Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a second apparatus sends a first signal on a first resource within a first coverage area, and sends a system information block on a second resource within the first coverage area; then the second apparatus can receive a random access sequence on a third resource, wherein the second resource and the first resource have an association relationship, and / or the third resource and the first resource have an association relationship. In this way, upon receiving the first signal, a first apparatus can determine the second resource and / or the third resource on the basis of the first resource, without the need for the second apparatus to indicate the position of the second resource and / or the position of the third resource by means of signaling, thereby reducing signaling overhead, saving transmission resources, and reducing the power consumption of the second apparatus.

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 China on November 22, 2023, with application number 202311581101.8 and application name “A Communication Method and Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0004] Compared to traditional terrestrial networks (such as the 4th generation (4G) and 5th generation (5G) mobile communication systems), non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) offer wider coverage, higher speeds, and lower costs. In areas where terrestrial networks cannot be deployed directly, such as in the ocean, deserts, and in the air, NTNs can complement or extend terrestrial networks, achieving wide-area seamless coverage and effectively addressing internet access challenges in areas lacking communication infrastructure.

[0005] Satellite communications, a typical example of NTN, boasts long communication distances, wide coverage, and flexible networking. They play an irreplaceable role in space communications, aviation communications, military communications, emergency rescue communications, and high-speed mobility. Integrating satellite communications into traditional communications systems not only provides seamless coverage for terminal devices, but also mitigates the impact of natural disasters and ensures the reliability of communication systems.

[0006] In communication systems such as NTN, how to reduce the power consumption of communication devices requires further research.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present application provides a communication method and device for reducing power consumption of a communication device.

[0009] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a second device. The second device can be an access network device or a module in the access network device (such as a circuit, chip, chip system or processor), and can also be a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the access network device. The method may include: the second device can send a first signal on a first resource within a first coverage area, and can send a system information block on a second resource within the first coverage area. Then, the second device can receive a random access sequence on a third resource. There is an association relationship between the second resource and the first resource; and / or there is an association relationship between the third resource and the first resource.

[0010] In this method, an association relationship exists between the second resource and the first resource; and / or an association relationship exists between the third resource and the first resource. Thus, after receiving the first signal, the first device can determine the second resource and / or the third resource based on the first resource, eliminating the need for the second device to indicate the location of the second resource and / or the third resource via signaling. This saves signaling overhead, transmission resources, and power consumption of the second device.

[0011] In one possible design, if the number of connected devices within a first coverage area is zero, the second device may send a first signal on a first resource within the first coverage area. With this design, the second device may send the first signal within a range where the number of connected devices (e.g., terminals) is zero, so that the first device receiving the first signal can determine the second resource and / or third resource based on the first resource, eliminating the need for the second device to indicate the location of the second resource and / or third resource via signaling. This saves signaling overhead, transmission resources, and power consumption of the second device.

[0012] In one possible design, the system information block is used only to indicate at least one of the following: a first timing advance, which is the timing advance used by all devices within the first coverage area; or the location of the second device. Currently, when the second device is a satellite, in addition to the common TA, the system information block may also include satellite position information and satellite velocity information, or satellite orbital parameter information. With this design, the system information block only needs to indicate the first TA and / or the location of the second device, thereby saving signaling overhead, saving transmission resources, and reducing power consumption of the second device.

[0013] In one possible design, a first correspondence exists between the first signal and M random access resources, where M is a positive integer, and the third resource belongs to the M random access resources. Thus, the second apparatus may implicitly indicate the M random access resources via the first signal, and the first apparatus may quickly and accurately determine the M random access resources based on the first signal and select the third resource from among them for sending the random access sequence.

[0014] In one possible design, the interval between two adjacent random access resources in the M random access resources is a first interval. In this way, the first device can quickly and accurately determine the M random access resources based on the first signal and the first interval.

[0015] In one possible design, an interval between a start time of an Nth random access resource among the M random access resources and a start time of the first resource is a first time interval, or an interval between a start time of the Nth random access resource and an end time of the first resource is a second time interval, and N is a positive integer, and N is less than or equal to M. With this design, the first apparatus can quickly and accurately determine the Nth random access resource among the M random access resources, thereby quickly and accurately determining the M random access resources.

[0016] In one possible design, the first signal may correspond to the type of information in the system information block. In this way, the second device may implicitly indicate the type of information in the system information block through the first signal, and the first device may quickly and accurately determine the type of information in the system information block based on the first signal.

[0017] In one possible design, after receiving a random access sequence on a third resource, the second device may send an indication message instructing the second device to provide service to the first device after a first duration. The first device may be the device that sends the random access sequence. Currently, access network equipment typically concentrates resources in areas with high traffic density. Therefore, after receiving the random access sequence, it may take some time for the second device to schedule a beam and / or resources to the first coverage area. With this design, the second device can promptly notify the first device through the indication message, instructing the second device to provide service to the first device after the first duration.

[0018] In one possible design, if the third resource belongs to the first resource set, the response priority of the second device to the first device is the first priority; if the third resource does not belong to the first resource set, the response priority of the second device to the first device is the second priority. The first priority is higher than the second priority; the first device is a device that sends a random access sequence; the resources in the first resource set are used to indicate that the service to be transmitted in the first device meets at least one of the following conditions: the priority of the service is higher than the priority threshold; or, the delay requirement of the service is less than the delay threshold. Through this design, the third resource is related to the service to be transmitted in the first device. When the priority of the service is higher than the priority threshold; and / or the delay requirement of the service is less than the delay threshold, the response priority of the second device to the first device is higher, so that the communication between the first device and the second device can be quickly restored.

[0019] In one possible design, the first signal is composed of a PSS and / or an SSS. This design simplifies the content of the first signal, thereby saving signaling overhead, saving transmission resources, and reducing power consumption of the second device.

[0020] In one possible design, the interval between the start time of the second resource and the start time of the first resource is a third time interval, or the interval between the start time of the second resource and the end time of the first resource is a fourth time interval; and / or the interval between the start time of the third resource and the start time of the first resource is a fifth time interval, or the interval between the start time of the third resource and the end time of the first resource is a sixth time interval. This design provides a possible manner of associating the second resource with the first resource, and / or provides a possible manner of associating the third resource with the first resource, and is relatively flexible and easy to implement.

[0021] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first device. The first device can be a terminal or a module in the terminal (such as a circuit, chip, chip system or processor), and can also be a logical node, logic module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal functions. The method may include: the first device can receive a first signal on a first resource and can receive a system information block on a second resource. Then, the first device can send a random access sequence on a third resource. There is an association relationship between the second resource and the first resource; and / or there is an association relationship between the third resource and the first resource.

[0022] In one possible design, the first signal is received by the first device within the first coverage range when the number of devices in the connected state is 0.

[0023] In one possible design, the system information block is only used to indicate at least one of the following: a first timing advance, which is the timing advance used by all devices within the first coverage area; or the location of a second device, which is the device that sends the first signal.

[0024] In one possible design, there is a first correspondence between the first signal and M random access resources, M is a positive integer, and the third resource belongs to the M random access resources.

[0025] In a possible design, the interval between two adjacent random access resources among the M random access resources is the first interval.

[0026] In one possible design, an interval between a start time of an Nth random access resource among the M random access resources and a start time of the first resource may be a first time interval, or an interval between a start time of the Nth random access resource and an end time of the first resource may be a second time interval, where N is a positive integer and is less than or equal to M.

[0027] In one possible design, the first signal may correspond to the type of information in the system information block.

[0028] In one possible design, after sending the random access sequence on the third resource, the first device may receive indication information for instructing the second device to provide service to the first device after the first duration. The second device may be the device that sent the first signal.

[0029] In one possible design, the first device may be in an energy-saving state within a second duration after receiving the indication information, wherein the second duration is related to the first duration.

[0030] In one possible design, if the third resource belongs to the first resource set, the second device's response priority to the first device is the first priority; if the third resource does not belong to the first resource set, the second device's response priority to the first device is the second priority. The first priority is higher than the second priority; the second device is the device that sends the first signal; and the resources in the first resource set are used to indicate that a service to be transmitted by the first device satisfies at least one of the following conditions: the service priority is higher than a priority threshold; or the service latency requirement is lower than a latency threshold.

[0031] In one possible design, the first signal consists of the PSS and / or SSS.

[0032] In one possible design, the interval between the start time of the second resource and the start time of the first resource may be a third time interval, or the interval between the start time of the second resource and the end time of the first resource may be a fourth time interval; and / or, the interval between the start time of the third resource and the start time of the first resource may be a fifth time interval, or the interval between the start time of the third resource and the end time of the first resource may be a sixth time interval.

[0033] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be the second device in the first aspect. The second device may be an access network device or a module in the access network device (such as a circuit, chip, chip system or processor), or a logical node, logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the access network device. The communication device has the function of implementing the above-mentioned first aspect. For example, the communication device includes a module or unit or means corresponding to the operation involved in the above-mentioned first aspect. The module or unit or means may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or the corresponding software implementation may be executed by hardware.

[0034] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processing unit. Optionally, the communication device also includes an interface unit. The interface unit can be used to transmit and receive signals to enable communication between the communication device and other devices; the processing unit can be used to perform certain internal operations of the communication device. The functions performed by the processing unit and the interface unit can correspond to the operations described in the first aspect above.

[0035] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor, which can be coupled to a memory. The memory can store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions of the first aspect. The processor can execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer programs or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method of any possible design of the first aspect.

[0036] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and a memory, where the memory may store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions of the first aspect. The processor may execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method of any possible design of the first aspect.

[0037] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and execute the method in any possible design of the first aspect above.

[0038] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be the first device in the second aspect. The first device may be a terminal or a module in the terminal (such as a circuit, a chip, a chip system or a processor), or a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal functions. The communication device has the function of implementing the above-mentioned second aspect. For example, the communication device includes a module or unit or means corresponding to the operation involved in the above-mentioned second aspect. The module or unit or means may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or the corresponding software may be implemented by hardware.

[0039] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processing unit. Optionally, the communication device also includes an interface unit. The interface unit can be used to transmit and receive signals to enable communication between the communication device and other devices; the processing unit can be used to perform certain internal operations of the communication device. The functions performed by the processing unit and the interface unit can correspond to the operations described in the second aspect above.

[0040] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor, which can be coupled to a memory. The memory can store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions of the second aspect. The processor can execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer programs or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method of any possible design of the second aspect.

[0041] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and a memory, and the memory may store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions involved in the second aspect. The processor may execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method in any possible design of the second aspect.

[0042] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and execute the method in any possible design of the second aspect above.

[0043] It can be understood that in the third aspect or the fourth aspect above, the processor can be implemented by hardware or by software. When implemented by hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc.; when implemented by software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor, which is implemented by reading the software code stored in the memory. In addition, the above processors can be one or more, and the memories can be one or more. The memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory and the processor can be set separately. In the specific implementation process, the memory can be integrated with the processor on the same chip, or can be set on different chips respectively. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of memory and the setting method of the memory and the processor.

[0044] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which may include the communication device described in the third aspect and the communication device described in the fourth aspect. For example, the communication system includes a terminal and an access network device (e.g., a satellite); wherein the terminal is configured to execute the communication method provided in the second aspect, and the access network device is configured to execute the communication method provided in the first aspect.

[0045] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed, the method in any possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect is implemented.

[0046] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program code. When the computer program code is executed, the method in any possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect is implemented.

[0047] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a chip for reading a computer program stored in a memory to execute a method in any possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0048] The technical effects that can be achieved in any of the second to eighth aspects mentioned above can refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved by any possible design in the first aspect mentioned above, and the repetitions will not be discussed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Figures 1A to 1D are architecture diagrams of several communication systems provided in this application;

[0050] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block (SSB) provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG3 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as 5G mobile communication systems (such as NR systems) and / or NTN communication systems in future evolved communication systems.

[0055] This application will present various aspects, embodiments, or features in the context of systems that may include multiple devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood and appreciated that each system may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or may not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in conjunction with the figures. Furthermore, combinations of these aspects may also be used.

[0056] Figure 1A illustrates the architecture of an NTN communication system applicable to embodiments of the present application. The communication system may include a terminal, a first access network device, and a second access network device. The communication link between the first access network device and the second access network device is a feedback link (or feeder link); the communication link between the second access network device and the terminal is a service link.

[0057] The first access network device may be a gateway station (also called a ground station, earth station, gateway, or gateway station) or a base station.

[0058] The second access network device may be a satellite (or satellite base station) or a high altitude platform station (HAPS), etc. The satellite may include at least one of the following: a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite (or a geosynchronous orbit satellite) or a non-geostationary earth orbit (NGEO). The non-geostationary earth orbit satellite may include at least one of the following: a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite or a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite. There is no limitation here.

[0059] In an embodiment of the present application, the communication mode of the second access network device may include a regenerative mode and a transparent mode (also referred to as a transparent mode). When the communication mode of the second access network device is the regenerative mode, the second access network device may serve as a base station for wireless communication. Exemplarily, the second access network device may include a next generation NodeB (gNB) or a distributed unit (DU). When the communication mode of the second access network device is the transparent mode, the second access network device may perform frequency conversion forwarding on the signal.

[0060] It should be understood that Figure 1A only shows one first access network device and one second access network device. In actual use, an architecture with multiple first access network devices and / or multiple second access network devices may be adopted as needed. Each second access network device may provide services to one or more terminals, each second access network device may correspond to one or more first access network devices, and each first access network device may correspond to one or more second access network devices, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0061] In this application, a terminal may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station (MS), remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal equipment, wireless communication device, user agent or user device.

[0062] A terminal can be a device that provides wireless communication capabilities, such as a handheld device or vehicle-mounted device with wireless connection capabilities. Currently, some examples of terminals include: mobile phones, satellite mobile terminals, cellular phones, smart phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices (such as smart watches, smart bracelets, pedometers, smart glasses, etc.), vehicle-mounted devices (such as cars, bicycles, electric vehicles, airplanes, ships, trains, high-speed trains, etc.), satellite terminals, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, smart point of sale (POS) machines, customer-premises equipment (CPE), wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, and wireless terminals in smart homes. The present invention also includes wireless terminals (e.g., refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, electric meters, etc.) in a home, intelligent robots, robotic arms, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, flying devices (e.g., intelligent robots, hot air balloons, drones, airplanes), terminals in 5G networks, or terminals in future-evolved public land mobile networks (PLMNs), etc., which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. As an example and not a limitation, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal may also be a mobile terminal (MT) in an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node. When the IAB node faces its parent node, it can be regarded as a terminal. In this case, the IAB node plays the role of an MT.

[0063] The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form factor of the terminal. The device used to implement the terminal's functions can be a terminal; it can also be a device that supports the terminal in implementing the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal or used in conjunction with the terminal. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete components.

[0064] In this application, an access network device is a device that provides wireless communication functions for a terminal, and the terminal can communicate with a core network device through the access network device. As a node in a wireless access network, an access network device can also be called a base station, a radio access network (RAN) node (or device), or an access point (AP). A communication system may include multiple access network devices, which can be nodes of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of the access network device and the terminal are relative. For example, network element #A can be a helicopter or a drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station and access the RAN through network element #B. For those terminals that access the RAN through network element #A, network element #A is a base station; but for network element #B, network element #A is a terminal.

[0065] In one possible scenario, the access network device may be a base station, a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a base station in a future mobile communication system, a satellite, an IAB node, a mobile switching center, a high-altitude platform or a satellite, etc. The access network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a cloud RAN (CRAN) scenario. The access network device may also be a device that acts as a base station in device-to-device (D2D) communication, Internet of Vehicles communication, drone communication, and machine communication. Optionally, the access network device may also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or an on-board device, etc. For example, the access network device in vehicle to everything (V2X) technology may be a road side unit (RSU).

[0066] In another possible scenario, multiple access network devices collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, and different access network devices respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the access network device can be a centralized unit (CU), DU, CU-control plane (CP), CU-user plane (UP), or radio unit (RU). The CU and DU can be set separately, or can also be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH). It can be understood that the access network device can be a CU node, a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU can be divided into an access network device in the access network RAN, or the CU can be divided into an access network device in the core network CN, which is not limited here.

[0067] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the 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 the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0068] In the embodiments of the present application, the form of the access network device is not limited. The device used to implement the functions of the access network device can be the access network device; it can also be a device that supports the access network device to implement the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the access network device or used in conjunction with the access network device.

[0069] Access network equipment and terminals can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; and in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of access network equipment and terminals.

[0070] In this application, core network equipment refers to equipment in the core network that provides service support for terminals. At present, some examples of core network equipment are: access and mobility management function (AMF) entity, session management function (SMF) entity, user plane function (UPF) entity, etc., which are not listed here one by one. Among them, the AMF entity can be responsible for terminal access management and mobility management; the SMF entity can be responsible for session management, such as user session establishment, etc.; the UPF entity can be a functional entity of the user plane, mainly responsible for connecting to the external network. It should be noted that the entities in this application can also be referred to as network elements or functional entities. For example, the AMF entity can also be referred to as an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity. For another example, the SMF entity can also be referred to as an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity, etc.

[0071] The satellite communication system shown in this application may have multiple possible architectures, for example, any one of Architectures 1 to 3.

[0072] Architecture 1: Figure 1B shows a satellite communication system in a transparent transmission mode applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1B, the terminal and the ground base station can communicate through the air interface (for example, the Uu interface), and the satellite and the NTN gateway can be considered as the RRU of the ground base station, which can realize transparent forwarding of signals. The ground base station and the core network can communicate through the NG interface. Among them, the satellite supports functions such as radio frequency filtering, frequency conversion and amplification; that is, the satellite can act as a layer 1 relay (L1 relay) to regenerate the physical layer signal.

[0073] Architecture 2: FIG1C shows a satellite communication system in a regeneration mode applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG1C , the satellite has some or all of the functions of an access network device and can be called a satellite base station. The satellite can provide wireless access services and schedule wireless resources for terminal devices that access the network through the satellite. The terminal and the satellite can communicate through the air interface (for example, the Uu interface), the satellite and the NTN gateway can communicate through the NG interface, and the NTN gateway and the core network can communicate through the NG interface. Optionally, there is no inter-satellite link (ISL) between the satellites.

[0074] Architecture 3: FIG1D shows another satellite communication system in regeneration mode applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG1D , the satellite has some or all of the functions of an access network device and can be called a satellite base station. The satellite can provide wireless access services and schedule wireless resources for terminal devices that access the network through the satellite. The terminal and the satellite can communicate through the air interface (for example, the Uu interface), the satellite and the NTN gateway can communicate through the NG interface, and the NTN gateway and the core network can communicate through the NG interface. There is an ISL between the satellites. For example, the ISL is a link on the Xn interface, and the satellites can communicate with each other through the Xn interface.

[0075] The communication system and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that, with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0076] The following first explains the relevant terms involved in the embodiments of the present application. It should be noted that these explanations are intended to make the embodiments of the present application easier to understand and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of protection claimed by this application.

[0077] 1) SSB:

[0078] Currently, SSBs can include synchronization signals and PBCH. Synchronization signals can be used by terminals for downlink synchronization and obtaining the cell's identity (ID). Downlink synchronization can include frequency synchronization and time synchronization. PBCH can be used by terminals to obtain information about the cell they are accessing.

[0079] For example, as shown in Figure 2, the SSB may include a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) and PBCH. Among them, PSS and SSS are both synchronization signals. PSS can be used to transmit the cell number, and SSS can be used to transmit the cell group number. The cell number and the cell group number together determine the multiple physical cell identities (PCIs) in the communication system. Once the terminal successfully searches for the PSS and SSS, it will know the PCI corresponding to the SSB. PBCH can be used to transmit the main information block (MIB). The MIB may include the system frame number and the subcarrier spacing for initial access, etc. The terminal can access the cell based on the MIB, etc.

[0080] 2) Radio resource control (RRC) connection state:

[0081] The RRC connected state, also referred to as the connected state, is an RRC connection state of a terminal in a communication system. When the terminal is in the connected state, an RRC connection exists between the terminal and the access network device, and the two can communicate based on the RRC connection.

[0082] 3) Time unit:

[0083] In this application, the unit of time domain resources may be a time unit. For example, the time unit may be, but is not limited to, a subframe, a slot, a symbol, a second (s), or a millisecond (ms). The symbol may be a time domain symbol (e.g., an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol). The following description uses the subframe as the unit of time domain resources as an example.

[0084] 4) Wave position:

[0085] In this application, a beam position may be the coverage area or region of a beam. For example, a satellite is configured with 16 beams, and the coverage area of ​​each beam may be a beam position.

[0086] 5) In this application, the system information block can also be replaced by a broadcast message.

[0087] 6) In this application, "sending information to ... (terminal)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal, and can include directly or indirectly sending information to the terminal. "Receiving information from ... (terminal)" can be understood as the source of the information being the terminal, and can include directly or indirectly receiving information from the terminal. The information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination of the information, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood similarly and will not be repeated here.

[0088] Currently, further research is needed to reduce the power consumption of communication devices in communication systems such as NTN. For example, in satellite communications, satellites rely primarily on solar power, so the amount of power available to the satellites is limited. Satellites have a wide coverage area, and there may be areas within their coverage area where no terminals are connected. Satellites also periodically transmit messages (such as SSBs and system information blocks) within such areas, wasting transmission resources and generating unnecessary power. Further research is needed to reduce satellite power consumption during satellite communications.

[0089] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. Figure 3 is a flow chart corresponding to the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. In Figure 3, the method is illustrated by taking the first device and the second device as the execution subjects of the interaction diagram as an example, but the present application does not limit the execution subjects of the interaction diagram. For example, the first device can be a terminal, or a module applied to the terminal, such as a circuit, chip, chip system or processor, or a logical node, logical module or software that can realize all or part of the terminal functions; the second device can also be an access network device (for example, a satellite), or a module applied to an access network device (for example, a satellite), such as a circuit, chip, chip system or processor, or a logical node, logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of an access network device (for example, a satellite). As shown in Figure 3, the method includes:

[0090] S301: The second device sends a first signal on a first resource within a first coverage area; correspondingly, the first device receives the first signal on the first resource.

[0091] The first device may be located within a first coverage area. The first coverage area may be part or all of the coverage area of ​​the second device. For example, if the second device includes a cell, the first coverage area may be the coverage area of ​​the cell. For another example, if the coverage area of ​​the second device includes multiple beams, the first coverage area may be one of the multiple beams.

[0092] Optionally, the first signal is a synchronization signal. The synchronization signal may be a simplified synchronization signal. Exemplarily, the first signal may be composed of PSS and / or SSS. The first signal may be generated according to a parameter. For example, the first signal is composed of SSS1, and SSS1 is generated according to parameter 1. For another example, the first signal is composed of SSS2, and SSS2 is generated according to parameter 2. For another example, the first signal is composed of PSS 1, and PSS1 is generated according to parameter 3. For the specific contents of PSS and SSS, please refer to the description of PSS and SSS in the term explanation section, which will not be repeated here. In this way, the first signal only needs to include PSS and / or SSS, and does not need to include PBCH. Therefore, compared with sending SSB including PSS, SSS and PBCH, sending the first signal can save signaling overhead, save transmission resources, and reduce power consumption of the second device.

[0093] The second device may periodically transmit the first signal within the first coverage area. The transmission period may be pre-set, for example, as specified by a protocol, or determined by the second device, or determined by another device (for example, a core network device) and then notified to the second device.

[0094] In some possible implementations, if the number of connected devices (e.g., terminals) within a first coverage area is zero, the second device may transmit a first signal on a first resource within the first coverage area. In other words, if the number of devices with which the second device has an RRC connection within the first coverage area is zero, the second device may transmit a first signal on a first resource within the first coverage area. For example, the coverage area of ​​the second device includes the coverage area of ​​cell 1. If the number of connected terminals within the coverage area of ​​cell 1 is zero, the first coverage area may be the coverage area of ​​cell 1, and the second device may transmit the first signal on a first resource within the coverage area of ​​cell 1. For another example, the coverage area of ​​the second device includes multiple beams. Boundary X is any one of the multiple beams. If the number of connected terminals within beams X is zero, the first coverage area is beams X, and the second device may transmit the first signal on a first resource within beams X. It should be understood that there may be at least two beams within the multiple beams where the number of connected terminals is zero. If the second device sends the first signal on the first resource within the at least two wavelets, the first coverage range may include the at least two wavelets. If the at least two wavelets include wavelet A and wavelet B, and the resource carrying the first signal in wavelet A is different from the resource carrying the first signal in wavelet B, then wavelet A may be the first coverage range, and wavelet B may be the second coverage range. The operation of the second device and the first device for the second coverage range can refer to the operation of the second device and the first device for the first coverage range. In this way, if the number of devices (for example, terminals) in the connected state within the first coverage range is 0, the second device may send the first signal on the first resource within the first coverage range. The first signal may be a simplified synchronization signal, thereby saving signaling overhead, saving transmission resources, and reducing the power consumption of the second device.

[0095] S302: The second device sends a system information block on a second resource within a first coverage area; correspondingly, the first device receives the system information block on the second resource.

[0096] There are multiple ways for the first device to determine the second resource, for example, way a1 or way a2.

[0097] Mode a1: There is an association relationship between the second resource and the first resource. In this way, the first device can determine the second resource based on the association relationship between the second resource and the first resource.

[0098] Optionally, there is an association between the time domain position of the second resource and the time domain position of the first resource. In some examples, the interval between the start time of the second resource and the start time of the first resource is a third time interval. For example, if the start time of the first resource is the 3rd subframe and the third time interval is 5 subframes, then the start time of the second resource is the 8th subframe. The third time interval can be pre-set, for example, specified by the protocol, or determined by the first device or the second device, or determined by another device (for example, a core network device). In other examples, the interval between the start time of the second resource and the end time of the first resource is a fourth time interval. For example, if the end time of the first resource is the 4th subframe and the fourth time interval is 4 subframes, then the start time of the second resource is the 8th subframe. The fourth time interval can be pre-set, for example, specified by the protocol, or determined by the first device or the second device, or determined by another device (for example, a core network device).

[0099] Currently, the resources for transmitting system information blocks are typically indicated through signaling. For example, the PBCH in the SSB can be used to indicate the resources for transmitting system information blocks. Using approach a1, after receiving a first signal on a first resource, the first device can determine a second resource for receiving the system information block based on the association between the second resource and the first resource. This eliminates the need for the second device to indicate the location of the second resource through signaling. This reduces signaling overhead, transmission resources, and power consumption of the second device.

[0100] Method a2: The second resource is indicated by the first signal. For example, if the first signal is an SSB, the PBCH within the SSB may indicate the second resource. This application does not limit the specific content of the PBCH indicating the second resource. In this way, the first device can determine the second resource based on the first signal.

[0101] In some possible approaches, the system information block may be used to indicate only at least one of the following 1 to 2:

[0102] 1. First Timing Advance (TA): The system information block may explicitly indicate the first TA, for example, the system information block includes the first TA; or the system information block may implicitly indicate the first TA, for example, the system information block may include information corresponding to the first TA. The first TA may be the timing advance used by all devices (e.g., terminals) within the first coverage area. In this way, all devices within the first coverage area may use the first TA to compensate for uplink signals to achieve uplink synchronization. Exemplarily, the first TA is a common TA.

[0103] 2. Location of the Second Device: The system information block may explicitly indicate the location of the second device, for example, the system information block includes the longitude and latitude of the second device's location, or, for example, the system information block includes the spatial coordinates of the second device's location. Alternatively, the system information block may implicitly indicate the location of the second device, for example, the system information block may include information corresponding to the location of the second device. The first device may determine the TA used by the first device based solely on the locations of the second device and the first device. For example, the TA used by the first device is 2d / c, where d is the distance between the first and second devices, which may be determined based on the locations of the first and second devices, and c is the speed of light.

[0104] Currently, when the second device is a satellite, in addition to the common TA, the system information block may also include satellite position information and satellite velocity information, or satellite orbital parameter information. In this way, the system information block only needs to indicate the location of the first TA and / or the second device, thereby reducing signaling overhead, transmission resources, and power consumption of the second device.

[0105] In some implementations, the first signal corresponds to the type of information in the system information block. In this way, the second device can implicitly indicate the type of information in the system information block through the first signal, and the first device can quickly and accurately determine the type of information in the system information block based on the first signal.

[0106] For example, if the first signal is synchronization signal 1, synchronization signal 1 may indicate that the type of information in the system information block includes the ephemeris of the second device. Then, the first device may determine, based on the first signal, that the system information block includes the ephemeris of the second device.

[0107] For another example, if the first signal is synchronization signal 2, synchronization signal 2 may indicate that the type of information in the system information block only includes a common TA. The first device may then determine, based on the first signal, that the system information block only includes a common TA. When the second device covers the first coverage range using a narrower beam (e.g., a beam width less than a beam width threshold), the first signal may be synchronization signal 2 in this example. In this case, the TAs of the devices (e.g., terminals) within the first coverage range are not significantly different, and a common TA can be used to compensate for uplink signals. TA errors can be covered by the CP. This application does not limit the manner in which the CP covers the TA error.

[0108] For another example, if the first signal is synchronization signal 3, synchronization signal 3 may indicate that the type of information in the system information block does not include the ephemeris of the second device. The first device may determine, based on the first signal, that the system information block does not include the ephemeris of the second device.

[0109] There may be multiple ways of corresponding the first signal to the type of information in the system information block, for example, way b1 or way b2.

[0110] Mode b1: The type of synchronization signal in the first signal corresponds to the type of information in the system information block. For example, if the type of synchronization signal in the first signal includes PSS, the type of information in the system information block includes type 1. For another example, if the type of synchronization signal in the first signal includes SSS, the type of information in the system information block includes type 2. Optionally, the types of information in the system information blocks corresponding to different synchronization signal types may be completely identical, partially identical, or completely different. For example, type 1 and type 2 may be completely identical, partially identical, or completely different.

[0111] Mode b2: The generation parameter of the synchronization signal in the first signal corresponds to the type of information in the system information block. For example, if the first signal is composed of SSS1, SSS1 is generated according to parameter 1, that is, the generation parameter of SSS1 is parameter 1, then the type of information in the system information block includes type 3. For another example, if the first signal is composed of SSS2, SSS2 is generated according to parameter 2, that is, the generation parameter of SSS2 is parameter 2, then the type of information in the system information block includes type 4. Optionally, the type of information in the system information block corresponding to different generation parameters may be exactly the same, partially the same, or completely different. For example, type 3 and type 4 may be exactly the same, partially the same, or completely different.

[0112] S303: The first device sends a random access sequence on the third resource; correspondingly, the second device receives the random access sequence on the third resource.

[0113] There are multiple ways for the first device to determine the third resource, for example, way c1 or way c2.

[0114] Mode c1: There is an association relationship between the third resource and the first resource. In this way, the first device can determine the third resource based on the association relationship between the third resource and the first resource.

[0115] Optionally, there is an association between the time domain location of the third resource and the time domain location of the first resource. In some examples, the interval between the start time of the third resource and the start time of the first resource may be the fifth time interval. For example, if the start time of the first resource is the 3rd subframe and the fifth time interval is the 10th subframe, then the start time of the third resource is the 13th subframe. The fifth time interval may be pre-set, for example, as specified by a protocol, or determined by the first device or the second device, or determined by another device (for example, a core network device). In other examples, the interval between the start time of the third resource and the end time of the first resource may be the sixth time interval. For example, if the end time of the first resource is the 4th subframe and the sixth time interval is the 9th subframe, then the start time of the third resource is the 13th subframe. The sixth time interval may be pre-set, for example, as specified by a protocol, or determined by the first device or the second device, or determined by another device (for example, a core network device).

[0116] In some possible approaches, a first correspondence exists between the first signal and M random access resources, where M is a positive integer, and the third resource belongs to the M random access resources. In this way, the second device can implicitly indicate the M random access resources via the first signal, and the first device can quickly and accurately determine the M random access resources based on the first signal, and select the third resource from among them for sending the random access sequence.

[0117] Exemplarily, the interval between two adjacent random access resources in the M random access resources is the first interval. In other words, the period of the M random access resources is the first interval. In this way, the first device can quickly and accurately determine the M random access resources based on the first signal and the first interval. In some implementations, at least one of the value of M and the first interval is related to the number of devices (e.g., terminals) within the first coverage area. In some examples, if the number of terminals in the first coverage area is less than or equal to a first number threshold (e.g., 0), for example, if the first coverage area is an uninhabited area, the first interval is interval 1; if the number of terminals in the first coverage area is greater than a second number threshold, the first interval is interval 2. The second number threshold is greater than or equal to the first number threshold, and interval 1 is greater than interval 2. In other examples, if the number of terminals in the first coverage area is less than or equal to the first number threshold (e.g., 0), for example, if the first coverage area is an uninhabited area, the value of M is 1 (e.g., 1); if the number of terminals in the first coverage area is greater than the second number threshold, the value of M is 2 (e.g., 3). The second number threshold is greater than or equal to the first number threshold, and value 2 is greater than value 1.

[0118] Optionally, there is an association relationship between the Nth random access resource and the first resource among the M random access resources, where N is a positive integer and N is less than or equal to M. For example, M is 3 and N can be 1, 2, or 3. In some examples, the interval between the start time of the Nth random access resource and the start time of the first resource is a first time interval. For example, if the start time of the first resource is the 3rd subframe and the first time interval is 10 subframes, then the start time of the Nth random access resource is the 13th subframe. The first time interval can be pre-set, for example, specified by a protocol, or determined by the first device or the second device, or determined by another device (for example, a core network device). In other examples, the interval between the start time of the Nth random access resource and the end time of the first resource can be a second time interval. For example, if the end time of the first resource is the 4th subframe and the second time interval is 9 subframes, then the start time of the Nth random access resource is the 13th subframe. The second time interval may be pre-set, for example, specified by a protocol, or determined by the first device or the second device, or determined by other devices (for example, core network equipment).

[0119] After determining the Nth random access resource among the M random access resources, the first device may determine the M random access resources based on the first interval between two adjacent random access resources among the M random access resources. For example, if the start time of the Nth random access resource is the 13th subframe, N is 1, M is 3, and the first interval is 5 subframes, the first device may determine that the time-domain positions of the M random access resources include: the 13th subframe, the 18th subframe, and the 23rd subframe. For another example, if the start time of the Nth random access resource is the 13th subframe, N is 2, M is 3, and the first interval is 5 subframes, the first device may determine that the time-domain positions of the M random access resources include: the 8th subframe, the 13th subframe, and the 18th subframe.

[0120] As mentioned above, there is a first correspondence between the first signal and the M random access resources. There are multiple ways to correspond the first signal and the M random access resources, for example, way d1 or way d2.

[0121] Mode d1: The type of synchronization signal in the first signal corresponds to M random access resources. In some examples, if the type of synchronization signal in the first signal includes PSS, the M random access resources include resource 1. For example, resource 1 includes 3 resources, that is, M is 3. In other examples, if the type of synchronization signal in the first signal includes SSS, the M random access resources include resource 2. For example, resource 2 includes 1 resource, that is, M is 1. Optionally, the M random access resources corresponding to different types of synchronization signals may be exactly the same, partially the same, or completely different. For example, resource 1 and resource 2 may be exactly the same, partially the same, or completely different.

[0122] Mode d2: The generation parameters of the synchronization signal in the first signal correspond to M random access resources. In some examples, if the first signal is composed of SSS1, SSS1 is generated according to parameter 1, that is, the generation parameter of SSS1 is parameter 1, then the M random access resources include resource 3. For example, resource 3 includes 3 resources, that is, M is 3. In other examples, if the first signal is composed of SSS2, SSS2 is generated according to parameter 2, that is, the generation parameter of SSS2 is parameter 2, then the M random access resources include resource 4. For example, resource 4 includes 1 resource, that is, M is 1. Optionally, the M random access resources corresponding to different generation parameters may be exactly the same, partially the same, or completely different. For example, resource 3 and resource 4 may be exactly the same, partially the same, or completely different.

[0123] Currently, the resources for transmitting random access sequences are typically indicated via signaling. For example, a system information block can be used to indicate the resources for transmitting random access sequences. Using approach c1, after receiving a first signal on a first resource, the first device can determine the third resource for transmitting the random access sequence based on the association between the third resource and the first resource. This eliminates the need for the second device to indicate the location of the third resource via signaling. This reduces signaling overhead, transmission resources, and power consumption of the second device.

[0124] Method c2: The system information block may indicate at least one random access resource, and the third resource belongs to the at least one random access resource. This application does not limit the specific content of the system information block indicating the at least one random access resource. In this way, the first device can determine the third resource based on the system information block.

[0125] It should be understood that at least one of method c1 or method c2 can be combined with at least one of method a1 or method a2 described above. When method c1 and method a1 are combined, since the second resource and the first resource are associated, and the third resource and the first resource are associated, the third resource and the second resource are also associated. Optionally, the time domain location of the third resource and the time domain location of the second resource are associated. In some examples, the interval between the start time of the third resource and the start time of the second resource may be the seventh time interval. For example, if the start time of the second resource is the 8th subframe and the seventh time interval is 5 subframes, then the start time of the third resource is the 13th subframe. The seventh time interval may be pre-set, for example, specified by a protocol, determined by the first device or the second device, or determined by another device (e.g., a core network device). In other examples, the interval between the start time of the third resource and the end time of the second resource may be the eighth time interval. For example, if the end time of the second resource is the 9th subframe and the eighth time interval is 4 subframes, then the start time of the third resource is the 13th subframe. The eighth time interval may be pre-set, for example, specified by a protocol, or determined by the first device or the second device, or determined by other devices (for example, core network equipment).

[0126] In some possible manners, after S303, the method shown in FIG3 further includes S304:

[0127] S304: The first device starts a second timer.

[0128] After the first device starts the second timer, the second timer can work in a variety of ways, which are explained below with examples. In some examples, after the first device starts the second timer, the second timer can start timing from 0ms, and the timing time of the second timer gradually increases. When the timing time of the second timer increases to the duration of the second timer, the second timer times out. In other examples, after the first device starts the second timer, the second timer starts timing from the duration of the second timer, and the timing time of the second timer gradually decreases. When the timing time of the second timer decreases to 0ms, the second timer times out. When using the second timer, the first device needs to determine the duration of the second timer. The duration of the second timer can be pre-set, for example, specified by the protocol, or determined by the first device, or determined by other devices (for example, the second device) and notified to the first device.

[0129] During the running of the second timer, if the first device receives an SSB from the second device, the first device may initiate a random access procedure based on the SSB. This application does not limit the specific content of the random access procedure. If the first device does not receive the SSB from the second device before the second timer expires, the first device may resend the random access sequence and restart the second timer until the SSB from the second device is received.

[0130] In some possible manners, after S303, the method shown in FIG3 further includes S305:

[0131] S305: The second device sends indication information; correspondingly, the first device receives the indication information.

[0132] Among them, the indication information can be used to instruct the second device to provide services to the first device after the first time period; in other words, the indication information can be used to instruct the second device to delay providing services to the first device. In some examples, the indication information can indicate that the second device provides services to the first device after the first time period through the content in the indication information. For example, when the value of the indication information is a first value (for example, 0), it indicates that the second device provides services to the first device after the first time period. In this way, based on the value of the indication information, the first device can determine that the second device provides services to the first device after the first time period. For example, the indication information can be message 1 for instructing the second device to provide services to the first device after the first time period. In this way, after receiving message 1, the first device can determine that the second device provides services to the first device after the first time period.

[0133] In addition, the first duration may be pre-set, such as specified in a protocol; or the first duration may be determined by the second device and then notified to the first device, for example, the first duration is included in the indication information.

[0134] Currently, access network equipment typically concentrates resources in densely trafficked areas. Therefore, after receiving the random access sequence, it may take some time for the second device to schedule its beam and / or resources to the first coverage area. This method allows the second device to promptly notify the first device, via an instruction message, that it will provide service to the first device after a first duration.

[0135] Optionally, after S305, the method shown in FIG3 further includes:

[0136] S306: Within the second time period after receiving the indication information, the first device is in an energy-saving state (also called a low-power consumption state); that is, the indication information can be used to trigger the first device to be in an energy-saving state within the second time period after receiving the indication information.

[0137] The second duration is related to the first duration. For example, the second duration is the same as the first duration. For another example, the second duration is the sum of the first duration and an offset value. The offset value can be a positive number or a negative number. The offset value can be pre-set, such as specified by a protocol; or the offset value can be determined by another device (e.g., a second device) and notified to the first device, such as the offset value is included in the indication information; or the offset value can be determined by the first device.

[0138] Optionally, the second duration may be indicated by a first timer. For example, after receiving the indication information, the first device may start the first timer; or, in other words, the indication information may be used to trigger the first device to start the first timer. The duration of the first timer is the second duration. The method for the first device to start the first timer can be referenced to the method for the first device to start the second timer in S304, except that the second timer is replaced by the first timer, and will not be further described here.

[0139] Because the indication information can be used to instruct the second device to provide services to the first device after the first duration, after receiving the indication information, the first device can determine that the second device will not provide services to the first device for a period of time, thereby being in a power-saving state during this period, thereby saving power consumption of the first device. After the second duration after receiving the indication information, for example, after the first timer expires, the first device can monitor the SSB from the second device and initiate a random access procedure based on the SSB.

[0140] In some implementations, S304 to S306 may be combined. For example, after S303, the first device may start a second timer (i.e., S304). During the operation of the second timer, if the first device receives an indication message from the second device (i.e., S305), then the first device is in a power-saving state for a second period of time after receiving the indication message (i.e., S306). If the first device does not receive an indication message from the second device before the second timer expires, the first device may resend the random access sequence and start the second timer again until an indication message from the second device is received.

[0141] In some possible ways, if the third resource belongs to the first resource set, the response priority of the second device to the first device is the first priority. If the third resource does not belong to the first resource set, the response priority of the second device to the first device is the second priority. Among them, the first priority is higher than the second priority. The resources in the first resource set can all be used to indicate that the service to be transmitted in the first device meets at least one of the following conditions 1 to 2. In this way, if the service to be transmitted in the first device meets at least one of conditions 1 to 2, the first device can select the third resource from the first resource set; in other words, if the service to be transmitted in the first device meets at least one of conditions 1 to 2, the third resource belongs to the first resource set, or, if the third resource belongs to the first resource set, the service to be transmitted in the first device meets at least one of conditions 1 to 2. Conditions 1 and 2 are explained below.

[0142] Condition 1: The priority of the service is higher than the priority threshold. For example, if the service to be transmitted on the first device includes service 1, and the priority of service 1 is higher than the priority threshold, the first device may determine that condition 1 is satisfied. The priority threshold may be pre-set, such as specified by a protocol, determined by the first device, or determined by another device (e.g., a second device) and notified to the first device. Optionally, "higher than" in condition 1 may be replaced with "higher than or equal to."

[0143] Condition 2: The service's latency requirement is less than the latency threshold. For example, if the service to be transmitted on the first device includes Service 1, and if Service 1's latency requirement is less than 8ms and the latency threshold is 10ms, the first device can determine that Condition 2 is met. The latency threshold can be pre-set, such as specified by a protocol, determined by the first device, or determined by another device (e.g., a second device) and then notified to the first device. Optionally, "less than" in Condition 2 can be replaced with "less than or equal to."

[0144] The higher the response priority, the faster the second device can provide services to the first device. For example, terminal 1 sends a random access sequence to the second device via resource 1 in the first resource set. Terminal 2 sends a random access sequence to the second device via resource 2 outside the first resource set. The response priority of the second device to terminal 1 is higher than the response priority of the second device to terminal 2. For example, the second device schedules uplink resource 1 for terminal 1, and the second device schedules uplink resource 2 for terminal 2. The start time of uplink resource 1 is before the start time of uplink resource 2. For another example, the second device sends a downlink signal (e.g., a random access response) to terminal 1 on downlink resource 1, and the second device sends a downlink signal (e.g., a random access response) to terminal 2 on downlink resource 2. The start time of downlink resource 1 is before the start time of downlink resource 2. Therefore, if the third resource belongs to the first resource set, the first device may not enter the energy-saving state after sending the random access sequence, and may quickly resume communication with the second device. For example, the first device may resume communication with the second device after time duration 1. The duration 1 is greater than or equal to the round-trip transmission delay between the first device and the second device.

[0145] Based on the same technical concept as the above-mentioned method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application provides a corresponding communication device, which can be used to perform the functions of the relevant steps in the above-mentioned method embodiment. This function can be implemented by hardware, can be implemented by software, or can be implemented by hardware executing the corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. The communication device can be a terminal, or can be a module in a terminal (such as a circuit or a chip), or can be a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of a terminal or access network device; or the communication device can be an access network device or a module in an access network device (such as a circuit or a chip), or can be a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of an access network device.

[0146] In one possible implementation, the structure of the communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG4 , and includes a processing unit 402. Optionally, the communication device further includes an interface unit 401. The functions of each unit in the communication device 400 are described below.

[0147] The interface unit 401 is used to input and / or output information. Input information can be replaced by receiving information, and output information can be replaced by sending information. When outputting information, the interface unit 401 can output information to other devices outside the communication device 400, or it can output information to other units in the communication device 400. In some embodiments, the interface unit 401 can be implemented by at least one of a physical interface, a communication module, a communication interface, and an input / output interface. In other embodiments, the interface unit 401 can be implemented by an interface circuit, for example, a mobile communication module. The mobile communication module may include one or more of at least one antenna, at least one filter, a switch, a power amplifier, a low noise amplifier (LNA), etc.

[0148] The processing unit 402 can be used to support the communication device 400 in performing the processing actions in the above method embodiments. The processing unit 402 can be implemented by one or more processors. For example, the processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0149] In one embodiment, the communication device 400 is applied to the second device in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 3. The specific functions of the processing unit 402 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0150] The processing unit 402 is configured to: send a first signal on a first resource within a first coverage range through the interface unit 401; send a system information block on a second resource within the first coverage range through the interface unit 401; and receive a random access sequence on a third resource through the interface unit 401; wherein, there is an association relationship between the second resource and the first resource, and / or there is an association relationship between the third resource and the first resource.

[0151] In some possible embodiments, the processing unit 402 is specifically configured to: if the number of devices in the connected state within the first coverage area is 0, send the first signal on the first resource within the first coverage area through the interface unit 401.

[0152] Optionally, the processing unit 402 is further used to: after receiving the random access sequence on the third resource, send indication information through the interface unit 401, where the indication information is used to instruct the communication device 400 to provide service to the first device after the first time period, and the first device is the device that sends the random access sequence.

[0153] In another embodiment, the communication device 400 is applied to the first device in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 3. The specific functions of the processing unit 402 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0154] Processing unit 402 is used to: receive a first signal on a first resource through interface unit 401; receive a system information block on a second resource through interface unit 401; and send a random access sequence on a third resource through interface unit 401; wherein there is an association relationship between the second resource and the first resource, and / or there is an association relationship between the third resource and the first resource.

[0155] In some possible embodiments, the processing unit 402 is also used to: after sending a random access sequence on a third resource, receive indication information through the interface unit 401, where the indication information is used to instruct the second device to provide service to the communication device 400 after a first time period, and the second device is the device that sends the first signal.

[0156] Optionally, the processing unit 402 is further configured to: place the communication device 400 in an energy-saving state within a second duration after receiving the indication information, where the second duration is related to the first duration.

[0157] A more detailed description of the processing unit 402 and the interface unit 401 can be directly obtained by referring to the relevant description in the method embodiment shown in the figure, and is not repeated here.

[0158] It should be noted that the division of modules in the above embodiments of the present application is illustrative and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a processing unit, or may exist separately physically, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The above-mentioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.

[0159] If the above-mentioned integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or 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.) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0160] In one possible implementation, the communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG5 . The communication device 500 includes a processor 502. Optionally, the communication device 500 further includes an interface circuit 501 and a memory 503. The interface circuit 501, the processor 502, and the memory 503 are coupled to each other.

[0161] Optionally, the interface circuit 501, processor 502, and memory 503 are coupled to each other via a bus 504. Bus 504 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus. Buses can be classified as address buses, data buses, control buses, and the like. For ease of illustration, FIG5 shows only one thick line, but this does not imply that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0162] Interface circuit 501 is used to input and / or output information. Inputting information can be replaced by receiving information, and outputting information can be replaced by sending information. When outputting information, interface circuit 501 can output information to other devices outside of communication device 500, or to other units within communication device 500. Exemplarily, interface circuit 501 can be implemented via at least one of a physical interface, a communication module, a communication interface, an input / output interface, and a mobile communication module. The mobile communication module may include one or more of at least one antenna, at least one filter, a switch, a power amplifier, an LNA, and the like.

[0163] Processor 502 can be used to support communication device 500 in executing the processing actions in the above-described method embodiments. When communication device 500 is used to implement the above-described method embodiments, processor 502 can also be used to implement the functions of processing unit 402. Processor 502 can be a CPU, other general-purpose processors, DSPs, ASICs, FPGAs, other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0164] In one embodiment, the communication device 500 is applied to the second device in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 3. The specific functions of the processor 502 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0165] Processor 502 is configured to: send a first signal on a first resource within a first coverage range through interface circuit 501; send a system information block on a second resource within the first coverage range through interface circuit 501; and receive a random access sequence on a third resource through interface circuit 501; wherein an association relationship exists between the second resource and the first resource, and / or an association relationship exists between the third resource and the first resource.

[0166] In another embodiment, the communication device 500 is applied to the first device in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 3. The specific functions of the processor 502 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0167] Processor 502 is configured to: receive a first signal on a first resource through interface circuit 501; receive a system information block on a second resource through interface circuit 501; and send a random access sequence on a third resource through interface circuit 501; wherein an association relationship exists between the second resource and the first resource, and / or an association relationship exists between the third resource and the first resource.

[0168] The specific functions of the processor 502 can refer to the description of the communication method provided in the above embodiments and examples of the present application, as well as the specific functional description of the communication device 400 in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4, and will not be repeated here.

[0169] The memory 503 is used to store program instructions and / or data, etc. Specifically, the program instructions may include program code, which includes computer operating instructions. The memory 503 may include RAM, and may also include non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as at least one disk storage. The processor 502 executes the program instructions stored in the memory 503 and uses the data stored in the memory 503 to implement the above functions, thereby realizing the communication method provided in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application. The memory 503 can be integrated with the processor 502, or it can be a memory outside the communication device.

[0170] It will be appreciated that the memory 503 in FIG. 5 of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a ROM, a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a RAM, which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to comprise, but not be limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0171] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product including computer-executable instructions. When the computer program product is run, the method provided in the above embodiments is executed.

[0172] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0173] The storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer.

[0174] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which is used to read a computer program stored in a memory to implement the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0175] Based on the above embodiments, embodiments of the present application provide a chip system, which includes a processor for supporting a computer device to implement the functions involved in each device in the above embodiments. In one possible design, the chip system also includes a memory for storing the necessary programs and data for the computer device. The chip system can be composed of a chip or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0176] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0177] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each flow and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the flow chart and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more flow charts and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0178] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a product including an instruction device that implements the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0179] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0180] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the text description of this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. In the formula of this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in a "division" relationship.

[0181] It is understood that the various numbers used in the embodiments of this application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily imply a specific order of execution; the order of execution of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic.

[0182] 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: Sending a first signal on a first resource within a first coverage area; Sending a system information block on a second resource within the first coverage area; as well as, receiving a random access sequence on a third resource; There is an association relationship between the second resource and the first resource; and / or there is an association relationship between the third resource and the first resource.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Sending a first signal on a first resource within a first coverage area includes: If the number of devices in the connected state within the first coverage range is 0, the first signal is sent on the first resource within the first coverage range.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The system information block is only used to indicate at least one of the following: a first timing advance, where the first timing advance is a timing advance used by all devices within the first coverage area; or The location of a second device, wherein the second device is the device that sends the first signal.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that There is a first corresponding relationship between the first signal and M random access resources, M is a positive integer, and the third resource belongs to the M random access resources.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that An interval between two adjacent random access resources among the M random access resources is a first interval.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The interval between the start time of the Nth random access resource among the M random access resources and the start time of the first resource is a first time interval, or the interval between the start time of the Nth random access resource and the end time of the first resource is a second time interval, and N is a positive integer, and N is less than or equal to M.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The first signal corresponds to a type of information in a system information block.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that After receiving the random access sequence on the third resource, the method further includes: Send indication information, where the indication information is used to instruct the second device to provide service to the first device after a first time period, the second device is a device that sends the first signal, and the first device is a device that sends the random access sequence.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that If the third resource belongs to the first resource set, the response priority of the second device to the first device is the first priority; if the third resource does not belong to the first resource set, the response priority of the second device to the first device is the second priority, the first priority is higher than the second priority, the second device is a device that sends the first signal, the first device is a device that sends the random access sequence, and the resources in the first resource set are used to indicate that the service to be transmitted in the first device meets at least one of the following conditions: the priority of the service is higher than the priority threshold; or, the delay requirement of the service is less than the delay threshold.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The first signal consists of a primary synchronization signal PSS and / or a secondary synchronization signal SSS.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The interval between the start time of the second resource and the start time of the first resource is a third time interval, or the interval between the start time of the second resource and the end time of the first resource is a fourth time interval; and / or, The interval between the start time of the third resource and the start time of the first resource is the fifth time interval, or the interval between the start time of the third resource and the end time of the first resource is the sixth time interval.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: include: receiving a first signal on a first resource; receiving a system information block on a second resource; as well as sending a random access sequence on a third resource; There is an association relationship between the second resource and the first resource, and there is an association relationship between the third resource and the first resource.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first signal is received within the first coverage range when the number of devices in a connected state is 0 within the first coverage range.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The system information block is only used to indicate at least one of the following: a first timing advance, where the first timing advance is a timing advance used by all devices within the first coverage area; or The location of a second device, wherein the second device is the device that sends the first signal.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that There is a first corresponding relationship between the first signal and M random access resources, M is a positive integer, and the third resource belongs to the M random access resources.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that An interval between two adjacent random access resources among the M random access resources is a first interval.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The interval between the start time of the Nth random access resource among the M random access resources and the start time of the first resource is a first time interval, or the interval between the start time of the Nth random access resource and the end time of the first resource is a second time interval, and N is a positive integer, and N is less than or equal to M.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that The first signal corresponds to a type of information in a system information block.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that After sending the random access sequence on the third resource, the method further includes: Indication information is received, where the indication information is used to instruct a second device to provide a service to a first device after a first time period, where the second device is a device that sends the first signal, and the first device is a device that sends the random access sequence.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: Also includes: Within a second time period after receiving the indication information, the first device is in an energy-saving state, and the second time period is related to the first time period.

21. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that If the third resource belongs to the first resource set, the response priority of the second device to the first device is the first priority; if the third resource does not belong to the first resource set, the response priority of the second device to the first device is the second priority, the first priority is higher than the second priority, the second device is a device that sends the first signal, the first device is a device that sends the random access sequence, and the resources in the first resource set are used to indicate that the service to be transmitted in the first device meets at least one of the following conditions: the priority of the service is higher than the priority threshold; or, the delay requirement of the service is less than the delay threshold.

22. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 21, characterized in that The first signal consists of a primary synchronization signal PSS and / or a secondary synchronization signal SSS.

23. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 22, characterized in that The interval between the start time of the second resource and the start time of the first resource is a third time interval, or the interval between the start time of the second resource and the end time of the first resource is a fourth time interval; and / or, The interval between the start time of the third resource and the start time of the first resource is the fifth time interval, or the interval between the start time of the third resource and the end time of the first resource is the sixth time interval.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: include: An interface unit for receiving and sending information; A processing unit, configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23 through the interface unit.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

26. A communication system, characterized in that: include: A first device, configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 12 to 23; The second device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-11.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23 is implemented.

28. A chip, characterized in that: The chip is coupled to a memory, and the chip reads a computer program stored in the memory to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises: a computer program code, and when the computer program code is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23 is implemented.

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