Paging method and communication apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application are a paging method and a communication apparatus, which can be suitable for paging an A-IoT terminal. The paging method comprises: a first terminal device determining a first time window, and receiving a paging message in the first time window. The first time window is used for paging at least one group of terminal devices. The paging message is used for paging a first group of terminal devices, the first group of terminal devices belongs to an A-IoT terminal, and the paging message comprises an identifier of the first group of terminal devices. In the present application, the first time window is a time window for the at least one group of terminal devices to receive the paging message, and each terminal device only needs to receive the paging message in a time window corresponding to the terminal device. It is unnecessary to calculate a PO in the time window on the basis of each ID, thereby reducing the complexity and the power consumption.

Description

Paging method and communication 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 China on September 30, 2023, with application number 202311295955.X and application name “A Paging Method and Communication 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 paging method and a communication device. Background Art

[0004] When considering connecting a tag as a new type of terminal device to the network, the tag can be paged in the same way as a conventional terminal device. For example, the network device can send a paging message to page the tag. In the paging of a conventional terminal device, the network device sends a paging message at a specific paging occasion (PO), and the terminal device receives the paging message at the specific PO. The specific PO is calculated by the network device and the terminal device based on the identifier (ID) of the terminal device. If the tag calculates the PO in the same way as a conventional terminal device, the processing complexity of the tag is increased and it consumes more energy. For tags with weaker processing capabilities, the PO may not even be calculated.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a paging method and a communication device for reducing the processing complexity of a terminal device and saving the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a paging method that can be performed by a first communication device. The first communication device can be a terminal device, or the first communication device can be a component used to implement the functions of the terminal device. For example, the first communication device can be a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the terminal device. The method provided in the first aspect is described below using the first communication device as an example, but the method provided in the first aspect can also be implemented by a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the first terminal device.

[0009] The paging method includes: a first terminal device determining a first time window and receiving a paging message within the first time window. The first time window is used to paging at least one group of terminal devices. The paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices, the first group of terminal devices being A-IoT terminals, and the paging message includes identifiers of the first group of terminal devices.

[0010] In this solution, the first time window is the time window in which at least one group of terminal devices receives paging messages. Each terminal device only needs to receive paging messages within its own time window. This eliminates the need to calculate the PO within the time window based on each terminal device's ID, reducing complexity and power consumption. It is particularly suitable for paging of A-IoT terminals.

[0011] In one implementation, the first terminal device receiving the paging message within the first time window includes: the first terminal device continuously or periodically receiving the paging message within the first time window.

[0012] Given that the time synchronization accuracy of A-IoT terminals is not as high as that of conventional terminal devices, A-IoT terminals may miss paging messages from network devices. By continuously or periodically receiving paging messages within the first time window, A-IoT terminals can avoid being unable to respond to network device paging messages due to missing their own paging messages, thereby reducing network access latency.

[0013] In one implementation, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving configuration information, the configuration information being used to indicate the first time window. The configuration information can be used to flexibly configure respective time windows for different terminal devices or different groups of terminal devices.

[0014] In one implementation, the configuration information includes starting position information of a first time window within a cycle and / or duration information of the first time window. The cycle may be a discontinuous reception cycle (DRX cycle) or an enhanced discontinuous reception cycle (eDRX cycle). This solution can configure a time window for periodically receiving paging messages for a terminal device through the configuration information.

[0015] In one implementation, the configuration information includes the number N of time windows in a cycle, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0016] In one implementation, the first time window is the nth time window within N time windows within a cycle, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0017] In this scheme, n can be randomly generated. For example, the first terminal device randomly selects a time window from N time windows to detect the paging message, which can stagger the time for detecting the paging message with other terminal devices, reducing the number of terminal devices detecting the paging message in the same time, thereby reducing the congestion of random access in the same time.

[0018] In one implementation, the paging message is also used to page a second group of terminal devices, which are A-IoT terminals. The paging message also includes the identifiers of the second group of terminal devices. This solution allows multiple groups of terminal devices to be paged simultaneously within the same time window, making it suitable for scenarios with a large number of terminal devices.

[0019] In one implementation, the paging message also includes a random access parameter, which is used to indicate available random access resources. By also indicating the available random access resources in the paging message, the first terminal device can avoid using the same random access resources as other terminal devices, thereby reducing congestion of random access resources and reducing the latency of random access for the first terminal device.

[0020] In one implementation, the random access parameters include time domain resource information; wherein the time domain resource information includes a second offset and / or first time information, the second offset is used to determine the time domain starting position of the random access resource, and the first time information is used to indicate the duration of the random access resource; or, the time domain resource information includes a coverage level, and the coverage level has a mapping relationship with the time domain resource of the random access resource.

[0021] In one implementation, the random access parameter includes frequency domain resource information, the frequency domain resource information includes location information or a third offset of the frequency domain resource used for random access, and the third offset is used to determine the frequency domain resource for random access.

[0022] In one implementation, the random access parameters include code domain resource information, and the code domain resource information includes information about a sequence used for random access.

[0023] In one implementation, the paging message also includes second time information, which indicates that paging messages with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information should be ignored. By including the second time information in the paging message, the first terminal device can be prevented from repeatedly responding to the paging message within a period of time, thereby saving power.

[0024] In one implementation, the paging message also includes a valid identifier, which indicates whether to respond to a paging message with the same identifier as the received terminal device. By including the valid identifier in the paging message, the first terminal device can clearly determine whether to respond to its own paging message. This can avoid repeated responses to paging messages over a period of time, and can also avoid waiting for another page due to missing a paging message, thereby reducing the latency of accessing the network device.

[0025] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a paging method that can be performed by a second communication device. The second communication device can be a network device, or the second communication device can be a component used to implement the functions of the network device. For example, the second communication device can be a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the network device. The method provided by the second aspect is described below using the second communication device as an example of the network device itself. Of course, the method provided by the second aspect can also be implemented by a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the network device.

[0026] The paging method includes: a network device determining a first time window and sending a paging message within the first time window. The first time window is used to page at least one group of terminal devices. The paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices, the first group of terminal devices being A-IoT terminals, and the paging message includes identifiers of the first group of terminal devices.

[0027] In one implementation, the method further includes: sending configuration information, where the configuration information is used to indicate the first time window.

[0028] In one implementation, the configuration information includes starting position information of a first time window within a period and / or duration information of the first time window.

[0029] In one implementation, the configuration information includes the number N of time windows in a cycle, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0030] In one implementation, the paging message is also used to page a second group of terminal devices, where the second group of terminal devices belong to A-IoT terminals. The paging message also includes identifiers of the second group of terminal devices.

[0031] In one implementation, the paging message further includes a random access parameter, where the random access parameter is used to indicate available random access resources.

[0032] In one implementation, the random access parameters include time domain resource information; wherein the time domain resource information includes a second offset and / or first time information, the second offset is used to determine the time domain starting position of the random access resource, and the first time information is used to indicate the duration of the random access resource; or, the time domain resource information includes a coverage level, and the coverage level has a mapping relationship with the time domain resource of the random access resource.

[0033] In one implementation, the random access parameter includes frequency domain resource information, the frequency domain resource information includes location information or a third offset of the frequency domain resource used for random access, and the third offset is used to determine the frequency domain resource for random access.

[0034] In one implementation, the random access parameters include code domain resource information, and the code domain resource information includes information about a sequence used for random access.

[0035] In one implementation, the paging message further includes second time information, where the second time information indicates that paging messages with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information should be ignored.

[0036] In one implementation, the paging message further includes a valid identifier, where the valid identifier indicates whether to respond to the paging message received with the same terminal device identifier.

[0037] Regarding the effective effects of the second aspect, reference can be made to the beneficial effects of the first aspect mentioned above, which will not be repeated here.

[0038] In a third aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a paging method that can be performed by a first communication device. The first communication device can be a terminal device, or the first communication device can be a component used to implement the functions of the terminal device. For example, the first communication device can be a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the terminal device. The method provided in the third aspect is described below using the first communication device as the first terminal device itself as an example. Of course, the method provided in the third aspect can also be implemented by a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the first terminal device.

[0039] The paging method includes: a first terminal device determining a first point of view (PO), and receiving a paging message within the first PO. The first PO is used to page at least one group of terminal devices. The paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices, the first group of terminal devices being A-IoT terminals, and the paging message includes identifiers of the first group of terminal devices.

[0040] In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a paging method that can be performed by a second communication device. The second communication device can be a network device, or the second communication device can be a component used to implement the functions of the network device. For example, the second communication device can be a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the network device. The method provided in the fourth aspect is described below using the second communication device as the network device itself as an example. Of course, the method provided in the fourth aspect can also be implemented by a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the network device.

[0041] The paging method includes: a network device determining a first point of view (PO) and sending a paging message within the first PO. The first PO is used to page at least one group of terminal devices. The paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices, the first group of terminal devices being A-IoT terminals, and the paging message includes identifiers of the first group of terminal devices.

[0042] In the fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which has the function of implementing the behaviors in the method examples of the first to fourth aspects above. The beneficial effects can be found in the relevant descriptions of the first to fourth aspects and will not be repeated here. For example, the communication device may be the first terminal device in the first aspect or the third aspect, or the communication device may be the network device in the second aspect or the fourth aspect. For another example, the communication device may be a device that can support the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method provided in the first or third aspect, for example, the communication device may be a chip or chip system in the terminal device. Or, for another example, the communication device may be a device that can support the network device to implement the functions required by the method provided in the second or fourth aspect, for example, the communication device may be a chip or chip system in the network device.

[0043] In one possible design, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device.

[0044] In one possible design, the communication device includes corresponding means (means) or modules for executing the method of any aspect of the first aspect to the fourth aspect. For example, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module or processor) and / or a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module or transceiver). The transceiver unit can realize the sending function and the receiving function. When the transceiver unit realizes the sending function, it can be called a sending unit (sometimes also referred to as a sending module). When the transceiver unit realizes the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also referred to as a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional unit, which is called a transceiver unit, and the functional unit can realize the sending function and the receiving function; or, the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional units, and the transceiver unit is a general term for these functional units. These units (modules) can perform the corresponding functions in the method examples of any aspect of the first aspect to the fourth aspect above. Please refer to the detailed description in the method examples for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0045] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be the communication device in the fifth aspect of the above embodiment, or a chip or chip system provided in the communication device in the fifth aspect. The communication device includes a communication interface and a processor, and optionally, also includes a memory. The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions or data, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instructions or data, the communication device executes the method executed by the first terminal device in the above method embodiment. For example, the communication device may be a terminal device or a functional module in the terminal device, such as a baseband chip and a radio frequency chip. Alternatively, when the processor reads the computer program or instructions or data, the communication device executes the method executed by the network device in the above method embodiment. For example, the communication device may be a network device or a functional module in the network device, such as a baseband chip and a radio frequency chip.

[0046] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and may also include a communication interface for implementing the method described in any of the first to fourth aspects. Optionally, the chip system also includes a memory. The memory is used to store computer programs (also referred to as codes, or instructions). The processor is used to call and run the computer program from the memory, so that the device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or the device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or the device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or the device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof. The chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0047] In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device comprising an input / output interface and a logic circuit. The input / output interface is used to input and / or output information. The input / output interface can be an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or related circuits. The logic circuit is used to execute the method described in any of aspects 1 to 4.

[0048] In a specific implementation, the communication device may be a chip, the input circuit may be an input pin, the output circuit may be an output pin, and the logic circuit may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a trigger, or various logic circuits. The input signal received by the input circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, received and input by a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, output to and transmitted by a transmitter. The input circuit and the output circuit may be the same circuit, which functions as an input circuit and an output circuit, respectively, at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the input and output interfaces and logic circuits.

[0049] In one implementation, when the communication device is a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device may be a terminal device such as a mobile phone, the interface circuit may be a radio frequency processing chip in the wireless communication device, and the processing circuit may be a baseband processing chip in the wireless communication device.

[0050] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, comprising a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device is configured to implement the functions of the method described in the first aspect, and the network device is configured to implement the functions of the method described in the second aspect; or the terminal device is configured to implement the functions of the method described in the third aspect, and the network device is configured to implement the functions of the method described in the fourth aspect.

[0051] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store computer programs or instructions. When the computer-readable storage medium is executed, the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented, or the method described in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented, or the method described in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented, or the method described in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented.

[0052] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when run on a computer, enables the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented, or enables the method described in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented, or enables the method described in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented, or enables the method described in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented.

[0053] The beneficial effects of the above-mentioned fifth to eleventh aspects and their implementation methods can refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the first to fourth aspects and any possible implementation methods thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system with separate readers and writers in FIG1 ;

[0056] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of PF and PO in a discontinuous reception cycle provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] FIG4 is a flow chart of a paging method 400 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of N time windows within a discontinuous reception cycle provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0059] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of N time windows within Tn provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a paging message carrying multiple group identifiers within a time window provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a paging message carrying multiple group identifiers for multiple POs within a time window provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of multiple POs within a time window provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of random access resources of a terminal device within multiple time windows provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG11 is another schematic diagram of random access resources by terminal devices within multiple time windows provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG12 is a flow chart of a paging method 1200 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG14 is another schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] The embodiments of the present application provide a paging method that can be used to paging an Internet of Things (IoT) terminal, where IoT includes ambient IoT (A-IoT), narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT), etc. IoT technology is widely used in various industries. For example, IoT technology can be applied to logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, or environmental monitoring. IoT is based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. RFID technology is a contactless communication technology that uses radio frequency communication. The principle is that data communication is achieved through radio waves without contact between the reader / reader and the tag.

[0069] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to IoT systems, such as A-IoT systems; they can also be applied to communication systems related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system, the 5th Generation (5G) mobile communication system, or future mobile communication systems, or other similar communication systems. Other similar communication systems may include wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), vehicle to everything (V2X), and the like.

[0070] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication system includes at least one terminal device and at least one network device. Figure 1 takes at least one terminal device as a terminal device and at least one network device as a network device as an example. The network architecture shown in Figure 1 is only a schematic, and the number of terminal devices and / or network devices can be less or more. The communication system described in the embodiment of the present application is to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the communication system to which the embodiment of the present application is applicable. It is known to those skilled in the art that with the evolution of network architecture, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems. When applying the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application to other communication systems, the devices, components, modules, etc. in the embodiment can be replaced with corresponding devices, components, modules in other communication systems without limitation.

[0071] Among them, any device that can communicate data with network devices can be considered a terminal device. Terminal devices are also called terminals, terminal devices, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, or mobile terminals. For example, terminal devices can be: mobile phones, computers, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, robotic arms, cameras, robots, or smart home devices (such as TVs, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, speakers, set-top boxes), relays, customer premise equipment (CPE), and devices with tag device functions. For example, terminal devices can be tags in IoT / A-IoT. Figure 1 takes the example of an A-IoT terminal as the terminal device.

[0072] Tags, also known as RFID tags, electronic tags, A-IoT terminals, or A-IoT devices, are typically attached to objects to identify them. Tags receive radio frequency signals from a reader and, using the energy gained from the induced current, transmit information stored in the tag's internal chip. Alternatively, tags can actively transmit a signal of a certain frequency to the reader, which then reads the information. Tags have a relatively simple design, integrating application layer signaling with air interface signaling, resulting in low power consumption. Tags are categorized as active, passive, and semi-active / semi-passive. Active tags are also called active tags, passive tags are also called passive tags, and semi-active / semi-passive tags are also called semi-passive tags. Active tags are equipped with a power supply and utilize an actively generated carrier wave communication method. This means they can actively transmit signals to the reader without needing to rely on received signals for signal transmission energy. Passive tags / passive tags are not equipped with modules such as power supply, or the power supply module has low power. They can adopt a communication method based on reflection (backscatter), which can obtain energy from the environment and send signals through the energy. Passive tags can work in reflection communication scenarios. For example, passive tags obtain energy by reflecting signals from readers and writers to transmit data. Semi-active / semi-passive tags integrate the advantages of active tags and passive tags and can be used as a special marker. Usually, semi-active / semi-passive tags are in a dormant state and may not work or send signals to the outside world. Only when they enter the activation signal range of the low-frequency activator, the semi-active / semi-passive tag is activated and starts working. The tags involved in the embodiments of the present application may be active tags, passive tags or semi-active / semi-passive tags, etc.

[0073] In the embodiments of this application, a tag can be considered a terminal device. Accordingly, the terminal devices in this application can be of the following three types: passive terminals: lacking energy storage, unable to independently generate signals, and using backscattering to transmit signals; semi-passive terminals: possessing energy storage but unable to independently generate signals, and using backscattering to transmit signals, where the stored energy can amplify reflected signals; and active terminals: possessing energy storage, capable of independently generating signals, and having active RF components for transmission.

[0074] Both the tag device and the reader / writer can be implemented based on the infrastructure of the cellular network, or the tag device and the reader / writer can be devices within the cellular network. For example, the reader / writer functionality can be implemented by a network device or a terminal device, while the tag device can be implemented by a terminal device within the cellular network. For example, the tag device can be an extremely low-power, low-complexity IoT terminal. When a terminal device has the functionality of a tag device, it can perform contactless data communication with the network device or another terminal device.

[0075] The various terminal devices introduced above, if located on a vehicle (e.g., placed / installed in a vehicle), can be considered as on-board terminal devices. On-board terminal devices can be on-board modules, on-board modules, on-board components, on-board chips, or on-board units built into a vehicle as one or more components or units. On-board terminal devices can also be complete vehicle equipment, on-board modules, vehicles, on-board units (OBU), roadside units (RSU), telematics boxes (T-boxes), chips, or system-on-chips (SOCs), etc. The above chips or SOCs can be installed in vehicles, OBUs, RSUs, or T-boxes.

[0076] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or it can be a device that can support the terminal device to implement the functions, such as a chip system or a combination of devices or components that can implement the functions of the terminal device, and the device can be installed in the terminal device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the terminal device. For example, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can be in the form of a tag or other terminal form.

[0077] The network devices involved in the embodiments of the present application are mainly access network devices. Therefore, in the following text, unless otherwise specified, the "network devices" referred to are radio access network (RAN) devices, which can be referred to as access network devices for short. The RAN may be a 3GPP-related cellular system, such as an LTE system, a new radio (NR) system, or a future-oriented evolution system (such as a 6G mobile communication system). The RAN may also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a virtualized RAN (vRAN). The RAN may also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems. A RAN device may also be referred to as a RAN node, a RAN entity, or an access node. For example, a RAN node may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. A RAN node may be a RAN node in V2X technology, an RSU, an access node in a Wi-Fi system, or the like.

[0078] A RAN node may also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station; or multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes respectively performing some of the functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node may be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). In different systems, CU, DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meanings. For example, in an ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples for description. CU and DU may be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement, and the embodiments of this application do not limit which protocol layers the CU and DU are configured with. Any of the CU, DU, and RU in this application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0079] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device may have a built-in reader / writer. When the terminal device is a tag, the tag and the network device can communicate through the Uu port, as shown in Figure 1. The functions of the reader / writer can be further separated, and the reader / writer is divided into a receiver (receiver) and an exciter (helper). The receiver is also called a receiving end or a receiving unit, and the exciter is also called an excitation end or an excitation unit. The excitation unit is equivalent to the transmitter in the reader / writer, and the receiving unit is equivalent to the receiver in the reader / writer. When the reader / writer is implemented in a separated architecture, different entities of the reader / writer can be deployed on different network devices, as shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, the exciter is deployed on the first network device to perform the sending function of the reader / writer; the receiver is deployed on the second network device to perform the receiving function of the reader / writer.

[0080] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the functions of the network device can be the network device itself, or a device that can support the network device to implement the functions, such as a chip system or a combination of devices or components that can implement the functions of the network device, which can be installed in the network device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the network device.

[0081] With the development of IoT technology, tags are widely used in various industries. For example, tags can be used in warehouse material transportation management, logistics management, industrial control, identity recognition, environmental testing, and so on. Logistics management, as a typical application, is achieved by taking inventory of physical tags. Taking inventory of tags means that the reader performs an inventory operation on some tags within the coverage range to obtain the identification of the tags within the coverage range of the reader. Usually, the reader broadcasts a select message, which includes the range of tags to be inventoried. Any tag receives the select message and determines whether its own identification belongs to the select message or the included tag identification range. If it does, the tag connects to the reader. For the tag, it does not know when the reader broadcasts the select message. In order to avoid missing the select message, the tag receiver is usually always turned on, which consumes more energy.

[0082] As a type of UE, the tag can also use the paging method of a regular UE. It can be understood that when the UE is in the radio resource control (RRC) idle state or the RRC inactive state, if the core network or the base station needs to send downlink data to the UE, it will first send a paging message to the UE for paging the UE. After receiving the paging message, the UE will initiate an RRC connection establishment process to receive downlink data. The RRC idle state network device can send a paging message (also referred to as paging) on ​​a specific PO in a specific paging frame (PF) within the paging cycle. Accordingly, the UE receives / monitors the paging message within the specific PO.

[0083] In one implementation, if a paging message includes a UE's (identifier, ID), the UE is paged, and the UE may then respond to the paging message and initiate random access. The UE may respond to the paging message by: if the UE ID included in the paging record matches the UE identity allocated by upper layers, forwarding the UE identity, accessType (if present) and paging cause (if determined) to the upper layers; otherwise, forwarding the UE ID and accessType (if present) to the upper layers. Alternatively, if the UE ID included in the paging record matches the UE ID assigned by the upper layers, and if the upper layers indicate the support of the paging cause, the UE identity, accessType (if present), and paging cause (if determined) may be forwarded to the upper layers. If the UE does not respond to the paging message, it may discard the paging message and not initiate random access.

[0084] To reduce power consumption, LTE technology introduced a discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism. The DRX mechanism includes a DRX cycle. During the DRX cycle, the UE periodically "wakes up" for a period of time and can remain in a "sleep" state for the rest of the DRX cycle to reduce power consumption. A UE configured with DRX will "wake up" to receive paging messages during the paging occasions (PO) included in the DRX cycle. To further reduce power consumption, NR technology introduced an enhanced discontinuous reception (eDRX) mechanism based on the DRX mechanism. Compared with DRX, eDRX has a longer DRX cycle, meaning that the UE can periodically "sleep" for a longer period of time before "waking up" again. An eDRX cycle includes a paging transmission window (PTW), which includes one or more PFs, and a PF includes multiple POs, as shown in Figure 3. T in Figure 3 represents an eDRX cycle. FIG3 takes an eDRX cycle including N PFs as an example, where N is a positive integer; and FIG3 takes a PF including Ns POs as an example, where Ns is a positive integer. It should be noted that the DRX cycle and the eDRX cycle in the embodiments of the present application are interchangeable.

[0085] The UE or network device can calculate the location of the PO based on the UE ID. The system frame number (SFN) of the PF where the PO of the UE receives the paging message satisfies: (SFN+PF offset )mod T=(T div N)×(UE_ID mod N); where T is the length of the eDRX cycle, "div" means division, and "T div N" is equivalent to dividing the eDRX cycle into N equal parts. mod represents a modulo operation. UE_ID is the ID of the UE, which can be 5G-S-temporary mobile subscription identifier (5G-S-TMSI) mod (1024). UE_ID mod N means taking the UE_ID mod Nth part of the N parts. PF offset Indicates the PF offset.

[0086] The index i_s of the PO satisfies: i_s=floor(UE_ID / N) mod Ns, where Ns is the number of POs included in a PF.

[0087] The paging message sent by the network device carries the ID of one or more UEs to be paged. However, the number of UE IDs that a paging message can carry is currently limited. For example, in NR technology, the number of UE IDs that a paging message can carry does not exceed 32. In order to be able to page more UEs at the same time, a group paging mechanism is proposed. The group paging mechanism is mainly aimed at multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) / multicast broadcast service (MBS). MBS services, for example, include live broadcast services, public safety services, batch software update services, etc. In the group paging mechanism, the paging message carries the ID of a group of UEs. For example, the group ID of the UE may be a temporary mobile group identity (TMGI).

[0088] In conventional UE paging, the network device calculates the PO for receiving paging messages based on the UE ID and sends the paging message at the calculated PO. The terminal device calculates the PO for receiving paging messages based on the UE ID and receives the paging message at the calculated PO. For the tag, it does not know when the network device sends the paging message. In order to prevent missing the paging message, the tag's receiver is always turned on, which is more energy-consuming. If the tag calculates the PO in the same way as the UE, the processing complexity of the tag is increased and it is also more energy-consuming. However, tags are usually used because of their low power consumption. Therefore, conventional UE paging is not suitable for tag paging. In addition, the crystal oscillator accuracy of the tag is not as good as that of the UE, or in other words, the time synchronization accuracy of the tag is not as good as that of the UE. Then there is a time deviation between the PO calculated by the tag based on the tag ID and the PO calculated by the network device based on the tag ID. This causes the tag to miss the paging message from the network device and will not be able to access the network subsequently, affecting the normal business of the tag.

[0089] In view of this, a paging method according to an embodiment of the present application is provided. In an embodiment of the present application, multiple terminal devices receive paging messages within the same time window, and the time window is used to paging multiple terminal devices. There is no need for each terminal device to calculate the PO within the time window based on its own ID, which reduces the complexity. The paging method provided in the embodiment of the present application is particularly suitable for paging of A-IoT terminal devices (such as tags), and of course it is also suitable for paging of other types of terminal devices.

[0090] The following describes the paging method provided by the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In various embodiments of the present application, the time window may also be referred to as a paging time window or a paging transmission window, or may be referred to by other names. The discontinuous reception cycle may be a DRX cycle in LTE or NR, or an eDRX cycle in NR. Receiving a paging message may be referred to as detecting a paging message or listening to a paging message.

[0091] In the embodiment of the present application, the paging message may be a paging message or a Select signaling. It is understandable that the Select signaling is used for paging tags. Accordingly, if terminal device A is paged, when the paging message is a paging message, the identifier of terminal device A included in the paging message may be the ID of terminal device A. When the paging message is a Select signaling, the paging message may include mask information, and the mask information is used to filter terminal device A. For example, the mask carried by the Select signaling is 4 bits of "0000", and the mask of terminal device A is "00001111". Since the first 4 bits of "00001111" are the mask carried by the Select signaling, terminal device A meets the selection range of the Select signaling, and terminal device A can respond to the Select signaling. Of course, the Select signaling may also carry the identifier / group identifier of the terminal device; or, the Select signaling includes a filter, and the filter is used to filter the terminal devices to be paged. The filter can be a terminal device identifier or group identifier, used to page a specific terminal device or group of terminal devices. Alternatively, the filter can indicate the type of terminal device, i.e., used to page a class of terminal devices. It is understood that a filter is used to screen terminal devices and can also be referred to as filtering information. The specific name of the filter is not limited in this embodiment of the application.

[0092] In an embodiment of the present application, detecting a paging message within a time window includes detecting a paging early indication (PEI) within a time window. The network device configures a time window for the terminal device, which is equivalent to configuring a listening opportunity for the PEI for the terminal device. The PEI can carry a (sub) group identifier (subgrouping). If the terminal device detects the PEI and the terminal device belongs to the subgroup indicated by the PEI, the terminal device detects the paging message at its associated PO; if the terminal device does not detect the PEI, or the terminal device belongs to the group indicated by the PEI, the terminal device does not need to detect the paging message at its associated PO. Among them, the PEI can also carry a filter for filtering terminal devices.

[0093] In an embodiment of the present application, one or more of the duration, time offset and period may be (pre) configured or predefined. And the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific unit size of the duration, time offset and period. For example, the unit of the duration or time offset or period may be a time slot, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) period, a preamble, an SFN, or a hyper system frame number (HSFN). For example, a duration or a time offset or a period may be at least one time slot, at least one PDCCH period, at least one preamble, or at least one system frame. For another example, the unit of the duration or time offset may be a time unit. For example, a duration or a time offset may be 10ms, 20ms or 30ms, etc.

[0094] The following describes the paging method provided in the embodiment of the present application by taking the example of the paging method being performed by a network device and a first terminal device. The steps performed by the network device can be implemented by the RAN device itself, or by components in the RAN device (such as a baseband chip, or other processing units or processor modules). For example, the network device can be the network device in Figure 1 or Figure 2, or it can be a chip (system) in the network device in Figure 1 or Figure 2. The steps performed by the first terminal device can be implemented by the terminal device itself, or by components in the first terminal device (such as a chip, a processing unit, or a processor module). The first terminal device can be the terminal device shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, or it can be a chip (system) in the terminal device in Figure 1 or Figure 2. The first terminal device can be a UE, or it can be an A-IoT terminal device, for example, the first terminal device can be a tag.

[0095] Please refer to Figure 4, which shows a flow chart of a paging method 400 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 introduces the method from the perspective of the interaction between a network device and a first terminal device. It should be understood that the paging method 400 can also be implemented by other devices, for example, by a chip or communication device with communication functions. The first time window hereinafter refers to a time window. The first time window is taken as an example hereinafter. When multiple time windows are involved, each time window is similar to the first time window. As shown in Figure 4, the process of the paging method 400 includes the following steps.

[0096] S401. A first terminal device determines a first time window, where the first time window is used to paging at least one group of terminal devices.

[0097] The first time window can be used to page at least one group of terminal devices, or the first time window is a time window for at least one group of terminal devices to receive paging messages. For example, the first time window can be used to page terminal device group A and terminal device group B. It can be considered that terminal devices of different groups can receive paging messages within the same time window, or one time window includes the POs of multiple groups of terminal devices. A group of terminal devices can be one terminal device or multiple terminal devices. If a group of terminal devices includes multiple terminal devices, then different terminal devices can receive paging messages within the same time window. Taking the first time window as an example, the first time window is a time window for multiple terminal devices to receive paging messages, and the first time window includes the POs of multiple terminal devices. For example, the first time window can be used to paging terminal device A and terminal device B, and the first time window includes the PO of terminal device A and the PO of terminal device B.

[0098] In an embodiment of the present application, there is a corresponding relationship between terminal device groups and time windows. For example, there are multiple time windows (including time window 1 and time window 2) and multiple terminal device groups (including terminal device group A, terminal device group B and terminal device group C). For another example, terminal device group A corresponds to time window 1, and time window 1 is used to paging terminal device group A; terminal device group B corresponds to time window 2, and time window 2 is used to paging terminal device group B. For another example, terminal device group A corresponds to time window 1, and time window 1 is used to paging terminal device group A; terminal device group B and terminal device group C correspond to time window 2, and time window 2 is used to paging terminal device group B and terminal device group C. Any terminal device can determine the time window corresponding to itself according to the group it belongs to, so as to receive paging messages within the determined time window. For example, terminal device group A corresponds to the first time window, the first terminal device is a terminal device in terminal device group A, and the first terminal device can receive paging messages within the first time window (this embodiment of the present application takes this as an example). Since the terminal device receives the paging message within the time window corresponding to itself, there is no need to calculate the PO of the paging message received within the time window based on the ID of the terminal device. Therefore, the processing complexity can be reduced and the energy consumption of the terminal device can be saved. It is especially suitable for A-IoT terminals (such as tags).

[0099] The first time window may be configured by the network device for the first terminal device, or the first time window may be configured by the network device for the terminal device group to which the first terminal device belongs (eg, the first group of terminal devices). For example, before S401, the network device may further execute S400.

[0100] S400: The network device sends configuration information to the first terminal device, where the configuration information is used to indicate a first time window. Accordingly, the first terminal device receives the configuration information and can determine the first time window.

[0101] The configuration information is used to indicate the first time window, which can be referred to as the configuration information being used to configure the first time window. The configuration information can directly indicate the first time window or indirectly indicate the first time window, including but not limited to the following two methods.

[0102] Mode A: The configuration information configures the starting position of the first time window and / or the duration of the first time window within a period of time. For example, the configuration information configures the starting position of the first time window and / or the duration of the first time window within a cycle.

[0103] As an example, the configuration information may include starting position information of a first time window within a cycle, used to indicate the starting position of the first time window within the cycle. The cycle may be a discontinuous reception cycle, such as a DRX cycle or an eDRX cycle; or, the cycle may be a cycle configured by the network device. The starting position information of the first time window may be the absolute starting position of the first time window. For example, the starting position information of the first time window is an offset of time information relative to a reference starting position (e.g., T0). The offset may be n, where n is time-related information. For example, n is an offset value of the system frame number. Assuming n=10 and the system frame number corresponding to T0 is 1, the starting position of the first time window is SFN=T0+n=11. For another example, if n is an absolute time and assuming n=10ms, the starting position of the first time window is a time position offset by 10ms after T0. For another example, the starting position information of the first time window may also be information used to indicate the starting position of the first time window. For example, the starting position information of the first time window is the proportion m of the first time window in a period of time T. Assuming m=1 / 3, the starting position of the first time window is (1 / 3)×T.

[0104] In this case, the duration of the first time window can be preconfigured or predefined, for example, the duration of the first time window is at least one frame or at least one time slot; for another example, the duration of the first time window can be an absolute duration, for example, the duration of the first time window is several seconds or several milliseconds. The first terminal device receives the configuration information, determines the starting position of the first time window based on the starting position information of the first time window, and then determines the position of the first time window based on the duration of the first time window.

[0105] As another example, the configuration information may include duration information of the first time window within a cycle. For example, the duration of the time window is in time slots, and the configuration information may include M, then the length of the first time window is M time slots, and M is a positive integer. In this case, the starting position of the first time window can be preconfigured or predefined. For example, the starting position of the first time window is the starting position of the discontinuous reception cycle (DRX cycle or eDRX cycle). For another example, the starting position of the first time window is the first offset interval between the starting positions of the discontinuous reception cycle (DRX cycle or eDRX cycle). The first terminal device receives the configuration information, determines the starting position of the first time window, and then determines the first time window based on the starting position of the first time window.

[0106] The first offset may be (pre)configured. The first offset and the duration information of the first time window may be carried in a single signaling message. For example, the network device may send configuration information including the duration information of the first time window and the first offset. Alternatively, the first offset and the duration information of the first time window may be independently configured. For example, the network device may send configuration information including the duration information of the first time window and information about the first offset.

[0107] As another example, the configuration information may include the starting position information of the first time window within a period and the duration information of the first time window, which is more flexible.

[0108] Optionally, in mode A, the configuration information may further include information about the length of a cycle. For example, the configuration information includes T, where T is the length of a cycle.

[0109] In mode B, the configuration information configures the number N of time windows within a cycle, where the first time window is a time window within the cycle. N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. A cycle can be a DRX cycle, an eDRX cycle, or a cycle configured by the network device.

[0110] The configuration information may include the number N of time windows within a cycle. The first time window is one of the N time windows. The first terminal device receives the configuration information and may determine the first time window based on the configuration information. For example, the first time window may be the nth time window among the N time windows, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than N.

[0111] In one implementation, the first terminal device may generate a random number n and determine, based on the random number n, the nth time window among N time windows as the first time window, where n is less than or equal to N. The first terminal device randomly selects a time window from the N time windows as the first time window, thereby staggering the time at which it detects paging messages with other terminal devices, reducing the number of terminal devices detecting paging messages at the same time, and thereby reducing random access congestion at the same time.

[0112] In another implementation, n is related to the identification information of the first terminal device. For example, if the identification information of the first terminal device is UE ID, n=UE ID mod N; or if the identification information of the first terminal device is filter, n=filter mod N.

[0113] In another implementation, n is related to the identification information of the terminal device group to which the first terminal device belongs. For example, n=group identification mod N.

[0114] Alternatively, the configuration information may include the number N and n of time windows in a cycle. The first terminal device receives the configuration information and determines that the first time window is the nth time window among the N time windows in a cycle. If the number N of time windows in a cycle is preconfigured or predefined. The first terminal device may determine that the first time window is the nth time window among the N time windows in a cycle based on the above two implementation methods of n. In this case, the network device does not need to send configuration information. Therefore, S400 is not a step that must be executed and is indicated by a dotted line in Figure 4.

[0115] For example, see Figure 5, which shows N time windows within a discontinuous reception cycle. In Figure 5, "T" indicates the length of a discontinuous reception cycle. If n = n3, then the first time window is the time window indicated by the shaded portion. When the configuration information includes N, the first terminal device can determine the length of a time window x = T / N. If x is not an integer, then round down to (T / N). The first terminal device can determine the starting position of the first time window based on x and the starting position of the discontinuous reception cycle, and thus determine the first time window.

[0116] Optionally, in mode B, the configuration information may further include information about the length of a cycle. For example, the configuration information includes T, where T is the length of a cycle.

[0117] Method B takes the configuration information configuring the number N of time windows within a cycle as an example. In one implementation method, the network device can configure the number N of time windows within a period of time, and the first time window is one of the N time windows within the period of time. The length Tn of this period of time is less than the length T of a cycle. For example, refer to Figure 6, which shows the N time windows within Tn. "T" in Figure 6 indicates the length of a cycle. Among them, the starting position of Tn can be the same as the starting position of a cycle (Figure 6 takes this as an example). The starting position of Tn and the starting position of a cycle can also be separated by a second offset, and the second offset can be (pre) configured. In this case, the configuration information may include Tn and N. The first terminal device receives the configuration information, and the default starting position of Tn is the same as the starting position of a cycle. Alternatively, the configuration information may include Tn and N and a second offset.

[0118] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of signaling in which the configuration information is carried. For example, the configuration information may be carried in one or more of radio resource control (RRC) signaling, downlink control information (DCI), or MAC control element (CE), or the configuration information may be carried in one or more fields in RRC, DCI, or MAC CE. The configuration information may also be carried in one or more signalings. For example, the configuration information includes the starting position information of the first time window and the duration information of the first time window. The network device sending the configuration information may be the network device sending the first signaling and the second signaling, the first signaling including the starting position information of the first time window, and the second signaling including the duration information of the first time window.

[0119] The network device can broadcast the configuration information. For example, the configuration information can be carried in system information (SI), system information block (SIB), master information block (MIB), etc. Any terminal device receives the configuration information and can determine its own time window based on the configuration information and its own identification. For example, the identification of the first terminal device is UE ID, then the SFN corresponding to the first time window satisfies: (SFN+PF_offset)mod T=(T div N)×(UE_ID mod N); for another example, the identification of the first terminal device is filter, then the SFN corresponding to the first time window satisfies: (SFN+PF_offset)mod T=(Tdiv N)×(filter mod N). Wherein, T is a discontinuous reception period, N is the number of time windows within T, and PF_offset is the offset used to determine the first time window (for example, the first offset).

[0120] When a network device needs to page a group of terminal devices, it also determines a time window corresponding to that group of terminal devices. For example, if the network device needs to page the first group of terminal devices, the time window corresponding to the first group of terminal devices is the first time window, and the network device also determines the first time window. The method used by the network device to determine the first time window is similar to the method used by the first terminal device to determine the first time window, and will not be repeated here.

[0121] S402: The network device sends a paging message within a first time window, where the paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices.

[0122] Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives a paging message in the first time window. The first time window is used to page the first group of terminal devices. When the network device needs to page the first group of terminal devices, it can send a paging message in the first time window. The paging message is used to page the first group of terminal devices. For example, the paging message includes the identifier of the first group of terminal devices. Correspondingly, the first terminal device belongs to the first group of terminal devices, and the first terminal device can receive a paging message within the first time window. The paging message within the first time window includes the identifier of the first group of terminal devices. It can be understood that the paging message of each PO within the first time window includes the identifier of the first group of terminal devices, that is, the paging message of each PO within the first time window carries the same group identifier.

[0123] In an embodiment of the present application, a group of terminal devices may also be a category of terminal devices. For example, the first time window is used to paging at least one group of terminal devices, and this may also be replaced by the first time window being used to paging at least one category of terminal devices. The identifier of the terminal device / terminal device group carried in the paging message may also be understood as being used to filter terminal devices. From this perspective, the paging message including the identifier of the first group of terminal devices may be replaced by the paging message including first filtering information / filter, and the first filtering information / filter is used to filter the first group of terminal devices.

[0124] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the grouping / classification method of terminal devices. The specific grouping / classification method varies depending on the terminal devices, and the following examples are provided.

[0125] Taking a conventional terminal device, such as a UE, as an example, during the paging process, UEs can be grouped / classified based on the services they support. For example, one type of service corresponds to a group of UEs, or UEs supporting a type of service are grouped together. Services supported by UEs include, for example, inventory, read operations, write operations, sensing, and positioning. Alternatively, UEs can be divided based on their processing capabilities. For example, UEs with processing capabilities within a certain range are grouped together.

[0126] For example, consider an IoT or A-IoT terminal, such as a tag. Tags that meet certain criteria can be grouped together or grouped together. Each group or category of A-IoT terminals corresponds to the same filter. This filter can include a group identifier, mask, tag ID / UE ID, type / category information, or storage area fields / content (described below).

[0127] The type of A-IoT terminal is related to one or more of the following: the manufacturer of the A-IoT terminal, the carrier it belongs to, the current battery level, the type of internal sensors, or the device type. For example, A-IoT terminals can be categorized based on the type of device they are installed on. For example, A-IoT terminals installed on air conditioners are grouped together, and A-IoT terminals installed on remote controls are grouped together. Accordingly, the filter is the device on which the A-IoT terminal is installed. Another example is categorized based on the carrier they belong to. For example, A-IoT terminals used by carrier A are grouped together, and A-IoT terminals used by carrier B are grouped together. Accordingly, the filter is the carrier. Another example is categorized based on the geographical area in which the A-IoT terminals are deployed. For example, A-IoT terminals deployed in Campus A are grouped together, and A-IoT terminals deployed in Campus B are grouped together. Accordingly, the filter is the campus.

[0128] A-IoT terminals are categorized based on the storage area field, and accordingly, the filter is the storage area field. For example, if the A-IoT terminal is a tag, it can be understood that the tag has four storage areas: user data area (user memory), electronic product code (EPC) storage area, reserved storage area, and tag identification (TID) storage area. A filter can be a storage area field or the contents of a storage area. For example, if the filter is "00" + "00000000" + "11111111111…111," where "00" indicates user memory, "00000000" indicates a specific location in user memory (e.g., the location corresponding to the first byte), and "11111111111…111" indicates the data content to be filtered. Therefore, tags whose filter indicates that the content stored in the first byte of user memory is "1111111111…111" are classified as Class 1 tags.

[0129] The above-mentioned division methods of various terminal devices are only examples, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the division methods of terminal devices. For example, terminal devices can be divided according to the services / operations supported by the terminal devices. For example, A-IoT terminals that support inventory services are a group of A-IoT terminals, A-IoT terminals that support read operations are a group of A-IoT terminals, and A-IoT terminals that support write operations are a group of A-IoT terminals. The above-mentioned multiple division methods of A-IoT terminals can be combined with each other. For example, A-IoT terminals are divided according to the enterprises that use A-IoT terminals and the geographical areas where they are deployed.

[0130] If a network device wants to page a group / category of terminal devices, it may send a paging message within a time window corresponding to the group / category of terminal devices. Taking the example of a network device wanting to page the first group of terminal devices, the network device may send a paging message within the first time window, and the paging message includes the identifier of the first group of terminal devices (which may be referred to as the first group identifier). Each terminal device receives a paging message within its corresponding time window, and if it finds that the received paging message is paging itself, it responds to the paging message. For example, the first terminal device may receive a paging message within the first time window. If the first terminal device determines that the group identifier carried by the paging message indicates a terminal device group, it determines that the received paging message is paging itself. In one implementation, the network device may determine whether the paging message carries the UE ID, the UE group ID, or the filter based on the number of terminal devices in each time window. For example, if the number of terminal devices is small, the paging message may carry the UE ID; if the number of terminal devices is large, the paging message may carry the UE group ID or the filter. Of course, the paging message may also carry the UE ID and the UE group ID (or filter).

[0131] Each terminal device does not need to calculate the timing of receiving the paging message based on the ID, which can reduce the processing complexity. It is especially applicable to terminal devices with weak processing capabilities such as A-IoT terminals / IoT terminals. For example, in an application scenario, the first terminal device may be an A-IoT terminal / IoT terminal, or the first group of terminal devices belongs to an A-IoT terminal / IoT terminal. According to the foregoing, it can be seen that the embodiments of the present application have multiple ways of grouping / classifying A-IoT terminals / IoT terminals. Taking the paging process as an example, compared with the current paging of conventional UEs, the group identifier carried by the paging message takes the MBS service division as an example. Through the embodiments of the present application, more types of A-IoT terminals / IoT terminals can be covered to avoid failing to page one or some A-IoT terminals / IoT terminals.

[0132] For example, for A-IoT / IoT terminals, when a network device needs to page a specific terminal device or a group of terminal devices, it can use the group identifier obtained based on the aforementioned grouping / classification scheme for A-IoT / IoT terminals. For example, the ID of the terminal device in the first group is the filter corresponding to the terminal devices in the first group. The network device can calculate the point of time for sending the paging message based on the ID of the group to which the A-IoT / IoT terminal belongs, and send the paging message within the calculated point of time. Correspondingly, the terminal device calculates the point of time for sending the paging message based on the ID of the group to which the A-IoT / IoT terminal belongs, and receives the paging message within the calculated point of time. For example, when paging the terminal devices in the first group, the network device can determine a first point of time and send the paging message within the first point of time. This first point of time is used to page at least one terminal device. The paging message is used to page the terminal devices in the first group, which belong to the A-IoT terminal devices. The paging message includes the identifier of the terminal devices in the first group. The identifier of the terminal devices in the first group can be the group identifier obtained based on the aforementioned grouping / classification scheme for A-IoT / IoT terminals. For example, the identifier of the terminal devices in the first group is the filter corresponding to the terminal devices in the first group.

[0133] Taking into account the weak clock synchronization capability of the terminal device, if the current conventional UE paging method is used to calculate the PO for receiving the paging message within the time window, and then the paging message is started at the PO, the paging message from the network device may be missed. To this end, in an embodiment of the present application, the network device may send a paging message for paging the first terminal device at all POs within the first time window, and the first terminal device may continuously receive the paging message within the first time window to avoid missing its own paging message and being unable to respond to the paging of the network device, thereby accessing the network as soon as possible. Alternatively, the first terminal device periodically receives the paging message within the first time window to avoid missing its own paging message as much as possible, reduce the delay in accessing the network, and save energy consumption.

[0134] For example, the first paging opportunity is the paging opportunity for the first group of terminal devices, and the second paging opportunity is the paging opportunity for the second group of terminal devices. The network device can send paging messages on the first paging opportunity and the second paging opportunity. The paging message within the first paging opportunity and the paging message within the second paging opportunity both include a first filter and a second filter, wherein the first filter is used to indicate the first group of terminal devices, and the second filter is used to indicate the second group of terminal devices. Each terminal device can continuously or periodically detect its own paging message within the first time window.

[0135] It should be noted that the aforementioned first time window can also be a PF. In this case, the first terminal device continues to use the conventional UE paging method to calculate the position of the PF based on the UE ID / filter / UE group ID, and then calculates the position of the PO in the PF, and receives the paging message at the calculated PO position. The difference is that the UE ID or UE group ID carried in the paging message can be the ID obtained by the aforementioned grouping / classification of the tags.

[0136] One time window can page a group of terminal devices, or it can page multiple groups of terminal devices, so as to minimize the delay of each group of terminal devices accessing the network. For example, the paging message sent by the network device in the first time window is also used to page the second group of terminal devices, and each terminal device can receive the paging message in the corresponding time window. For example, the paging message sent by the network device in the first time window includes the identifier of the first group of terminal devices and the identifier of the second group of terminal devices (for example, it can be called the second group identifier), and the terminal devices belonging to the first group of terminal devices receive the paging message in the first time window, and the terminal devices belonging to the second group of terminal devices receive the paging message in the first time window. Similar to the first group of terminal devices, the second group of terminal devices may also belong to A-IoT terminals. For example, please refer to Figure 7, which shows a schematic diagram of a paging message in a time window carrying multiple group identifiers. Figure 7 takes the group identifiers included in the paging message in the time window n1 as an example, including group identifier 1 and group identifier 2.

[0137] In one implementation, a network device may send different filters or group identifiers in different time windows within a cycle, or may send the same filter in different time windows. For example, the network device may send a first filter or group identifier in time window 1 within a cycle, and send a second filter or group identifier in time window 2 within a cycle. For another example, the network device may send the first filter in both time window 1 and time window 2 within a cycle. Time window 1 and time window 2 may be any two different time windows within the first cycle.

[0138] Accordingly, the terminal device can receive the paging message within the time window corresponding to the filter or group identifier to which it belongs.

[0139] In one implementation, a terminal device may receive paging messages within one or more time windows within a period. For example, a network device configures N time windows within a period T. The terminal device selects m time windows within the N time windows configured by the network device, where m is greater than or equal to 1 and N is greater than or equal to 1. The terminal device may receive paging messages within these m time windows.

[0140] In another implementation, a terminal device may receive a paging message within a time window within a cycle. For example, the network device may configure the time position and length of the time window within a cycle for the terminal device to receive paging messages, and the terminal device receives the paging message within this time window. For another example, the network device may configure N time windows within a cycle T, and the terminal device selects the nth time window within the N time windows to receive the paging message. The method for determining n can be referred to the relevant content of the aforementioned method B and is not further described here.

[0141] For example, if the network device wants to page a terminal device (for example, the first terminal device), but is not sure which group the first terminal device belongs to (for example, the first group of terminal devices), the network device may send paging messages to the first terminal device in multiple time windows. For example, please refer to Figure 8, which shows a schematic diagram of paging messages in multiple time windows carrying the same identifier. Figure 8 takes 4 time windows (time window 1 to time window 4) and paging terminal device A as an example. It is assumed that terminal device A belongs to terminal device group B, and the identifier of terminal device A is identifier A. Since the network device is not sure which terminal device group terminal device A belongs to, when the network device needs to page terminal device A, in order to reduce the probability that terminal device A does not receive the paging message, the network device may send a paging message in all 4 time windows, and the paging message includes identifier A.

[0142] Of course, if the network device needs to page a terminal device (e.g., a first terminal device) that belongs to a terminal device group (e.g., the first group of terminal devices), the network device can calculate the PO of the first terminal device based on the identifier (e.g., ID or corresponding filter) of the first group of terminal devices and send a paging message at the PO. The paging message includes the identifier of the first group of terminal devices. For example, see Figure 9, which shows a schematic diagram of multiple POs within a time window. A time window in Figure 9 can be a PF or a period. Figure 9 uses the time window including PO1 of terminal device 1 and PO2 of terminal device 2 as an example. Assume that terminal device 1 belongs to terminal device group 1 and terminal device 2 belongs to terminal device group 2. The identifier of terminal device group 1 is identifier 1, and the identifier of terminal device group 2 is identifier 2. When the network device needs to page terminal device 1, the network device determines that terminal device 1 belongs to terminal device group 1. The network device can send a paging message at PO1. The paging message includes identifier 1. When the network device needs to page terminal device 2, the network device determines that terminal device 2 belongs to terminal device group 2. The network device can send a paging message at PO2. The paging message includes identifier 2. Alternatively, the network device may send a paging message carrying identifier 1 during a portion of the duration of PO1 and PO2; the network device may also send a paging message carrying identifier 2 during a portion of the duration of PO1 and PO2.

[0143] In one implementation, the network device may page a terminal device group (e.g., a first group of terminal devices) in all POs or time windows within a cycle. Alternatively, the network device may send a paging message carrying the identifier of the first group of terminal devices in each PO or time window within a cycle. A cycle here may be a cycle T configured by the network device, or a DRX cycle or an eDRX cycle.

[0144] The terminal device initiates random access in response to the paging message of the network device. In one implementation, the terminal device selects to initiate random access on the resource closest to the time window for receiving the paging message. For example, see Figure 10, which shows multiple time windows. These multiple time windows include time window 1 (including time slot x1 to time slot x2), time window 2 (including time slot y1 to time slot y2), time window 3 (including time slot x3 to time slot x4) and time window 4 (including time slot y3 to time slot y4). Among them, time window 1 is used to paging the first group of terminal devices, and time window 3 is used to paging the second group of terminal devices. Time window 2 is closest to time window 1. Terminal devices that receive paging messages in time window 1 (such as terminal device 1 and terminal device 2) will use the resources within time window 2 to initiate random access, and terminal devices that receive paging messages in time window 1 will simultaneously use the resources within time window 2 close to time window 1 (such as time slot y1) to initiate random access. Similarly, time window 4 is closest to time window 3. The terminal device that receives the paging message in time window 3 will use the resources in time window 4 (such as time slot y3) to initiate random access, and the terminal device that receives the paging message in time window 1 (such as terminal device 3 and terminal device 4) will simultaneously use the resources in time window 2 close to time window 1 to initiate random access. For the scenario of massive A-IoT terminal devices, if there are many terminal devices that are paged in the same time period, then there will be many terminal devices that initiate random access on the same resources, resulting in congestion of random access resources. Taking the first group of terminal devices as an example, when the number of terminal devices in the first group of terminal devices is large, there will be many terminal devices that initiate random access in time window 2 at the same time, resulting in congestion of random access resources in time window 2. Each terminal device competes to initiate random access on the same resources, resulting in delayed access to the network for some terminal devices.

[0145] To this end, in an embodiment of the present application, the network device may indicate / configure resources for random access to each terminal device to reduce random access resource congestion and lower the latency of the terminal device accessing the network. For example, the network device may further execute S403.

[0146] S403: The network device sends a random access parameter, where the random access parameter is used to indicate available random access resources.

[0147] The network device can indicate / configure resources for random access to each terminal device. Accordingly, the first terminal device receives random access parameters from the network device. The random access parameters are used to indicate available random access parameters, or the random access parameters indicate random access resources. Having the network device indicate random access resources can reduce random access resource congestion and lower the latency for the terminal device to access the network, compared to the terminal device's default selection of resources closest to the time window for receiving a paging message to initiate random access.

[0148] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the signaling that carries the random access parameters. For example, the random access parameters can be sent to the first terminal device together with the paging message sent by the network device to the first terminal device. If the random access parameters are included in the paging message sent to the first terminal device, then S403 is the same as S402, that is, S403 does not exist, and the paging message in S402 includes the random access parameters. For another example, the network device can send the random access parameters to the first terminal device alone, and the random access parameters can be carried in a system message, DCI, a broadcast message or a synchronization message, etc. In this case, S403 is executed before S402.

[0149] Random access parameters may include one or more of the following: time domain resource information, frequency domain resource information, and code domain resource information. Time domain resource information indicates the time domain resources for random access, frequency domain resource information indicates the frequency domain resources for random access, and code domain resource information indicates the spatial domain resources for random access. The following describes time domain resource information, frequency domain resource information, and code domain resource information, respectively.

[0150] Time domain resource information: For any terminal device or terminal device group, the time domain resource information may indicate a random access time window, the duration of the random access time window is the first duration, and the time domain start position of the random access time window and the time domain end position of the time window for the terminal device to receive a paging message are separated by a second offset. Alternatively, the time domain start position of the random access time window and the time domain start position of the time window for the terminal device to receive a paging message are separated by a second offset. Alternatively, the time domain end position of the random access time window and the time domain start position of the time window for the terminal device to receive a paging message are separated by a second offset. Alternatively, the time domain end position of the random access time window and the time domain end position of the time window for the terminal device to receive a paging message are separated by a second offset.

[0151] For example, the second offset may be predefined or (pre)configured. In this case, the time domain resource information may include first time information, which may indicate a first duration, i.e., the duration of the random access resource. The first terminal device receives the paging message in the first time window and may determine the time domain position of the random access resource based on the first time information and the second offset in the time domain resource information. For example, the first duration is the length of n subframes / time slots, and the time domain resource information may include n.

[0152] For another example, the first duration may be predefined or (pre)configured, and the time domain resource information may include a second offset. Upon receiving the paging message, the first terminal device may determine the time domain starting position of the random access resource based on the second offset, and then determine the time domain position of the random access resource based on the first duration. For example, if the first duration is n subframes / time slots, the second offset may be m subframes / time slots, and the time domain resource information may include m. Alternatively, the time domain resource information may include the second offset and the first time information, which is more flexible.

[0153] Any terminal device can randomly select resources for initiating random access within the random access time window. For example, the random access time window includes n subframes / time slots, and the first terminal device can generate a random number n1 and initiate random access in the n1th subframe / time slot among the n subframes / time slots; the second terminal device can generate a random number n2 and initiate random access in the n2th subframe / time slot among the n subframes / time slots. Alternatively, the network device schedules the resources for each terminal device to initiate random access within a random access time window. Continuing with the above example, for the first terminal device, the network device can configure the first terminal device to initiate random access in the n1th subframe / time slot among the n subframes / time slots; for the second terminal device, the network device can configure the first terminal device to initiate random access in the n2th subframe / time slot among the n subframes / time slots.

[0154] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 11, which shows multiple time windows. Figure 11 takes time windows 1 to 4 as an example. For the relevant introduction to time windows 1 to 4 in Figure 11, please refer to the content of Figure 10 above. Taking the first group of terminal devices including terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 as an example, through the method of the embodiment of the present application, the network device can configure terminal device 1 to use time slot y1 within time window 2 to initiate random access, and terminal device 2 to use time slot y2 within time window 2 to initiate random access. Similarly, the network device can configure terminal device 3 to use time slot y3 within time window 4 to initiate random access, and terminal device 4 to use time slot y4 within time window 4 to initiate random access. It can be seen that terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 stagger the time to initiate random access, and terminal device 3 and terminal device 4 stagger the time to initiate random access. Taking time window 2 as an example, compared with Figure 10, the number of terminal devices initiating within the same duration (for example, time slot y1) in time window 2 in Figure 11 is relatively small. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present application, by configuring the time domain resources for initiating random access for each terminal device through the network device, congestion can be reduced and the delay for the terminal device to access the network can be reduced.

[0155] It is understood that the longer the random access preamble length, the greater the bandwidth and the longer the coverage range. The coverage range can be characterized by the coverage level. Accordingly, the longer the random access preamble length, the greater the bandwidth and the higher the coverage level. The random access time domain resources can be allocated to the terminal device based on the coverage level requirements of the terminal device, so that the random access times of different terminal devices are staggered.

[0156] In one implementation, different times correspond to different coverage levels, or in other words, there is a mapping relationship between coverage levels and time domain resources. For example, coverage level 1 corresponds to T1; coverage level 2 corresponds to T2; coverage level 3 corresponds to T3, and so on. The random access time domain resource for a terminal device with coverage level 1 is T1, the random access time domain resource for a terminal device with coverage level 2 is T2, and the random access time domain resource for a terminal device with coverage level 3 is T3. Each terminal device can select the corresponding random access time domain resource to initiate random access based on its own coverage level.

[0157] Factors causing random access congestion may also include congestion in frequency domain resources and / or spatial domain resources. Therefore, network equipment can further reduce congestion by configuring frequency domain resources and / or spatial domain resources for random access, thereby reducing the latency for terminal devices to access the network. One or more of the random access time domain resources, random access frequency domain resources, and random access code domain resources corresponding to different terminal devices are different. Alternatively, one or more of the random access time domain resources, random access frequency domain resources, and random access code domain resources corresponding to different time windows for detecting paging messages are different.

[0158] Frequency domain resource information: may indicate the offset between the frequency domain resource for random access and the preset frequency domain position, so as to determine the frequency domain resource for random access. For example, the frequency resource information includes the position information of the frequency resource for random access. For example, the frequency resource for random access is the first frequency band, and the frequency domain resource information may include the starting position information and the ending position information of the first frequency band. For another example, the frequency domain resource information may include a third offset, which may be the offset between the frequency domain resource for random access and the preset frequency domain position. The preset frequency domain resource may be (pre) configured. The terminal device may randomly select a portion of the frequency domain resources in the frequency domain resource to initiate random access. For example, the frequency domain resource for random access includes P resource blocks (RBs), the first terminal device may generate a random number p1, and use the p1th RB among the P RBs to initiate random access; the second terminal device may generate a random number p2, and use the p2th RB among the P RBs to initiate random access, so as to stagger the random access as much as possible, and P, p1 and p2 are all integers.

[0159] Code domain resource information: may include information about the sequence used for random access, which may be a (Zadoff-Chu, ZC) sequence. It is understandable that a set of random access preambles (preambles) for a cell is obtained by cyclically shifting the ZC root sequence. A cell may be configured with a specific set of random access preambles for terminal devices within the coverage of the cell to access the network equipment of the cell. The random access preamble set for each cell may be formed by cyclic shifts of multiple (for example, 64) ZC sequences. The preambles may be orthogonal, and different terminal devices may share the same time domain resources to send preambles. The preamble corresponds to an index range, and different indexes correspond to different ZC sequences. Each terminal device randomly selects an index to achieve orthogonality between preambles. For example, the first terminal device randomly selects index1, uses sequence 1 corresponding to index1 to generate a preamble, and initiates random access; the second terminal device randomly selects index2, uses sequence 2 corresponding to index2 to generate a preamble, and initiates random access.

[0160] In a possible scenario, a terminal device may be paged multiple times within a period of time. For example, a network device needs to page a group of terminal devices, but not all terminal devices in the group are paged in a discontinuous reception cycle. The network device will page the group of terminal devices again in the next discontinuous cycle, and some terminal devices will be paged during these two paging processes. For example, the group of terminal devices includes terminal device 1 and terminal device 2. In the first discontinuous reception cycle, terminal device 1 fails to access during the random access process, and terminal device 2 succeeds in random access. Then the network device needs to page terminal device 1 in the second discontinuous reception cycle. At this time, terminal device 2 is still paged, but for terminal device 2, this paging is unnecessary and will bring additional power consumption.

[0161] To this end, an embodiment of the present application provides a paging method 1200. In the paging method 1200, the terminal device may not respond to or ignore paging messages within a certain period of time, thereby minimizing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0162] Please refer to Figure 12, which shows a schematic flow diagram of a paging method 1200 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 describes the method from the perspective of the interaction between the network device and the first terminal device. It should be understood that the paging method 1200 can also be implemented by other devices, such as a chip or communication device with communication capabilities. As shown in Figure 12, the process of the paging method 1200 includes the following steps.

[0163] S1201. A network device sends a first paging message to a first terminal device. The first paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices.

[0164] Accordingly, the first terminal device receives the first paging message. The first paging message is used to page the first group of terminal devices, and the first paging message may include the identifier of the first group of terminal devices. The first terminal device belongs to the first group of terminal devices. When the first terminal device receives the first paging message, it determines to respond to the first paging message based on the identifier carried in the first paging message.

[0165] Taking into account that the network device may page the first terminal device multiple times within a period of time, additional power consumption of the first terminal device. For this reason, the first paging message also includes second time information, and the second time information may indicate ignoring paging messages with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information; or, the second indication information may indicate refusing to respond to paging messages with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information. The second time information may indicate a second duration, for example, the second time information includes a first starting time and a second duration; or, the second time information includes a first starting time and a first ending time, and the first starting time and the first ending time are separated by a second duration.

[0166] S1202. The network device sends a second paging message to the first terminal device, where the second paging message is used to page the first group of terminal devices.

[0167] Take the example of the first terminal device receiving the first paging message and the second paging message in succession. Both the first paging message and the second paging message are used to page the first group of terminal devices. The first terminal device receives the first paging message and responds to the first paging message. If the second paging message is received within the second time period, the first terminal device can refuse to respond to the second paging message. When the first terminal device receives the third paging message again after the second time period, the third paging message includes the identifier of the first group of terminal devices, and the first terminal device belongs to the first group of terminal devices, then the first terminal device can respond to the third paging message. It should be noted that refusing to respond to the second paging message can be understood as: ignoring the second paging message, or receiving the second paging message but discarding the second paging message; or receiving the second paging message but not initiating random access.

[0168] In one implementation, after the first terminal device responds to the first paging message, the timing starts after the data transmission between it and the network device is successful (such as Example 1 in Figure 12). If the second paging message is received within the second time period, the response to the second paging message is ignored or refused. Alternatively, the timing starts after the first terminal device responds to the first paging message (such as Example 2 in Figure 12). If the second paging message is received within the second time period, the response to the second paging message is ignored or refused. The first terminal device responds to the first paging message, which can also be considered as the first terminal device randomly accessing the network device.

[0169] In a possible scenario, the network device also needs to page the first terminal device within the second time period. If the first terminal device always ignores or refuses to respond to the paging message received within the second time period, then within the second time period, the first terminal device cannot meet the actual needs of the network device.

[0170] To this end, if the network device wants the first terminal device to respond to a paging message that pages the first terminal device within the second duration, the second paging message may include a validity identifier that indicates whether the second paging message is valid, or the validity identifier indicates whether to respond to a paging message received with the same terminal device identifier. "Whether to respond to a paging message received with the same terminal device identifier" includes whether to respond to a paging message received with the same terminal device identifier within the time indicated by the second time information.

[0171] For example, the valid identifier of the second paging message can be 1-bit information, and the value of this 1 bit is "1", indicating that the second paging message is valid, and the first terminal device can respond to the paging message with the same terminal device identifier as the received one. If the paging message includes second time information, the first terminal device can respond to the paging message with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information. For example, the first terminal device receives and responds to the first paging message. If the second paging message is received within a subsequent second time period, and the second paging message includes the identifier and valid identifier of the first group of terminal devices, when the value of the valid identifier is "1", the first terminal device responds to the second paging message. Correspondingly, the value of this 1 bit is "0", indicating that the second paging message is invalid, and the first terminal device refuses to respond to the paging message with the same terminal device identifier as the received one. If the paging message includes second time information, the first terminal device can refuse to respond to the paging message with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information. When the first terminal device receives and responds to the first paging message, if it receives a second paging message within a subsequent second time period, and the second paging message includes the identifier and valid identifier of the first group of terminal devices, and the value of the valid identifier is "0", then the first terminal device responds to the second paging message.

[0172] Alternatively, the second paging message includes a valid identifier, indicating that the first terminal device responds to the received paging message with the same terminal device identifier. The second paging message does not include a valid identifier, indicating that the first terminal device does not need to respond to the received paging message with the same terminal device identifier. For example, when the first paging message includes second time information, the first terminal device receives and responds to the first paging message, if the second paging message is received within a subsequent second time period, and the second paging message includes the identifier of the first group of terminal devices and the valid identifier, then the first terminal device responds to the second paging message. When the first paging message includes second time information, the first terminal device receives and responds to the first paging message, if the second paging message is received within a subsequent second time period, and the second paging message includes the identifier of the first group of terminal devices, and the second paging message does not include a valid identifier, then the first terminal device refuses to respond to the second paging message.

[0173] Alternatively, the second paging message itself may indicate whether the second paging message is valid or invalid. In this case, the second paging message does not carry a valid identifier and / or the second time information, and may also indicate whether the second paging message is valid. For example, the second paging message is unselect signaling. When the network device wants the first terminal device to respond to the paging message that pages itself within the second time period, the second paging message does not include the identifier of the first terminal device and the second time information. When the network device does not want the first terminal device to respond to the paging message that pages itself within the second time period, the second paging message includes the identifier of the first terminal device and the second time information. It should be noted that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific name of the unselect signaling.

[0174] In one implementation, the second paging message may carry a UE ID or a filter or a group identifier to indicate a terminal or terminal group that is not to be paged or selected. For example, the second paging message carries the first UE ID. If the ID of the terminal device is the first UE ID, the terminal device does not respond to the second paging message. On the contrary, if the ID of the terminal device is not the first UE ID, the terminal device may respond to the second paging message. Similarly, if the filter or group identifier corresponding to the terminal device belongs to the filter or group identifier carried by the second paging message, the terminal device does not respond to the second paging message.

[0175] In the paging method 1200 , by carrying time information in the paging message, the number of times the terminal device responds to the paging message within a period of time can be reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0176] The various embodiments provided in the embodiments of the present application can be executed separately or in combination with each other. For example, the paging method 400 and the paging method 1200 can be combined with each other. In the embodiments provided in the present application, the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application are introduced from the perspective of the interaction between the first terminal device and the network device. Among them, the steps performed by the first terminal device can be implemented by different functional entities that constitute the first terminal device. The steps performed by the network device can be implemented by different functional entities that constitute the network device. For example, the network device can be a CU-DU architecture, the CU can generate a paging message, and the DU can send a paging message. In order to implement the various functions in the methods provided in the above embodiments of the present application, the first terminal device and the network device may include hardware structures and / or software modules, and implement the above functions in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or hardware structures plus software modules. Whether one of the above functions is performed in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or hardware structures plus software modules depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0177] The following describes the communication device used to implement the above method in the embodiment of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the above contents can be used in subsequent embodiments, and repeated contents will not be repeated.

[0178] Figure 13 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1300 can be a network device or terminal device in the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, the communication device 1300 can be the network device or A-IoT terminal in Figure 1; or, the communication device 1300 can be a chip (system) in the network device or a chip (system) in the terminal device; or, the communication device 1300 can be a software module of the network device or terminal device. The communication device 1300 can implement the functions or steps implemented by the terminal device or network device in the above-mentioned various method embodiments. The communication device 1300 can include a processing module 1310 and a transceiver module 1320. Optionally, it can also include a storage module, which can be used to store instructions (code or program) and / or data. The storage module can be, for example, a memory. The processing module 1310 and the transceiver module 1320 can be coupled to the storage module. For example, the processing module 1310 can read the instructions (code or program) and / or data in the storage module to implement the corresponding method. When the communication device 1300 is a chip in a terminal device, the storage module may be a storage module within the chip, such as a register, cache, etc. For example, the storage module may also be a storage module located outside the chip within the network device / terminal device, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM), etc. The above-mentioned units may be independently provided or partially or fully integrated.

[0179] In one possible implementation, the processing module 1310 may be a processor or controller, such as a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processing (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. It may implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application. The processor may also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, and the like. The transceiver module 1320 is a transceiver, an interface circuit, a bus, a pin, or other possible communication interface for receiving signals from other devices. For example, when the device is implemented as a chip, the transceiver module 1320 is an interface circuit for the chip to receive signals from other chips or devices, or an interface circuit for the chip to send signals to other chips or devices.

[0180] In some possible implementations, the communication device 1300 can implement the behaviors and functions of the first terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiments. The communication device 1300 can be a terminal device, such as an A-IoT terminal or UE, or a component (such as a chip or circuit) used in a terminal device, or a chip or chipset in a terminal device or a part of a chip used to perform the functions of the relevant method, or a software module capable of implementing the method executed by the first terminal device in the above-mentioned method (such as paging method 400 and / or paging method 1200), without limitation.

[0181] For example, the communication device 1300 may implement the method performed by the first terminal device in the embodiments of Figures 4 and / or 12. For example, the transceiver module 1320 may be configured to perform S402 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4 and / or other processes for supporting the technology described herein; the processing module 1310 may be configured to perform S401 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4 and / or other processes for performing the technology described herein.

[0182] In one implementation, processing module 1310 is configured to determine a first time window for paging at least one group of terminal devices. Transceiver module 1320 is configured to receive a paging message within the first time window, the paging message being configured to page a first group of terminal devices, the first group of terminal devices being A-IoT terminals, and the paging message including identifiers of the first group of terminal devices.

[0183] In another implementation, the processing module 1310 is configured to determine a first PO, which is used to page at least one group of terminal devices. The transceiver module 1320 is configured to receive a paging message within the first PO, which is used to page a first group of terminal devices, the first group of terminal devices being A-IoT terminals, and the paging message includes an identifier of the first group of terminal devices.

[0184] As an optional implementation manner, the transceiver module 1320 is specifically configured to: continuously or periodically receive the paging message within the first time window.

[0185] As an optional implementation manner, the transceiver module 1320 is further used to: receive configuration information, where the configuration information is used to indicate the first time window.

[0186] As an optional implementation manner, the configuration information includes starting position information of the first time window within a period and / or duration information of the first time window.

[0187] As an optional implementation manner, the configuration information includes the number N of time windows in a cycle, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0188] As an optional implementation manner, the first time window is the nth time window among N time windows in a cycle, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0189] As an optional implementation method, the paging message is also used to page a second group of terminal devices, where the second group of terminal devices belong to A-IoT terminals. The paging message also includes identifiers of the second group of terminal devices.

[0190] As an optional implementation manner, the paging message includes receiving a random access parameter, where the random access parameter is used to indicate available random access resources.

[0191] As an optional implementation method, the random access parameters include time domain resource information; wherein, the time domain resource information includes a second offset and / or first time information, the second offset is used to determine the time domain starting position of the random access resource, and the first time information is used to indicate the duration of the random access resource; or, the time domain resource information includes a coverage level, and the coverage level has a mapping relationship with the time domain resource of the random access resource.

[0192] As an optional implementation manner, the random access parameter includes frequency domain resource information, the frequency domain resource information includes position information or a third offset of the frequency domain resource used for random access, and the third offset is used to determine the frequency domain resource for random access.

[0193] As an optional implementation manner, the random access parameter includes code domain resource information, and the code domain resource information includes information of a sequence used for random access.

[0194] As an optional implementation, the paging message further includes second time information, where the second time information indicates: ignore paging messages with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information.

[0195] As an optional implementation manner, the paging message further includes a valid identifier, and the valid identifier indicates whether to respond to the paging message with the same terminal device identifier received.

[0196] For example, the communication device 1300 may implement the method performed by the network device in the embodiments of FIG4 and / or FIG12. For example, the transceiver module 1320 may be used to perform S402 in the embodiment shown in FIG4 and / or other processes for supporting the technology described herein; the processing module 1310 may be used to perform S401 in the embodiment shown in FIG4 and / or other processes for performing the technology described herein.

[0197] In one implementation, processing module 1310 is configured to determine a first time window for paging at least one group of terminal devices. Transceiver module 1320 is configured to send a paging message within the first time window, the paging message being configured to page a first group of terminal devices, the first group of terminal devices being A-IoT terminals, and the paging message including identifiers of the first group of terminal devices.

[0198] In another implementation, the processing module 1310 is configured to determine a first PO, which is used to page at least one group of terminal devices. The transceiver module 1320 is configured to send a paging message within the first PO, which is used to page a first group of terminal devices, where the first group of terminal devices are A-IoT terminals, and the paging message includes an identifier of the first group of terminal devices.

[0199] As an optional implementation manner, the transceiver module 1320 is further used to: send configuration information, where the configuration information is used to indicate the first time window.

[0200] As an optional implementation manner, the configuration information includes starting position information of the first time window within a period and / or duration information of the first time window.

[0201] As an optional implementation manner, the configuration information includes the number N of time windows in a cycle, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0202] As an optional implementation method, the paging message is also used to page a second group of terminal devices, where the second group of terminal devices belong to A-IoT terminals. The paging message also includes identifiers of the second group of terminal devices.

[0203] As an optional implementation manner, the paging message includes a random access parameter, where the random access parameter is used to indicate available random access resources.

[0204] As an optional implementation method, the random access parameters include time domain resource information; wherein, the time domain resource information includes a second offset and / or first time information, the second offset is used to determine the time domain starting position of the random access resource, and the first time information is used to indicate the duration of the random access resource; or, the time domain resource information includes a coverage level, and the coverage level has a mapping relationship with the time domain resource of the random access resource.

[0205] As an optional implementation manner, the random access parameter includes frequency domain resource information, the frequency domain resource information includes position information of the frequency domain resource used for random access or a third offset, and the third offset is used to determine the frequency domain resource for random access.

[0206] As an optional implementation manner, the random access parameter includes code domain resource information, and the code domain resource information includes information of a sequence used for random access.

[0207] As an optional implementation, the paging message further includes second time information, where the second time information indicates: ignore paging messages with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information.

[0208] As an optional implementation manner, the paging message further includes a valid identifier, and the valid identifier indicates whether to respond to the paging message with the same terminal device identifier received.

[0209] When the communication device 1300 is a chip-type device or circuit, the transceiver module may be an input / output circuit and / or a communication interface; the processing module may be an integrated processor or microprocessor or integrated circuit.

[0210] Figure 14 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1400 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1400 can be a network device or a first terminal device in the above embodiment. For example, the communication device 1400 can be the network device or A-IoT terminal in Figure 1; or the communication device 1400 is a chip (system) in a network device or an A-IoT terminal. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices. For specific functions, please refer to the description in the above method embodiment.

[0211] The communication device 1400 includes one or more processors 1401, which are used to implement or support the communication device 1400 to implement the functions of the first terminal device or network device in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details, which will not be repeated here. The processor 1401 can also be called a processing unit or a processing module, which can implement certain control functions. The processor 1401 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor. For example, it includes: a baseband processor, a central processing unit, an application processor, a modem processor, a graphics processor, an image signal processor, a digital signal processor, a video codec processor, a controller, a memory, and / or a neural network processor. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data. The central processing unit can be used to control the communication device 1400 (such as a network device or terminal device), execute software programs and / or process data. Different processors can be independent devices or integrated into one or more processors, for example, integrated into one or more dedicated integrated circuits.

[0212] In one design, the processor 1401 may include a program 1403 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions), which may be executed on the processor 1401 to cause the communication device 1400 to perform the methods described in the following embodiments. In another possible design, the communication device 1400 includes circuitry (not shown in FIG14 ) configured to implement the network device or first terminal device functions described in the above embodiments.

[0213] In one design, the communication device 1400 may include one or more memories 1402, on which a program 1404 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions) is stored. The program 1404 can be run on the processor 1401, so that the communication device 1400 performs the method described in the above method embodiment, such as the process shown in Figure 4 and / or Figure 12.

[0214] In one design, the processor 1401 and / or the memory 1402 may include an artificial intelligence (AI) module 1407 and an AI module 14010, each configured to implement AI-related functions. The AI ​​module may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. For example, the AI ​​module may include a RAN intelligent controller (RIC) module. For example, the AI ​​module may be a near real-time RIC or a non-real-time RIC.

[0215] In a possible design, data may also be stored in the processor 1401 and / or the memory 1402. The processor and memory may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0216] In one possible design, the communication device 1400 may further include a transceiver 1405 and / or an antenna 1406. The processor 1401 may also be sometimes referred to as a processing unit, and controls the communication device 1400. The transceiver 1405 may also be sometimes referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, and is configured to implement the transceiver function of the communication device through the antenna 1406.

[0217] In one possible design, the communication device 1400 may further include one or more of the following components: a wireless communication module, an audio module, an external memory interface, an internal memory, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a power management module, an antenna, a speaker, a microphone, an input / output module, a sensor module, a motor, a camera, or a display screen, etc. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the communication device 1400 may include more or fewer components, or some components may be integrated or separated. These components may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0218] The communication device in the above embodiments can be a terminal device (or network device), a circuit, a chip used in a terminal device (or network device), or other combined devices or components with the above terminal device (or network device). When the communication device is a terminal device (or network device), the transceiver module can be a transceiver, which can include an antenna and a radio frequency circuit, etc., and the processing module can be a processor, such as a CPU. When the communication device is a component with the functions of the above terminal device (or network device), the transceiver module can be a radio frequency unit, and the processing module can be a processor. When the communication device is a chip system, the communication device can be an FPGA, a dedicated ASIC, a system on chip (SoC), a CPU, a network processor (NP), a DSP, a microcontroller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other integrated circuit. The processing module can be the processor of the chip system. The transceiver module or communication interface can be the input / output interface or interface circuit of the chip system. For example, the interface circuit can be a code / data read / write interface circuit. The interface circuit can be used to receive code instructions (the code instructions are stored in a memory and can be read directly from the memory or read from the memory via another device) and transmit them to the processor; the processor can be used to execute the code instructions to perform the method in the above method embodiment. For example, the interface circuit can also be a signal transmission interface circuit between a communication processor and a transceiver.

[0219] The present application also provides a communication system. Specifically, the communication system includes a network device and a terminal device. For example, the communication system includes a terminal device and a network device for implementing the functions associated with FIG. 4 . Alternatively, the communication system includes a terminal device and a network device for implementing the functions associated with FIG. 12 . Alternatively, the communication system includes a terminal device and a network device for implementing the functions associated with both FIG. 4 and FIG. 12 For details, please refer to the relevant description in the above method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0220] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method executed by the first terminal device or network device in Figure 4 and / or Figure 12.

[0221] A computer program product is also provided in an embodiment of the present application, including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enable the computer to execute the method executed by the first terminal device or network device in Figure 4 and / or Figure 12.

[0222] The embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and may also include a memory, for implementing the functions of the terminal device or network device in the above method. The chip system can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0223] To implement the functions of the communication device shown in Figures 13 and 14 , embodiments of the present application further provide a chip including a processor for supporting the communication device in implementing the functions of the terminal device or network device described in the method embodiments. In one possible design, the chip is connected to or includes a memory, which is used to store computer programs, instructions, and data necessary for the communication device.

[0224] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0225] In various embodiments of this application, the phrases "when," "if," and "if" all imply that the device will perform a corresponding action under certain objective circumstances. These phrases do not limit the timeframe, do not require the device to perform a judgment action, and do not imply any other limitations. Unless otherwise specified, "if" and "if" are interchangeable, and "when" and "under the circumstances" are interchangeable. "When" and "if" are interchangeable.

[0226] In the embodiments of the present application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "plural" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there may be three relationships. 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. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0227] The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish between multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects. For example, the first group of terminal devices and the second group of terminal devices refer to two different terminal device groups, and do not indicate the difference in content, priority or importance of the two terminal device groups. For a technical feature, "A", "B", "C" and "D" are used to distinguish the technical features in the technical feature, and there is no order of precedence or order of size between the technical features described by "A", "B", "C" and "D". For example, the method A and method B in this article are only used to distinguish different conjugate processing methods, and do not limit the order of precedence or order of size, priority or importance, etc. between method A and method B.

[0228] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0229] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0230] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0231] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0232] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the part that essentially contributes to the technical solution of the present application or the part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a RAM, a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0233] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A paging method, characterized in that: include: Determining a first time window, where the first time window is used to paging at least one group of terminal devices; A paging message is received within the first time window, where the paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices, where the first group of terminal devices belong to ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) terminals, and the paging message includes identifiers of the first group of terminal devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Receiving a paging message within a first time window includes: The paging message is continuously or periodically received within the first time window.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: Configuration information is received, where the configuration information is used to indicate the first time window.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The configuration information includes starting position information of the first time window within a period and / or duration information of the first time window.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The configuration information includes the number N of time windows in a cycle, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first time window is the nth time window within the N time windows within a cycle, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The paging message is also used to page a second group of terminal devices, where the second group of terminal devices belong to A-IoT terminals, and the paging message also includes identifiers of the second group of terminal devices.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The paging message further includes a random access parameter, where the random access parameter is used to indicate available random access resources.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The random access parameters include time domain resource information; The time domain resource information includes a second offset and / or first time information, the second offset is used to determine a time domain starting position of the random access resource, and the first time information is used to indicate a duration of the random access resource; or, The time domain resource information includes a coverage level, and the coverage level has a mapping relationship with the time domain resource of the random access resource.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The random access parameter includes frequency domain resource information, and the frequency domain resource information includes position information of the frequency domain resource used for random access or a third offset, and the third offset is used to determine the frequency domain resource for random access.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that The random access parameter includes code domain resource information, and the code domain resource information includes information of a sequence used for random access.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The paging message further includes second time information, where the second time information indicates: ignoring paging messages with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that The paging message further includes a valid identifier, and the valid identifier indicates whether to respond to the paging message with the same terminal device identifier as received.

14. A paging method, characterized in that: include: Determining a first time window, where the first time window is used to paging at least one group of terminal devices; A paging message is sent within the first time window, where the paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices, where the first group of terminal devices belong to ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) terminals, and the paging message includes identifiers of the first group of terminal devices.

15. A paging method, characterized in that: include: Determine a first paging occasion PO, where the first PO is used to paging at least one group of terminal devices; A paging message is sent in the first PO, where the paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices, where the first group of terminal devices belong to ambient Internet of Things A-IoT terminals, and the paging message includes identifiers of the first group of terminal devices.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send configuration information, where the configuration information is used to indicate the first time window.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The configuration information includes starting position information of the first time window within a period and / or duration information of the first time window.

18. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The configuration information includes the number N of time windows in a cycle, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14, 16-18, characterized in that: The paging message is also used to page a second group of terminal devices, where the second group of terminal devices belong to A-IoT terminals, and the paging message also includes identifiers of the second group of terminal devices.

20. The method according to any one of claims 14, 16-19, characterized in that: The paging message further includes a random access parameter, where the random access parameter is used to indicate available random access resources.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein: The random access parameters include time domain resource information; The time domain resource information includes a second offset and / or first time information, the second offset is used to determine a time domain starting position of the random access resource, and the first time information is used to indicate a duration of the random access resource; or, The time domain resource information includes a coverage level, and the coverage level has a mapping relationship with the time domain resource of the random access resource.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that The random access parameter includes frequency domain resource information, and the frequency domain resource information includes position information or a third offset of the frequency domain resource used for random access, and the third offset is used to determine the frequency domain resource for random access.

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that The random access parameter includes code domain resource information, and the code domain resource information includes information of a sequence used for random access.

24. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 23, characterized in that The paging message further includes second time information, where the second time information indicates: ignoring paging messages with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information.

25. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 24, characterized in that The paging message further includes a valid identifier, and the valid identifier indicates whether to respond to the paging message with the same terminal device identifier as received.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processing module, configured to determine a first time window, wherein the first time window is used to page at least one group of terminal devices; A transceiver module is used to receive a paging message within the first time window, where the paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices, where the first group of terminal devices belong to ambient Internet of Things A-IoT terminals, and the paging message includes an identifier of the first group of terminal devices.

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that Receiving a paging message within a first time window includes: The paging message is continuously or periodically received within the first time window.

28. The device according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: Configuration information is received, where the configuration information is used to indicate the first time window.

29. The device according to claim 28, characterized in that The configuration information includes starting position information of the first time window within a period and / or duration information of the first time window.

30. The device according to claim 28, characterized in that The configuration information includes the number N of time windows in a cycle, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

31. The device according to claim 30, characterized in that The first time window is the nth time window within the N time windows within a cycle, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

32. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 31, characterized in that The paging message is also used to page a second group of terminal devices, where the second group of terminal devices belong to A-IoT terminals, and the paging message also includes identifiers of the second group of terminal devices.

33. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 32, characterized in that The paging message further includes a random access parameter, where the random access parameter is used to indicate available random access resources.

34. The device according to claim 33, characterized in that The random access parameters include time domain resource information; The time domain resource information includes a second offset and / or first time information, the second offset is used to determine a time domain starting position of the random access resource, and the first time information is used to indicate a duration of the random access resource; or, The time domain resource information includes a coverage level, and the coverage level has a mapping relationship with the time domain resource of the random access resource.

35. The device according to claim 33 or 34, characterized in that The random access parameter includes frequency domain resource information, and the frequency domain resource information includes position information of the frequency domain resource used for random access or a third offset, and the third offset is used to determine the frequency domain resource for random access.

36. The device according to any one of claims 33 to 35, characterized in that The random access parameter includes code domain resource information, and the code domain resource information includes information of a sequence used for random access.

37. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 36, characterized in that The paging message further includes second time information, where the second time information indicates: ignoring paging messages with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information.

38. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 37, characterized in that The paging message further includes a valid identifier, and the valid identifier indicates whether to respond to the paging message with the same terminal device identifier as received.

39. A paging device, characterized in that: include: A processing module, configured to determine a first time window, wherein the first time window is used to page at least one group of terminal devices; A transceiver module is used to send a paging message within the first time window, where the paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices, where the first group of terminal devices belong to ambient Internet of Things A-IoT terminals, and the paging message includes an identifier of the first group of terminal devices.

40. A paging device, characterized in that: include: A processing module, configured to determine a first paging occasion PO, wherein the first paging occasion PO is used to page at least one group of terminal devices; A transceiver module is used to send a paging message in the first PO, where the paging message is used to page a first group of terminal devices, where the first group of terminal devices belong to ambient Internet of Things A-IoT terminals, and the paging message includes the identifier of the first group of terminal devices.

41. The device according to claim 40, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: Send configuration information, where the configuration information is used to indicate the first time window.

42. The device according to claim 41, characterized in that The configuration information includes starting position information of the first time window within a period and / or duration information of the first time window.

43. The device according to claim 42, characterized in that The configuration information includes the number N of time windows in a cycle, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

44. The device according to any one of claims 39, 42-43, characterized in that The paging message is also used to page a second group of terminal devices, where the second group of terminal devices belong to A-IoT terminals, and the paging message also includes identifiers of the second group of terminal devices.

45. The device according to any one of claims 39, 42-44, characterized in that The paging message further includes a random access parameter, where the random access parameter is used to indicate available random access resources.

46. ​​The device according to claim 45, characterized in that The random access parameters include time domain resource information; The time domain resource information includes a second offset and / or first time information, the second offset is used to determine a time domain starting position of the random access resource, and the first time information is used to indicate a duration of the random access resource; or, The time domain resource information includes a coverage level, and the coverage level has a mapping relationship with the time domain resource of the random access resource.

47. The device according to claim 45 or 46, characterized in that The random access parameter includes frequency domain resource information, and the frequency domain resource information includes position information or a third offset of the frequency domain resource used for random access, and the third offset is used to determine the frequency domain resource for random access.

48. The device according to any one of claims 46 to 47, characterized in that The random access parameter includes code domain resource information, and the code domain resource information includes information of a sequence used for random access.

49. The device according to any one of claims 46 to 48, characterized in that The paging message further includes second time information, where the second time information indicates: ignoring paging messages with the same terminal device identifier received within the time indicated by the second time information.

50. The device according to any one of claims 46 to 49, characterized in that The paging message further includes a valid identifier, and the valid identifier indicates whether to respond to the paging message with the same terminal device identifier as received.

51. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises a processor configured to execute one or more computer programs or instructions so that the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is executed by the communication device, or the method according to any one of claims 14 to 25 is executed by the communication device.

52. A communication system, characterized in that: The method comprises a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the first communication device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, and the second communication device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 14 and 16-25.

53. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: A computer program or instruction is stored, wherein the computer program or instruction is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 14 to 25.

54. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program, and when the computer program is run on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is executed by the computer, or the method according to any one of claims 14 to 25 is executed by the computer.

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