Access method and apparatus

Abstract

An access method and apparatus, which are applied to fields such as an ambient Internet of Things (AIoT). The method comprises: receiving a first message from a network device, wherein the first message indicates X resource units; sending a random access request message in a first resource unit among the X resource units; receiving a second message, wherein the second message indicates that the random access request message in the first resource unit is not successfully received; and sending the random access request message in a second resource unit. By means of the method, terminal devices failing in random access in a first resource unit are instructed by means of a second message to re-initiate random access, such that terminal devices failing in random access in the same resource unit are instructed to re-initiate random access, thereby reducing the number of terminal devices initiating random access, preventing a large number of terminal devices failing in random access from simultaneously re-initiating random access, reducing the probability that the terminal devices failing in random access fail again in random access, and improving the random access efficiency.

Description

Access method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on November 2, 2023, with application number 202311455602.1 and invention name "A Method and Device for Access", 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 an access method and device. Background Art

[0004] When the Internet of Things (IoT) technology is introduced into wireless communication systems, tags within the IoT can act as terminal devices to communicate with the network. In scenarios such as tag inventory, a reader can page the tag using paging signaling. After receiving the paging signaling, the reader uses query signaling to indicate the number of time slots included in an inventory cycle. The tag then independently selects a time slot within the inventory cycle to initiate random access. If two tags select the same time slot to initiate random access using a random access request message, multiple random access request messages will collide, causing random access failure and requiring the tag to wait until the next inventory cycle to initiate random access again. In the next inventory cycle, if a large number of tags failed random access in the previous inventory cycle, the number of tags requiring random access in the next cycle will increase significantly, increasing the probability of random access request message collisions and random access failures in the next cycle, resulting in lower random access efficiency.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides an access method and apparatus to improve random access efficiency.

[0007] In the first aspect, the present application provides an access method, which is applicable to scenarios such as the environmental Internet of Things. The execution subject of the method is a terminal device or a module or chip in the terminal device, and the terminal device is used as the execution subject for description. In the method, a first message is received from a network device, the first message indicates X resource units, X is an integer greater than 0; a first resource unit among the X resource units sends a random access request message; a second message is received from the network device; the second message indicates the first resource unit, wherein the random access request message in the first resource unit fails to be received; and a random access request message is sent in the second resource unit.

[0008] Through the above process, when multiple random access request messages in the first resource unit fail to be received, the first resource unit is indicated by a second message, thereby instructing the terminal device that failed random access in the first resource unit to re-initiate random access. Using this method, terminal devices that failed random access can be grouped according to the granularity of the resource unit, and terminal devices that failed random access in the same resource unit can re-initiate random access, reducing the number of terminal devices that initiate random access and avoiding a large number of terminal devices that failed random access from re-initiating random access at the same time, thereby reducing the probability of terminal devices that failed random access failing again and improving the efficiency of random access.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the second resource unit is one of Y resource units, where Y is an integer greater than 1; the Y resource units are preset or preconfigured; or, the second message includes first indication information, where the first indication information indicates Y resource units.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a third message, and determining the second resource unit among the Y resource units based on the cumulative number of times the third message is received or the resource unit number indicated by the third message; the third message is used to trigger a resource unit.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the third message includes second indication information, where the second indication information indicates a first quantity; before the second resource unit among the Y resource units sends the random access request message, the method further includes: determining that the number of random access failures matches the first number, for example, the number of random access failures is equal to the first number or the first number plus 1.

[0012] Through this method, the third message indicates the first number, and only the terminal devices whose number of random access failures matches the first number respond to the third message and initiate random access again according to the third message. The terminal devices that do not match the first number ignore the third message, thereby grouping the terminal devices according to the number of random access failures, avoiding a large number of terminal devices that have failed random access from re-initiating random access together, further reducing the number of terminal devices that initiate random access, reducing the probability of terminal devices that have failed random access failing to access randomly again, and improving the efficiency of random access.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the second message also includes third indication information, and the third indication information indicates a first quantity; before the second resource unit among the Y resource units sends the random access request message, the method also includes: determining that the number of random access failures matches the first number, for example, the number of random access failures is equal to the first number or the first number plus 1.

[0014] Through this method, the second message indicates the first number, and only the terminal devices whose number of random access failures matches the first number respond to the second message and initiate random access again according to the second message. The terminal devices that do not match the first number ignore the second message, thereby grouping the terminal devices according to the number of random access failures, avoiding a large number of terminal devices that have failed random access from re-initiating random access together, further reducing the number of terminal devices that initiate random access, reducing the probability of terminal devices that have failed random access failing to access randomly again, and improving the efficiency of random access.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the second message is a random access response message, and the second message is scrambled using a random access radio network temporary identifier RA-RNTI.

[0016] In the second aspect, the present application provides an access method, which is applicable to scenarios such as the environmental Internet of Things. The execution subject of the method is a network device or a module or chip in the network device, and the method is described here by taking the network device as the execution subject as an example. In the method, a first message is sent, and the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; the first resource unit among the X resource units fails to receive multiple random access request messages, and sends a second message; the second message indicates the first resource unit, and the random access request message in the first resource unit fails to be received; and the random access request message is received in the second resource unit.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the second resource unit is one of Y resource units, where Y is an integer greater than 1;

[0018] The Y resource units are preset or preconfigured; or, the second message includes first indication information, and the first indication information indicates the Y resource units.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending a third message, the third message including second indication information, the second indication information indicating a first quantity; the third message is used to trigger a terminal device that fails random access in the first resource unit, and the number of random access failures matches the first number to determine the resource unit for initiating random access among the Y resource units, for example, the number of random access failures is equal to the first number or the second number, and the second number is equal to the first number plus 1.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the second message further includes third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the first quantity;

[0021] The second message is also used to instruct a terminal device to re-initiate random access when random access to the first resource unit fails and the number of random access failures matches the first number. For example, the number of random access failures is equal to the first number or the second number, and the second number is equal to the first number plus 1.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the sending the second message includes sending the second message after the first resource unit and before a new resource unit arrives.

[0023] On the third aspect, the present application provides an access method, which is applicable to scenarios such as environmental Internet of Things. The execution subject of the method is a terminal device or a module or chip in the terminal device, and the terminal device is used as the execution subject for description. In the method, a first message is received from a network device, and the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; the first resource unit among the X resource units sends a first random access request message; the first random access request message is used to initiate random access; if the random access fails, the second resource unit among the Z resource units sends a second random access request message; the Z resource units are preset or preconfigured or configured by the network device, and the Z resource units include at least one resource unit located after the first resource unit among the X resource units, and Z is an integer greater than 0.

[0024] Through the above method, after the first terminal device fails in random access, it can select a resource unit from the Z resource units again to initiate random access. Since the Z resource units include resource units in the X resource units, the first terminal device does not need to wait until the next cycle (that is, after waiting for the end of X resource units) to initiate random access after the random access fails, which can reduce the delay of random access and improve the efficiency of random access.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a second message from the network device, the second message indicating P resource units, the P resource units being located after the X resource units, and P being an integer greater than 0; wherein the Z resource units include at least one resource unit among the P resource units.

[0026] In one possible implementation, before the second resource unit among the Z resource units sends the second random access request message, the method further includes: generating a random number A; if A is greater than or equal to Q, using a resource unit among the X resource units located after the first resource unit as the second resource unit; the value of Q is preset or preconfigured.

[0027] In one possible implementation, Z is smaller than X.

[0028] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides an access method, which is applicable to scenarios such as environmental Internet of Things. The execution subject of the method is a network device or a module or chip in the network device, and the network device is used as the execution subject for description. In this method, a first message is sent, and the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; the first resource unit among the X resource units fails to receive the first random access request message, and a fourth message is sent, where the first random access request message comes from a terminal device; the fourth message indicates Z resource units, and instructs the first terminal device to re-initiate random access in the Z resource units, where Z is an integer greater than 0.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the Z resource units include at least one resource unit located after the first resource unit among the X resource units,

[0030] In a fifth aspect, the present application further provides a communication device capable of implementing any of the methods provided in any of the first to fourth aspects. The communication device can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the communication device includes a processor configured to support the communication device in executing the corresponding functions of the network device, terminal device, or core network device in the above-described method. The communication device may also include a memory, which may be coupled to the processor and stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. Optionally, the communication device also includes an interface circuit for supporting communication between the communication device and a device such as a terminal device.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the communication device includes corresponding functional modules for implementing the steps in the above method. The functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the structure of the communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, which can perform the corresponding functions in the above method examples. For details, please refer to the description of the method provided in any one of the first to fourth aspects, which will not be repeated here.

[0034] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is configured to receive signals from a communication device other than the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to transmit signals from the processor to a communication device other than the communication device, wherein the processor implements the functional modules of the method in any possible implementation of any of the first to fourth aspects through logic circuitry or by executing a computer program or instruction. Optionally, the communication device further comprises a memory configured to store the computer program or instruction.

[0035] In the seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a processor, the method in any possible implementation of any aspect of the first to fourth aspects is implemented.

[0036] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product storing instructions is provided, which, when read and executed by a computer, implements the method in any possible implementation of any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0037] In a ninth aspect, a circuit is provided for executing the method in any possible implementation of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the circuit may include a chip circuit. Optionally, the circuit may also be coupled to a memory.

[0038] In a tenth aspect, a chip is provided, comprising a processor. When the processor executes a computer program or instruction, the processor is configured to implement the method of any possible implementation of any of the first to fourth aspects. Optionally, the chip may further include a memory. The chip may be composed of a single chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0039] In the eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor, which implements the method in any possible implementation of any one of the first to fourth aspects through a logic circuit or by executing a computer program or instruction.

[0040] In a twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a unit or module for executing the method in any possible implementation of any one of the first to fourth aspects above.

[0041] In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication system. The communication system includes: a terminal device for implementing the method in the aforementioned first aspect and any possible implementation thereof; and a network device for implementing the method in the aforementioned second aspect and any possible implementation thereof. Alternatively, the communication system includes: a terminal device for implementing the method in the aforementioned third aspect and any possible implementation thereof; and a network device for implementing the method in the aforementioned fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an access network device architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an environmental Internet of Things architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of an inventory process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of an access method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of a message flow provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of a message flow provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of an access method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of a resource unit provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of a resource unit provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of a resource unit provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] FIG16 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. The terms "first", "second" and corresponding terminology labels in this application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the terms used in this way are interchangeable where appropriate, and this is merely a way of distinguishing objects of the same properties when describing the embodiments of the present application. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, so that a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of units is not necessarily limited to those units, but may include other units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0060] The method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to various types of mobile communication systems, for example, the Internet of Things (IoT), narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), the fourth generation (4G) communication system (such as long term evolution (LTE)), the fifth generation (5G) communication system (such as 5G new radio (NR)), the hybrid architecture of LTE and NR, 6G or new communication systems that will emerge in future communication developments, etc. The communication system may also include a machine to machine (M2M) network, a machine type communication (MTC) or other networks. Exemplarily, the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to a communication system that supports ambient IoT (AIoT) technology.

[0061] The methods and devices provided in the embodiments of the present application are based on the same or similar technical concepts. Since the principles of solving problems by the methods and devices are similar, the implementation of the devices and methods can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0062] Below, some terms used in the embodiments of the present application are first explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0063] In the embodiments of the present application, a network device is a device in a wireless network. The network device may also be referred to as a network apparatus, a radio access network device, or an access network device. For example, the network device may be a radio access network (RAN) node that connects a terminal device to a wireless network, and may also be referred to as an access network device. Network equipment includes but is not limited to: base stations, evolved NodeBs (eNodeBs), transmission reception points (TRPs), next generation NodeBs (gNBs) in fifth generation (5G) mobile communication systems, access network equipment in open radio access networks (O-RANs), next generation base stations in sixth generation (6G) mobile communication systems, base stations in future mobile communication systems, or access nodes in wireless fidelity (WiFi) systems, etc.; or it may be a module or unit that completes part of the functions of a base station, for example, a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) module, or a centralized unit user plane (CU-UP) module. The access network equipment may be a macro base station, a micro base station, an indoor station, a relay node, a donor node, etc. The specific technology and specific device form adopted by the network equipment are not limited in this application.

[0064] As shown in Figure 1, in some implementations, network equipment may include a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). RAN equipment, including CU and DU nodes, splits the protocol layers of the gNB in ​​the NR system. Some protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while some or all of the remaining protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU, which is then centrally controlled by the CU. Furthermore, the CU can be divided into a control plane (CU-CP) and a user plane (CU-UP). The CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions, primarily including radio resource control (RRC) and the control plane's corresponding packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) (i.e., PDCP-C). PDCP-C is primarily responsible for encryption, decryption, integrity protection, and data transmission of control plane data. The CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, primarily including the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) and the user plane's corresponding PDCP (i.e., PDCP-U). SDAP is primarily responsible for processing core network data and mapping flows to bearers. The PDCP-U is primarily responsible for data plane encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, and data transmission. The CU-CP and CU-UP are connected via the E1 interface. The CU-CP represents the gNB's connection to the core network via the NG interface and to the DU via the F1 interface control plane (i.e., F1-C). The CU-UP connects to the DU via the F1 interface user plane (i.e., F1-U). Alternatively, the PDCP-C may also reside in the CU-UP.

[0065] It is understandable that in different systems, CU (including CU-CP or CU-UP) or DU may have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open radio access network (O-RAN) 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, and CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP. For convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP and DU as examples. The network device may also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU implements some functions of the gNB, and the DU implements some functions of the gNB. For example, the CU is responsible for processing non-real-time protocols and services and implementing the functions of the RRC layer. The DU is responsible for processing physical layer protocols and real-time services and implementing the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer and the physical (PHY) layer. In some deployments, the CU can be further divided into a Centralized Unit Control Plane (CU-CP) node and a Centralized Unit User Plane (CU-UP) node, where the CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions and the CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions.

[0066] The terminal device involved in the embodiments of the present application may be a wireless terminal device capable of receiving network device scheduling and instruction information. The terminal device may be referred to as a terminal device, and may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc. The terminal device may be a device that includes wireless communication capabilities (providing voice / data connectivity to the user). For example, a handheld device with wireless connection capabilities, or an in-vehicle device, in-vehicle module, etc. Currently, some examples of terminal devices include: mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in the Internet of Vehicles, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, or wireless terminals in smart homes, device-to-device (D2D) communication terminal devices, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication terminal devices, smart vehicles, telematics boxes (T-boxes), machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC) terminal devices, Internet of Things (IoT) The IoT (Internet of Things) terminal devices, etc. For example, the terminal device can be an onboard device, complete vehicle equipment, an onboard module, a vehicle, an onboard unit (OBU), a roadside unit (RSU), a T-box, a chip, or a system on chip (SOC), etc. The above chip or SOC can be installed in the vehicle, OBU, RSU, or T-box. Wireless terminals in industrial control can be cameras, robots, etc. Wireless terminals in smart homes can be TVs, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, speakers, set-top boxes, etc.The terminal device can also be a V2X device, such as a smart car (or intelligent car), a digital car, an unmanned car (or driverless car or pilotless car or automobile), a self-driving car (or autonomous car), a pure electric vehicle (or battery EV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a range extended EV (REEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a new energy vehicle (new energy vehicle), or a roadside unit (RSU). The terminal device can also be a device in device-to-device (D2D) communication, such as an electricity meter, a water meter, etc. In addition, in an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can also be a tag in an IoT system. IoT is an important part of the future development of information technology. Its main technical feature is to connect objects to the network through communication technology, thereby realizing an intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and object-to-object interconnection.

[0067] Tags can also be called electronic tags, RFID tags, or tag devices. Alternatively, tags can also be called AIoT terminal devices or AIoT devices. In this application, tags can also be regarded as a terminal device.

[0068] In one classification method, tags can be divided into passive tags, semi-passive tags, and active tags. Passive tags and semi-passive tags can use a backscatter-based communication method, while active tags use an actively generated carrier communication method.

[0069] Another classification method is to divide tags into the following three types of devices:

[0070] Device A: has no energy storage, cannot generate signals independently, and uses backscattering to transmit signals;

[0071] Device B: It has energy storage but cannot generate signals independently. It uses backscattering to transmit signals, and its stored energy can amplify the reflected signal.

[0072] Device C: has energy storage, can independently generate signals, and has active RF components for transmission.

[0073] The tag in this application can be any of the three types of devices mentioned above.

[0074] The tag uses a low-precision, low-power, medium-to-low-frequency ring oscillator or a completely local oscillator-free method to receive downlink signals. When the tag is operating, the communication energy and carrier are supplied by the reader, and communication is based on the reflected carrier. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the reader can send a carrier signal to the tag, and the tag receives the carrier signal through the antenna. The solid line in the figure represents the carrier signal sent by the reader, and the dotted line represents the reflected signal transmitted by the tag based on the carrier signal. The tag can adjust the information to be transmitted based on the reflected signal. In this way, the tag uses a low-precision, low-power, medium-to-low-frequency ring oscillator or a completely local oscillator-free method to receive downlink signals, which can further reduce the power consumption of the tag's downlink reception.

[0075] The reader / writer involved in this embodiment can be a handheld or fixed device that reads or writes tag information, or can be understood as a device that communicates with tags. The reader / writer can be a terminal device, a network device, or a device with read / write functions. The reader / writer can also be an IAB node or a relay node.

[0076] A tag is a miniature wireless transceiver, which mainly includes a built-in tag device antenna, a coupling element and a chip. The tag chip has a storage space that can support the reader to read or write tag data. After the tag receives the radio frequency signal sent by the reader through the antenna, it can couple the radio frequency signal through the coupling element, and then provide energy to the tag chip within the coupling channel, and feed back the data stored in the chip to the reader through the antenna. A communication network based on cellular network infrastructure, consisting of readers and tags, can be called a passive Internet of Things (IOT) network, or an ambient Internet of Things (IoT), in which the tag device can also be regarded as a terminal device, which can be an active tag device, a passive tag device or a semi-active tag device.

[0077] Environmental IoT systems can be applied to passive or semi-passive IoT scenarios. For example, in logistics and warehousing scenarios, tags can be used to inventory and track goods, and to monitor the status of goods during transportation. In industrial manufacturing scenarios, tags can be used to monitor the environment and equipment status.

[0078] In an environmental IoT system, the following operations can be performed between tags and readers:

[0079] Inventory operation: An inventory operation, also known as an inventory operation, retrieves a tag's identification information. For example, a reader can use commands such as query and acknowledgement (ACK) to obtain this information. To facilitate tag inventory, tags include four session identifiers, S0-S3. Each session identifier corresponds to two inventory states: A and B. The inventory state is indicated by the sessInventoried flag, which can be simply referred to as the flag. When a reader selects a tag, it sends a select signaling message containing the session identifier, which the tag then stores. When the reader performs an inventory operation on the tag, it sends a query signaling message containing the session identifier. The tag then flips the inventory state corresponding to the session identifier from A to B. If the reader sends a query signaling message to perform another inventory operation, the tag will not respond to the reader because its inventory state is B, thus preventing the same tag from being inventoried multiple times during a single inventory cycle.

[0080] Read operation: The read operation can read the electronic product code (EPC) in the tag's storage area, the tag identifier (TID), the content stored in the tag's reserved area, or the content stored in the user storage area.

[0081] Write operation: The write operation can write to the storage area of ​​the tag.

[0082] Kill operation: The kill operation can make the tag unable to work forever.

[0083] Lock Operation: A lock operation can lock the tag's information, preventing read or write operations on the tag. Alternatively, a lock operation can lock a storage area, preventing or allowing read or write operations on the storage area.

[0084] The above are just examples. Other operations can be performed between the tag and the reader, which will not be explained one by one here.

[0085] In this application, predefined content generally refers to information that is defined by standards and does not require additional device configuration. It is pre-recorded / written in the hardware and / or software of the terminal device itself, or it can be understood as not being modifiable by the network device or other terminal devices. Pre-configured content generally refers to information that is pre-recorded / written in the hardware and / or software of the terminal device itself, determined by the equipment manufacturer, and can be modified through software or hardware.

[0086] (Pre) configuration can be divided into network device (pre) configuration and terminal device (pre) configuration. If it is a network device (pre) configuration, it can be (pre) configured through a system information block (SIB) or RRC signaling; if it is a terminal device (pre) configuration, it can be (pre) configured according to PC5-RRC signaling.

[0087] FIG3 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG3 , the communication system includes a network device and a tag. The tag can be a standalone device or integrated with a terminal device, i.e., the tag is part of the terminal device. In this communication system, the network device can have the function of a reader in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, i.e., the network device can function as a reader to communicate with the tag.

[0088] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG4 , the communication system includes a terminal device and a tag. The tag can be a standalone device or integrated with the terminal device. In this communication system, the terminal device can function as a reader / writer in an RFID system, i.e., the terminal device can function as a reader / writer to communicate with the tag.

[0089] FIG5 shows a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG5 , the communication system includes a network device, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, and a tag. The communication system may also include other devices, such as terminal devices. In this communication system, the network device may have the function of a reader / writer in an RFID system, and the IAB node may serve as a relay node between the network device and the tag. The tag transmits information to the IAB node, and the IAB node forwards the information to the network device via the uu interface.

[0090] In the present application, the communication system including the network device, the terminal device and the tag can also be a system with a separated architecture. In this communication system, as shown in FIG6 , the network device and the terminal device can communicate directly with each other. The network device can also have the function of a reader / writer in an RFID system. There is an uplink connection between the tag and the network device, and a downlink connection between the tag and the terminal device. The terminal device can transmit information to the tag, and the tag then forwards the information to the network device. Alternatively, there is a downlink connection between the tag and the network device, and an uplink connection between the tag and the terminal device. The network device can transmit information to the tag, and the tag then forwards the information to the terminal network device. The energy required for the tag to send information can be provided by an excitation signal, and the excitation signal can come from the network device or the terminal device.

[0091] In the AIoT, before a reader can perform an inventory, the tags must connect to the reader through random access. After random access, the tags can report their identification to the reader, allowing the reader to determine the presence of tags within its coverage area. For example, Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of an inventory process, including the following steps.

[0092] The network device or reader in this article can be a base station or a terminal device, such as a 4G, 5G, or 6G terminal.

[0093] Step 701: The reader sends a paging or selection signaling to select or page one or a group of tags for access.

[0094] Paging or select signaling includes mask information or a group identifier. One mask information or group identifier can match multiple tags. If the mask information included in the tag matches the mask information included in the paging or select signaling, it indicates that the tag is selected. If the group identifier included in the tag matches the group identifier included in the paging or select signaling, it indicates that the tag is selected.

[0095] For example, the mask information included in the paging or select signaling is an inventory flag, such as the value of the inventory flag is state A; if the inventory flag of the tag is state A, it is determined to be selected.

[0096] Step 702: The reader sends a query signaling, which is used to initiate an inventory cycle.

[0097] For example, the query signaling includes a value of a parameter Q, where the parameter Q is used to calculate the total number of time slots allocated to the reader.

[0098] Step 703: The tag selects a time slot to send a 16-bit random number (random number 16, RN16) or a random number of other length (the length of the random number can also be indicated in the paging message).

[0099] Here, RN16 is taken as an example. The tag can also send random numbers of other lengths, such as 8-bit random numbers.

[0100] Specifically, the tag can calculate the access time slot range according to the Q value to be [0,2 Q -1], the label generates a [0,2 Q -1], and use this random number as the initial value of the counter. For example, if Q=4, the random number generated by the tag is one in [0,15]. For example, if the random number generated by the tag is 10, the initial value of the counter is 10.

[0101] Each time a tag receives a QueryRep signaling, the counter value is decremented by one. When the counter value reaches 0, the tag can send an RN16, which can be used to trigger the random access process and can serve as a random access request message. The first time slot after the query signaling is time slot 0. If the random number generated by the tag is 0, it can send an RN16 immediately after receiving the query signaling.

[0102] Step 704: If the reader successfully receives the RN16, it will feedback an acknowledgement (ACK) message, which includes the RN16 from the tag.

[0103] The ACK message may also be called a random access response message.

[0104] Step 705: When the tag receives the ACK message including its own RN16, it sends uplink data to the reader.

[0105] When the tag receives an ACK message containing its own RN16, it determines that random access is successful and can then send uplink data. For example, the uplink data can be the tag's electronic product code (EPC). The tag can also flip the inventory flag, for example, from state A to state B.

[0106] If the ACK message received by the tag does not include its own RN16, the tag ignores the ACK message and determines that the random access has failed.

[0107] After the reader receives the uplink data from the tag, it can send a query repeat signaling to trigger the next time slot.

[0108] In the above inventory process, if multiple tags send RN16 in a time slot, a random access conflict occurs, and the reader may not be able to recognize any of the RN16s. All tags that send RN16 in the time slot can only re-access again. Moreover, after the tag collision, it is necessary to wait until the next inventory cycle indicated by the reader, which is a long waiting time. In summary, in the above inventory process, the random access efficiency is not high. To this end, the present application provides a method that can improve the efficiency of random access.

[0109] The network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field will know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0110] When the method provided in the present application is applied to the system in Figures 3 to 6, the method executed by the terminal device in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by the terminal device in Figures 3 to 6 or the module in the terminal device, and the method executed by the network device in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by the network device in Figures 3 to 6 or the module in the network device.

[0111] It can be understood that the present application does not specifically limit the specific structure of the execution subject of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. The method executed by the terminal device in the present application can be applied to the terminal device or a module in the terminal device. The method executed by the network device can be applied to the network device or a module in the network device, and can also be applied to the terminal device or a module in the terminal device. As long as it is possible to communicate according to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application by running a program that records the code of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the interaction between the terminal device and the network device is used as an example for explanation. The terminal device can also be replaced by a tag or device A or device B or device C or AIoT device, and the network device can also be replaced by a reader or terminal device.

[0112] As shown in Figure 8, a schematic diagram of an access method flow provided in an embodiment of the present application is provided. In this method flow, the terminal device can also be replaced by a tag or device A or device B or device C or an AIoT device, and the network device can also be replaced by a reader or terminal device. The method includes:

[0113] Step 801: The network device sends a first message.

[0114] Correspondingly, the first terminal device and the second terminal device receive the first message. This description uses two terminal devices as an example; the number of terminal devices is not limited in this application. In one implementation, the terminal device is a passive or semi-passive device, or an ambient IoT terminal device, such as a tag.

[0115] In one implementation, before sending the first message, the network device may also receive a first paging message from the core network, where the first paging message is used to page at least one terminal device. After receiving the first paging message, the network device sends a second paging message. The second paging message may also be a select message, where the second paging message is used to select or page at least one terminal device for access. The specific message name is not limited.

[0116] The second paging message may include mask information or a group identifier. One mask information or group identifier can match multiple tags. If the mask information included in a tag matches the mask information included in the selection message, it indicates that the tag is selected. Alternatively, if the group identifier included in the tag matches the group identifier included in the selection message, it indicates that the tag is selected.

[0117] The second paging message may include a first flag and a first action indication, that is, the second paging message may be used to instruct the selected tag to perform a first action on the first flag. Specifically, the first action may be to set the first flag to A, B, 1, or 0. The unselected tags may perform the opposite action, that is, to set the first flag to B, A, 0, or 1. Alternatively, the unselected tags may not perform any action.

[0118] Optionally, if the tag has only one flag bit, then there is no need to indicate in the second paging message which flag bit or session to operate on. This operation (indicating a certain flag bit) is possible only if there are multiple flag bits or multiple sessions.

[0119] In this application, the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0. A resource unit in the time domain may include a time unit, which may refer to a time slot, a subframe, or a frame. The lengths of different time units may be the same or different. A resource unit in the frequency domain may include at least one subcarrier. This application does not limit the name of the first message, and the first message may be called a query message or query signaling.

[0120] In this application, the lengths of any two resource units in the time domain may be the same or different. A resource unit is triggered by a trigger message (e.g., a query message or a query repeat message), and the length of a resource unit in the time domain can be the interval between two adjacent trigger messages. That is, the terminal device determines the specific number of resource units based on the number of received trigger messages (such as Query / QueryRep, etc.) or the resource unit number carried in the trigger message.

[0121] This application does not limit how the first message indicates X resource units. For example, the first message includes the value of parameter Q, which is used to determine the number of resource units X. For example, Q = 4, then the total number of resource units is 2 Q -1=16, that is, the first message indicates 16 resource units.

[0122] In one implementation, the first message may include a specific value of the first flag bit; for example, if the first flag bit is A, the first message may include the first flag bit (if the tag supports multiple flag bits) and the value of the first flag bit (such as A), or only include the value of the first flag bit. It is used to indicate the access of a terminal device that matches the value of the first flag bit. For example, if the value of the first flag bit is state A, it means that the query message is used to select the access of a terminal device whose first flag bit is state A. If the flag bit of the terminal device is in state A, which matches the first flag bit, then the terminal device can be determined to be selected; if the flag bit of the terminal device is in state B, which does not match the first flag bit, then the terminal device can be determined not to be selected, and the subsequent steps may be no longer executed.

[0123] The first message and the second paging message may also be combined into one message, that is, the network device selects or pages at least one terminal device and indicates X resource units through one message.

[0124] Step 802: The first terminal device sends a first random access request message to the network device in a first resource unit among X resource units.

[0125] Correspondingly, the network device receives the first random access request message.

[0126] In this application, the first random access request message is used to initiate random access. The first random access request message can be a 16-bit random number RN16, or information such as a preamble. The 16-bit random number RN16 can also be replaced by a random number of other lengths, or a length indicated by a network device, which is not limited in this application.

[0127] In one implementation, if the first message includes a first flag bit, the first terminal device sends a first random access request message when determining that its own flag bit matches the first flag bit.

[0128] This application does not limit how the first terminal device determines the first resource unit from the X resource units. For example, the first message includes Q, and the first terminal device determines that the total number of X resource units is 2 according to Q. Q -1, assuming that these resource units are numbered starting from 0, then the index range of these resource units is [0,2 Q -1], wherein the first message triggers the first resource unit among the X resource units, that is, the reception time of the first message can be the starting time of the first resource unit among the X resource units. The first terminal device generates a range between [0,2 Q -1], the first terminal device can determine the first resource unit according to the random number, and the specific implementation method may be as follows.

[0129] Implementation method one, the first terminal device uses the random number as the initial value of the first counter. Whenever the first terminal device receives a query repetition (QueryRep) message, the value of the first counter is reduced by 1. When the value of the first counter is equal to 0, it can be determined that the resource unit triggered by the query repetition message is the first resource unit. Among them, the query repetition message is used to trigger or update a resource unit. For example, the first query repetition message after the first message triggers the second resource unit among X resource units, and the second query repetition message after the first message triggers the third resource unit among X resource units, and so on for other cases. The first message triggers the first resource unit among X resource units. When the random number is 0, the first resource unit after the first message is the first resource unit, that is, the reception time of the first message can be the starting time of the first resource unit. Specifically, the counter value used to initiate random access can also be other values, such as 1.

[0130] In implementation mode 2, the first terminal device starts counting the first counter from 0, and each time it receives a query repetition message, it adds 1 to the value of the first counter. When the value of the first counter is equal to the random number, it can be determined that the resource unit triggered by the query repetition message is the first resource unit.

[0131] Implementation method three, the query repetition message includes a resource unit index, for example, the resource unit index included in the first query repetition message is 1, indicating that the query repetition message triggers the second resource unit among X resource units, the resource unit number included in the second query repetition message is 2, indicating that the query repetition message triggers the third resource unit among X resource units, and so on for other cases. If the first terminal device determines that the index included in the received query repetition message is equal to the random number generated by the first terminal device, it can be determined that the resource unit triggered by the query repetition message is the first resource unit. For example, the random number generated by the terminal device is 5, if the resource unit index included in the received query repetition message is 5, then the resource unit index matches the random number, thereby determining that the resource unit triggered by the query repetition message is the first resource unit.

[0132] The above is just an example, and the first terminal device may also determine the first resource unit in other ways, which will not be described in detail here. The query repeat message may also have other names, such as the third message, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0133] Step 803: The second terminal device sends a second random access request message to the network device in the first resource unit among the X resource units.

[0134] Correspondingly, the network device receives the second random access request message.

[0135] In the present application, there may be other terminal devices sending random access request messages through the first resource unit. The number of terminal devices sending random access request messages is not limited in the present application.

[0136] In one implementation, the second random access request message and the first random access request message are located in the same time-frequency resource. The time-frequency resource may also include random access request messages of other terminal devices, which is not limited in this application.

[0137] For other contents of step 803 , please refer to step 802 and will not be described again here.

[0138] Since multiple terminal devices send random access request messages in the first resource unit, the network device may not be able to demodulate these random access request messages, resulting in a failure to receive the random access request message. In this case, the network device may perform the following process:

[0139] Step 804: The network device fails to receive multiple random access request messages in the first resource unit and sends a second message.

[0140] Correspondingly, the first terminal device and the second terminal device receive the second message.

[0141] The second message indicates the first resource unit. Optionally, the second message may also indicate a failure to receive a random access request message in the first resource unit, and / or the second message may also instruct a terminal device that failed random access in the first resource unit to re-initiate random access.

[0142] In the present application, the specific name of the second message is not limited. For example, the second message can be called a query slot message or a random access response message. Optionally, the second message can be scrambled with a random access radio network temporary identity (RA-RNTI). For example, RA-RNTI can be a plurality of bits corresponding to a value determined by resources such as the time domain and frequency domain accessed by the terminal device, such as 16 bits. The RA-RNTI name can also be replaced with other names with similar meanings. The specific scrambling can also be to scramble only the CRC part.

[0143] There is no specific limit on how the terminal device determines that random access has failed. For example, the following methods may exist: after sending a random access request message or a random number, no correct random access response message is received, or a timer is started after sending a random access request message or a random number, and when the timer times out, no correct random access response message is received; or after sending a random access request message, a second message associated with its access is received, that is, a second message indicating the first resource unit is received.

[0144] In the present application, the second message may also indicate multiple resource units, for example, the first resource unit and the third resource unit. Accordingly, the second message indicates that the random access request message in the first resource unit and the third resource unit has failed to be received, and / or the second message instructs the terminal device that failed random access in the first resource unit or the third resource unit to re-initiate random access.

[0145] In one implementation, the second message includes first indication information, and the first indication information indicates Y resource units. These Y resource units are used for terminal devices that have failed random access in the first resource unit to re-initiate random access. Y is an integer greater than 1. For example, Y may be greater than or equal to the number of terminal devices that have failed random access in the first resource unit. Specifically, the first indication information may indicate at least one of the following: time domain information of each resource unit in the Y resource units, the time domain information includes: time slot, subframe, frame, or a random access opportunity in the time domain, etc.; frequency domain information of each resource unit in the Y resource units, the frequency domain information includes: carrier, subcarrier number, etc.; code domain information of each resource unit in the Y resource units, the code domain information includes the preamble code or preamble code number used in the random access process. Specifically, the first indication information may indicate at least one of the following: Y time domain units, the units of the time domain units are the same as above; Y frequency domain units, the units of the frequency domain units are the same as above; Y code domain units, the units of the code domain units are the same as above. Alternatively, the first indication information may also indicate x time domain units, y frequency domain units, and z code domain units, where the cumulative sum of x, y, and z is Y, and x, y, and z are all integers greater than or equal to 0.

[0146] In one implementation, the second message also includes third indication information, and the third indication information indicates the first quantity. Optionally, the first quantity may be related to the number of inventory rounds or the number of inventory levels, and the number of levels is related to the number of random access failures of terminal devices initiating random access in the first resource unit. For example, the first quantity may be equal to the number of random access failures of terminal devices. At this time, the second message may also indicate that the terminal devices that failed random access in the first resource unit and whose number of random access failures matches the first number re-initiate random access. The number of random access failures matching the first number may mean that the number of random access failures is equal to the first number or the second number, and the second number is equal to the first number plus 1 or minus 1.

[0147] In the present application, for a terminal device that sends a random access request message in a first resource unit, if a second message is received but a corresponding random access response message is not received, it can be determined that the random access has failed. For example, for a first terminal device, if the first terminal device receives the second message but does not receive a random access response message corresponding to the first random access request message, it can be determined that the random access has failed; wherein the random access response message corresponding to the first random access request message may refer to a random access response message that includes part or all of the content of the first random access request message.

[0148] In this application, after the first terminal device fails in random access, it can initiate random access again. Please refer to the description below for details.

[0149] Step 805: The first terminal device sends a third random access request message in the second resource unit.

[0150] The third random access request message may be the same as or different from the first random access request message, which is not limited in this application.

[0151] The first terminal device may send a third random access request message in a second resource unit among the Y resource units. The Y resource units are preset or preconfigured; or, the Y resource units are indicated by the second message. For details on how the second message indicates the Y resource units, please refer to the previous description and will not be repeated here.

[0152] In the present application, there may be multiple implementations of how the first terminal device determines the second resource unit among the Y resource units. The first terminal device can determine the second resource unit among the Y resource units based on the cumulative number of receptions of the third message or the resource unit number indicated by the third message. Among them, the third message is used to trigger a resource unit, and the reception time of the third message can be understood as the starting time of the resource unit triggered by the third message. The name of the third message is not limited, for example, it can be called a query repetition message or the like.

[0153] In combination with the above description, several implementation methods for determining the second resource unit are given below.

[0154] Implementation method one: after the first terminal device receives the second message, it generates a random number, which is an integer less than Y. The first terminal device uses the random number as the initial value of the second counter. Whenever the first terminal device receives a third message, the value of the second counter is reduced by 1. When the value of the second counter is equal to 0, it can be determined that the resource unit triggered by the third message is the second resource unit. Among them, the second message can trigger or update the first resource unit among Y resource units, the first third message after the second message triggers the second resource unit among Y resource units, and the second third message after the second message triggers the third resource unit among Y resource units, and so on for other cases. When the random number is 0, the first resource unit after the second message is the second resource unit.

[0155] In implementation method 2, after receiving the second message, the first terminal device generates a random number, which is an integer less than Y. The first terminal device starts counting the second counter from 0 and increments the value of the second counter by 1 each time it receives a third message. When the value of the second counter equals the random number, it can be determined that the resource unit triggered by the third message is the second resource unit.

[0156] Implementation method three, the third message includes a resource unit number, for example, the resource unit number included in the first third message is 1, indicating that the third message triggers the second resource unit among Y resource units, and the resource unit number included in the second third message is 2, indicating that the third message triggers the third resource unit among Y resource units, and so on for other cases. After the first terminal device receives the second message, it generates a random number, which is an integer less than Y. If the resource unit number included in the third message received by the first terminal device is equal to the random number generated by the first terminal device, or the random number generated by the first terminal device is equal to the first resource unit number plus one or minus one (that is, a one-to-one correspondence is sufficient), it can be determined that the resource unit triggered by the third message is the second resource unit.

[0157] Optionally, the second message may also include flag information (select a flag) and / or a specific value of the flag, and only trigger access for tags that fail to access and match the flag value. The above is just an example, and the first terminal device may also determine the second resource unit in other ways, which will not be repeated here.

[0158] In the present application, if the second message indicates a first quantity, the first terminal device sends the second random access request message when it determines that the number of random access failures matches the first quantity before sending the second random access request message in the second resource unit; when the first terminal device determines that the number of random access failures does not match the first quantity, it does not send the second random access request message in the second resource unit. The number of random access failures matching the first quantity may mean that the number of random access failures is equal to the first quantity, or the first quantity plus 1, or the first quantity minus 1.

[0159] In the present application, the third message may also indicate the first quantity, for example, the third message includes the second indication information, and the second indication information indicates the first quantity. In this implementation, the resource unit triggered by the third message is used for the terminal device whose number of random access failures matches the first quantity to re-initiate random access. If the third message indicates the first quantity, the first terminal device sends the second random access request message when it determines that the number of random access failures matches the first quantity before sending the second random access request message in the second resource unit; specifically, if the third message indicates the first quantity, the first terminal device randomly selects one resource unit to initiate access from the resource units triggered by the third message whose number of random access failures matches the first quantity. That is, in the aforementioned embodiment, when selecting a certain time domain resource access, a resource unit triggered by the third message that matches the first quantity is selected. When the first terminal device determines that the number of random access failures does not match the first quantity, it does not send the second random access request message in the second resource unit.

[0160] As can be seen from the foregoing description, the network device can indicate the first number through different messages to flexibly instruct the terminal device to re-initiate random access. Several possible implementation methods are given below.

[0161] In a first implementation manner, only the third message indicates the first quantity, and the second message does not indicate the first quantity.

[0162] In this implementation, if a network device fails to receive multiple random access request messages for a resource unit, it sends a second message before a new resource unit arrives. In other words, if the network device determines that a collision has occurred with random access request messages for a resource unit, it needs to send the second message. "Before the new resource unit arrives" can refer to sending the third message.

[0163] In this implementation, the first terminal device receives a third message. If it is determined that the number of random access failures of the first terminal device matches the first number indicated by the third message, random access is initiated in a resource unit triggered by the third message; if it is determined that the number of random access failures of the first terminal device does not match the first number indicated by the third message, the resource unit triggered by the third message is ignored, and random access is not initiated in the resource unit triggered by the third message.

[0164] For example, as shown in Figure 9, the network device indicates 32 resource units through the first message, namely S1, S2, S3, ..., S32; only three resource units are shown in the figure. In addition, the lengths of different resource units in the time domain can be different.

[0165] The first message triggers the first resource unit, namely S1. Assuming that no terminal device initiates random access in S1, or only one terminal device initiates random access, then at the end of the first resource unit, the network device can trigger the next resource unit (ie, S2) through a third message. The first quantity indicated by the third message is 0, that is, only terminal devices with a random access failure count of 0 can initiate a random access process in the resource unit S2 triggered by the third message. Assume that there are 2 terminal devices, namely UE1 and UE2, and the number of random access failures of these two terminal devices is 0, and both choose to initiate random access in S2. After receiving the third message, UE1 sends a random access request message (ie, the first RN16); after receiving the third message, UE2 sends a random access request message (ie, the second RN16).

[0166] The first RN16 and the second RN16 are in the same resource unit and collide. The network device fails to successfully demodulate the first RN16 and the second RN16, so both UE1 and UE2 fail in random access.

[0167] Before updating the resource units, the network device sends a second message. The second message indicates S2 and may also indicate two resource units for re-initiating random access, namely f1 and f2. In other words, the second message instructs a terminal device that failed random access in S2 to re-initiate random access using resource unit f1 or f2. The second message is also used to trigger resource unit f1.

[0168] After receiving the second message, UE1 and UE2 reselect a resource unit from f1 and f2, respectively. Assuming UE1 selects f1, after receiving the second message, UE1 sends a random access request message (i.e., a third RN16) to f1. After receiving the third RN16, the network device sends a corresponding random access response message (not shown). Data can then be transmitted between UE1 and the network device. The specific process is not repeated here.

[0169] After the data transmission between UE1 and the network device is completed, the network device sends a third message again. The resource unit triggered by the third message is f2, and the first number indicated by the third message is 1, that is, only the terminal device with 1 random access failure can initiate a random access process in the resource unit f2 triggered by the third message. At this time, if UE2 selects f2, after UE2 receives the third message, it determines that the number of its random access failures is equal to the first number, then it sends a random access request message (i.e., the fourth RN16) at f2; after the network device receives the fourth RN16, it sends a corresponding random access response message (not shown in the figure). Subsequently, data transmission can be carried out between UE2 and the network device, and the specific process will not be repeated here.

[0170] After the data transmission between UE2 and the network device is completed, the network device sends a third message again. Since the two resource units indicated by the second message have both ended, the resource unit triggered by the third message is now S3. The first quantity indicated by the third message is 0 or there is no first quantity indication. In other words, only terminal devices with a random access failure count of 0 can initiate a random access procedure in resource unit S3 triggered by the third message.

[0171] Similarly, if UE1 and UE2 both send random access request messages at f1, resulting in a random access failure, the network device sends a second message again, the second message indicating f1, and the second message may also indicate Y resource units for re-initiating random access, i.e., the second message instructs the terminal device that failed random access at f1 to re-initiate random access, and the resource units for re-initiating random access are Y resource units. The network device also sends a third message, in which the first quantity indicated by the third message is 2, i.e., the terminal device that failed random access twice can initiate random access through the resource units triggered by the third message.

[0172] In a second implementation, the third message indicates the first quantity, and the second message indicates the first quantity.

[0173] In this implementation, after a network device fails to receive multiple random access request messages for a resource unit, it may not immediately send a second message. Instead, it may wait for a period of time before sending the second message, for example, after the current inventory process completes. After the network device sends the second message and indicates Y resource units via the second message, it may send multiple second messages, for example, Y-1 second messages, each of which is used to trigger one of the Y resource units.

[0174] In this implementation, the first terminal device receives the second message. If it is determined that the number of random access failures of the first terminal device matches the first number indicated by the second message, then one resource unit is randomly selected from the Y resource units indicated by the second message to initiate random access; if it is determined that the number of random access failures of the first terminal device does not match the first number indicated by the second message, then the Y resource units indicated by the second message are ignored, and random access is not initiated among the Y resource units indicated by the second message.

[0175] In this implementation, if the number of random access failures of the first terminal device matches the first number indicated by the second message, when the first terminal device receives the third message, it is determined that the number of random access failures of the first terminal device matches the first number indicated by the third message, and then it is determined that the third message triggers one of the Y resource units. The first terminal device can determine whether to initiate random access in the resource unit triggered by the third message based on the random number generated by itself. When the first terminal device determines that the number of random access failures of the first terminal device does not match the first number indicated by the third message, it is determined that the third message is not used to trigger one of the Y resource units, and the third message can be ignored.

[0176] The second message may trigger the first resource unit corresponding to the first quantity tag, or the second message may trigger the first resource unit among Y resource units.

[0177] For example, as shown in Figure 10, the network device indicates 32 resource units through the first message, namely S1, S2, S3, ..., S32; only three resource units are shown in the figure. In addition, the lengths of different resource units in the time domain can be different.

[0178] The first message triggers the first resource unit, namely S1. Assuming that no terminal device initiates random access in S1, or only one terminal device initiates random access, then at the end of the first resource unit, the network device can trigger the next resource unit (ie, S2) through a third message. The first quantity indicated by the third message is 0, that is, only terminal devices with a random access failure count of 0 can initiate a random access process in the resource unit S2 triggered by the third message. Assume that there are 2 terminal devices, namely UE1 and UE2, and the number of random access failures of these two terminal devices is 0, and both choose to initiate random access in S2. After receiving the third message, UE1 sends a random access request message (ie, the first RN16); after receiving the third message, UE2 sends a random access request message (ie, the second RN16).

[0179] The first RN16 and the second RN16 are in the same resource unit and collide. The network device fails to successfully demodulate the first RN16 and the second RN16, so both UE1 and UE2 fail in random access.

[0180] The network device may send the second message in any resource unit. For example, the network device sends the second message in resource unit S30. The second message indicates S2. The second message may also indicate two resource units f1 and f2 for re-initiating random access. The second message is also used to trigger resource unit f1.

[0181] After receiving the second message, UE1 and UE2 reselect a resource unit from f1 and f2, respectively. Assuming UE1 selects f1, after receiving the second message, UE1 sends a random access request message (i.e., a third RN16) to f1. After receiving the third RN16, the network device sends a corresponding random access response message (not shown). Data can then be transmitted between UE1 and the network device. The specific process is not repeated here.

[0182] After the data transmission between UE1 and the network device is completed, the network device sends a third message again. The resource unit triggered by the third message is f2, and the first number indicated by the third message is 1, that is, only the terminal device with 1 random access failure can initiate a random access process in the resource unit f2 triggered by the third message. At this time, if UE2 selects f2, after UE2 receives the third message, it determines that the number of its random access failures is equal to the first number, then it sends a random access request message (i.e., the fourth RN16) at f2; after the network device receives the fourth RN16, it sends a corresponding random access response message (not shown in the figure). Subsequently, data transmission can be carried out between UE2 and the network device, and the specific process will not be repeated here.

[0183] After the data transmission between UE2 and the network device is completed, the network device sends a third message again. Since both resource units indicated by the second message have ended, the resource unit triggered by the third message is now S31, and the first quantity indicated by the third message is 0. In other words, only terminal devices with zero random access failures can initiate a random access procedure in resource unit S31 triggered by the third message.

[0184] In another example, combined with Figure 10, assuming that UE3 and UE4, the two terminal devices, have the same number of random access failures of 0, and both choose to initiate random access in S3, UE3 sends a random access request message (ie, the fifth RN16); UE4 sends a random access request message (ie, the sixth RN16).

[0185] The fifth RN16 and the sixth RN16 are in the same resource unit and collide. The network device fails to successfully demodulate the fifth RN16 and the sixth RN16, so both UE3 and UE4 fail in random access.

[0186] The network device may send the second message in any resource unit. For example, the network device sends the second message in resource unit S30. The second message indicates S2 and S3. The first quantity indicated by the second message is 1. The second message may also indicate four resource units for re-initiating random access, namely, f1, f2, S23, and S24. The second message is also used to trigger resource unit f1.

[0187] After receiving the second message, UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4 reselect a resource unit from f1, f2, f3, and f4, respectively. Assuming UE1 selects f1, UE1 sends a third RN16 at f1. The network device sends a third message, where the first quantity indicated by the third message is 1, triggering resource unit f2.

[0188] Assume that UE2 and UE3 select f2, UE2 sends the fourth RN16 at f2, and UE3 sends the seventh RN16 at f2. The fourth RN16 and the seventh RN16 are in the same resource unit and collide. The network device fails to demodulate the fourth RN16 and the seventh RN16, so both UE2 and UE3 fail random access.

[0189] The network device then sends a third message indicating a first quantity of 1, which triggers resource unit f3. At this time, since the number of random access failures of UE2 and UE3 is 2, only UE4 can initiate random access through f3. The specific process is not repeated here.

[0190] If the random access of the first terminal device is successful, the first terminal device can send uplink data to the network device, such as sending the first EPC data of the first terminal device, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0191] After the data transmission between the first terminal device and the network device is completed, the second terminal device can initiate random access again. Please refer to the following description for details.

[0192] Step 806: The second terminal device sends a fourth random access request message in a fourth resource unit.

[0193] The fourth random access request message may be the same as or different from the second random access request message, which is not limited in this application.

[0194] The second terminal device may send a fourth random access request message in a fourth resource unit among the Y resource units. The fourth resource unit may be the same as or different from the second resource unit, which is not limited in this application.

[0195] If the random access of the second terminal device is successful, the second terminal device can send uplink data to the network device, such as sending data such as the second EPC of the second terminal device, which is not limited in this application.

[0196] Through the above process, when multiple random access request messages in the first resource unit fail to be received, the first resource unit is indicated via a second message, thereby instructing terminal devices that failed random access in the first resource unit to re-initiate random access. Using this method, terminal devices that failed random access can be grouped according to resource unit granularity, and terminal devices that failed random access in the same resource unit can re-initiate random access. This prevents a large number of terminal devices that failed random access from re-initiating random access at the same time, reduces the probability of terminal devices that failed random access failing again, and improves random access efficiency.

[0197] Optionally, in a scenario where the terminal device supports a flag bit, the flag bit is reversed after data transmission is completed to avoid repeated access.

[0198] The present application also provides another method, which can determine the time for random access again when the terminal device fails in random access or a collision occurs, thereby reducing the delay of random access, which will be described in detail below.

[0199] As shown in FIG11 , a schematic diagram of an access method flow provided in an embodiment of the present application is provided. In this method flow, the terminal device can also be replaced by a tag, and the network device can also be replaced by a reader / writer. The method includes:

[0200] Step 1101: The network device sends a first message.

[0201] Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first message. This description uses one terminal device as an example; the number of terminal devices is not limited in this application. In one implementation, the terminal device is a passive device or a semi-passive device, or an environmental IoT terminal device, such as a tag.

[0202] The first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0. This application does not limit how the first message indicates X resource units. For example, reference may be made to the description in step 801. This application does not limit the name of the first message. The first message may be referred to as a query message or query signaling.

[0203] For other contents of step 1101, please refer to the description of step 801 and will not be repeated here.

[0204] Step 1102: The first terminal device sends a first random access request message to the network device in a first resource unit among X resource units.

[0205] Correspondingly, the network device receives the first random access request message.

[0206] In this application, the first random access request message is used to initiate random access. The first random access request message can be a 16-bit random number RN16, or information such as a preamble. The 16-bit random number RN16 can also be replaced by a random number of other lengths, which is not limited in this application.

[0207] This application does not limit how the first terminal device determines the first resource unit from the X resource units. For example, please refer to the description in step 802.

[0208] In the present application, there may be other terminal devices sending random access request messages through the first resource unit. The number of terminal devices sending random access request messages is not limited in the present application.

[0209] For other contents of step 1102, please refer to the description in step 802 and will not be repeated here.

[0210] Optionally, step 1103: the network device fails to receive the first random access request message in the first resource unit and sends a fourth message.

[0211] Among them, the fourth message indicates Z resource units and instructs the terminal device that failed random access in the first resource unit to re-initiate random access in Z resource units, where Z is an integer greater than 0. The fourth message can indicate the value of Z or the index range of Z resource units, which is not limited in this application.

[0212] The fourth message may be a system message or a random access response message, which is not limited in this application. If the fourth message is a random access response message, the fourth message does not include the content of the first random access request message, that is, the random access response message at this time is not a message used to indicate that the first terminal device has successfully accessed the random access.

[0213] Step 1103 is an optional step, and the network device may not send the fourth message, which is not limited in this application.

[0214] Step 1104: If the random access fails, the first terminal device sends a second random access request message in a second resource unit among the Z resource units.

[0215] Correspondingly, the network device receives the second random access request message.

[0216] The second random access request message is used to initiate random access. The second random access request message may be the same as or different from the first random access request message, and this application does not limit this. The Z resource units are preset, preconfigured, or configured by a network device. The size relationship between Z and X is not limited; Z may be less than X, greater than X, or equal to X.

[0217] If the first terminal device does not receive the random access response message corresponding to the first random access request message, it can be determined that the random access has failed. If the first terminal device determines that the random access has failed, it can use any of the following methods to perform random backoff.

[0218] In implementation method 1, the first terminal device generates a random number A and compares A with Q. The value of Q is preset or preconfigured or configured by the network device (for example, the network device configures the value of Q through a system message or a paging message). The value of Q can also be determined autonomously by the first terminal device.

[0219] If A is greater than or equal to Q, the Z resource units include at least one resource unit located after the first resource unit among the X resource units, that is, after the first terminal device fails in random access, it can select a resource unit from the X resource units allocated by the first message to re-initiate random access. Therefore, the first terminal device can use a resource unit located after the first resource unit among the X resource units as the second resource unit; the above-mentioned Z resource units may also include resource units after the X resource units, and the number of Z resource units is not limited.

[0220] If A is less than Q, then wait for the next round of random access. For example, the first terminal device receives a second message from the network device. The second message here may be a query message, and the second message may indicate P resource units, where the P resource units are located after the X resource units. The first terminal device may use the P resource units as Z resource units and select one resource unit from them as the second resource unit. The specific process is not limited and will not be repeated here.

[0221] For example, as shown in FIG12 , taking the resource unit as a time slot, the network device allocates X=5 time slots, namely S0 to S4, through the first message; each time slot is triggered by a query repetition message.

[0222] After receiving the first message, the UE sends a first random access request message via S2. If the UE does not receive a random access response message, it determines that the random access has failed. After the random access fails, the UE generates a random number A between [0-1], assuming Q = 0.5.

[0223] If A is greater than or equal to 0.5, then the Z time slots are S3 to S4. That is, the UE selects another time slot from S3 to S4 and sends a second random access request message in the selected time slot. If A is less than 0.5, the UE does not re-initiate random access in S3 to S4. The above description uses S3 to S4 as an example. However, Z time slots can also be S3 to S5 or S3 to S6, and the position of Z time slots is not limited.

[0224] When S4 ends, the network device allocates P=6 time slots, namely S5 to S10, through the second message. S5 is located after S4.

[0225] The UE selects a time slot from S5 to S10 and sends a second random access request message in the selected time slot.

[0226] In the first implementation, the positions of "A is greater than or equal to Q" and "A is less than Q" can also be swapped, while other contents remain unchanged. The specific process will not be repeated here.

[0227] Implementation method 2: After the first terminal device fails to randomly access the first resource unit, it reselects a resource unit from the Z resource units as the second resource unit and sends a second random access request message in the second resource unit.

[0228] In this implementation, the Z resource units are preset or preconfigured, and the Z resource units may include resource units allocated by multiple query messages.

[0229] For example, in conjunction with the previous Figure 12, as shown in Figure 13, assuming that Z = 5 is preset or preconfigured, then the Z time slots are S3 to S7. The UE sends a first random access request message through S2. If the UE determines that the random access has failed, the UE can reselect a resource unit from the five resource units following the second resource unit to initiate random access. In Figure 12, the UE can select a time slot from S3 to S7 and send a second random access request message in the selected time slot.

[0230] Implementation method three: the network device indicates Z resource units through a fourth message, and the first terminal device sends a second random access request message in one of the Z resource units indicated by the network device.

[0231] For example, in conjunction with the previous Figure 12, as shown in Figure 14, the UE sends a first random access request message through S2, and the UE determines that random access has failed. If the UE receives a fourth message, the fourth message indicates Z = 6, or the fourth message indicates that the index range of the Z resource units is S3 to S8, the UE can select a time slot from S3 to S8 and send a second random access request message in the selected time slot.

[0232] In the above process, after step 1104, there may be other message interactions, which are not limited in this application and will not be described in detail here.

[0233] Through the above method, after the first terminal device fails in random access, it can select a resource unit from the Z resource units again to initiate random access, which can reduce the delay of random access and improve the efficiency of random access.

[0234] It is understood that in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the terminal device or network device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and method steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or in a manner driven by computer software depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0235] The following is a schematic diagram of the structure of possible communication devices provided in the embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiments.

[0236] As shown in Figure 15, a communication device 1500 includes a processing unit 1510 and a communication unit 1520. The communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device or network device in each of the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0237] When the communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the first terminal device:

[0238] In one implementation, the communication device 1500 is configured to implement the following functions:

[0239] a processing unit, configured to receive a first message from a network device through a communication unit, where the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; and send a random access request message in a first resource unit among the X resource units;

[0240] A processing unit is configured to receive a second message from the network device through a communication unit; the second message indicates the first resource unit, wherein the random access request message in the first resource unit fails to be received; and send the random access request message in the second resource unit.

[0241] The second resource unit is one of Y resource units, where Y is an integer greater than 1;

[0242] The Y resource units are preset or preconfigured;

[0243] Alternatively, the second message includes first indication information, and the first indication information indicates the Y resource units.

[0244] In one implementation, the communication unit is further configured to:

[0245] Receive a third message and determine the second resource unit among the Y resource units based on the cumulative number of times the third message is received or the resource unit number indicated by the third message; the third message is used to trigger a resource unit.

[0246] In one implementation, the third message includes second indication information, where the second indication information indicates the first quantity;

[0247] Before the second resource unit among the Y resource units sends the random access request message, the processing unit is further configured to:

[0248] It is determined that the number of random access failures matches the first number.

[0249] In one implementation, the second message further includes third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the first quantity;

[0250] Before the second resource unit among the Y resource units sends the random access request message, the processing unit is further configured to:

[0251] It is determined that the number of random access failures matches the first number.

[0252] In one implementation, the communication device 1500 is configured to implement the following functions:

[0253] a processing unit, configured to send a first message through a communication unit, where the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; a first resource unit among the X resource units fails to receive multiple random access request messages, and sends a second message; the second message indicates the first resource unit, where the random access request message in the first resource unit fails to be received;

[0254] The processing unit is configured to receive the random access request message in the second resource unit through the communication unit.

[0255] The communication unit is further configured to:

[0256] A third message is sent, the third message including second indication information, the second indication information indicating a first quantity; the third message is used to trigger a random access failure in the first resource unit, and the terminal device whose number of random access failures matches the first number determines the resource unit for initiating random access among the Y resource units.

[0257] In one implementation, the second message further includes third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the first quantity;

[0258] The second message is also used to instruct a terminal device that fails random access in the first resource unit and whose number of random access failures matches the first number to re-initiate random access.

[0259] In one implementation, the communication device 1500 is configured to implement the following functions:

[0260] a processing unit, configured to receive, through a communication unit, a first message from a network device, the first message indicating X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; a first resource unit among the X resource units sending a first random access request message, wherein the first random access request message is used to initiate random access;

[0261] The processing unit is configured to send a second random access request message in a second resource unit among the Z resource units through the communication unit if the random access fails; the Z resource units are preset or preconfigured or configured by the network device, the Z resource units include at least one resource unit located after the first resource unit among the X resource units, and Z is an integer greater than 0.

[0262] The communication unit is further configured to:

[0263] receiving a second message from the network device, where the second message indicates P resource units, where the P resource units are located after the X resource units, and P is an integer greater than 0;

[0264] The Z resource units include at least one resource unit among the P resource units.

[0265] In one implementation, before the second resource unit among the Z resource units sends the second random access request message, the processing unit is further used to: generate a random number A; if A is greater than or equal to Q, use a resource unit among the X resource units located after the first resource unit as the second resource unit; the value of Q is preset or preconfigured.

[0266] In one implementation, the communication device 1500 is configured to implement the following functions:

[0267] a processing unit, configured to send a first message through a communication unit, where the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0;

[0268] The processing unit is configured to send a fourth message when the communication unit fails to receive the first random access request message in the first resource unit among the X resource units, where the first random access request message comes from the terminal device; the fourth message indicates Z resource units and instructs the first terminal device to re-initiate random access in the Z resource units, where Z is an integer greater than 0.

[0269] A more detailed description of the processing unit 1510 and the communication unit 1520 can be directly obtained by referring to the relevant descriptions in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0270] It should be understood that the division of units in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into one physical entity, or physically separated. Moreover, the units in the device can all be implemented in the form of software called through processing elements; or all be implemented in the form of hardware; or some units can be implemented in the form of software called through processing elements, and some units can be implemented in the form of hardware. For example, each unit can be a separately established processing element, or it can be integrated into a certain chip of the device. In addition, it can also be stored in the form of a program in a memory, called by a certain processing element of the device and execute the function of the unit. In addition, all or part of these units can be integrated together, or they can be implemented independently. The processing element here can also be a processor, which can be an integrated circuit with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each operation of the above method or each unit above can be implemented by the integrated logic circuit of the hardware in the processor element or by software called through the processing element.

[0271] In one example, the unit in any of the above devices may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above method, such as one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more digital singnal processors (DSPs), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. For another example, when the unit in the device can be implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler, the processing element can be a processor, such as a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), or other processor that can call a program. For another example, these units can be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0272] The above-mentioned receiving unit is an interface circuit of the device, which is used to receive signals from other devices. For example, when the device is implemented as a chip, the receiving unit is the interface circuit of the chip used to receive signals from other chips or devices. The above-mentioned sending unit is an interface circuit of the device, which is used to send signals to other devices. For example, when the device is implemented as a chip, the sending unit is the interface circuit of the chip used to send signals to other chips or devices.

[0273] As another possible product form, the terminal device or network device of the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by a general bus architecture. For ease of explanation, refer to Figure 16, which is a structural diagram of a communication device 1600 provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein the communication device 1600 includes a processor 1601 and a transceiver 1602. The communication device 1600 can be a terminal device, or a chip or chip system therein; or, the communication device 1600 can be a network device, or a chip or module therein. Figure 16 only shows the main components of the communication device 1600. In addition to the processor 1601 and the transceiver 1602, the communication device 1600 can further include a memory 1603, and an input and output device (not shown in the figure).

[0274] Optionally, processor 1601 is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, as well as control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process software program data. Memory 1603 is primarily used to store software programs and data. Transceiver 1602 may include a radio frequency circuit and an antenna. The radio frequency circuit is primarily used to convert baseband signals into radio frequency signals and process radio frequency signals. The antenna is primarily used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as a touch screen, display, and keyboard, are primarily used to receive user input and output data to the user.

[0275] Optionally, the processor 1601 , the transceiver 1602 , and the memory 1603 may be connected via a communication bus.

[0276] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 1601 can read the software program in the memory 1603, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be sent wirelessly, the processor 1601 performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the radio frequency signal to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1601. The processor 1601 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0277] In another implementation, the RF circuit and antenna can be set independently of the processor performing baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the RF circuit and antenna can be arranged remotely from the communication device.

[0278] In some embodiments, in terms of hardware implementation, those skilled in the art may conceive that the above-mentioned communication device 1500 may take the form of the communication device 1600 shown in FIG. 16 .

[0279] As an example, the functions / implementation process of the processing unit 1510 in FIG15 may be implemented by the processor 1601 in the communication device 1600 shown in FIG16 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1603. The functions / implementation process of the communication unit 1520 in FIG15 may be implemented by the transceiver 1602 in the communication device 1600 shown in FIG16.

[0280] As another possible product form, the terminal device or network device in this application may adopt the structure shown in Figure 17, or include the components shown in Figure 17. Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 1700 provided in this application.

[0281] As shown in FIG17 , a communication device 1700 includes at least one processor 1701. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface 1702.

[0282] When the program instructions are executed in the at least one processor 1701, the apparatus 1700 can implement the method provided in any of the aforementioned embodiments and any possible designs thereof. Alternatively, the processor 1701 implements the method provided in any of the aforementioned embodiments and any possible designs thereof through logic circuits or by executing code instructions.

[0283] The communication interface 1702 may be used to receive program instructions and transmit them to the processor. Alternatively, the communication interface 1702 may be used for communication between the communication device 1700 and other communication devices, such as exchanging control signaling and / or service data. Exemplarily, the communication interface 1702 may be used to receive signals from devices other than the communication device 1700 and transmit them to the processor 1701, or to send signals from the processor 1701 to other communication devices other than the communication device 1700.

[0284] Optionally, the communication interface 1702 may be a code and / or data read / write interface circuit, or the communication interface 1702 may be a signal transmission interface circuit between a communication processor and a transceiver, or a pin of a chip.

[0285] Optionally, the communication device 1700 may further include at least one memory 1703, which may be used to store required program instructions and / or data. It should be noted that the memory 1703 may exist independently of the processor 1701 or may be integrated with the processor 1701. The memory 1703 may be located within the communication device 1700 or outside the communication device 1700, without limitation.

[0286] Optionally, the communication device 1700 may further include a power supply circuit 1704, which may be used to supply power to the processor 1701. The power supply circuit 1704 may be located in the same chip as the processor 1701, or in another chip other than the chip where the processor 1701 is located.

[0287] Optionally, the communication device 1700 may further include a bus, and various parts of the communication device 1700 may be interconnected via the bus.

[0288] In some embodiments, in terms of hardware implementation, those skilled in the art may conceive that the communication device 1500 shown in FIG. 15 may take the form of the communication device 1700 shown in FIG. 17 .

[0289] As an example, the functions / implementation process of the processing unit 1510 in FIG15 can be implemented by the processor 1701 in the communication device 1700 shown in FIG17 calling the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1703. The functions / implementation process of the communication unit 1520 in FIG15 can be implemented by the communication interface 1702 in the communication device 1700 shown in FIG17.

[0290] It should be noted that the structure shown in FIG17 does not constitute a specific limitation on the terminal device or network device. For example, in other embodiments of the present application, the terminal device or network device may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine or split certain components, or arrange the components differently. The components shown in the figure may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0291] When the communication device is a chip used in a terminal, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal in the above method embodiments. The terminal chip receives information from other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or antenna), and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal; or the terminal chip sends information to other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station.

[0292] When the above-mentioned communication device is a module applied to a base station, the base station module implements the functions of the base station in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The base station module receives information from other modules in the base station (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station; or the base station module sends information to other modules in the base station (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal. The base station module here can be the baseband chip of the base station, or it can be a DU or other module. The DU here can be a DU under the open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture.

[0293] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0294] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also exist in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

[0295] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; an optical medium, such as a digital video disk; or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0296] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0297] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application can adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application can adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0298] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each flow and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the flow chart and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more flow charts and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0299] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a product including an instruction device that implements the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0300] 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. An access method, characterized in that: include: Receiving a first message from a network device, wherein the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; Sending a random access request message in a first resource unit among the X resource units; receiving a second message from the network device; the second message indicating the first resource unit, wherein a random access request message in the first resource unit fails to be received; The random access request message is sent in the second resource unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The second resource unit is one resource unit among Y resource units, where Y is an integer greater than 1; The Y resource units are preset or preconfigured; Alternatively, the second message includes first indication information, and the first indication information indicates the Y resource units.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive a third message, and determine the second resource unit among the Y resource units according to the cumulative number of times the third message is received or the resource unit number indicated by the third message; the third message is used to trigger a resource unit.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The third message includes second indication information, where the second indication information indicates a first quantity; Before the second resource unit among the Y resource units sends the random access request message, the method further includes: It is determined that the number of random access failures matches the first number.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The second message further includes third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the first quantity; Before the second resource unit among the Y resource units sends the random access request message, the method further includes: It is determined that the number of random access failures matches the first number.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The second message is a random access response message, and the second message is scrambled by a random access radio network temporary identifier RA-RNTI.

7. An access method, characterized in that: include: Sending a first message, where the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; A first resource unit among the X resource units fails to receive multiple random access request messages, and sends a second message; the second message indicates the first resource unit, wherein the random access request message in the first resource unit fails to be received; The random access request message is received in the second resource unit.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: A third message is sent, the third message including second indication information, the second indication information indicating a first quantity; the third message is used to trigger a random access failure in the first resource unit, and a terminal device whose number of random access failures matches the first number determines a resource unit for initiating random access among the Y resource units.

9. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that: The second message further includes third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the first quantity; The second message is also used to instruct a terminal device that fails in random access to the first resource unit and whose number of random access failures matches the first number to re-initiate random access.

10. An access method, characterized in that: include: Receiving a first message from a network device, wherein the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; Sending a first random access request message in a first resource unit among the X resource units; the first random access request message is used to initiate random access; If the random access fails, sending a second random access request message in a second resource unit among the Z resource units; The Z resource units are preset or preconfigured or configured by the network device, the Z resource units include at least one resource unit located after the first resource unit among the X resource units, and Z is an integer greater than 0.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive a second message from the network device, the second message indicating P resource units, the P resource units being located at After the X resource units, P is an integer greater than 0; The Z resource units include at least one resource unit among the P resource units.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that: Before the second resource unit among the Z resource units sends the second random access request message, the method further includes: Generate a random number A; If A is greater than or equal to Q, a resource unit located after the first resource unit among the X resource units is used as the second resource unit; the value of Q is preset or preconfigured.

13. An access method, characterized in that: include: Sending a first message, where the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; The first resource unit among the X resource units fails to receive the first random access request message and sends a fourth message, where the first random access request message comes from a terminal device; the fourth message indicates Z resource units and instructs the first terminal device to re-initiate random access in the Z resource units, where Z is an integer greater than 0; the Z resource units include at least one resource unit among the X resource units that is located after the first resource unit.

14. A communication device, characterized in that: include A processing unit, configured to receive a first message from a network device through a communication unit, wherein the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; and a first resource unit among the X resource units sends a random access request message; A processing unit is used to receive a second message from the network device through a communication unit; the second message indicates the first resource unit, wherein the random access request message in the first resource unit fails to be received; and the random access request message is sent in the second resource unit.

15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that The second resource unit is one resource unit among Y resource units, where Y is an integer greater than 1; The Y resource units are preset or preconfigured; Alternatively, the second message includes first indication information, and the first indication information indicates the Y resource units.

16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that The communication unit is also used for: Receive a third message, and determine the second resource unit among the Y resource units according to the cumulative number of times the third message is received or the resource unit number indicated by the third message; the third message is used to trigger a resource unit.

17. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that The third message includes second indication information, where the second indication information indicates a first quantity; Before the second resource unit among the Y resource units sends the random access request message, the processing unit is further configured to: It is determined that the number of random access failures matches the first number.

18. The device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that The second message further includes third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the first quantity; Before the second resource unit among the Y resource units sends the random access request message, the processing unit is further configured to: It is determined that the number of random access failures matches the first number.

19. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processing unit, configured to send a first message through a communication unit, where the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; a first resource unit among the X resource units fails to receive multiple random access request messages, and sends a second message; the second message indicates the first resource unit, where the random access request message in the first resource unit fails to be received; The processing unit is configured to receive the random access request message in the second resource unit through the communication unit.

20. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that The communication unit is also used for: A third message is sent, the third message including second indication information, the second indication information indicating a first quantity; the third message is used to trigger a random access failure in the first resource unit, and a terminal device whose number of random access failures matches the first number determines a resource unit for initiating random access among the Y resource units.

21. The device according to any one of claims 19 to 20, characterized in that The second message further includes third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the first quantity; The second message is also used to indicate that random access fails in the first resource unit, and the number of random access failures is equal to the first number. The terminal devices with matching quantity re-initiate random access.

22. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processing unit, configured to receive a first message from a network device through a communication unit, wherein the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; a first resource unit among the X resource units sends a first random access request message; and the first random access request message is used to initiate random access; The processing unit is configured to send a second random access request message in a second resource unit among the Z resource units through the communication unit if the random access fails; The Z resource units are preset or preconfigured or configured by the network device, the Z resource units include at least one resource unit located after the first resource unit among the X resource units, and Z is an integer greater than 0.

23. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that The communication unit is also used for: receiving a second message from the network device, the second message indicating P resource units, the P resource units being located after the X resource units, where P is an integer greater than 0; The Z resource units include at least one resource unit among the P resource units.

24. The device according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that Before the second resource unit among the Z resource units sends the second random access request message, the processing unit is further configured to: Generate a random number A; If A is greater than or equal to Q, a resource unit located after the first resource unit among the X resource units is used as the second resource unit; the value of Q is preset or preconfigured.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processing unit, configured to send a first message through a communication unit, where the first message indicates X resource units, where X is an integer greater than 0; The processing unit is configured to send a fourth message when the communication unit fails to receive the first random access request message in the first resource unit among the X resource units, where the first random access request message comes from a terminal device; the fourth message indicates Z resource units and instructs the first terminal device to re-initiate random access in the Z resource units, where Z is an integer greater than 0.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: including a processor and a memory; The processor is used to execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory, so that the communication device implements the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: A computer program or instruction is stored, and when the computer program or instruction is executed on a computer, the computer is caused to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

28. A chip, characterized in that: The chip comprises a processor, which is coupled to a memory and is used to execute a computer program or instruction stored in the memory, so that the chip implements the method described in any one of claims 1 to 13.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that When a computer reads and executes the computer program product, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is executed.

30. A communication system, characterized in that: Comprising a terminal device and a network device; wherein the terminal device is used to implement the method described in any one of claims 1 to 6; and the network device is used to implement the method described in any one of claims 7 to 9; Alternatively, the terminal device is used to implement the method described in any one of claims 10 to 12; and the network device is used to implement the method described in claim 13.

Images