Communication methods and communication devices

Abstract

This application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus, relating to the field of communications. In the method, a terminal device may request a first system information message required by the terminal device from a network device by using first information to avoid signaling overhead caused by the network device blindly broadcasting system information messages. When N types of system information messages exist, N bit information sets in the first information correspond to the N types of system information. After receiving the first information, the network device may determine that the terminal device requests a first system information message of the first type based on the first bit information set to which the first bit information belongs, and may transmit the first system information message of the first type. In this way, a method for requesting a system information message is provided, which avoids a situation in which the terminal device does not know how to request a system information message and the network device does not know the type of system information message requested by the terminal device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202211034984.6 entitled "COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS" filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on August 26, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a communication method and a communication apparatus. BACKGROUND ART

[0003] Currently, one device may broadcast system information messages, and other devices may receive the broadcast system information messages. However, because a large number of system information messages exist, other devices may not need some of the system information messages, but the system information messages are still broadcast. As a result, signaling is wasted. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The embodiments of this application provide a communication method and a communication apparatus for reducing signaling.

[0005] According to a first embodiment, a communication method and a communication device are provided. The communication method is applicable to a terminal device and includes the steps of: deciding to request a first system information message; and transmitting first information, wherein first bit information in the first information is used to request a first system information message, N bit information sets in the first information correspond to N types of system information messages, the first bit information belongs to a first bit information set contained in the N bit information sets, the first system information message belongs to a first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set, the N types include a first type, and N is an integer greater than 1.

[0006] In the above solution, the terminal device may use the first information to request the first system information message required by the terminal device from the network device, thereby avoiding the signaling overhead caused by the network device's blind broadcast of system information messages. Furthermore, when there are N types of system information messages, the N bit information sets in the first information correspond to the N types of system information. Since the first bit information for requesting the first system information message belongs to the first bit information set, it is equivalent to the terminal device requesting a first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set. Therefore, after receiving the first information, the network device may determine, based on the first bit information set to which the first bit information belongs, that the terminal device is requesting a first system information message of the first type, and the network device may then send a first system information message of the first type. In this way, a method for requesting system information messages is provided, avoiding situations where the terminal device does not know how to request a system information message and the network device does not know the type of system information message requested by the terminal device. Furthermore, it avoids situations where the terminal device needs to further specify the type of system information message requested, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0007] Optionally, the first system information message requested by the terminal device is a non-broadcast system information message.

[0008] Optionally, before transmitting the first information, the method further includes the step of generating the first information.

[0009] Optionally, if the value of the first bit in the first piece of information is the first value, this indicates that the terminal device requests a system information message corresponding to the first bit. If the value of the bit in the first piece of information is the second value, this indicates that the terminal device does not request a system information message corresponding to the bit. For example, the first value is 1 and the second value is 0. In other words, if the terminal device requests a system information message from the network device, the value corresponding to the system information message is set to the first value. If the terminal device does not request a system information message, the value corresponding to the system information message is set to the second value.

[0010] Optionally, a terminal device may request one or more system information messages of a first type. For example, if a terminal device needs to request multiple system information messages of a first type, the bit information corresponding to the multiple system information messages may be set to a first value. Optionally, a terminal device may request one or more system information messages of a first type and one or more system information messages of a second type. The terminal device may set the bit information corresponding to the two types of multiple system information messages that need to be requested to a first value. In other words, a terminal device may request multiple types of system information messages within the first information.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the communication method further includes the step of receiving a first system information message.

[0012] According to a second embodiment, a communication method and a communication device are provided. The communication method is applicable to a network device and includes the steps of: receiving first information, wherein first bit information in the first information is used to request a first system information message, N bit information sets in the first information correspond to N types of system information messages, the first bit information belongs to a first bit information set included in the N bit information sets, the first system information message belongs to a first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set, the N types include a first type, where N is an integer greater than 1; and transmitting a first system information message.

[0013] In the above solution, the network device may send a first system information message based on first information from the terminal device to avoid the signaling overhead caused by the network device's blind broadcast of system information messages. Furthermore, when there are N types of system information messages, the N bit information sets in the first information correspond to N types of system information. Since the first bit information for requesting the first system information message belongs to the first bit information set, it is equivalent to the terminal device requesting a first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set. Therefore, after receiving the first information, the network device may decide that the terminal device is requesting a first system information message of the first type based on the first bit information set to which the first bit information belongs, and the network device may broadcast a first system information message of the first type. In this way, the case where the network device does not know the type of system information message requested by the terminal device is avoided, and a method for requesting a system information message is provided. Furthermore, the case where the terminal device needs to further indicate the type of system information message requested is avoided, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0014] The first and second embodiments may further include the following implementation methods.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the first bit string in the first information contains N sets of bit information, and the N positions in the N sets of bit information in the first bit string correspond to N types.

[0016] In the above solution, one bit sequence in the first information may contain N bit information sets, and the position of each bit information set in the first bit sequence corresponds to the type corresponding to each bit information set. Thus, the network device may determine, based on the position of the first bit information set, that the first bit information set corresponds to a system information message of a first type, and then the network device broadcasts a first system information message from among the system information messages of the first type based on the first bit information.

[0017] In some possible implementations, the N bit information sets further include a second bit information set, where the first bit information set precedes the second bit information set at N positions, or the first bit information set follows the second bit information set at N positions, where the second bit information set corresponds to a second type of system information message, and the N types include the second type. For example, the first type is R15 and / or R16, and the second type is R17.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the state of a first type of system information message includes both broadcast and non-broadcast states, or the state of a first type of system information message includes a non-broadcast state, and the state of a second type of system information message includes both broadcast and non-broadcast states, or the state of a second type of system information message includes a non-broadcast state.

[0019] In the above solution, the terminal device may request a system information message whose system information message state is non-broadcast.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the first information includes multiple bit sequences, the first information includes a third bit information set, the bit information included in the third bit information set belongs to at least two of the multiple bit sequences, the third bit information set corresponds to a third type of system information message, N types include the third type, and / or the first information includes a fourth bit information set, the bit information included in the fourth bit information set belongs to the second bit sequence of the multiple bit sequences, the fourth bit information set corresponds to a fourth type of system information message, and N types include the fourth type.

[0021] In the above solution, if one bit string is insufficient to carry N bit information sets, multiple bit strings may be used to carry N bit information sets. Alternatively, the fourth bit information set corresponding to the fourth type of system information message may belong to one bit string or not span multiple bit strings. In other words, some of the N bit information sets may span multiple bit strings, and some may belong to one bit string. After receiving the first information, the network device may concatenate the bit information in the multiple bit strings within the first information to determine each bit information set.

[0022] In some possible implementations, N bit information sets within the first information have a one-to-one correspondence with N types of system information messages, and N types of system information messages have a one-to-one correspondence with N lists of system information messages.

[0023] In the above solution, when a terminal device requests a first system information message corresponding to a first bit information in a first bit information set, this is equivalent to requesting a first system information message in a system information message list corresponding to a first type of system information message. In other words, network devices and terminal devices may maintain a system information message list, the terminal device requests a system information message from the system information message list, and the network device sends a system information message from the system information message list.

[0024] In some possible implementations, the N types further include a second type. A system information message of the first type is a system information message of the first feature, and a system information message of the second type is a system information message of the second feature. For example, a system information message of the first feature is a common system information message, and a system information message of the second feature is a dedicated system information message. In another example, a system information message of the first feature is a system information message for positioning, and a system information message of the second feature is a system information message for non-positioning. In yet another example, a system information message of the first feature is a system information message for low power consumption, and a system information message of the second feature is a system information message for positioning.

[0025] In some possible implementations, the N types further include a second type. A system information message of the first type is a system information message of a first release, and a system information message of the second type is a system information message of a second release. Optionally, the first release may be an earlier release, and the second release may be a later release, or the first release is a later release and the second release is an earlier release. Optionally, the first release may be an old release, and the second release may be a new release, or the first release may be a new release, and the second release may be an old release. For example, the first release is R15 and / or R16, and the second release is R17, or the first release is R17, and the second release is R18. The N types of system information messages may further include more types of system information messages, for example, may further include a system information message of a third release. For example, the first release is R15 and / or R16, the second release is R17, and the third release is R18.

[0026] In some possible implementations, the N types further include a second type. A system information message of the first type is a system information message of a first release, and a system information message of the second type is a system information message of a third feature of a second release. In other words, the attribute of the first type may be different from the attribute of the second type, the first type may be an attribute related to a release, and the second type may be an attribute related to both a feature and a release. For example, the first type may be R15 and / or R16, and the second type may be R17 low power consumption.

[0027] In some possible implementations, the first release is Release 15 and / or Release 16, and the second release is Release 17.

[0028] In some possible implementations, the first information is carried in a radio resource control system information request message.

[0029] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method is applicable to a terminal device, and the communication method includes the step of receiving a first information list, wherein the first information list includes at least two pieces of configuration information, and the at least two pieces of configuration information correspond to at least two types of system information messages; and the step of requesting a first type of system information message corresponding to first configuration information based on the first configuration information, wherein the at least two pieces of configuration information include the first configuration information, and the at least two types include the first type.

[0030] In the above solution, the terminal device may acquire the first configuration information corresponding to the first type of system information message based on the correspondence between the at least two pieces of configuration information and the at least two types of system information messages, and request the first type of system information message based on the first configuration information. In this way, a method for requesting a system information message is provided.

[0031] According to a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method is applicable to a network device, and the communication method includes the step of transmitting a first information list, wherein the first information list includes at least two pieces of configuration information, and the at least two pieces of configuration information correspond to at least two types of system information messages; and the step of transmitting a first type of system information message corresponding to first configuration information when a terminal device requests a system information message from the network device based on the first configuration information, wherein the at least two pieces of configuration information include the first configuration information, and the at least two types include the first type.

[0032] In the above solution, the network device may send a first information list, where at least two configuration information items in the first information list correspond to at least two types of system information messages. When a terminal device requests a system information message from the network device based on the first configuration information, the network device may send a first type of system information message corresponding to the first configuration information. Thus, a method for requesting a system information message is provided.

[0033] Optionally, if the first configuration information corresponds to one system information message of the first type, the network device sends the system information message; or, if the first configuration information corresponds to multiple system information messages of the first type, the network device sends multiple system information messages.

[0034] The third and fourth embodiments may further include the following implementation methods.

[0035] In some possible implementations, at least two configuration information items belong to at least two sets of configuration information, and these at least two sets of configuration information correspond to at least two types of system information messages. In this case, the first information list contains at least two sets of configuration information.

[0036] In the above solution, the terminal device may determine that the type of system information message to be requested is of a first type, then determine a first set of configuration information corresponding to the first type, determine within the first set of configuration information the first configuration information corresponding to the first system information message to be requested, and request a first system information message of the first type based on the first configuration information. The network device determines, based on the first configuration information belonging to the first set of configuration information, that the terminal device requests a system information message of the first type. The network device determines, based on the first configuration information, that the terminal device requests a first system information message from among the system information messages of the first type. The network device may send the first system information message.

[0037] Optionally, at least two configuration information sets have a one-to-one correspondence with at least two types of system information messages. Specifically, at least two configuration information sets may belong to N configuration information sets, and the number of system information message types is also N. In this case, the N configuration information sets have a one-to-one correspondence with N types of system information messages, that is, one configuration information set corresponds to one type of system information message. In other words, a terminal device may request a system information message of the type corresponding to a configuration information set based on the configuration information within that set.

[0038] Optionally, the number of configuration information items is N, and the number of system information message types is also N, with N configuration information items having a one-to-one correspondence with N types of system information messages. In other words, the same configuration information is used by terminal devices to request the same type of system information message. Thus, the configuration can be simplified. Specifically, when requesting a first type of system information message, the terminal device determines that the first type of system information message corresponds to a first configuration information item, and the terminal device requests the first type of system information message based on the first configuration information, and the network device determines, based on the first configuration information, that the terminal device is requesting a first type of system information message, and the network device sends the first type of system information message.

[0039] In some possible implementations, at least two types further include a second type. A system information message of the first type is a system information message of the first feature, and a system information message of the second type is a system information message of the second feature.

[0040] In some possible implementations, at least two types further include a second type. A system information message of the first type is a system information message of the first release, and a system information message of the second type is a system information message of the second release.

[0041] In some possible implementations, at least two types further include a second type. The first type of system information message is the system information message for the first release, and the second type of system information message is the system information message for the third feature of the second release.

[0042] In some possible implementations, the first release is release 15 and / or release 16, and the second release is release 17.

[0043] For descriptions of the first and second types, refer to the descriptions of the first and second embodiments.

[0044] In some possible implementations, in the first information list, the configuration information corresponding to the system information messages of release 15 and / or release 16 precedes the configuration information corresponding to the system information messages of release 17.

[0045] In the above solution, the configuration information corresponding to the earlier Release 15 and / or earlier Release 16 system information messages in the first information list precedes the configuration information corresponding to the later Release 17 system information messages. Therefore, the network device may determine, based on the configuration information sequence, whether the terminal device requests a later or earlier release system information message. For example, the first information list contains two configuration information entries. If the first configuration information is at the beginning of the first information list, the network device determines that the terminal device requests a Release 15 and / or Release 16 system information message. If the first configuration information is at the end of the first information list, the network device determines that the terminal device requests a Release 17 system information message.

[0046] In some possible implementations, the states of at least two types of system information messages include a non-broadcast state. In other words, a network device may send a first information list for system information messages that are not broadcast.

[0047] According to a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is applicable to a terminal device and includes the steps of: deciding to request a first system information message; transmitting first information, the first information being used to request the first system information message, indicating the type of the first system information message, the type of the first system information message being one of N types, where N is an integer greater than 1.

[0048] In the above solution, the terminal device may request a first system information message required by the terminal device from the network device by using first information, thereby avoiding the signaling overhead caused by the network device's blind broadcasting of system information messages. Furthermore, if there are N types of system information messages and the first information may indicate to the network device the type of first system information message requested by the terminal device, after receiving the first information, the network device may determine the type of system information message requested by the terminal device and the specific requested system information message of that type based on the first information, and the network device may send the first system information message requested by the terminal device. In this way, a method for requesting system information messages is provided, which avoids situations where the terminal device does not know how to request a system information message and the network device does not know the type of system information message requested by the terminal device.

[0049] According to a sixth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is applicable to a network device and includes the steps of: receiving first information, the first information is used to request a first system information message and to indicate the type of the first system information message, the type of the first system information message is one of N types, where N is an integer greater than 1; and transmitting the first system information message.

[0050] In the above solution, the terminal device may request a first system information message required by the terminal device from the network device by using first information, thereby avoiding the signaling overhead caused by the network device's blind broadcasting of system information messages. Furthermore, if there are N types of system information messages and the first information may indicate to the network device the type of first system information message requested by the terminal device, after receiving the first information, the network device may determine the type of system information message requested by the terminal device and the specific requested system information message of that type based on the first information, and the network device may send the first system information message requested by the terminal device. In this way, a method for requesting system information messages is provided, which avoids situations where the terminal device does not know how to request a system information message and the network device does not know the type of system information message requested by the terminal device.

[0051] The fifth and sixth embodiments may further include the following embodiments.

[0052] In some possible implementations, the first instruction information within the first information indicates the type of the first system information message.

[0053] In the above solution, the first instruction information may directly indicate the type of the first system information message. For example, if the bit value of the first instruction information is the third value, this indicates that the type of the first system information message is the first type. If the bit value of the first instruction information is the fourth value, this indicates that the type of the first system information message is the second type. For example, the first instruction information occupies one bit. If the value of the bit is 1, this indicates that the terminal device requests a system information message of the first type, or if the value of the bit is 0, this indicates that the terminal device requests a system information message of the second type. For example, the first type is R15 and / or R16, and the second type is R17. If the value of the bit is 1, this indicates that the terminal device requests a system information message of R15 and / or a system information message of R16, or if the value of the bit is 0, this indicates that the terminal device requests a system information message of R17.

[0054] Optionally, the location of the first instruction information within the first information may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by the network device for the terminal device.

[0055] In some possible implementations, the first information includes the second instruction information, and the first information indicates that the type of the first system information message is of the first type, or the first information does not include the second instruction information, and the first information indicates that the type of the first system information message is of the second type, and the N types include the first type and the second type.

[0056] Optionally, the location of the second instruction information within the first information may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by the network device.

[0057] In some possible implementations, the first information contains a first bit string, the L bits of information contained in the first bit string correspond to L system information messages, the L system information messages are of the same type, the L system information messages contain the first system information message, and L is a positive integer.

[0058] If the value of the first bit information that is in the first bit sequence and corresponds to the first system information message is the first value, this indicates that the terminal device is requesting the first system information message.

[0059] In some possible implementations, the states of L system information messages include both broadcast and non-broadcast states, or the states of L system information messages include only non-broadcast states.

[0060] In some possible implementations, the first piece of information contains M bits, where M is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. The Li bits contained in the i-th bit string of the M bits correspond to Li system information messages, where i is a positive integer from 1 to M. The type of system information message corresponding to the bits in each of the M bits is the same, and the first bit contained in any bit string of the M bits corresponds to the first system information message. If the value of the first bit is the first value, this indicates that the terminal device is requesting the first system information message.

[0061] In some possible implementations, the state of Li system information messages may include both broadcast and non-broadcast states, or the state of Li system information messages may include only non-broadcast states.

[0062] In some possible implementations, the first information is carried in a radio resource control (RRC) system information request message.

[0063] In some possible implementations, N types have a one-to-one correspondence with N system information message lists, and among the N system information message lists, any one system information message list contains at least one system information message.

[0064] In some possible implementations, the N types further include a second type. A system information message of the first type is a system information message of the first feature, and a system information message of the second type is a system information message of the second feature.

[0065] In some possible implementations, the N types further include a second type. System information messages of the first type are system information messages of the first release, and system information messages of the second type are system information messages of the second release.

[0066] In some possible implementations, the N types further include a second type. The system information messages of the first type are the system information messages of the first release, and the system information messages of the second type are the system information messages of the third feature of the second release.

[0067] In some possible implementations, the first release is release 15 and / or release 16, and the second release is release 17.

[0068] For descriptions of the fifth and sixth embodiments, please refer to the descriptions of the first and second embodiments. Details will not be explained again to avoid repetition.

[0069] According to a seventh aspect, the application provides a communication device having functions to implement the behavior of each device according to the above aspects and possible implementations thereof. The functions may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware running corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions, for example, a decision module or unit, or a transceiver module or unit.

[0070] According to the eighth aspect, the application provides a communication device, the device including a processor, the processor coupled to a memory, the memory configured to store computer programs or instructions, and the processor configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory, so that the methods according to the above aspects and possible implementations thereof are performed.

[0071] For example, the processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in memory, so that the device performs the above-described method and any possible implementations thereof.

[0072] Optionally, the communication device includes one or more processors.

[0073] Optionally, the communication device may further include memory coupled to the processor.

[0074] Optionally, the communication device may include one or more memory units.

[0075] Optionally, the memory and processor may be integrated together or located separately.

[0076] The communication device may optionally further include a transceiver.

[0077] According to the ninth aspect, the application provides a communication device including one or more processors, memory, and one or more computer programs. The one or more computer programs are stored in memory. The one or more computer programs include instructions. When the instructions are executed by the communication device, the one or more processors become capable of performing a method according to the above aspect or a possible implementation of any of the above aspects, or a method described in any embodiment of the application.

[0078] Optionally, the communication device may further include a touch display and / or a camera, the touch display including a touch-sensitive surface and a display.

[0079] According to a tenth aspect, the application provides a computer-readable storage medium containing computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device becomes capable of performing a method according to the above aspect or a possible implementation of either aspect, or a method described in any embodiment of the application.

[0080] According to the eleventh aspect, the application provides a computer program product. When the computer program product is executed on a communication device, the communication device becomes capable of performing a method according to the above aspect or a possible implementation of any of the above aspects, or a method described in any embodiment of the application.

[0081] According to a twelfth aspect, the application provides a communication device comprising a unit configured to perform a method described in any embodiment of the application. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0082] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating an application scenario according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 2] This is a diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 3]This diagram illustrates the relationship between the bit information set and the type of SI message according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the relationship between the position of the bit information set and the type of the SI message according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 5] This is a diagram illustrating the relationship between a bit information set and an SI message according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates another relationship between a bit information set and an SI message according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 7] This diagram illustrates another relationship between a bit information set and an SI message according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates another relationship between a bit information set and an SI message according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 9] This is a diagram illustrating the relationship between a bit information set and a plurality of bit sequences according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 10] This diagram illustrates another relationship between a bit information set and a plurality of bit sequences according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 11] This is a diagram of a method for transmitting first information according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 12] This is a diagram of another method for transmitting first information according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 13] This is a diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 14] This is a diagram showing the configuration information according to the embodiment of this application. [Figure 15] This is a diagram showing other configuration information according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 16] This is a diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 17] This is a diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 18] This is a diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of this application. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0083] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0084] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application may be applied to various communication systems, such as global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) systems, general packet radio service (GPRS) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, 5th generation (5G) systems, new radio (NR), or other future communication systems.

[0085] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an application scenario to which an embodiment of this application is applied. As shown in Figure 1, the system includes a terminal device 110 and a network device 120.

[0086] The terminal device 110 is also called user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, user communication device, etc.

[0087] The terminal device 110 may be a device that provides voice / data connectivity to the user, for example, a handheld device or an in-vehicle device with wireless connectivity. Currently, some examples of terminal devices include mobile phones, tablet computers, notebook computers, palmtop computers, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, and personal digital assistants. This includes, but is not limited to, handheld devices or computing devices having wireless communication capabilities, or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, unmanned aerial vehicles, terminal devices in 5G networks, or terminal devices in future advanced public land mobile networks (PLMNs).

[0088] The network device 120 may also be called a radio access network (RAN) or radio access network device. The network device 120 may be a transmission reception point (TRP) in an LTE system, an evolved node B (eNB or eNodeB), a home node B (e.g., a home evolved node B or home node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), or a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. Alternatively, the network device 120 may be a relay station, an access point, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, an unmanned aerial vehicle, a satellite, a network device in a 5G network, a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, etc., or an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a gNB in ​​an NR system. Alternatively, the network device 120 may be an urban base station, a micro base station, a pico base station, a femto base station, etc. This is not limited to this application.

[0089] In the network structure, the network device 120 may include a radio access network (RAN) device including a central unit (CU) node, a distributed unit (DU) node, CU nodes, and DU nodes, or a device including a control plane CU node (CU-CP node), a user plane CU node (CU-UP node), and DU nodes.

[0090] Figure 1 shows terminal device 110 and network device 120 as examples for the sake of clarity, but it should be understood that this does not constitute any limitation to this application. The wireless communication system may further include more network devices, or more or fewer terminal devices. This is not limited to this application. Terminal device 110 may be in a fixed position or it may be movable.

[0091] Optionally, the network device 120 in Figure 1 may be replaced with a terminal device. A link for data transmission between terminal devices is called a sidelink. Sidelinks are typically used in direct communication scenarios, such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, or device-to-device (D2D) communication in indoor commercial scenarios. For example, in indoor commercial scenarios, direct communication may also be required between multiple terminal devices. For instance, a mobile phone may need to transmit VR video to VR glasses, or a mobile phone may need to project the played image onto a smart screen. Furthermore, V2X is a key technology for realizing intelligent vehicles, autonomous driving, and intelligent transportation systems. V2X may include vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, etc.

[0092] For the sake of simplicity, device numbers will be omitted below. For example, "Terminal device 110" may be abbreviated to "Terminal device," and "Network device 120" may be abbreviated to "Network device."

[0093] Optionally, Figure 1 may include more terminal devices. Optionally, if Figure 1 includes more terminal devices, Figure 1 may not include network devices. Specifically, communication between multiple terminal devices may not require the assistance of network devices. Optionally, if Figure 1 includes more terminal devices, Figure 1 may include network devices. Communication between multiple terminal devices may require the assistance of network devices.

[0094] Network devices may broadcast system information (SI) to terminal devices. System information may include information used by terminal devices for initialization and / or other information. System information includes system information blocks. Because many system information blocks exist, some terminal devices may not require certain system information blocks, but the network device still broadcasts them. This leads to signaling waste.

[0095] System information is classified into minimum system information (minimum SI) and other system information (other SI). Minimum system information includes the master information block (MIB) and system information block 1 (SIB1). SIB1 is also called remaining minimum system information (RMSI). Other system information includes other system information blocks (SIB). Network devices periodically broadcast MIBs on the broadcast channel. Terminal devices in RRC idle mode or RRC inactive mode may first receive MIBs periodically broadcast by network devices, and MIBs contain scheduling information. Network devices periodically broadcast SIB1 on the broadcast channel. Terminal devices obtain SIB1 broadcast by the network device and the scheduling information contained in SIB1 based on the scheduling information contained in SIB1. Terminal devices obtain other SIBs broadcast by network devices based on the scheduling information contained in SIB1. Alternatively, a network device may transmit SIB1 to a terminal device in RRC connection mode via radio resource control (RRC) dedicated signaling, and the terminal device may receive other SIBs broadcast by the network device based on the scheduling information contained in SIB1. For example, other SIBs may include SIB2, SIB3, SIB4, SIB5, SIB6, SIB7, SIB8, SIB9, etc. Since many other SIBs exist, multiple SIBs may be combined into a single system information message (SI message) for transmission. Thus, the transmission periods of SIBs in a single system information message may be the same, and the transmission periods of different system information messages may be the same or different.For example, SIB2 and SIB5 form system information message 1, and SIB3, SIB4, and SIB9 form system information message 2. Some system information messages may be required by multiple terminal devices. Therefore, network devices need to broadcast these system information messages. Some system information messages may be required by only specific terminal devices. Therefore, network devices do not need to broadcast these system information messages. A specific terminal device may initiate a request to request these system information messages only when that specific terminal device requires them, and the network device may transmit these system information messages.

[0096] Optionally, the scheduling information included in SIB1 may include scheduling information for one or more system information messages, and the scheduling information for a system information message includes at least one of the following: status information for the system information message, period information for the system information message, or mapping information for the system information message. The status information indicates the broadcast status of the system information message, and the broadcast status includes broadcast or non-broadcast. The period information for the system information message indicates the transmission period of the system information message. The mapping information for the system information message indicates which SIBs are included in the system information message, i.e., which SIBs are included in the system information message.

[0097] Optionally, the scheduling information included in SIB1 may further include a random access configuration for requesting system information messages. A terminal device may request a system information message based on the random access configuration. The random access configuration may be a random access configuration for one or more system information messages. The random access configuration may include a random access resource for requesting a system information message and a preamble for requesting a system information message, the random access resource including a time-frequency resource and a request period for the system information message. The time-frequency resource indicates the resource for requesting a system information message, the request period is the period for requesting system information, and the preamble is the preamble for requesting system information. There may be one or M preambles, where M is a positive integer. If one preamble exists, the terminal device uses the preamble regardless of which system information message is requested. After receiving the preamble, the network device may transmit all non-broadcast system information. In other words, the preamble does not reflect which system information messages are particularly needed by the terminal device, and the network device may broadcast all system information messages whose broadcast status is non-broadcast. If there are M preambles, and M is the number of system information messages whose broadcast status is non-broadcast, then one preamble corresponds to one non-broadcast system information message. When a system information message is requested, the terminal device sends a preamble corresponding to the system information message. After receiving the preamble, the network device may broadcast the system information message corresponding to the preamble. Thus, the system information message broadcast by the network device is the system information message requested by the terminal device.

[0098] Optionally, the scheduling information included in SIB1 may further include information about the length of the scheduling window for system information messages. Network devices periodically send system information messages within the scheduling window, and terminal devices periodically receive system information messages within the scheduling window. The scheduling window length information is the scheduling window for one or more system information messages.

[0099] With advancements in communication technology, more types of system information messages exist. If a network device can broadcast multiple types of system information messages, a terminal device can receive multiple types of system information messages. For example, a network device may broadcast a Release (R) 15 system information message, or a Release (R) 16 system information message, or a Release (R) 17 system information message. When multiple types of system information messages exist, how terminal devices request these messages is an urgent technical issue that needs to be addressed.

[0100] The communication method in this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the communication method 200 includes the following steps.

[0101] S210: The terminal device decides to request a first system information message.

[0102] Optionally, a terminal device decides to request a first system information message based on its own requirements. For example, some system information messages contain configuration information for specific functions. If a terminal device requires a particular function, it requests a system information message containing the configuration information for that function.

[0103] Optionally, prior to S210, method 200 includes: The terminal device determines a system information message whose state is non-broadcast, and determines a first system information message from the system information messages whose state is non-broadcast. In other words, the first system information message is a system information message that is not currently broadcast by the network device. Specifically, the terminal device determines which system information messages are not currently broadcast by the network device, and then, based on the implementation of the terminal device, decides which one or more system information messages are not currently broadcast by the network device. Optionally, system information messages whose state is non-broadcast may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured by the network device, or configured by the network device for the terminal device.

[0104] Optionally, a terminal device's determination of a system information message whose state is non-broadcast includes the following: The terminal device determines a system information message whose state is non-broadcast based on the scheduling information of the system information messages contained in the scheduling information of SIB1. In other words, the scheduling information of the system information messages in SIB1 indicates which system information messages are in a broadcast state and which are in a non-broadcast state.

[0105] S220: The terminal device transmits the first piece of information, and the network device receives the first piece of information.

[0106] The first bit information in the first information is used to request a first system information message, the N bit information sets in the first information correspond to N types of system information messages, the first bit information belongs to the first bit information set contained in the N bit information sets, the first system information message belongs to the first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set, the N types include the first type, and N is an integer greater than 1.

[0107] Optionally, if the value of the first bit in the first piece of information is the first value, this indicates that the terminal device requests a system information message corresponding to the first bit. If the value of the bit in the first piece of information is the second value, this indicates that the terminal device does not request a system information message corresponding to the bit. For example, the first value is 1 and the second value is 0. In other words, if the terminal device requests a system information message from the network device, the value of the bit corresponding to the system information message is set to the first value. If the terminal device does not request a system information message, the value of the bit corresponding to the system information message is set to the second value.

[0108] Optionally, a terminal device may request one or more system information messages of a first type. For example, if a terminal device needs to request multiple system information messages of a first type, the bit information corresponding to the multiple system information messages may be set to a first value. Optionally, a terminal device may request one or more system information messages of a first type and one or more system information messages of a second type. The terminal device may set the bit information corresponding to the two types of multiple system information messages that need to be requested to a first value.

[0109] Optionally, N bit information sets correspond to M system information message lists, and M system information message lists (SI message lists) correspond to N types of SI messages, where M is a positive integer greater than or equal to N. A single system information message list may contain SI messages of the same type, and SI messages of the same type may belong to one system information message list or multiple system information message lists. If SI messages of the same type may belong to one system information message list, then M=N, meaning the number of types is equal to the number of system information message lists. If SI messages of the same type may belong to multiple system information message lists, then M is greater than N, meaning there are multiple system information message lists corresponding to one type of SI message. Optionally, when SI messages of the same type may belong to one system information message list, i.e., when M=N, there is a one-to-one correspondence between N bit information sets and N system information message lists, and there is a one-to-one correspondence between N types and N system information message lists. Optionally, M system information message lists may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by a network device for a terminal device.

[0110] Optionally, N types of system information messages include a second type. In other words, a terminal device can request both a first type of system information message and a second type of system information message within the first information, and the terminal device may decide, based on its implementation, whether to request a first type or a second type of system information message, or both types of system information messages. The first type of system information message and the second type of system information message are discussed in the following three cases.

[0111] Case 1: A first type of system information message is a system information message of a first feature, and a second type of system information message is a system information message of a second feature. For example, a system information message of a first feature is a common system information message, and a system information message of a second feature is a dedicated system information message. In another example, a system information message of a first feature is a system information message for positioning, and a system information message of a second feature is a system information message for non-positioning. In yet another example, a system information message of a first feature is a system information message for low power consumption, and a system information message of a second feature is a system information message for positioning. N types of system information messages may further include more types of system information messages, for example, a third type of system information message. The types of system information messages are not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0112] Case 2: The first type of system information message is a system information message for the first release, and the second type of system information message is a system information message for the second release. The first release may include one or more releases, and the second release may also include one or more releases. Optionally, the first release may be an earlier release and the second release may be a later release, or the first release may be a later release and the second release may be an earlier release. Optionally, the first release may be an older release and the second release may be a newer release, or the first release may be a newer release and the second release may be an older release. For example, the first release may be R15 and / or R16 and the second release may be R17, or the first release may be R17 and the second release may be R18. N types of system information messages may further include more types of system information messages, for example, a third type of system information message. For example, the first release is R15 and / or R16, the second release is R17, and the third release is R18. The type of system information message is not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0113] Case 3: The first type of system information message is the system information message for the first release, and the second type of system information message is the system information message for the third feature of the second release. In other words, the attributes of the first type may be different from those of the second type, the first type may be attributes related to the release, and the second type may be attributes related to both the feature and the release. For example, the first type may be R15 and / or R16, and the second type may be R17 Low Power Consumption. Alternatively, in Case 3, the first type of system information message may be the system information message for the third feature of the first release, and the second type of system information message may be the system information message for the second release.

[0114] Optionally, N bit information sets have a one-to-one correspondence with N types of system information messages. In this way, a network device may determine that a terminal device requests a system information message of a first type by using the first bit information set to which the first bit information belongs, and then, based on the first bit information, determine that the terminal device requests a first system information message from among the first types of system information messages, and as a result, the network device may send the first system information message. For example, as shown in Figure 3, bit information set 1 is {0 0 1...0 0} and bit information set 2 is {0 0 0...0 0}, bit information set 1 corresponds to a system information message of type 1, bit information set 2 corresponds to a system information message of type 2, the first bit information is 1 in bit information set 1, and 1 indicates that the terminal device requests a first system information message corresponding to the bit position of 1.

[0115] Optionally, N bit information sets within the first information have a one-to-one correspondence with N positions. In other words, the positions corresponding to the bit information sets are different. Optionally, a bit information set contains at least one bit position where at least one bit information is located, forming a position corresponding to the bit information set. Optionally, a network device may determine, by using a first position in the first bit information set to which the first bit information belongs, that a terminal device requests a first type of system information message corresponding to the first position, and then, based on the first bit information, determine that the terminal device requests a first system information message from the first type of system information messages, thereby allowing the network device to transmit the first system information message. Optionally, a network device may determine, based on the ranking of the first position in the first bit information set to which the first bit information belongs across N positions, that a terminal device requests a first type of system information message, and then, based on the first bit information, determine that the terminal device requests a first system information message from the first type of system information messages. For example, as shown in Figure 4, bit information set 1 is {0 0 1...0 0} and bit information set 2 is {0 0 0...0 0}, the position of bit information set 1 in the first information is position 1, the position of bit information set 2 in the first information is position 2, position 1 corresponds to a type 1 system information message, position 2 corresponds to a type 2 system information message, and the first information bit is 1 in bit information set 1. Since the position of bit information set 1 is position 1, this indicates that the terminal device requests a type 1 system information message corresponding to position 1. The fact that the first bit information set is 1 indicates that the terminal device requests a first system information message corresponding to the bit position of 1, and 0s in bit information set 1 and bit information set 2 indicate that the terminal device does not request system information messages corresponding to these bit positions.

[0116] Optionally, the first piece of information may contain a bit string, and the bit string may contain N sets of bit information. The first piece of information may contain one or more bit strings. When the first piece of information contains one bit string, the bit string contains N sets of bit information. When the first piece of information contains multiple bit strings, the multiple bit strings contain N sets of bit information. The bit strings included in the first case are described below in two cases.

[0117] Case 1: The first piece of information contains the first bit sequence, and the first bit sequence contains N sets of bit information.

[0118] Optionally, the first bit string within the first information contains N bit information sets, and the N positions within the N bit information sets in the first bit string correspond to N types. Optionally, the N positions have a one-to-one correspondence with the N types. The ranking of the positions of each bit information set at the N positions indicates the type corresponding to each bit information set. For example, the first bit string may include bit information set 1 at position 1 and bit information set 2 at position 2, as shown in Figure 4.

[0119] Optionally, the correspondence between N locations and N types may be specified by a protocol, pre-configured, or configured by a network device. This is not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0120] Optionally, the N bit information sets may further include a second bit information set, with the first bit information set preceding the second bit information set at N positions, or the first bit information set following the second bit information set at N positions, with the second bit information set corresponding to a second type of system information message, and the N types including the second type. For example, as shown in Figure 4, position 1 is the position of the first bit information set, and position 2 is the position of the second bit information set. In this case, position 1 precedes position 2 in the first bit sequence. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 4, position 1 is the position of the second bit information set, position 2 is the position of the first bit information set, and position 2 follows position 1 in the first bit sequence.

[0121] Network devices broadcast some system information messages and do not broadcast the rest. Which system information messages are broadcast and which do not may be specified by the protocol or configured by the network device. The following describes the four system information message states in Case 1.

[0122] (a) The states of the first type of system information message include a non-broadcast state, and the states of the second type of system information message include a non-broadcast state. In other words, all first type system information messages corresponding to the first bit information set are system information messages that are not broadcast by network devices, and all second type system information messages corresponding to the second bit information set are system information messages that are not broadcast by network devices. In other words, the system information messages corresponding to each of the N bit information sets are system information messages that are not broadcast by network devices. For example, the first type is R15 and / or R16, the second type is R17, and the first bit sequence is shown in Figure 5. The first bit information set contained in the first bit sequence is {0 0 1}, and the second bit information set is {1 0 0 1 0}. In the first bit information set, {0 0 1} corresponds to the three non-broadcast system information messages of R15 and / or R16, and in the second bit information set, {1 0 0 1 0} corresponds to the five non-broadcast system information messages of R17, where 1 indicates that a system information message is requested and 0 indicates that a system information message is not requested. The first bit sequence indicates that the third system information message from the non-broadcast system information messages of R15 and / or R16, and the first and fourth system information messages from the non-broadcast system information messages of R17 are requested. In other words, network devices and terminal devices have a consistent understanding of the first information. When a terminal device needs to request the system information messages of R15 and / or R16, the terminal device determines that the first three bits in the first bit sequence are the bits corresponding to R15 and / or R16.When a network device, through analysis, learns that the third bit of the first three bits in the first bit string is 1, this indicates that the terminal device is requesting the third non-broadcast system information message for R15 and / or R16. For example, the network device determines that the terminal device is requesting the third non-broadcast system information message in the system information message list for R15 and / or R16 (in this case, the system message list for R15 and / or R16 includes either broadcast and non-broadcast system information messages, or includes only non-broadcast system information messages). When the terminal device needs to request the system information message for R17, the terminal device determines that the fourth through eighth bits in the first bit string correspond to the bits for R17. When the network device, through analysis, learns that the fourth and seventh bits are 1, this indicates that the terminal device is requesting the first and fourth non-broadcast system information messages for R17. For example, a network device determines that a terminal device requests the first non-broadcast system information message and the fourth non-broadcast system information message in the R17 system information message list (in this case, the R17 system message list may contain either a broadcast system information message and a non-broadcast system information message, or it may contain only the non-broadcast system information message).

[0123] (b) The states of the first type of system information message include broadcast and non-broadcast states, and the states of the second type of system information message include broadcast and non-broadcast states. In other words, the first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set includes system information messages that are broadcast and non-broadcast by the network device, and the second type of system information message corresponding to the second bit information set includes system information messages that are broadcast and non-broadcast by the network device. In other words, the system information message corresponding to each of the N bit information sets includes system information messages that are broadcast and non-broadcast by the network device. For example, the first type is R15 and / or R16, the second type is R17, and the first bit sequence is shown in Figure 6. The {0 1 0} in the first bit information set contained in the first bit sequence corresponds to the three system information messages of R15 and / or R16, and the {0 0 1 0 1} in the second bit information set corresponds to the five system information messages of R17, where 1 indicates that a system information message is requested and 0 indicates that a system information message is not requested. The first bit sequence indicates that the third system information message of R15 and / or R16, and the first and fourth system information messages of R17 are requested.For example, the third system information message in the system information message list of R15 and / or R16 (in this case, the system information message list of R15 and / or R16 includes broadcast and non-broadcast system information messages) and the first and fourth system information messages in the system information message list of R17 (in this case, the system information message list of R17 includes broadcast and non-broadcast system information messages) are requested. In other words, the network device and the terminal device have a consistent understanding of the first information. When the terminal device needs to request the system information messages of R15 and / or R16, the terminal device determines that the first three bits in the first bit string are the bits corresponding to R15 and / or R16. When the network device, through analysis, learns that the second bit of the first three bits in the first bit string is 1, this indicates that the terminal device is requesting the second system information message of R15 and / or R16. When a terminal device needs to request the R17 system information message, it determines that the fourth through eighth bits in the first bit sequence correspond to the R17 bit information. When a network device learns through analysis that the sixth and eighth bits are 1, this indicates that the terminal device is requesting the third and fifth system information messages of R17.

[0124] That is, in (b), a first type of system information message belongs to a first type of system information message list, and in a first type of system information message, there is no distinction between which system information messages are broadcast and which are not broadcast. The number of bit information entries corresponding to the first bit information set corresponding to a first type of system information message in the first information is the same as the number of system information messages included in the first type of system information message list. A second type of system information message belongs to a second type of system information message list, and in a second type of system information message, there is no distinction between which system information messages are broadcast and which are not broadcast. The number of bit information entries corresponding to the second bit information set corresponding to a second type of system information message in the first information is the same as the number of system information messages included in the second type of system information message list.

[0125] (c) The states of the first type of system information message include a non-broadcast state, and the states of the second type of system information message include a broadcast state and a non-broadcast state. In other words, the first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set includes a system information message that is not broadcast by the network device, and the second type of system information message corresponding to the second bit information set includes a system information message that is broadcast by the network device and a system information message that is not broadcast. In other words, the system information messages corresponding to some bit information sets in N bit information sets are system information messages that are broadcast by the network device and a system information message that is not broadcast by the network device, and the system information messages corresponding to some bit information are system information messages that are not broadcast by the network device. For example, the first type is R15 and / or R16, the second type is R17, and the first bit sequence is shown in Figure 7. The {0 0 1} in the first bit information set contained in the first bit sequence corresponds to the three non-broadcast system information messages of R15 and / or R16, and the {1 0 0 1 0} in the second bit information set corresponds to the five broadcast and non-broadcast system information messages of R17, where 1 indicates that a system information message is requested and 0 indicates that a system information message is not requested. The first bit sequence indicates that the third non-broadcast system information message from the system information messages of R15 and / or R16, and the first and fourth system information messages from the system information of R17 are requested.For example, the third non-broadcast system information message in the system information message list of R15 and / or R16 (in this case, the system information message list of R15 and / or R16 includes broadcast system information messages and non-broadcast system information messages, or includes non-broadcast system information messages) and the first and fourth system information messages in the system information message list of R17 (in this case, the system information message list of R17 includes broadcast system information messages and non-broadcast system information messages) are requested. In other words, the network device and the terminal device have a consistent understanding of the first information. When the terminal device needs to request the system information messages of R15 and / or R16, the terminal device determines that the first three bits in the first bit string are the bits corresponding to R15 and / or R16. When the network device learns through analysis that the third bit of the first three bits in the first bit string is 1, this indicates that the terminal device is requesting the third non-broadcast system information message of R15 and / or R16. When a terminal device needs to request a system information message for R17, it determines that the fourth through eighth bits in the first bit sequence correspond to the R17 bit information. When a network device learns through analysis that the fourth and seventh bits are 1, this indicates that the terminal device is requesting the first and fourth system information messages for R17.

[0126] That is, in (c), the second type of system information message belongs to the second type of system information message list, and in the second type of system information message, there is no distinction made as to which system information messages are in a broadcast state and which are in a non-broadcast state. The number of bit information entries corresponding to the second bit information set corresponding to the second type of system information message in the first information is the same as the number of system information messages included in the second type of system information message list.

[0127] (d) The states of the first type of system information message include broadcast and non-broadcast states, and the states of the second type of system information message include non-broadcast states. In other words, the first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set includes system information messages that are broadcast and non-broadcast by the network device, and the second type of system information message corresponding to the second bit information set includes system information messages that are not broadcast by the network device. In other words, the system information messages corresponding to some bit information sets in N bit information sets are system information messages that are broadcast and non-broadcast by the network device, and the system information messages corresponding to some bit information are system information messages that are not broadcast by the network device. For example, the first type is R15 and / or R16, the second type is R17, and the first bit sequence is shown in Figure 8. The {0 0 1} in the first bit information set contained in the first bit sequence corresponds to the three broadcast and non-broadcast system information messages of R15 and / or R16, and the {1 0 0 1 0} in the second bit information set corresponds to the five non-broadcast system information messages of R17, where 1 indicates that a system information message is requested and 0 indicates that a system information message is not requested. The first bit sequence indicates that the third system information message of R15 and / or R16, and the first and fourth non-broadcast system information messages of R17 are requested.For example, the third cast system information message in the system information message list of R15 and / or R16 (in this case, the system information message list of R15 and / or R16 includes broadcast system information messages and non-broadcast system information messages) and the first non-broadcast system information message and the fourth non-broadcast system information message in the system information message list of R17 (in this case, the system information message list of R17 includes broadcast system information messages and non-broadcast system information messages, or includes non-broadcast system information messages) are requested. In other words, the network device and the terminal device have a consistent understanding of the first information. When the terminal device needs to request the system information messages of R15 and / or R16, the terminal device determines that the first three bits in the first bit string are the bits corresponding to R15 and / or R16. When the network device learns through analysis that the third bit of the first three bits in the first bit string is 1, this indicates that the terminal device is requesting the third system information message of R15 and / or R16. When a terminal device needs to request the R17 system information message, it determines that the fourth through eighth bits in the first bit sequence correspond to the R17 bit information. When a network device learns through analysis that the fourth and seventh bits are 1, this indicates that the terminal device is requesting the first and fourth non-broadcast system information messages of R17.

[0128] That is, in (d), a first type of system information message belongs to a first type of system information message list, and within a first type of system information message, there is no distinction made as to which system information messages are in a broadcast state and which are in a non-broadcast state. The number of bit information entries corresponding to the first bit information set corresponding to a first type of system information message in the first information is the same as the number of system information messages included in the first type of system information message list.

[0129] In Case 1, it should be noted that the terminal device and the network device have a consistent understanding of the first bit sequence within the first information. The terminal device knows that the first bit sequence carries N bit information sets where the information bits are located within the first information, and the network device also knows that the first bit sequence carries N bit information sets where the information bits are located within the first information. Furthermore, the terminal device and the network device have a consistent understanding of the N positions within the first bit sequence that correspond to the N bit information sets. The terminal device knows a specific type of system information message carried at a specific position among the N positions, and the network device also knows a specific type of system information message carried at a specific position among the N positions. Therefore, the terminal device can request a corresponding type of system information message, and the network device can know the type of system information message requested by the terminal device.

[0130] Optionally, the first bit string may contain additional bit information beyond the N bit information sets, and this additional bit information may be set to 0. In other words, the length of the first bit string may be fixed. If the bit information contained in the N bit information sets exactly satisfies the length of the first bit string, no 0s are padded. If the length of the first bit string is greater than the length of the bit information contained in the N bit information sets, the remaining bits in the first bit string are 0. For example, the length of the first bit string is X, and the number of bit information items in the N bit information sets is Y. If X is greater than Y, 0s are padded into XY bits of bit information.

[0131] Optionally, the length of the first bit string may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by the network device for the terminal device.

[0132] Case 2: The first piece of information contains multiple bit strings, and each bit string contains N sets of bit information. In other words, N sets of bit information span multiple bit strings. In other words, when one bit string is insufficient to carry N sets of bit information, the N sets of bit information may be carried by using multiple bit strings. Optionally, all of the multiple bit strings may be of the same length, or some of the multiple bit strings may be of the same length, or some of the bit strings may be of different lengths.

[0133] Optionally, the ranking of any one of the N bit information sets within multiple bit sequences indicates the type of system information message corresponding to any one of the bit information sets. For example, as shown in Figure 9, the ranking of the bit information set {0 1 0 0} within two bit sequences is 1, and the 1st bit information set within multiple bit sequences corresponds to the system information message R15 and / or the system information message R16. Therefore, the network device may determine that the terminal device requests the system information message R15 and / or the system information message R16. The network device then determines, based on 1, that the terminal device requests the second system information message R15 and / or R16, and the network device may broadcast the second system information message R15 and / or R16. The ranking of the bit information set {0 1 0 0 0 1} within two bit sequences is 2, and the second bit information set within multiple bit sequences corresponds to the system information message R17. Therefore, the network device may determine that the terminal device requests the R17 system information message. Based on 1, the network device may determine that the terminal device requests the R17 second and sixth system information messages, and the network device may broadcast the R17 second and sixth system information messages.

[0134] Optionally, the N positions of N bit information sets within multiple bit strings have a one-to-one correspondence with N types. The ranking of the positions of each bit information set within the N positions indicates the type corresponding to each bit information set, and some positions of some types may span multiple bit strings. For example, as shown in Figure 10, position 1 within bit string 1 corresponds to type 1, and position 2, which spans bit strings 1 and bit string 2, corresponds to type 2. In this way, the network device determines type 1 at position 1 and type 2 at position 2 to determine the type of system information message requested by the terminal device.

[0135] Optionally, the correspondence between N locations and N types may be specified by a protocol, pre-configured, or configured by a network device. This is not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0136] Optionally, the first information includes a third bit information set, the bit information included in the third bit information set belongs to at least two bit sequences from a plurality of bit sequences, the third bit information set corresponds to a third type of system information message, and the N types include the first type and the third type. Thus, after receiving the first information, the network device may determine the third bit information set by concatenating the bit information in the plurality of bit sequences within the first information. For example, as shown in Figure 9, the first information includes bit sequence 1 and bit sequence 2, the first type is R15 or R16, the third type is R17, bit sequence 1 includes the bit information set {0 1 0 0} of R15 and / or R16 and some bit information {0 1 0} of the bit information set {0 1 0 0 1} of R17, and bit sequence 2 includes the remaining bit information {0 0 1} of the bit information set {0 1 0 0 0 1} of R17. The network device determines, based on {0 1 0 0} in bit sequence 1, that the terminal device requests the second system information message for R15 and / or R16. The network device concatenates the bit information {0 1 0} in bit sequence 1 with the remaining bit information {0 0 1} in bit sequence 2 to obtain {0 1 0 0 0 1}, and determines that the terminal device requests the second system information message for R17 and the sixth system information message.

[0137] Optionally, the first information includes a fourth bit information set, the bit information included in the fourth bit information set belongs to the second bit string among multiple bit strings, the fourth bit information set corresponds to a fourth type of system information message, and N types include the fourth type. In other words, the fourth bit information set corresponding to a fourth type of system information message belongs to a single bit string and does not have to span multiple bit strings. For example, the second bit string is bit string 1 in Figure 9, the fourth type is R15 or R16, and the fourth bit information set {0 1 0 0} belongs to bit string 1.

[0138] In other words, in Case 2, some bit information sets belong to one bit string, and some bit information sets belong to at least two bit strings, for example, two bit strings or three bit strings.

[0139] It should be noted that the N bit information sets may include a third bit information set, or a fourth bit information set, or both the third and fourth bit information sets. In other words, some of the N bit information sets may span multiple bit sequences, or one bit sequence may contain one bit information set that does not span multiple bit sequences, or some of the N bit information sets may span multiple bit sequences, and some bit information sets may belong to a single bit sequence.

[0140] Optionally, when N bit information sets include a third bit information set, the third bit information set corresponds to a third type of system information message, and the state of the third type of system information message includes a non-broadcast state, or the broadcast and non-broadcast states of the third type of system information message are not distinguished. When N bit information sets include a fourth bit information set, the fourth bit information set corresponds to a fourth type of system information message, and the state of the fourth type of system information message includes a non-broadcast state, or the broadcast and non-broadcast states of the fourth type of system information message are not distinguished. When N bit information sets include both the third and fourth bit information sets, the third bit information set corresponds to a third type of system information message, and the fourth bit information set corresponds to a fourth type of system information message. The states of the third and fourth type of system information messages include a non-broadcast state. For example, in Figure 9, the state of the system information messages R15 and / or R16 is non-broadcast, and the state of the system information message R17 is non-broadcast. Alternatively, the states of the third type of system information message and the fourth type of system information message include broadcast and non-broadcast states. For example, in Figure 9, the state of the system information messages R15 and / or R16 is broadcast and non-broadcast, and the state of the system information message R17 is broadcast and non-broadcast. Alternatively, the state of the third type of system information message includes a non-broadcast state, and the state of the fourth type of system information message includes a broadcast state. For example, in Figure 9, the state of the system information messages R15 and / or R16 is non-broadcast, and the state of the system information message R17 is broadcast. Alternatively, the state of the third type of system information message includes a broadcast state, and the state of the fourth type of system information message includes a non-broadcast state.For example, in Figure 9, the status of the system information messages R15 and / or R16 is broadcast, and the status of the system information message R17 is non-broadcast.

[0141] Optionally, multiple bit strings may contain additional bit information beyond the N bit information sets, and this additional bit information may be set to 0. In other words, the sum of the lengths of the multiple bit strings may be fixed. If the bit information contained in the N bit information sets exactly satisfies the sum of the lengths of the multiple bit strings, no 0s are padded. If the sum of the lengths of the multiple bit strings is greater than the bit information contained in the N bit information sets, the remaining bits in the multiple bit strings are 0. For example, the sum of the lengths of the multiple bit strings is X, and the number of bit information items in the N bit information sets is Y. If X is greater than Y, 0s are padded into XY bits of bit information.

[0142] Optionally, the length of each of the multiple bit strings may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by the network device for the terminal device. If the bit information in the bit information set does not occupy a bit string, zeros are padded into the bit string.

[0143] In Case 2, it should be noted that the terminal device and the network device have a consistent understanding of multiple bit sequences within the first information. The terminal device can know that the information bits located within the first information carry N bit information sets, and the network device can also know that the information bits located within the first information carry N bit information sets. Furthermore, the terminal device and the network device have a consistent understanding of the N locations within the multiple bit sequences that correspond to the N bit information sets. The terminal device can know a specific type of system information message carried at a specific location among the N locations, and the network device can also know a specific type of system information message carried at a specific location among the N locations. Therefore, the terminal device can request a corresponding type of system information message, and the network device can also know the type of system information message requested by the terminal device. For a specific type of system information message spanning multiple bit sequences, the network device needs to concatenate the bit information within the multiple bit sequences to obtain a complete bit information set and determine the type corresponding to the bit information set.

[0144] Optionally, S220 includes the following: The terminal device may transmit first information based on a message similar to message 3 or message A in the random access process. Optionally, the terminal device may transmit first information based on a message similar to message 3 in 4-step random access, or based on a message similar to message A in 2-step random access. Figure 11 shows that in 4-step random access, first information is transmitted based on a message similar to message 3. As shown in Figure 11, the process of transmitting first information based on a message similar to message 3 in 4-step random access is described below.

[0145] S1110: The terminal device sends a preamble, also known as message 1, and the network device receives message 1.

[0146] S1110 may also be performed by the terminal device sending a preamble over a random access channel opportunity (RACH occasion, RO).

[0147] The preamble in S1110 is the preamble used for random access.

[0148] In response to S1120:S1110, the network device sends a random access response (RAR) message to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the RAR message, also known as message 2.

[0149] The RAR may include a preamble identifier, timing advance (TA) information, uplink grant (UL grant), cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI), etc. The TA is used for uplink synchronization.

[0150] The response is successful if the preamble identified by the preamble identifier contained in the RAR matches the identifier of the preamble sent by the terminal device in message 1. The terminal device may then send message 3 through the uplink grant in the RAR and perform S1130.

[0151] If the terminal device does not receive a RAR within the random access response window, or if the preamble identified by the preamble identifier contained in the RAR received by the terminal device does not match the preamble sent by the terminal device, the response fails. In this case, the terminal device may then perform S1110 again.

[0152] S1130: The terminal device sends a radio resource control (RRC) system information request message to the network device on the uplink grant of message 3, the RRC system information request message, also known as message 3, contains the first information in S220.

[0153] If the network device successfully receives message 3, S1140 is executed.

[0154] In response to S1140:S1130, the network device indicates to the terminal device that the terminal device has successfully transmitted the first information. The network device may also perform S230.

[0155] In other words, when a terminal device transmits the first information in a four-step random access procedure, there is no restriction on the order in which the terminal device performs S210 and either S1110 or S1120, and S1130 is equivalent to S220. After S1140, the network device transmits the first system information message, and the terminal device receives the first system information message.

[0156] Referring to Figure 12, the transmission of the first piece of information based on the principle of two-step random access will be described below.

[0157] S1210: The terminal device sends a preamble, also called message A, and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) payload, and the network device receives message A. The PUSCH payload contains the first piece of information.

[0158] The preamble in S1210 is the preamble used for random access.

[0159] S1220: The network device sends message B to the terminal device.

[0160] If a network device successfully receives the preamble and first information contained in message A, message B is a success RAR, and the success RAR response may include a conflict resolution identifier, TA information, and C-RNTI.

[0161] If the network device successfully receives and decodes the preamble sent by the terminal device, but fails to receive and decode the first information sent by the terminal device, message B may include a fallback RAR, which may include a preamble identifier, TA information, uplink grant (UL grant), C-RNTI, etc. If the preamble identified by the preamble identifier included in the fallback RAR matches the preamble in message A, the terminal device sends message 3 through the uplink grant in the fallback RAR, message 3 includes the first information, and message 3 matches message 3 in S1130. The network device then sends message 4. In other words, two-step random access falls back to four-step random access.

[0162] In other words, if the terminal device transmits the first information in a two-step random access procedure, S1210 is equivalent to S220. After S1220, the network device transmits the first system information message, and the terminal device receives the first system information message.

[0163] If the terminal device is in RRC idle mode or RRC inactive mode, the terminal device may transmit the first information through two-step random access as shown in Figure 12 or four-step random access as shown in Figure 11. If the terminal device is in RRC connected mode, the terminal device may transmit the first information through RRC dedicated signaling.

[0164] S230: The network device sends a first system information message, and the terminal device receives the first system information message.

[0165] Optionally, a network device sending a first system information message includes: The network device broadcasts the first system information message. Optionally, if a terminal device is in RRC idle mode or RRC inactive mode, the network device broadcasts the first system information message.

[0166] Optionally, a network device sending a first system information message includes the following: If the terminal device is in RRC connection mode, the network device sends the first system information message via RRC signaling.

[0167] It should be noted that if a network device does not agree to the first type of system information message requested by a terminal device, the network device will refuse to broadcast the first type of system information message. Therefore, S230 may not be necessary.

[0168] It should be noted that S210 and S230 are optional steps, and S220 may independently form an embodiment. Specifically, an embodiment may be provided in which a terminal device transmits first information and a network device receives first information. Thus, a method for transmitting first information is provided, and the first information is used to request a first system information message. Optionally, S210 and S220 may form an embodiment. After deciding to request a first system information message, the terminal device may transmit the first information. Furthermore, if the network device agrees to the request of the terminal device, S230 may be performed, or if the network device does not agree to the request of the terminal device, S230 may not be performed. In other words, if the network device agrees to the request of the terminal device, S220 and S230 may form an embodiment, or S210, S220 and S230 may form an embodiment.

[0169] In the above solution, the terminal device may use the first information to request the first system information message required by the terminal device from the network device, thereby avoiding the signaling overhead caused by the network device's blind broadcast of system information messages. Furthermore, when there are N types of system information messages, the N bit information sets in the first information correspond to the N types of system information. Since the first bit information for requesting the first system information message belongs to the first bit information set, it is equivalent to the terminal device requesting a first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set. Therefore, after receiving the first information, the network device may determine, based on the first bit information set to which the first bit information belongs, that the terminal device is requesting a first system information message of the first type, and the network device may then send a first system information message of the first type. In this way, a method for requesting system information messages is provided, avoiding situations where the terminal device does not know how to request a system information message and the network device does not know the type of system information message requested by the terminal device. Furthermore, it avoids situations where the terminal device needs to further specify the type of system information message requested, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0170] In some embodiments, network devices may configure configuration information for different types of system information messages. A description is provided below with reference to Method 1300. As shown in Figure 13, Method 1300 includes the following steps.

[0171] S1310: The network device transmits a first information list, and the terminal device receives the first information list, which includes at least two configuration information items, and the at least two configuration information items correspond to at least two types of system information messages.

[0172] In other words, a network device may configure configuration information for at least two types of system information within the first information list.

[0173] Optionally, at least two configuration information sets may be at least two random access configurations, each random access configuration set containing a random access resource and a preamble. The random access resources included in different random access configurations may be the same or different, and different random access configurations may contain different preambles. For example, random access configuration 1 includes random access resource 1 and preamble 1, random access configuration 2 includes random access resource 2 and preamble 2, preamble 1 and preamble 2 are different, and random access resource 1 and random access resource 2 may be the same or different. If random access resource 1 and random access resource 2 are the same, this indicates that the terminal device requests different types of system information messages on the same random access resource by using different preambles.

[0174] Optionally, S1310 includes: The network device transmits a first information list within SIB1. Optionally, the network device transmitting a first information list within SIB1 includes: The network device transmits a first information list within the scheduling information of system information messages within SIB1.

[0175] S1320: A terminal device requests a system information message of a first type corresponding to a first configuration information based on first configuration information, wherein at least two configuration information items include the first configuration information, and at least two types include the first type.

[0176] There may be two correspondences between at least two configuration pieces of information and at least two types of system information. Two cases are described below.

[0177] Case 1: At least two configuration information items belong to at least two sets of configuration information, and at least two sets of configuration information correspond to at least two types of system information messages. In this case, the first information list contains at least two sets of configuration information. The intersection subset of at least two sets of configuration information is empty. In other words, one set of configuration information belongs to one set of configuration information. Optionally, at least two sets of configuration information have a one-to-one correspondence with at least two types of system information messages. Specifically, at least two sets of configuration information may belong to N sets of configuration information, and the number of types of system information messages is also N. In this case, N sets of configuration information have a one-to-one correspondence with N types of system information messages, i.e., one set of configuration information corresponds to one type of system information message. In other words, a terminal device may request a system information message of the type corresponding to a set of configuration information based on the configuration information within that set.

[0178] For example, N types include a first type and a second type, and N configuration information sets include a first configuration information set and a second configuration information set, with the first configuration information set corresponding to system information messages of the first type and the second configuration information set corresponding to system information messages of the second type. The number of configuration information entries in the first configuration information set is the same as the number of system information messages of the first type, and the number of configuration information entries in the second configuration information set is the same as the number of system information messages of the second type.

[0179] Optionally, the correspondence between N types of system information messages and N configuration information sets may be specified in the protocol or pre-configured. This is not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0180] Optionally, the state of N types of system information messages is non-broadcast. In other words, the network device configures for the terminal device the configuration information of system information messages that are requested by the terminal device but are not broadcast by the network device.

[0181] Optionally, the ranking of configuration information sets in the first information list indicates the type of system information message corresponding to the first configuration information set. For example, the first configuration information set is the first configuration information set in the first information list, and therefore the first configuration information set corresponds to the first type of system information message. The second configuration information set is the second configuration information set in the first information list, and therefore the second configuration information set corresponds to the second type of system information message. Optionally, the number of configuration information entries in the first configuration information set is the same as the number of system information messages of the first type. In other words, one configuration information entry may correspond to one system information message. Thus, when requesting a system information message of the first type, the terminal device executes the request by using the configuration information corresponding to the system information message. Similarly, the number of configuration information entries in the second configuration information set is the same as the number of system information messages of the second type. In other words, one configuration information entry may correspond to one system information message. Thus, when requesting a system information message of the second type, the terminal device executes the request by using the configuration information corresponding to the system information message.

[0182] For a description of the first and second types, see Method 200. Details are omitted in this embodiment of the application to avoid repetition.

[0183] For example, as shown in Figure 14, the system information message list (SI message list) of R15 and / or R16 contains five SI messages, three of which have a broadcast status of non-broadcast, and the system information message list (SI message list) of R17 contains four SI messages, two of which have a broadcast status of non-broadcast. In this case, the first information list may contain two configuration information sets. Configuration information set 1 contains three configuration information items, namely configuration information 1, configuration information 2, and configuration information 3. Configuration information set 2 contains two configuration information items, namely configuration information 4 and configuration information 5. Configuration information set 1 is the first configuration information set in the first information list, and configuration information set 2 is the second configuration information set in the first information list. Therefore, the three configuration information items in configuration information set 1, namely configuration information 1, configuration information 2, and configuration information 3, correspond to the three SI messages of R15 and / or R16, namely SI message 2, SI message 3, and SI message 5, respectively, whose broadcast status is non-broadcast. Two configuration information items in configuration information set 2, namely configuration information 4 and configuration information 5, correspond to two SI messages of R17 whose broadcast state is non-broadcast, namely SI message 1 and SI message 3, respectively.

[0184] For example, one configuration information within N configuration information sets may contain one random access resource and one preamble, or one preamble. In other words, a preamble is a preamble used to request a system information message. For example, when requesting SI message 3 in Figure 14, the terminal device first determines the type of SI message 3, e.g., R15 and / or R16, and then determines the first configuration information set that is in the first information list and corresponds to the system information message of R15 and / or the system information message of R16. The first configuration information set is configuration information set 1, and configuration information set 1 contains three configuration information, namely configuration information 1, configuration information 2, and configuration information 3. The terminal device knows that the three non-broadcast SI messages of R15 and / or R16 are SI message 2, SI message 3, and SI message 5, and that SI message 3 is the second SI in the non-broadcast SI message, so the second configuration information in configuration information set 1 (configuration information 2, also called the first configuration information) is the configuration information for SI message 3. The terminal device requests the network device to broadcast SI message 3 by using the random access resources and preamble contained in configuration information 2. The network device determines that the random access resources and preamble belong to configuration information 2, and that configuration information 2 belongs to configuration information set 1. The network device determines that the terminal device requests SI messages R15 and / or R16, i.e., the second non-broadcast SI message in SI message 3. The network device may broadcast SI message 3, and the terminal device may receive message 3. Alternatively, the terminal device requests the network device to broadcast SI message 3 by using the preamble contained in configuration information 2. The network device determines that the preamble belongs to configuration information 2, and that configuration information 2 belongs to configuration information set 1.The network device determines that the terminal device requests the SI messages R15 and / or R16, i.e., the second non-broadcast SI message in SI message 3. The network device may broadcast SI message 3, and the terminal device may receive message 3.

[0185] Case 2: The number of configuration information items is N, and the number of system information message types is also N. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the N configuration information items and the N types of system information messages. In other words, the same configuration information is used by terminal devices to request the same type of system information message. Thus, the configuration can be simplified.

[0186] For example, N types include a first type and a second type, N configuration information includes a first configuration information and a second configuration information, the first configuration information corresponds to a system information message of the first type, and the second configuration information corresponds to a system information message of the second type.

[0187] Optionally, the correspondence between N types of system information messages and N configuration information may be specified in the protocol or pre-configured. This is not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0188] Optionally, the state of N types of system information messages is non-broadcast. In other words, the network device configures for the terminal device the configuration information of system information messages that are requested by the terminal device but are not broadcast by the network device.

[0189] Optionally, the ranking of a single configuration information in the first configuration information list indicates a system information message of the type corresponding to the configuration information. For example, the first configuration information is the first configuration information in the first information list, and therefore the first configuration information corresponds to a system information message of the first type. The second configuration information is the second configuration information in the first information list, and therefore the second configuration information corresponds to a system information message of the second type. Optionally, the first configuration information corresponds to one or more system information messages of the first type. Thus, when requesting any system information message of the first type, the terminal device performs the request by using the first configuration information. Similarly, the second configuration information corresponds to the number of system information messages of the second type. In other words, one configuration information may correspond to one system information message. Thus, the terminal device requests one or more system information messages of the second type. Thus, when requesting any system information message of the second type, the terminal device performs the request by using the second configuration information.

[0190] For a description of the first and second types, see Method 200. Details are omitted in this embodiment of the application to avoid repetition.

[0191] For example, as shown in Figure 15, the system information message list (SI message list) of R15 and / or R16 contains five SI messages, three of which have a broadcast status of non-broadcast, and the system information message list (SI message list) of R17 contains four SI messages, two of which have a broadcast status of non-broadcast. In this case, the first information list may contain two configuration information (configuration information 1 and configuration information 2). Configuration information 1 in the first information list is ranked first, and configuration information 2 in the first information list is ranked second. Configuration information 1 consists of three SI messages from R15 and / or R16 (SI message 2, SI message 3, and SI message 5) whose broadcast status is non-broadcast. In other words, the terminal device requests SI messages 2, SI message 3, and SI message 5 from R15 and / or R16 by using configuration information 1. Configuration information 2 consists of the configuration information for two SI messages from R17 (SI message 1 and SI message 3), respectively, whose broadcast status is non-broadcast. In other words, the terminal device requests SI messages 1 and 3 of R17 by using configuration information 2.

[0192] For example, one of the N configuration pieces may contain one random access resource and one preamble, or one preamble. For example, when requesting SI message 3 in Figure 15, the terminal device first determines the type of SI message 3, e.g., R15 and / or R16, and then determines the first configuration piece that is in the first information list and corresponds to the system information message of R15 and / or the system information message of R16. The first configuration piece is configuration piece 1, which may contain random access resource 1 and preamble 1, or one preamble 1. Therefore, the terminal device requests the network device to broadcast SI message 3 by using the random access resource and preamble contained in configuration piece 1. The network device determines that the random access resource and preamble belong to configuration piece 1 (also called the first configuration piece), and configuration piece 1 corresponds to the SI message of R15 and / or the SI message of R16. The network device may broadcast the R15 SI message and / or the R16 SI message in a non-broadcast state, which includes the SI message 3 requested by the terminal device. Alternatively, the terminal device requests the network device to broadcast the SI message 3 by using the preamble contained in configuration information 2. The network device determines that the preamble belongs to configuration information 1 and that configuration information 1 corresponds to the R15 SI message and / or the R16 SI message. The network device may broadcast the R15 SI message and / or the R16 SI message in a non-broadcast state, which includes the SI message 3 requested by the terminal device.

[0193] When requesting a system information message from a network device based on the first configuration information, the terminal device executes S1330.

[0194] S1330: A network device sends a system information message of type 1, and a terminal device receives a system information message of type 1.

[0195] Optionally, in Case 1 in S1320, in S1330, the network device sends a system information message of a first type that corresponds to the first configuration information and whose broadcast status is non-broadcast. In other words, in Case 1, the network device broadcasts the system information message requested by the terminal device. In this way, fine-grained broadcasting can be performed, and overhead can be reduced.

[0196] Optionally, in case 2 in S1320, in S1330, the network device sends one or more system information messages of the first type in which the broadcast status is non-broadcast. In other words, in case 2, the terminal device may request a system information message once, and the network device may send one or more system information messages, the one or more system information messages sent by the network device including the system information message requested by the terminal device. Thus, coarse-grained broadcasting can avoid situations where a terminal device needs to make a request multiple times, or where one terminal device requests one type of system information message and the network device sends multiple system information messages of that type, thereby avoiding the overhead caused by other terminal devices restarting the request when other system information messages of that type are needed.

[0197] It should be noted that if a network device does not agree to the first type of system information message requested by a terminal device, the network device will refuse to broadcast the first type of system information message. Therefore, S1330 may not be necessary.

[0198] In some embodiments, when a network device can broadcast multiple types of system information messages, a terminal device may indicate to the network device the type of system information message requested by the terminal device. In this way, the network device can be prevented from blindly broadcasting system information messages. A communication method 1600 provided in embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to method 1600 in Figure 16. As shown in Figure 16, method 1600 includes the following steps.

[0199] S1610: Decision made to request the first system information message.

[0200] For S1610, refer to the explanation for S210.

[0201] S1620: A terminal device transmits first information, a network device receives first information, the first information is used to request a first system information message, which indicates the type of the first system information message, the type of the first system information message is one of N types, where N is an integer greater than 1.

[0202] Optionally, M system information message lists (SI message lists) correspond to N types of SI messages, where M is a positive integer greater than or equal to N. A single system information message list may contain SI messages of the same type. SI messages of the same type may belong to one system information message list or multiple system information message lists. If SI messages of the same type may belong to one system information message list, then M=N, meaning the number of types is equal to the number of system information message lists. If SI messages of the same type may belong to multiple system information message lists, then M is greater than N, meaning there are multiple system information message list messages corresponding to one type of SI message. Optionally, when SI messages of the same type may belong to one system information message list, i.e., when M=N, there is a one-to-one correspondence between N types and N system information message lists. Optionally, the M system information message lists may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by network devices for terminal devices.

[0203] Optionally, the first piece of information may contain a bit string, and may contain one or more bit strings. The number of bit strings contained in the first piece of information in different cases will be discussed below.

[0204] Case 1: The first piece of information contains the first bit string, the L bits of information contained in the bit string correspond to L system information messages, the L system information messages are of the same type, the L system information messages contain the first system information message, and L is a positive integer.

[0205] If the value of the first bit information that is in the first bit sequence and corresponds to the first system information message is the first value, this indicates that the terminal device requests the first system information message. Optionally, if the value of the second bit information that is in the first bit sequence and corresponds to the second system information message is the second value, this indicates that the terminal device does not request the second system information message, and the second bit information corresponds to the second system information message. For example, the first value is 1 and the second value is 0. In other words, the system information message corresponding to the value 1 in the first bit sequence is requested by the terminal device, and the system information message corresponding to the value 0 in the first bit sequence is not requested by the terminal device.

[0206] Similar to method 200, the states of L system information messages include broadcast and non-broadcast states, or the states of L system information messages include non-broadcast states. Details are omitted to avoid repetition.

[0207] In other words, in Case 1, the terminal device may request a system information message in which the broadcast state is non-broadcast within the first bit sequence contained in the first information. If the states of L system information messages include both broadcast and non-broadcast states, L is the total number of system information messages of this type that are in both broadcast and non-broadcast states. If the states of L system information messages include both non-broadcast states, L is the number of system information messages of this type that are in the non-broadcast state.

[0208] Optionally, the length of the first bit string may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by the network device for the terminal device.

[0209] Optionally, the first bit string may contain L bits of information plus other bits of information, which may be set to 0. In other words, the length of the first bit string may be fixed. If L bits of information exactly fill the length of the first bit string, no 0s are padded. If the length of the first bit string is greater than L, the remaining bits in the first bit string are 0. For example, if the length of the first bit string is X and X is greater than L, then 0s are padded for XL bits of information.

[0210] Case 2: The first piece of information contains M bit strings, where M is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. The Li bits contained in the i-th bit string among the M bits correspond to Li system information messages, where i is a positive integer from 1 to M. The type of system information message corresponding to the bits in each of the M bits is the same. In other words, multiple bit strings correspond to system information messages of the same type, and the first bit contained in a bit string among the M bits corresponds to the first system information message.

[0211] Optionally, if the value of the second bit information contained in one of the M bit sequences is the second value, this indicates that the terminal device does not request a second system information message. For example, the first value is 1 and the second value is 0. In other words, the system information message corresponding to the value 1 in the M bit sequences is requested by the terminal device, and the system information message corresponding to the value 0 in the M bit sequences is not requested by the terminal device.

[0212] Similar to method 200, the state of Li system information messages may include both broadcast and non-broadcast states, or the state of Li system information messages may include only non-broadcast states. Details are omitted to avoid repetition.

[0213] In other words, in Case 2, the terminal device may request a system information message in which the broadcast state is non-broadcast within the M bit sequences contained in the first information. If Li system information messages have states including both broadcast and non-broadcast states, then L1 + L2 + ... + LM is the total number of system information messages of this type that are in both broadcast and non-broadcast states. If Li system information messages have states including non-broadcast states, then L1 + L2 + ... + LM is the number of system information messages of this type that are in the non-broadcast state.

[0214] Optionally, the ranking of each bit sequence among the M bit sequences in the first information may be fixed, and the correspondence between the bit information in each bit sequence and the system information message may be fixed. In this way, terminal devices and network devices may achieve a consistent understanding of the first system information message requested by the terminal device.

[0215] In other words, in Case 2, when one bit string in the first information is insufficient to carry the bit information corresponding to one type of system information message, multiple bit strings may be used to carry the bit information corresponding to one type of system information message. For example, suppose the protocol specifies that the length of the first bit string is 5 and the number of first type system information messages (including broadcast and non-broadcast system information messages) is 8. In this case, the 5 bits of information in the first bit string are insufficient to carry the 8 bits of information corresponding to the 8 system information messages. Therefore, the second bit string of the first information may carry the remaining 3 bits of information.

[0216] For example, if M=2, the length of the first bit string is 5, the length of the second bit string is 4, and the first information transmitted by the terminal device includes the first bit string and the second bit string, then a total of seven system information messages of the first type are in a non-broadcast state. If the terminal device needs to request the second system information message out of the seven non-broadcast system information messages, then the first bit string in the first information is 0 1 0 0 0, the second bit string is 0 0 0 0, and the last two bits in the second bit string are padded with zeros. If the terminal device needs to request the second and seventh non-broadcast system information messages out of the seven non-broadcast system information messages, then the first bit string in the first information is 0 1 0 0, the second bit string is 0 1 0 0, and the last two bits in the second bit string are padded with zeros.

[0217] Optionally, multiple bit strings may contain Li bits of information plus additional bits, which may be set to 0. In other words, the sum of the lengths of the multiple bit strings may be fixed. If Li bits of information exactly satisfy the sum of the lengths of the multiple bit strings, no 0s are padded. If the sum of the lengths of the multiple bit strings is greater than Li bits of information, the remaining bits in the multiple bit strings are 0. For example, the sum of the lengths of the multiple bit strings is X, and L1 + L2 + ... + LM = Y. If X is greater than Y, 0s are padded into XY bits of information.

[0218] Optionally, the length of each of the multiple bit strings may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by the network device for the terminal device. If the bit information in the bit information set does not occupy a bit string, zeros are padded into the bit string.

[0219] It may be understood that this application is described by using only an example in which a terminal device requests a first system information message. Alternatively, the terminal device may request multiple system information messages by using the first information. For example, the bit information corresponding to multiple system information messages in the first information is set to 1 to indicate that the terminal device requests system information messages.

[0220] The first piece of information indicates the type of the first system information message in two ways.

[0221] Method 1: The first information includes first instruction information, which indicates the type of the first system information message. Specifically, the first instruction information may directly indicate the type of the first system information message. For example, if the bit value of the first instruction information is the third value, this indicates that the type of the first system information message is the first type, or if the bit value of the first instruction information is the fourth value, this indicates that the type of the first system information message is the second type. For example, the first instruction information occupies one bit. If the value of the one bit is 1, this indicates that the terminal device requests a system information message of the first type, or if the value of the one bit is 0, this indicates that the terminal device requests a system information message of the second type. For example, the first type is R15 and / or R16, and the second type is R17. If the value of one bit is 1, this indicates that the terminal device requests the system information message for R15 and / or R16; or if the value of one bit is 0, this indicates that the terminal device requests the system information message for R17.

[0222] Optionally, the location of the first instruction information within the first information may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by the network device for the terminal device.

[0223] Optionally, the type of system information message corresponding to the value of the first instruction information may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by the network device.

[0224] Method 2: When the first information includes the second instruction information, this indicates that the type of the first system information message required by the first information is the first type; or when the first information does not include the second instruction information, this indicates that the type of the first system information message required by the first information is the second type, and N types include the first type and the second type. For example, the first type is R15 and / or R16, and the second type is R17. In another example, the first type is R17, and the second type is R15 and / or R16.

[0225] For a description of the first and second types, see Method 200. Details are omitted in this embodiment of the application to avoid repetition.

[0226] Optionally, the location of the second instruction information within the first information may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by the network device.

[0227] Optionally, whether the first information includes a type corresponding to the second instruction information may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured, or configured by the network device.

[0228] Optionally, S1620 includes: The terminal device may transmit first information based on a message similar to message 3 or message A in the random access process. Optionally, the terminal device may transmit first information based on message 3 in S1130 in Figure 11, or based on message A in Figure 12. To avoid repetition, this is not limited to the embodiments of this application. If the terminal device is in RRC idle mode or RRC inactive mode, the terminal device may transmit first information by using message 3 in S1130 in Figure 11, or by using message A in Figure 12. If the terminal device is in RRC connected mode, the terminal device may transmit first information through RRC dedicated signaling.

[0229] Optionally, the terminal device may transmit first information in method 1300 based on configuration information included in the first information list. In other words, when a network device constitutes the first information list, S1630 includes: The terminal device may transmit first information based on first configuration information in the first information list.

[0230] Optionally, the number of configuration information entries in the first information list in method 1300 is P, and P configuration information entries correspond to N types of system information messages. For the correspondence between P configuration information entries and N types of system information messages, refer to Cases 1 and 2 in S1320. Optionally, P may be greater than N. In other words, at least two configuration information entries may correspond to one type of system information message. Optionally, when P is greater than N, multiple configuration information entries form N configuration sets. For the correspondence between N configuration information sets and N types of system information messages, refer to Case 1 in S1320. Optionally, P may be less than N. In other words, one configuration information entry corresponds to at least two types of system information messages. Optionally, P may be equal to N, and N configuration information entries correspond to N types of system information messages. In this case, for the correspondence between N configuration information entries and N types of system information messages, refer to Case 2 in S1320.

[0231] Optionally, a terminal device may transmit first information based on first configuration information, the first configuration information corresponds to a system information message of a first type, the first system information message belongs to a system information message of a first type, P configuration information items include the first configuration information, and N types include the first type. In other words, when a terminal device needs to request a first system information message of a first type, the terminal device first determines the configuration information corresponding to the system information message of a first type. When a system information message of a first type corresponds to a first set of configuration information, i.e., in case 1 of S1320, the terminal device needs to determine the first configuration information corresponding to the first system information message from the first set of configuration information, and then transmit first information based on the configuration of the first configuration information. For example, a terminal device needs to request SI message 2 for R15 and / or R16, the terminal device needs to determine the set of configuration information 1 corresponding to R15 and / or R16, and SI message 2 is the second SI message for R15 and / or R16 in a non-broadcast state. Therefore, the terminal device determines that configuration information 2 in configuration information set 1 is the configuration information for SI message 2, and transmits the first information based on configuration information 2. In the case where a first type of system information message corresponds to one first configuration information, i.e., in case 2 in S1320, the terminal device transmits the first information based on the first configuration information. For example, when requesting SI message 3 in Figure 15, the terminal device first determines the type of SI message 3, e.g., R15 and / or R16, and determines the first configuration information in the first information list that corresponds to the system information message R15 and / or the system information message R16, and the first configuration information is configuration information 1. Therefore, the terminal device transmits the first information by using configuration information 1.

[0232] S1630: The network device sends a first system information message, and the terminal device receives the first system information message.

[0233] Optionally, a network device sending a first system information message includes: The network device broadcasts the first system information message. Optionally, if a terminal device is in RRC idle mode or RRC inactive mode, the network device broadcasts the first system information message.

[0234] Optionally, a network device sending a first system information message includes the following: If the terminal device is in RRC connection mode, the network device sends the first system information message via RRC signaling.

[0235] It should be noted that if a network device does not agree to the first type of system information message requested by a terminal device, the network device will refuse to broadcast the first type of system information message. Therefore, S1630 may not be necessary.

[0236] It should be noted that S1610 and S1630 are optional steps, and S1620 may independently form an embodiment. Specifically, an embodiment may be provided in which a terminal device transmits first information and a network device receives first information. Thus, a method for transmitting first information is provided, and the first information is used to request a first system information message. Optionally, S1610 and S1620 may form an embodiment. After deciding to request a first system information message, the terminal device may transmit the first information. Furthermore, if the network device agrees to the terminal device's request, S1630 may be performed, or if the network device does not agree to the terminal device's request, S2160 may not be performed. In other words, if the network device agrees to the terminal device's request, S1620 and S1630 may form an embodiment, or S1610, S1620 and S1630 may form an embodiment.

[0237] In the above solution, the terminal device may request a first system information message required by the terminal device from the network device by using first information, thereby avoiding the signaling overhead caused by the network device's blind broadcasting of system information messages. Furthermore, if there are N types of system information messages and the first information may indicate to the network device the type of first system information message requested by the terminal device, after receiving the first information, the network device may determine the type of system information message requested by the terminal device and the specific requested system information message of that type based on the first information, and the network device may send the first system information message requested by the terminal device. In this way, a method for requesting system information messages is provided, which avoids situations where the terminal device does not know how to request a system information message and the network device does not know the type of system information message requested by the terminal device.

[0238] Embodiments of the method provided in this application are described above, and embodiments of the apparatus provided in this application are described below. It should be understood that the description of the apparatus embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments. Therefore, for details not described in detail, refer to the method embodiments described above. For brevity, further details are not described herein.

[0239] Figure 17 shows a communication device 1700 according to an embodiment of this application. The communication device 1700 includes a processing unit 1710 and a transceiver unit 1720. The processing unit 1710 and the transceiver unit 1720 communicate with each other through an internal connection path, and the processing unit 1710 is configured to execute commands and control the transceiver unit 1720 to transmit and / or receive signals.

[0240] In possible implementations, the communication device 1700 may correspond to a terminal device in method 200, for example, a terminal device or a chip configured within a terminal device. The communication device 1700 is configured to perform a step or procedure corresponding to a terminal device in method 200.

[0241] In possible implementations, the communication device 1700 may correspond to a network device in method 200, for example, a terminal device or a chip configured within a network device. The communication device 1700 is configured to perform steps or procedures corresponding to a network device in method 200.

[0242] In possible implementations, the communication device 1700 may correspond to a terminal device in method 1300, for example, a terminal device or a chip configured within a terminal device. The communication device 1700 is configured to perform a step or procedure corresponding to a terminal device in method 1300.

[0243] In possible implementations, the communication device 1700 may correspond to a network device in method 1300, for example, a terminal device or a chip configured within a network device. The communication device 1700 is configured to perform a step or procedure corresponding to a network device in method 1300.

[0244] In possible implementations, the communication device 1700 may correspond to a terminal device in method 1600, for example, a terminal device or a chip configured within a terminal device. The communication device 1700 is configured to perform a step or procedure corresponding to a terminal device in method 1600.

[0245] In possible implementations, the communication device 1700 may correspond to a network device in method 1600, for example, a terminal device or a chip configured within a network device. The communication device 1700 is configured to perform a step or procedure corresponding to a network device in method 1600.

[0246] It should be understood that the communication device 1700 described herein is embodied in the form of a functional unit. The term “unit” as used herein may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (e.g., a shared processor, a dedicated processor, or a group processor) configured to run one or more software or firmware programs, memory, merged logic circuits, and / or other suitable components that support the functions described. In an optional example, the communication device 1700 may specifically be a terminal device in Method 200, Method 1300, or Method 1600 in the embodiments described above, and may be configured to perform the procedures and / or steps corresponding to the terminal device in Method 200, Method 1300, or Method 1600 in the embodiments described above. Alternatively, the communication device 1700 may specifically be a network device in Method 200, Method 1300, or Method 1600 in the embodiments described above for performing the procedures and / or steps corresponding to the network device in Method 200, Method 1300, or Method 1600 in the embodiments described above. To avoid repetition, details will not be explained again in this specification.

[0247] The communication device 1700 in each of the above solutions has the function of realizing the corresponding step performed by the terminal device in method 200, method 1300, or method 1600, or the communication device 1700 in each of the above solutions has the function of realizing the corresponding step performed by the network device in method 200, method 1300, or method 1600. The function may be realized by hardware, or by hardware running the corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the function. For example, a communication unit may be replaced by a transceiver (for example, a transmitting unit in a communication unit may be replaced by a transmitter, and a receiving unit in a communication unit may be replaced by a receiver), and other units such as a processing unit may be replaced by a processor, which separately perform the transmitting and receiving operations and associated processing operations in embodiments of the method.

[0248] Furthermore, the communication unit may alternatively be a transceiver circuit (for example, including a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing unit may be a processing circuit. In this embodiment of the application, the communication device in Figure 17 may be a terminal device or network device in the above embodiment, or a chip or chip system, for example, a system on a chip (SoC). The communication unit may be an input / output circuit or a communication interface. The processing unit is a processor, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit on a chip. This is not limited to the foregoing.

[0249] Figure 18 shows a communication device 1800 according to an embodiment of this application. The communication device 1800 includes a processor 1810 and a transceiver 1820. The processor 1810 and the transceiver 1820 communicate with each other through an internal connection path, and the processor 1810 is configured to execute instructions and control the transceiver 1820 to transmit and / or receive signals.

[0250] Optionally, the communication device 1800 may further include a memory 1830. The memory 1830 communicates with the processor 1810 and the transceiver 1820 through an internal connection path. The memory 1830 is configured to store instructions, and the processor 1810 may execute instructions stored in the memory 1830. In possible implementations, the communication device 1800 is configured to implement the procedures and operations corresponding to the terminal device in method 200. In possible implementations, the communication device 1800 is configured to implement the procedures and operations corresponding to the network device in method 200. In possible implementations, the communication device 1800 is configured to implement the procedures and operations corresponding to the terminal device in method 1300. In possible implementations, the communication device 1800 is configured to implement the procedures and operations corresponding to the network device in method 1300. In possible implementations, the communication device 1800 is configured to implement the procedures and operations corresponding to the terminal device in method 1600. In possible implementations, the communication device 1800 is configured to implement the procedures and operations corresponding to the network device in method 1600.

[0251] It should be understood that the communication device 1800 may specifically be a terminal device in method 200, a terminal device in method 1300, a terminal device in method 1600, a network device in method 200, a network device in method 1300, or a network device in method 1600, or it may be a chip or a chip system. Correspondingly, the transceiver 1820 may be a chip transceiver circuit. This is not limited herein. Specifically, the communication device 1800 may be configured to perform operations and / or procedures corresponding to the terminal device or network device in the embodiments of the above methods. Optionally, the memory 1830 may include read-only memory and random access memory and provide instructions and data to the processor. Part of the memory may further include non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory may further store information about the device type. The processor 1810 may be configured to execute instructions stored in memory. When the processor 1810 executes an instruction stored in memory, the processor 1810 is configured to perform an operation and / or procedure corresponding to a terminal device in method 200, a terminal device in method 1300, a terminal device in method 1600, a network device in method 200, a network device in method 1300, or a network device in method 1600.

[0252] In the implementation process, the operations in the above method may be completed by using instructions in the form of hardware integrated logic circuits or software within the processor. The operations in the methods disclosed with reference to embodiments of this application may be performed and completed directly by a hardware processor, or by using a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor. The software modules may reside in mature storage media in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. The storage medium resides in memory. The processor reads information from memory and, in combination with the processor's hardware, completes the operations in the above method. To avoid repetition, further details are not described here.

[0253] It should be noted that the processor in the embodiments of this application may be an integrated circuit chip and has signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, the operation in the embodiments of the above method may be completed by using instructions in the form of hardware integrated logic circuits or software within the processor. The processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. The processor may implement or execute the method, operation and logic block diagram disclosed in embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc. The operation in the method disclosed with reference to embodiments of this application may be performed and completed directly by a hardware decoding processor, or by using a combination of hardware and software modules within the decoding processor. The software modules may reside in mature storage media in the art, such as random-access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. The storage medium resides in memory. The processor reads the information from memory and combines it with the processor hardware to complete the operation in the manner described above.

[0254] It can be understood that the memory in the embodiments of this application may be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM) and may be used as an external cache. Rather than providing a restrictive description, many forms of RAM may be used, such as static random access memory (static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (dynamic RAM, DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (double data rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchlink dynamic random access memory (synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM), and direct rambus random access memory (direct rambus RAM, DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory in the systems and methods described in this specification includes, but is not limited to, memory and any other suitable type of memory.

[0255] According to the methods provided in embodiments of this application, this application further provides a computer program product, the computer program product comprising computer program code. When the computer program code is executed on a computer, the computer becomes capable of performing operations or procedures performed by a terminal device in method 200, a terminal device in method 1300, a terminal device in method 1600, a network device in method 200, a network device in method 1300, or a network device in method 1600.

[0256] According to the methods provided in embodiments of this application, the application further provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing program code. When the program code is executed on a computer, the computer is able to perform operations or procedures performed by a terminal device in method 200, a terminal device in method 1300, a terminal device in method 1600, a network device in method 200, a network device in method 1300, or a network device in method 1600.

[0257] According to the methods provided in embodiments of this application, this application further provides a communication system comprising one or more terminal devices and one or more network devices in Method 200, or at least two of one or more terminal devices and one or more network devices in Method 1300, or one or more terminal devices and one or more network devices in Method 1600.

[0258] The above-described embodiments of the apparatus fully correspond to the above-described embodiments of the method. Corresponding modules or units perform corresponding operations. For example, a communication unit (transceiver) may perform a receive operation or a transmit operation in the embodiment of the method, and a processing unit (processor) may perform an operation other than a transmit operation or a receive operation. The functions of specific units may be based on the corresponding embodiment of the method. One or more processors may be present.

[0259] In the embodiments of this application, all terms and English abbreviations are given for illustrative purposes only and should not constitute any limitation to this application. This application does not preclude the possibility of defining other terms that may accomplish the same or similar functions in existing or future protocols.

[0260] In this specification, "and / or" should be understood to describe an association between related objects and to indicate that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may indicate the following three cases: A exists alone, both A and B exist, and B exists alone, and A and B may be singular or plural. The letter " / " generally indicates an "or" relationship between related objects.

[0261] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the illustrative logical blocks and operations described with reference to the embodiments disclosed in this specification may be implemented by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the functions described for each specific application, but the implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0262] For the purpose of convenience and concise explanation, it may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the detailed operating processes of the above systems, apparatuses and units can be described by referring to the corresponding processes in the embodiments of the above methods, and further details are not described herein.

[0263] In some embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatus and methods may be implemented in other ways. For example, the embodiments of the apparatus described are merely examples. For example, the division into units is merely a logical functional division. Other division methods may exist in actual implementations. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into other systems, or some features may be ignored or not performed. Furthermore, the mutual coupling, direct coupling or communication connection indicated or discussed may be implemented through some interfaces. Indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatus or units may be implemented in electronic, mechanical or other forms.

[0264] Units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts shown as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solution of the embodiment.

[0265] Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically independently, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit.

[0266] In the embodiments described above, all or part of the functionality of the functional unit may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof. When software is used to implement the embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. A computer program product includes one or more computer instructions (programs). When the computer program instructions (programs) are loaded into a computer and executed, all or part of the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, computer instructions may be transmitted by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, radio, or microwave) from one website, computer, server, or data center to another. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer, or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The usable media may include magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, or magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., DVDs), semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks (SSDs)), etc.

[0267] When a function is implemented in the form of a software function unit and sold or used as an independent product, the function may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application may be implemented essentially, or in part, in the form of a software product, or in part of the technical solution may be implemented in the form of a software product. A computer software product is stored on a storage medium and includes several instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the operation of the method described in embodiments of this application. The storage medium includes a variety of media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, removable hard disks, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0268] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modification or substitution that is readily conceivable by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the art disclosed in this application shall fall within the scope of protection of this application. Accordingly, the scope of protection of this application shall be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method applicable to terminal devices, The steps include deciding to request a first system information message, The step is to transmit first information, wherein the first information is carried in a wireless resource control system information request message, the first bit sequence in the first information includes N bit information sets, the N positions of the N bit information sets in the first bit sequence correspond to N types of system information messages, the first bit information in the first information is used to request the first system information message, the first bit information belongs to the first bit information set included in the N bit information sets, the first system information message belongs to the first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set, and the N types are the first The first bit information set includes a type, where N is an integer greater than 1, the N bit information sets further include a second bit information set, the first bit information set is before the second bit information set at the N positions, or the first bit information set is after the second bit information set at the N positions, the second bit information set corresponds to a system information message of a second type, the N types include the second type, the system information message of the first type is a system information message of a first release, and the system information message of the second type is a system information message of a second release, and A communication method that includes this.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the state of the first type of system information message includes a broadcast state and a non-broadcast state, or the state of the first type of system information message includes a non-broadcast state, and the state of the second type of system information message includes a broadcast state and a non-broadcast state, or the state of the second type of system information message includes a non-broadcast state.

3. The first information described above includes a plurality of bit sequences, The first information includes a third bit information set, the bit information included in the third bit information set belongs to at least two of the plurality of bit sequences, the third bit information set corresponds to a third type of system information message, the N types include the third type, and / or The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the first information includes a fourth bit information set, the bit information included in the fourth bit information set belongs to the second bit sequence among the plurality of bit sequences, the fourth bit information set corresponds to a fourth type of system information message, and the N types include the fourth type.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the N bit information sets in the first information have a one-to-one correspondence with the N types of system information messages, and the N types of system information messages have a one-to-one correspondence with the N system information message lists.

5. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the first release is release 15 and / or release 16, and the second release is release 17.

6. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving the first system information message.

7. A communication method applicable to network devices, The step is to receive first information, the first information being carried in a wireless resource control system information request message, the first bit sequence in the first information comprising N bit information sets, the N positions of the N bit information sets in the first bit sequence corresponding to N types of system information messages, the first bit information in the first information being used to request the first system information message, the first bit information belonging to the first bit information set included in the N bit information sets, the first system information message belonging to the first type of system information message corresponding to the first bit information set, and the N types being the first type Steps include: a first bit information set containing a type, where N is an integer greater than 1, the N bit information sets further include a second bit information set, the first bit information set is before the second bit information set at the N positions, or the first bit information set is after the second bit information set at the N positions, the second bit information set corresponds to a second type of system information message, the N types include the second type, the first type of system information message is a first release system information message, and the second type of system information message is a second release system information message, The steps include sending the first system information message and A communication method that includes this.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the state of the first type of system information message includes a broadcast state and a non-broadcast state, or the state of the first type of system information message includes a non-broadcast state, and the state of the second type of system information message includes a broadcast state and a non-broadcast state, or the state of the second type of system information message includes a non-broadcast state.

9. The first information described above includes a plurality of bit sequences, The first information includes a third bit information set, the bit information included in the third bit information set belongs to at least two of the plurality of bit sequences, the third bit information set corresponds to a third type of system information message, the N types include the third type, and / or The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the first information includes a fourth bit information set, the bit information included in the fourth bit information set belongs to the second bit sequence among the plurality of bit sequences, the fourth bit information set corresponds to a fourth type of system information message, and the N types include the fourth type.

10. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the N bit information sets in the first information have a one-to-one correspondence with the N types of system information messages, and the N types of system information messages have a one-to-one correspondence with the N system information message lists.

11. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the first release is release 15 and / or release 16, and the second release is release 17.

12. A communication device including a processor, A communication device wherein the processor is coupled to a memory, and the processor is configured to execute a computer program or instruction stored in the memory, so that the communication device realizes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A computer-readable storage medium, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the computer instructions are executed by the communication device, the communication device is able to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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