Timer starting method and apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the present disclosure are a timer starting method and apparatus, and a device and a storage medium. The method comprises: after a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) round-trip time (RTT) timer or an uplink (UL) HARQ RTT timer expires, and when the timer is not associated with multi-transmission block (TB) transmission and a specific condition is satisfied, starting or not starting a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactivity timer. The present disclosure can provide a starting mechanism for a DRX inactivity timer, and thus the accuracy of starting of the DRX inactivity timer can be improved, thereby improving the accuracy of TB transmission.

Description

Timer starting method and device Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to a timer starting method, apparatus, device, and storage medium. Background Art

[0002] In communication systems, the Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial network (NTN) is an important technology introduced by mobile communication technology. It provides wireless resources through satellites (or drones) rather than ground base stations. In this communication system, for example, when the Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) Round-Trip Time (RRT) timer expires and the data received by the HARQ process corresponding to the HARQ RRT timer is not successfully decrypted, a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) inactivity timer can be started for the HARQ process.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure proposes a timer activation method, apparatus, device, and storage medium to solve the problem of inaccurate activation of a DRX inactivity timer, resulting in low transmission block (TB) retransmission accuracy.

[0005] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a timer starting method is proposed, the method comprising:

[0006] After the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ round trip time RTT timer or the uplink UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block TB transmission, and when specific conditions are met, the discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer is started or not started.

[0007] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal is provided, the device including:

[0008] The processing module is used to start or not start the discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer after the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ round trip time RTT timer or the uplink UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block TB transmission, and when a specific condition is met.

[0009] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal is provided, including:

[0010] one or more processors;

[0011] The terminal is used to execute the timer starting method described in any one of the first aspects.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system is proposed, including a terminal, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the timer starting method described in any one of the first aspects.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a storage medium is proposed, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the timer start method as described in any one of the first aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a framework of a wireless connection maintenance system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a transparent transmission mode provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a retransmission mode provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG5 is an interactive diagram of a timer starting method provided by yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG6A is a flow chart of a timer starting method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG6B is a flow chart of a timer starting method provided by yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG6C is a flow chart of a timer starting method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG7A is a schematic flow chart of a timer starting method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG8A is a schematic flow chart of a timer starting method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG9A is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal provided by yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG10A is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG10B is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The present disclosure proposes a timer activation method, apparatus, device, and storage medium to solve the problem of inaccurate HARQ RTT timer activation resulting in inaccurate transmission of transmission blocks (TBs).

[0029] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a timer starting method is proposed, the method comprising:

[0030] After the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ round trip time RTT timer or the uplink UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block TB transmission, and when specific conditions are met, the discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer is started or not started.

[0031] The execution subject of the embodiment of the present disclosure may be, for example, an NB-IOT UE.

[0032] In the above embodiment, after the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer times out, it can be determined whether to start the DRX inactivity timer based on the number of transport blocks associated with the timer and specific conditions. Providing a DRX inactivity timer start mechanism can improve the accuracy of DRX inactivity timer start and improve the accuracy of TB retransmission.

[0033] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the timer is not associated with multi-transport block TB transmission, and when a specific condition is met, starting or not starting the DRX inactivity timer includes:

[0034] The timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission, and when the terminal is configured with more than one downlink (DL) and / or UL HARQ process, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0035] In the above embodiment, when the terminal is configured with more than one downlink DL and / or UL HARQ process, the DRX inactivity timer is not started, which can save resources for starting the DRX inactivity timer and improve resource utilization efficiency.

[0036] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the timer is not associated with multi-transport block TB transmission, and when a specific condition is met, starting or not starting the DRX inactivity timer includes:

[0037] The timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission, and the DRX inactivity timer is started when the terminal is configured with a DL and UL HARQ process.

[0038] In the above embodiment, when a DL and UL HARQ process is configured in the terminal, the DRX inactivity timer is started, which can improve the accuracy of starting the DRX inactivity timer and improve the accuracy of TB retransmission.

[0039] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0040] The physical downlink control channel PDCCH indicates uplink UL or downlink DL transport block TB transmission, and determines whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer according to at least one of a first configuration and a second configuration of a hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ.

[0041] In the above embodiment, whether to start the DRX inactivity timer can be determined based on at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration, which can reduce the situation where the DRX inactivity timer is started only after the last HARQ RTT timer associated with at least one HARQ process corresponding to all TBs times out, resulting in inaccurate start of the DRX inactivity timer. This can improve the accuracy of the DRX inactivity timer start, improve the accuracy of blind retransmission monitoring, and improve the accuracy of TB retransmission.

[0042] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first configuration of the HARQ is a HARQ mode (Mode) or feedback (feedback) configuration based on downlink control information (Downlink Control Information, DCI), and the second configuration of the HARQ is a HARQ Mode or feedback configuration based on radio resource control (Radio Resource Control, RRC).

[0043] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer according to the first configuration or the second configuration of the HARQ includes:

[0044] The PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmission, and when one or more of the following conditions occur in the first configuration or the second configuration, the DRX inactivity timer is started or not started:

[0045] All HARQ processes corresponding to TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled or HARQ Mode B configured.

[0046] Among all the HARQ processes corresponding to the TBs, only some of them are configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or only some of them are configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0047] Among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, one HARQ process is configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or one HARQ process is configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0048] In the above embodiment, when multiple TBs of UL or DL ​​are transmitted, the DRX inactivity timer can be started or not started according to different configuration situations corresponding to the first configuration and the second configuration, which can improve the accuracy of starting the DRX inactivity timer and improve the accuracy of multiple TB transmission of UL or DL.

[0049] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, after starting the DRX inactivity timer, the method further includes:

[0050] After the HARQ round trip time timer RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0051] In the above embodiment, after the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL ​​times out, the DRX inactivity timer may not be started, thereby reducing resource consumption of starting the DRX inactivity timer and improving resource utilization.

[0052] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0053] After a last one of the HARQ RTT timers or UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of the UL or DL ​​times out, a DRX inactivity timer is started.

[0054] In the above embodiment, after the last HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of the UL or DL ​​times out, the DRX inactivity timer is started, which can improve the accuracy of the DRX inactivity timer startup and the accuracy of the multiple TB transmissions of the UL or DL.

[0055] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0056] The PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​transmission of multiple TBs, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured with HARQ feedback enabled, or are configured with HARQ Mode A, and the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0057] In the above embodiment, when the PDCCH indicates multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to enable HARQ feedback, or are configured with HARQ Mode A, the DRX inactivity timer may not be started, which can improve the accuracy of starting the DRX inactivity timer and the accuracy of TB retransmission.

[0058] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0059] The PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​transmission of multiple TBs, and a HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs is configured with HARQ feedback enabled, or HARQ Mode A configured, and the DRX inactivity timer is started or not started.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the PDCCH indicates multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL, and the HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs is configured to enable HARQ feedback, or is configured with HARQ Mode A, then the DRX inactivity timer is started or not. Therefore, the DRX inactivity timer can be started or not according to the HARQ process configuration, which can improve the accuracy of the DRX inactivity timer startup and the accuracy of TB retransmission.

[0061] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer according to the first configuration and the second configuration of the HARQ includes:

[0062] The PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmission, and when one or more of the following conditions occur in the first configuration and the second configuration, the DRX inactivity timer is started or not started:

[0063] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to disable HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or are configured in HARQ Mode B through the second configuration;

[0064] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and only some of the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs have HARQ feedback disabled through the second configuration, or only some of the HARQ processes have HARQ Mode B configured through the second configuration;

[0065] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, there is a HARQ process that disables HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or there is a HARQ process that uses HARQ Mode B through the second configuration.

[0066] In the above embodiment, when the PDCCH indicates the transmission of multiple TBs of UL or DL, the DRX inactivity timer can be started or not started according to different configuration situations corresponding to the first configuration and the second configuration, which can improve the accuracy of starting the DRX inactivity timer and improve the accuracy of multiple TB transmission of UL or DL.

[0067] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, after starting the DRX inactivity timer, the method further includes:

[0068] After the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0069] In the above embodiment, after the DRX inactivity timer is started, the DRX inactivity timer is not started after the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of the UL or DL ​​times out. Therefore, the resource consumption of blind monitoring retransmission can be reduced and resource utilization efficiency can be improved.

[0070] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0071] After a last one of the HARQ RTT timers or UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of the UL or DL ​​times out, a DRX inactivity timer is started.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the DRX inactivity timer is started after the last of the HARQ RTT timers or UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of the UL or DL ​​times out. Therefore, the accuracy of starting the DRX inactivity timer can be improved, and the accuracy of blind monitoring retransmission can be improved.

[0073] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer according to the first configuration and the second configuration of the HARQ includes:

[0074] The first configuration indicates disabling HARQ feedback, or indicates HARQ Mode B, and starts the DRX inactivity timer.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the DRX inactivity timer is started when the first configuration indicates disabling HARQ feedback or indicates HARQ Mode B. Therefore, the DRX inactivity timer can be started according to the first configuration, which can improve the accuracy of starting the DRX inactivity timer.

[0076] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer according to the first configuration and the second configuration of the HARQ includes:

[0077] The first configuration indicates HARQ Mode A and does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the first configuration indicates HARQ Mode A, and the DRX inactivity timer is not started. Therefore, the DRX inactivity timer may not be started according to the first configuration, which can improve the accuracy of starting the DRX inactivity timer.

[0079] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer according to the first configuration and the second configuration of the HARQ includes:

[0080] The PDCCH indicates a single TB transmission in DL. When one of the following situations occurs, the DRX inactivity timer is started:

[0081] The first configuration indicates enabling HARQ feedback of the HARQ process of the DL transmission;

[0082] The HARQ process disables HARQ feedback through the second configuration;

[0083] The terminal device is an NB-IOT terminal device and is only configured with one HARQ process.

[0084] In the above embodiment, the PDCCH indicates DL single TB transmission, so the DRX inactivity timer can be started for different configuration situations corresponding to the first configuration and the second configuration, which can improve the accuracy of starting the DRX inactivity timer and improve the accuracy of DL single TB transmission.

[0085] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0086] The first configuration and the second configuration are not determined. For UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions, when the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ Process corresponding to the TB times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0087] In the above embodiment, the first configuration and the second configuration are not determined. For multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL, when the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ Process corresponding to the TB times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started. Therefore, the resources used when starting the DRX inactivity timer can be reduced, and the accuracy of starting the DRX inactivity timer can be improved.

[0088] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a timer starting method is proposed, the method comprising:

[0089] A physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) indicates transmission of a transport block (TB) of an uplink (UL) or a downlink (DL), and sends at least one of a first configuration and a second configuration of a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) to a terminal, wherein at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration of the hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) is used to determine whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer).

[0090] In the above embodiment, a DRX inactivity timer start mechanism can be provided for the terminal, reducing the situation where the DRX inactivity timer is started only after the last HARQ RTT timer associated with at least one HARQ process corresponding to all TBs times out, resulting in inaccurate start of the DRX inactivity timer. This can improve the accuracy of DRX inactivity timer start and the accuracy of TB retransmission.

[0091] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal is provided, the device including:

[0092] The processing module is used to start or not start the discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer after the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ round trip time RTT timer or the uplink UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block TB transmission, and when a specific condition is met.

[0093] In the above embodiment, after the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer times out, it can be determined whether to start the DRX inactivity timer based on the number of transport blocks associated with the timer and specific conditions. Providing a DRX inactivity timer start mechanism can improve the accuracy of DRX inactivity timer start and improve the accuracy of TB retransmission.

[0094] According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a network device is provided, the device including:

[0095] A transceiver module is configured to indicate transmission of a transport block (TB) of an uplink (UL) or a downlink (DL) via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and to send at least one of a first configuration and a second configuration of a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) to a terminal, wherein at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration of the hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) is used to determine whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer).

[0096] In the above embodiment, the network device can provide a DRX inactivity timer startup mechanism for the terminal, reducing the situation where the DRX inactivity timer is started only after the last HARQ RTT timer associated with at least one HARQ process corresponding to all TBs times out, resulting in inaccurate startup of the DRX inactivity timer. This can improve the accuracy of DRX inactivity timer startup and improve the accuracy of TB retransmission.

[0097] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal is provided, including:

[0098] one or more processors;

[0099] The terminal is used to execute the timer starting method described in any one of the first aspect or the third aspect.

[0100] According to an eighth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a network device is provided, including:

[0101] one or more processors;

[0102] Wherein, the terminal is used to execute the timer starting method described in the second aspect.

[0103] According to the ninth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system is proposed, comprising a terminal and a network device, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the timer start method described in any one of the first aspect or the third aspect, and the network device is configured to implement the timer start method described in the second aspect.

[0104] According to the tenth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a storage medium is proposed, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the timer start method as described in any one of the first aspect or the third aspect or the timer start method as described in the second aspect.

[0105] The present disclosure provides a timer start method. In some embodiments, the terms "timer start method" and "information processing method" and "communication method" are interchangeable; the terms "timer start device" and "information processing device" and "communication device" are interchangeable; and the terms "information processing system" and "communication system" are interchangeable.

[0106] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0107] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0108] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0109] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "the", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0110] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0111] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one," "one or more," "a plurality of," "multiple," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0112] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "at least one of A and B," "A and / or B," "A in one case, B in another case," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B" may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); and in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0113] In some embodiments, "A or B" and other descriptions may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0114] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first information" and the "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0115] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0116] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0117] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0118] In some embodiments, devices and equipment can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. In some cases, they can also be understood as "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", "subject", etc.

[0119] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network, such as access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.

[0120] In some embodiments, "access network device (AN device)" may also be referred to as "radio access network device (RAN device)", "base station (BS)", "radio base station", "fixed station", and in some embodiments may also be understood as "node", "access point", "transmission point (TP)", "reception point (RP)", "transmission and / or reception point (TRP)" "panel", "antenna panel", "antenna array", "cell", "macro cell", "small cell", "femto cell", "pico cell", "sector", "cell group", "serving cell", "carrier", "component carrier", "bandwidth part (BWP)", etc.

[0121] In some embodiments, "terminal" or "terminal device" may be referred to as "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal" "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, etc.

[0122] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0123] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0124] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of any elements, any rows, and any columns can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0125] FIG1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG1 , a communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a network device 102 .

[0126] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 includes, for example, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and at least one of a wireless terminal device in a smart home, but is not limited thereto.

[0127] In some embodiments, the network device 102 may include, for example, at least one of an access network device and a core network device.

[0128] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that accesses a terminal to a wireless network. The access network device may include an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation evolved NodeB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a node B (NB), a home node B (HNB), a home evolved nodeB (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a sixth generation mobile networks (6G) communication system, an open base station (Open RAN), a cloud base station (Cloud RAN), a base station in other communication systems, and at least one of an access node in a Wi-Fi system, but is not limited thereto.

[0129] In some embodiments, the technical solution of the present disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within the access network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented through software or programs.

[0130] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can be used to split the protocol layer of the access network device, with the functions of some protocol layers centrally controlled by the CU, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU, but is not limited to this.

[0131] In some embodiments, a core network device may be a device including one or more network elements, or may be multiple devices or device groups, each including all or part of the one or more network elements. The network element may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), and a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0132] In some embodiments, the core network device 1 may be a single device including a first network element, a second network element, etc., or may be a plurality of devices or a device group including all or part of the first network element, the second network element, etc. The network element may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an evolved packet core (EPC), a 5G core network (5GCN), and a next generation core (NGC).

[0133] In some embodiments, the first network element is, for example, a Policy Control Function (PCF).

[0134] In some embodiments, the first network element is used to "support a unified policy framework to manage network behavior, provide policy rules to network entities for implementation, and access subscription information of a unified data repository (UDR)", and the name is not limited thereto.

[0135] In some embodiments, the second network element is, for example, a unified data management function (UDM).

[0136] In some embodiments, the second network element is used to "be responsible for the management of user identification, subscription data, authentication data, and service network element registration management of the user", and the name is not limited to this.

[0137] In some embodiments, the third network element is, for example, an authentication service function (AUSF).

[0138] In some embodiments, the third network element is used to "receive a request from the access and mobility management function (AMF) to authenticate the terminal, request a key from the UDM, and then forward the key issued by the UDM to the AMF for authentication processing." The name is not limited to this.

[0139] In some embodiments, the third network element may be independent of the core network device.

[0140] In some embodiments, the third network element may be part of a core network device.

[0141] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0142] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1 , or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in FIG1 are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or part of the entities shown in FIG1 , or may include other entities outside of FIG1 . The number and form of the entities are arbitrary, and the entities may be physical or virtual. The connection relationships between the entities are illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0143] The embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), future radio access (FRA), new radio access technology (RAT), new radio (NR), new radio access (NX), future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), systems utilizing other communication methods, and next-generation systems based on and extending these methods. Furthermore, multiple systems may be combined (for example, a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0144] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, in the communication system, NTN is an important technology in 5G, and NTN can provide wireless resources through satellites (or drones) instead of ground base stations. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the framework of a wireless connection maintenance system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2, the wireless connection maintenance system includes terminal equipment (User Equiments, UE), beam projection Beam foot print, service link Service link, satellite Satellite, Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) platform platform, Feeder link Feeder link Gateway Gateway Data network and satellite field of view of the satellite Field of view of the satellite. According to the different ways in which the satellite processes signals, it can be divided into transparent transmission mode and regeneration mode.

[0145] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a transparent transmission mode provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3, the NTN ground station transmits the gNB signal to the satellite. The satellite converts the signal to the satellite frequency band and then transmits it to the UE via the satellite frequency band. Besides frequency conversion and signal amplification, the satellite does not demodulate the gNB signal. The satellite can be similar to a repeater. The 5G base station is called a gNB. It can provide the UE with a node for the New Radio (NR) user plane and control plane protocol terminals and is connected to the 5G core network (5GC) via the NG interface.

[0146] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a retransmission mode provided by the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 4, after the NTN ground station sends the gNB signal to the satellite, the satellite first demodulates and decodes the signal, then re-encodes and modulates it (a process known as regeneration), and transmits the regenerated signal via the satellite frequency band.

[0147] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, Table 1 shows the satellite altitude, orbit, and satellite coverage of a typical NTN network provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure:

[0148] Table 1

[0149] According to some embodiments, in a single transport block (TB) scenario, for a HARQ process configured with HARQ feedback disabled via Radio Resource Control (RRC), if HARQ feedback is enabled via Downlink Control Information (DCI), a Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) terminal does not wait for the round trip time + 3ms before monitoring the narrowband PDCCH (NPDCCH) for the same HARQ process (or any NPDCCH for a single HARQ process configuration). This has a certain impact on the DRX inactivity timer. The main impact is that even if the DCI indicates HARQ feedback is enabled, the purpose is not to enable scheduled HARQ retransmissions, but only to facilitate the network device to adjust the scheduling policy based on HARQ feedback. Therefore, in this case, the DRX inactivity timer cannot be started. Therefore, in this case, the terminal still needs to monitor the blind retransmission schedule, and therefore needs to start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0150] In addition, for multi-TB scenarios, the DRX inactivity timer startup mechanism needs to be considered. For NB-IOT's multi-TB scheduling scenario, the DRX inactivity timer is not started when a new DL or UL transmission schedule is received, but is started after the last HARQ RTT timer associated with the multiple HARQ processes corresponding to the multi-TB times out. However, for multi-TB scenarios, after the introduction of HARQ feedback and HARQ mode, the HARQ feedback or HARQ mode configurations of the HARQ processes corresponding to the multiple TBs may be different. For example, in the following behavior, the HARQ process corresponding to one TB of multi-TB scheduling may be configured with HARQ feedback disabled, while the HARQ process corresponding to another TB may be configured with HARQ feedback enabled. If you still wait until the last HARQ RTT timer times out, the HARQ process configured with HARQ feedback disabled will not be able to monitor the blind retransmission schedule immediately after receiving the downlink initial transmission.

[0151] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, if the NB-IOT UE is configured with more than one HARQ process, if the UE receives a PDCCH indicating a new uplink or downlink transmission scheduling that is not for multi-TB transmission, the UE will start the DRX inactivity timer. However, after the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer corresponding to the uplink or downlink transmission times out, the UE will start the DRX inactivity timer again. This is equivalent to the UE starting the DRX inactivity timer twice for one uplink or downlink scheduling. In fact, it is not necessary to start the DRX inactivity timer for the second time. Only for UEs that are configured with only one UL and DL HARQ process, since the DRX inactivity timer is not started when the PDCCH indicates a new transmission, it is necessary to start the DRX inactivity timer after the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer times out.

[0152] A timer starting method, apparatus, device, and storage medium provided by embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0153] FIG5 is an interactive diagram of a timer starting method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5 , the method may include the following steps:

[0154] Step S5101: The physical downlink control channel PDCCH indicates transmission of a transport block TB of an uplink UL or a downlink DL, and the network device 102 sends at least one of a first configuration and a second configuration of a hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ to the terminal 101;

[0155] Step S5102: The terminal 101 determines whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer according to at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration of the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ.

[0156] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal 101 may be, for example, a Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) terminal.

[0157] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, data transmission on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) may be based on TB transmission, for example.

[0158] In some embodiments, terms such as "send", "transmit", "report", "download", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be used interchangeably.

[0159] In some embodiments, "obtain", "get", "get", "receive", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be interchangeable, and can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, obtaining from protocols, obtaining from higher layers, obtaining by self-processing, autonomous implementation, etc.

[0160] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain", "preset", "preset", "setting", "indicated", "a certain", "any", and "first" can be interchangeable. "Specific A", "preset A", "preset A", "setting A", "indicated A", "a certain A", "any A", and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-specified in a protocol, etc., or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or indication, etc., or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, etc., but not limited to this.

[0161] In some embodiments, the terms "downlink control information (DCI)", "downlink (DL) assignment", "DL DCI", "uplink (UL) grant", "UL DCI" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0162] In some embodiments, terms such as "uplink", "uplink", "physical uplink" can be interchangeable with each other, and terms such as "downlink", "downlink", "physical downlink" can be interchangeable with each other, and terms such as "side", "sidelink", "side communication", "sidelink communication", "direct connection", "direct link", "direct communication", "direct link communication" can be interchangeable with each other.

[0163] In some embodiments, terms such as "moment", "time point", "time", and "time position" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "duration", "period", "time window", "window", and "time" can be replaced with each other.

[0164] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first configuration of HARQ is a HARQ mode Mode or feedback configuration based on downlink control information DCI, and the second configuration of HARQ is a HARQ Mode or feedback configuration based on radio resource control RRC.

[0165] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first configuration may be, for example, a PDCCH-based HARQ mode or feedback configuration, wherein the first in the first configuration is only used to distinguish it from the second configuration. The first configuration may be, for example, a PDCCH-based HARQ Mode configuration, and the first configuration may also be, for example, a PDCCH-based HARQ feedback configuration.

[0166] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, HARQ Mode may include, for example, HARQ Mode A and HARQ Mode B. HARQ Mode A may, for example, allow an HARQ process to be scheduled after one HARQ RTT has passed since the last scheduling. HARQ Mode B may, for example, allow an HARQ process to be scheduled before one HARQ RTT has passed since the last scheduling.

[0167] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second configuration may be, for example, an HARQ mode or feedback configuration based on RRC. The second configuration may be, for example, an HARQ Mode configuration based on RRC, or an HARQ feedback configuration based on RRC.

[0168] Step S5103: The PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmission. When one or more of the following situations occur in the first configuration or the second configuration, the terminal 101 starts or does not start the DRX inactivity timer:

[0169] All HARQ processes corresponding to TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled or HARQ Mode B configured.

[0170] Among all the HARQ processes corresponding to the TBs, only some of them are configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or only some of them are configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0171] Among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, one HARQ process is configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or one HARQ process is configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0172] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions, and when one or more of the following conditions occur in the first configuration or the second configuration, the terminal 101 starts a DRX inactivity timer:

[0173] All HARQ processes corresponding to TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled or HARQ Mode B configured.

[0174] Among all the HARQ processes corresponding to the TBs, only some of them are configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or only some of them are configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0175] Among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, one HARQ process is configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or one HARQ process is configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0176] The PDCCH indicates multiple TB transmissions of the UL. When one or more of the following situations occur in the first configuration or the second configuration, the terminal 101 starts or does not start the DRX inactivity timer:

[0177] All HARQ processes corresponding to TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled or HARQ Mode B configured.

[0178] Among all the HARQ processes corresponding to the TBs, only some of them are configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or only some of them are configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0179] Among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, one HARQ process is configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or one HARQ process is configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0180] The PDCCH indicates multiple TB transmissions in the DL. When one or more of the following conditions occur in the first configuration or the second configuration, the terminal 101 starts or does not start the DRX inactivity timer:

[0181] All HARQ processes corresponding to TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled or HARQ Mode B configured.

[0182] Among all the HARQ processes corresponding to the TBs, only some of them are configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or only some of them are configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0183] Among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, one HARQ process is configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or one HARQ process is configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0184] Step S5104: After starting the DRX inactivity timer, after the HARQ round trip timer RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions times out, the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0185] Step S5105: After the last of the HARQ RTT timers or UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL ​​times out, the terminal 101 starts the DRX inactivity timer.

[0186] In step S5106, the PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured with HARQ feedback enabled, or are configured with HARQ Mode A, and the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0187] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, for a scenario where HARQ mode or feedback is configured only through RRC or DCI, PDCCH indicates multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to turn on HARQ feedback, or are configured with HARQ Mode A, and the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0188] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates UL transmission of multiple TBs, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to enable HARQ feedback, and the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0189] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates UL transmission of multiple TBs, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured with HARQ Mode A, and the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0190] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates the transmission of multiple TBs of DL, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to enable HARQ feedback, and the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0191] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates the transmission of multiple TBs of DL, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured with HARQ Mode A, and the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0192] In step S5107, the PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​transmission of multiple TBs, and the HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs is configured with HARQ feedback enabled or HARQ Mode A configured, and the terminal 101 starts or does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0193] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, for a scenario where HARQ mode or feedback is configured only through RRC or DCI, PDCCH indicates multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL, and there is a HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs that is configured to turn on HARQ feedback, or is configured with HARQ Mode A, and the terminal 101 starts or does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0194] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL, and a HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs is configured with HARQ feedback enabled or HARQ Mode A configured, and the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0195] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates UL transmission of multiple TBs, and a HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs is configured to enable HARQ feedback, and the terminal 101 starts or does not start a DRX inactivity timer.

[0196] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates the transmission of multiple TBs of the UL, and a HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs is configured with HARQ Mode A, and the terminal 101 starts or does not start a DRX inactivity timer.

[0197] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates multiple DL TB transmissions, and a HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs is configured to enable HARQ feedback, and the terminal 101 starts or does not start a DRX inactivity timer.

[0198] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates the transmission of multiple TBs of DL, and a HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs is configured with HARQ Mode A, and the terminal 101 starts or does not start a DRX inactivity timer.

[0199] Step S5108: The PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmission. When one or more of the following conditions occur in the first configuration and the second configuration, the terminal 101 starts or does not start the DRX inactivity timer:

[0200] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to disable HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or are configured in HARQ Mode B through the second configuration;

[0201] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and only some of the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs have HARQ feedback disabled through the second configuration, or only some of the HARQ processes have HARQ Mode B configured through the second configuration;

[0202] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, there is a HARQ process that disables HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or there is a HARQ process that uses HARQ Mode B through the second configuration.

[0203] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions, and when one or more of the following conditions occur in the first configuration and the second configuration, the terminal 101 starts the DRX inactivity timer:

[0204] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to disable HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or are configured in HARQ Mode B through the second configuration;

[0205] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and only some of the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs have HARQ feedback disabled through the second configuration, or only some of the HARQ processes have HARQ Mode B configured through the second configuration;

[0206] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, there is a HARQ process that disables HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or there is a HARQ process that uses HARQ Mode B through the second configuration.

[0207] Step S5109: After starting the DRX inactivity timer, after the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions times out, the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0208] Step S5110: After the last of the HARQ RTT timers or UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL ​​times out, the terminal 101 starts the DRX inactivity timer.

[0209] Step S5111: The first configuration indicates disabling HARQ feedback, or indicates HARQ Mode B, and the terminal 101 starts a DRX inactivity timer.

[0210] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, for a scenario where RRC and DCI jointly configure HARQ mode or feedback, if PDCCH indicates that HARQ feedback is disabled, or indicates HARQ Mode B, the terminal 101 starts a DRX inactivity timer.

[0211] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the technical solution of step S5111 is applicable to scenarios where the PDCCH indicates multiple DL or UL TB transmissions, as well as single TB transmissions of DL or UL.

[0212] Step S5112: The first configuration indicates HARQ Mode A, and the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0213] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, for a scenario where RRC and DCI jointly configure HARQ mode or feedback, the first configuration indicates HARQ Mode A, and the terminal 101 does not start a DRX inactivity timer.

[0214] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the technical solution of step S5111 is applicable to scenarios where the PDCCH indicates multiple DL or UL TB transmissions, as well as single TB transmissions of DL or UL.

[0215] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the start time of the DRX inactivity timer is:

[0216] For single TB transmission, the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the TB is started after it times out;

[0217] For multi-TB transmission, the HARQ RTT timer or the UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the multi-TB is started after the last one times out.

[0218] Step S5113: The PDCCH indicates a single TB transmission in DL. When one of the following situations occurs, the terminal 101 starts the DRX inactivity timer:

[0219] The first configuration indicates to enable HARQ feedback of the HARQ process of DL transmission;

[0220] The HARQ process is configured to disable HARQ feedback.

[0221] The terminal device is an NB-IOT terminal device and is configured with only one HARQ process.

[0222] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, for a scenario in which RRC and DCI jointly configure HARQ mode or feedback, PDCCH indicates a single TB transmission of DL. If PDCCH indicates turning on HARQ feedback of the HARQ process of the DL transmission, if the HARQ process is configured to turn off HARQ feedback through RRC, if the terminal 101 is terminal 101 and only one HARQ process is configured, terminal 101 starts a DRX inactivity timer.

[0223] In step S5114, the first configuration and the second configuration are not determined. For UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions, when the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ Process corresponding to the TB times out, the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0224] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first configuration and the second configuration are not determined. For UL multiple TB transmissions, when the HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ Process corresponding to the TB or the UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0225] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first configuration and the second configuration are not determined. For DL ​​multiple TB transmissions, when the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ Process corresponding to the TB times out, the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0226] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, for a scenario where HARQ mode or feedback is configured neither through RRC nor through DCI, for multi-TB transmission of NB-IOT, DL or UL, if the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ Process corresponding to the TB times out, the terminal 101 does not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0227] Step S5115: After the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ round trip time RTT timer or the uplink UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block TB transmission, and when specific conditions are met, the discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer is started or not started.

[0228] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, after the HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission, and when specific conditions are met, a discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer) is started or not started.

[0229] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the HARQ RTT timer may be, for example, a timer corresponding to DL.

[0230] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, after the UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission, and when specific conditions are met, a discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer) is started or not started.

[0231] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the UL HARQ RTT timer may be, for example, a timer corresponding to the UL.

[0232] Step S5116: After the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ round trip time RTT timer or the uplink UL HARQ RTT timer times out, if the timer is not associated with multiple transport block TB transmission and the terminal is configured with more than one downlink DL and / or UL HARQ process process, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0233] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, after the HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission, and when the terminal is configured with more than one downlink DL and / or UL HARQ process, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0234] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, after the UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission, and when the terminal is configured with more than one downlink DL and / or UL HARQ process, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0235] Step S5117: After the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ round trip time RTT timer or the uplink UL HARQ RTT timer times out, if the timer is not associated with multiple transport blocks TB transmission and the terminal is configured with a DL and UL HARQ process, start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0236] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, after the HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission, and when the terminal is configured with a DL and UL HARQ process, a DRX inactivity timer is started.

[0237] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, after the UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission, and the terminal is configured with a DL and UL HARQ process, a DRX inactivity timer is started.

[0238] The communication method according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S5101 to S5117. For example, step S5101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5103 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, steps S5101 to S5103 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps S5101 to S5104 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0239] In some embodiments, steps S5104 and 5105 may be executed in an exchanged order or simultaneously, and steps S5105 and 5106 may be executed in an exchanged order or simultaneously.

[0240] In some embodiments, steps S5102 to S5117 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0241] In some embodiments, steps S5114 to S5117 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0242] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 5 .

[0243] FIG6A is a flow chart of a method for starting a timer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method for starting a timer, and the method includes:

[0244] Step S6101: After the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ round trip time RTT timer or the uplink UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block TB transmission, and when specific conditions are met, the discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer is started or not started.

[0245] The optional implementation of step S6101 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5115 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0246] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, after the HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission, and when specific conditions are met, a discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer) may be started or not started.

[0247] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, after the UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission, and when specific conditions are met, a discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer) may be started or not started.

[0248] In step S6102, when the timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission and the terminal is configured with more than one downlink (DL) and / or UL HARQ process, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0249] The optional implementation of step S6102 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5116 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0250] In step S6103, when the timer is not associated with multiple transport block (TB) transmission and the terminal is configured with one DL and UL HARQ process, a DRX inactivity timer is started.

[0251] The optional implementation of step S6103 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5117 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0252] Step S6104: The physical downlink control channel PDCCH indicates uplink UL or downlink DL transport block TB transmission, and determines whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer according to at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration of the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ.

[0253] The optional implementation of step S6104 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5102 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0254] Step S6105: The PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmission. When one or more of the following conditions occur in the first configuration or the second configuration, the DRX inactivity timer is started or not started:

[0255] All HARQ processes corresponding to TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled or HARQ Mode B configured.

[0256] Among all the HARQ processes corresponding to the TBs, only some of them are configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or only some of them are configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0257] Among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, one HARQ process is configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or one HARQ process is configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0258] The optional implementation of step S6105 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5103 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0259] Step S6106, after starting the DRX inactivity timer, further includes:

[0260] After the HARQ round trip time timer RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0261] The optional implementation of step S6106 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5104 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0262] Step S6107: After the last of the HARQ RTT timers or UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL ​​times out, a DRX inactivity timer is started.

[0263] The optional implementation of step S6107 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5105 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0264] In step S6108, the PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​transmission of multiple TBs, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured with HARQ feedback enabled, or HARQ Mode A configured, and the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0265] The optional implementation of step S6105 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5106 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0266] In step S6109, the PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​transmission of multiple TBs, and the HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs is configured to enable HARQ feedback, or configure HARQ Mode A, and start or not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0267] The optional implementation of step S6109 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5107 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0268] Step S6110: The PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmission. When one or more of the following conditions occur in the first configuration and the second configuration, the DRX inactivity timer is started or not started:

[0269] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to disable HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or are configured in HARQ Mode B through the second configuration;

[0270] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and only some of the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs have HARQ feedback disabled through the second configuration, or only some of the HARQ processes have HARQ Mode B configured through the second configuration;

[0271] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, there is a HARQ process that disables HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or there is a HARQ process that uses HARQ Mode B through the second configuration.

[0272] The optional implementation of step S6110 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5108 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0273] Step S6111: After the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0274] The optional implementation of step S6111 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5109 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0275] Step S6112: After the last of the HARQ RTT timers or UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL ​​times out, a DRX inactivity timer is started.

[0276] The optional implementation of step S6112 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5110 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0277] Step S6113: The first configuration indicates disabling HARQ feedback, or indicates HARQ Mode B, and starts a DRX inactivity timer.

[0278] The optional implementation of step S6113 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5111 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0279] Step S6114: The first configuration indicates disabling HARQ feedback, or indicates HARQ Mode B, and starts a DRX inactivity timer.

[0280] The optional implementation of step S6114 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5112 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0281] Step S6115: The PDCCH indicates a single TB transmission in DL. If one of the following occurs, the DRX inactivity timer is started:

[0282] The first configuration indicates to enable HARQ feedback of the HARQ process of DL transmission;

[0283] The HARQ process is configured to disable HARQ feedback.

[0284] The terminal device is an NB-IOT terminal device and is configured with only one HARQ process.

[0285] The optional implementation of step S6115 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5113 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0286] In step S6116, the first configuration and the second configuration are not determined. For UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmission, when the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ Process corresponding to the TB times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0287] The optional implementation of step S6116 can refer to the optional implementation of step S5114 in Figure 5 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0288] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S6101 to S6116. For example, step S6101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S6102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, steps S6101 to S6102 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S6101 and S6103 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0289] In some embodiments, steps S6102 and 6103 may be executed in an exchanged order or simultaneously, and steps S6106 and 6107 may be executed in an exchanged order or simultaneously.

[0290] In some embodiments, steps SS6102 to S6116 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0291] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 6 .

[0292] 6B is a flow chart of a method for starting a timer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method for starting a timer, and the method includes:

[0293] Step S6201: The PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmission. When one or more of the following conditions occur in the first configuration or the second configuration, a DRX inactivity timer is started:

[0294] All HARQ processes corresponding to TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled or HARQ Mode B configured.

[0295] Among all the HARQ processes corresponding to the TBs, only some of them are configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or only some of them are configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0296] Among all the HARQ processes corresponding to TBs, one HARQ process is configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or one HARQ process is configured with HARQ Mode B.

[0297] Step S6202: After the HARQ round trip time timer RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0298] Optional implementations of step S6201 and step S6202 can be found in step S5103 and step S5104 of FIG5 , optional implementations of step S6102 and step S6103 of FIG6A , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG5 and FIG6A , which will not be repeated here.

[0299] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S6201 and S6202. For example, step S6201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S6202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps S6201 and S6202 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0300] In some embodiments, step S6202 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0301] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, step S6201 may be combined with step S5104 of FIG. 5 , and step S6201 may be combined with step S6105 of FIG. 6A .

[0302] FIG6C is a flow chart of a method for starting a timer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6C , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method for starting a timer, and the method includes:

[0303] Step S6301: The PDCCH indicates UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmission. When one or more of the following conditions occur in the first configuration and the second configuration, a DRX inactivity timer is started:

[0304] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to disable HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or are configured in HARQ Mode B through the second configuration;

[0305] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and only some of the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs have HARQ feedback disabled through the second configuration, or only some of the HARQ processes have HARQ Mode B configured through the second configuration;

[0306] The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, there is a HARQ process that disables HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or there is a HARQ process that uses HARQ Mode B through the second configuration;

[0307] Step S6302: After the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the UL or DL ​​multiple TB transmissions times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

[0308] Optional implementations of step S6301 and step 6302 can be found in step S5108 and step 5109 of FIG5 , optional implementations of step S6107 and step 6108 of FIG6A , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG5 and FIG6A , which will not be repeated here.

[0309] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S6301 and S6302. For example, step S6301 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S6302 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps S6301 and S6302 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0310] In some embodiments, step S6302 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0311] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, step S6301 may be combined with step S5109 of FIG. 5 , and step S6301 may be combined with step S6108 of FIG. 6A .

[0312] FIG7A is a flow chart of a method for starting a timer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG7A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method for starting a timer, and the method includes:

[0313] Step S7101: A physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) indicates transmission of a transport block (TB) of an uplink (UL) or a downlink (DL), and sends at least one of a first configuration and a second configuration of a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) to a terminal, wherein at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration of the hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) is used to determine whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer).

[0314] In some embodiments, the network device 102 sends at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration to the terminal 101, but is not limited thereto. At least one of the first configuration and the second configuration may also be sent to other entities.

[0315] For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration is configured for the terminal 101 to determine whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer). For optional implementations thereof, see the optional implementations of step S5101 in FIG. 5 and other related portions of the embodiment involved in FIG. These will not be further described here.

[0316] FIG8A is a flow chart of a method for starting a timer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG8A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method for starting a timer, and the method includes:

[0317] Step S8101, for the Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) NB-IOT terminal, after the hybrid automatic repeat reQuest (HARQ) round-trip time (RRT) timer (timer) or the uplink (UL) HARQ RTT timer times out, if the timer is not associated with multiple transmission block (TB) transmission and when specific conditions are met, the terminal may start or not start the discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer).

[0318] In step S8102, the specific condition includes that the terminal is configured with more than one DL and / or UL HARQ process. When the condition is met, the terminal may not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0319] In step S8103, the specific condition includes that the terminal configures a DL and UL HARQ process. When the condition is met, the terminal may start a DRX inactivity timer.

[0320] In step S81024, if the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) indicates uplink (UL) / downlink (DL) transport block (TB) transmission, the terminal can determine whether to start a discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer) based on the hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) mode / feedback configuration of the PDCCH and / or the HARQ mode / feedback configuration of the RRC.

[0321] In step S8105, for scenarios where HARQ mode / feedback is configured only through Radio Resource Control (RRC) or Downlink Control Information (DCI), if the PDCCH indicates multiple DL / UL TB transmission, the Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) terminal may start or not start the DRX inactivity timer in one or more of the following situations:

[0322] If all HARQ processes corresponding to TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled or HARQ Mode B configured;

[0323] If only some of the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or only some of the HARQ processes are configured with HARQ Mode B;

[0324] If any HARQ process corresponding to all TBs is configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or any HARQ process is configured with HARQ Mode B;

[0325] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is recommended to start the above case.

[0326] In step S8106, the terminal may not start the DRX inactivity timer after the HARQ RTT timer / UL HARQ round-trip time (RRT) timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple DL / UL TB transmission times out.

[0327] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, if step S9102 starts a DRX inactivity timer.

[0328] In step S8107, the terminal may start a DRX inactivity timer after the last one of the HARQ RTT timer / UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to multiple DL / UL TB transmissions times out.

[0329] In step S8108, for the scenario where HARQ mode / feedback is configured only through RRC or DCI, if PDCCH indicates multiple DL / UL TB transmissions, if the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured with HARQ feedback enabled, or HARQ mode A is configured, the NB-IOT terminal may not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0330] In step S8109, for the scenario where HARQ mode / feedback is configured only through RRC or DCI, if the PDCCH indicates multiple DL / UL TB transmissions, if the HARQ process corresponding to the TB is configured with HARQ feedback enabled, or HARQ mode A is configured, the NB-IOT terminal may start or not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0331] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is recommended not to start.

[0332] In step S8110, for the scenario where RRC and DCI jointly configure HARQ mode / feedback, if the PDCCH indicates that HARQ feedback is enabled, and if the PDCCH indicates multiple DL / UL TB transmission, the NB-IOT terminal may start or not start the DRX inactivity timer in one or more of the following situations:

[0333] If the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to disable HARQ feedback through RRC, or are configured with HARQ Mode B through RRC;

[0334] If only some of the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled through RRC, or only some of the HARQ processes are configured with HARQ mode B through RRC;

[0335] If any HARQ process among all TBs' corresponding HARQ processes has HARQ feedback disabled through RRC, or any HARQ process has HARQ mode B configured through RRC;

[0336] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is recommended to start the above cases, and not to start the other cases.

[0337] In step S8111, the terminal may not start the DRX inactivity timer after the HARQ RTT timer / UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to multiple DL / UL TB transmissions times out.

[0338] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, if a DRX inactivity timer is started in step S9107.

[0339] In step S8112, the terminal may start a DRX inactivity timer after the last of the HARQ RTT timers / UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to multiple DL / UL TB transmissions times out.

[0340] Step S8113: For the scenario where RRC and DCI jointly configure HARQ mode / feedback, if the PDCCH indicates that HARQ feedback is disabled, or indicates HARQ Mode B, the NB-IOT terminal can start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0341] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the technical solution of step S9110 is applicable to PDCCH indicating multiple DL / UL TB transmissions and single DL / UL TB transmissions.

[0342] Step S8114: For the scenario where RRC and DCI jointly configure HARQ mode / feedback, if the PDCCH indicates HARQ Mode A, the NB-IOT terminal may not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0343] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the technical solution of step S9111 is applicable to PDCCH indicating multiple DL / UL TB transmissions and single DL / UL TB transmissions.

[0344] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the start time of the DRX inactivity timer is: for single-TB transmission, it is started after the HARQ RTT timer / UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the TB times out; for multi-TB transmission, it is started after the last of the HARQ RTT timer / UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TBs times out.

[0345] In step S8115, for the scenario where RRC and DCI jointly configure HARQ mode / feedback, if the PDCCH indicates single DL TB transmission, if the PDCCH indicates to turn on HARQ feedback of the HARQ process of the DL transmission, if the HARQ process is configured to turn off HARQ feedback through RRC, if the terminal is an NB-IOT terminal and only one HARQ process is configured, the terminal can start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0346] Step S8116: For the scenario where HARQ mode / feedback is not configured through RRC or DCI, for NB-IOT multiple DL / UL TB transmission, if the HARQ RTT timer or UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ Process corresponding to the TB times out, the terminal may not start the DRX inactivity timer.

[0347] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S8101 to S8116. For example, step S8101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S8102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps S9104 and S9106 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0348] In some embodiments, step S8107 and step S8108 may be executed in an exchanged order or simultaneously, and step S8108 and step S8109 may be executed in an exchanged order or simultaneously.

[0349] In some embodiments, steps S8102 to S8116 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0350] In some embodiments, steps S8103 to S8116 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0351] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, some or all of the steps and their optional implementations may be arbitrarily combined with some or all of the steps in other embodiments, or may be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementations of other embodiments.

[0352] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network function node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0353] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which realizes the functions of some or all of the above units or modules by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by the form of software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0354] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationships of hardware circuits. The logical relationships of the above-mentioned hardware circuits are fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document to implement the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0355] FIG9A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG9A , terminal 9100 may include a processing module 9101. In some embodiments, processing module 9101 is configured to enable or disable a discontinuous reception inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer) after a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) round-trip time (RTT) timer or an uplink (UL) HARQ RTT timer expires, if the timer is not associated with a multi-transport block (TB) transmission, and if specific conditions are met. Optionally, the above-mentioned processing module 9101 is used to execute at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving performed by the terminal 101 in any of the above methods (for example, step 5102, step 5103, step 5104, step 5105, step 5106, step 5107, step 5108, step 5109, step 5110, step 5111, step 5112, step 5113, step 5114, step 5115, step 5116, step 5117, but not limited to these), which will not be repeated here.

[0356] In some embodiments, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and / or a receiving module, and the transmitting module and the receiving module may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the transceiver module may be interchangeable with the transceiver.

[0357] In some embodiments, the processing module can be a single module or can include multiple submodules. Optionally, the multiple submodules respectively execute all or part of the steps required to be executed by the processing module. Optionally, the processing module can be interchangeable with the processor.

[0358] Figure 10A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 10100 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 10100 can be a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., a user device, etc.), a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a network device to implement any of the above methods, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a terminal to implement any of the above methods. Communication device 10100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0359] As shown in FIG10A , a communication device 10100 includes one or more processors 10101. Processor 10101 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control a communication device (e.g., a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The communication device 10100 is used to perform any of the above methods.

[0360] In some embodiments, the communication device 10100 further includes one or more memories 10102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memory 10102 may be located outside the communication device 10100.

[0361] In some embodiments, the communication device 10100 further includes one or more transceivers 10103. When the communication device 10100 includes one or more transceivers 10103, the transceiver 10103 performs the communication steps of sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., step 5102, step 5103, step 5104, step 5105, step 5106, step 5107, step 5108, step 5109, step 5110, step 5111, step 5112, step 5113, step 5114, step 5115, step 5116). , step 5117, but not limited to this), the processor 10101 executes at least one of the other steps (for example, step 5102, step 5103, step 5104, step 5105, step 5106, step 5107, step 5108, step 5109, step 5110, step 5111, step 5112, step 5113, step 5114, step 5115, step 5116, step 5117, but not limited to this).

[0362] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter. The receiver and transmitter may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, and transceiver circuit may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0363] In some embodiments, the communication device 10100 may include one or more interface circuits 10104. Optionally, the interface circuit 10104 is connected to the memory 10102. The interface circuit 10104 may be configured to receive signals from the memory 10102 or other devices, or to send signals to the memory 10102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 10104 may read instructions stored in the memory 10102 and send the instructions to the processor 10101.

[0364] The communication device 10100 described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 10100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 10100 may not be limited by FIG. 10A. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data or programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0365] 10B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 10200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the communication device 10100 can be a chip or a chip system, reference can be made to the schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 10200 shown in FIG10B , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0366] Chip 10200 includes one or more processors 10201, and chip 10200 is used to execute any of the above methods.

[0367] In some embodiments, chip 10200 further includes one or more interface circuits 10202. Optionally, interface circuit 10202 is connected to memory 10203. Interface circuit 10202 can be used to receive signals from memory 10203 or other devices, or to send signals to memory 10203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 10202 can read instructions stored in memory 10203 and send the instructions to processor 10201.

[0368] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 10202 executes at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (for example, step 5102, step 5103, step 5104, step 5105, step 5106, step 5107, step 5108, step 5109, step 5110, step 5111, step 5112, step 5113, step 5114, step 5115, step 5116, step 5117, but not limited to these), and the processor 10201 executes at least one of the other steps (for example, step 5102, step 5103, step 5104, step 5105, step 5106, step 5107, step 5108, step 5109, step 5110, step 5111, step 5112, step 5113, step 5114, step 5115, step 5116, step 5117, but not limited to these).

[0369] In some embodiments, terms such as interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, and transceiver may be used interchangeably.

[0370] In some embodiments, the chip 10200 further includes one or more memories 10203 for storing instructions. Alternatively, all or part of the memories 10203 may be outside the chip 10200.

[0371] The present disclosure also provides a storage medium having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed on the communication device 10100, the communication device 10100 is caused to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a transient storage medium.

[0372] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 10100, enables the communication device 10100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0373] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the above methods.

Claims

1. A timer starting method, characterized in that: The method comprises: After the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ round trip time RTT timer or the uplink UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport blocks TB transmission, and when specific conditions are met, the discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer is started or not started.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The timer is not associated with a multi-transmission block TB transmission, and when a specific condition is met, the DRX inactivity timer is started or not started, including: The timer is not associated with multiple transport block TB transmission, and when the terminal is configured with more than one downlink DL and / or UL HARQ process process, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The timer is not associated with a multi-transmission block TB transmission, and when a specific condition is met, the DRX inactivity timer is started or not started, including: The timer is not associated with multiple transport blocks TB transmission, and when the terminal is configured with a DL and UL HARQ process process, the DRX inactivity timer is started.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: The PDCCH indicates a plurality of TB transmissions of UL or DL, and when one or more of the following situations occur in the first configuration or the second configuration of the HARQ, the DRX inactivity timer is started or not started: All HARQ processes corresponding to TBs are configured with HARQ feedback disabled or HARQ mode Mode B configured; Among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, only some of the HARQ processes are configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or only some of the HARQ processes are configured with HARQ Mode B; Among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, there is a HARQ process configured with HARQ feedback disabled, or there is a HARQ process configured with HARQ Mode B.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that After starting the DRX inactivity timer, the method further includes: After the HARQ RTT timer or the UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of the UL or DL ​​times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that Also includes: After the last of the HARQ RTT timers or the UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of the UL or DL ​​times out, the DRX inactivity timer is started.

7. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that Also includes: The PDCCH indicates multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to enable HARQ feedback, or are configured to use HARQ Mode A, and the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

8. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that Also includes: The PDCCH indicates multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL, and a HARQ process corresponding to a TB among the multiple TBs is configured to enable HARQ feedback, or to configure HARQ Mode A, and the DRX inactivity timer is started or not started.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Also includes: The PDCCH indicates multiple TB transmissions of UL or DL ​​when one or more of the following occurs in the first configuration and the second configuration: In this case, start or not start the DRX inactivity timer: The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs are configured to disable HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or are configured in HARQ Mode B through the second configuration; The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and only some of the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs disable HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or only some of the HARQ processes use HARQ Mode B through the second configuration; The first configuration is to enable HARQ feedback, and among the HARQ processes corresponding to all TBs, there is a HARQ process that disables HARQ feedback through the second configuration, or there is a HARQ process that uses HARQ Mode B through the second configuration.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that After starting the DRX inactivity timer, the method further includes: After the HARQ RTT timer or the UL HARQ RTT timer of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of the UL or DL ​​times out, the DRX inactivity timer is not started.

11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that Also includes: After the last of the HARQ RTT timers or the UL HARQ RTT timers of the HARQ process corresponding to the multiple TB transmissions of the UL or DL ​​times out, the DRX inactivity timer is started.

12. A terminal, characterized in that: The device comprises: The processing module is used for starting or not starting the discontinuous reception inactivity timer DRX inactivity timer after the hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ round trip time RTT timer timer or the uplink UL HARQ RTT timer times out, the timer is not associated with multiple transport blocks TB transmission, and when specific conditions are met.

13. A terminal, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; The terminal is used to execute the timer starting method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

14. A communication system, characterized in that: The method comprises a terminal, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the timer starting method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

15. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that: When the instruction is executed on a communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the timer starting method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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