Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, relating to the field of communications. The method comprises: a terminal device determines time-domain configuration of first information, the time-domain configuration of the first information indicating N transmission opportunities of the first information, the first information comprising at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information, and N being a positive integer; receiving first indication information, the first indication information indicating M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities; and receiving the first information on one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities, M being a positive integer, and M≤N. By means of said method, some of the transmission opportunities of the first information can be quickly and flexibly activated or deactivated.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on September 27, 2023, with application number 202311290763.X and invention name "A Communication Method and Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0004] Compared with the fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication system, the fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication system adopts massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology. The number of base station channels has increased significantly, and the power consumption of base stations has also increased. Therefore, base station energy saving has received increasing attention.

[0005] The primary means of reducing base station power consumption is to reduce signal transmission. In communications systems, base stations need to transmit some always-on air interface signals for terminals to perform cell camping, measurement, and mobility management. Even when traffic load is low, these always-on air interface signals still need to be transmitted. Examples of these always-on air interface signals include synchronization signals, system information, paging messages, and paging advance indications. Therefore, the impact of these always-on air interface signals on base station power consumption has become a non-negligible factor.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for reducing the impact of air interface always-on signals on base station power consumption.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method that can be performed by a terminal or a module (such as a chip) in the terminal. The method includes: determining a time domain configuration of first information; the time domain configuration of the first information indicates N transmission opportunities for the first information, where N is a positive integer; receiving first indication information, where the first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities of the N transmission opportunities, where M is a positive integer and M≤N; and receiving the first information at one or more transmission opportunities of the M transmission opportunities.

[0009] In one possible design, the first information is air interface always-open information or air interface always-open signal.

[0010] With this design, the network device can flexibly activate or deactivate some transmission opportunities for the first information using the first indication information, without having to reconfigure all transmission opportunities for the first information. This can reduce power consumption by reducing the transmission of first information. For example, under light load, the network device can deactivate some transmission opportunities for the first information while retaining other transmission opportunities for the first information, thereby allowing the network device to enter a sleep mode.

[0011] In one possible design, the first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, specifically: the first indication information indicates the configuration of the first time window; the configuration of the first time window includes at least one of the period of the first time window, the duration of the first time window, and the offset of the first time window; the M transmission opportunities are the transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities that are located within the first time window.

[0012] In one possible design, the first information is the system information, and the period of the first time window is the system information change period; or, the first information is the paging information, and the period of the first time window is the paging period; or, the first information is the paging advance indication information, and the period of the first time window is the paging advance indication period.

[0013] In one possible design, the first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, specifically: the first indication information indicates a first transmission opportunity pattern; the first transmission opportunity pattern indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities.

[0014] In one possible design, the first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, specifically: the time domain configuration of the first information indicates the N transmission opportunities through at least one of the first period of the first information, the first duration of the first information, and the offset of the first information; the first indication information indicates the second period of the first information, and the second period of the first information is greater than the first period of the first information; the M transmission opportunities are the transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities determined according to the second period of the first information.

[0015] In one possible design, the first indication information is carried on a broadcast channel; or, the first indication information is carried on downlink control information DCI.

[0016] Compared with the existing technology that requires first receiving the SI change indication and then receiving the changed SI in the next SI change period, carrying the first indication information through the broadcast channel or DCI can more conveniently obtain the time domain configuration of the changed first information.

[0017] In one possible design, the receiving time of the first indication information is the first moment; when the first information is received at one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities, the first information is received at one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities after a second moment, and the second moment is located in the update period where the first indication information is located, and the second moment is not earlier than the first moment; or the second moment is located in the next update period after the update period where the first indication information is located.

[0018] The above design can be used to determine the effective start time of the first indication information.

[0019] The first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information.

[0020] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: determining multiple time domain configurations of first information; receiving second indication information, the second indication information indicating a first time domain configuration among the multiple time domain configurations, the first time domain configuration indicating the transmission timing of the first information; and receiving the first information according to the second indication information.

[0021] In one possible design, the first information is air interface always-open information or air interface always-open signal.

[0022] With the above design, the network device can flexibly activate or deactivate the time domain configuration of the first information through the second indication information. For example, under light load, the network device activates the time domain configuration with fewer transmission opportunities for the first information, thereby reducing the power consumption of sending the first information and achieving energy saving of the base station.

[0023] In one possible design, the first time domain configuration includes the third period of the first information; before receiving the second indication information, the second time domain configuration of the first information is determined, the second time domain configuration includes the fourth period of the first information, and the fourth period of the first information is smaller than the third period of the first information.

[0024] With this design, the second indication information can flexibly adjust the period of the first information. When the fourth period of the first information is less than the third period of the first information, that is, the adjusted period is greater than the unadjusted period, the period of the first information can be quickly extended, and the network device can enter sleep mode, thereby reducing the static power consumption of the network device and the proportion of power consumption of the first information.

[0025] In one possible design, the first time domain configuration also includes a third duration of the first information; the second time domain configuration also includes a fourth duration of the first information, and the fourth duration is greater than the third duration.

[0026] With this design, the second indication information can flexibly adjust the duration of the first information. When the fourth duration is greater than the third duration, that is, the adjusted duration is shorter than the unadjusted duration, the duration of the first information can be shortened, further reducing the static power consumption of the network device and the proportion of power consumption of the first information.

[0027] In one possible design, the second indication information is carried on a broadcast channel; or, the second indication information is carried on a DCI.

[0028] Compared with the existing technology that requires first receiving the SI change indication and then receiving the changed SI in the next SI change period, carrying the second indication information through the broadcast channel or DCI can more conveniently obtain the time domain configuration of the changed first information.

[0029] In one possible design, the receiving time of the second indication information is the third time; when the first information is received according to the second indication information, the first information is received according to the second indication information at a fourth time, the fourth time is in the update period where the second indication information is located, and the fourth time is not earlier than the third time; or the fourth time is in the next update period after the update period where the second indication information is located.

[0030] The above design can be used to determine the effective start time of the second indication information.

[0031] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: determining a time domain configuration of a random access message; the time domain configuration of the random access message indicates K transmission opportunities of the random access message, where K is a positive integer; receiving third indication information, where the third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, where S is a positive integer, and S<K; and sending the random access message on one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities.

[0032] Using the above method, the network device can flexibly activate or deactivate the random access message transmission timing using the third indication information, without having to reconfigure the random access message transmission timing. The terminal device sends the random access message according to the third indication information. By reducing the number of random access messages sent, the terminal device can reduce the power consumption of the network device detecting the random access message. Under light load, the network device can enter a dormant mode.

[0033] In one possible design, first candidate association information is determined from L candidate association information based on the third indication information, where L is greater than or equal to 2; wherein each candidate association information in the L candidate association information includes at least one of a correspondence between downlink broadcast information and a random access channel RACH opportunity, an association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity, or the number of RACH opportunities within a RACH period.

[0034] In one possible design, the random access message is sent based on the first candidate association information.

[0035] In one possible design, the L candidate association information further includes second candidate association information; the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, and the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is different from the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information; or, the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is different from the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, and the downlink broadcast information indicated by the first candidate association information is different from the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information. The association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity is the same as the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information; or, the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, and the number of RACH opportunities within one RACH period corresponding to the first candidate association information is different from the number of RACH opportunities within one RACH period corresponding to the second candidate association information.

[0036] With the above design, corresponding candidate association information can be determined according to the third indication information, thereby achieving timely acquisition of accurate association information.

[0037] In one possible design, the third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, specifically: the third indication information indicates the configuration of the second time window; the configuration of the second time window includes at least one of the period of the second time window, the duration of the second time window, and the offset of the second time window; the transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities are located within the second time window.

[0038] In one possible design, the third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, specifically: the third indication information indicates a second transmission opportunity pattern; the second transmission opportunity pattern indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities.

[0039] In one possible design, the third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, specifically: the time domain configuration of the random access message indicates the K transmission opportunities through at least one of the first period of the random access message, the first duration of the random access message, and the offset of the random access message; the third indication information indicates the second period of the random access message, and the first period of the random access message is less than the second period of the random access message; the S transmission opportunities are the transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities determined according to the second period of the random access message.

[0040] In one possible design, the third indication information is carried on a broadcast channel; or, the third indication information is carried on a DCI.

[0041] Compared with the existing technology that requires first receiving the SI change indication and then receiving the changed SI in the next SI change period, the time domain configuration of the random access message after the change can be obtained more conveniently by carrying the third indication information through the broadcast channel or DCI.

[0042] In one possible design, the receiving moment of the third indication information is the fifth moment; when the random access message is sent at one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities, the random access message is sent at one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities after the sixth moment, and the sixth moment is located in the update period where the third indication information is located, and the sixth moment is not earlier than the fifth moment or the sixth moment is located in the next update period after the update period where the third indication information is located.

[0043] The above design can be used to determine the effective start time of the third indication information.

[0044] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: determining multiple time domain configurations of a random access message; receiving fourth indication information, the fourth indication information indicating a third time domain configuration among the multiple time domain configurations, the third time domain configuration indicating the transmission timing of the random access message; and sending the random access message according to the fourth indication information.

[0045] By adopting the above method, the network device can flexibly activate or deactivate the time domain configuration of the random access message through the fourth indication information. For example, under light load, the network device activates the time domain configuration with fewer transmission opportunities for random access messages, thereby reducing the power consumption of detecting random access messages and achieving energy saving.

[0046] In one possible design, the third time domain configuration includes the third period of the random access message; before receiving the fourth indication information, the fourth time domain configuration of the first information is determined, the fourth time domain configuration includes the fourth period of the random access message, and the fourth period of the random access message is smaller than the third period of the random access message.

[0047] With the above design, the second indication information can flexibly adjust the period of the random access message. When the fourth period of the random access message is less than the third period of the random access message, that is, the adjusted period is greater than the period before adjustment, the period of the random access message can be quickly extended, and the network device can enter the dormant mode, thereby reducing the static power consumption of the network device and the proportion of power consumption of detecting random access messages.

[0048] In one possible design, the third time domain configuration also includes a third duration of the random access message; the fourth time domain configuration also includes a fourth duration of the random access message, and the fourth duration is greater than the third duration.

[0049] With the above design, the second indication information can flexibly adjust the duration of the random access message. When the fourth duration is greater than the third duration, that is, the adjusted duration is shorter than the unadjusted duration, the duration of the random access message can be shortened, further reducing the static power consumption of the network device and the proportion of power consumption used to detect the random access message.

[0050] In one possible design, the fourth indication information is carried on a broadcast channel; or, the fourth indication information is carried on a DCI.

[0051] Compared with the existing technology that requires first receiving the SI change indication and then receiving the changed SI in the next SI change period, the time domain configuration of the random access message after the change can be obtained more conveniently by carrying the third indication information through the broadcast channel or DCI.

[0052] In one possible design, the receiving time of the fourth indication information is the seventh moment; when the random access message is sent according to the fourth indication information, the random access message is sent according to the fourth indication information at the eighth moment, the eighth moment is in the update period where the fourth indication information is located, and the eighth moment is not earlier than the seventh moment; or the eighth moment is in the next update period after the update period where the fourth indication information is located.

[0053] The above design can be used to determine the effective start time of the fourth indication information.

[0054] In one possible design, first candidate association information is determined from L candidate association information based on the fourth indication information, where L is greater than or equal to 2; wherein each candidate association information in the L candidate association information includes at least one of a correspondence between downlink broadcast information and a RACH opportunity, an association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity, or the number of RACH opportunities within a RACH period.

[0055] With the above design, corresponding candidate association information can be determined according to the third indication information, thereby achieving timely acquisition of accurate association information.

[0056] In one possible design, the random access message is sent based on the first candidate association information.

[0057] In one possible design, the L candidate association information further includes second candidate association information; the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, and the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is different from the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information; or, the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is different from the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, and the downlink broadcast information indicated by the first candidate association information is different from the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information. The association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity is the same as the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information; or, the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, and the number of RACH opportunities within one RACH period corresponding to the first candidate association information is different from the number of RACH opportunities within one RACH period corresponding to the second candidate association information.

[0058] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: determining a time domain configuration of first information, where the time domain configuration of the first information indicates N transmission opportunities of the first information, where the first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information, where N is a positive integer; determining M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, where M is a positive integer, and M<N; sending first indication information, where the first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities; and sending the first information on one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities.

[0059] Some possible designs and beneficial effects of the fifth aspect can be referred to the first aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0060] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: determining multiple time domain configurations of first information; sending second indication information, wherein the second indication information indicates a first time domain configuration among the multiple time domain configurations, and the first time domain configuration indicates a transmission timing of the first information; and sending the first information at the transmission timing of the first information.

[0061] In one possible design, the first information is air interface always-open information or air interface always-open signal.

[0062] Some possible designs and beneficial effects of the sixth aspect can be referred to the second aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0063] In the seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: determining the time domain configuration of the random access message; the time domain configuration of the random access message indicates K transmission opportunities of the random access message, where K is a positive integer; sending third indication information, where the third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, where S is a positive integer, and S<K; receiving the random access message at one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities.

[0064] Some possible designs and beneficial effects of the seventh aspect can be referred to the third aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0065] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: determining multiple time domain configurations of a random access message; sending a fourth indication information, wherein the fourth indication information indicates a third time domain configuration among the multiple time domain configurations, and the third time domain configuration indicates a transmission timing of the random access message; and receiving the random access message at the transmission timing of the random access message.

[0066] Some possible designs and beneficial effects of the eighth aspect can be referred to the fourth aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0067] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can be applied to a terminal device or a network device, and the device includes a unit for executing any of the methods described in any of the above aspects.

[0068] In the tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising at least one processing element and at least one storage element, wherein the at least one storage element is used to store programs and data, and the at least one processing element is used to read and execute the programs and data stored in the storage element, so that the method described in any one of the above aspects of the present application is implemented.

[0069] In an eleventh aspect, the present application further provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute any of the methods described in any of the above aspects.

[0070] In the twelfth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes: an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used to provide input and / or output of programs or instructions to at least one processor; the at least one processor is used to execute the program or instructions so that the communication device can implement any method described in any of the above aspects.

[0071] In one possible manner, the communication device includes the at least one processor.

[0072] In one possible manner, the communication device includes the at least one memory, and the memory is used to store the program or instruction.

[0073] In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer storage medium storing a software program. When the software program is read and executed by one or more processors, it can implement any of the methods described in any of the above aspects.

[0074] In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute any of the methods described in any of the above aspects.

[0075] In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which includes at least one chip and a memory, and the at least one chip is used to read and execute a program stored in the memory to implement any of the methods described in any of the above aspects.

[0076] In the sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which includes at least one terminal and a network device, wherein the terminal executes any method described in the first aspect, and the network device executes any method described in the second aspect.

[0077] Based on the implementations provided in the above aspects, this application can also be further combined to provide more implementations.

[0078] In the seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: a network device and a terminal device determine a time domain configuration of the first information, the time domain configuration of the first information indicates N transmission opportunities of the first information, N is a positive integer; the network device sends a first indication information, the first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, M is a positive integer, M≤N; the terminal device receives the first information at one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities.

[0079] In one possible design, the first information is air interface always-open information or air interface always-open signal.

[0080] In one possible design, the first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information.

[0081] In aspect 18, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: a network device and a terminal device determine multiple time domain configurations of first information, wherein the first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information; the network device sends second indication information, and the second indication information indicates a first time domain configuration among the multiple time domain configurations, and the first time domain configuration indicates the transmission timing of the first information; the terminal device receives the first information according to the second indication information.

[0082] In the nineteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: a network device and a terminal device determine a time domain configuration of a random access message, the time domain configuration of the random access message indicates K transmission opportunities of the random access message, K is a positive integer; the network device sends a third indication information, the third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, S is a positive integer, S<K; the terminal device sends the random access message on one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities.

[0083] In the twentieth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: a network device and a terminal device determine multiple time domain configurations of a random access message; the network device sends a fourth indication information, wherein the fourth indication information indicates a third time domain configuration among the multiple time domain configurations, and the third time domain configuration indicates the transmission timing of the random access message; the terminal device sends the random access message according to the third time domain configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0084] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a mobile communication system used in an embodiment of the present application;

[0085] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an SI change cycle, a paging cycle, and a paging frame in an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] FIG3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the sleep mode and static power consumption in an embodiment of the present application;

[0087] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the dormant period, awakening period, active period and static power consumption in an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a method for adjusting the air interface normally open signal period through SI in the present application;

[0089] FIG6 is a flowchart illustrating an overview of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of three time windows in an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] FIG8 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the first time window and the time domain configuration information of the first information in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of a transmission timing pattern in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of two periods of the first information in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] FIG11 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] FIG12 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] FIG13A is a schematic diagram of first candidate association information and second candidate association information according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] FIG13B is a schematic diagram of the third indication information a and the first candidate association information, and the third indication information b and the second candidate association information in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] FIG14A is a second schematic diagram of first candidate association information and second candidate association information in an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] 14B is a second schematic diagram of the third indication information a and the first candidate association information, and the third indication information b and the second candidate association information in an embodiment of the present application;

[0100] FIG15A is a second schematic diagram of first candidate association information and second candidate association information in an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] FIG15B is a second schematic diagram of the third indication information a and the first candidate association information, and the third indication information b and the second candidate association information in an embodiment of the present application;

[0102] FIG16 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0103] FIG17 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0104] FIG18 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0105] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), world-wide interoperability for microwave access (WIMAX) communication system, 5G system or new radio (NR), or applied to future communication systems or other similar communication systems.

[0106] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system 1000 used in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1 , the communication system includes a radio access network 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include the Internet 300. The radio access network 100 may include at least one radio access network device (such as 110a and 110b in Figure 1 ) and at least one terminal (such as 120a-120j in Figure 1 ). The terminal is wirelessly connected to the radio access network device, and the radio access network device is wirelessly or wiredly connected to the core network. The core network device and the radio access network device may be independent, distinct physical devices, or the core network device's functions and the radio access network device's logical functions may be integrated into the same physical device, or a single physical device may integrate some of the core network device's functions and some of the radio access network device's functions. Terminals and radio access network devices may be interconnected via wired or wireless connections. Figure 1 is merely a schematic diagram. The communication system may also include other network devices, such as wireless relay devices and wireless backhaul devices, which are not shown in Figure 1 .

[0107] Radio access network equipment, referred to as network equipment, can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a next-generation base station in a 6th-generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. It can also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station, such as a centralized unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). The CU performs the functions of the base station's radio resource control protocol and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), as well as the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP). The DU performs the functions of the base station's radio link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer, as well as some or all of the physical layer. For detailed descriptions of each of these protocol layers, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The wireless access network device can be a macro base station (such as 110a in Figure 1), a micro base station or an indoor station (such as 110b in Figure 1), a relay node, a donor node, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology and device form used by the wireless access network device. For ease of description, the following description uses a base station as an example of a wireless access network device.

[0108] Terminal devices may also be referred to as terminals, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminals, etc. Terminals can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, etc. Terminals can be mobile phones, tablet computers, computers with wireless transceiver functions, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies and specific device forms used by terminal devices. For ease of description, the following description uses a terminal as an example of a terminal device.

[0109] Base stations and terminals can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; or on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of base stations and terminals.

[0110] The roles of base stations and terminals can be relative. For example, the helicopter or drone 120i in Figure 1 can be configured as a mobile base station. To terminals 120j accessing the wireless access network 100 via 120i, drone 120i is a base station. However, to base station 110a, 120i is a terminal, meaning that communication between 110a and 120i occurs via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, communication between 110a and 120i can also occur via a base station-to-base station interface protocol. In this case, 120i is also a base station relative to 110a. Therefore, base stations and terminals can be collectively referred to as communication devices. 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be referred to as communication devices with base station functionality, while 120a-120j in Figure 1 can be referred to as communication devices with terminal functionality.

[0111] Communication between base stations and terminals, between base stations, and between terminals can be carried out through authorized spectrum, unauthorized spectrum, or both; communication can be carried out through spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), spectrum above 6 GHz, or spectrum below 6 GHz and spectrum above 6 GHz. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0112] In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the base station may also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the base station, or by a control subsystem that includes the base station functions. The control subsystem that includes the base station functions here may be a control center in the above-mentioned application scenarios such as smart grid, industrial control, smart transportation, and smart city. The functions of the terminal may also be performed by a module (such as a chip or modem) in the terminal, or by a device that includes the terminal functions.

[0113] In the embodiments of the present application, a base station sends a downlink signal or downlink information to a terminal, and the downlink information is carried on a downlink channel; the terminal sends an uplink signal or uplink information to the base station, and the uplink information is carried on an uplink channel. In order to communicate with the base station, the terminal needs to establish a wireless connection with the cell controlled by the base station. The cell with which the terminal has established a wireless connection is called the serving cell of the terminal. When the terminal communicates with the serving cell, it will also be subject to interference from signals in neighboring cells.

[0114] Below, some terms used in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0115] 1. Air interface always open information

[0116] Air interface always-on information, also known as air interface always-on signals, common signals, or common information, refers to information that must be sent continuously even when no uplink or downlink traffic is being transmitted. For example, this information is used to maintain synchronization and perform basic measurements. This type of information typically includes synchronization signals, major system messages (master information block (MIB), and system information block 1 (SIB1).

[0117] 2. Light load and heavy load

[0118] Generally speaking, traffic load refers to the average traffic volume arriving over a period of time. If the average traffic volume is low, for example, below a threshold, the system is considered lightly loaded. Conversely, it is considered heavily loaded. A traffic volume between light and heavy loads is also considered moderately loaded.

[0119] 3. Initial residency and random access process

[0120] First, the terminal detects the synchronization signal. Exemplarily, the synchronization signal may include a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and / or a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) to obtain cell synchronization and cell identity identification. Then, the terminal receives the physical broadcast channel (PBCH) based on the detected synchronization signal. Exemplarily, there is a resource mapping relationship between PSS / SSS and PBCH. Generally, PSS / SSS and PBCH are jointly referred to as a synchronization signal / broadcast channel block (SSB), or synchronization signal block for short. PBCH includes MIB, which includes the system radio frame number, the initial control resource set (CORESET) #0 and search space (SS) #0 of the public PDCCH, where CORESET #0 and SS #0 respectively indicate the frequency domain position and time domain position of the public downlink control information (DCI) receiving the scheduling SIB1.

[0121] Based on the SSB, the terminal can detect the public PDCCH or public DCI that schedules SIB1, and then obtain SIB1 to complete the idle state residency. For example, the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the public PDCCH is generally scrambled with the system information-RNTI (SI-RNTI), indicating that the public PDCCH is a DCI that carries system information. The monitoring period of SIB1 is 20ms or notified by the SSB. SIB1 is the necessary system information other than MIB, also known as the remaining necessary system information, which mainly includes paging configuration, random access configuration, the number of beams actually transmitted by SSB and the period, etc. In addition, SIB1 also carries scheduling information indicating SIB-x. SIB-x is non-essential system information or on-demand system information, generally including configurations related to mobility management, etc.

[0122] After completing the idle state, the terminal needs to periodically check for paging or initiate random access when there is an uplink service requirement. Paging primarily serves two purposes: monitoring for service triggers from the network side for the terminal; and monitoring for changes in system information (SI), i.e., monitoring for SI change indications. The primary function of random access is that once a terminal needs to initiate an uplink service, it initiates a random access (RACH) process to complete the state transition, switching from the idle state to the radio resource control (RRC) connected state to transmit uplink services.

[0123] 2. Paging process

[0124] SIB1 will carry paging configuration information, mainly including the configuration of paging cycle, paging frame (PF) and paging occasion (PO). Among them, paging DCI (paging DCI) is used to schedule paging messages. For example, paging DCI can schedule PDSCH, and the PDCSH is used to carry paging messages. In addition, paging DCI includes SI change indication, that is, paging DCI also has the function of indicating SI change, so it is also necessary to configure the SI change cycle. Specifically, the SI change cycle can be an integer multiple of the paging cycle, and the paging cycle is an integer multiple of the paging frame. There are multiple POs in the PF, as shown in Figure 2. For example, the paging cycle can be an idle-discontinuous reception (I-DRX) cycle.

[0125] 3. Paging Early Indication (PEI) Process

[0126] One PO may correspond to multiple terminals. Since the paging DCI does not include an identifier to distinguish different terminals, as long as a terminal is paged, all terminals under the PO will detect the paging message scheduled by the paging DCI, which will cause unnecessary energy consumption. Taking into account the energy saving of the terminal, the PEI mechanism is introduced. Usually, the terminal needs to detect the paging DCI at the corresponding PO in each paging cycle. The PEI is introduced and the PEI and PO are associated. The terminal can first detect the PEI DCI, where the PEI DCI does not schedule PDSCH. The PEI DCI includes the PEI. The PEI can be used to indicate whether the corresponding PO in the next paging cycle has a corresponding paging message. If the PEI DCI indicates that the corresponding PO in the next paging cycle does not have a corresponding paging message, the terminal does not need to detect the paging DCI in the next paging cycle. On the contrary, the terminal detects the paging DCI in the next paging cycle, where the parameter configuration of the PEI can be carried through SIB1.

[0127] A paging cycle generally refers to the period during which a terminal in idle state needs to check whether the network is paging it or monitoring for SI change indications at its own PO position. A paging advance indication cycle generally refers to the period during which a terminal in idle state needs to check whether PEI DCI is required at its own Paging Advance Indication (PEI Occasion, PEI-O) position. An SI change cycle generally consists of one or more paging cycles and is the period during which SI changes take effect.

[0128] 4. RACH

[0129] SIB1 also carries RACH configuration information, which can be used to indicate configuration information such as RACH time-frequency and preamble resources. For example, a RACH cycle consists of a time slot, and each time slot can contain one or more RACH occasions (ROs). A RO can be understood as a RACH time-frequency resource. The starting symbol and length of a RO in the time domain are configured by higher layers. Within a transmission time interval (TTI), there are up to eight available RO transmission resources in the frequency domain. The resource block (RB) occupied by each RO is also configured by higher layers.

[0130] The terminal selects which RO and which RACH preamble to send based on the SSB index measurement result. The SSB-RACH association defines the correspondence between the SSB index and {RO, RACH preamble index}.

[0131] Among them, SSB-RACH association is divided into two cases:

[0132] Case 1: One SSB index is associated with at least one RO;

[0133] Case 2: Multiple SSB indices are associated with one RO, but the multiple SSB indices are associated with different RACH preamble index sets in the RO.

[0134] For example, the eight SSBs transmitted by the base station correspond to eight transmit beams, which can correspond one-to-one to eight RACH opportunities and / or eight sets of RACH preambles. Alternatively, one SSB can correspond to multiple RACH opportunities and / or multiple sets of RACH preambles. When the terminal detects a strong SSB signal, it transmits the RACH using the RACH opportunity and / or RACH preamble corresponding to that SSB. The base station then receives the RACH using the corresponding beam and sends a RACH response message.

[0135] At the same time, it should be noted that the mapping of SSB to RO corresponds to an association period, which can also be called an association period. The association period is defined as the minimum number of RACH cycles in which all SSBs are fully mapped at least once.

[0136] The association pattern period is based on the above association period. SSB and RACH are repeatedly associated in rounds, but it is necessary to ensure that the above association pattern is repeated within a certain period, for example, the above association pattern is repeated once every 160ms.

[0137] 5. Active antenna unit (AAU) power consumption

[0138] A typical 5G base station consists of a baseband unit (BBU) and an AAU, with the AAU being the primary driver of power consumption. The following analysis uses the AAU as an example to analyze base station power consumption. AAU power consumption is generally divided into dynamic and static power consumption:

[0139] Among them, dynamic power consumption includes part of the power consumption of the power amplifier and channel. The size of dynamic power consumption is determined by the dynamic shutdown rate in multiple dimensions. Dynamic shutdown includes time domain shutdown (i.e., not sending or receiving signals on a certain symbol or time slot), frequency domain shutdown (recording not sending or receiving signals on a certain frequency domain resource, such as not sending or receiving signals on a certain carrier), spatial domain shutdown (i.e., not sending or receiving signals on certain channels), and power domain shutdown (also called power backoff, i.e., reducing the transmit power).

[0140] Static power consumption includes part of the power consumption of baseband processing and channels. The size of static power consumption is determined by the sleep depth of the base station. The deeper the sleep, the lower the static power consumption. However, the deeper the sleep of the base station, the longer the wake-up time of the base station.

[0141] For example, sleep modes include dynamic shutdown, light sleep, and deep sleep. The relationship between sleep mode and static power consumption is shown in Figure 3. Dynamic shutdown has higher static power consumption, but symbol-level wakeup is possible at any time. Deep sleep has lower static power consumption, but longer wakeup times, such as seconds or minutes, significantly impacting service continuity. Furthermore, light sleep is a sleep mode between dynamic shutdown and deep sleep.

[0142] Currently, extending the transmit and receive cycle of the air interface always-on signal can reduce base station power consumption. Specifically, based on the system load, when the system is lightly loaded, extending the transmit and receive cycle of the air interface always-on signal can put the base station into a dormant state. The base station's dormancy level and wake-up time need to match the air interface always-on signal transmit and receive cycle. Conversely, when the system is moderately to heavily loaded, the transmit and receive cycle of the air interface always-on signal is further reduced to ensure service continuity and performance experience. In this case, the base station cannot enter the dormant state and cannot reduce static power consumption.

[0143] As shown in Figure 4, a longer dormancy period results in lower static power consumption, while a longer wakeup period results in a longer active period for transmitting and receiving air interface always-on signals. It should be understood that shortening the active period and extending the dormancy period can both reduce base station power consumption.

[0144] Currently, the method for adjusting the air interface always-on signal cycle is through the SI change process. If, based on load changes, the base station needs to adjust the heavy-load short-cycle always-on signal configuration to a light-load long-cycle always-on signal configuration, that is, to lengthen the air interface always-on signal transmission and reception cycle, the base station needs to perform the following:

[0145] (1) All POs in the previous SI change period before the SI change boundary send paging DCI notification SI change indication;

[0146] (2) The terminal receives an SI change indication at its own PO position within the previous SI change period;

[0147] (3) The base station starts the SI change operation in the next SI change cycle after the SI change boundary;

[0148] (4) The terminal needs to start receiving SI again in the next SI change period after the SI change boundary, that is, the changed SI. The terminal uses the changed SI to transmit and receive air interface always-on signals.

[0149] For example, for a terminal in an idle state, it is necessary to detect the paging DCI at the terminal's own PO position. Once the paging DCI includes an SI change indication, the base station will start the SI change in the next SI change period. Accordingly, the terminal needs to receive the changed SI as soon as possible in the next SI change period. Therefore, from the beginning of the SI change period boundary to the time when the terminal successfully obtains the changed SI, the terminal cannot know the changed SI during this period, so some operations of the terminal during this period are likely to be erroneous. For example, once the RACH period changes, the terminal may initiate RACH at the wrong RACH timing, but the base station may not be able to receive the RACH. As shown in Figure 5, the period of message A before the system message change boundary is smaller than the period of message A after the system message change boundary.

[0150] In summary, the SI change process described above shows that adjusting the air interface always-on signal period is a very cumbersome and time-consuming process, and cannot be applied to the initial reception of some always-on signals (such as SIBs). For example, before receiving the paging DCI, a series of signals (including SSBs, MIBs, SIB1, etc.) need to be received to obtain the position of the PO, and these signals currently cannot flexibly notify their time domain configuration.

[0151] Based on the above, it can be seen that with the continuous evolution of hardware and software, the static power consumption and sleep wake-up time of the base station may continue to decrease, while the power consumption of the air interface always-on signal will become increasingly larger, and may even become a power consumption bottleneck under light load in the system. In the embodiments of the present application, several possible communication methods are provided to quickly and flexibly adjust the time domain configuration of the air interface always-on signal, so that under light load, the period of the air interface always-on signal can be quickly extended, allowing the base station to enter light sleep or deep sleep under light load, thereby reducing static power consumption.

[0152] The embodiments shown in Figures 6 and 11 are applicable to scenarios where a terminal receives downlink information, i.e., a base station transmits downlink information. In the embodiments shown in Figures 6 and 11 below, the first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information. For example, the system information may include an SSB, MIB, SIB1, etc. The paging information includes paging DCI, a paging message, etc. The paging advance indication information includes paging advance indication DCI, etc.

[0153] As shown in Figure 6, the present application provides a communication method for quickly and flexibly adjusting the time domain configuration of the air interface always-on signal. The method includes:

[0154] 600. The terminal determines a time domain configuration of the first information. Correspondingly, the base station determines a time domain configuration of the first information.

[0155] For example, the time domain configuration of the first information may be predefined by a standard, and the terminal and the base station determine the time domain configuration of the first information based on the standard. Alternatively, the time domain configuration of the first information may be configured by the base station to the terminal through signaling.

[0156] Specifically, the first information is air interface always-on information or air interface always-on signal. For example, the first information may be one or more of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information.

[0157] In one possible design, the system information, the paging information, and the paging advance indication information may have the same time domain configuration. Alternatively, the system information, the paging information, and the paging advance indication information may have different time domain configurations.

[0158] Exemplarily, the time domain configuration of the first information indicates N transmission opportunities for the first information, where N is a positive integer. It is understood that the N transmission opportunities for the first information refer to N candidate opportunities for the terminal to receive the first information, or N candidate opportunities for the base station to send the first information to the terminal device. For example, the N transmission opportunities may be all candidate transmission opportunities for the first information within the first preset duration.

[0159] Exemplarily, the N transmission opportunities may be periodic opportunities.

[0160] In one possible implementation, the time domain configuration of the first information indicates N transmission opportunities through at least one of a first period of the first information, a first duration of the first information, and an offset of the first information. The offset of the first information may refer to an offset relative to a certain time unit. The time unit in this application may be a time slot or a subframe, or a granularity unit on a certain time domain resource after future communication system evolution.

[0161] For example, the first information is SSB, the time domain configuration of SSB includes at least one of an SSB period of 20 ms, an SSB duration of 5 ms, and an SSB offset relative to a time slot. The base station and the terminal can determine a series of periodic transmission opportunities based on the time domain configuration of the SSB, that is, there is a transmission opportunity with a duration of 5 ms every 20 ms of the SSB.

[0162] Optionally, 610: The base station determines M transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities of the first information, where M is a positive integer and M≤N.

[0163] For example, when the base station needs to enter energy-saving mode or determines that the current load is low, the base station may adjust the number M of transmission opportunities for the first information to be smaller, thereby reducing the power consumption of transmitting the first information. For another example, when the base station determines that the current load is increasing, the base station may adjust the number M of transmission opportunities for the first information to be larger, thereby increasing the number of transmissions of the first information.

[0164] 620. The base station sends first indication information to the terminal, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the first indication information from the base station, wherein the first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities.

[0165] The first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities, which can be understood as NM transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities being deactivated or disabled. Alternatively, it can be understood as M transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities being activated or M transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities being enabled.

[0166] In one possible implementation, the first indication information may be carried by a broadcast channel. For example, the first indication information is included in the MIB, and the MIB is carried by the broadcast channel. Alternatively, the first indication information is carried by the DCI. For example, the DCI here may be a public DCI, or a new type of DCI based on an existing communication standard. For example, if the first information is paging information, the first indication information may be carried by the paging DCI. Alternatively, if the first information is paging advance indication information, the first indication information may be carried by the paging advance indication DCI.

[0167] In a possible implementation, the first indication information may also be included in the SI change indication. For example, the first indication information may be an independent field in the SI change indication.

[0168] The first indication information may indicate M transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities in the following manners:

[0169] Mode 1: The first indication information indicates the configuration of the first time window. The M transmission opportunities are transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities that are within the time window indicated by the configuration of the first time window.

[0170] The first time window can be understood as a periodic time domain resource. The configuration of the first time window includes at least one of a period of the first time window, a duration of the first time window, and an offset of the first time window.

[0171] Exemplarily, the period of the first time window may also be referred to as a discontinuous transmission / reception period. For example, the period of the first time window may be a period of discontinuous transmission by the base station, or a period of discontinuous reception by the terminal. For example, if the first information is system information, the period of the first time window may be a system information change period; or, if the first information is paging information, the period of the first time window may be a paging period; or, if the first information is paging advance indication information, the period of the first time window may be a paging advance indication period. In addition, the first time window may also be a discontinuous reception period of a terminal independent of the system information change period, the paging period, and the paging advance indication period, and may apply to system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information simultaneously.

[0172] The offset of the first time window may refer to an offset relative to a certain time unit. The time unit in this application may be a time slot or a subframe, or may be a granularity unit on a certain time domain resource after the communication system evolves in the future.

[0173] For example, the period of the first time window can be 20ms or 40ms, and the duration of the first time window can be 5ms or 10ms. As shown in Figure 7, the three time windows have different periods but the same duration and offset. As can be seen, the longer the time window period, the deeper the base station's sleep depth and the lower the static power consumption, but at the cost of a longer sleep-wake-up period.

[0174] In one example, the first indication information may include the configuration of the first time window. For example, the first indication information may include at least one of the period of the first time window, the duration of the first time window, and the offset of the first time window.

[0175] In another example, the first indication information indicates a configuration of a first time window among multiple time window configurations. Exemplarily, the first indication information may include an index or identifier of the configuration of the first time window.

[0176] For example, the base station may pre-configure multiple time window configurations for the terminal via signaling, or the time domain configurations of the multiple time windows may be predefined via a standard protocol. The multiple time window configurations include the configuration of the first time window. The configurations of any two time windows in the multiple time window configurations are different from each other. The two different time window configurations can be understood as different specific parameters of the two time windows. For example, the two time windows may have the same period and duration, but different offsets. Alternatively, the two time windows may have the same offsets, but different periods and durations.

[0177] In addition, in a possible implementation, the period of the time window may be configured to be 0. The period of the time window being 0 may also be understood as the base station may send the first information at any time.

[0178] It should be noted that the base station may separately indicate the time window configuration for system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information. Alternatively, the base station may jointly indicate a time window configuration for system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information. Alternatively, the base station may jointly indicate a time window configuration for any two of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information, and the remaining information may separately indicate another time window configuration. The specific implementation of the time window configuration can be found in the above content and will not be further described here.

[0179] Exemplarily, the M transmission opportunities are transmission opportunities within the first time window among the N transmission opportunities. Alternatively, the M transmission opportunities are transmission opportunities within the first time window among the N transmission opportunities. Alternatively, it can be understood that NM transmission opportunities are not within the first time window.

[0180] For example, as shown in FIG8 , assuming that the time domain configuration of the first information indicates that the period of the first information (or the period of the transmission opportunity of the first information) is 10 ms, the duration of the first information (or the duration of the transmission opportunity of the first information) is 5 ms, the configuration of the first time window indicates that the period of the first time window is 20 ms, the duration of the first time window is 5 ms, and the offset of the transmission opportunity of the first information is the same as the offset of the first time window. FIG8 shows the relationship between two first time windows and four transmission opportunities of the first information, where N=4 and M=2. Two of the four transmission opportunities of the first information are within the first time window, and the other two transmission opportunities marked with a cross are deactivated.

[0181] Using the above method 1, by indicating different time window configurations, it is possible to flexibly activate or deactivate some transmission opportunities of the first information. Under light load, the time window configuration can be quickly adjusted to deactivate the transmission opportunity of the first information, and the base station can then enter the sleep mode, thereby reducing the static power consumption of the base station and the proportion of power consumption of the first information.

[0182] Mode 2: the first indication information indicates a first transmission opportunity pattern; the first transmission opportunity pattern indicates M transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities.

[0183] Exemplarily, the first indication information includes an index or identifier of the first reception time pattern, or the first indication information may indicate M transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities in the form of a bitmap. The base station may pre-configure multiple transmission opportunity patterns for the terminal through signaling, or the multiple transmission opportunity patterns may be predefined through a standard protocol. The multiple transmission opportunity patterns include the first transmission opportunity pattern. Any two transmission opportunity patterns in the multiple transmission opportunity patterns are different from each other.

[0184] For example, as shown in Figure 9, transmission opportunity patterns 0 through 3 are different from each other. The transmission opportunities indicated by transmission opportunity pattern 0 are the same as the transmission opportunities indicated by the time domain configuration of the first information. The transmission opportunities indicated by transmission opportunity patterns 1 through 3 are all part of the transmission opportunities indicated by the time domain configuration of the first information.

[0185] It should be noted that the base station may separately indicate a transmission timing pattern for system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information. Alternatively, the base station may jointly indicate a transmission timing pattern for system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information. Alternatively, the base station may jointly indicate a transmission timing pattern for any two of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information, and the remaining information may separately indicate another transmission timing pattern.

[0186] In addition, the first indication information may further indicate the number of bursts within a transmission opportunity. The number of bursts within a transmission opportunity can be understood as the number of times the base station sends the first information within a transmission opportunity, or the number of times the terminal receives or detects the first information within a transmission opportunity. It is understood that if the first indication information does not indicate the number of bursts within a transmission opportunity, the number of bursts within a transmission opportunity is a default value, for example, which may be predefined by a standard protocol or preconfigured through signaling.

[0187] The number of bursts within a transmission opportunity may be bound to the reception time pattern, or the number of bursts within a transmission opportunity may be independently indicated.

[0188] For example, if the period of the first information is longer, a greater number of bursts can be configured for each transmission opportunity, i.e., the interval between sending the first information within each transmission opportunity is shortened. As shown in Figure 9, the period of the first information in Transmission Opportunity Pattern 2 is greater than the period of the first information in Transmission Opportunity Pattern 1. Therefore, the number of bursts configured for each transmission opportunity in Transmission Opportunity Pattern 2 is 4, and the number of bursts configured for each transmission opportunity in Transmission Opportunity Pattern 2 is 2.

[0189] Using the above-described method 2, the terminal can directly determine M transmission opportunities of the N transmission opportunities of the first information based on the first indication information. By indicating different transmission opportunity patterns by the first indication information, the transmission opportunities of the first information can be flexibly configured. Under light load, the transmission opportunity pattern can be quickly adjusted to reduce the transmission opportunities of the first information, and the base station can enter the sleep mode, thereby reducing the static power consumption of the base station and the proportion of power consumption of the first information.

[0190] Mode 3: The time domain configuration of the first information indicates N transmission opportunities through at least one of the first period of the first information, the first duration of the first information, and the offset of the first information, and the first indication information indicates the second period of the first information; the M transmission opportunities are the transmission opportunities determined according to the second period of the first information among the N transmission opportunities. Exemplarily, the second period of the first information can be greater than or equal to the first period of the first information. The difference between the second period and the first period can be determined based on factors such as actual communication needs and / or energy saving needs, and this application does not limit this.

[0191] The first period of the first information can also be described as the first period of the transmission opportunity of the first information, the first duration of the first information can also be described as the first duration of the transmission opportunity of the first information, and the offset of the first information can also be described as the first offset of the transmission opportunity of the first information. The second period of the first information can also be described as the second period of the transmission opportunity of the first information. In addition to indicating the second period of the first information, the first indication information can also indicate the second duration of the first information. The second duration can be less than or equal to the first duration.

[0192] For example, the duration of the first information and the offset of the first information may not be changed, and only the period of the first information may be changed; or the offset of the first information may not be changed, and only the period of the first information and the duration of the first information may be changed.

[0193] It can be understood that when the second cycle is greater than the first cycle, generally, within the same time, the number of transmission opportunities determined according to the second cycle is less than the number of transmission opportunities determined according to the first cycle, or it can be described as the transmission opportunities determined according to the first cycle are relatively dense, and the transmission opportunities determined according to the second cycle are relatively sparse.

[0194] In an example, if the second period of the first information is an integer multiple of the first period of the first information and the duration and offset of the first information remain unchanged, the period of the M transmission opportunities is the second period.

[0195] For example, as shown in FIG10 , assuming that the first period of the first information is 10 ms, the second period of the first information is 20 ms, and the duration and offset of the first information remain unchanged, the period of the M transmission opportunities is 20 ms.

[0196] In another example, if the second period of the first information is not an integer multiple of the first period of the first information, the second period of the first information is greater than the first period of the first information, and the duration and offset of the first information remain unchanged, then the period of the M transmission opportunities is the least common multiple of the first period and the second period.

[0197] For example, assuming that the first period of the first information is 20 ms, the second period of the first information is 30 ms, and the duration and offset of the first information remain unchanged, the period of the M transmission opportunities is 60 ms.

[0198] In a possible implementation, the first indication information may directly indicate the second period of the first information. For example, assuming the first period is 10 ms, the first indication information may indicate that the second period is 20 ms, as shown in FIG10 .

[0199] In another possible implementation, the first indication information may further indicate a proportional relationship between the second period of the first information and the first period of the first information. For example, assuming the first period is 10 ms, the first indication information may indicate that the second period is twice the first period, and the second period is 20 ms. For another example, the base station may pre-configure a plurality of proportional relationships between the second period and the first period for the terminal through signaling, or the proportional relationships between the plurality of second periods and the first period may be predefined through a standard protocol. For example, the proportional relationships between the plurality of second periods and the first period may be 2 times, 4 times, etc., and the first indication information may indicate one of the plurality of proportional relationships between the second period and the first period.

[0200] By adopting the above method 3, the period of the first information can be flexibly changed. Under light load, the period of the first information can be quickly extended, and the base station can enter the sleep mode, thereby reducing the static power consumption of the base station and the power consumption ratio of the first information.

[0201] 630. The terminal receives first information at one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities. Correspondingly, the base station sends first information at one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities.

[0202] In one possible implementation, if the first indication information is received at a first moment, and the terminal receives the first information at one or more of the M transmission opportunities, it can be understood that, after a second moment, the terminal receives the first information at one or more of the M transmission opportunities. The second moment is no earlier than the first moment. Alternatively, it can be described as starting from the second moment, the terminal receives the first information at one or more of the M transmission opportunities.

[0203] In one example, the second moment is in the update period of the first indication information. Exemplarily, the first indication information can take effect immediately in the current update period of the first indication information, that is, the terminal can receive the first information according to the first indication information immediately after receiving the first indication information.

[0204] In another example, the second moment is located in the next update period after the update period in which the first indication information is located. The second moment is located in the next update period after the update period in which the first indication information is located, which can be understood as the second moment being the starting moment of the next update period after the update period in which the first indication information is located. Exemplarily, the first indication information may take effect in the next update period after the update period in which the first indication information is located. That is to say, after receiving the first indication information, the terminal may not immediately receive the first information according to the first indication information, but may start receiving the first information according to the first indication information in the next update period.

[0205] The first indication information may be sent periodically, and the update period of the first indication information is the period of the first indication information. For example, the update period of the first indication information may be a paging period, a paging advance indication period, or an SI change period.

[0206] It should be noted that, if the terminal does not receive the first indication information, the terminal receives the first information according to the time domain configuration of the first information or the first indication information received last time by the terminal.

[0207] In addition, in a possible implementation, the first indication information may indicate M1 transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities and M2 transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities, where M1≠M2, M1≤N, M2≤N, M1 and M2 are positive integers, the effective time of M1 transmission opportunity among N transmission opportunities is the update period in which the first indication information is located, and the effective time of M2 transmission opportunity among N transmission opportunities is the next update period after the update period in which the first indication information is located.

[0208] Furthermore, within the update period in which the first indication information is located, the terminal device may receive the first information at one or more transmission opportunities among the M1 transmission opportunities. Within the next update period after the update period in which the first indication information is located, the terminal device may receive the second information at one or more transmission opportunities among the M2 transmission opportunities.

[0209] Exemplarily, the first indication information may include a first field and a second field, where the first field indicates M1 transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities, and the second field indicates M2 transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities, where M1≠M2, M1≤N, M2≤N, and M1 and M2 are positive integers. The first field takes effect during the update period in which the first indication information is located, and the second field takes effect during the next update period after the update period in which the first indication information is located.

[0210] In one possible implementation, if the first indication information is carried via a broadcast channel, the first indication information may take effect immediately in the current update period in which the first indication information is located. If the first indication information is carried via DCI, the first indication information may take effect starting from the next update period after the update period in which the first indication information is located.

[0211] For example, assuming that the first information is SIB1, after the terminal searches for the SSB in the initial cell, it receives the first indication information through the broadcast channel, and the terminal can immediately receive SIB1 according to the first indication information.

[0212] For another example, assuming that the first information is a paging DCI, the terminal reads the SSB and SIB1 during the initial cell residency process and then receives the first indication information through DCI. Then, in the next update period after the update period in which the first indication information is located, the paging DCI is received according to the first indication information. In this case, the terminal does not need to continuously detect system messages. It only needs to detect system messages during the initial cell residency process and only needs to detect DCI subsequently.

[0213] In one possible implementation, first indication information 1 is carried via a broadcast channel, and is used to indicate m1 transmission opportunities out of n1 transmission opportunities for system information. Simultaneously, first indication information 2 is carried via DCI, and is used to indicate m2 transmission opportunities out of n2 transmission opportunities for paging information or paging advance indication information. Where n1, n2, m1, and m2 are positive integers, the specific implementations of first indication information 1 and first indication information 2 can refer to above-described methods 1 to 3 and are not further described here.

[0214] Optionally, the terminal also needs to monitor the SI change indication information, which can be carried in the same signaling (such as a broadcast channel or DCI, etc.) as the above-mentioned first indication information. For example, the SI change indication information and the above-mentioned first indication information are carried by two independent fields in the same signaling, or the SI change indication information and the above-mentioned first indication information can also be carried in two signalings. For example, the SI change indication is carried by the paging DCI, and the first indication information is carried by the broadcast channel or other public DCI.

[0215] Furthermore, if the terminal detects SI change indication information and first indication information, and the SI change indication information indicates that the SI has not changed, the terminal updates part of the SI according to the first indication information, such as the configuration information such as the period for receiving the first information, and the terminal does not need to update the transmission of other SI except the above-mentioned part of the SI.

[0216] If the terminal detects SI change indication information and first indication information, and the SI change indication information indicates that the SI has changed, for example, the SI change indication information and the first indication information are carried by two independent fields in the same signaling, then the terminal needs to update the transmission of other SI except for the part of SI indicated by the first indication information by re-reading the system information (such as SIB, etc.), and the terminal needs to receive the first information according to the first indication information. In this case, it can be understood that for receiving the above-mentioned first information, the terminal shall take the configuration information of the updated part of SI indicated in the first indication information as the basis, and ignore the configuration information of the relevant part of SI for the first information in the system information.

[0217] By adopting the embodiment shown in FIG6 , it is possible to quickly and flexibly activate or deactivate some transmission opportunities of the first information. Under light load, the base station can enter the sleep mode, thereby reducing static power consumption and the power consumption ratio of the first information.

[0218] As shown in FIG11 , the present application also provides a communication method for quickly and flexibly adjusting the time domain configuration of the air interface always-on signal.

[0219] The method includes:

[0220] 1100. The terminal determines multiple time domain configurations of the first information. Correspondingly, the base station determines multiple time domain configurations of the first information.

[0221] Exemplarily, the multiple time domain configurations of the first information may be predefined by a standard, and the terminal and the base station determine the multiple time domain configurations of the first information based on the standard. Alternatively, the multiple time domain configurations of the first information may be configured by the base station to the terminal through signaling.

[0222] In a possible implementation, each time domain configuration of the multiple time domain configurations of the first information may include at least one of a period, a duration, and an offset of the first information.

[0223] Optionally, 1110, the base station determines the first time domain configuration from multiple time domain configurations of the first information.

[0224] For example, when a base station needs to enter energy-saving mode, or when the base station determines that the current load is low, the base station can activate a time domain configuration with fewer transmission opportunities for the first information, thereby reducing power consumption for sending the first information and achieving energy saving for the base station. Alternatively, when the base station determines that the current load is increasing, the base station can activate a time domain configuration with more transmission opportunities for the first information. It should be noted that this application does not limit the specific timing and selection rules for the base station to determine the first time domain configuration from multiple time domain configurations.

[0225] 1120. The base station sends second indication information to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the second indication information from the base station.

[0226] The second indication information indicates a first time domain configuration among multiple time domain configurations of the first information, and the first time domain configuration indicates a transmission timing of the first information.

[0227] In one possible implementation, the second indication information may be carried by a broadcast channel. For example, the second indication information is included in the MIB, and the MIB is carried by the broadcast channel. Alternatively, the second indication information is carried by the DCI. For example, the DCI here may also be referred to as a public DCI, or a new type of DCI based on an existing communication standard. For example, if the first information is paging information, the second indication information may be carried by the paging DCI. Alternatively, if the first information is paging advance indication information, the second indication information may be carried by the paging advance indication DCI.

[0228] In a possible implementation, the second indication information may also be included in the SI change indication. For example, the second indication information may be an independent field in the SI change indication.

[0229] 1130. The terminal receives the first information according to the second indication information. Correspondingly, the base station sends the first information at the transmission timing of the first information indicated by the second indication information.

[0230] In one possible implementation, before receiving the second indication information, the terminal and the base station may determine the second time domain configuration of the first information. Exemplarily, the second time domain configuration includes the fourth period of the first information. The terminal receives the second indication information, and the second indication information indicates the first time domain configuration, wherein the first time domain configuration includes the third period of the first information. Therefore, the second indication information can flexibly adjust the period of the first information. If the third period of the first information is greater than the fourth period of the first information, that is, the adjusted period is greater than the period before the adjustment, the period of the first information can be quickly extended, and the base station can enter the sleep mode, thereby reducing the static power consumption of the base station and the power consumption ratio of the first information.

[0231] In addition, the second time domain configuration can also include the fourth duration of the first information. At the same time, the first time domain configuration can also include the third duration of the first information. If the third duration is less than the fourth duration, that is, the duration after adjustment is shorter than the duration before adjustment, the duration of the first information can be shortened, further reducing the static power consumption of the base station and the power consumption ratio of the first information.

[0232] In one possible implementation, if the second indication information is received at the third moment, and the terminal receives the first information based on the second indication information, it can be understood that the terminal receives the first information based on the second indication information at a fourth moment, and the fourth moment is no earlier than the third moment. Alternatively, it can be described as follows: starting at the fourth moment, the terminal receives the first information based on the second indication information, and accordingly, the base station sends the first information during the transmission timing of the first information, i.e., the transmission timing of the first information is no earlier than the fourth moment. The description of the fourth moment can refer to the second moment in 630 above and is not repeated here.

[0233] Using the embodiment shown in Figure 11, the base station can flexibly activate or deactivate the time domain configuration of the first information through the second indication information. For example, under light load, the base station activates the time domain configuration with fewer transmission opportunities for the first information, thereby reducing the power consumption of sending the first information and achieving energy saving of the base station.

[0234] The embodiments shown in Figures 12 and 16 below are applicable to scenarios where a terminal sends uplink information, i.e., a base station receives uplink information. In the embodiments shown in Figures 12 and 16 below, the random access message is only an example, and other uplink messages may also be used, such as a random access preamble or an uplink data packet.

[0235] As shown in Figure 12, the present application provides a communication method for quickly and flexibly adjusting the time domain configuration of the air interface always-on signal. The method includes:

[0236] 1200. The terminal determines a time domain configuration of the random access message. Correspondingly, the base station determines time domain information of the random access message.

[0237] Exemplarily, the base station may pre-configure the time domain configuration of the random access message for the terminal through signaling. Alternatively, the time domain configuration of the random access message may be predefined through a standard protocol.

[0238] Exemplarily, the time domain configuration of the random access message indicates K transmission opportunities for the random access message, where K is a positive integer. It is understood that the K transmission opportunities for the random access message refer to K candidate opportunities for a terminal to send the random access message, or K candidate opportunities for a base station to receive the random access message. For example, the K transmission opportunities may be all candidate transmission opportunities for the random access message within the first preset duration.

[0239] Exemplarily, the K transmission opportunities may be periodic opportunities.

[0240] In one possible implementation, the time domain configuration of the random access message indicates K transmission opportunities through at least one of a first period of the first information, a first duration of the random access message, and an offset of the random access message. The offset of the random access message may refer to an offset relative to a certain time unit. The time unit in this application may be a time slot or a subframe, or a granularity unit on a certain time domain resource after future communication system evolution.

[0241] Optionally, 1210. The base station determines S transmission opportunities among K transmission opportunities of the random access message, where S is a positive integer and S≤K.

[0242] For example, when the base station needs to enter energy-saving mode or determines that the current load is low, the base station can adjust the number S of random access message transmission opportunities to be smaller, thereby reducing the power consumption of detecting random access messages. For another example, when the base station determines that the current load is increasing, the base station can adjust the number S of random access message transmission opportunities to be larger, thereby increasing the number of random access message detections.

[0243] 1220. The base station sends third indication information to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the third indication information from the base station.

[0244] Exemplarily, the third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among K transmission opportunities, where S is a positive integer and S<K.

[0245] The third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, which can be understood as KS transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities being deactivated or disabled. Alternatively, it can be understood as S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities being activated or S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities being enabled.

[0246] In one possible implementation, the third indication information may be carried via a broadcast channel. For example, the first indication information is included in the MIB, which is carried by the broadcast channel. Alternatively, the third indication information may be carried via DCI. For example, the DCI herein may be referred to as public DCI, or a new type of DCI based on an existing communication standard, such as paging DCI or paging advance indication DCI.

[0247] In a possible implementation, the third indication information may also be included in the SI change indication. For example, the first indication information may be an independent field in the SI change indication.

[0248] It should be noted that, in combination with the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 , the first indication information and the third indication information may be carried in one message, or in different messages.

[0249] The third indication information may indicate S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities in the following manners:

[0250] Mode 1: The third indication information indicates the configuration of the second time window. The S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities are transmission opportunities that are within the time window indicated by the configuration of the second time window.

[0251] The second time window can be understood as a periodic time domain resource. The configuration of the second time window includes at least one of the period of the second time window, the duration of the second time window, and the offset of the second time window. The configuration of the second time window can be specifically referred to the above description of the configuration of the first time window. How the third indication information indicates the configuration of the second time window is similar to how the first indication information can include the configuration of the first time window, and will not be repeated here. It should be noted that the period of the second time window can be the period of discontinuous reception of the base station, or the period of discontinuous transmission of the terminal.

[0252] Exemplarily, the S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities that are within the time window indicated by the configuration of the second time window can also be described as the S transmission opportunities being the transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities that fall within the time window indicated by the configuration of the second time window. Alternatively, it can be understood that KS transmission opportunities are not within the time window indicated by the configuration of the second time window.

[0253] Using the above method 1, by indicating different time window configurations, it is possible to flexibly activate or deactivate some random access message transmission opportunities. Under light load, the time window configuration can be quickly adjusted to deactivate the random access message transmission opportunities, allowing the base station to enter the sleep mode, thereby reducing the base station's static power consumption and the proportion of power consumption for detecting random access messages.

[0254] Mode 2: the third indication information indicates the first transmission opportunity pattern, and the first transmission opportunity pattern indicates S transmission opportunities among K transmission opportunities.

[0255] Exemplarily, the third indication information includes an index or identifier of the first transmission time pattern, or alternatively, the third indication information may indicate S transmission opportunities out of K transmission opportunities in the form of a bitmap. The base station may pre-configure multiple transmission opportunity patterns for the terminal through signaling, or multiple transmission opportunity patterns may be predefined through a standard protocol. The multiple transmission opportunity patterns include the first transmission opportunity pattern. Any two transmission opportunity patterns in the multiple transmission opportunity patterns are different from each other. As shown in FIG9 , the time domain configuration of the first information may be replaced by the time domain configuration of the random access message, and transmission opportunity pattern 0 to transmission opportunity pattern 3 may also be replaced by transmission opportunity pattern 0 to transmission opportunity pattern 3.

[0256] In addition, the third indication information may further indicate the number of bursts within a transmission opportunity. The number of bursts within a transmission opportunity can be understood as the number of times a terminal sends a random access message within a transmission opportunity, or the number of times a base station receives or detects a random access message within a transmission opportunity. It is understood that if the third indication information does not indicate the number of bursts within a transmission opportunity, the number of bursts within a transmission opportunity is a default value, for example, which may be predefined by a standard protocol or preconfigured through signaling.

[0257] The number of bursts within a transmission opportunity may be bound to the transmission time pattern, or the number of bursts within a transmission opportunity may be independently indicated.

[0258] Using the above-described method 2, the terminal can directly determine S of the K random access message transmission opportunities based on the third indication information. By indicating different transmission opportunity patterns using the third indication information, flexible configuration of random access message transmission opportunities can be achieved. Under light load conditions, the transmission opportunity pattern can be quickly adjusted to reduce the number of random access message transmission opportunities, allowing the base station to enter a dormant mode, thereby reducing the base station's static power consumption and the proportion of power consumption of random access messages.

[0259] Mode 3: The time domain configuration of the random access message indicates K transmission opportunities through at least one of the first period of the random access message, the first duration of the random access message, and the offset of the random access message. The third indication information indicates the second period of the random access message. The S transmission opportunities are the transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities determined according to the second period of the random access message. Exemplarily, the first period of the random access message is greater than or equal to the second period of the random access message. The difference between the second period and the first period can be determined based on factors such as actual communication requirements and / or energy conservation requirements, and is not limited in this application.

[0260] The first period of the random access message can also be described as the first period of the random access message transmission opportunity, the first duration of the random access message can also be described as the first duration of the random access message transmission opportunity, and the offset of the random access message can also be described as the first offset of the random access message transmission opportunity. The second period of the random access message can also be described as the second period of the random access message transmission opportunity. In addition to indicating the second period of the random access message, the third indication information can also indicate the second duration of the random access message. The second duration can be less than or equal to the first duration.

[0261] The specific manner in which the third indication information indicates the second period of the random access message may refer to the relevant content of the first indication information indicating the second period of the first information, which will not be repeated here.

[0262] Using method 3 above, the random access message period can be flexibly adjusted. Under light load, the random access message period can be quickly extended, allowing the base station to enter sleep mode, thereby reducing the base station's static power consumption and the proportion of power consumption of random access messages.

[0263] It can be understood that the above-mentioned methods 1 to 3 are only examples, and are similar to the methods 1 to 3 in the embodiment shown in FIG6 , and can be referenced to each other.

[0264] 1230. The terminal sends a random access message at one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities. Correspondingly, the base station receives the random access message at one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities.

[0265] For example, due to a change in the random access message transmission timing, the associated information may also change accordingly. The associated information includes at least one of the following: the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH timing, the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH timing, the association pattern period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH timing, and the number of RACH timings within a RACH period.

[0266] For example, before receiving the third indication information, the terminal device sends a random access message on one or more transmission opportunities among N transmission opportunities. At this time, the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity is recorded as correspondence 1. After receiving the third indication information, the terminal device sends a random access message on one or more transmission opportunities among S transmission opportunities. At this time, the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity is recorded as correspondence 2. Correspondence 1 and correspondence 2 may be the same or different. For example, in correspondence 1, 1 SBB corresponds to 2 RACHs, and in correspondence 2, 1 SBB corresponds to 1 RACH. After receiving the third indication information, both the terminal device and the base station need to re-determine the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity to ensure the validity of the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity.

[0267] In one possible implementation, the terminal and the base station may determine first candidate association information from L candidate association information based on third indication information, where L is greater than or equal to 2. Each piece of the L candidate association information includes at least one of a correspondence between downlink broadcast information and a RACH opportunity, an association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity, a pattern period between the association between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity, and the number of RACH opportunities within a RACH period. Furthermore, the terminal sends a random access message based on the determined first candidate association information, for example, sending the random access message based on the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information.

[0268] For example, the base station may pre-configure L candidate association information for the terminal through signaling. Alternatively, the L candidate association information may be predefined through a standard protocol. The downlink broadcast information may include an SSB, or other broadcast signals, synchronization signals, reference signals, etc. The RACH opportunity may also be replaced with RACH time-frequency resources, or preamble information, etc.

[0269] The following description is made using the example of downlink broadcast information being SSB and RACH timing.

[0270] In a possible implementation, the L candidate association information include first candidate association information and second candidate association information.

[0271] Example 1: The correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, and the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is different from the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information.

[0272] As shown in FIG13A , in the correspondence relationship indicated by the first candidate association information and the second candidate association information, the correspondence relationship between SSB and RACH opportunity is 1 SBB corresponds to 2 RACHs. The association period between SSB and RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is half the association period between SSB and RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information.

[0273] As shown in Figure 13B, the terminal determines the first candidate association information based on the third indication information a. The terminal determines the second candidate association information based on the third indication information b. The association relationship between the third indication information a and the first candidate association information, and the association relationship between the third indication information b and the first candidate association information can be configured in advance.

[0274] Example 2: The correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is different from the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, and the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information.

[0275] As shown in FIG14A , in the correspondence relationship indicated by the first candidate association information, the correspondence relationship between SSB and RACH timing is 1 SBB to 2 RACHs, while in the correspondence relationship indicated by the second candidate association information, the correspondence relationship between SSB and RACH timing is 1 SBB to 1 RACH. The association period between SSB and RACH timing indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the association period between SSB and RACH timing indicated by the second candidate association information.

[0276] As shown in Figure 14B, the terminal determines the first candidate association information based on the third indication information a. The terminal determines the second candidate association information based on the third indication information b. The association relationship between the third indication information a and the first candidate association information, and the association relationship between the third indication information b and the first candidate association information can be configured in advance.

[0277] Example 3: The correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, and the number of RACH opportunities within a RACH period indicated by the first candidate association information is different from the number of RACH opportunities within a RACH period indicated by the second candidate association information.

[0278] As shown in FIG15A , the correspondence between the SSB and the RACH timing indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the correspondence between the SSB and the RACH timing indicated by the second candidate association information. Specifically, the correspondence between the SSB and the RACH timing is 1 SBB to 2 RACHs. In the correspondence indicated by the second candidate association information, the correspondence between the SSB and the RACH timing is 1 SBB to 2 RACHs. The association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH timing indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH timing indicated by the second candidate association information. The number of RACH timings within one RACH period indicated by the first candidate association information (4) is different from the number of RACH timings within one RACH period indicated by the second candidate association information (8).

[0279] As shown in Figure 15B, the terminal determines the first candidate association information based on the third indication information a. The terminal determines the second candidate association information based on the third indication information b. The association relationship between the third indication information a and the first candidate association information, and the association relationship between the third indication information b and the first candidate association information can be configured in advance.

[0280] In one possible implementation, if the third indication information is received at the fifth time, and the terminal sends the random access message at one or more of the S transmission opportunities, it can be understood that after the sixth time, the terminal sends the random access message at one or more of the S transmission opportunities. The sixth time is no earlier than the fifth time. It can also be described as starting from the sixth time, the terminal sends the random access message at one or more of the S transmission opportunities.

[0281] In one example, the sixth moment is in the update period in which the third indication information is located. Exemplarily, the third indication information may take effect immediately in the current update period in which the third indication information is located, that is, the terminal may send a random access message according to the third indication information immediately after receiving the third indication information.

[0282] In another example, the sixth moment is located in the next update period after the update period in which the third indication information is located. The fact that the sixth moment is located in the next update period after the update period in which the third indication information is located can be understood as the start time of the next update period after the update period in which the third indication information is located. Exemplarily, the third indication information may take effect in the next update period after the update period in which the third indication information is located. That is, after receiving the third indication information, the terminal may not immediately send a random access message according to the third indication information, but may start sending the first information according to the third indication information in the next update period.

[0283] The third indication information may be sent periodically, and the update period of the third indication information is the period of the third indication information. The update period of the third indication information may be the same as or different from the update period of the first indication information.

[0284] It should be noted that, if the terminal does not receive the third indication information, the terminal sends the random access message according to the time domain configuration of the random access message or the third indication information received by the terminal last time.

[0285] In addition, in one possible implementation, the third indication information may indicate S1 transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities and S2 transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities. Where S1≠S2, S1≤K, S2≤K, and S1 and S2 are positive integers. The effective time of S1 transmission opportunity among the K transmission opportunities is the update period in which the first indication information is included, and the effective time of S2 transmission opportunity among the K transmission opportunities is the update period next following the update period in which the first indication information is included.

[0286] Furthermore, within the update period in which the first indication information is located, the terminal device may send a random access message on one or more transmission opportunities of S1 transmission opportunities. Within the next update period after the update period in which the first indication information is located, the terminal device may send a random access message on one or more transmission opportunities of S2 transmission opportunities.

[0287] The third indication information may include a first field and a second field, where the first field indicates S1 transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, and the second field indicates S2 transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities. The first field takes effect during the update period in which the third indication information is included, and the second field takes effect during the next update period after the update period in which the third indication information is included.

[0288] In one possible implementation, if the third indication information is carried via a broadcast channel, the third indication information may take effect immediately in the current update period in which the third indication information is located. If the third indication information is carried via DCI, the third indication information may take effect starting from the next update period after the update period in which the third indication information is located.

[0289] Optionally, the terminal also needs to monitor the SI change indication information, which can be carried in the same signaling (such as a broadcast channel or DCI, etc.) as the SI change indication information and the second indication information. For example, the SI change indication information and the second indication information are carried by two independent fields in the same signaling, or the SI change indication information and the second indication information can also be carried in two signalings. For example, the SI change indication is carried by the paging DCI, and the second indication information is carried by the broadcast channel or other public DCI.

[0290] Furthermore, if the terminal detects SI change indication information and second indication information, and the SI change indication information indicates that the SI has not changed, the terminal updates part of the SI according to the second indication information, such as the period for sending random access messages and other configuration information, and the terminal does not need to update the transmission of other SI except the above-mentioned part of the SI.

[0291] If the terminal detects SI change indication information and second indication information, and the SI change indication information indicates that the SI has changed, for example, the SI change indication information and the second indication information are carried by two independent fields in the same signaling, then the terminal needs to update the transmission of other SI except for the part of SI indicated by the second indication information by re-reading the system information (such as SIB, etc.), and the terminal needs to send a random access message according to the second indication information. In this case, it can be understood that for sending the above-mentioned random access message, the terminal shall take the configuration information of the updated part of SI indicated in the second indication information as the basis, and ignore the configuration information of the relevant part of SI for the random access message in the system information.

[0292] By adopting the embodiment shown in FIG12 , it is possible to quickly and flexibly activate or deactivate some transmission opportunities of random access messages. Under light load, the base station can enter the sleep mode, thereby reducing static power consumption and the power consumption ratio of detecting random access messages.

[0293] As shown in FIG16 , the present application also provides a communication method for quickly and flexibly adjusting the time domain configuration of the air interface always-on signal.

[0294] The method includes:

[0295] 1600. The terminal determines multiple time domain configurations for a random access message. Correspondingly, the base station determines multiple time domain configurations for the random access message.

[0296] Exemplarily, the multiple time domain configurations of the random access message may be predefined by a standard, and the terminal and the base station determine the multiple time domain configurations of the random access message based on the standard. Alternatively, the multiple time domain configurations of the random access message may be configured by the base station to the terminal through signaling.

[0297] In a possible implementation, each time domain configuration of the multiple time domain configurations of the random access message may include at least one of a period, a duration, and an offset of the random access message.

[0298] Optionally, 1610, the base station determines a third time domain configuration from multiple time domain configurations of the random access message.

[0299] For example, when a base station needs to enter energy-saving mode or determines that the current load is low, the base station can activate a time domain configuration with fewer random access message transmission opportunities, thereby reducing power consumption for detecting random access messages and achieving base station energy conservation. Alternatively, when the base station determines that the current load is increasing, the base station can activate a time domain configuration with more random access message transmission opportunities. It should be noted that this application does not limit the specific timing and selection rules for the base station to determine the first time domain configuration from multiple time domain configurations.

[0300] It should be noted that the present application does not limit the specific timing and selection rules for the base station to determine the third time domain configuration from multiple time domain configurations.

[0301] 1620. The base station sends fourth indication information to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the fourth indication information from the base station.

[0302] The fourth indication information indicates a third time domain configuration among multiple time domain configurations of the random access message, and the third time domain configuration indicates a transmission timing of the random access message.

[0303] 1630. The terminal sends a random access message according to the fourth indication information. The base station receives the random access message in the transmission opportunity of the random access message indicated by the fourth indication information.

[0304] In one possible implementation, the fourth indication information may be carried via a broadcast channel. For example, the first indication information is included in the MIB, which is carried by the broadcast channel. Alternatively, the fourth indication information may be carried via DCI. For example, the DCI herein may be referred to as common DCI, or a new type of DCI based on an existing communication standard, such as paging DCI or paging advance indication DCI.

[0305] In a possible implementation, the fourth indication information may also be included in the SI change indication. For example, the fourth indication information may be an independent field in the SI change indication.

[0306] In one possible implementation, before receiving the fourth indication information, the terminal and the base station may determine the fourth time domain configuration of the random access message. Exemplarily, the fourth time domain configuration includes the fourth period of the random access message. The terminal receives the fourth indication information, which indicates the third time domain configuration, wherein the third time domain configuration includes the third period of the random access message. Therefore, the fourth indication information can flexibly adjust the period of the random access message. If the third period of the random access message is greater than the fourth period of the random access message, that is, the adjusted period is greater than the period before the adjustment, the period of the random access message can be quickly extended, and the base station can enter the sleep mode, thereby reducing the static power consumption of the base station and detecting the proportion of power consumption of the random access message.

[0307] In addition, the fourth time domain configuration can also include the fourth duration of the random access message. At the same time, the third time domain configuration can also include the third duration of the random access message. If the third duration is less than the fourth duration, that is, the duration after adjustment is shorter than the duration before adjustment, the duration of the random access message can be shortened, further reducing the static power consumption of the base station and the proportion of power consumption for detecting random access messages.

[0308] In one possible implementation, if the fourth indication information is received at the seventh moment, and the terminal sends the first information based on the fourth indication information, it can be understood that the terminal sends the random access message based on the fourth indication information at the eighth moment. The eighth moment is no earlier than the seventh moment. It can also be described as: starting from the eighth moment, the terminal sends the random access message based on the fourth indication information, and accordingly, the base station receives the random access message during the transmission timing of the random access message, that is, the transmission timing of the random access message is no earlier than the eighth moment. The description of the eighth moment can refer to the second moment in 630 above and is not repeated here.

[0309] In addition, in a possible implementation, the terminal and the base station may determine the first candidate association information from L candidate association information according to the fourth indication information. For the relevant description of the candidate association information, please refer to 1230 above and will not be repeated here.

[0310] By adopting the embodiment shown in FIG16 , the time domain configuration of the random access message can be adjusted quickly and flexibly. Under light load, the base station can enter light sleep or deep sleep, thereby reducing static power consumption and the power consumption ratio of the random access message.

[0311] It is understood that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the base station and the terminal include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should readily appreciate that, in conjunction with the units and method steps of the various examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, this application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or in a computer software-driven hardware manner depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0312] Figures 17 and 18 are schematic diagrams of the structures of possible communication devices provided in embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the terminal or base station in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above-mentioned method embodiments. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be one of the terminals 120a-120j shown in Figure 1, or it can be the base station 110a or 110b shown in Figure 1, or it can be a module (such as a chip) applied to the terminal or base station.

[0313] As shown in Figure 17, a communication device 1700 includes a processing unit 1710 and a transceiver unit 1720. The communication device 1700 is used to implement the functions of a terminal or a base station in the method embodiments shown in Figures 6, 11, 12, and 16 above.

[0314] When the communication device 1700 is used to implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in FIG6 :

[0315] The processing unit 1710 is configured to determine a time domain configuration of first information, where the time domain configuration of the first information indicates N transmission opportunities of the first information, where the first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information, where N is a positive integer.

[0316] The transceiver unit 1720 is configured to receive first indication information, where the first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, where M is a positive integer and M≤N; and receive the first information at one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities.

[0317] When the communication device 1700 is used to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in FIG6 :

[0318] The processing unit 1710 is configured to determine a time domain configuration of first information, where the time domain configuration of the first information indicates N transmission opportunities of the first information, where the first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information, where N is a positive integer; and determine M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, where M is a positive integer and M<N.

[0319] The transceiver unit 1720 is configured to send first indication information, where the first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities; and send the first information on one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities.

[0320] When the communication device 1700 is used to implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in FIG11 :

[0321] The processing unit 1710 is configured to determine multiple time domain configurations of first information, wherein the first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information;

[0322] The transceiver unit 1720 is configured to receive second indication information, where the second indication information indicates a first time domain configuration among the multiple time domain configurations, and the first time domain configuration indicates a transmission timing of the first information; and receive the first information according to the second indication information.

[0323] When the communication device 1700 is used to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in FIG11 :

[0324] The processing unit 1710 is configured to determine multiple time domain configurations of first information, wherein the first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information;

[0325] The transceiver unit 1720 is configured to send second indication information, where the second indication information indicates a first time domain configuration among the multiple time domain configurations, and the first time domain configuration indicates a transmission timing of the first information; and send the first information during the transmission timing of the first information.

[0326] When the communication device 1700 is used to implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in FIG12 :

[0327] The processing unit 1710 is configured to determine a time domain configuration of a random access message; the time domain configuration of the random access message indicates K transmission opportunities of the random access message, where K is a positive integer;

[0328] The transceiver unit 1720 is configured to receive third indication information, where the third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, where S is a positive integer and S<K; and send the random access message on one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities.

[0329] When the communication device 1700 is used to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in FIG12 :

[0330] The processing unit 1710 is configured to determine a time domain configuration of a random access message; the time domain configuration of the random access message indicates K transmission opportunities of the random access message, where K is a positive integer;

[0331] The transceiver unit 1720 is configured to send third indication information, where the third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, where S is a positive integer and S<K; and receive the random access message on one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities.

[0332] When the communication device 1700 is used to implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in FIG16 :

[0333] The processing unit 1710 is configured to determine multiple time domain configurations of the random access message;

[0334] The transceiver unit 1720 is configured to receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information indicates a third time domain configuration among the multiple time domain configurations, and the third time domain configuration indicates a transmission timing of the random access message; and send the random access message according to the fourth indication information.

[0335] When the communication device 1700 is used to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in FIG16 :

[0336] The processing unit 1710 is configured to determine multiple time domain configurations of the random access message;

[0337] The transceiver unit 1720 is configured to send fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information indicates a third time domain configuration among the multiple time domain configurations, and the third time domain configuration indicates a transmission timing of the random access message; and receive the random access message during the transmission timing of the random access message.

[0338] A more detailed description of the processing unit 1710 and the transceiver unit 1720 can be directly obtained by referring to the relevant description in the method embodiment shown in FIG2 , and is not repeated here.

[0339] As shown in Figure 18, communication device 1800 includes a processor 1810 and an interface circuit 1820. Processor 1810 and interface circuit 1820 are coupled to each other. It will be appreciated that interface circuit 1820 may be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, communication device 1800 may also include a memory 1830 for storing instructions executed by processor 1810, input data required by processor 1810 to execute instructions, or data generated by processor 1810 after executing instructions.

[0340] When the communication device 1800 is used to implement the method shown in FIG. 2 , the processor 1810 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 1710 , and the interface circuit 1820 is used to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 1720 .

[0341] When the communication device is a chip used in a terminal, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal in the above method embodiments. The terminal chip receives information from other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or antenna), and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal; or the terminal chip sends information to other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station.

[0342] When the above-mentioned communication device is a module applied to a base station, the base station module implements the functions of the base station in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The base station module receives information from other modules in the base station (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station; or the base station module sends information to other modules in the base station (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal. The base station module here can be the baseband chip of the base station, or it can be a DU or other module. The DU here can be a DU under the open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture.

[0343] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU) 1710, or may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0344] The present application provides another example of a device, which includes at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one processor and the at least one memory being coupled together, the at least one memory being used to store instructions. When the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, the communication device executes the method in the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG18 , a communication device 1800 includes a processor 1810 and a memory 1830. The processor 1810 and the memory 1830 are coupled together, and the memory 1830 stores instructions. When the instructions stored in the memory 1830 are executed by the processor 1810, the communication device 1800 executes the method executed by the base station or terminal in the above-described embodiment.

[0345] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions that can be executed by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disk, mobile hard disk, CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. The processor and storage medium can also exist in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

[0346] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a base station, a user equipment, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; an optical medium, such as a digital video disk; or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0347] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0348] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the text description of this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship; in the formula of this application, the character " / " indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in a "division" relationship. "Including at least one of A, B and C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B and C.

[0349] It is understood that the various numbers used in the embodiments of this application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily imply a specific order of execution; the order of execution of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method includes: Determine a time domain configuration of first information; the time domain configuration of the first information indicates N transmission opportunities of the first information, the first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information, and N is a positive integer; receiving first indication information, where the first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, where M is a positive integer, and M≤N; The first information is received at one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities.

2. A communication method, characterized in that: The method includes: Determine a time domain configuration of first information, where the time domain configuration of the first information indicates N transmission opportunities of the first information, where the first information includes at least one of system information, paging information, and paging advance indication information, and N is a positive integer; Determine M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, where M is a positive integer and M<N; Sending first indication information, where the first indication information indicates the M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities; The first information is sent on one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, specifically: The first indication information indicates the configuration of the first time window; the configuration of the first time window includes at least one of the period of the first time window, the duration of the first time window, and the offset of the first time window; The M transmission opportunities are transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities that are within the first time window.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first information is the system information, and the period of the first time window is the system information change period; or, the first information is the paging information, and the period of the first time window is the paging period; or, the first information is the paging advance indication information, and the period of the first time window is the paging advance indication period.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, specifically: The first indication information indicates a first transmission opportunity pattern; the first transmission opportunity pattern indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first indication information indicates M transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities, specifically: The time domain configuration of the first information indicates the N transmission opportunities through at least one of a first period of the first information, a first duration of the first information, and an offset of the first information; The first indication information indicates a second period of the first information, and the second period of the first information is greater than the first period of the first information; The M transmission opportunities are transmission opportunities among the N transmission opportunities determined according to the second period of the first information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The first indication information is carried on a broadcast channel; Alternatively, the first indication information is carried in downlink control information DCI.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1, 3 to 7, characterized in that: The receiving time of the first indication information is the first time; Receiving the first information at one or more transmission opportunities of the M transmission opportunities includes: The first information is received at one or more transmission opportunities among the M transmission opportunities after a second moment, the second moment is located in an update period where the first indication information is located, the second moment is not earlier than the first moment, or the second moment is located in a next update period after the update period where the first indication information is located.

9. A communication method, characterized in that: The method includes: Determine a time domain configuration of a random access message; the time domain configuration of the random access message indicates K transmission opportunities of the random access message, where K is a positive integer; receiving third indication information, wherein the third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, where S is a positive integer and S<K; The random access message is sent on one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: The method includes: Determine a time domain configuration of a random access message; the time domain configuration of the random access message indicates K transmissions of the random access message timing, K is a positive integer; Determine S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, where S is a positive integer and S<K; sending third indication information, wherein the third indication information indicates the S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, The random access message is received at one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: Also includes: Determine the first candidate association information from L candidate association information according to the third indication information, where L is greater than or equal to 2; wherein each candidate association information in the L candidate association information indicates at least one of the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the random access channel RACH opportunity, the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity, or the number of RACH opportunities within a RACH period.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The L candidate association information also includes second candidate association information; The correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information, and the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the first candidate association information is different from the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH opportunity indicated by the second candidate association information; Alternatively, the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information indicated by the first candidate association information and the RACH opportunity is different from the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information indicated by the second candidate association information and the RACH opportunity, and the association period between the downlink broadcast information indicated by the first candidate association information and the RACH opportunity is the same as the association period between the downlink broadcast information indicated by the second candidate association information and the RACH opportunity; Alternatively, the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH timing indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the correspondence between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH timing indicated by the second candidate association information, the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH timing indicated by the first candidate association information is the same as the association period between the downlink broadcast information and the RACH timing indicated by the second candidate association information, and the number of RACH timings within one RACH period corresponding to the first candidate association information is different from the number of RACH timings within one RACH period corresponding to the second candidate association information.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that: The third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, specifically: The third indication information indicates the configuration of the second time window; the configuration of the second time window includes at least one of the period of the second time window, the duration of the second time window, and the offset of the second time window; A transmission opportunity among the S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities that is located within the second time window.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that: The third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, specifically: The third indication information indicates a second transmission opportunity pattern; the second transmission opportunity pattern indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that: The third indication information indicates S transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities, specifically: The time domain configuration of the random access message indicates the K transmission opportunities through at least one of a first period of the random access message, a first duration of the random access message, and an offset of the random access message; The third indication information indicates the second period of the random access message, and the first period of the random access message is smaller than the second period of the random access message; The S transmission opportunities are transmission opportunities among the K transmission opportunities determined according to the second period of the random access message.

16. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that: The third indication information is carried on a broadcast channel; Alternatively, the third indication information is carried in DCI.

17. The method according to any one of claims 9, 11-16, characterized in that: The receiving time of the third indication information is the fifth time; Sending the random access message at one or more transmission opportunities of the S transmission opportunities includes: The random access message is sent at one or more transmission opportunities among the S transmission opportunities after a sixth moment, the sixth moment is located in the update period where the third indication information is located, the sixth moment is no earlier than the fifth moment, or the sixth moment is located in the next update period after the update period where the third indication information is located.

18. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a unit or a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A communication device, characterized in that: include: One or more processors; the one or more processors are configured to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1-17.

20. A readable storage medium, characterized in that: The readable storage medium includes a program, and when the program is executed on a device, the device is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

21. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17 is implemented.

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