A communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The application relates to a communication method and device. A first terminal receives first information, the first information indicating whether a first access network device supports a first field or indicating whether the first access network device supports sending paging capability information of a first field bearer to a core network device, the paging capability information being used for indicating paging capability of the terminal. The first terminal sends first paging capability information, the first paging capability information indicating the paging capability of the first terminal. The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can unify the cognition of the network side and the terminal side on the paging capability of the terminal, optimize the paging process, and improve the probability of successfully paging the terminal.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Terminals in the radio resource control (RRC) inactive or RRC idle state can be paged to communicate with network devices.

[0003] Optimizing the paging process is a problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and apparatus for optimizing the paging process and increasing the probability that a UE will be successfully paged.

[0005] Firstly, a first communication method is provided, which is applied to a terminal (which can be understood as a terminal device). That is, the method can be executed by the terminal device, or by other devices including terminal device functions, or by a chip system (or chip) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of the terminal device, such as being disposed within the terminal device. In the following text, the method is taken as being executed by a terminal, which is referred to as a first terminal. The method includes: receiving first information, the first information indicating whether a first access network device supports a first field, or indicating whether the first access network device supports sending paging capability information carried by the first field to a core network device, the paging capability information indicating the paging capability of the terminal; and sending first paging capability information, the first paging capability information indicating the paging capability of the first terminal.

[0006] In this embodiment, the first access network device can indicate whether it supports the first field or whether it supports sending paging capability information to the core network device via first information. For example, if the first access network device supports the first field or supports sending paging capability information to the core network device, it means that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information of the first terminal. Therefore, the technical solution of this embodiment can unify the network side's and terminal side's understanding of the terminal's paging capability, optimize the paging process, and increase the probability of the terminal being successfully paging.

[0007] In one optional implementation, sending the first paging capability information includes: if the first information indicates that the first access network device supports the first field, or indicates that the first access network device supports sending the first paging capability information, then the first paging capability information is sent; or, if the first terminal has paging capability, then the first paging capability information is sent. The first terminal can send the first paging capability information based on the first information, or determine whether to send the first paging capability information based on the first information, thereby making the transmission of the first paging capability information more efficient and saving signaling overhead. Alternatively, the first terminal may not send the first paging capability information based on the first information, which simplifies the processing logic of the first terminal.

[0008] In one optional implementation, the paging capability of the first terminal includes one or more of the following: whether the first terminal supports LP-WUS; whether the first terminal corresponds to one or more frequency bands supported by LP-WUS; whether the first terminal corresponds to one or more bandwidths supported by LP-WUS; whether the first terminal corresponds to one or more processing latencies supported by LP-WUS; whether the first terminal supports PEI; whether the first terminal corresponds to one or more frequency bands supported by PEI; or, whether the first terminal supports RRC inactive PO determination function. In addition, the paging capability of the first terminal may also include more items, such as paging-related capabilities that may be expanded in the future, without limitation.

[0009] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: determining whether to use the paging capability of the first terminal to perform paging based on the first information. For example, regardless of whether the first terminal sends the first paging capability information based on the first information, the first terminal can determine whether it can use the paging capability based on the first information. For example, if the first terminal sends the first paging capability information based on the first information, then if the first terminal sends the first paging capability information, it can use the paging capability; if the first terminal does not send the first paging information, it cannot use the paging capability. As another example, if the first terminal does not send the first paging capability information based on the first information, then if the first terminal sends the first paging capability information under an access network device that supports the first field, it can use the paging capability; if the first terminal sends the first paging capability information under an access network device that does not support the first field, or if the first terminal does not send the first paging capability information, it cannot use the paging capability. Therefore, by using the first information, the first terminal can clearly determine whether it can use the paging capability, or whether the core network device has obtained the paging capability, thereby ensuring that the core network device and the first terminal have a unified understanding of the first terminal's paging capability.

[0010] In one optional implementation, determining whether to use the paging capability of the first terminal to perform paging based on the first information includes: if the first information indicates that the first access network device supports the first field, or indicates that the first access network device supports sending paging capability information carried by the first field, then the paging capability of the first terminal is used to perform paging; or, if the first information indicates that the first access network device does not support the first field, or indicates that the first access network device does not support sending paging capability information carried by the first field, then it is determined that the paging capability of the first terminal will not be used to perform paging. The first information enables the first terminal to clearly understand whether it can use the paging capability, or to clarify whether the core network device has obtained the paging capability, thereby ensuring a unified understanding of the paging capability of the first terminal between the core network device and the first terminal.

[0011] In one alternative implementation, the first information is included in the UE capability query message or in a system message. Alternatively, the first information may also be included in other messages.

[0012] In one alternative implementation, the first paging capability information is included in the UE capability information message. Alternatively, the first paging capability information may also be included in other messages.

[0013] Secondly, a second communication method is provided, which is applied to the network device side. That is, the method can be executed by a network device, or by other devices including network device functions, or by a chip system (or chip) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of the network device. This chip system or functional module is, for example, located within the network device. In the following text, the method being executed by a network device is taken as an example. This network device includes, for example, an access network device, which may be referred to as a first access network device, such as a base station. The method includes: sending first information, the first information indicating whether the first access network device supports a first field, or indicating whether the first access network device supports sending paging capability information to a core network device, the first field carrying the paging capability information indicating the paging capability of a terminal; receiving first paging capability information indicating the paging capability of a first terminal; and if the first access network device supports the first field, or supports sending the paging capability information to the core network device, sending the first paging capability information to the core network device.

[0014] In one optional implementation, the paging capability of the first terminal includes one or more of the following: whether the first terminal supports LP-WUS; whether the first terminal corresponds to one or more frequency bands supported by LP-WUS; whether the first terminal corresponds to one or more bandwidths supported by LP-WUS; whether the first terminal corresponds to one or more processing delays supported by LP-WUS; whether the first terminal supports PEI; whether the first terminal corresponds to one or more frequency bands supported by PEI; or whether the first terminal supports RRC inactive state PO determination function.

[0015] In one alternative implementation, the first information is included in the UE capability query message or in a system message.

[0016] In one alternative implementation, the first paging capability information is included in the UE capability information message.

[0017] For the technical effects of the second aspect or various alternative implementation methods, please refer to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or corresponding implementation methods.

[0018] Thirdly, a third communication method is provided, which is applied to the terminal (which can be understood as a terminal device). That is, the method can be executed by the terminal device, or by other devices including terminal device functions, or by a chip system (or chip) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of the terminal device. This chip system or functional module is, for example, located within the terminal device. In the following text, the method is taken as being executed by a terminal, which is referred to as, for example, the first terminal. The method includes: sending fourth information, which is used to request confirmation of whether the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is complete.

[0019] For example, if the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is incomplete, the first access network device can also update the paging capability information of the first terminal to the core network device, so that the core network device can know the complete paging capability of the first terminal, and thus the network side and the first terminal side can have a consistent understanding of the paging capability of the first terminal.

[0020] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: receiving fifth information, the fifth information indicating that the paging capability information of the first terminal stored by the core network device is complete. If the paging capability information of the first terminal stored by the core network device is complete, for example, if the paging capability information of the first terminal stored by the core network device was originally complete, or if the first access network device updated the paging capability information of the first terminal stored by the core network device to the core network device, then the first access network device can inform the first terminal, so that the first terminal understands that the paging capability information of the first terminal and the core network device have been aligned.

[0021] Fourthly, a fourth communication method is provided, which is applied to the network device side. That is, the method can be executed by a network device, or by other devices including network device functions, or by a chip system (or chip) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of the network device. This chip system or functional module is, for example, located within the network device. In the following text, the method being executed by a network device is taken as an example. This network device includes, for example, an access network device, which may be referred to as a first access network device, such as a base station. The method includes: sending a first message to a core network device, the first message including third paging capability information, the third paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of a first terminal, and the first message not indicating the wireless capability of the first terminal.

[0022] The first access network device can send third paging capability information to the core network device. This third paging capability information may be, for example, the complete paging capability information of the first terminal. This allows the core network device to know the complete paging capability of the first terminal, thus ensuring consistency between the network side and the first terminal side in their understanding of the first terminal's paging capability. Furthermore, the first message may not indicate the first terminal's radio capabilities, thereby reducing the overhead of the first message.

[0023] In one optional implementation, the first message does not indicate the wireless capabilities of the first terminal, including: the first message includes wireless capability information of the first terminal, and the wireless capability information is invalid; or, the first message does not include a second field, the second field being used to indicate the wireless capabilities of the terminal; or, the first message includes a second field, and the second field is empty, the second field being used to indicate the wireless capabilities of the terminal. The first message not indicating the wireless capabilities of the first terminal can be implemented in various ways, offering considerable flexibility.

[0024] In one optional implementation, sending a first message to the core network device includes: determining that the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is inconsistent with the third paging capability information, and then sending the first message to the core network device. In this implementation, if the first access network device determines that the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is inconsistent with the third paging capability information, or determines that the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is incomplete, then the first access network device may send the third paging capability information to the core network device; however, if the first access network device determines that the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is consistent with the third paging capability information, or determines that the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is complete, then the first access network device does not need to send the third paging capability information to the core network device, thereby reducing signaling overhead and also reducing the transmission of redundant information.

[0025] In one optional implementation, the first message includes a third field, in which the third paging capability information is included. The third field instructs the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, where the second field indicates the radio capability of the first terminal; or, the third field instructs the core network device not to replace the local radio capability information of the first terminal with the radio capability information included in the first message. The third paging capability information can be carried using a newly defined third field, and the third field can also instruct the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message. Therefore, the core network device can ignore the radio capability information in the first message based on the third field.

[0026] In one optional implementation, the first message includes a fourth field, in which the third paging capability information is included, and the fourth field is used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal. The first message also includes a fifth field, wherein the fifth field is used to instruct the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, where the second field indicates the radio capability of the first terminal; or, the fifth field is used to instruct the core network device not to replace the local radio capability information of the first terminal with the radio capability information included in the first message. This approach allows the fourth field, originally used to carry paging capability information, to carry the third paging capability information, which is beneficial for compatibility with existing technologies. Furthermore, the newly defined fifth field can instruct the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, thus allowing the core network device to ignore the radio capability information in the first message based on the fifth field.

[0027] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: receiving fourth information from the first terminal, the fourth information being used to request confirmation of whether the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is complete. The first access network device may proactively update the paging capability information of the first terminal to the core network device, or it may update the paging capability information of the first terminal to the core network device upon receiving a request from the first terminal. Updating the paging capability information of the first terminal to the core network device only upon receiving a request from the first terminal can reduce the burden on the first access network device.

[0028] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: sending fifth information to the first terminal, the fifth information indicating that the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is complete. If the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is complete, for example, if the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device was originally complete, or if the first access network device updated the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device, then the first access network device can inform the first terminal, so that the first terminal understands that the paging capability information of the first terminal and the core network device have been aligned.

[0029] Fifthly, a fifth communication method is provided, which is applied to the network device side. That is, the method can be executed by a network device, or by other devices including network device functions, or by a chip system (or chip) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of the network device. This chip system or functional module is, for example, located within the network device. In the following description, the method being executed by a network device is taken as an example. This network device includes, for example, a core network device, such as an AMF (Advanced Management Function), or other core network devices. The method includes: receiving a first message, the first message including third paging capability information, the third paging capability information indicating the paging capability of a first terminal, and the first message not indicating the wireless capability of the first terminal.

[0030] In one optional implementation, the first message does not indicate the wireless capabilities of the first terminal, including: the third paging capability information includes the wireless capability information of the first terminal, the wireless capability information indicating the wireless capabilities of the first terminal, and the wireless capability information being invalid; or, the first message does not include a second field, the second field being used to indicate the wireless capabilities of the first terminal; or, the first message includes a second field, and the second field is empty, the second field being used to indicate the wireless capabilities of the first terminal.

[0031] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: sending second paging capability information to an access network device, the second paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal, wherein the third paging capability information is the complete second paging capability information.

[0032] In one optional implementation, the first message includes a third field, in which the third paging capability information is included. The third field is used to instruct the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, which indicates the radio capability of the first terminal; or, the third field is used to instruct the core network device not to replace the local radio capability information of the first terminal with the radio capability information included in the first message.

[0033] In one optional implementation, the first message includes a fourth field, in which the third paging capability information is included, the fourth field indicating the paging capability of the first terminal; the first message also includes a fifth field, wherein the fifth field instructs the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, the second field indicating the radio capability of the first terminal; or, the fifth field instructs the core network device not to replace the local radio capability information of the first terminal with the radio capability information included in the first message.

[0034] Regarding the technical effects of the fifth aspect or various alternative implementations, refer to the description of the technical effects of the third aspect or corresponding implementations, and / or refer to the description of the technical effects of the fourth aspect or corresponding implementations.

[0035] Sixthly, a communication device is provided. The communication device can realize the functions of the terminal device described in the first or third aspect above. The communication device possesses the functions of the aforementioned terminal device. The communication device is, for example, a terminal equipment, or other equipment including the functions of a terminal equipment, or a chip system (or chip) or other functional module, which can realize the functions of the terminal device, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, disposed in the terminal equipment. In one optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module). The transceiver unit can realize both transmitting and receiving functions. When the transceiver unit realizes the transmitting function, it can be called a transmitting unit (sometimes also called a transmitting module), and when the transceiver unit realizes the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also called a receiving module). The transmitting unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional module, which is called the transceiver unit and can realize both transmitting and receiving functions; or, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit can be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a collective term for these functional modules.

[0036] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is configured to receive first information, the first information being used to indicate whether the first access network device supports the first field, or to indicate whether the first access network device supports sending paging capability information carried by the first field to the core network device, the paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of the terminal; the transceiver unit (or the sending unit) is configured to send the first paging capability information, the first paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal.

[0037] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the sending unit) is configured to send fourth information, which is used to request confirmation of whether the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is complete.

[0038] In an alternative embodiment, the communication device further includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module), and the processing unit is configured to couple with the storage unit and execute programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform the functions of the terminal device described in the first or third aspect above.

[0039] A seventh aspect provides a communication device. The communication device can implement the functions of the network device described in the second, fourth, or fifth aspects above. The communication device possesses the functions of the aforementioned network device. The communication device is, for example, a network device, or other device including network device functions, or a system-on-a-chip (or chip) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of a network device, and the system-on-a-chip or functional module is, for example, disposed within a network device. The network device includes, for example, access network equipment and / or core network equipment. In one optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module). For details on the implementation of the transceiver unit, please refer to the description in the sixth aspect.

[0040] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the sending unit) is configured to send first information, the first information being used to indicate whether the first access network device supports a first field, or to indicate whether the first access network device supports sending paging capability information to the core network device, the first field being used to carry the paging capability information, the paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of the terminal; the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is configured to receive the first paging capability information, the first paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal; if the first access network device supports the first field, or supports sending the paging capability information to the core network device, the transceiver unit (or the sending unit) is further configured to send the first paging capability information to the core network device.

[0041] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the sending unit) is configured to send a first message to the core network device, the first message including third paging capability information, the third paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal, and the first message not indicating the wireless capability of the first terminal.

[0042] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is configured to receive a first message, the first message including third paging capability information, the third paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal, and the first message not indicating the wireless capability of the first terminal.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, the communication device further includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module), and the processing unit is configured to couple with the storage unit and execute programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform the functions of the network device described in the second, fourth, or fifth aspects above.

[0044] Eighthly, a communication device is provided, which may be a terminal device or a chip or chip system for use in a terminal device. The communication device includes a processor configured to perform the methods executed by the first terminal as described in the preceding aspects. Optionally, the processor is coupled to a memory, which, when reading the computer program or instructions, causes the communication device to perform the methods executed by the first terminal as described in the preceding aspects. The memory is used to store the computer program or instructions and may be included in the communication device or disposed externally. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface from which the processor calls and runs the computer program or instructions.

[0045] A ninth aspect provides a communication device, which can be a network device or a chip or chip system for use in a network device. The communication device includes a processor configured to perform the methods described in the preceding aspects by a first access network device or a core network device. Optionally, the processor is coupled to a memory, which, when reading a computer program or instructions, causes the communication device to perform the methods described in the preceding aspects by the first access network device or the core network device. The memory is used to store the computer program or instructions and can be included in the communication device or disposed externally. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface from which the processor calls and runs the computer program or instructions.

[0046] A tenth aspect provides a communication system including a first access network device. The first access network device is configured to perform the method described in the second aspect above. For example, the first access network device can be implemented using the communication apparatus described in the seventh or ninth aspect.

[0047] Optionally, the communication system may further include a first terminal for executing the method described in the first aspect. For example, the first terminal may be implemented using the communication device described in the sixth or eighth aspect.

[0048] Eleventhly, another communication system is provided, comprising a first access network device and a core network device. The first access network device is used to perform the method described in the fourth aspect above, and the core network device is used to perform the method described in the fifth aspect above. For example, the first access network device can be implemented using the communication apparatus described in the seventh or ninth aspect, and the core network device can be implemented using the communication apparatus described in the seventh or ninth aspect.

[0049] Optionally, the communication system may further include a first terminal for performing the method described in the third aspect above. For example, the first terminal may be implemented using the communication device described in the sixth or eighth aspect.

[0050] In a twelfth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, cause the methods performed by the first terminal and / or the first access network device and / or the core network device in the foregoing aspects to be implemented.

[0051] In a thirteenth aspect, a computer program product containing instructions is provided, which, when the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, causes the methods described in the above aspects to be implemented. Attached Figure Description

[0052] Figure 1 and Figure 2 These are schematic diagrams of two different structures of the access network equipment in the embodiments of this application;

[0053] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario according to an embodiment of this application;

[0054] Figures 4-6 Flowcharts of several communication methods provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0055] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of an apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0056] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0057] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] In this application embodiment, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, refers to "singular nouns or plural nouns," that is, "one or more." "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0059] The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. Furthermore, the numbering of steps in the various embodiments described in this application is only to distinguish different steps and is not used to limit the order in which the steps are performed.

[0060] The following explanations of some terms or concepts used in the embodiments of this application are provided to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0061] In this embodiment of the application, the terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver function, which may be a fixed device, a mobile device, a handheld device (e.g., a mobile phone), a wearable device, an in-vehicle device, or a wireless device (e.g., a communication module, a modem, or a chip system, etc.) built into the above devices. The terminal devices are used to connect people, objects, and machines, and can be widely used in various scenarios, including but not limited to the following: sensing scenarios, cellular communication, device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine / machine-type (M2M / MTC) communication, Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical care, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart city, drones, robots, and terminal devices in indoor commercial scenarios (such as mobile phone screen mirroring, file sharing, and mobile phone to VR glasses). When the terminal equipment is applied to V2X, it can also be called a V2X device, such as a smart car, digital car, unmanned car, driverless car, pilotless car, or automobile, self-driving car, or autonomous car, pure electric vehicle (EV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), range-extended electric vehicle (REEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), new energy vehicle, or roadside unit (RSU). The terminal equipment can also be a device used in D2D communication, such as an electricity meter or water meter.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the application, the terminal device can also be a terminal device in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. IoT is an important component of the future development of information technology. Its main technical feature is to connect objects to the network through communication technology, thereby realizing an intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and object-to-object interconnection.

[0063] The various terminal devices described above, if located in a vehicle (e.g., placed inside or installed inside a vehicle), can all be considered in-vehicle terminal devices, also known as on-board units (OBUs). The terminal device of this application can also be an in-vehicle module, in-vehicle component, in-vehicle chip, or in-vehicle unit built into a vehicle as one or more components or units. The vehicle can implement the methods of this application through the built-in in-vehicle module, in-vehicle component, in-vehicle chip, or in-vehicle unit.

[0064] The terminal equipment may sometimes be referred to as UE, terminal, access station, UE station, remote station, wireless communication equipment, or user equipment, etc.

[0065] In this application embodiment, the device used to implement the terminal device function can be a terminal device, which can be a terminal device or a device capable of supporting the terminal device in implementing the function, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the terminal device. When the device used to implement the terminal device function is a device capable of supporting the terminal device in implementing the function, receiving / transmitting can be understood as input / output, that is, the device communicates with other devices, modules, or components. In the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment, the example of a terminal device being used to implement the terminal device function is used to describe the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment.

[0066] The network devices in this application embodiment include, for example, access network devices (or access network elements) and / or core network devices (or core network elements). The access network devices are devices with wireless transceiver capabilities, used to communicate with the terminal devices. The access network devices include, but are not limited to, base stations (base transceiver stations (BTS), Node B, evolved Node B (eNodeB) / eNB, or the next generation Node B (gNodeB) / gNB), transmission reception points (TRPs), base stations evolved from the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), access nodes in wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems, wireless relay nodes, wireless backhaul nodes, etc. The base stations can be: macro base stations, micro base stations, pico base stations, small cells, relay stations, etc. Multiple base stations can support networks using the same access technology or networks using different access technologies. A base station can contain one or more co-located or non-co-located transmission and reception points. The access network equipment can also be a radio controller, centralized unit (CU), and / or distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radioaccess network (CRAN) scenario. The access network equipment can also be a server, etc. For example, the network equipment in V2X technology can be a roadside unit (RSU). The following description uses a base station as an example to illustrate the access network equipment. A base station can communicate with a terminal device, or it can communicate with a terminal device through a relay station. A terminal device can communicate with multiple base stations in different access technologies. The core network equipment is used to implement functions such as mobility management, data processing, session management, policy and billing. The names of the equipment implementing core network functions may differ in systems using different access technologies; this application does not limit this.Taking the 5th generation (5G) mobile communication technology system as an example, the core network equipment includes, for example, access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), policy control function (PCF), or user plane function (UPF), etc.

[0067] In a CU-DU architecture, or in an open RAN (ORAN) system, access network equipment may include one or more logical network elements such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). CUs and DUs can be separate entities or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs may be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs). One possible structure for access network equipment can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 1 Among them, core network equipment and access network equipment can communicate through backhaul links; within access network equipment, CU and DU can communicate through midhaul links, and DU and RU can communicate through fronthaul links.

[0068] Alternatively, another architecture for the access network equipment can be referenced. Figure 2 , Figure 2Taking access network equipment implemented through chips as an example, such as a RAN chip, the RAN chip may include a CU, DU, and RU. The CU can perform L2 and L3 functions, etc.; the DU can perform L1 functions and some L2 functions, etc.; and the RU can perform L1 computing and radio frequency (RF) digital functions, etc. The CU communicates with the core network equipment through a backhaul interface, which carries the traffic between the CU and the core network equipment. The CU may include a central processing unit (CPU) based on x86 or ARM architecture, as well as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), or other accelerators, etc. The CPU and the FPGA, GPU, or other accelerators can communicate through a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) interface.

[0069] The CU and DU communicate via a midhaul interface, which carries the traffic between the CU and DU. The DU may include an x86 or ARM architecture CPU, as well as FPGAs, GPUs, or other accelerators, which can communicate with the FPGA, GPU, or other accelerators via a PCIe interface.

[0070] The DU and RU communicate via a fronthaul interface, which carries the traffic between the DU and RU. If the access network equipment uses an integrated DU, the integrated DU can include the functions of both the DU and RU, and the RAN may no longer need to include a separate RU. The RU may include a RAN fronthaul processing unit, a digital processing unit, and an RF processing unit. The RAN fronthaul processing unit is implemented, for example, using an FPGA or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The digital processing unit is implemented, for example, using an FPGA or an ASIC.

[0071] The RU can be connected to an antenna to communicate with the UE via the antenna.

[0072] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called an open CU (O-CU), DU can also be called an open DU (O-DU), CU-CP can also be called an open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), CU-UP can also be called an open CU-UP (O-CU-CP), and RU can also be called an open RU (O-RU). For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples in its embodiments. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in the embodiments of this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0073] The CU and DU can be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement. For example, the CU can be configured to implement the functions of the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer and above (such as the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer and / or the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer); the DU can be configured to implement the functions of protocol layers below the PDCP layer (such as one or more of the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, or Physical (PHY) layer). Alternatively, the CU can be configured to implement the functions of protocol layers above the PDCP layer (such as the RRC and / or SDAP layers), and the DU can be configured to implement the functions of protocol layers below the PDCP layer (such as one or more of the RLC, MAC, or PHY layers).

[0074] The above CU and DU configurations are merely examples; the functions of the CU and DU can be configured as needed. For instance, the CU or DU can be configured to have more protocol layer functions, or only some protocol layer processing functions. For example, some RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions above the RLC layer can be placed in the CU, while the remaining RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions below the RLC layer can be placed in the DU. Furthermore, the functions of the CU or DU can be divided according to service type or other system requirements, such as by latency. Functions that require low latency can be placed in the DU, while functions that do not require low latency can be placed in the CU.

[0075] DU and RU can cooperate to implement the functions of the PHY layer. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of DU and RU can be configured in various ways depending on the design. For example, a DU can be configured to implement baseband functions, and an RU can be configured to implement mid-RF functions. Another example is that a DU can be configured to implement higher-level functions in the PHY layer, and an RU can be configured to implement lower-level functions in the PHY layer, or to implement both lower-level and RF functions. Higher-level functions in the physical layer can include a portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the MAC layer, while lower-level functions in the physical layer can include another portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the mid-RF side.

[0076] In this application embodiment, the apparatus for implementing the functions of a network device can be referred to as a network apparatus. This network apparatus can be a network element, a network device, or an apparatus capable of supporting the network device or network element in implementing the function, such as a chip system. This apparatus can be installed within the network device. In the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment, the apparatus for implementing the functions of a network device is described as a network device (for example, the apparatus for implementing the functions of an access network device is an access network device, and the apparatus for implementing the functions of a core network device is a core network device).

[0077] The technical features involved in the embodiments of this application are described below.

[0078] For core network paging, the core network device sends message A (e.g., a paging message) to the access network device. Message A includes information about the UE to be paged, as well as the UE's paging capability information (e.g., UE radiocapability for paging information). This paging capability information originates from the UE itself, is sent to the access network device by the UE, and then forwarded to the core network device by the access network device. For example, the UE sends message B (e.g., a UE capability information message) to the access network device. Message B includes a container for UE radiopaging capability information (e.g., UE-RadioPagingInfo). This paging capability information is contained within the container. Upon receiving message B from the UE, the access network device can retrieve the UE radiopaging capability information container from it, carry it in message C (e.g., a UE radio paging information message), and then send message C to the core network device.

[0079] Optionally, the UE's paging capability information may include, for example, paging capability information related to low-power wake-upsignal (LP-WUS), which can indicate LP-WUS-related paging capabilities. In addition to LP-WUS-related paging capabilities, the UE may also have other paging capabilities, such as paging early indication (PEI), inactive PO determination, and paging-related functions that may be introduced in the future. These paging capabilities can be processed in a similar manner; for example, the capability information related to these paging capabilities can also be included in the UE's radio paging capability information container and exchanged between the UE, access network equipment, and core network equipment using the same signaling procedures.

[0080] The above execution steps require the access network device to support the paging capability indicated by the paging capability information. However, the access network device may not actually support this paging capability. If the access network device does not support the paging capability, it cannot recognize the UE's radio paging capability information container, and therefore cannot send the UE's paging capability information to the core network device. In this case, the core network device cannot obtain the UE's paging capability information, and therefore cannot page the UE according to the paging capability indicated by the paging capability information. However, the UE believes that the core network device has already obtained the paging capability information, so the UE will listen for paging according to the paging capability indicated by the paging capability information. Therefore, the inconsistency between the UE's and the core network device's understanding of the UE's paging capability may result in the UE being unable to be paged.

[0081] Therefore, in this embodiment, the first access network device can indicate whether it supports the first field or whether it supports sending paging capability information to the core network device through the first information. For example, if the first access network device supports the first field or supports sending paging capability information to the core network device, it means that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information of the first UE. It is evident that the technical solution of this embodiment can unify the network side's and UE side's understanding of the UE's paging capability, optimize the paging process, and increase the probability of the UE being successfully paging.

[0082] The communication method provided in this application can be applied to fourth-generation (4G) communication systems, such as long-term evolution (LTE) communication systems, as well as 5G communication systems, such as 5G new radio (NR) communication systems, or various communication systems evolving after 5G, such as future communication systems. The method provided in this application can also be applied to Bluetooth systems, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems, long-range radio (LoRa) systems, device-to-device (D2D) or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems. The method provided in this application can be applied to terrestrial networks (TN) or non-terrestrial networks (NTN), such as satellite communication systems, for example, transparent satellite architectures, backhaul satellite architectures, or regenerative satellite architectures, etc., without limitation.

[0083] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of a communication network applicable to embodiments of this application. The communication network includes core network equipment, access network equipment, and a UE. The core network equipment can page the UE through the access network equipment.

[0084] The network architecture and communication process described in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0085] The method provided in the embodiments of this application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In various embodiments of this application, the core network device is, for example, an AMF (Active Network Provider), or other core network devices capable of performing paging. In various embodiments of this application, terms such as "paging capability information," "paging information," "wireless paging capability information," and "UE wireless paging capability information" can be interchanged or used with other names; terms such as "wireless capability information," "UE capability information," and "UE wireless capability information" can be interchanged or used with other names. In the accompanying drawings corresponding to various embodiments of this application, steps indicated by dashed lines are optional steps.

[0086] The various embodiments of this application can be applied to Figure 3 The network architecture shown. For example, the first UE described in various embodiments of this application may be... Figure 3 The UE shown; the first access network device or access network device described in the various embodiments of this application may be Figure 3 The access network device shown; the core network device described in the various embodiments of this application may be... Figure 3 The core network equipment shown is shown.

[0087] This application provides a communication method, please refer to the embodiments therein. Figure 4 Here is a flowchart of the method.

[0088] S401. The first access network device sends the first information. Correspondingly, the first UE receives the first information.

[0089] The first information can indicate whether the first access network device supports the first field, and / or whether the first access network device supports sending paging capability information to the core network device. Alternatively, the first information can indicate whether the first cell supports the first field, and / or whether the first cell supports sending paging capability information to the core network device. The first cell can be the cell where the first access network device sends the first information. That is, the first information can be indicated at the access network device level or at the cell level. In this embodiment, the first information is indicated at the access network device level. The paging capability information can be carried in the first field, and this paging capability information can indicate the UE's paging capability.

[0090] The first field can be, for example, a UE radio paging information (ue-RadioPagingInfo) container, or other fields capable of carrying paging capability information. Whether the first access network device supports the first field can be understood as whether the first access network device supports parsing the first field, or whether the first access network device understands the first field, or whether the first access network device can recognize the first field, etc. The following description will use "whether the first access network device supports the first field" as an example. For example, the first UE can send the UE radio paging capability information container to the access network device. This UE radio paging capability information container can include information indicating the paging capabilities of the first UE, such as first paging capability information. If the access network device supports the first field, it can send the UE radio paging capability information container to the core network device, thereby allowing the core network device to obtain the first paging capability information; however, if the access network device does not support the first field, it cannot send the UE radio paging capability information container to the core network device, thus preventing the core network device from obtaining the first paging capability information. Therefore, if the first access network device supports the first field, it indicates that the first access network device can send information indicating the paging capability of the first UE (e.g., first paging capability information) to the core network device, or it indicates that the core network device can obtain information indicating the paging capability of the first UE (e.g., first paging capability information); while if the first access network device does not support the first field, it indicates that the first access network device cannot send information indicating the paging capability of the first UE to the core network device, or it indicates that the core network device cannot obtain information indicating the paging capability of the first UE.

[0091] Optionally, the paging capability of the first UE may include one or more of the following: whether the first UE supports LP-WUS; whether the first UE corresponds to one or more frequency bands supported by LP-WUS; whether the first UE corresponds to one or more bandwidths supported by LP-WUS; whether the first UE corresponds to one or more processing delays supported by LP-WUS; whether the first UE supports paging early indication (PEI); whether the first UE corresponds to one or more frequency bands supported by PEI; or whether the first UE supports the RRC inactive state paging occasion (PO) determination function. In addition to the above, the paging capability may also include other paging capabilities that the first UE may possess, such as paging capabilities that may be expanded in the future, without specific limitations.

[0092] As an optional implementation, the paging capabilities described above can be further divided into multiple groups. For example, one group of paging capabilities includes paging capabilities related to LP-WUS, which may include one or more of the following: whether the first UE supports LP-WUS, the frequency band of the first UE corresponding to LP-WUS, the bandwidth of the first UE corresponding to LP-WUS, or the processing delay of the first UE corresponding to LP-WUS. Wherein, "the frequency band of the first UE corresponding to LP-WUS" indicates that the first UE can support LP-WUS on that frequency band. "The bandwidth of the first UE corresponding to LP-WUS" indicates the bandwidth of the frequency band corresponding to LP-WUS for the UE. "The processing delay of the first UE corresponding to LP-WUS" indicates the delay corresponding to the frequency band of LP-WUS for the UE, which may include one or more of the following: the delay of the first UE switching from a low-power radio (LR) to a main radio (MR), the delay of the first UE switching from MR to LR, or the delay of the first UE switching between LR and MR. Wherein, the first UE uses the LR to receive LP-WUS.

[0093] For example, a set of paging capabilities includes paging capabilities related to PEI. This set of paging capabilities may include whether the first UE supports PEI, and / or the frequency band of the first UE corresponding to PEI. Here, the first UE corresponding to the frequency band of PEI means that the first UE can support PEI on that frequency band.

[0094] For example, a set of paging capabilities includes paging capabilities related to PO (Point of Purchase), such as the RRC inactive state PO determination function. If the first UE has the RRC inactive state PO determination function, it means that when the first UE is in the RRC inactive state, it can use a first formula to calculate the PO of the first UE. The first formula may differ from the legacy formula used to calculate PO, or the parameters used in the first formula may differ from those used in the legacy formula. For example, the same parameter i_s as in the RRC idle state can be used to determine the PO in the RRC inactive state, where parameter i_s = floor(UE_ID / N) mod Ns, UE_ID is the modulo value of the 5G system (S) - Temporary Mobile Subscription Identifier (5G-S-TMSI), N is the total number of paging frames in a paging cycle, and Ns is the number of POs in a paging frame.

[0095] For other UEs besides the first UE, the paging capability of those other UEs is similar, so I won't go into details.

[0096] In this embodiment, although the first UE may have multiple paging capabilities (e.g., one or more of the aforementioned paging capabilities), the first information does not need to indicate each paging capability separately. Instead, it can uniformly indicate whether the first access network device supports the first field and / or whether the first access network device supports sending paging capability information to the core network device. For example, the first information can occupy one bit. If the value of this bit is "1" or "true", or if the bit is present, it indicates that the first access network device supports the first field and / or that the first access network device supports sending paging capability information to the core network device. If the value of this bit is "0" or "false", or if the bit is absent, it indicates that the first access network device does not support the first field and / or that the first access network device does not support sending paging capability information to the core network device. Therefore, this embodiment can uniformly indicate the various paging capabilities of the first UE through the first information. Thus, this solution is more universal and forward compatible, and the problem of misalignment between the UE side and the network side for various paging capabilities can be solved with simple indication.

[0097] Optionally, the first information may be included in the RRC message, or the first information may be the RRC message itself. The RRC message may be a dedicated message, for example, a UE capability enquiry message.

[0098] Alternatively, the RRC message may be a broadcast message, for example, a system message such as system information block (SIB) 1.

[0099] S402, the first UE sends first paging capability information. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the first paging capability information.

[0100] The first paging capability information can indicate the paging capability of the first UE. For the paging capability of the first UE, please refer to the relevant introduction in S401.

[0101] Optionally, the first paging capability information may be included in the UE capability information message. For example, the first access network device sends a UE capability query message to the first UE, which includes the first information; the first UE may send a UE capability information message to the first access network device, which includes the first paging capability information. As another example, the first access network device broadcasts a system message for a cell, which includes the first information; when the first UE accesses the cell, the first access network device queries the first UE's capabilities, and the first UE may send a UE capability information message to the first access network device, which includes the first paging capability information.

[0102] Optionally, the first paging capability information may be included in a first field, such as a UE radio paging capability information container (ue-RadioPagingInfo). For example, the UE capability information message includes a UE radio paging capability information container, which may include the first paging capability information.

[0103] As an optional implementation, the first UE can send first paging capability information based on the first information, or decide whether to send the first paging capability information based on the first information. For example, if the first information indicates that the first access network device supports the first field, or indicates that the first access network device supports forwarding the first paging capability information, then the first UE can send the first paging capability information; or, if the first information indicates that the first access network device does not support the first field, or indicates that the first access network device does not support forwarding the first paging capability information, then the first UE may not send the first paging capability information. This can also be understood as follows: if the first UE determines that the first access network device can send the first paging capability information to the core network device for storage, then it can send the first paging capability information to the first access network device; however, if it determines that the first access network device cannot send the first paging capability information to the core network device for storage, then even if the first UE sends the first paging capability information, the first access network device cannot recognize it, and therefore will not send it to the core network device for storage, so the first UE may not send the first paging capability information. This makes the transmission of the first paging capability information more efficient, reduces the transmission of redundant information, and ensures that the first UE and the core network equipment have a consistent understanding of the first UE's paging capability.

[0104] Alternatively, whether the first UE sends the first paging capability information may be unrelated to the first information, or the first information may not be used to decide whether to send the first paging capability information. For example, the first UE may decide whether to send the first paging capability information based on its own paging capabilities. For instance, if the first UE has paging capabilities (e.g., the first UE has one or more paging capabilities described in S401), then the first UE may send the first paging capability information; or, if the first UE does not have paging capabilities (e.g., the first UE does not have any of the paging capabilities described in S401), then the first UE may not send the first paging capability information. Alternatively, the first UE may also decide whether to send the first paging capability information based on factors other than the first information, without restriction. In this case, regardless of whether the first access network device supports the first field, the first UE may send the first paging capability information or may not send it. However, since the first UE receives the first information, if the first UE sends the first paging capability information, the first UE can determine whether the first access network device can send the first information to the core network device for storage. Therefore, the first UE and the core network device can still have the same understanding of the first UE's paging capability.

[0105] As can be seen from the above description, S402 is an optional step, meaning that the first UE may not send the first paging capability information.

[0106] Optionally, the method may further include S403, whereby the first UE determines, based on the first information, whether to perform paging using the paging capability indicated by the first paging capability information (e.g., the paging capability itself). Alternatively, S403 can also be understood or replaced as the first UE determining, based on the first information, whether the first core network device can obtain the first paging capability information. Optionally, S403 may occur after the first UE sends the first paging capability information. If the first UE does not send the first paging capability information, S403 need not be executed, because in this case, the core network device will not obtain the first paging capability information.

[0107] For example, if the first UE sends first paging capability information and the first information indicates that the first access network device supports the first field, or indicates that the first access network device supports sending the first paging capability information, then the first UE believes that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information, and / or believes that the first UE can use the paging capability. Alternatively, if the first information indicates that the first access network device does not support the first field, or indicates that the first access network device does not support forwarding the first paging capability information, then the first UE believes that the core network device cannot obtain the first paging capability information, and / or believes that the first UE cannot use the paging capability.

[0108] An example is given of an implementation where the first UE sends first paging capability information based on first information, or decides whether to send first information based on first information. In this implementation, if the first UE sends first paging capability information, the first UE believes that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information, and / or believes that the first UE can use the paging capability; conversely, if the first UE does not send first paging capability information, the first UE believes that the core network device cannot obtain the first paging capability information, and / or believes that the first UE cannot use the paging capability. Because in the implementation where the first UE sends first paging capability information based on first information, the first UE can only send the first paging capability information if the first information indicates that the first access network device supports the first field or indicates that the first access network device supports sending the first paging capability information. Therefore, if the first UE sends first paging capability information, it indicates that the first information indicates that the first access network device supports the first field or indicates that the first access network device supports sending the first paging capability information. Optionally, the first UE determines whether to use the paging capability indicated by the first paging capability information (e.g., the paging capability) to perform paging based on the first information. This can also be understood as: the first UE determines whether to use the paging capability indicated by the first paging capability information (e.g., the paging capability) to perform paging based on whether the first paging capability information has been sent, wherein the first UE determines whether to send the first paging capability information based on the first information.

[0109] Another example is an implementation where the first UE does not send the first information based on the first information, or does not decide whether to send the first information based on the first information. In this implementation, if the first UE last sent the first paging capability information to an access network device that supports the first field, then regardless of whether the first UE is currently connected to that access network device, the first UE can assume that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information, and / or assume that the first UE can use the paging capability. For example, the first UE last sent the first paging capability information to access network device A, which supports the first field; after sending the first paging capability information, the first UE moved and is now under the coverage of access network device B; regardless of whether access network device B supports the first field, the first UE can assume that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information, and / or assume that the first UE can use the paging capability.

[0110] Alternatively, if the first UE last sent the first paging capability information to an access network device that does not support the first field, or if the first UE did not send the first paging capability information at all, then regardless of whether the first UE is currently connected to that access network device, the first UE can assume that the core network device cannot obtain the first paging capability information, and / or assume that the first UE cannot use the paging capability. For example, if the first UE last sent the first paging capability information to access network device A, which does not support the first field; and the first UE moved after sending the first paging capability information and is now under the coverage of access network device B; regardless of whether access network device B supports the first field, the first UE can assume that the core network device cannot obtain the first paging capability information, and / or assume that the first UE cannot use the paging capability.

[0111] Alternatively, if the first UE sends the first paging capability information under an access network device that supports the first field, then regardless of whether the first UE is currently connected to that access network device, the first UE can assume that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information and / or that the first UE can use the paging capability. This approach can also be understood as follows: as long as the first UE has previously sent the first paging capability information under an access network device that supports the first field, regardless of whether the first UE has subsequently sent the first paging capability information to the access network device again, and regardless of whether the access network device receiving the first paging capability information later supports the first field, the first UE can assume that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information and / or that the first UE can use the paging capability. The first UE sending the first paging capability information under an access network device that supports the first field may be the most recent transmission or an earlier transmission; there is no restriction on this. For example, if a first UE has previously sent first paging capability information to access network device A, and access network device A supports the first field; and the first UE may have moved after sending the first paging capability information and is now under the coverage of access network device B; regardless of whether access network device B supports the first field, the first UE can assume that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information and / or that the first UE can use the paging capability. As another example, if a first UE has previously sent first paging capability information to access network device A, and access network device A supports the first field; and the first UE has not moved after sending the first paging capability information and remains under the coverage of access network device A; then the first UE can assume that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information and / or that the first UE can use the paging capability.

[0112] If the first UE determines that the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information, and / or determines that the first UE can use the paging capability indicated by the first paging capability information, then optionally, the first UE can use some or all of the paging capabilities in the paging capability to perform paging. For the core network device, having obtained the first paging capability information, it can also use some or all of the paging capabilities in the paging capability to page the first UE. Optionally, the first UE using some or all of the paging capabilities in the paging capability to perform paging further includes determining whether the access network device where the first UE is currently located, or the cell under the access network device, supports the paging function corresponding to that part or all of the paging capabilities. For example, if the first UE determines that the core network device can obtain the first UE's paging capability A, and / or determines that the first UE can use paging capability A, this implicitly indicates that the first UE supports paging capability A. However, the first UE can further determine whether the access network device where it is currently located, or the cell under the access network device, supports the paging function corresponding to paging capability A, that is, whether it supports using paging capability A to perform paging. If the access network device where the first UE is currently located or the cell under the access network device does not support the paging function corresponding to paging capability A, then the first UE will still not use any paging capability in paging capability A to perform paging; if the access network device where the first UE is currently located or the cell under the access network device supports the paging function corresponding to paging capability A, then the first UE can use some or all of the paging capabilities in paging capability A to perform paging.

[0113] In summary, in this embodiment, the first access network device can indicate whether it supports the first field and / or whether it supports sending paging capability information to the core network device through the first information. The first UE can determine whether the core network device can obtain the first UE's first paging capability information based on the first information, or whether the first UE can determine whether the core network device can learn about the first UE's actual paging capability based on the first information, or whether the first UE can determine whether to use the paging capability indicated by the first paging capability information based on the first information. For example, if the first access network device supports the first field or supports sending paging capability information to the core network device, then the core network device can obtain the first paging capability information, or the core network device can learn about the first UE's paging capability, or the first UE can use the paging capability; or if the first access network device does not support the first field or does not support sending paging capability information to the core network device, then the core network device may not be able to obtain the first paging capability information, or the core network device may not be able to learn about the first UE's paging capability, or the first UE cannot use the paging capability. As can be seen, the technical solution of this application embodiment can unify the network side and the UE side's understanding of the UE's paging capability, so that the UE can determine whether to use the corresponding paging capability of the UE to perform paging, thereby increasing the probability of the UE being successfully paging.

[0114] This application provides another communication method, please refer to the embodiments therein. Figure 5 Here is a flowchart of the method.

[0115] To facilitate understanding, an optional application scenario of this application embodiment is first introduced. In this application embodiment, in order to enable the core network device and the first UE to align the paging capabilities of the first UE, or in order to enable the core network device to obtain the paging capabilities of the first UE, the first UE can send paging capability information (e.g., third paging capability information). The third paging capability information can indicate the paging capabilities of the first UE, for example, indicating the paging capabilities of the first UE. For a description of the paging capabilities of the first UE, please refer to... Figure 4S401 of the illustrated embodiment. For example, when a first UE is transmitting third paging capability information and is under the coverage of a second access network device, the first UE can transmit the third paging capability information to the second access network device, and the second access network device can transmit the third paging capability information to a core network device, thereby enabling the core network device to obtain the third paging capability information. For example, the first UE sends message B to the second access network device, message B including a UE wireless paging capability information container, and the third paging capability information is included in the UE wireless paging capability information container. The second access network device receives message B from the UE, can obtain the UE wireless paging capability information container from it, carry the UE wireless paging capability information container in message C, and send message C to the core network device, thereby enabling the core network device to obtain the third paging capability information.

[0116] The above execution steps require the second access network device to support the paging capability indicated by the third paging capability information, or the second access network device to support or recognize the UE radio paging capability information container. However, the second access network device may not actually support the paging capability, or may not support or recognize the UE radio paging capability information container. If the second access network device does not support the paging capability, or does not support or cannot recognize the UE radio paging capability information container, then the second access network device cannot send the third paging capability information to the core network device, or the third paging capability information sent to the core network device may be incomplete. In this case, the core network device cannot obtain the third paging capability information, or cannot obtain complete third paging capability information (for example, the paging capability information of the first UE stored by the core network device is the second paging capability information, and the second paging capability information and the third paging capability information may be inconsistent), and therefore cannot paging the UE according to the paging capability indicated by the third paging capability information.

[0117] For example, after the first UE sends the third paging capability information, it moves and camps on the first access network device. The first access network device supports the paging capability indicated by the third paging capability information, or supports or recognizes the UE's radio paging capability information container; or the second access network device is upgraded to support the paging capability indicated by the third paging capability information, or supports or recognizes the UE's radio paging capability information container. For example, the upgraded second access network device may also be referred to as the first access network device. In this case, the first access network device can perform the steps described in the embodiments of this application.

[0118] S501. The first access network device sends a first message to the core network device. Correspondingly, the core network device receives the first message. Optionally, the first message may be, for example, a UE radio paging information message, or it may be other messages.

[0119] The first message may include third paging capability information, which can indicate the paging capability of the first UE. For an introduction to the paging capability of the first UE, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 4 S401 of the illustrated embodiment. Optionally, the third paging capability information is, for example, the complete paging capability information of the first UE. For example, as described above, the first UE has sent the third paging capability information, but the core network device may not have obtained the third paging capability information, or the core network device may have obtained incomplete third paging capability information. For example, the paging capability information of the first UE obtained by the core network device is the second paging capability information, which is inconsistent with the third paging capability information. Therefore, for a first access network device that supports paging capability indicating the third paging capability information, it can send the third paging capability information to the core network device, enabling the core network device to obtain the third paging capability information, or enabling the core network device to obtain the complete paging capability information of the first UE. After receiving the first message, the core network device can store the third paging capability information. For example, the core network device can replace the locally stored paging capability information of the first UE (e.g., the second paging capability information) with the third paging capability information, thereby enabling the core network device to obtain the third paging capability information, or enabling the core network device to obtain the complete paging capability information of the first UE.

[0120] The first message may not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE. There are several ways to implement this, as illustrated below.

[0121] As an optional implementation where the first message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE, the first message may include radio capability information of the first UE, which can indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE. Optionally, the first message may include a second field, in which the radio capability information can be carried. For example, the second field is a field used to carry the UE's radio capability information. For instance, the second field is, for example, a UE radio capability information field. However, in this embodiment, the radio capability information included in the first message may be invalid or can be ignored, and therefore can be considered as the first message not indicating the radio capabilities of the first UE. For example, if the core network device receives the first message, it may ignore the radio capability information included in the first message, or it may determine that the radio capability information included in the first message is invalid, and therefore the core network device will not use the radio capability information.

[0122] As an alternative implementation where the first message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE, the first message may not include the second field. As described above, the second field is used to carry the radio capability information of the UE. If the first message does not include the second field, it indicates that the first message does not include the radio capability information of the first UE, and therefore the first message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE.

[0123] As another alternative implementation where the first message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE, the first message includes a second field, but the second field can be empty. The second field is used to carry the radio capability information of the UE. If the second field is empty, it indicates that the first message does not include the radio capability information of the first UE, and therefore the first message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE.

[0124] Following traditional transmission logic, when the first access network device sends the third paging capability information to the core network device, it may also send the first UE's radio capability information at the same time. That is, the first message may include both the third paging capability information and the first UE's radio capability information, which is determined by the signaling structure. However, the radio capability information is extensive and contains a large amount of information. If the first message includes this radio capability information, it will result in significant signaling overhead. Therefore, embodiments of this application can make the first message not indicate the first UE's radio capability; for example, the first message may not include this radio capability information, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0125] As an optional implementation where the first message includes third paging capability information, the first message may include a third field, and the third paging capability information may be included in the third field. The third field may be, for example, a field defined in the embodiments of this application, or it can be understood that a third field may be added to the first message. Optionally, in this implementation, the first message may include a UE wireless paging capability information container, or it may not include a UE wireless paging capability information container. Even if the first message includes a UE wireless paging capability information container, the third paging capability information may not be included in that UE wireless paging capability information container; for example, the UE wireless paging capability information may be empty.

[0126] The third field can instruct the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, or to ignore the radio capability indicated by the first message, or to ignore the radio capability information included in the first message, or to indicate that the second field or radio capability information included in the first message is invalid, or to instruct the core network device not to use the radio capability information included in the first message to replace the locally stored radio capability information of the first UE, etc. Based on the inclusion of the third field in the first message, the core network device can ignore the radio capability indicated by the first message. For example, if the first message includes the radio capability information of the first UE, the core network device can determine based on the third field that the radio capability information is invalid or can be ignored, and will not use it to replace the locally stored radio capability information of the first UE. As another example, if the first message does not include the second field, the core network device can know that the first message does not indicate the radio capability information of the first UE, and naturally will not replace the locally stored radio capability information of the first UE. As yet another example, if the first message includes the second field, but the second field is empty, the core network device can ignore the second field based on the third field, and will not use the information included in the second field to replace the locally stored radio capability information of the first UE. Optionally, the core network device does not replace the locally stored radio capability information of the first UE. This can be understood as the core network device maintaining the originally stored radio capability information of the first UE without performing any processing on that information. This implementation can use a newly defined third field to instruct the core network device to ignore the radio capability information indicated by the first message, making the instruction method relatively clear.

[0127] As described above, the first UE sends message B to the second access network device. The second access network device receives message B from the UE and can retrieve the UE's radio paging capability information container from it. This UE radio paging capability information container is then carried in message C, which is sent to the core network device. Thus, the core network device can obtain the third paging capability information. In addition to the UE radio paging capability information container, message B may also include the first UE's radio capability information. The second access network device can carry this radio capability information in message C and send it to the core network device, which can then store this information. That is, the core network device may already have the first UE's radio capability information stored locally. Therefore, the third field can instruct the core network device not to replace the locally stored first UE's radio capability information with the radio capability information included in the first message, and this does not affect the core network device's ability to obtain the first UE's radio capability information.

[0128] As an alternative implementation of the first message including third paging capability information, the first message may include a fourth field, in which the third paging capability information may be included. The fourth field may be, for example, a field indicating the paging capability of the UE, such as a UE wireless paging capability information container. Optionally, the first message may also include a fifth field, which may be, for example, a field defined in the embodiments of this application, or understood as a newly added fifth field in the first message. The fifth field may instruct the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, or instruct the core network device to ignore the wireless capability indicated by the first message, or instruct the core network device to ignore the wireless capability information included in the first message, or instruct the second field or wireless capability information included in the first message to be invalid, or instruct the core network device not to use the wireless capability information included in the first message to replace the locally stored wireless capability information of the first UE, etc. Based on the inclusion of the fifth field in the first message, the core network device can ignore the wireless capability indicated by the first message. For example, if the first message includes the wireless capability information of the first UE, the core network device can determine based on the fifth field that the wireless capability information is invalid or can be ignored, and will not use the wireless capability information to replace the locally stored wireless capability information of the first UE. For example, if the first message does not include the second field, the core network device can know that the first message does not indicate the radio capability information of the first UE, and naturally will not replace the locally stored radio capability information of the first UE. Alternatively, if the first message includes the second field, but the second field is empty, the core network device can ignore the second field based on the fifth field, and will not use the information contained in the second field to replace the locally stored radio capability information of the first UE. This implementation method can instruct the core network device to ignore the radio capability information indicated by the first message through the newly defined fifth field, making the instruction method clearer. Moreover, this implementation method can continue to carry the UE's paging capability information through the UE radio paging capability information container, which is beneficial for compatibility with existing technologies.

[0129] As an optional implementation, the first access network device may send a first message to the core network device if it determines that the paging capability information (e.g., the second paging capability information) of the first UE stored in the core network device is incomplete; or, the first access network device may send a first message to the core network device if it determines that the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device is different from or inconsistent with the third paging capability information. If the first access network device determines that the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device is complete, for example, if the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device is consistent with or identical to the third paging capability information, then the first access network device may not send a first message to the core network device, i.e., it does not need to execute S501, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0130] Optionally, the core network device may send a second message to the first access network device. The second message may include paging capability information of the first UE stored by the core network device, allowing the first access network device to determine whether the paging capability information of the first UE stored by the core network device is complete. For example, when the first UE enters the RRC connected state, the core network device may send the second message to the first access network device, or the core network device may send the second message to the first access network device in other scenarios. One way for the first access network device to determine whether the paging capability information of the first UE stored by the core network device is that, in addition to including the paging capability information of the first UE stored by the core network device (e.g., second paging capability information), the second message also includes the radio capability information of the first UE. The first access network device can determine whether the second paging capability information is consistent with or identical to the paging capability information of the first UE included in the radio capability information. If the two are inconsistent or identical, the first access network device considers the paging capability information of the first UE stored by the core network device to be incomplete, and the first access network device may execute S501; or, if the two are inconsistent or identical, the first access network device may execute S501. The radio capability information may include complete paging capability information of the first UE (e.g., third paging capability information). Therefore, if the second paging capability information is inconsistent or different from the paging capability information of the first UE included in the radio capability information, it indicates that the second paging capability information is incomplete, or that the core network device has not obtained complete paging capability information of the first UE. In this case, the first access network device may send a first message to the core network device, enabling the core network device to update the locally stored paging capability information of the first UE, for example, updating the second paging capability information stored by the core network device to the third paging capability information.

[0131] The first access network device can execute the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application for some or all of the UEs covered by the first access network device. For example, as long as the core network device sends paging capability information and radio capability information related to a certain UE to the first access network device, the first access network device can determine whether the paging capability information is complete, thereby executing the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application. Alternatively, the first access network device can also execute the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application for a UE upon request, while not executing the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application for UEs that have not requested them, thereby reducing the burden on the first access network device.

[0132] Optionally, the method may further include S502, in which the first UE sends fourth information to the first access network device. The fourth information may request confirmation of whether the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device is complete, or request confirmation of whether the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device indicates the paging capability of the first UE, or request verification of the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device. S502 occurs, for example, before S501. Upon receiving the fourth information, the first access network device can execute the technical solution of this application embodiment. For example, the first access network device can directly execute S501, or the first access network device may first determine whether the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device is complete, or determine whether the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device is consistent with the third paging capability information. If it is incomplete or inconsistent, then S501 is executed. Optionally, the fourth information may be included, for example, in UE assistance information (UAI), or it may be included in other messages.

[0133] Optionally, the first access network device may also send a fifth message to the first UE. This fifth message may indicate that the paging capability information (e.g., the third paging capability information) of the first UE stored by the core network device is complete, or that the paging capability information of the first UE stored by the core network device indicates the paging capability of the first UE. Specifically, the first access network device may send the fifth message if it has received the fourth message; otherwise, it may not send the fifth message. Alternatively, the first access network device may send the fifth message even if it has not received the fourth message.

[0134] For example, if the first access network device determines that the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device is complete (at this time, the second paging capability information and the third paging capability information stored in the core network device are the same), then the first access network device does not need to execute S501, and can instead send the fifth information to the first UE. Alternatively, if the first access network device determines that the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device is incomplete (at this time, the second paging capability information and the third paging capability information stored in the core network device are different), then the first access network device can execute S501; optionally, after executing S501, the first access network device can send the fifth information to the first UE. Alternatively, the first access network device does not need to determine whether the paging capability information of the first UE stored in the core network device is complete, but can directly execute S501; optionally, after executing S501, the first access network device can send the fifth information to the first UE.

[0135] If the paging capabilities of the first UE are updated on the network side, the first UE may optionally use some or all of its paging capabilities to perform paging. The core network equipment may also use some or all of the first UE's paging capabilities to page it.

[0136] In this embodiment, the first UE can send third paging capability information, enabling the core network device to learn about the paging capabilities of the first UE. The first access network device can also update the paging capability information of the first UE to the core network device, allowing the core network device to learn about the complete paging capabilities of the first UE, thus ensuring consistency between the network side and the UE side in their understanding of the UE's paging capabilities. Furthermore, when sending the third paging capability information to the core network device, the first access network device can choose not to indicate the first UE's radio capabilities, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0137] This application provides yet another communication method; please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 6 Here is a flowchart of the method.

[0138] S601, the first UE sends fourth paging capability information. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the fourth paging capability information.

[0139] The fourth paging capability information can indicate the paging capability of the first UE. For an introduction to the paging capability of the first UE, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 4 S401 of the illustrated embodiment. Optionally, the fourth paging capability information may be included in the third message, such as UE assistance information or UE capability information message.

[0140] Optionally, the third message may not indicate the first UE's radio capabilities, or it may not indicate the first UE's capabilities other than paging capabilities. For example, the first UE may have previously reported various capability information of the first UE to the network (e.g., including the first UE's radio capabilities and paging capabilities). If the first UE's paging capabilities subsequently change, the first UE can request the network to update its paging capabilities, and thus the first UE can execute S601. However, if the third message indicates other capabilities of the first UE besides its paging capabilities, it may result in excessive overhead. Therefore, embodiments of this application can make the third message not indicate the first UE's radio capabilities, or not indicate other capabilities besides paging capabilities, to reduce the overhead of the third message.

[0141] As an optional implementation where the third message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE, the third message may include radio capability information of the first UE, which can indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE. Optionally, the third message may include a second field, in which the radio capability information can be carried. For example, the second field is a field used to carry the UE's radio capability information. For instance, the second field may be a UE radio capability information field. However, in this embodiment, the radio capability information included in the third message may be invalid or can be ignored, and therefore can be considered as the third message not indicating the radio capabilities of the first UE. For example, if the core network device receives the third message, it may ignore the radio capability information included in the third message, or it may determine that the radio capability information included in the third message is invalid, and therefore the core network device will not use the radio capability information.

[0142] As an alternative implementation where the third message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE, the third message may omit the second field. The second field is used to carry the radio capability information of the UE. If the third message does not include the second field, it indicates that the third message does not include the radio capability information of the first UE, and therefore the third message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE.

[0143] As another alternative implementation where the third message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE, the third message includes a second field, but the second field can be empty. The second field is used to carry the radio capability information of the UE. If the second field is empty, it indicates that the third message does not include the radio capability information of the first UE, and therefore the third message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE.

[0144] If the third message does not instruct the first UE on any capabilities other than paging, the implementation is similar and will not be elaborated further.

[0145] S602. The first access network device sends fourth paging capability information to the core network device. Correspondingly, the core network device receives the fourth paging capability information. Optionally, the fourth paging capability information may be included, for example, in the UE radio capability information indication.

[0146] Since the third message does not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE, or does not indicate the capabilities of the first UE other than paging capabilities, the first access network device may also not indicate the radio capabilities of the first UE, or the capabilities of the first UE other than paging capabilities, when sending the fourth paging capability information to the core network device, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0147] For example, the core network equipment can replace the paging capability information of the first UE stored locally with the fourth paging capability information, thereby realizing the update of the paging capability information of the first UE on the network side, so that the network side and the UE side have the same understanding of the UE's paging capability.

[0148] Optionally, before S601, the method may also include S603 to S605.

[0149] S603. The first UE sends a registration request message. Correspondingly, the core network device receives this registration request message. Specifically, the first UE can send this registration request message to the first access network device, which then sends it to the core network device.

[0150] This registration request message can request an update to the paging capability information of the first UE. Optionally, this registration request message can be, for example, a non-access stratum (NAS) message.

[0151] S604. The core network device sends a fourth message to the first access network device. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the fourth message.

[0152] The fourth message may indicate or request paging capability information of the first UE, or instruct the first access network device to obtain or query paging capability information of the first UE. Optionally, the fourth message may be, for example, an initial context setup message.

[0153] S605, the first access network device sends a fifth message to the first UE. Correspondingly, the first UE receives the fifth message.

[0154] The fifth message can be used to request or query the paging capability information of the first UE. Optionally, the fifth message can be, for example, an RRC reconfiguration message, or it can also be a UE capability query message.

[0155] For example, if the paging capability of the first UE changes or is updated, the first UE can execute S603 to request synchronization of the first UE's paging capability with the network side. Through one or more of the above steps, the first UE and the network side can synchronize the first UE's paging capability, and the network side can realize the update of the first UE's paging capability.

[0156] If the paging capabilities of the first UE are updated on the network side, the first UE may optionally use some or all of its paging capabilities to perform paging. The core network equipment may also use some or all of the first UE's paging capabilities to page it.

[0157] In this embodiment, the first UE can send fourth paging capability information, enabling the core network device to know the paging capability of the first UE, thus ensuring consistency between the network side and the UE side in their understanding of the UE's paging capability. Furthermore, when sending the fourth paging capability information, the first UE may not indicate its radio capabilities, or other capabilities besides paging, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0158] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application is provided. The communication device 700 may be... Figures 4-6 The first UE or its circuitry, as shown in any of the accompanying drawings, is used to implement the method corresponding to the first UE in the above method embodiments. Alternatively, the communication device 700 may be... Figures 4-6 The first access network device or its circuitry, as shown in any of the accompanying drawings, is used to implement the method corresponding to the first access network device in the above method embodiments. Alternatively, the communication device 700 may be... Figures 4-6 The core network device or its circuit system, as shown in any of the accompanying drawings, is used to implement the method corresponding to the core network device in the above method embodiments. For example, one type of circuit system is a chip system.

[0159] The communication device 700 includes at least one processor 701. The processor 701 can be used for internal processing within the device to implement certain control processing functions. Optionally, the processor 701 includes instructions. Optionally, the processor 701 can store data. Optionally, different processors can be independent devices, located in different physical locations, or located on different integrated circuits. Optionally, different processors can be integrated into one or more processors, for example, integrated on one or more integrated circuits.

[0160] Optionally, the communication device 700 includes one or more memories 703 for storing instructions. Optionally, the memories 703 may also store data. The processor and the memories may be separate or integrated together.

[0161] Optionally, the communication device 700 includes a communication line 702 and at least one communication interface 704. Since the memory 703, communication line 702, and communication interface 704 are all optional, therefore... Figure 7 All are represented by dashed lines.

[0162] Optionally, the communication device 700 may further include a transceiver and / or an antenna. The transceiver can be used to send information to or receive information from other devices. The transceiver may be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver circuit, input / output interface, etc., and is used to realize the transmission and reception functions of the communication device 700 via the antenna. Optionally, the transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. For example, the transmitter can be used to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal from a baseband signal, and the receiver can be used to convert the RF signal back into a baseband signal.

[0163] The processor 701 may include a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs according to the present application.

[0164] Communication line 702 may include a path for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

[0165] The communication interface 704 uses any transceiver-like device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, radio access network (RAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), wired access network, etc.

[0166] The memory 703 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or it may be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory 703 may exist independently and be connected to the processor 701 via communication line 702. Alternatively, the memory 703 may be integrated with the processor 701.

[0167] The memory 703 stores computer execution instructions for implementing the scheme of this application, and its execution is controlled by the processor 701. The processor 701 executes the computer execution instructions stored in the memory 703, thereby realizing... Figures 4-6 The steps performed by the first UE as described in any of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, and / or, Figures 4-6 The steps performed by the first access network device in any of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, and / or, Figures 4-6 The steps performed by the core network device in any of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0168] Optionally, the computer execution instructions in the embodiments of this application may also be referred to as application code, and the embodiments of this application do not specifically limit this.

[0169] In a specific implementation, as one example, the processor 701 may include one or more CPUs, for example... Figure 7 CPU0 and CPU1 in the CPU.

[0170] In a specific implementation, as one example, the communication device 700 may include multiple processors, such as... Figure 7 Processors 701 and 705 are described in the text. Each of these processors can be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. Here, "processor" can refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores used to process data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0171] when Figure 7 When the device shown is a chip, such as the chip of the first UE, the chip of the first access network device, or the chip of the core network device, the chip includes a processor 701 (and may also include a processor 705), a communication line 702, and a communication interface 704. Optionally, it may include a memory 703. Specifically, the communication interface 704 may be an input interface, pins, or circuits, etc. The memory 703 may be a register, cache, etc. The processor 701 and processor 705 may be a general-purpose CPU, microprocessor, ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of a program that controls the communication method of any of the above embodiments.

[0172] This application embodiment can divide the device into functional modules according to the above method example. For example, each function can be divided into its own functional modules, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated modules can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules. It should be noted that the module division in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, when dividing the device into functional modules according to each function, Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of an apparatus. The apparatus 800 may be the first UE, the first access network device, or the core network device involved in the above-described method embodiments, or it may be a chip in the first UE, the first access network device, or the core network device. The apparatus 800 includes a processing unit 802 and a transceiver unit 801.

[0173] It should be understood that the device 800 can be used to implement the steps performed by the first UE and / or the first access network device and / or the core network device in the communication method of the embodiments of this application, and the relevant features can be referred to above. Figures 4-6 The embodiments shown in any of the accompanying drawings will not be described in detail here.

[0174] Optional, Figure 8 The functions / implementation process of the transceiver unit 801 and the processing unit 802 can be obtained through Figure 7 The processor 701 in the memory calls computer execution instructions stored in memory 703 to implement the function. Alternatively, Figure 8 The function / implementation process of the processing unit 802 in the middle can be achieved through Figure 7 The processor 701 in the memory calls computer execution instructions stored in the memory 703 to implement this. Figure 8 The function / implementation process of the transceiver unit 801 in the middle can be obtained through Figure 7 It is implemented using the 704 communication interface.

[0175] Optionally, when the device 800 is a chip or circuit, the function / implementation process of the transceiver unit 801 can also be implemented through pins or circuits. Optionally, the transceiver unit 801 may include a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit, whereby the transmitting unit implements the transmitting function and the receiving unit implements the receiving function; or, the transceiver unit 801 may be an integral module capable of implementing both transmitting and / or receiving functions. Optionally, the transceiver unit 801 can be implemented using a transceiver.

[0176] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement the methods performed by the first UE and / or the first access network device and / or the core network device in the aforementioned method embodiments. Thus, the functions described in the above embodiments can be implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to it, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0177] This application also provides a computer program product comprising: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method executed by the first UE and / or the first access network device and / or the core network device in any of the foregoing method embodiments.

[0178] This application also provides a processing apparatus, including a processor and an interface; the processor is used to execute the methods performed by the first UE and / or the first access network device and / or the core network device involved in any of the above method embodiments.

[0179] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state disk (SSD)).

[0180] The various illustrative logic units and circuits described in the embodiments of this application can be implemented or operate the described functions using a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), ASIC, field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor; alternatively, it can be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor can also be implemented using a combination of computing devices, such as a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

[0181] The steps of the methods or algorithms described in the embodiments of this application can be directly embedded in hardware, software units executed by a processor, or a combination of both. The software units can be stored in RAM, flash memory, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium in the art. Exemplarily, the storage medium can be connected to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium can also be integrated into the processor. The processor and storage medium can be disposed in an ASIC, which can be disposed in the terminal device. Optionally, the processor and storage medium can also be disposed in different components of the terminal device.

[0182] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable equipment for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0183] The contents of the various embodiments of this application can be referenced to each other. Unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0184] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, the first UE and / or the first access network device and / or the core network device may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of this application. These steps or operations are merely examples. In the embodiments of this application, other operations or variations of various operations may also be performed. Furthermore, the steps may be performed in different orders as presented in the embodiments of this application, and it is not necessary to perform all the operations in the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive first information, the first information being used to indicate whether the first access network device supports the first field, or to indicate whether the first access network device supports sending paging capability information carried by the first field to the core network device, the paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of the terminal; Send first paging capability information, which is used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Send first paging capability information, including: If the first information indicates that the first access network device supports the first field, or indicates that the first access network device supports sending the first paging capability information, then the first paging capability information is sent; or, If the first terminal has paging capability, then it sends the first paging capability information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The paging capability of the first terminal includes one or more of the following: Does the first terminal support the Low Power Wake-up Signal (LP-WUS)? The first terminal corresponds to one or more frequency bands supported by LP-WUS; The first terminal corresponds to one or more bandwidths supported by LP-WUS; The first terminal corresponds to one or more processing latency supported by LP-WUS; Does the first terminal support Paging Advance Indication (PEI)? The first terminal corresponds to one or more frequency bands supported by PEI; or, Does the first terminal support the Radio Resource Control (RRC) inactive paging timing (PO) determination function? 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the first information, determine whether to use the paging capability of the first terminal to perform paging.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Determining whether to use the paging capability of the first terminal to perform paging based on the first information includes: If the first information indicates that the first access network device supports the first field, or indicates that the first access network device supports sending paging capability information carried by the first field, then paging is performed using the paging capability of the first terminal; or, If the first information indicates that the first access network device does not support the first field, or indicates that the first access network device does not support sending the paging capability information carried by the first field, then it is determined that the paging capability of the first terminal will not be used to perform paging.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first information is included in the User Equipment (UE) Capability Query Message or in a system message.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first paging capability information is included in the UE capability information message.

8. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send first information, the first information being used to indicate whether the first access network device supports the first field, or to indicate whether the first access network device supports sending paging capability information to the core network device, the first field being used to carry the paging capability information, the paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of the terminal; Receive first paging capability information, which is used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal; If the first access network device supports the first field, or supports sending the paging capability information to the core network device, then send the first paging capability information to the core network device.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The paging capability of the first terminal includes one or more of the following: Does the first terminal support LP-WUS? The first terminal corresponds to one or more frequency bands supported by LP-WUS; The first terminal corresponds to one or more bandwidths supported by LP-WUS; The first terminal corresponds to one or more processing latency supported by LP-WUS; Does the first terminal support PEI? The first terminal corresponds to one or more frequency bands supported by PEI; or, Does the first terminal support the RRC inactive PO determination function? 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The first information is included in the UE capability query message or in the system message.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, The first paging capability information is included in the UE capability information message.

12. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: A first message is sent to the core network equipment. The first message includes third paging capability information, which is used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal, and the first message does not indicate the radio capability of the first terminal.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first message does not indicate the wireless capabilities of the first terminal, including: The first message includes the wireless capability information of the first terminal, and the wireless capability information is invalid; or, The first message does not include the second field, which is used to indicate the terminal's wireless capabilities; or, The first message includes a second field, which is empty, and the second field is used to indicate the terminal's wireless capabilities.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, Send the first message to the core network equipment, including: If it is determined that the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is inconsistent with the third paging capability information, then the first message is sent to the core network device.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that, The first message includes a third field, and the third paging capability information is included in the third field, wherein, The third field is used to instruct the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, whereby the second field indicates the wireless capabilities of the first terminal; or, The third field is used to indicate that the core network device does not use the radio capability information included in the first message to replace the local radio capability information of the first terminal.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that, The first message includes a fourth field, in which the third paging capability information is included, and the fourth field is used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal; the first message also includes a fifth field, wherein... The fifth field is used to instruct the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, whereby the second field indicates the wireless capabilities of the first terminal; or, The fifth field is used to indicate that the core network device does not use the radio capability information included in the first message to replace the local radio capability information of the first terminal.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that, The method further includes: The system receives a fourth message from the first terminal, the fourth message being used to request confirmation of whether the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is complete.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that, The method further includes: A fifth message is sent to the first terminal, the fifth message indicating that the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is complete.

19. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: A first message is received, the first message including third paging capability information, the third paging capability information being used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal, and the first message not indicating the wireless capability of the first terminal.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The first message does not indicate the wireless capabilities of the first terminal, including: The third paging capability information includes the wireless capability information of the first terminal, wherein the wireless capability information indicates the wireless capability of the first terminal, and the wireless capability information is invalid; or, The first message does not include a second field, which is used to indicate the wireless capabilities of the first terminal; or, The first message includes a second field, which is empty, and the second field is used to indicate the wireless capabilities of the first terminal.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a second paging capability information to the access network device. The second paging capability information is used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal. The third paging capability information is the complete second paging capability information.

22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that, The first message includes a third field, and the third paging capability information is included in the third field, wherein, The third field is used to instruct the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, whereby the second field indicates the wireless capabilities of the first terminal; or, The third field is used to indicate that the core network device does not use the radio capability information included in the first message to replace the local radio capability information of the first terminal.

23. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that, The first message includes a fourth field, in which the third paging capability information is included, and the fourth field is used to indicate the paging capability of the first terminal; the first message also includes a fifth field, wherein... The fifth field is used to instruct the core network device to ignore the second field in the first message, whereby the second field indicates the wireless capabilities of the first terminal; or, The fifth field is used to indicate that the core network device does not use the radio capability information included in the first message to replace the local radio capability information of the first terminal.

24. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send a fourth message, which is used to request confirmation of whether the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is complete.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that, The method further includes: The fifth message is received, which indicates that the paging capability information of the first terminal stored in the core network device is complete.

26. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit, wherein the processing unit is coupled to the transceiver unit to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 11, or the method as described in any one of claims 12 to 18, or the method as described in any one of claims 19 to 23, or the method as described in any one of claims 24 to 25.

27. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor configured to cause the communication device to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, or to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, or to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18, or to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 23, or to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 25.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 11, or causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 12 to 18, or causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 19 to 23, or causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 24 to 25.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 11, or causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 12 to 18, or causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 19 to 23, or causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 24 to 25.

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