spacing, it is determined that the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the Nth time domain unit. Optionally, different subcarrier spacings correspond to different values ​​of N.

[0101] The method provided in this embodiment enables a terminal device to control a second receiver to detect a control channel based on the received first signal carrying a start detection indication. Only when the start detection indication is present does the terminal device control the second receiver, which consumes more power, to detect the control channel. In the absence of the start detection indication, the terminal device can use only the first receiver, which consumes less power, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0102] Sub-step 2: When the duration of the second receiver detecting the control channel reaches the detection duration, control the second receiver to enter a dormant state and detect the first signal through the first receiver.

[0103] Optionally, the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal include a detection duration. The detection duration is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at a fixed duration. For example, the detection duration is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel between a first moment and a second moment, and the second moment is a moment after the first moment. It should be understood that the second receiver is in an active state during the detection duration and in a dormant state outside the detection duration. That is, the second receiver is in an active state between the first moment and the second moment, and after the second moment, the second receiver will enter a dormant state from an active state. In some embodiments, the detection duration is for each detection cycle, and the duration corresponding to the activation time period in each detection cycle is the detection duration.

[0104] In some embodiments, the detection duration is monitored based on a first timer, and when the first timer times out, it is determined that the duration for the second receiver to detect the control channel has reached the detection duration. At this time, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a dormant state from an active state. The terminal device re-detects the first signal through the first receiver. Exemplarily, as shown in FIG7 , the detection duration is equal to the duration corresponding to the activation state within each detection cycle. The second receiver is in an active state within the detection duration, and switches from the active state to the dormant state after the duration for detecting the control channel within each detection cycle reaches the detection duration.

[0105] The method provided in this embodiment, by receiving a detection duration carried in a first signal, enables a terminal device to control a second receiver to detect a control channel based on the detection duration. Only within the detection duration does the terminal device need to control the second receiver, which has higher power consumption, to detect the control channel. If the second receiver's detection duration reaches the detection duration, the second receiver is controlled to enter a dormant state, and the first receiver, which has lower power consumption, is used to detect the first signal, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0106] Sub-step 3: Control the second receiver to enter a dormant state outside the activation time period indicated by the detection cycle and detect the first signal through the first receiver.

[0107] Optionally, the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal include a detection period. The detection period is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at a fixed period. For example, the detection period is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at target intervals. Optionally, the target interval is determined based on a high-level configuration, or the target interval is determined based on system parameters of the communication system.

[0108] In some embodiments, the second receiver detects the control channel during an active period indicated by a detection cycle. This active period controls or limits the time period during which the second receiver detects the control channel. It should be understood that the second receiver is in an active state during the active period and in a dormant state outside of the active period. That is, when the second receiver enters the active period, it transitions from the dormant state to the active state; at the end of the active period, it transitions back from the active state to the dormant state and resumes detecting the first signal through the first receiver.

[0109] In some embodiments, the second receiver is controlled to enter a dormant state outside of the active time period of the detection cycle and receive the first signal via the first receiver; and / or, the second receiver is controlled to enter a dormant state during the dormant time period of the detection cycle and receive the first signal via the first receiver. For example, as shown in FIG8 , each detection cycle includes an active time period corresponding to the active state and a dormant time period corresponding to the dormant state. The second receiver is in the active state during the active time period and switches from the active state to the dormant state during the dormant time period. During the dormant time period, the first receiver detects the first signal. During the active time period, the first receiver may remain awake or enter a dormant state.

[0110] The method provided in this embodiment enables a terminal device to control a second receiver to detect a control channel based on the detection period by receiving a first signal carrying a detection period. The terminal device only controls the second receiver, which consumes more power, to detect the control channel during the active time period indicated by the detection period. Outside the active time period indicated by the detection period, the terminal device controls the second receiver to enter a dormant state and uses the first receiver, which consumes less power, to detect the first signal, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0111] Sub-step 4: When the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel reaches the detection number, control the second receiver to enter a sleep state and detect the first signal through the first receiver.

[0112] Optionally, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a detection count. The detection count indicates the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel. Optionally, when the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel is within the detection count, the second receiver is in an active state. After the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel reaches the detection count, the second receiver switches from the active state to the dormant state.

[0113] In some embodiments, the second receiver detects the control channel within a detection number. The detection number is used to control or limit the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel. In some embodiments, the detection number is for each detection cycle and is used to indicate the number of detections required within the activation time period of each detection cycle.

[0114] In some embodiments, the detection count is monitored based on a second timer. When the second timer expires, it is determined that the second receiver has detected the control channel a maximum number of times. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a dormant state from an active state. The terminal device then resumes receiving the first signal via the first receiver.

[0115] In some embodiments, the number of detections is equal to the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel during the active time period of each detection cycle. For example, as shown in FIG9 , assuming the number of detections is 3, the second receiver is in an active state from the start of the first detection to the end of the third detection, and switches from the active state to the dormant state after the end of the third detection.

[0116] The method provided in this embodiment enables a terminal device to control a second receiver to detect a control channel based on the number of detections carried in the received first signal. Only within the detection count does the terminal device control the second receiver, which consumes more power, to detect the control channel. If the second receiver has detected the control channel the number of times it has detected the control channel reaches the detection count, the second receiver is controlled to enter a dormant state, and the first receiver, which consumes less power, is used to detect the first signal, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0117] In some embodiments, the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include detection duration, and / or detection period, and / or number of detections.

[0118] In some embodiments, the above method further comprises:

[0119] Step 320: Complete detection of the control channel in the second time domain unit through the second receiver.

[0120] Optionally, when the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal does not include the detection duration, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0121] Optionally, when the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal does not include a detection period, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0122] Optionally, when the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal does not include the number of detections, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0123] Optionally, when the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include the detection duration and the detection period, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0124] Optionally, when the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include the detection duration and the number of detections, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0125] Optionally, when the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include the number of detections and the detection period, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0126] Optionally, when the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include detection duration, detection cycle and number of detections, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0127] In some embodiments, the second time domain unit is the Mth time domain unit after the first time domain unit. In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is the time domain unit in which the first signal is received. In some embodiments, considering that it takes a certain amount of time to wake up the second receiver, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal. The value of N is a positive integer. It should be understood that, assuming that the first signal is received in the 1st time domain unit, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal, that is, the first time domain unit is actually the N+1th time domain unit. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the N+1th time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the 1st time domain unit. In some embodiments, N is determined based on high-level configuration, or N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system.

[0128] Optionally, N is determined based on a high-level configuration. For example, assuming the first signal is received in the first time domain unit and the high-level configuration specifies N=5, the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the sixth time domain unit. Optionally, N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system. For example, if the system parameters indicate a target subcarrier spacing, based on the target subcarrier spacing, it is determined that the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the Nth time domain unit. Optionally, different subcarrier spacings correspond to different values ​​of N.

[0129] It should be understood that, assuming that the first time domain unit is the N+1th time domain unit, the second time domain unit is the Mth time domain unit after the first time domain unit, that is, the second time domain unit is actually the M+N+1th time domain unit, and the value of M is a positive integer. In some embodiments, M is determined based on a high-level configuration, or M is determined according to system parameters of the communication system.

[0130] The method provided in this embodiment ends the detection control channel in the second time domain unit through the second receiver, so that when the first signal does not carry an indication of ending detection, or when the first signal does not carry a timing for indicating the end of the detection control channel, the terminal device can end the detection control channel in the second time domain unit in a timely manner, thereby avoiding the continuous use of the second receiver with higher power consumption to detect the control channel, thereby minimizing power consumption.

[0131] Optionally, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a search space group. The search space group is used to indicate a position where the second receiver detects the control channel.

[0132] In some embodiments, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a first search space group.

[0133] Sub-step 5: Switching the second receiver to the first search space group to detect the control channel.

[0134] In some embodiments, the first search space group is a target location for the second receiver to detect the control channel indicated by the first signal. When the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes the first search space group, the second receiver switches to the first search space group to detect the control channel.

[0135] In some embodiments, when the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal does not include a search space group, the method further includes:

[0136] Step 420: Detect the control channel by using the second receiver according to the default second search space group, or detect the control channel by using the second receiver according to the third search space group used before the sleep state.

[0137] Optionally, when the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal does not include a search space group, the control channel is detected by the second receiver according to a default second search space group. In some embodiments, the default second search space group is determined based on a high-layer configuration, or the default second search space group is determined based on a system parameter.

[0138] Optionally, when the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include a search space group, the control channel is detected by the second receiver according to the third search space group used before the sleep state. It should be understood that the third search control group is the search space group used by the second receiver when it last detected the control channel. Exemplarily, the second receiver uses search space group 1 when detecting the control channel for the first time, enters a sleep state after the first detection and reception, and then when detecting the control channel for the second time, because the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include a search space group, search space 1 is still used to detect the control channel.

[0139] The method provided in this embodiment enables the second receiver to detect the control channel based on a relatively accurate position when the first signal carries the first search space group or when the first signal does not carry the first search space group, thereby improving the utilization efficiency of the second receiver and helping to reduce power consumption.

[0140] In some embodiments, the above method further comprises:

[0141] Step 520: When a control channel is detected, subsequent control channel detection is performed based on an indication of the control channel.

[0142] In some embodiments, upon detecting a control channel, the terminal device receives an indication of the control channel, where the indication of the control channel is used to instruct the terminal device on how to perform subsequent control channel detection. For example, the indication may include instructing the terminal device to control the second receiver to continue detecting the control channel, instructing the terminal device to control the second receiver to interrupt detection and enter a dormant state, or instructing the terminal device to switch from a current search space to a target search space to perform control channel detection via the second receiver.

[0143] In some embodiments, the control channel indication includes at least one of the following:

[0144] Skip instructions;

[0145] Sleep indication;

[0146] • The fourth search space group.

[0147] Optionally, the control channel indication includes a skip indication. The step 520 may be replaced by at least one of the following sub-steps:

[0148] Sub-step 11: When the detected control channel carries a skip indication, control the second receiver to enter a sleep state based on the skip indication.

[0149] In some embodiments, the skip indication is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state. That is, upon receiving the skip indication, the terminal device controls the second receiver to no longer detect the control channel. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a dormant state from an active state. The terminal device then resumes receiving the first signal via the first receiver.

[0150] Optionally, the above control channel indication includes a sleep indication.

[0151] Sub-step 12: When the detected control channel carries a sleep indication, control the second receiver to enter a sleep state based on the sleep indication.

[0152] In some embodiments, the sleep indication is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to enter a sleep state. That is, upon receiving the sleep indication, the terminal device controls the second receiver to stop detecting the control channel. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a sleep state from an active state. The terminal device then resumes receiving the first signal through the first receiver.

[0153] Optionally, the above control channel indication includes a search space group.

[0154] Sub-step 13: When the detected control channel carries the fourth search space group, switch the second receiver to the fourth search space group to detect the control channel.

[0155] In some embodiments, the fourth search space group is a target location indicated by the control channel for the second receiver to detect the control channel. If the control channel carries the fourth search space group, the second receiver switches to the fourth search space group to detect the control channel.

[0156] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment performs subsequent control channel detection based on the indication of the control channel when the control channel is detected; thereby ensuring that the terminal device will control the second receiver to detect the control channel only when there is data transmission; when there is no data transmission, the second receiver will enter a sleep state, and only use the first receiver with lower power consumption, which can achieve better energy saving effects.

[0157] FIG10 shows a flow chart of a control channel detection method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The method is executed by a terminal device, and the method further includes:

[0158] Step 620: When the first signal reception fails, control the second receiver to detect the control channel.

[0159] In some embodiments, the first signal is detected by a first receiver. The waveforms of the first signal and the control channel are different. Optionally, the waveform of the first signal is a first waveform corresponding to a single-carrier signal, and the waveform of the control channel is a second waveform corresponding to a multi-carrier signal. Single-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses only one carrier within a fixed frequency band, such as 2-ASK. Multi-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses multiple carriers within a fixed frequency band, such as OFDM.

[0160] In some embodiments, the first signal and the control channel are modulated in different ways. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a single-carrier modulation method, and the control channel is obtained using a multi-carrier modulation method. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a target modulation method.

[0161] In some embodiments, the target modulation mode used to modulate the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0162] Single carrier amplitude modulation;

[0163] Single carrier frequency modulation;

[0164] Single carrier phase modulation.

[0165] In some embodiments, the first receiver receives the first signal, and if the reception is successful or failed, the above step 240 is performed if the first receiver receives the first signal successfully. If the first receiver fails to receive the first signal, step 620 is performed.

[0166] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment controls the second receiver to detect the control channel when the first signal reception fails; thereby ensuring that the terminal device can detect the control channel even when the first receiver fails to receive the first signal, and can effectively avoid the detection of the control channel being affected by the failure to receive the first signal.

[0167] FIG11 shows a flow chart of a control channel detection method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The method is executed by a terminal device, and the method further includes:

[0168] Step 720: When the signal quality of the first signal does not meet the quality threshold, control the second receiver to detect the control channel.

[0169] In some embodiments, the first signal is detected by a first receiver. The waveforms of the first signal and the control channel are different. Optionally, the waveform of the first signal is a first waveform corresponding to a single-carrier signal, and the waveform of the control channel is a second waveform corresponding to a multi-carrier signal. Single-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses only one carrier within a fixed frequency band, such as 2-ASK. Multi-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses multiple carriers within a fixed frequency band, such as OFDM.

[0170] In some embodiments, the first signal and the control channel are modulated in different ways. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a single-carrier modulation method, and the control channel is obtained using a multi-carrier modulation method. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a target modulation method.

[0171] In some embodiments, the target modulation mode used to modulate the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0172] Single carrier amplitude modulation;

[0173] Single carrier frequency modulation;

[0174] Single carrier phase modulation.

[0175] In some embodiments, the first receiver receives the first signal. If the reception is successful, the signal quality of the received first signal satisfies a quality threshold or the signal quality of the received first signal does not satisfy the quality threshold. If the received first signal satisfies the quality threshold, step 240 is performed. If the received first signal does not satisfy the quality threshold, step 720 is performed.

[0176] In some embodiments, signal quality is determined by at least one of Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), and Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR). RSRP refers to the average value of the signal power received on all REs carrying a reference signal within any symbol. A larger RSRP indicates higher received signal power and better signal quality; a smaller RSRP indicates lower received signal power and poorer signal quality. A larger RSRQ indicates better reference signal reception quality and better signal quality; a smaller RSRQ indicates poor reference signal reception quality and poorer signal quality. SINR refers to the signal-to-noise ratio. A larger signal-to-noise ratio indicates less noise and better signal quality; a smaller signal-to-noise ratio indicates more noise and poorer signal quality.

[0177] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment controls the second receiver to detect the control channel when the signal quality of the first signal does not meet the quality threshold; thereby ensuring that the terminal device can detect the control channel even when the signal quality of the first signal received by the first receiver is poor, and can effectively avoid the detection of the control channel being affected by the signal quality problem of the first signal.

[0178] In some embodiments, the first signal is obtained by single-carrier amplitude modulation. Exemplarily, as shown in FIG12 , the first information is converted into a signal sequence of length K, where K is a positive integer greater than 1. The first information is information carried by the first signal. The conversion method includes at least one of upsampling, spread spectrum, and sequence mapping. Optionally, in the method of converting the first information in a sequence mapping manner, the sequence includes at least one of a constant envelope zero autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequence, a pseudo-noise (PN) sequence, a Gold sequence, an M sequence, and a Hadamard sequence.

[0179] The converted signal sequence is subjected to a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) to form multiple subcarrier signals. For example, the converted signal sequence y(n) is subjected to a DFT to obtain x(1), x(2) and so on to x(n). The multiple subcarrier signals are subjected to an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to generate a first signal. The waveform of the first signal in the time domain is expressed as a first waveform 13. Optionally, the multiple subcarrier signals can also be multiplexed with other NR signals before performing IFFT. Optionally, instead of performing DFT and IFFT on the converted signal sequence, single-carrier amplitude modulation is directly performed to obtain the first signal.

[0180] Optionally, the first signal is obtained by using On-Off Keying (OOK) modulation. OOK modulation is a process of modulating a digital sequence into a wireless signal with an MC-OOK waveform.

[0181] In some embodiments, the modulation steps of the first signal are as follows:

[0182] Step 21, obtaining a first sequence corresponding to the first information;

[0183] In some embodiments, the first sequence is any of the following:

[0184] Original sequence without encoding;

[0185] The original sequence before encoding;

[0186] The coded sequence after the original sequence is encoded;

[0187] A coded sequence obtained by performing at least one level of multi-level coding on the original sequence.

[0188] In some embodiments, when the sequence length of the first sequence is not an integer multiple of M, the first sequence is preprocessed to obtain a second sequence whose sequence length is an integer multiple of M. M is the number of OOK symbols transmitted in a preset duration. The preset duration is determined by a basic time domain unit in a cellular communication system or a WiFi system. In some embodiments, the preset duration is t OFDM symbols, and t OFDM symbols can transmit M OOK symbols. M is the number of OOK symbols transmitted in t OFDM symbols. The value of t is a positive integer.

[0189] Step 22: Divide the first sequence to obtain at least one sequence segment;

[0190] In some embodiments, when the first sequence is preprocessed to obtain the second sequence, the second sequence is divided to obtain at least one sequence segment.

[0191] Step 23: Perform OOK modulation on each sequence segment to obtain an OOK symbol corresponding to each sequence segment.

[0192] In some embodiments, OOK modulation includes at least one of: upsampling / spreading / sequence mapping, time-frequency transformation, determination of subcarrier coefficients, and inverse time-frequency transformation.

[0193] Upsampling / spreading / sequence mapping involves repeating each information element of a signal K times, where K is a positive integer greater than 1. Taking spread spectrum processing as an example, assuming the first signal sequence corresponding to the first signal is {1, 0, 0, 1} and the spreading factor K = 4, the spread spectrum is {1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1}.

[0194] Time-frequency transform, also known as DFT, refers to the process of transforming a sequence in the time domain into frequency domain data of several sampling points.

[0195] Determining subcarrier coefficients refers to the process of determining the coefficients of multiple subcarriers during transmission based on the frequency domain data of several sampling points. This is also the process of modulating the frequency domain data after time-frequency transformation onto multiple subcarriers.

[0196] Inverse time-frequency transform, also known as inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT), refers to the process of converting frequency domain data of several sampling points into time domain data of several sampling points.

[0197] Optionally, the OOK modulation process further includes at least one of phase randomization, symbol randomization, and additional cyclic prefix (CP) / guard interval (GI).

[0198] Phase randomization is the process of processing intermediate data using a phase randomization factor or phase randomization sequence. Intermediate data is generated during the OOK modulation process. Adding phase randomization to the OOK modulation process can flatten the spectrum energy, improving frequency selectivity and interference immunity.

[0199] Symbol randomization eliminates spectral lines in the power spectral density (PSD) after processing OOK symbols to meet the communication requirements of some communication systems (such as 802.11) that require spectral line elimination.

[0200] Additional CP / GI is achieved by increasing CP / GI symbol by symbol or overall to reduce or eliminate multipath interference received during OOK symbol transmission, thereby improving the reception quality of OOK symbols.

[0201] In some embodiments, step 320 can be implemented as a separate embodiment. Step 420 can be implemented as a separate embodiment. Step 520 can be implemented as a separate embodiment. In some embodiments, at least one of sub-steps 1 through 5 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. At least one of sub-steps 11 through 13 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment.

[0202] In some embodiments, step 220 and step 241 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. Step 220 and at least one of sub-steps 1 to 5 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. In some embodiments, step 220 and step 320 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. Step 220, step 320, and sub-step 5 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. In some embodiments, step 220 and step 420 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. Step 220, step 420, and at least one of sub-steps 1 to 4 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. In some embodiments, step 220, step 240, and step 520 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. Step 220, step 241, and step 520 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. Step 220, step 520, and at least one of sub-steps 1 to 5 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. In some embodiments, step 220, step 320, and step 520 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. In some embodiments, steps 220, 320, sub-step 5, and 520 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. In some embodiments, steps 220, 420, and 520 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. Steps 220, 420, 520, and at least one of sub-steps 1 through 4 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. In some embodiments, steps 220, 240, and at least one of sub-steps 11 through 13 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. Steps 220, 241, and at least one of sub-steps 11 through 13 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. Steps 220, at least one of sub-steps 11 through 13, and at least one of sub-steps 1 through 5 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. In some embodiments, steps 220, 320, and at least one of sub-steps 11 through 13 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. In some embodiments, steps 220, 320, sub-step 5, and at least one of sub-steps 11 through 13 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. In some embodiments, step 220, step 420, and at least one of sub-steps 11 to 13 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment. Step 220, step 420, at least one of sub-steps 11 to 13, and at least one of sub-steps 1 to 4 can be combined and implemented as a new embodiment.

[0203] FIG13 shows a flow chart of a control channel detection method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The method is executed by a network device and includes:

[0204] Step 820: Send a first signal.

[0205] In some embodiments, the first signal is used to indicate whether the terminal device needs to detect the control channel, and to indicate a method for detecting the control channel. The terminal device includes a first receiver and a second receiver. The power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver. Exemplarily, as shown in FIG2 , the first receiver may also be referred to as a wake-up receiver, and the second receiver may also be referred to as a main receiver. Optionally, the method for detecting the control channel includes at least one of a timing for detecting the control channel, a duration for detecting the control channel, a period for detecting the control channel, and a number of times the control channel is detected.

[0206] In some embodiments, the first signal is used to instruct the terminal device to wake up the second receiver when it is necessary to wake up the second receiver to detect the control channel, and to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state after the detection is completed. It should be understood that if it is not necessary to wake up the second receiver to detect the control channel, the first receiver does not wake up the second receiver, and the second receiver remains in the dormant state.

[0207] In some embodiments, the first signal may also be referred to as a wake-up signal. The wake-up signal is received by a wake-up receiver with lower power consumption. This wake-up signal is used to instruct the terminal device to wake up the main receiver with higher power consumption when it is necessary to wake up the main receiver of the terminal device to detect the control channel, and to control the main receiver to enter a dormant state after the detection is completed. It should be understood that if it is not necessary to wake up the main receiver of the terminal device to detect the control channel, the wake-up receiver will not wake up the main receiver, and the main receiver will remain in a dormant state.

[0208] In some embodiments, the control channel includes a PDCCH and a side control channel. In the embodiments of the present application, the PDCCH is used as an example for illustration.

[0209] In some embodiments, the waveforms of the first signal and the control channel are different. Optionally, the waveform of the first signal is a first waveform corresponding to a single-carrier signal, and the waveform of the control channel is a second waveform corresponding to a multi-carrier signal. Single-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses only one carrier within a fixed frequency band, such as 2-ASK. Multi-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses multiple carriers within a fixed frequency band, such as OFDM.

[0210] In some embodiments, the first signal and the control channel have different modulation schemes. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a single-carrier modulation scheme. The control channel is obtained using a multi-carrier modulation scheme, i.e., the control signaling carried on the control channel is obtained using a multi-carrier modulation scheme. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a target modulation scheme.

[0211] In some embodiments, the target modulation mode used to modulate the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0212] Single carrier amplitude modulation;

[0213] Single carrier frequency modulation;

[0214] Single carrier phase modulation.

[0215] In some embodiments, the first signal carries a first identifier of a target terminal device. When the first signal carries the first identifier of the target terminal device, the target terminal device receives the first signal via a first receiver. In some embodiments, the first signal carries a second identifier of a target terminal device group. When the first signal carries the second identifier of the target terminal device group, all or some of the terminal devices in the target terminal device group receive the first identifier via the first receiver.

[0216] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment, by sending a first signal, enables the terminal device to control the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the instruction of the first signal; thereby ensuring that the terminal device will control the second receiver to detect the control channel only when there is data transmission, which can achieve better energy saving effects.

[0217] In some embodiments, the first signal carries detection parameters of the control channel.

[0218] In some embodiments, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0219] Start detection instruction;

[0220] ·Test duration;

[0221] Testing cycle;

[0222] Number of tests;

[0223] • The first search space group.

[0224] Optionally, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a start detection indication. The start detection indication is used to indicate the start timing of the second receiver detecting the control channel. For example, the start detection indication is used to indicate the second receiver to start detecting the control channel in the first time domain unit.

[0225] In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is the time domain unit in which the first signal is received. In some embodiments, considering that it takes a certain amount of time to wake up the second receiver, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal. The value of N is a positive integer. It should be understood that, assuming that the first signal is received in the 1st time domain unit, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal, that is, the first time domain unit is actually the N+1th time domain unit. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the N+1th time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the 1st time domain unit. In some embodiments, N is determined based on high-level configuration, or N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system.

[0226] Optionally, N is determined based on a high-level configuration. For example, assuming the first signal is received in the first time domain unit and the high-level configuration specifies N=5, the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the sixth time domain unit. Optionally, N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system. For example, if the system parameters indicate a target subcarrier spacing, based on the target subcarrier spacing, it is determined that the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the Nth time domain unit. Optionally, different subcarrier spacings correspond to different values ​​of N.

[0227] Optionally, the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal include a detection duration. The detection duration is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at a fixed duration. For example, the detection duration is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel between a first moment and a second moment, and the second moment is a moment after the first moment. It should be understood that the second receiver is in an active state during the detection duration and in a dormant state outside the detection duration. That is, the second receiver is in an active state between the first moment and the second moment, and after the second moment, the second receiver will enter a dormant state from an active state. In some embodiments, the detection duration is for each detection cycle, and the duration corresponding to the activation time period in each detection cycle is the detection duration.

[0228] In some embodiments, the terminal device monitors the detection duration based on the first timer, and when the first timer times out, determines that the duration of the second receiver detecting the control channel has reached the detection duration. At this time, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters the dormant state from the active state. The terminal device detects the first signal again through the first receiver. Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 7, the detection duration is equal to the duration corresponding to the activation state in each detection cycle. The second receiver is in the active state during the detection duration, and switches from the active state to the dormant state after the duration of detecting the control channel in each detection cycle reaches the detection duration.

[0229] Optionally, the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal include a detection period. The detection period is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at a fixed period. For example, the detection period is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at target intervals. Optionally, the target interval is determined based on a high-level configuration, or the target interval is determined based on system parameters of the communication system.

[0230] In some embodiments, the second receiver detects the control channel during an active period indicated by a detection cycle. This active period controls or limits the time period during which the second receiver detects the control channel. It should be understood that the second receiver is in an active state during the active period and in a dormant state outside of the active period. That is, when the second receiver enters the active period, it transitions from the dormant state to the active state; at the end of the active period, it transitions back from the active state to the dormant state and resumes detecting the first signal through the first receiver.

[0231] In some embodiments, the second receiver is controlled to enter a dormant state outside of the active time period of the detection cycle and receive the first signal via the first receiver; and / or, the second receiver is controlled to enter a dormant state during the dormant time period of the detection cycle and receive the first signal via the first receiver. For example, as shown in FIG8 , each detection cycle includes an active time period corresponding to the active state and a dormant time period corresponding to the dormant state. The second receiver is in the active state during the active time period and switches from the active state to the dormant state during the dormant time period. During the dormant time period, the first receiver detects the first signal. During the active time period, the first receiver may remain awake or enter a dormant state.

[0232] Optionally, the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal include a detection number. The detection number is used to indicate the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel. Optionally, when the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel is within the detection number, the second receiver is in an activated state. After the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel reaches the detection number, the second receiver switches from the activated state to the dormant state. In some embodiments, the second receiver detects the control channel within the detection number. The detection number is used to control or limit the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel. In some embodiments, the detection number is for each detection cycle, and the detection number is used to indicate the number of detections required within the activation time period within each detection cycle.

[0233] In some embodiments, the detection count is monitored based on a second timer. When the second timer expires, it is determined that the second receiver has detected the control channel a maximum number of times. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a dormant state from an active state. The terminal device then resumes receiving the first signal via the first receiver.

[0234] In some embodiments, the number of detections is equal to the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel during the active time period of each detection cycle. For example, as shown in FIG9 , assuming the number of detections is 3, the second receiver is in an active state from the start of the first detection to the end of the third detection, and switches from the active state to the dormant state after the end of the third detection.

[0235] In some embodiments, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a first search space group.

[0236] In some embodiments, the first search space group is used to instruct the terminal device to switch to the first search space group to detect the control channel through the second receiver.

[0237] In some embodiments, the first search space group is a target location for the second receiver to detect the control channel indicated by the first signal. When the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes the first search space group, the second receiver switches to the first search space group to detect the control channel.

[0238] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment sends the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal to the terminal device, thereby ensuring that the terminal device will control the second receiver to detect the control channel only when there is data transmission; when there is no data transmission, the second receiver will enter a sleep state and only use the first receiver with lower power consumption, which can achieve better energy saving effects.

[0239] In some embodiments, the above method further comprises:

[0240] Step 840: Send the control channel.

[0241] In some embodiments, the control channel is used to instruct the terminal device on a method for performing subsequent control channel detection. For example, this may include instructing the terminal device to control the second receiver to continue detecting the control channel, instructing the terminal device to control the second receiver to interrupt detection and enter a dormant state, or instructing the terminal device to switch from a current search space to a target search space to perform control channel detection via the second receiver.

[0242] In some embodiments, the control channel includes at least one of the following:

[0243] Skip instructions;

[0244] Sleep indication;

[0245] • The fourth search space group.

[0246] Optionally, the above control channel includes a skip indication.

[0247] In some embodiments, the skip indication is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state. That is, upon receiving the skip indication, the terminal device controls the second receiver to no longer detect the control channel. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a dormant state from an active state. The terminal device then resumes receiving the first signal via the first receiver.

[0248] Optionally, the above control channel includes a sleep indication.

[0249] In some embodiments, the sleep indication is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to enter a sleep state. That is, upon receiving the sleep indication, the terminal device controls the second receiver to stop detecting the control channel. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a sleep state from an active state. The terminal device then resumes receiving the first signal through the first receiver.

[0250] Optionally, the above-mentioned control channel includes a fourth search space group.

[0251] In some embodiments, the fourth search space group is used to instruct the terminal device to switch to the fourth search space group via the second receiver to detect the control channel. The fourth search space group is the target location indicated by the control channel for the second receiver to detect the control channel. If the control channel carries the fourth search space group, the second receiver switches to the fourth search space group to detect the control channel.

[0252] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment sends an indication of the control channel to the terminal device, so that the terminal device performs subsequent control channel detection based on the indication of the control channel; thereby ensuring that the terminal device will control the second receiver to detect the control channel only when there is data transmission; when there is no data transmission, the second receiver will enter a sleep state, and only use the first receiver with lower power consumption, which can achieve better energy saving effects.

[0253] FIG14 shows a block diagram of a control channel detection device provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The device includes:

[0254] The receiving module 1410 is configured to receive a first signal through a first receiver.

[0255] In some embodiments, the device includes a first receiver and a second receiver. The power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver. Exemplarily, as shown in FIG2 , the first receiver may also be referred to as a wake-up receiver, and the second receiver may also be referred to as a main receiver. The first signal received by the first receiver is used to indicate whether the device needs to detect a control channel, and to indicate a method for detecting a control channel. Optionally, the method for detecting a control channel includes at least one of the timing for detecting a control channel, the duration for detecting a control channel (referred to as the detection duration), the period for detecting a control channel (referred to as the detection period), and the number of times the control channel is detected (referred to as the number of detections).

[0256] In some embodiments, the first signal is used to instruct the apparatus to wake up the second receiver when it is necessary to wake up the second receiver to detect the control channel, and to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state after the detection is completed. It should be understood that if it is not necessary to wake up the second receiver to detect the control channel, the first receiver does not wake up the second receiver, and the second receiver remains in the dormant state.

[0257] In some embodiments, the first signal may also be referred to as a wake-up signal. The wake-up signal is received by a wake-up receiver with lower power consumption. This wake-up signal is used to instruct the device to wake up the main receiver with higher power consumption when it is necessary to wake up the device to detect a control channel, and to control the main receiver to enter a dormant state after the detection is complete. It should be understood that if it is not necessary for the main receiver of the device to wake up to detect a control channel, the wake-up receiver will not wake up the main receiver, and the main receiver will remain in a dormant state.

[0258] In some embodiments, the control channel includes a PDCCH and a side control channel. In the embodiments of the present application, the PDCCH is used as an example for illustration.

[0259] In some embodiments, the waveforms of the first signal and the control channel are different. Optionally, the waveform of the first signal is a first waveform corresponding to a single-carrier signal, and the waveform of the control channel is a second waveform corresponding to a multi-carrier signal. Single-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses only one carrier within a fixed frequency band, such as 2-ASK. Multi-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses multiple carriers within a fixed frequency band, such as OFDM.

[0260] In some embodiments, the first signal and the control channel have different modulation schemes. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a single-carrier modulation scheme. The control channel is obtained using a multi-carrier modulation scheme, i.e., the control signaling carried on the control channel is obtained using a multi-carrier modulation scheme. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a target modulation scheme.

[0261] In some embodiments, the target modulation mode used to modulate the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0262] Single carrier amplitude modulation;

[0263] Single carrier frequency modulation;

[0264] Single carrier phase modulation.

[0265] In some embodiments, the first signal carries a first identifier of a target terminal device. When the first signal carries the first identifier of the target terminal device, the target terminal device receives the first signal via a first receiver. In some embodiments, the first signal carries a second identifier of a target terminal device group. When the first signal carries the second identifier of the target terminal device group, all or some of the terminal devices in the target terminal device group receive the first identifier via the first receiver.

[0266] The control module 1420 is configured to control the second receiver to detect the control channel based on an instruction of the first signal.

[0267] In some embodiments, the first signal is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel, or to instruct the second receiver not to detect the control channel.

[0268] Optionally, the apparatus wakes up the second receiver to detect the control channel based on an indication in the first signal to detect the control channel, and controls the second receiver to enter a dormant state after the detection is completed. Optionally, the apparatus does not wake up the second receiver based on an indication in the first signal not to detect the control channel, causing the second receiver to remain in the dormant state.

[0269] Optionally, when the second receiver detects the control channel, the first receiver enters a sleep state.

[0270] In some embodiments, the first signal carries detection parameters of the control channel.

[0271] The control module 1420 is further configured to control the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal.

[0272] In some embodiments, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0273] Start detection instruction;

[0274] ·Test duration;

[0275] Testing cycle;

[0276] Number of tests;

[0277] • The first search space group.

[0278] The control module 1420 is further configured to control the second receiver to start detecting the control channel in the first time domain unit based on the detection start indication.

[0279] Optionally, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a start detection indication. The start detection indication is used to indicate the start timing of the second receiver detecting the control channel. For example, the start detection indication is used to indicate the second receiver to start detecting the control channel in the first time domain unit.

[0280] In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is the time domain unit in which the first signal is received. In some embodiments, considering that it takes a certain amount of time to wake up the second receiver, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal. The value of N is a positive integer. It should be understood that, assuming that the first signal is received in the 1st time domain unit, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal, that is, the first time domain unit is actually the N+1th time domain unit. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the N+1th time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the 1st time domain unit. In some embodiments, N is determined based on high-level configuration, or N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system.

[0281] Optionally, N is determined based on a high-level configuration. For example, assuming the first signal is received in the first time domain unit and the high-level configuration specifies N=5, the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the sixth time domain unit. Optionally, N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system. For example, if the system parameters indicate a target subcarrier spacing, based on the target subcarrier spacing, it is determined that the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the Nth time domain unit. Optionally, different subcarrier spacings correspond to different values ​​of N.

[0282] The control module 1420 is further configured to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state and detect the first signal through the first receiver when the duration for the second receiver to detect the control channel reaches the detection duration.

[0283] Optionally, the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal include a detection duration. The detection duration is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at a fixed duration. For example, the detection duration is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel between a first moment and a second moment, and the second moment is a moment after the first moment. It should be understood that the second receiver is in an active state during the detection duration and in a dormant state outside the detection duration. That is, the second receiver is in an active state between the first moment and the second moment, and after the second moment, the second receiver will enter a dormant state from an active state. In some embodiments, the detection duration is for each detection cycle, and the duration corresponding to the activation time period in each detection cycle is the detection duration.

[0284] In some embodiments, the detection duration is monitored based on a first timer, and when the first timer times out, it is determined that the duration for the second receiver to detect the control channel has reached the detection duration. At this time, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a dormant state from an active state. The terminal device re-detects the first signal through the first receiver. Exemplarily, as shown in FIG7 , the detection duration is equal to the duration corresponding to the activation state within each detection cycle. The second receiver is in an active state within the detection duration, and switches from the active state to the dormant state after the duration for detecting the control channel within each detection cycle reaches the detection duration.

[0285] The control module 1420 is further configured to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state outside the activation time period indicated by the detection cycle and to detect the first signal through the first receiver.

[0286] Optionally, the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal include a detection period. The detection period is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at a fixed period. For example, the detection period is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at target intervals. Optionally, the target interval is determined based on a high-level configuration, or the target interval is determined based on system parameters of the communication system.

[0287] In some embodiments, the second receiver detects the control channel during an active period indicated by a detection cycle. This active period controls or limits the time period during which the second receiver detects the control channel. It should be understood that the second receiver is in an active state during the active period and in a dormant state outside of the active period. That is, when the second receiver enters the active period, it transitions from the dormant state to the active state; at the end of the active period, it transitions back from the active state to the dormant state and resumes detecting the first signal through the first receiver.

[0288] In some embodiments, the second receiver is controlled to enter a dormant state outside of the active time period of the detection cycle and receive the first signal via the first receiver; and / or, the second receiver is controlled to enter a dormant state during the dormant time period of the detection cycle and receive the first signal via the first receiver. For example, as shown in FIG8 , each detection cycle includes an active time period corresponding to the active state and a dormant time period corresponding to the dormant state. The second receiver is in the active state during the active time period and switches from the active state to the dormant state during the dormant time period. During the dormant time period, the first receiver detects the first signal. During the active time period, the first receiver may remain awake or enter a dormant state.

[0289] The control module 1420 is further configured to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state and detect the first signal through the first receiver when the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel reaches a detection number.

[0290] Optionally, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a detection count. The detection count indicates the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel. Optionally, when the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel is within the detection count, the second receiver is in an active state. After the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel reaches the detection count, the second receiver switches from the active state to the dormant state.

[0291] In some embodiments, the second receiver detects the control channel within a detection number. The detection number is used to control or limit the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel. In some embodiments, the detection number is for each detection cycle and is used to indicate the number of detections required within the activation time period of each detection cycle.

[0292] In some embodiments, the detection count is monitored based on a second timer. When the second timer expires, it is determined that the second receiver has detected the control channel a maximum number of times. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a dormant state from an active state. The terminal device then resumes receiving the first signal via the first receiver.

[0293] In some embodiments, the number of detections is equal to the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel during the active time period of each detection cycle. For example, as shown in FIG9 , assuming the number of detections is 3, the second receiver is in an active state from the start of the first detection to the end of the third detection, and switches from the active state to the dormant state after the end of the third detection.

[0294] The control module 1420 is further configured to end detecting the control channel in the second time domain unit through the second receiver.

[0295] Optionally, when the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal does not include the detection duration, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0296] Optionally, when the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal does not include a detection period, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0297] Optionally, when the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal does not include the number of detections, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0298] Optionally, when the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include the detection duration and the detection period, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0299] Optionally, when the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include the detection duration and the number of detections, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0300] Optionally, when the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include the number of detections and the detection period, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0301] Optionally, when the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include detection duration, detection cycle and number of detections, the detection of the control channel is ended in the second time domain unit by the second receiver.

[0302] In some embodiments, the second time domain unit is the Mth time domain unit after the first time domain unit. In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is the time domain unit in which the first signal is received. In some embodiments, considering that it takes a certain amount of time to wake up the second receiver, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal. The value of N is a positive integer. It should be understood that, assuming that the first signal is received in the 1st time domain unit, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal, that is, the first time domain unit is actually the N+1th time domain unit. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the N+1th time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the 1st time domain unit. In some embodiments, N is determined based on high-level configuration, or N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system.

[0303] Optionally, N is determined based on a high-level configuration. For example, assuming the first signal is received in the first time domain unit and the high-level configuration specifies N=5, the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the sixth time domain unit. Optionally, N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system. For example, if the system parameters indicate a target subcarrier spacing, based on the target subcarrier spacing, it is determined that the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the Nth time domain unit. Optionally, different subcarrier spacings correspond to different values ​​of N.

[0304] It should be understood that, assuming that the first time domain unit is the N+1th time domain unit, the second time domain unit is the Mth time domain unit after the first time domain unit, that is, the second time domain unit is actually the M+N+1th time domain unit, and the value of M is a positive integer. In some embodiments, M is determined based on a high-level configuration, or M is determined according to system parameters of the communication system.

[0305] Optionally, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a search space group. The search space group is used to indicate a position where the second receiver detects the control channel.

[0306] In some embodiments, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a first search space group.

[0307] The control module 1420 is further configured to switch to the first search space group through the second receiver to detect the control channel.

[0308] In some embodiments, the first search space group is a target location for the second receiver to detect the control channel indicated by the first signal. When the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes the first search space group, the second receiver switches to the first search space group to detect the control channel.

[0309] The control module 1420 is further configured to detect the control channel by using the second receiver according to the default second search space group, or detect the control channel by using the second receiver according to the third search space group used before the receiver goes into sleep mode.

[0310] Optionally, when the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal does not include a search space group, the control channel is detected by the second receiver according to a default second search space group. In some embodiments, the default second search space group is determined based on a high-layer configuration, or the default second search space group is determined based on a system parameter.

[0311] Optionally, when the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include a search space group, the control channel is detected by the second receiver according to the third search space group used before the sleep state. It should be understood that the third search control group is the search space group used by the second receiver when it last detected the control channel. Exemplarily, the second receiver uses search space group 1 when detecting the control channel for the first time, enters a sleep state after the first detection and reception, and then when detecting the control channel for the second time, because the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal do not include a search space group, search space 1 is still used to detect the control channel.

[0312] The control module 1420 is further configured to, when a control channel is detected, perform subsequent control channel detection based on an indication of the control channel.

[0313] In some embodiments, upon detecting a control channel, the apparatus receives an indication of the control channel, where the indication of the control channel is used to instruct the apparatus on how to perform subsequent control channel detection. For example, the indication may include instructing the apparatus to control the second receiver to continue detecting the control channel, instructing the apparatus to control the second receiver to interrupt detection and enter a dormant state, or instructing the apparatus to switch from a current search space to a target search space via the second receiver to perform control channel detection.

[0314] In some embodiments, the control channel indication includes at least one of the following:

[0315] Skip instructions;

[0316] Sleep indication;

[0317] • The fourth search space group.

[0318] Optionally, the above-mentioned control channel indication includes a skip indication.

[0319] The control module 1420 is further configured to control the second receiver to enter a sleep state based on the skip indication when the detected control channel carries the skip indication.

[0320] In some embodiments, the skip indication instructs the apparatus to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state. Specifically, upon receiving the skip indication, the apparatus controls the second receiver to no longer detect the control channel. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a dormant state from an active state. The apparatus then resumes receiving the first signal via the first receiver.

[0321] Optionally, the above control channel indication includes a sleep indication.

[0322] The control module 1420 is further configured to control the second receiver to enter a sleep state based on the sleep indication when the detected control channel carries a sleep indication.

[0323] In some embodiments, the sleep indication instructs the apparatus to control the second receiver to enter a sleep state. Specifically, upon receiving the sleep indication, the apparatus controls the second receiver to cease detecting the control channel. At this point, the second receiver ceases detecting the control channel and enters a sleep state from an active state. The apparatus then resumes receiving the first signal via the first receiver.

[0324] Optionally, the above control channel indication includes a search space group.

[0325] The control module 1420 is further configured to, when the detected control channel carries the fourth search space group, switch the second receiver to the fourth search space group to detect the control channel.

[0326] In some embodiments, the fourth search space group is a target location indicated by the control channel for the second receiver to detect the control channel. If the control channel carries the fourth search space group, the second receiver switches to the fourth search space group to detect the control channel.

[0327] The control module 1420 is further configured to control the second receiver to detect the control channel when the first signal reception fails.

[0328] In some embodiments, the first receiver receives the first signal, and there may be a situation of successful reception or failed reception.

[0329] The control module 1420 is further configured to control the second receiver to detect the control channel when the signal quality of the first signal does not meet the quality threshold.

[0330] In some embodiments, the first receiver receives the first signal. When the reception is successful, there is a case where the signal quality of the received first signal meets the quality threshold or the signal quality of the received first signal does not meet the quality threshold.

[0331] In some embodiments, the signal quality is determined by at least one of RSRP, RSRQ, and SINR. RSRP refers to the average value of the signal power received on all REs that carry a reference signal within any symbol. When the RSRP is large, it reflects that the received signal power is large and the signal quality is good; when the RSRP is small, it reflects that the received signal power is small and the signal quality is poor. When the RSRQ is large, it reflects that the received quality of the reference signal is good and the signal quality is good; when the RSRQ is small, it reflects that the received quality of the reference signal is poor and the signal quality is poor. SINR refers to the signal-to-noise ratio. When the signal-to-noise ratio is large, it indicates that there is less noise and the signal quality is good; when the signal-to-noise ratio is small, it indicates that there is more noise and the signal quality is poor.

[0332] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned device further includes a sending module, configured to send a response result of the first signal.

[0333] FIG15 shows a block diagram of a control channel detection device provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The device includes:

[0334] The sending module 1510 is configured to send a first signal.

[0335] In some embodiments, the first signal is used to indicate whether the terminal device needs to detect the control channel, and to indicate a method for detecting the control channel. The terminal device includes a first receiver and a second receiver. The power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver. Exemplarily, as shown in FIG2 , the first receiver may also be referred to as a wake-up receiver, and the second receiver may also be referred to as a main receiver. Optionally, the method for detecting the control channel includes at least one of a timing for detecting the control channel, a duration for detecting the control channel, a period for detecting the control channel, and a number of times the control channel is detected.

[0336] In some embodiments, the first signal is used to instruct the terminal device to wake up the second receiver when it is necessary to wake up the second receiver to detect the control channel, and to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state after the detection is completed. It should be understood that if it is not necessary to wake up the second receiver to detect the control channel, the first receiver does not wake up the second receiver, and the second receiver remains in the dormant state.

[0337] In some embodiments, the first signal may also be referred to as a wake-up signal. The wake-up signal is received by a wake-up receiver with lower power consumption. This wake-up signal is used to instruct the terminal device to wake up the main receiver with higher power consumption when it is necessary to wake up the main receiver of the terminal device to detect the control channel, and to control the main receiver to enter a dormant state after the detection is completed. It should be understood that if it is not necessary to wake up the main receiver of the terminal device to detect the control channel, the wake-up receiver will not wake up the main receiver, and the main receiver will remain in a dormant state.

[0338] In some embodiments, the control channel includes a PDCCH and a side control channel. In the embodiments of the present application, the PDCCH is used as an example for illustration.

[0339] In some embodiments, the waveforms of the first signal and the control channel are different. Optionally, the waveform of the first signal is a first waveform corresponding to a single-carrier signal, and the waveform of the control channel is a second waveform corresponding to a multi-carrier signal. Single-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses only one carrier within a fixed frequency band, such as 2-ASK. Multi-carrier refers to a modulation technique that uses multiple carriers within a fixed frequency band, such as OFDM.

[0340] In some embodiments, the first signal and the control channel have different modulation schemes. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a single-carrier modulation scheme. The control channel is obtained using a multi-carrier modulation scheme, i.e., the control signaling carried on the control channel is obtained using a multi-carrier modulation scheme. Optionally, the first signal is obtained using a target modulation scheme.

[0341] In some embodiments, the target modulation mode used to modulate the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0342] Single carrier amplitude modulation;

[0343] Single carrier frequency modulation;

[0344] Single carrier phase modulation.

[0345] In some embodiments, the first signal carries a first identifier of a target terminal device. When the first signal carries the first identifier of the target terminal device, the target terminal device receives the first signal via a first receiver. In some embodiments, the first signal carries a second identifier of a target terminal device group. When the first signal carries the second identifier of the target terminal device group, all or some of the terminal devices in the target terminal device group receive the first identifier via the first receiver.

[0346] In some embodiments, the first signal carries detection parameters of the control channel.

[0347] In some embodiments, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0348] Start detection instruction;

[0349] ·Test duration;

[0350] Testing cycle;

[0351] Number of tests;

[0352] • The first search space group.

[0353] Optionally, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a start detection indication. The start detection indication is used to indicate the start timing of the second receiver detecting the control channel. For example, the start detection indication is used to indicate the second receiver to start detecting the control channel in the first time domain unit.

[0354] In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is the time domain unit in which the first signal is received. In some embodiments, considering that it takes a certain amount of time to wake up the second receiver, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal. The value of N is a positive integer. It should be understood that, assuming that the first signal is received in the 1st time domain unit, the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal, that is, the first time domain unit is actually the N+1th time domain unit. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the N+1th time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the 1st time domain unit. In some embodiments, N is determined based on high-level configuration, or N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system.

[0355] Optionally, N is determined based on a high-level configuration. For example, assuming the first signal is received in the first time domain unit and the high-level configuration specifies N=5, the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the sixth time domain unit. Optionally, N is determined based on system parameters of the communication system. For example, if the system parameters indicate a target subcarrier spacing, based on the target subcarrier spacing, it is determined that the second receiver will begin detecting the control channel in the Nth time domain unit. Optionally, different subcarrier spacings correspond to different values ​​of N.

[0356] Optionally, the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal include a detection duration. The detection duration is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at a fixed duration. For example, the detection duration is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel between a first moment and a second moment, and the second moment is a moment after the first moment. It should be understood that the second receiver is in an active state during the detection duration and in a dormant state outside the detection duration. That is, the second receiver is in an active state between the first moment and the second moment, and after the second moment, the second receiver will enter a dormant state from an active state. In some embodiments, the detection duration is for each detection cycle, and the duration corresponding to the activation time period in each detection cycle is the detection duration.

[0357] In some embodiments, the terminal device monitors the detection duration based on the first timer, and when the first timer times out, determines that the duration of the second receiver detecting the control channel has reached the detection duration. At this time, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters the dormant state from the active state. The terminal device detects the first signal again through the first receiver. Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 7, the detection duration is equal to the duration corresponding to the activation state in each detection cycle. The second receiver is in the active state during the detection duration, and switches from the active state to the dormant state after the duration of detecting the control channel in each detection cycle reaches the detection duration.

[0358] Optionally, the detection parameters of the control channel carried by the first signal include a detection period. The detection period is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at a fixed period. For example, the detection period is used to instruct the second receiver to detect the control channel at target intervals. Optionally, the target interval is determined based on a high-level configuration, or the target interval is determined based on system parameters of the communication system.

[0359] In some embodiments, the second receiver detects the control channel during an active period indicated by a detection cycle. This active period controls or limits the time period during which the second receiver detects the control channel. It should be understood that the second receiver is in an active state during the active period and in a dormant state outside of the active period. That is, when the second receiver enters the active period, it transitions from the dormant state to the active state; at the end of the active period, it transitions back from the active state to the dormant state and resumes detecting the first signal through the first receiver.

[0360] In some embodiments, the second receiver is controlled to enter a dormant state outside of the active time period of the detection cycle and receive the first signal via the first receiver; and / or, the second receiver is controlled to enter a dormant state during the dormant time period of the detection cycle and receive the first signal via the first receiver. For example, as shown in FIG8 , each detection cycle includes an active time period corresponding to the active state and a dormant time period corresponding to the dormant state. The second receiver is in the active state during the active time period and switches from the active state to the dormant state during the dormant time period. During the dormant time period, the first receiver detects the first signal. During the active time period, the first receiver may remain awake or enter a dormant state.

[0361] Optionally, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a detection count. The detection count indicates the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel. Optionally, when the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel is within the detection count, the second receiver is in an active state. After the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel reaches the detection count, the second receiver switches from the active state to the dormant state.

[0362] In some embodiments, the second receiver detects the control channel within a detection number. The detection number is used to control or limit the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel. In some embodiments, the detection number is for each detection cycle and is used to indicate the number of detections required within the activation time period of each detection cycle.

[0363] In some embodiments, the detection count is monitored based on a second timer. When the second timer expires, it is determined that the second receiver has detected the control channel a maximum number of times. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a dormant state from an active state. The terminal device then resumes receiving the first signal via the first receiver.

[0364] In some embodiments, the number of detections is equal to the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel during the active time period of each detection cycle. For example, as shown in FIG9 , assuming the number of detections is 3, the second receiver is in an active state from the start of the first detection to the end of the third detection, and switches from the active state to the dormant state after the end of the third detection.

[0365] In some embodiments, the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes a first search space group.

[0366] In some embodiments, the first search space group is used to instruct the terminal device to switch to the first search space group to detect the control channel through the second receiver.

[0367] In some embodiments, the first search space group is a target location for the second receiver to detect the control channel indicated by the first signal. When the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal includes the first search space group, the second receiver switches to the first search space group to detect the control channel.

[0368] The sending module 1510 is further configured to send a control channel.

[0369] In some embodiments, the control channel is used to instruct the terminal device on a method for performing subsequent control channel detection. For example, this may include instructing the terminal device to control the second receiver to continue detecting the control channel, instructing the terminal device to control the second receiver to interrupt detection and enter a dormant state, or instructing the terminal device to switch from a current search space to a target search space to perform control channel detection via the second receiver.

[0370] In some embodiments, the control channel includes at least one of the following:

[0371] Skip instructions;

[0372] Sleep indication;

[0373] • The fourth search space group.

[0374] Optionally, the above control channel includes a skip indication.

[0375] In some embodiments, the skip indication is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to enter a dormant state. That is, upon receiving the skip indication, the terminal device controls the second receiver to no longer detect the control channel. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a dormant state from an active state. The terminal device then resumes receiving the first signal via the first receiver.

[0376] Optionally, the above control channel includes a sleep indication.

[0377] In some embodiments, the sleep indication is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to enter a sleep state. That is, upon receiving the sleep indication, the terminal device controls the second receiver to stop detecting the control channel. At this point, the second receiver stops detecting the control channel and enters a sleep state from an active state. The terminal device then resumes receiving the first signal through the first receiver.

[0378] Optionally, the above-mentioned control channel includes a fourth search space group.

[0379] In some embodiments, the fourth search space group is used to instruct the terminal device to switch to the fourth search space group via the second receiver to detect the control channel. The fourth search space group is the target location indicated by the control channel for the second receiver to detect the control channel. If the control channel carries the fourth search space group, the second receiver switches to the fourth search space group to detect the control channel.

[0380] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned apparatus further includes a receiving module configured to receive a response result of the first signal.

[0381] It should be noted that the device provided in the above embodiment only uses the division of the above-mentioned functional modules as an example to implement its functions. In actual applications, the above-mentioned functions can be assigned to different functional modules according to actual needs, that is, the content structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0382] FIG16 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a communication device (terminal device or network device) provided in one embodiment of the present application. The communication device may include: a processor 1601 , a receiver 1602 , a transmitter 1603 , a memory 1604 , and a bus 1605 .

[0383] The processor 1601 includes one or more processing cores. The processor 1601 executes various functional applications and information processing by running software programs and modules.

[0384] The receiver 1602 and the transmitter 1603 may be implemented as a transceiver 1606 , which may be a communication chip.

[0385] The memory 1604 is connected to the processor 1601 via a bus 1605. The memory 1604 can be used to store a computer program, and the processor 1601 is used to execute the computer program to implement the various steps performed by the Ambient IoT device, terminal device, or network device in the above method embodiment.

[0386] In addition, the memory 1604 can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, including but not limited to: RAM (Random-Access Memory) and ROM (Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), flash memory or other solid-state storage technology, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), DVD (Digital Video Disc) or other optical storage, tape cassettes, magnetic tape, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices.

[0387] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. The computer program is executed by a processor of a terminal device or a network device to implement each step in the above-mentioned control channel detection method.

[0388] In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may include: ROM, RAM, SSD (Solid State Drives), random access memory, or optical disk, etc. Among them, random access memory may include ReRAM (Resistance Random Access Memory) and DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

[0389] An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which includes a programmable logic circuit and / or program instructions. When the chip runs on a terminal device or a network device, it is used to implement each step in the above-mentioned control channel detection method.

[0390] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product or computer program, which includes computer instructions, and the computer instructions are stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The processor of the terminal device or network device reads and executes the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium to implement the various steps in the above-mentioned control channel detection method.

[0391] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in one or more of the above examples, the functions described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, these functions can be stored in a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include computer storage media and communication media, wherein communication media include any media that facilitates the transmission of computer programs from one place to another. The storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0392] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A control channel detection method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a terminal device, the terminal device includes a first receiver and a second receiver, the power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver, and the method includes: receiving a first signal by the first receiver; Based on the indication of the first signal, the second receiver is controlled to detect the control channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first signal carries a detection parameter of the control channel; The controlling the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the indication of the first signal comprises: Based on the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal, the second receiver is controlled to detect the control channel.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The detection parameters of the control channel include a start detection indication; The controlling the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal comprises: Based on the start detection indication, control the second receiver to start detecting the control channel in a first time domain unit, where the first time domain unit is an Nth time domain unit after the first signal; The value of N is a positive integer.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The N is determined based on a high-level configuration, or the N is determined based on a system parameter.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The detection parameters of the control channel include detection duration; The controlling the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal comprises: When the duration for which the second receiver detects the control channel reaches the detection duration, the second receiver is controlled to enter a sleep state and the first receiver receives the first signal.

6. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The detection parameters of the control channel include a detection period; The controlling the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal comprises: controlling the second receiver to enter a dormant state outside an activation time period in the detection cycle and to receive the first signal through the first receiver; And / or, controlling the second receiver to enter a sleep state during a sleep time period in the detection cycle and receiving the first signal through the first receiver.

7. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The detection parameters of the control channel include the number of detections; The controlling the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal comprises: When the number of times the second receiver detects the control channel reaches the number of detections, the second receiver is controlled to enter a sleep state and the first receiver receives the first signal.

8. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The detection parameters of the control channel include a first search space group; The controlling the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the detection parameter of the control channel carried by the first signal comprises: The second receiver switches to the first search space group to detect the control channel.

9. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The control channel is detected by the second receiver according to a default second search space group, or the control channel is detected by the second receiver according to a third search space group used before sleep.

10. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: End detecting the control channel by the second receiver in a second time domain unit, where the second time domain unit is the Mth time domain unit after the first time domain unit, and the first time domain unit is the Nth time domain unit after the first signal; Among them, the value of N is a positive integer, and the value of M is a positive integer.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The N is determined based on a high-level configuration, or the N is determined based on a system parameter.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The M is determined based on a high-level configuration, or the M is determined based on a system parameter.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: The method further comprises: In case the control channel is detected, subsequent control channel detection is performed based on the indication of the control channel.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that In the case where the control channel is detected, performing subsequent control channel detection based on an indication of the control channel includes at least one of the following: In a case where the detected control channel carries a skip indication, controlling the second receiver to enter a sleep state based on the skip indication; In a case where the detected control channel carries a sleep indication, controlling the second receiver to enter a sleep state based on the sleep indication; In a case where the detected control channel carries a fourth search space group, the second receiver switches to the fourth search space group to detect the control channel.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that: The method further comprises: In the case where the first signal reception fails, the second receiver is controlled to detect the control channel.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that: The method further comprises: When the signal quality of the first signal does not meet the quality threshold, the second receiver is controlled to detect the control channel.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that: The first signal and the control channel have different waveforms, and / or the first signal and the control channel have different modulation modes.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The first signal is modulated using a target modulation method, and the target modulation method includes at least one of the following: Single carrier amplitude modulation; Single carrier frequency modulation; Single carrier phase modulation.

19. A control channel detection method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a network device, and the method includes: A first signal is sent, where the first signal is used to indicate a way for a terminal device to control a second receiver to detect the control channel. The first signal is received by a first receiver of the terminal device, and power consumption of the first receiver is less than power consumption of the second receiver.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The first signal carries the detection parameter of the control channel.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The detection parameter of the control channel includes at least one of the following: Start detection instructions; Detection duration; Testing cycle; Number of tests; First search space group.

22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The control channel is sent, where the control channel is used to indicate to the terminal device a method for performing subsequent control channel detection.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that The control channel includes at least one of the following: Skip instructions; Sleep indication; Fourth search space group.

24. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that: The first signal and the control channel have different waveforms, and / or the first signal and the control channel have different modulation modes.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that The first signal is modulated using a target modulation method, and the target modulation method includes at least one of the following: Amplitude modulation; Frequency modulation; Phase modulation.

26. A control channel detection device, characterized in that: The device includes a first receiver and a second receiver, the power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver, and the device further includes: A receiving module, configured to receive a first signal through the first receiver; The control module is used to control the second receiver to detect the control channel based on the indication of the first signal.

27. A control channel detection device, characterized in that: The device comprises: A sending module is used to send a first signal, where the first signal is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to detect the control channel. The first signal is received by the first receiver of the terminal device, and the power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver.

28. A terminal device, characterized in that: The terminal device includes a first receiver and a second receiver, and the power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver; The terminal device includes a processor and a receiver connected to the processor; wherein: The receiver is configured to receive a first signal via the first receiver; The processor is configured to control the second receiver to detect the control channel based on an indication of the first signal.

29. A network device, characterized in that: The network device includes a processor and a transmitter connected to the processor; wherein: The transmitter is used to send a first signal, where the first signal is used to instruct the terminal device to control the second receiver to detect the control channel. The first signal is received by the first receiver of the terminal device, and the power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver.

30. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to be executed by a processor to implement the control channel detection method described in any one of claims 1 to 18 and / or the control channel detection method described in claims 19 to 25.

31. A chip, characterized in that: The chip includes a programmable logic circuit and / or program instructions, and when the chip runs on a terminal device or a network device, it is used to implement the control channel detection method described in any one of claims 1 to 18 above, and / or the control channel detection method described in claims 19 to 25.

32. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes computer instructions, which are stored in a computer-readable storage medium; the processor of the communication device reads the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium and executes the computer instructions, so that the communication device implements the control channel detection method described in any one of claims 1 to 18 above, and / or the control channel detection method described in claims 19 to 25.

33. A computer program, characterized in that The computer program is executed by a processor of a communication device to implement the control channel detection method described in any one of claims 1 to 18 and / or the control channel detection method described in claims 19 to 25.

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