Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a terminal device sending first information to a network device or receiving second information from the network device, and starting a first timer; and when determining that the first timer times out and that no third information is received from the network device, the terminal device executing one or more of the following: disconnecting a connection with the network device on an AS; and entering a first state, wherein when being in the first state, the terminal device only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, the downlink trigger message comprising a query message or a selection message. Compared with the method in which a transmission terminal device determines the quality of a link on the basis of a measurement reference signal received power, the method in which a terminal device determines, on the basis of a first timer, whether a link is abnormal is simpler, and can reduce the processing complexity.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on November 14, 2023, with application number 202311522043.1 and application name "A Communication Method and Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0004] During the communication process, it is inevitable that the quality of the wireless link will be poor, resulting in data transmission interruption or a high data parsing error rate. Therefore, the communication equipment needs to detect the link quality. For example, the terminal device can detect the link quality between the terminal device and the access network device. The radio link monitoring (RLM) mechanism of traditional terminal devices is based on measuring the received power of the reference signal on the reference signal resource to judge the link quality. For some terminal devices with lower processing complexity, such as Internet of Things (IoT) terminal devices, the RLM mechanism of traditional terminal devices cannot be used, or the RLM mechanism of traditional terminal devices is more complex than that of IoT terminal devices. There is no corresponding RLM solution for IoT terminal devices, which results in the IoT terminal device still continuing service transmission by default or performing invalid service transmission in the case of link abnormality, wasting system resources.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for simplifying the process of detecting whether a link is abnormal by a terminal device, reducing processing complexity, and improving the utilization of system resources.

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

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

[0009] The communication method includes: the terminal device sends a first message to the network device or receives a second message from the network device, and starts a first timer; the terminal device determines that the first timer has timed out and has not received a third message from the network device, and performs one or more of the following: disconnecting from the network device at the access stratum (AS); entering a first state, wherein when the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message.

[0010] In this method, the terminal device determines whether the link is abnormal based on a first timer. If the terminal device starts the first timer after sending the first message or receiving the second message, and does not receive the third message within the first timer's duration, the link quality is determined to be poor and abnormal. Compared to the method in which the transmitting terminal device determines link quality based on measuring the block error rate (BLER) or received power of the reference signal, this method is simpler and can reduce processing complexity.

[0011] In one implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device sending a first message to the network device, the first message being used to indicate a link anomaly on the terminal device. By informing the network device of the link anomaly on the terminal device through the first message, the network device can be assisted in adopting an appropriate strategy to terminate the transmission process on the terminal device or stop the service flow on the terminal device. For example, even if the network device has other data to transmit, once the network device knows that the link anomaly on the terminal device is present, the network device will no longer send the data to be transmitted.

[0012] In one implementation, the method further includes: keeping a flag bit unchanged, the flag bit is used to identify the access status of the terminal device. The terminal can stop the current data transmission process when the current link quality is poor, and re-listen for paging or downlink trigger messages to reduce unnecessary data transmission. The flag bit remains unchanged (assuming it is A) can be understood as the terminal device has not successfully transmitted data, or it can be understood as the current service has not ended for the terminal device, and it is necessary to continue to listen for paging or downlink trigger messages carrying the same flag bit A, or resend access requests / connection establishment requests. If the flag bit flips (A flips to B), it means that the terminal device has successfully transmitted data or has completed the current service, and the terminal device does not respond to paging or downlink trigger messages carrying flag bit A.

[0013] In one implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device receives first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer. Configuring the first timer through the first indication information is more flexible. A suitable first timer can also be configured for the terminal device. For example, if the service processing delay is longer, the timing duration of the first timer is also longer; if the service processing delay is shorter, the timing duration of the first timer is also shorter. This method can not only leave enough time for the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal, thereby reducing misjudgments; it can also reduce unnecessary waiting time for the terminal device, thereby entering the next transmission in time and improving transmission efficiency.

[0014] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates first time information, which indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, the first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the timing duration of the second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

[0015] The network side may configure the first time information for determining the timing duration of the first timer, or may configure and reuse an existing timer, such as the second timer, which is more flexible.

[0016] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes the first time information, which is more direct and reduces the processing complexity of the terminal device.

[0017] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes an index of the first time information, which can reduce the bit overhead of the first indication information.

[0018] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes identification information of a first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information. This solution can reduce the bit overhead of the first indication information and configure the first timer according to the granularity of the service, so that the first timer matches the service, reducing false positives in link anomalies, reducing unnecessary waiting time for terminal devices, and improving the overall transmission efficiency of the system.

[0019] In one implementation, the first indication information is carried in a paging message, and the method further includes: the terminal device receives second indication information, the second indication information indicates second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, and the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, which is used to instruct the terminal device to send data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

[0020] The network can configure the timer using two different signaling messages. The terminal device can then choose which signaling message to use to determine the duration of the first timer. For example, if the first indication information is carried in a paging message and the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, the duration of the first timer is determined based on the second time information.

[0021] In one implementation, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including: the second indication information includes the second time information, which is more direct and reduces the processing complexity of the terminal device.

[0022] In one implementation, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including: the second indication information includes an index of the second time information, which can reduce the bit overhead of the first indication information;

[0023] In one implementation, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including: the second indication information includes identification information of a second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information. This solution can reduce the bit overhead of the second indication information, reduce false positives in link anomalies, and improve the overall transmission efficiency of the system.

[0024] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method that can be performed by a second communication device. The second communication device can be an access network device, or a component used to implement the functions of the access network device. For example, the second communication device can be a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the access network device. The method provided in the second aspect is described below using the access network device itself as an example.

[0025] The communication method includes: an access network device determines first indication information and sends the first indication information to a terminal device, wherein the first indication information is used to determine the timing duration of a first timer, and the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal.

[0026] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates first time information, which indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, the first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of a second timer, which is used for random access.

[0027] In one implementation, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes the first time information; the first indication information includes an index of the first time information; or, the first indication information includes identification information of the first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

[0028] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device sending second indication information to the terminal device, the second indication information indicating second time information, the second time information being used to determine the timing duration of the first timer. The second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, the confirmation message being used to instruct the terminal device to send data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

[0029] In one implementation, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including:

[0030] The second indication information includes second time information;

[0031] The second indication information includes an index of the second time information; or,

[0032] The second indication information includes identification information of the second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

[0033] In one implementation, the method also includes: the access network device sends a fourth message to the core network network element to start a third timer; the access network device determines that the third timer has timed out and has not received a response to the fourth message, and performs one or more of the following: releasing the AS of the terminal device; or sending a second message to the terminal device, where the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

[0034] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device receives third indication information from the core network network element, where the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0035] In one implementation, the third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0036] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device sending a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate a link abnormality.

[0037] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device sending a fourth message to the core network network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

[0038] Regarding the beneficial effects of the second aspect and its various implementations, reference may be made to the beneficial effects of the first aspect and its various implementations, which will not be repeated here.

[0039] In a third aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method that can be performed by a second communication device. The second communication device can be an access network device, or a component used to implement the functions of the access network device. For example, the second communication device can be a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the access network device. The method provided in the third aspect is described below using the access network device as an example.

[0040] The communication method includes: the access network device sends a fourth message to the core network network element to start a third timer; the access network device determines that the third timer has timed out and has not received a response to the fourth message, and performs one or more of the following: releasing the AS of the terminal device; or sending a second message to the terminal device, which is used to trigger the next access time resource.

[0041] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device receives third indication information from the core network network element, the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer, and the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal.

[0042] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device sending a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate a link abnormality.

[0043] In one implementation, the method further includes: the access network device sending a fourth message to the core network network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

[0044] Regarding the beneficial effects of the third aspect and its various implementations, reference may be made to the beneficial effects of the first aspect or the second aspect and its various implementations, which will not be repeated here.

[0045] In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method that can be performed by a third communication device. The third communication device can be a core network element, or a component used to implement the functions of a core network element. For example, the third communication device can be a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the core network element. The method provided in the fourth aspect will be described below using the core network element as an example.

[0046] The communication method includes: a core network element determining third indication information and sending the third indication information to an access network device. The third indication information is used to determine a timing duration of a third timer and / or to determine a timing duration of a first timer. The first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal. The third timer is used by the access network device to determine whether to release the terminal device.

[0047] In one implementation, the third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0048] In one implementation, the method further includes: the core network element receiving a fourth message from the access network device, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

[0049] Regarding the beneficial effects of the fourth aspect and its various implementations, reference may be made to the beneficial effects of the first aspect or the second aspect and its various implementations, which will not be repeated here.

[0050] In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method that can be performed by a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device. The first communication device may be a terminal device, or the first communication device may be a component used to implement the functions of the terminal device. For example, the first communication device may be a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the terminal device. The second communication device may be an access network device, or the second communication device may be a component used to implement the functions of the access network device. For example, the second communication device may be a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the access network device. The third communication device may be a core network element, or the third communication device may be a component used to implement the functions of the core network element. For example, the third communication device may be a unit / module, circuit, or chip within the core network element. The first communication device has the function of implementing the behavior in the method example of the first aspect described above, the second communication device has the function of implementing the behavior in the method example of the second or third aspect described above, and the third communication device has the function of implementing the behavior in the method example of the fourth aspect described above.

[0051] Taking the first communication device as the terminal device itself, the second communication device as the access network device itself, and the third communication device as the core network element itself as an example, the communication method includes: the core network element sends a third indication message to the access network device, and the third indication message is used by the access network device to determine the timing duration of the first timer; the access network device sends a first indication message to the terminal device, and the first indication message is used by the terminal device to determine the timing duration of the first timer; the terminal device sends a first message to the network device or receives a second message from the network device, and starts the first timer; the terminal device determines that the first timer has timed out and has not received the third message from the network device, and performs one or more of the following: disconnecting from the network device at the access stratum (AS); entering a first state, wherein, when the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message. The network device includes an access network device and / or a core network element.

[0052] Regarding the beneficial effects of the fifth aspect, reference may be made to the beneficial effects of the first aspect or the second aspect and their respective implementation methods, which will not be repeated here.

[0053] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device having the function of implementing the behaviors in the method examples of the first to fourth aspects above. The beneficial effects can be found in the relevant descriptions of the first to fourth aspects and are not repeated here. For example, the communication device can be the terminal device in the first aspect, or the communication device can be the access network device in the second or third aspect, or the communication device can be the core network element in the fourth aspect. For another example, the communication device can be a device that can support the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method provided in the first aspect, for example, the communication device can be a chip or chip system in the terminal device. Or, for another example, the communication device can be a device that can support the access network device to implement the functions required by the method provided in the second or third aspect, for example, the communication device can be a chip or chip system in the access network device. Or, for another example, the communication device can be a device that can support the core network element to implement the functions required by the method provided in the fourth aspect, for example, the communication device can be a chip or chip system in the core network element.

[0054] In one possible design, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device.

[0055] In one possible design, the communication device includes corresponding means (means) or modules for executing the method of any aspect of the first aspect to the fourth aspect. For example, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module or processor) and / or a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module or transceiver). The transceiver unit can realize the sending function and the receiving function. When the transceiver unit realizes the sending function, it can be called a sending unit (sometimes also referred to as a sending module). When the transceiver unit realizes the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also referred to as a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional unit, which is called a transceiver unit, and the functional unit can realize the sending function and the receiving function; or, the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional units, and the transceiver unit is a general term for these functional units. These units (modules) can perform the corresponding functions in the method examples of any aspect of the first aspect to the fourth aspect above. Please refer to the detailed description in the method examples for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0056] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communications device, which may be the communications device described in the sixth aspect of the aforementioned embodiments, or a chip or chip system configured in the communications device described in the sixth aspect. The communications device includes a communications interface and a processor, and optionally, a memory. The memory is configured to store computer programs, instructions, or data, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communications interface. When the processor reads the computer program, instructions, or data, the communications device executes the method performed by the first terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiment. For example, the communications device may be a terminal device or a functional module within the terminal device, such as a baseband chip or a radio frequency chip. Alternatively, when the processor reads the computer program, instructions, or data, the communications device executes the method performed by the access network device in the aforementioned method embodiment. For example, the communications device may be an access network device or a functional module within the access network device, such as a baseband chip or a radio frequency chip. Alternatively, when the processor reads the computer program, instructions, or data, the communications device executes the method performed by the core network element in the aforementioned method embodiment. For example, the communications device may be a core network element or a functional module within the core network element, such as a chip system.

[0057] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and may also include a communication interface for implementing the method described in any of the first to fourth aspects. Optionally, the chip system also includes a memory. The memory is used to store computer programs (also referred to as codes, or instructions). The processor is used to call and run the computer program from the memory, so that the device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or the device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or the device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or the device equipped with the chip system executes the method in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof. The chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0058] In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device comprising an input / output interface and a logic circuit. The input / output interface is used to input and / or output information. The input / output interface can be an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or related circuits. The logic circuit is used to execute the method described in any of aspects 1 to 4.

[0059] In a specific implementation, the communication device may be a chip, the input circuit may be an input pin, the output circuit may be an output pin, and the logic circuit may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a trigger, or various logic circuits. The input signal received by the input circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, received and input by a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, output to and transmitted by a transmitter. The input circuit and the output circuit may be the same circuit, which functions as an input circuit and an output circuit, respectively, at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the input and output interfaces and logic circuits.

[0060] In one implementation, when the communication device is a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device may be a terminal device such as a mobile phone, the interface circuit may be a radio frequency processing chip in the wireless communication device, and the processing circuit may be a baseband processing chip in the wireless communication device.

[0061] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device, an access network device, and a core network network element.

[0062] The core network element is used to send third indication information to the access network device, and the third indication information is used by the access network device to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

[0063] The access network device is used to send a first indication message to the terminal device, and the first indication message is used by the terminal device to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

[0064] The terminal device is configured to: send a first message to a network device or receive a second message from the network device, and start a first timer; upon determining that the first timer has timed out and no third message has been received from the network device, perform one or more of the following: disconnect the AS from the network device, or enter a first state, wherein when the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, wherein the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message. The network device includes an access network device and / or a core network element.

[0065] The terminal device is used to implement the functions of the method described in the first aspect, the access network device is used to implement the functions of the method described in the second aspect, and the core network network element is used to implement the functions of the method described in the fourth aspect; or, the terminal device is used to implement the functions of the method described in the first aspect, the access network device is used to implement the functions of the methods described in the second and third aspects, and the core network network element is used to implement the functions of the method described in the fourth aspect.

[0066] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store computer programs or instructions. When the computer-readable storage medium is executed, the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented, or the method described in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented, or the method described in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented, or the method described in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof is implemented.

[0067] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when run on a computer, enables the method described in the above-mentioned first aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented, or enables the method described in the above-mentioned second aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented, or enables the method described in the above-mentioned third aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented, or enables the method described in the above-mentioned fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented.

[0068] The beneficial effects of the sixth to twelfth aspects and their implementations can refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the first to fourth aspects and any possible implementation of them. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system with separate readers and writers in FIG1 ;

[0071] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a tag-network device interaction service according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG4 is another schematic diagram of a flow chart of a tag-network device interaction service according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG5 is a flow chart of a communication method 500 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG6 is a flow chart of a communication method 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG7 is a flow chart of a communication method 700 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] FIG9 is another schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the Internet of Things (IoT) system, including the Ambient IoT (A-IoT), the Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT), and the like. IoT technology is widely used in various industries. For example, IoT technology can be applied to scenarios such as logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, or environmental monitoring. IoT is implemented based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. RFID technology is a contactless communication technology implemented using radio frequency communication. The principle is that data communication is achieved through radio waves without contact between the reader / reader and the tag. IoT technology can be applied to communication systems related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system, the 5th Generation (5G) mobile communication system, or can also be applied to other next-generation mobile communication systems, such as the 6th Generation (6G) communication system, or other similar communication systems. Other similar communication systems may include wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), vehicle to everything (V2X), and so on.

[0079] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 takes the communication system including a terminal device, an access network device and a core network element as an example. The network architecture shown in Figure 1 is only a schematic diagram, and the number of terminal devices, access network devices and core network elements can be less or more. The communication system described in the embodiment of the present application is to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the communication system applicable to the embodiment of the present application. It is known to those skilled in the art that with the evolution of network architecture, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems. When applying the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application to other communication systems, the devices, components, modules, etc. in the embodiment can be replaced with corresponding devices, components, modules in other communication systems without limitation. The network devices mentioned in the embodiment of the present application include access network devices and / or core network elements.

[0080] Any device capable of data communication with an access network device is considered a terminal device. Terminal devices are also referred to as terminals, terminal devices, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, or mobile terminals. For example, terminal devices can include: mobile phones, computers, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, robotic arms, cameras, robots, or smart home devices (such as TVs, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, speakers, set-top boxes), relays, customer premise equipment (CPE), and devices with tagging capabilities. For example, terminal devices can be tags in IoT / A-IoT. Figure 1 uses the example of an A-IoT terminal as the terminal device.

[0081] Tags, also known as RFID tags, electronic tags, A-IoT terminals, or A-IoT devices, are typically attached to objects to identify them. Tags receive radio frequency signals from a reader and, using the energy gained from the induced current, transmit information stored in the tag's internal chip. Alternatively, tags can actively transmit a signal of a certain frequency to the reader, which then reads the information. Tags have a relatively simple design, integrating application layer signaling with air interface signaling, resulting in low power consumption. Tags are categorized as active, passive, and semi-active / semi-passive. Active tags are also called active tags, passive tags are also called passive tags, and semi-active / semi-passive tags are also called semi-passive tags. Active tags are equipped with a power supply and utilize an actively generated carrier wave communication method. This means they can actively transmit signals to the reader without needing to rely on received signals for signal transmission energy. Passive tags / passive tags are not equipped with modules such as power supply, or the power supply module has low power. They can adopt a communication method based on reflection (backscatter), which can obtain energy from the environment and send signals through the energy. Passive tags can work in reflection communication scenarios. For example, passive tags obtain energy by reflecting signals from readers and writers to transmit data. Semi-active / semi-passive tags integrate the advantages of active tags and passive tags and can be used as a special marker. Usually, semi-active / semi-passive tags are in a dormant state and may not work or send signals to the outside world. Only when they enter the activation signal range of the low-frequency activator, the semi-active / semi-passive tag is activated and starts working. The tags involved in the embodiments of the present application may be active tags, passive tags or semi-active / semi-passive tags, etc.

[0082] In the embodiments of this application, a tag can be considered a terminal device. Accordingly, the terminal devices in this application can be of the following three types: passive terminals: lacking energy storage, unable to independently generate signals, and using backscattering to transmit signals; semi-passive terminals: possessing energy storage but unable to independently generate signals, and using backscattering to transmit signals, where the stored energy can amplify reflected signals; and active terminals: possessing energy storage, capable of independently generating signals, and having active RF components for transmission.

[0083] Both the tag device and the reader / writer can be implemented based on the infrastructure of the cellular network, or the tag device and the reader / writer can be devices within the cellular network. For example, the reader / writer functionality can be implemented by a network device or a terminal device, while the tag device can be implemented by a terminal device within the cellular network. For example, the tag device can be an extremely low-power, low-complexity IoT terminal. When a terminal device has the functionality of a tag device, it can perform contactless data communication with the network device or another terminal device.

[0084] The various terminal devices introduced above, if located on a vehicle (e.g., placed / installed in a vehicle), can be considered as on-board terminal devices. On-board terminal devices can be on-board modules, on-board modules, on-board components, on-board chips, or on-board units built into a vehicle as one or more components or units. On-board terminal devices can also be complete vehicle equipment, on-board modules, vehicles, on-board units (OBU), roadside units (RSU), telematics boxes (T-boxes), chips, or system-on-chips (SOCs), etc. The above chips or SOCs can be installed in vehicles, OBUs, RSUs, or T-boxes.

[0085] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or it can be a device that can support the terminal device to realize the function, such as a chip system or a combination of devices or components that can realize the function of the terminal device, and the device can be installed in the terminal device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device. For example, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can be in the form of a tag or other terminal form. Unless otherwise specified, the terminal device and the tag can be interchangeable.

[0086] Access network equipment is also called radio access network (RAN) equipment. RAN can be a 3GPP-related cellular system, such as an LTE system, a new radio (NR) system, or a future-oriented evolution system (such as a 6G mobile communication system). RAN can also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a virtualized RAN (vRAN). RAN can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems. RAN equipment can also be called a RAN node, RAN entity, or access node. For example, a RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. RAN nodes can be RAN nodes in V2X technology, RSUs, access nodes in Wi-Fi systems, etc.

[0087] A RAN node may also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station; or multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes respectively performing some of the functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node may be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). In different systems, CU, DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meanings. For example, in an ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples for description. CU and DU may be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement, and the embodiments of this application do not limit which protocol layers the CU and DU are configured with. Any of the CU, DU, and RU in this application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0088] In an embodiment of the present application, the access network device may have a built-in reader / writer. When the terminal device is a tag, the tag and the access network device can communicate through the Uu port, as shown in Figure 1. The functions of the reader / writer can be further separated, and the reader / writer is divided into a receiver (receiver) and an exciter (helper). The receiver is also called a receiving end or a receiving unit, and the exciter is also called an excitation end or an excitation unit. The excitation unit is equivalent to the transmitter in the reader / writer, and the receiving unit is equivalent to the receiver in the reader / writer. When the reader / writer is implemented in a separated architecture, different entities of the reader / writer can be deployed on different access network devices, as shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, the exciter is deployed on the first access network device to perform the sending function of the reader / writer; the receiver is deployed on the second access network device to perform the receiving function of the reader / writer. The exciter and the reader / writer / access network device can be transmitted through the air interface or through a wired connection.

[0089] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the functions of the access network device may be the access network device itself, or may be a device capable of supporting the access network device in implementing the functions, such as a chip system or a combination of devices or components capable of implementing the functions of the access network device. The device may be installed in the access network device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology or specific device form used by the access network device.

[0090] Core network elements correspond to different devices in different systems. For example, in a 4G system, the core network element may be a mobility management entity (MME) and / or a serving gateway (S-GW). In a 5G system, the core network element may be an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF) or a user plane function (UPF). In an embodiment of the present application, the core network element has a function of managing tags, and the core network element may also be a tag management function (TMF) or an enhanced AMF. The enhanced AMF has a tag management function.

[0091] Tags can be applied in a variety of industries. Logistics management, as a typical application, is achieved by taking inventory of physical tags. Tag inventory requires tags to access the network. After each tag is randomly connected to the network, the tag's identifier can be reported to the reader so that the reader can determine the presence of tags within the coverage area. After the tag is connected to the network, it can exchange some business information with the access network device (such as a reader) and / or the core network element. For example, the core network element can forward a message to the tag through the access network device, and the message may include information about the operation that needs to be performed on the tag. Alternatively, the access network device can also forward a message from the tag to the core network element. The access network device can parse or process messages from the core network element or the tag. Common tag services include inventory operations, read operations, write operations, positioning operations, kill operations, or operations to obtain tag information. Among them, the inventory operation is used to obtain the identification of all tags within the coverage of the access network device; the read operation can read data from the tag; the write operation can write data to the tag; the positioning operation can obtain the location information of the tag; the deactivation operation is also called the invalidation operation, which can make the tag identification invalid or inactivated; the tag information acquisition operation can obtain the tag information, such as the tag identification, the information stored in the tag, the tag location information, etc. The above tag services are only listed, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the number and types of tag services. For example, tag services also include authentication services.

[0092] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of a process for conducting business between a tag and a network device. The network device includes an access network device and a core network element. The access network device has the function of a reader / writer. The process includes the following steps:

[0093] S301. A core network element sends an N2 message to an access network device.

[0094] N2 is the communication interface between the core network element and the access network equipment. The N2 message can be used to request an operation on one or more tags.

[0095] S302: The access network device broadcasts a select message or a paging message.

[0096] The selection / paging message includes an identification range of a tag to be operated. The identification range of the tag includes the identification of the tag.

[0097] S303: The access network device sends a query message.

[0098] The query message can carry a Q value, which determines the number of random access slots. Setting the Q value can reduce access collisions between tags.

[0099] S304: The access network device sends a repeated query (QueryRep) message.

[0100] The access network device may send a query repetition message multiple times. For example, the access network device may repeatedly send 2^Q re-query messages. S304 shows only one query repetition message. Subsequent query repetition messages may be sent after S306 or S307.

[0101] S305: The tag sends a random number to the access network device.

[0102] When the tag determines that its identifier falls within the identifier range indicated by the selection message and detects the query message, it sends a random number to the access network device in response to the query message. Based on the Q value, the tag generates a random number between [0 and 2^Q-1]. For example, if Q = 4, the tag generates a random number between [0 and 15]. The tag records the number of random numbers as the initial value of the counter. Each time the tag receives a repeat query message, the counter is incremented by 1. When the counter reaches 0, the tag sends a random number to initiate access.

[0103] S306: The access network device sends a confirmation message to the tag, where the confirmation message includes the random number received from the tag.

[0104] The access network device sends a confirmation message to the tag. If the random number included in the confirmation message is consistent with the random number sent by the tag to the access network device, the tag accesses the access network device.

[0105] S307 : The tag sends the service data to the core network element through the access network device.

[0106] The tag accesses the access network device and can send service data to the core network network element through the access network device. For example, the tag sends the tag's identification information (for example, the tag's electronic product code (EPC)) to the access network device, and the access network device forwards the identification information to the core network network element.

[0107] After receiving service data, the core network element can send a response to the service data to the access network device, which then forwards the response to the tag. In Figure 3, the access network device does not need to parse messages from the core network element and / or the tag; it is only responsible for forwarding the received message. In other words, the access network device transparently transmits the tagged service data to the core network element, and this service data is carried in a non-access stratum (NAS) message.

[0108] In a possible scenario, the tag's service data is not carried in a NAS message. Instead, it is first sent to the access network device, which then sends it to the core network element via the N2 interface. In this scenario, the service flow between the tag and the core network element is shown in Figure 4. Any overlap between Figure 4 and Figure 3 can be found in the relevant content of Figure 3 and will not be repeated here.

[0109] S401. A core network element sends an N2 message to an access network device.

[0110] S402: The access network device broadcasts a select message or a paging message.

[0111] S403: The access network device sends a query message.

[0112] S404: The access network device sends a query repetition (QueryRep) message.

[0113] S405: The tag sends a random number to the access network device.

[0114] S406: The access network device sends a confirmation message to the tag, where the confirmation message includes the random number received from the tag.

[0115] S407: The tag sends service data to the access network device.

[0116] S408. The access network device sends a response message of the N2 message to the core network element.

[0117] The response message includes the service data sent by the tag.

[0118] S409: The core network element sends downlink data to the access network device.

[0119] S410: The access network device sends the downlink data sent by the core network element to the label.

[0120] S411. The core network element sends an end marker (end_marker) to the access network device.

[0121] When the service is completed, the core network element sends an end_marker to the access network device, which carries the temporary identifier of the label to instruct the access network device to release the label and the temporary identifier.

[0122] S412: The access network device sends a query repetition message to the tag.

[0123] The access network device receives the end_marker, releases the temporary identifier of the label, and releases the label. For example, the access network device sends a query repetition message.

[0124] In the process shown in Figure 4, each time the access network device counts a tag, it sends a temporary identifier for that tag to the core network element. This identifier is used to associate the tag with the N2 interface, allowing the access network device to determine which tag the N2 message corresponds to. This temporary identifier can be a random number sent with the tag.

[0125] Figures 3 and 4 show two processes for the interaction between the tag and the core network element. However, it is inevitable that the link quality between the tag and the access network device / core network element is poor, resulting in interruption of the tag's data transmission or a high data parsing error rate. Therefore, the tag needs to detect the link quality. The UE's radio link monitoring (RLM) mechanism is based on measuring the BLER or received power of the reference signal or downlink information on the reference signal resource to judge the link quality. Downlink information includes downlink control information (DCI) or downlink data. Given that the tag processing capability is weak, the UE's RLM mechanism is not applicable to the tag's RLM, or the UE's RLM is not applicable to terminal devices with weak processing capabilities. There is currently no solution for tags to detect link quality, which means that when the link is abnormal, the tag will continue service transmission according to the normal service process, and the service transmission will still fail, wasting system resources.

[0126] To address the above technical issues, the present invention provides a solution. In this embodiment, a terminal device determines whether a link is abnormal based on a timer. If the timer times out after the terminal device sends data and no feedback is received regarding the data, the terminal device determines that the link quality is poor and the link is abnormal. A link abnormality can also be referred to as a link failure. Accordingly, determining whether a link is abnormal is also referred to as determining whether a link has failed.

[0127] In the various embodiments of the present application, "when...", "if" and "if" all mean that the device will make corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. It does not limit the time, nor does it require that there must be a judgment action when the device is implemented, nor does it mean that there are other limitations. Unless otherwise specified, "if" and "if" are interchangeable, and "when..." and "in the case of..." are interchangeable. "When..." and "if" / "if" are interchangeable. In the embodiments of the present application, for the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, it means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and subsequent associated objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c, where a, b, and c can be single or plural.

[0128] The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish between multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects. For example, the first information and the second information refer to two different information, and do not indicate the difference in content, priority or importance of the two information. For a technical feature, "A", "B", "C" and "D" are used to distinguish the technical features in the technical feature, and there is no order of precedence or size between the technical features described by "A", "B", "C" and "D". For example, the indication method A and indication method B in this article are only for distinguishing different timers, and do not limit the priority or importance between indication method A and indication method B.

[0129] The embodiments of the present application mention three timers: a first timer, a second timer, and a third timer. The first timer and the second timer are both the maximum waiting delay between a terminal device sending information and receiving information. The first timer can be the maximum waiting delay between a terminal device sending information and receiving information during data transmission after accessing the network. The second timer can be the maximum waiting delay between a terminal device sending information and receiving information during random access. The second timer duration can be a default value.

[0130] Alternatively, the first timer may be the maximum waiting delay between two adjacent receptions of information by the terminal device. For example, the first timer may be the maximum waiting delay between the terminal device receiving information A and the next information of information A (for example, information B). Information B may be a confirmation / feedback message for the information sent by the terminal device.

[0131] The third timer may be a maximum waiting delay between the network device sending a message / data to the core network element and receiving a message / data from the core network element. The message / data received by the network device from the core network element may be a feedback message of the message / data sent by the network device, or any message / data sent by the core network element to the network device.

[0132] Alternatively, the third timer may be the maximum waiting delay from when the network device receives a message / data from a core network element to when it receives the next message / data from the core network element.

[0133] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0134] The following takes the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application as an example, which is executed by the first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device. Among them, the steps executed by the first communication device can be implemented by the terminal device itself, or by a component in the terminal device (such as a baseband chip, or other processing units or processors and other modules). The terminal device can be a tag, or a device with a tag function. For example, the terminal device can be the terminal in Figure 1, or it can be a chip (system) in the terminal in Figure 1. The steps executed by the second communication device can be implemented by the RAN device itself, or by a component in the RAN device (such as a baseband chip, or other processing units or processors and other modules). For example, the second communication device can be the access network device in Figure 1, or it can be a chip (system) in the access network device in Figure 1. Alternatively, the steps executed by the second communication device can be implemented by other devices with wireless communication functions themselves, or by components in the device (such as baseband chips, or other processing units or processors and other modules). For example, the second communication device can be a terminal device or a chip (system) in a terminal device. The steps performed by the third communication device may be implemented by the core network element itself, or by a component in the core network element (such as a chip, a processing unit, or a processor module). For example, the core network element may be the core network element shown in FIG1 , such as an AMF network element, a TMF network element, or an enhanced AMF network element, or may be a chip (system) in the core network element in FIG1 .

[0135] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a flow chart of the communication method 500 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 takes the first communication device as an access network device, the second communication device as a terminal device, and the third communication device as a core network element as an example to introduce the method from the perspective of the interaction between the access network device, the core network element, and the terminal device. It should be understood that the communication method 500 can also be implemented by other devices, such as a chip or communication device with communication functions. Among them, the terminal device can be a tag or an A-IoT terminal. As shown in Figure 5, the process of the communication method 500 includes the following steps.

[0136] S501. The access network device sends first indication information to the terminal device, where the first indication information is used to determine the timing duration of a first timer.

[0137] Accordingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information. The first indication information can be used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, and the first timer can be used by the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal. For example, if the terminal device does not receive a response to the information within a period of time after sending the information, then the link can be considered abnormal.

[0138] The first indication information may indicate the first time information, and the terminal device determines the timing duration of the first timer according to the first time information. The embodiment of the present application does not limit how the first indication information indicates the first time information, for example, including but not limited to the following indication methods.

[0139] Indication mode A: the first indication information includes the first time information.

[0140] For example, the first time information may be at least one duration, and the timing duration of the first timer may be one of the at least one duration. For example, the first time information may be 1ms, 2ms, and so on. Optionally, the first time information may be a default value. When the first time information is multiple durations, the terminal device may determine the maximum duration among the multiple durations as the timing duration of the first timer, so as to leave enough time to determine whether the link is abnormal and reduce misjudgment. In indication method A, the terminal device can directly obtain the first time information based on the first indication information, and the processing complexity is low.

[0141] Indication method B: the first indication information includes the index of the first time information.

[0142] For example, the first time information is at least one duration, and the first indication information may include the respective indexes of the at least one duration. The terminal device may determine at least one duration based on the index included in the first indication information, and further determine the duration of the first timer based on the at least one duration. When the first time information is an index corresponding to multiple durations, the terminal device may determine the maximum duration among these multiple durations as the timing duration of the first timer, so as to leave enough time to determine whether the link is abnormal and reduce misjudgment. In indication method B, the first indication information includes the index of the first time information, which can reduce the bit overhead of the first indication information.

[0143] Indication mode C: the first indication information includes identification information of the first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

[0144] Taking into account the different processing times required for different types of services, corresponding time lengths can be set for different services. For example, service 1 corresponds to time information 1, service 2 corresponds to time information 2, and so on. The correspondence between service type and time information can be (pre-)configured, and the terminal device can store the correspondence. In this case, the time information can be indicated by the service type. For example, the first time information is associated / corresponds to the first service. In this case, the first indication information may include identification information of the first service or the type identification of the first service. The terminal device receives the first indication information and can determine the first time information based on the type of the first service and the correspondence between the service type and the time information. One time information can correspond to one type of service or multiple types of services, and one time information can be a duration.

[0145] In order to leave enough time for the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal and reduce misjudgment, the first timer is usually set according to the maximum delay. For example, the first timer is set according to the maximum delay among the delays of multiple services. In this way, for some services with shorter processing delays, the terminal device still waits according to the maximum delay to see whether there is data from the access network device, which introduces additional unnecessary waiting time, causing the terminal device to start the next service transmission later and the overall transmission efficiency to be low. In indication method C, the access network device configures the timing length of the first timer for the terminal device according to the service type, and the timer used by the terminal device matches the service. Compared with using the same timing length for different services, the unnecessary waiting time of the terminal device can be reduced, so that the next transmission can be started in time, thereby improving transmission efficiency.

[0146] In a possible implementation, the first time information may be (pre) configured. In this case, S501 is a step that does not need to be executed, and therefore is illustrated by a dotted line in FIG5 . The first time information may be a more reasonable duration obtained based on prior information or prior experiments. The terminal device sets a first timer based on the first time information. Alternatively, the correspondence between the service type and the time information may be (pre) configured, and the correspondence may also be a more reasonable correspondence obtained based on prior information or prior experiments. The terminal device may set a first timer based on the service to be performed and the correspondence.

[0147] Indication method D, the first indication information indicates that the existing timer is reused to set the first timer. For example, a second timer for determining whether the link in the random process is abnormal can be (pre) configured, or a second timer for random access can be (pre) configured. When the second timer is (pre) configured, the first indication information may indicate that the timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the timing duration of the second timer, or the first indication information may indicate that the second timer is reused to determine whether the link in the data transmission process is abnormal, or the first indication information indicates that the second timer is used as the first timer. In this case, the first indication information may be N-bit information, and the value of the N bit is the first value, indicating that the timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the timing duration of the second timer. Wherein, N is a positive integer.

[0148] Alternatively, multiple timers have been (pre-)configured, and the first indication information may indicate one of the multiple timers. For example, the first indication information indicates the shortest timer or the longest timer among the multiple timers. For example, the first indication information may be 1-bit information, where the value of the 1-bit is a first value, indicating that the first timer is the shortest timer among the multiple timers; and the value of the 1-bit is a second value, indicating that the first timer is the longest timer among the multiple timers.

[0149] Alternatively, the first indication information is information dedicated to indicating the first timer. When the terminal device receives the first indication information, the terminal device defaults the first timer to the shortest timer or the longest timer among the at least one timer.

[0150] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the signaling that carries the first indication information. For example, if the terminal device has not established a connection with the access network device, the first indication information may be carried in a paging message. The paging message is used to page or select or trigger at least one terminal device to access or send uplink data. In this case, the access network device sends the first indication information, that is, the access network device sends a paging message, and the paging message includes the first indication information. It can be understood that the paging message may also include identification information of the terminal device. The access network device may also broadcast the paging message to page multiple terminal devices. The paging message may be a paging message in a cellular network, or may be implemented through a downlink trigger message. The downlink trigger message may be a select message or a query message. The paging messages that appear in other processes below may also refer to the description here and will not be repeated here.

[0151] It is understandable that if the first indication information is carried in a select message, a query message, or a paging message, the terminal device may subsequently determine whether the link in the random access process is abnormal based on the first timer. For example, after the terminal device sends the random number, the first timer may be started. If the terminal device does not receive a response to the random number (i.e., a confirmation message similar to S306 or S406) within the timing duration of the first timer, the terminal device may determine that the link in the random access process is abnormal.

[0152] After the terminal device accesses the network, it can interact with the access network device or the core network element for business or data transmission. "Data transmission" refers to the data / information transmission performed after the terminal device accesses the network. The terminal device can also determine whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process based on the first timer. For example, after the terminal device sends the first information, it starts the first timer. The first information can be any message or data sent by the terminal device. If the terminal device does not receive a response to the first information or a message from the other end within the timing of the first timer, the terminal device can determine that the link is abnormal during the data transmission process. It can be understood that the timing of the first timer refers to the time between the start of the first timer and the timeout of the first timer.

[0153] Services on a terminal device may occur between the terminal device and an access network device, or between the terminal device and a core network element. The processing latency of service data from the terminal device on the access network device and the core network element may differ. To allow the terminal device sufficient time to determine whether the link is abnormal and reduce misjudgments, the core network element may provide time information to the access network device to assist the access network device in determining the first indication information. For example, S500 may be executed before S501.

[0154] S500: A core network element sends third indication information to an access network device, where the third indication information can be used to determine a timing duration of a first timer. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the third indication information.

[0155] The third indication information may indicate third time information, which may be used to determine the timing duration of the first timer or the third indication information may be used to determine the first indication information. The specific implementation of the third indication information may refer to the specific implementation of the first indication information indicating the first time information, which will not be repeated here.

[0156] The third time information may be the same as or different from the first time information. For example, the third time information includes at least one first duration, and the first time information may be one first duration or multiple first durations among the at least one first duration. For another example, the third time information includes at least one first duration, and the first time information may be at least one second duration, wherein each second duration is the first duration plus an offset value, and the offset value may be a positive number or a negative number. For another example, the third time information includes at least one first duration, and the access network device may select the first duration corresponding to the service from at least one first duration as the first time information according to the service to be performed by the terminal device.

[0157] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the signaling that carries the third indication information. For example, the third indication information may be carried in an interface message between the access network device and the core network network element, for example, in an N2 message. In this case, the core network network element sends the third indication information to the access network device, that is, the core network network element sends an N2 message to the access network device, and the N2 message includes the third indication information. The N2 message may also include service information. For example, the core network network element needs to perform an inventory operation on the terminal device, and the N2 message may include information on the inventory operation. For the access network device, based on the service information in the N2 message, it can determine the service that the terminal device is going to perform, thereby configuring a suitable first timer for the terminal device according to the service. The N2 message may also include identification information of the terminal device, so that the access network device knows which terminal device the core network network element needs to communicate with.

[0158] In a possible implementation, the third time information may be (pre)configured. In this case, S500 is a step that does not need to be executed and is therefore illustrated by a dotted line in FIG5 . The third time information may be a relatively reasonable duration obtained based on prior information or prior experiments. The access network device determines the first time information based on the third time information. Alternatively, the correspondence between the service type and the time information may be (pre)configured, and the correspondence may also be a relatively reasonable correspondence obtained based on prior information or prior experiments. The access network device determines the first time information based on the service to be performed by the terminal device and the correspondence. The above only lists some implementation methods in which the third indication information indicates the third time information. The embodiments of the present application do not limit how the third indication information indicates the third time information. For example, the third indication information may also include the amount of service data. Different amounts of service data correspond to different durations, and the access network device may determine the first time information based on the amount of service data. For example, if the amount of service data is large, the duration corresponding to the first time information is long; if the amount of service data is small, the duration corresponding to the first time information is short.

[0159] S502: The access network device sends second indication information to the terminal device, where the second indication information indicates second time information that can be used to determine the timing duration of the first timer. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second indication information.

[0160] As mentioned above, if the paging message carrying the first indication information is implemented via a selection message in the RFID system, the terminal device can determine whether the link during the random access process is abnormal based on the first timer. The terminal device can also determine whether the link during the data transmission process is abnormal based on the first timer.

[0161] In one implementation, the timer used to determine whether a link is abnormal during data transmission can be different from the timer used to determine whether a link is abnormal during random access. To distinguish, the access network device can indicate the timing duration of the first timer through second indication information. For example, the second indication information can be carried in a confirmation message, which is used to instruct the terminal device to send data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data. The confirmation message can be a response message of a random number in the RFID system. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific name of the confirmation message. For example, the confirmation message can also be called a random access response message, a conflict response message, etc.

[0162] When the access network device sends the first indication information but does not send the second indication information, the terminal device determines the timing length of the first timer based on the first indication information. In this case, the first timer can be used to determine whether the link is abnormal during data transmission or during random access.

[0163] Since the delay of link exchange information during random access is usually fixed, the timer used to determine whether the link is abnormal during random access (i.e., the second timer) is usually fixed. However, the delay of exchange information during data transmission varies depending on the service. To reduce false positives, the timer used to determine whether the link is abnormal during data transmission can be flexibly configured by the access network equipment.

[0164] For example, when the access network device sends the first indication information and the second indication information, the terminal device can determine the timing duration of the first timer based on the second time information. The first timer is used to determine whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process; the timer determined by the terminal device based on the first time information is used to determine whether the link is abnormal during the random access process. This is equivalent to the terminal device determining the timer used to determine whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process based on the time most recently indicated by the access network device to reduce misjudgment. Alternatively, when the second timer is (pre-) configured and the access network device sends the first indication information but does not send the second indication information, the terminal device determines the first timer based on the first indication information to determine whether the link is abnormal during the data transmission process. The terminal device can determine whether the link is abnormal during the random access process based on the second timer.

[0165] The second indication information may directly or indirectly indicate the second time information. For example, the second indication information includes the second time information, or includes an index to the second time information, or includes identification information of a second service, where the second service is associated with the second time information. The implementation method for the second indication information may refer to the implementation method for the first indication information indicating the first time information, and will not be further described here.

[0166] The access network device may not send the second indication information. Therefore, S502 is not a mandatory step and is indicated by a dotted line in Figure 5. S501 may be executed but S502 may not be executed; or S501 may not be executed but S502 may be executed; or both S501 and S502 may be executed; or S501 and S502 may not be executed, and the terminal device determines the timing duration of the first timer according to the preconfiguration.

[0167] S503: The terminal device sends first information to the network device or receives second information from the network device, and starts a first timer.

[0168] The network device may be an access network device or a core network element. After the terminal device accesses the network, it may exchange information with the access network device or the core network element. For example, the terminal device may send first information to the network device or receive second information from the network device. The first information may be any message or data sent by the terminal device. The second information may be a message or data sent by another device to the terminal device. The second information may be sent to multiple terminal devices or to the terminal device itself. When the second information is sent to multiple terminal devices, the terminal devices to which the second information is sent may be distinguished by an identifier or scrambling method (for example, a radio network temporary indentifier (RNTI)). When the second information is not sent to the terminal device or the terminal device receives the second information but fails to parse it, the first timer is not started even if the terminal device receives the second information. For example, the identifier carried by the second information (for example, a process number or a random number (RN) sequence) does not match the identifier stored in the terminal device, or the terminal device fails to descramble the second information. Even if the terminal device receives the second information, the first timer is not started.

[0169] In an embodiment of the present application, after the terminal device sends the first information to the network device or receives the second information from the network device, it can start the first timer to determine whether the link is abnormal. If the first timer times out, the terminal device can determine that the link is abnormal. Alternatively, if the terminal device does not receive the third information from the network device within the timing duration of the first timer, the terminal device can determine that the link is abnormal. Alternatively, if the first timer times out and the terminal device does not receive the third information from the network device, the terminal device can determine that the link is abnormal. Alternatively, when the terminal device does not receive the third information within the timing duration of the first timer, the terminal device believes that the data transmission after accessing the network is abnormal. On the contrary, if the first timer has not timed out (or the first timer is running), the terminal device receives a downlink message (such as the third information), and the terminal device can determine that the link is normal (or the data transmission is successful or the current business has been completed).

[0170] When the terminal device sends the first information to the network device, the third information may be a response to the first information, or the third information may be downlink data / downlink information / downlink signaling sent by the network device, such as a MAC control element (CE). If the terminal device receives the third information before the first timer expires, it may restart / reset the first timer.

[0171] It should be noted that, in FIG5 , the terminal device sending the first information to the network device and the terminal device receiving the second information from the network device can be performed either one or both.

[0172] S504: The terminal device determines that the first timer has timed out and has not received the third information from the network device, and performs at least one of the following operations.

[0173] When a terminal device determines that a link is abnormal, it can perform one or more of the following operations:

[0174] A) The terminal device disconnects from the network device in the AS.

[0175] When the terminal device does not receive the third information within the timing duration of the first timer, the terminal device considers that the data transmission is abnormal after accessing the network. In this case, the terminal device can actively disconnect from the network device. For example, the terminal device can instruct the terminal device to disconnect from the network device in the AS through the upper layer, or the terminal device can instruct the AS to release the connection with the network device through the upper layer. The AS releases the connection with the network device, including deleting some information configured by the network device for the terminal device. The terminal device considers the link abnormal and releases the connection, entering the idle state. After the terminal device switches to the idle state, if it receives a query message or a query repetition message again, it can send an access request message to the access network device again to access the network again. For example, the terminal device can send a random number to the access network device, and the specific process will not be repeated here.

[0176] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific name of the query duplicate message, or the query duplicate message may have other names. The query duplicate message can be used to implement one or more of the following functions:

[0177] 1) Trigger the next access time resource (access slot) for the terminal device to access. For example, upon receiving a query repetition message, the terminal device updates a counter used to record the number of random numbers, for example, counter = counter - 1 or counter = counter + 1. When counter reaches a threshold, the terminal device initiates an access request.

[0178] 2) End the time slot of the terminal that is currently transmitting data.

[0179] 3) Used to confirm successful reception of data / information: After the terminal device sends data / information, if it receives a query repetition message before the first timer expires, it means that the data / information has been successfully received.

[0180] 4) When the terminal device sends information / data and receives a query repetition message, it can flip a flag bit, which is used to identify the access status of the terminal device or to identify whether the communication between the terminal device and the other end is successful.

[0181] The flag bit value is 0, indicating that the terminal device's access status is A; the flag bit value is 1, indicating that the terminal device's access status is B. If the terminal device successfully communicates with the other end, the terminal device flips the flag bit, that is, changes the flag bit value from 0 to 1, or from 1 to 0.

[0182] B) The terminal device enters the first state. When the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message.

[0183] It is understood that a terminal device has multiple states, such as an idle state and a connected state. The first state can be considered an idle state or an initial state. The first state refers to a state in which a terminal device can only respond to paging messages or downlink trigger messages. That is, when the terminal device is in the first state, the terminal device only responds to paging messages or downlink trigger messages. A downlink trigger message can be used to page, select, or trigger at least one terminal device to access or send data. For example, a downlink trigger message has functions similar to selection messages or query messages in RFID systems, or a downlink trigger message can be a selection message or query message similar to a selection message or query message in RFID systems. The specific names of the downlink trigger messages are not limited in this embodiment of the application. Optionally, the downlink trigger message does not include a query repeat (QueryRep) message. It should be understood that a query repeat message is used to trigger an access resource. After entering the first state, if the terminal device receives a query message or selection message again, it can send an access request message to the access network device to re-access the network. For example, the terminal device can send a random number to the access network device. The specific process is not further described.

[0184] C) The terminal device sends a first message to the network device, where the first message is used to indicate that the link of the terminal device is abnormal.

[0185] The terminal device determines that the link is abnormal, and can also send a first message to the network device to indicate the terminal device link abnormality. Link abnormality can also be called link failure. The first message indicating the terminal device link abnormality can also be replaced by: the first message instructs the terminal device's AS to release / disconnect, the terminal device to disconnect from the network device, or the terminal device to disconnect from the network device at the AS layer. The terminal device informs the network device through the first message that the terminal device's link is abnormal, which can assist the network device in adopting an appropriate strategy to end the terminal device's transmission process or stop the terminal device's business process. For example, even if the network device has other data to transmit, when the network device knows that the terminal device link is abnormal, the network device will no longer send the data to be transmitted.

[0186] The first message may be uplink indication information or feedback information on downlink data, such as feedback. The first message may carry a 1-bit indication of downlink data reception failure (transmission anomaly) or downlink data successful reception, or the first message may include ACK / NACK, which may be carried in an RRC message or a MAC control element (CE).

[0187] D) Keep / maintain the flag bit unchanged, which is used to identify the access status of the terminal device.

[0188] The fact that the flag bit remains unchanged (assuming it is A) can be understood as the terminal device has not successfully transmitted data, or that the current service has not ended for the terminal device, and it needs to continue to listen for paging or downlink trigger messages carrying the same flag bit A, or resend the access request / connection establishment request. If the flag bit flips (A flips to B), it means that the terminal device has successfully transmitted data or has completed the current service, and the terminal device does not respond to paging or downlink trigger messages carrying flag bit A. When the terminal device determines that the link is abnormal, the terminal device may not flip the flag bit, that is, keep the value of the flag bit unchanged. Then, according to the flag bit, the terminal device can stop the current data transmission process when the current link quality is poor, and re-listen for paging or downlink trigger messages to reduce unnecessary data transmission.

[0189] When the terminal device determines that the link is normal or the data transmission is successful or the current service has been completed, the terminal device does not perform operations related to the link abnormality. For example, the terminal device does not perform random access, does not reselect random access, does not enter the first state, or flips / changes the flag bit.

[0190] Communication method 500 uses a first timer to determine whether a link is abnormal during data transmission. This reduces processing complexity compared to determining link quality based on reference signal resource measurements. Furthermore, the duration of the first timer can be configured based on the service being performed by the terminal device. This allows the terminal device sufficient time to determine whether a link is abnormal, reducing false positives. Furthermore, matching the first timer to the service can reduce unnecessary waiting time for the terminal device, allowing it to promptly initiate the next transmission, thereby improving transmission efficiency.

[0191] This embodiment of the present application also provides a communication method 600. In this method, after a terminal device sends information to a network device, if it receives feedback from the network device, it can be considered that the current transmission is successful and that there is subsequent information from the network device. In this case, the terminal device continues to detect information from the network device. If the terminal device receives a repeated query message after receiving feedback from the network device, it is considered that the link is abnormal, and the terminal device can perform one or more of the above steps A) to D).

[0192] Please refer to Figure 6, which is a flow chart of the communication method 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 takes the first communication device as an access network device, the second communication device as a terminal device, and the third communication device as a core network element as an example to introduce the method from the perspective of the interaction between the access network device, the core network element, and the terminal device. It should be understood that the communication method 600 can also be implemented by other devices, such as a chip or communication device with communication functions. Among them, the terminal device can be a tag or an A-IoT terminal. As shown in Figure 6, the process of the communication method 600 includes the following steps.

[0193] S601. A core network element sends an N2 message to an access network device.

[0194] Correspondingly, the access network device receives the N2 message, which can be used to request a service operation to be performed on the terminal device. The N2 message may include identification information of the terminal device.

[0195] S602: The access network device sends a paging message.

[0196] The access network device receives the N2 message and can page the terminal device based on the N2 message. For example, the access network device can broadcast a paging message to page, select, or trigger at least one terminal device to access or send uplink data. This paging message can be a cellular system paging message or a downlink trigger message. The downlink trigger message can be a select message or a query message.

[0197] S603: The terminal device receives the paging message and accesses the network.

[0198] S603 may be S303-S306 in FIG3 . For details, please refer to the relevant contents in FIG3 , which will not be described again here.

[0199] S604: The terminal device sends first information to the network device.

[0200] The network device may be an access network device or a core network element. After the terminal device accesses the network, it may send service data to the network device, for example, the terminal device sends first information to the network device.

[0201] S605: The terminal device receives feedback regarding the first information from the network device.

[0202] The terminal device sends the first information and can detect feedback from the network device. If feedback is received from the network device regarding the first information, it can be considered that the transmission is successful and there is subsequent information from the network device. Alternatively, the network device sends feedback regarding the first information to the terminal device, indicating that the first information is successfully received, and also implicitly indicates that there is subsequent business information or that the business has not been completed. In this case, the terminal device continues to detect information from the network device. If the terminal device receives a query repeat message after receiving feedback from the network device regarding the first information, it is considered that the link is abnormal (Figure 6 takes this as an example), and the terminal device can execute one or more of the aforementioned A) to D).

[0203] After sending the first information, the terminal device may start a second timer. If no feedback is received from the network device within the timing of the second timer, it is considered that no feedback is received from the network device. The second timer may be a (pre-)configured timer used by the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal / failed during the random access process.

[0204] As shown in Figure 4, the access network device must wait for the core network element to send back the end_marker before releasing the temporary identifier of the terminal device and releasing the terminal device. If the core network element has a long processing delay, the access network device will also have to wait for a long time, which will reduce the overall service processing efficiency.

[0205] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method 700. In communication method 700, after the access network device sends information to the core network element, it can start a third timer. If no feedback is received from the core network element within the timing of the third timer, the service transmission is considered to be completed, and the connection with the terminal device can be released to continue the next service. Compared with the current access network device that constantly waits for the core network element to feedback the end_marker, this can avoid the long period of time when the terminal device cannot be released and the service cannot be continued.

[0206] Please refer to Figure 7, which is a flow chart of a communication method 700 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 7 takes the first communication device as an access network device, the second communication device as a terminal device, and the third communication device as a core network element as an example to introduce the method from the perspective of the interaction between the access network device, the core network element, and the terminal device. It should be understood that the communication method 700 can also be implemented by other devices, such as a chip or communication device with communication functions. Among them, the terminal device can be a tag or an A-IoT terminal. As shown in Figure 7, the process of the communication method 700 includes the following steps.

[0207] S701. A core network element sends third indication information to an access network device.

[0208] Correspondingly, the access network device receives the third indication information from the core network network element. The third indication information can be used to determine the timing duration of the third timer. For example, the third indication information indicates the third time information. The access network device receives the third indication information and can determine the timing duration of the third timer based on the third time information indicated by the third indication information. For the specific implementation of the third indication information, please refer to the relevant content of the third indication information in the aforementioned S500. Among them, the third indication information can also be used to determine the timing duration of the first timer. The access network device receives the third indication information and can determine the timing duration of the first timer based on the third time information indicated by the third indication information, or can determine the timing duration of the third timer. The timing duration of the third timer can be the same as or different from the timing duration of the first timer.

[0209] S702: The access network device sends fourth information to the core network network element and starts a third timer.

[0210] Correspondingly, the core network element receives fourth information from the access network device. The fourth information may carry content that the terminal device is to send to the core network element. The access network device receives content that is to be sent to the core network element from the terminal device and sends the fourth information to the core network element.

[0211] Optionally, the access network device may receive fifth information from the core network element and may also start the third timer. The fifth information may be a response or feedback from the core network element to the information received from the access network device, indicating to the access network device that the core network element will continue to send information to the access network device.

[0212] S703. The access network device determines that the third timer has timed out and has not received any information from the core network element, and performs one or more of the following operations A) to D). The information from the core network element may be a response to the fourth information, or may be other information sent by the core network element to the access network device. The other information may be information associated with the terminal device, for example, the other information may be associated with a temporary identifier of the terminal device.

[0213] A) Release the AS of the terminal device.

[0214] Releasing the AS of the terminal device includes releasing / disconnecting the connection of the terminal device or releasing / deleting some related information. For example, the access network device releases the context information of the terminal device.

[0215] B) Send a second message to the terminal device.

[0216] The second message can be similar to a query repetition message in an RFID system. This second message can be used to trigger the next access time resource. Alternatively, this second message can be used to instruct the release / termination of a time slot for a terminal currently transmitting data, to terminate a service flow / data transmission process, or to release a connection to a terminal device.

[0217] C) Send a third message to the terminal device.

[0218] The third message may indicate: link abnormality, processing abnormality, service (processing) timeout, release / end of the time slot of the terminal that is currently transmitting data, end of the service flow / data transmission process, or release of the connection of the terminal device.

[0219] The terminal device receives the third message and can perform corresponding operations according to the third message. For example, the terminal device disconnects from the network device at the AS layer according to the third message.

[0220] The third message may be an RRC message or a MAC CE.

[0221] D) The access network device sends a fourth message to the core network element.

[0222] The fourth message may be an interface message between the access network device and the core network element. This fourth message may be used to indicate the release of the terminal device, terminate the service process currently associated with the terminal device, handle an exception, or instruct the retransmission of a response to the fourth message. When the access network device determines that the third timer has expired and no response to the fourth message has been received, it may release the terminal device and indicate the release of the terminal device to the core network element.

[0223] In communication method 700, the access network device is based on the third timer and does not need to wait for feedback from the core network network element (such as end_marker) or data sent by the core network network element to the access network device (such as N2 message or service request message or service-related data) before releasing the connection with the terminal device. This can avoid the inability to release the terminal device for a long time and the inability to continue the service.

[0224] Communication method 500 and communication method 700 can be combined or implemented separately. When communication method 500 is combined with communication method 700, the core network network element sends third indication information to the access network device, and the access network device can send first indication information to the terminal device based on the third indication information, so that the terminal device determines the first timer based on the first indication information. The access network device can also determine the third timer based on the third indication information. When communication method 500 and communication method 700 are implemented separately, the third time information indicated by the third indication information sent by the core network network element to the access network device in communication method 500 and the third time information indicated by the third indication information sent by the core network network element to the access network device in communication method 700 can be the same or different. Communication method 600 and communication method 700 can be combined or implemented separately.

[0225] The embodiments provided in the present application described above respectively introduce the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of the interaction between the access network device, the core network network element and the terminal device. Among them, the steps performed by the core network network element can be implemented by different functional entities that constitute the core network network element. The steps performed by the access network device can be implemented by different functional entities that constitute the access network device. For example, the access network device can be a CU-DU architecture, the CU can generate the first indication information, and the DU can send the first indication information. In order to implement the various functions of the method provided in the above embodiments of the present application, the terminal device, the access network device and the core network network element may include a hardware structure and / or a software module, and implement the above functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. Whether one of the above functions is performed in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0226] The following describes the communication device used to implement the above method in the embodiment of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the above contents can be used in subsequent embodiments, and repeated contents will not be repeated.

[0227] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 800 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 800 may be the access network device or core network element in the aforementioned embodiments. For example, the communication device 800 may be the access network device or the device in the core network 200 in Figure 1; alternatively, the communication device 800 may be a chip (system) in the access network device or a chip (system) in the core network element; or alternatively, the communication device 800 may be a software module in the access network device or core network element. The communication device 800 may implement the functions or steps implemented by the core network element or access network device in the aforementioned method embodiments. The communication device 800 may include a processing module 810 and a transceiver module 820. Optionally, the communication device 800 may also include a storage module, which may be used to store instructions (code or program) and / or data. The storage module may be, for example, a memory. The processing module 810 and the transceiver module 820 may be coupled to the storage module. For example, the processing module 810 may read the instructions (code or program) and / or data in the storage module to implement the corresponding method. When the communication device 800 is a chip in a core network element, the storage module may be a storage module within the chip, such as a register, a cache, etc. For example, the storage module may also be a storage module located outside the chip within an access network device / core network element, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM), etc. The above-mentioned units may be independently provided or partially or fully integrated.

[0228] The processing module 810 can be a processor or controller, for example, a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processing (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application. The processor can also be a combination that implements computing functions, for example, including a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, and so on. The transceiver module 820 is a transceiver, an interface circuit, a bus, a pin or other possible communication interface for receiving signals from other devices. For example, when the device is implemented in the form of a chip, the transceiver module 820 is an interface circuit of the chip for receiving signals from other chips or devices, or an interface circuit of the chip for sending signals to other chips or devices.

[0229] In one implementation, the communication device 800 can implement the behaviors and functions of the terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The communication device 800 can be a terminal device, or a component (such as a chip or circuit) used in the terminal device, or a chip or chipset in the terminal device or a part of the chip used to perform the functions of the relevant method, or a software module capable of implementing the method executed by the terminal device in the above-mentioned method (such as communication method 500, communication method 600 or communication method 700), without limitation. For details, please refer to the relevant content of the above-mentioned method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0230] For example, the transceiver module 820 is configured to send a first message to the network device or receive a second message from the network device. The processing module 810 is configured to start a first timer, determine that the first timer has timed out and no third message has been received from the network device, and perform one or more of the following: disconnecting the AS from the network device; or entering a first state, wherein when the communication device 800 is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, wherein the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message.

[0231] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to send a first message to the network device, where the first message is configured to indicate that the link of the communication apparatus 800 is abnormal.

[0232] As an optional implementation, the processing module 810 is further configured to keep a flag bit unchanged, where the flag bit is used to identify the access status of the communication device 800 .

[0233] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to receive first indication information, where the first indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

[0234] As an optional implementation method, the first indication information indicates first time information, which indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, the first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of the second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

[0235] As an optional implementation method, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes the first time information; the first indication information includes the index of the first time information; or, the first indication information includes identification information of the first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

[0236] As an optional implementation method, the first indication information is carried in a paging message, and the transceiver module 820 is also used to receive second indication information, the second indication information indicates second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, and the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, which is used to instruct the communication device 800 to send data or to confirm that the communication device 800 has successfully sent data.

[0237] As an optional implementation manner, the timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the second time information.

[0238] As an optional implementation method, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including: the second indication information includes the second time information; the second indication information includes the index of the second time information; or, the second indication information includes identification information of the second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

[0239] In one implementation, the communication device 800 can implement the behaviors and functions of the access network device in the above-mentioned method embodiments. The communication device 800 can be an access network device, or a component (such as a chip or circuit) used in the access network device, or a chip or chipset in the access network device, or a part of the chip used to perform the functions of the relevant method, or a software module capable of implementing the method performed by the access network device in the above-mentioned method (such as communication method 500, communication method 600, or communication method 700), without limitation. For details, please refer to the relevant content of the above-mentioned method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0240] For example, the processing module 810 is configured to determine first indication information, which is used to determine the timing duration of a first timer, which is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal. The transceiver module 820 is configured to send the first indication information to the terminal device.

[0241] As an optional implementation method, the first indication information indicates first time information, which indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, the first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of the second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

[0242] As an optional implementation method, the first indication information indicates the first time information, including: the first indication information includes the first time information; the first indication information includes the index of the first time information; or, the first indication information includes identification information of the first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

[0243] As an optional implementation method, the transceiver module 820 is also used to send a second indication information to the terminal device, the second indication information indicates second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, and the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, which is used to instruct the terminal device to send data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

[0244] As an optional implementation method, the second indication information indicates the second time information, including: the second indication information includes the second time information; the second indication information includes the index of the second time information; or, the second indication information includes identification information of the second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

[0245] As an optional implementation method, the transceiver module 820 is also used to send a fourth information to the core network network element, and the processing module 810 is also used to start a third timer, determine that the third timer has timed out, and no response to the fourth information has been received, and perform one or more of the following: releasing the AS of the terminal device; or, sending a second message to the terminal device, the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

[0246] As an optional implementation method, the transceiver module 820 is also used to receive third indication information from the core network network element, and the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

[0247] As an optional implementation manner, the third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0248] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to send a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is configured to indicate that a link of the terminal device is abnormal.

[0249] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to send a fourth message to the core network element, where the fourth message is configured to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

[0250] For another example, the transceiver module 820 is used to send the fourth information to the core network network element, and the processing module 810 is also used to start the third timer, determine that the third timer has timed out, and no response to the fourth information has been received, and perform one or more of the following: release the AS of the terminal device; or, send a second message to the terminal device, which is used to trigger the next access time resource.

[0251] As an optional implementation method, the transceiver module 820 is also used to receive third indication information from the core network network element, and the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

[0252] As an optional implementation manner, the third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0253] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to send a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is configured to indicate that a link of the terminal device is abnormal.

[0254] As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to send a fourth message to the core network element, where the fourth message is configured to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

[0255] In one implementation, the communication device 800 can implement the behaviors and functions of the core network element in the above-mentioned method embodiments. The communication device 800 can be a core network element, or a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) used in a core network element, or a chip or chipset in a core network element, or a portion of a chip used to perform the functions of the relevant method, or a software module capable of implementing the method performed by the core network element in the above-mentioned method (e.g., communication method 500, communication method 600, or communication method 700), without limitation. For details, please refer to the relevant content of the above-mentioned method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0256] For example, the processing module 810 is configured to determine third indication information, which is used to determine the timing duration of a third timer and / or a first timer. The first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal, and the third timer is used by the access network device to determine whether to release the terminal device. The transceiver module 820 is configured to send the third indication information to the access network device.

[0257] As an optional implementation manner, the third indication information is used to indicate third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

[0258] When the communication device 800 is a chip-type device or circuit, the transceiver module may be an input / output circuit and / or a communication interface; the processing module may be an integrated processor or microprocessor or integrated circuit.

[0259] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 900 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 can be a terminal device, an access network device, or a core network element in the above embodiment. For example, the communication device 900 can be the access network device or terminal device or core network element in Figure 1; or the communication device 900 is a chip (system) in an access network device or terminal device or core network element. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or can include chips and other discrete devices. For specific functions, please refer to the description in the above method embodiment.

[0260] The communication device 900 includes one or more processors 901, which are used to implement or support the communication device 900 in implementing the functions of the terminal device or core network element or access network device in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details, which will not be repeated here. The processor 901 can also be called a processing unit or processing module, which can implement certain control functions. The processor 901 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor. For example, it includes: a baseband processor, a central processing unit, an application processor, a modem processor, a graphics processor, an image signal processor, a digital signal processor, a video codec processor, a controller, a memory, and / or a neural network processor. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data. The central processing unit can be used to control the communication device 900 (such as a network device or a terminal device), execute software programs and / or process data. Different processors can be independent devices or integrated into one or more processors, for example, integrated into one or more dedicated integrated circuits.

[0261] In one design, the processor 901 may include a program 903 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions), which may be executed on the processor 901 to cause the communication device 900 to perform the methods described in the following embodiments. In another possible design, the communication device 900 includes circuitry (not shown in FIG9 ) configured to implement the functions of a terminal device, an access network device, or a core network element in the above embodiments.

[0262] In one design, the communication device 900 may include one or more memories 902, on which a program 909 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions) is stored. The program 909 can be run on the processor 901, so that the communication device 900 performs the method described in the above method embodiment, such as the process shown in Figure 5, Figure 6, or Figure 7.

[0263] In one design, the processor 901 and / or the memory 902 may include an artificial intelligence (AI) module 907 and an AI module 908, each configured to implement AI-related functions. The AI ​​module may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. For example, the AI ​​module may include a RAN intelligent controller (RIC) module. For example, the AI ​​module may be a near real-time RIC or a non-real-time RIC.

[0264] In a possible design, data may also be stored in the processor 901 and / or the memory 902. The processor and the memory may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0265] In one possible design, the communication device 900 may further include a transceiver 905 and / or an antenna 906. The processor 901 may also be sometimes referred to as a processing unit, and controls the communication device 900. The transceiver 905 may also be sometimes referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, and is configured to implement the transceiver function of the communication device through the antenna 906.

[0266] In one possible design, the communication device 900 may further include one or more of the following components: a wireless communication module, an audio module, an external memory interface, an internal memory, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a power management module, an antenna, a speaker, a microphone, an input / output module, a sensor module, a motor, a camera, or a display screen, etc. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the communication device 900 may include more or fewer components, or some components may be integrated or separated. These components may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0267] The communication device in the above embodiments may be a terminal device, an access network device, or a core network element, or may be a circuit, a chip used in a terminal device, an access network device, or a core network element, or other combined devices or components with the above core network elements (or access network devices). When the communication device is a terminal device or access network device, the transceiver module may be a transceiver, which may include an antenna and a radio frequency circuit, etc., and the processing module may be a processor, such as a CPU. When the communication device is a component with the functions of the above core network element, the transceiver module may be a wired line, and the processing module may be a processor. When the communication device is a chip system, the communication device may be an FPGA, a dedicated ASIC, a system on chip (SoC), a CPU, a network processor (NP), a DSP, a microcontroller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other integrated chip. The processing module may be the processor of the chip system. The transceiver module or communication interface may be the input / output interface or interface circuit of the chip system. For example, the interface circuit may be a code / data read / write interface circuit. The interface circuit can be used to receive code instructions (the code instructions are stored in a memory and can be read directly from the memory or read from the memory via another device) and transmit them to the processor; the processor can be used to execute the code instructions to perform the method in the above method embodiment. For example, the interface circuit can also be a signal transmission interface circuit between a communication processor and a transceiver.

[0268] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system. Specifically, the communication system includes a terminal device, an access network device, and a core network element. Exemplarily, the communication system includes a terminal device, a core network element, and an access network device for implementing the functions related to Figure 5. Alternatively, the communication system includes a terminal device, a core network element, and an access network device for implementing the functions related to Figure 7. Alternatively, the communication system includes an access network device and a core network element. For example, the communication system includes a core network element and an access network device for implementing the functions related to Figure 6. The communication system may also include a terminal device. Please refer to the relevant description in the above method embodiment for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0269] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method performed by a terminal device or a core network element or an access network device in one or more of Figures 5 to 7.

[0270] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method performed by a terminal device or a core network element or an access network device in one or more of Figures 5 to 7.

[0271] The present invention provides a chip system that includes a processor and may also include a memory for implementing the functions of the terminal device, access network device, or core network element in the aforementioned method. The chip system can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0272] To implement the functions of the communication device shown in Figures 8 and 9, embodiments of the present application further provide a chip including a processor for supporting the communication device in implementing the functions of the terminal device, core network element, or access network device described in the method embodiments. In one possible design, the chip is connected to or includes a memory, which is used to store computer programs, instructions, and data necessary for the communication device.

[0273] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0274] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0275] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0276] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0277] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0278] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the part that essentially contributes to the technical solution of the present application or the part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as USB flash drives, mobile hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks or optical disks.

[0279] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The terminal device sends first information to the network device or receives second information from the network device, and starts a first timer; The terminal device determines that the first timer times out, and performs one or more of the following steps: The terminal device disconnects from the network device at the access layer AS; The terminal device enters a first state, wherein when the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The terminal device determines that the first timer times out, including: The terminal device determines that the first timer has timed out and has not received the third information from the network device.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: The terminal device sends a first message to the network device, where the first message is used to indicate that a link of the terminal device is abnormal.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: The terminal device keeps a flag bit unchanged, and the flag bit is used to identify the access status of the terminal device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The method further comprises: The terminal device receives first indication information, where the first indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, where the first time information indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, The first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of a second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, including: The first indication information includes the first time information; The first indication information includes an index of the first time information; or, The first indication information includes identification information of a first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The first indication information is carried in a paging message, and the method further includes: The terminal device receives second indication information, the second indication information indicates second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, and the confirmation message is used to indicate that the terminal device sends data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the second time information.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The second indication information indicates second time information, including: The second indication information includes the second time information; The second indication information includes an index of the second time information; or, The second indication information includes identification information of a second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

11. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The terminal device sends first information to the network device or receives second information from the network device, and starts a first timer; The terminal device receives third information from the network device before the first timer times out, and does not perform one or more of the following: The terminal device performs random access or reselects random access; The terminal device responds to a downlink trigger message, where the downlink trigger message is used to select or trigger the terminal device to access a network or send data, and / or to trigger one or more access resources.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The access network device determines first indication information, where the first indication information is used to determine a timing duration of a first timer, where the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal; The access network device sends the first indication information to the terminal device.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, and the first time information indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, The first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of a second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, including: The first indication information includes the first time information; The first indication information includes an index of the first time information; or, The first indication information includes identification information of a first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends second indication information to the terminal device, the second indication information indicates second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, and the confirmation message is used to instruct the terminal device to send data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The second indication information indicates second time information, including: The second indication information includes the second time information; The second indication information includes an index of the second time information; or, The second indication information includes identification information of a second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends fourth information to the core network element to start a third timer; The access network device determines that the third timer times out and does not receive a response to the fourth information, and performs one or more of the following: The access network device releases the access layer AS of the terminal device; or, The access network device sends a second message to the terminal device, where the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device receives third indication information from the core network network element, where the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate a link abnormality.

21. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends a fourth message to the core network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

22. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The access network device sends fourth information to the core network element to start the third timer; The access network device determines that the third timer times out and does not receive a response to the fourth information, and performs one or more of the following: The access network device releases the access layer AS of the terminal device; or, The access network device sends a second message to the terminal device, where the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein: The method further comprises: The access network device receives third indication information from the core network network element, and the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer, and / or the third indication information is used for the timing duration of the first timer, and the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether the link is abnormal.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends a third message to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate a link abnormality.

25. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that The method further comprises: The access network device sends a fourth message to the core network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

26. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The core network element determines third indication information, where the third indication information is used to determine a timing duration of a third timer and / or a first timer, where the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal, and the third timer is used by the access network device to determine whether to release the terminal device; The core network element sends the third indication information to the access network device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein: The third indication information is used to indicate third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A transceiver module, used to send first information to the network device or receive second information from the network device; The processing module is configured to start a first timer, determine that the first timer times out, and perform one or more of the following: Disconnecting the connection with the network device at the access layer AS; Entering a first state, wherein when the communication device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message includes a query message or a selection message.

29. The device according to claim 28, characterized in that The determining that the first timer times out includes: The terminal device determines that the first timer has timed out and has not received the third information from the network device.

30. The device according to claim 28, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: A first message is sent to the network device, where the first message is used to indicate that a link of the communication device is abnormal.

31. The device according to any one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: The flag bit is kept unchanged, and the flag bit is used to identify the access status of the communication device.

32. The device according to any one of claims 28 to 31, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: First indication information is received, where the first indication information is used to determine a timing duration of the first timer.

33. The device according to claim 32, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, where the first time information indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, The first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of a second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

34. The device according to claim 33, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, including: The first indication information includes the first time information; The first indication information includes an index of the first time information; or, The first indication information includes identification information of a first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

35. The device according to claim 33 or 34, characterized in that The first indication information is carried in a paging message, and the transceiver module is further used for: Receive second indication information, where the second indication information indicates second time information, where the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, where the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, and where the confirmation message is used to indicate that the communication device sends data or to confirm that the communication device has successfully sent data.

36. The device according to claim 35, characterized in that The timing duration of the first timer is determined according to the second time information.

37. The device according to claim 36, characterized in that The second indication information indicates second time information, including: The second indication information includes the second time information; The second indication information includes an index of the second time information; or, The second indication information includes identification information of a second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

38. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A transceiver module, used to send first information to the network device or receive second information from the network device, and start a first timer; A processing module, configured to determine that before the first timer times out, third information is received from the network device, and one or more of the following is not performed: Perform random access or do not perform reselection random access; Entering a first state, wherein, when the terminal device is in the first state, it only responds to a paging message or a downlink trigger message, and the downlink trigger message is used to select or trigger the terminal device to access the network or send data, and / or to trigger one or more access resources.

39. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processing module, used to determine first indication information, where the first indication information is used to determine a timing duration of a first timer, where the first timer is used by a terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal; A transceiver module is used to send the first indication information to the terminal device.

40. The device according to claim 39, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, and the first time information indicates the timing duration of the first timer; or, The first indication information indicates that the timing duration of the first timer is based on the timing duration of a second timer, and the second timer is used for random access.

41. The device according to claim 40, characterized in that The first indication information indicates first time information, including: The first indication information includes the first time information; The first indication information includes an index of the first time information; or, The first indication information includes identification information of a first service, and the first service is associated with the first time information.

42. The device according to any one of claims 39 to 41, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: Send second indication information to the terminal device, the second indication information indicates second time information, the second time information is used to determine the timing duration of the first timer, the second indication information is carried in a confirmation message, and the confirmation message is used to indicate the terminal device to send data or to confirm that the terminal device has successfully sent data.

43. The device according to claim 42, characterized in that The second indication information indicates second time information, including: The second indication information includes the second time information; The second indication information includes an index of the second time information; or, The second indication information includes identification information of a second service, and the second service is associated with the second time information.

44. The device according to any one of claims 39 to 43, characterized in that The transceiver module is further used to: send fourth information to the core network element to start the third timer; The processing module is further configured to: determine that the third timer times out and no response to the fourth information is received, and perform one or more of the following: releasing the access layer AS of the terminal device; or, A second message is sent to the terminal device, where the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

45. The device according to claim 44, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: Receive third indication information from the core network element, where the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or to determine the timing duration of the first timer.

46. ​​The device according to claim 45, characterized in that The third indication information indicates third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

47. The device according to claim 45 or 46, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: A third message is sent to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate a link abnormality.

48. The device according to any one of claims 45 to 47, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: A fourth message is sent to the core network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

49. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A transceiver module, used for sending fourth information to a core network element; a processing module, configured to start a third timer, determine that the third timer times out, and no response to the fourth information is received, and perform one or more of the following: Release the access layer AS of the terminal device; or, A second message is sent to the terminal device, where the second message is used to trigger the next access time resource.

50. The device according to claim 49, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: Receive third indication information from the core network element, where the third indication information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer, and / or the third indication information is used for the timing duration of the first timer, where the first timer is used by the terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal.

51. The device according to claim 49 or 50, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: A third message is sent to the terminal device, where the third message is used to indicate a link abnormality.

52. The device according to any one of claims 49 to 51, characterized in that The transceiver module is also used for: A fourth message is sent to the core network element, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the terminal device has been released.

53. A communication device, characterized in that: include: a processing module, configured to determine third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used to determine a timing duration of a third timer and / or a first timer, wherein the first timer is used by a terminal device to determine whether a link is abnormal, and the third timer is used by an access network device to determine whether to release the terminal device; A transceiver module is used to send the third indication information to the access network device.

54. The device according to claim 53, characterized in that The third indication information is used to indicate third time information, and the third time information is used to determine the timing duration of the third timer and / or the first timer.

55. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor and a memory, the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the communication device performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or the communication device performs the method according to claim 11, or the communication device performs the method according to any one of claims 12 to 21, or the communication device performs the method according to any one of claims 22 to 25, or the communication device performs the method according to any one of claims 26 to 27.

56. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is run on a computer, the computer executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, or the computer executes the method as claimed in claim 11, or the computer executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 21, or the computer executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 25, or the computer executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 27.

57. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, or enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in claim 11, or enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 21, or enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 25, or enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 27.

58. A chip system, characterized in that: The chip system comprises: A processor and an interface, the processor being used to call and run instructions from the interface, and when the processor executes the instructions, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is implemented, or the method according to claim 11 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 12 to 21 is implemented, or the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 22 to 25, or the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 26 to 27.

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