Determination method and apparatus, communication device, communication system, and storage medium

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a determination method and apparatus, a device, and a storage medium. The method comprises: determining that an applicable characteristic of a terminal in a random access process comprises a first characteristic, the first characteristic being related to a first device, and the first device being a device forwarding data to a network device by means of the terminal. The method of the present disclosure can introduce into a communication system a characteristic related to the service "a terminal forwarding data of a first device" (i.e., the first characteristic), so as to enable the terminal to use said characteristic, and to better forward data of the first device on the basis of said characteristic, ensuring successful forwarding of the data of the first device by the terminal, and guaranteeing communication stability.

Description

Determination method and device, communication equipment, communication system, storage medium Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a determination method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] In communication systems, in order to save power and reduce equipment complexity, a new device has been introduced. This device does not need to generate energy itself, but can collect energy from the outside world. For example, it can collect energy based on the surrounding environment or signals sent by surrounding devices, and can communicate based on the collected energy. At the same time, the device does not need to be configured with batteries or replaced. Therefore, the cost, power consumption and device size required for communication based on this device are relatively small.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure proposes a determination method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0005] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a determination method is proposed, which is performed by a terminal and includes:

[0006] Determining that the characteristic applicable to the terminal during the random access process includes a first characteristic, where the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0007] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a determination method is proposed, which is performed by a network device and includes:

[0008] A RACH resource corresponding to a first characteristic is configured for the terminal, where the first characteristic is a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process, and the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0009] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a determination method is proposed for a communication system, the communication system including a terminal and a network device, the method including:

[0010] The terminal determines that a characteristic applicable to the terminal in a random access process includes a first characteristic, where the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal;

[0011] The network device configures, for the terminal, RACH resources corresponding to the first characteristic.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal is provided, including:

[0013] The processing module is configured to determine that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes a first characteristic, where the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0014] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a network device is provided, including:

[0015] a transceiver module, configured to configure a RACH resource corresponding to a first characteristic for a terminal, where the first characteristic is a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process, and the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0016] According to a sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, including:

[0017] one or more processors;

[0018] The processor is used to call instructions to enable the communication device to execute any one of the determination methods described in the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0019] According to the seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system is proposed, characterized in that it includes a terminal and a network device, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the determination method described in the first aspect, and the network device is configured to implement the determination method described in the second aspect.

[0020] According to an eighth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a storage medium is proposed, which stores instructions, and is characterized in that when the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the determination method as described in any one of the first to second aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] FIG1A is a schematic diagram of the architecture of some communication systems provided by embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] 1B-1F are schematic diagrams of an architecture illustrating communication between an A-IoT device and a network device and / or a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG2A is a schematic flow chart of a determination method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG3A is a schematic flow chart of a determination method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG3B is a flowchart of a determination method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG4A is a schematic flow chart of a determination method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG4B is a flowchart of a determination method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG5A is a schematic flow chart of a determination method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG6A is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG6B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG7A is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG7B is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a determination method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0035] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a determination method, which is performed by a terminal. The method includes:

[0036] Determining that the characteristic applicable to the terminal during the random access process includes a first characteristic, where the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the above-mentioned first characteristic is introduced for the terminal. This first characteristic is related to the first device, and the first device can forward data to the network device through the terminal. Therefore, it can be seen that in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the relevant characteristic of the service of "the terminal forwarding the data of the first device" (i.e., the first characteristic) can be introduced into the communication system, so that the terminal can apply this characteristic and can better forward the data of the first device based on this characteristic, ensuring the successful forwarding of the data of the first device by the terminal and ensuring communication stability.

[0038] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the applicable characteristic of the terminal in the random access process includes the first characteristic, including:

[0039] The medium access control MAC layer of the terminal determines, based on the notification from the higher layer of the terminal, that the characteristics applicable to the terminal in the random access process include the first characteristic.

[0040] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the applicable characteristic of the terminal in the random access process includes the first characteristic, including:

[0041] The medium access control MAC layer of the terminal autonomously determines that the characteristics applicable to the terminal in the random access process include the first characteristic.

[0042] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the MAC layer of the terminal autonomously determines that the characteristics applicable to the terminal in the random access process include the first characteristics, including at least one of the following:

[0043] The MAC layer determines that the terminal detects a first data volume, and determines that applicable characteristics of the terminal in the random access process include the first characteristic; the first data volume is a data volume of data to be forwarded by the first device through the terminal;

[0044] The MAC layer determines that the terminal meets a first condition, and determines that applicable characteristics of the terminal in a random access process include the first characteristic.

[0045] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first condition includes at least one of the following:

[0046] The signal quality of the terminal is greater than a first threshold;

[0047] The moving speed of the terminal is less than a second threshold;

[0048] The battery level of the terminal is greater than a third threshold.

[0049] In the above embodiment, a method is provided for a terminal to determine that its applicable characteristics during the random access process include the first characteristic, so that the terminal can successfully determine that its applicable characteristics during the random access process include the first characteristic, so that the terminal can subsequently better forward the data of the first device based on the first characteristic, thereby ensuring the successful forwarding of the data of the first device by the terminal and ensuring communication stability.

[0050] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0051] Determining a random access channel (RACH) resource corresponding to the first characteristic;

[0052] A random access procedure is initiated based on the RACH resource.

[0053] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic includes at least one of the following:

[0054] receiving a RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic configured by a network device;

[0055] The RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic is determined based on protocol pre-definition.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the first characteristic corresponds to a RACH resource, and the terminal can initiate a random access procedure based on the RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic. By enabling the first characteristic to correspond to a RACH resource and enabling the terminal to initiate a random access procedure based on the RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic, the network device can clearly distinguish which random access procedures are triggered based on the first characteristic, so that the network device can better differentiate and schedule services corresponding to the first characteristic, thereby ensuring accurate execution of services corresponding to the first characteristic and ensuring communication stability.

[0057] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first characteristic may constitute a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic; wherein the second characteristic is a characteristic other than the first characteristic.

[0058] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first characteristic cannot constitute a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic; wherein the second characteristic is a characteristic other than the first characteristic.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the network device can configure the first characteristic to form a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic, and / or can configure the first characteristic not to form a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic, thereby achieving flexible management of the first characteristic.

[0060] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a determination method, which is performed by a network device. The method includes:

[0061] A RACH resource corresponding to a first characteristic is configured for the terminal, where the first characteristic is a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process, and the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the above-mentioned first characteristic is introduced for the terminal. This first characteristic is related to the first device, and the first device can forward data to the network device through the terminal. Therefore, it can be seen that in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the relevant characteristic of the service of "the terminal forwarding the data of the first device" (i.e., the first characteristic) can be introduced into the communication system, so that the terminal can apply this characteristic and can better forward the data of the first device based on this characteristic, ensuring the successful forwarding of the data of the first device by the terminal and ensuring communication stability.

[0063] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0064] The first feature configured for the terminal may constitute a feature combination with at least one second feature; wherein the second feature is a feature other than the first feature.

[0065] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0066] The first feature configured for the terminal cannot be combined with at least one second feature to form a feature combination; wherein the second feature is a feature other than the first feature.

[0067] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a determination method for a communication system, wherein the communication system includes a terminal and a network device, and the method includes:

[0068] The terminal determines that a characteristic applicable to the terminal in a random access process includes a first characteristic, where the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal;

[0069] The network device configures, for the terminal, RACH resources corresponding to the first characteristic.

[0070] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a terminal, including:

[0071] The processing module is configured to determine that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes a first characteristic, where the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0072] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the processing module is further configured to:

[0073] The medium access control MAC layer of the terminal determines, based on the notification from the higher layer of the terminal, that the characteristics applicable to the terminal in the random access process include the first characteristic.

[0074] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the processing module is further configured to:

[0075] The medium access control MAC layer of the terminal autonomously determines that the characteristics applicable to the terminal in the random access process include the first characteristic.

[0076] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the processing module is further configured to:

[0077] The MAC layer determines that the terminal detects a first data volume, and determines that applicable characteristics of the terminal in the random access process include the first characteristic; the first data volume is a data volume of data to be forwarded by the first device through the terminal;

[0078] The MAC layer determines that the terminal meets a first condition, and determines that applicable characteristics of the terminal in a random access process include the first characteristic.

[0079] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the first condition includes at least one of the following:

[0080] The signal quality of the terminal is greater than a first threshold;

[0081] The moving speed of the terminal is less than a second threshold;

[0082] The battery level of the terminal is greater than a third threshold.

[0083] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the terminal is further configured to:

[0084] Determining a random access channel (RACH) resource corresponding to the first characteristic;

[0085] A random access procedure is initiated based on the RACH resource.

[0086] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the terminal is further used for at least one of the following:

[0087] receiving a RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic configured by a network device;

[0088] The RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic is determined based on protocol pre-definition.

[0089] In combination with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the first characteristic may constitute a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic; wherein the second characteristic is a characteristic other than the first characteristic.

[0090] In combination with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the first characteristic cannot constitute a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic; wherein the second characteristic is a characteristic other than the first characteristic.

[0091] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a network device, including:

[0092] a transceiver module, configured to configure a RACH resource corresponding to a first characteristic for a terminal, where the first characteristic is a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process, and the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0093] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the network device is further configured to:

[0094] The first feature configured for the terminal may constitute a feature combination with at least one second feature; wherein the second feature is a feature other than the first feature.

[0095] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the network device is further configured to:

[0096] The first feature configured for the terminal cannot be combined with at least one second feature to form a feature combination; wherein the second feature is a feature other than the first feature.

[0097] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication device, which includes: one or more processors; one or more memories for storing instructions; wherein the processor is used to call the instructions so that the communication device executes the determination method described in the first aspect, the optional implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0098] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication system, which includes: a terminal and a network device; wherein the terminal is configured to execute the method described in the first aspect and the optional implementation of the first aspect, and the network device is configured to execute the method described in the second aspect and the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0099] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a storage medium, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the determination method described in the first aspect, the optional implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0100] In the ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a program product. When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device executes the determination method described in the first aspect, the optional implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0101] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program, which, when running on a computer, enables the computer to execute the determination method described in the first aspect, the optional implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0102] It is understandable that the above-mentioned terminals, network devices, communication devices, communication systems, storage media, program products, and computer programs are all used to execute the methods proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding methods and will not be repeated here.

[0103] The present disclosure provides invention titles. In some embodiments, the terms "determining method" and "information processing method," "information sending method," and "information receiving method" are interchangeable; the terms "communication device" and "information processing device," "information sending device," and "information receiving device" are interchangeable; and the terms "information processing system," "communication system," "information sending system," and "information receiving system" are interchangeable.

[0104] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0105] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0106] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0107] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "the", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0108] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0109] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one of", "at least one of", "at least one of", "one or more", "a plurality of", "multiple", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0110] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, descriptions such as “at least one of A, B, C…”, “A and / or B and / or C…”, etc. include the situation where any one of A, B, C… exists alone, and also include any combination of any multiple of A, B, C…, and each situation can exist alone; for example, “at least one of A, B, C” includes the situation where A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, the combination of A and B, the combination of A and C, the combination of B and C, and the combination of A, B, and C; for example, A and / or B includes the situation where A exists alone, B exists alone, and the combination of A and B.

[0111] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "in one case A, in another case B," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B," may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: executing A independently of B (in some embodiments, A); executing B independently of A (in some embodiments, B); selectively executing A and B (in some embodiments, selecting between A and B); and executing both A and B (in some embodiments, A and B). The same applies when there are more branches, such as A, B, and C.

[0112] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first information" and the "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0113] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0114] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0115] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0116] In some embodiments, devices, etc. can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as "device", "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", and "subject" can be used interchangeably.

[0117] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network (eg, access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.).

[0118] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)", "radio access network device (RAN device)", "base station (BS)", "radio base station" "fixed station", "node", "access point", "transmission point (TP)", "reception point (RP)", "transmission / reception point (TRP)", "panel", "antenna panel", "antenna array", "cell", "macro cell", "small cell", "femto cell", "pico cell", "sector", "cell group", "carrier", "component carrier", "bandwidth part (BWP)" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0119] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0120] In some embodiments, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device can be replaced by a terminal. For example, the various embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied to a structure in which the communication between the access network device, the core network device, or the network device and the terminal is replaced by communication between multiple terminals (for example, it can also be called device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, it can also be set as a structure in which the terminal has all or part of the functions of the access network device. In addition, language such as "uplink" and "downlink" can also be replaced by language corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side"). For example, uplink channels, downlink channels, etc. can be replaced by side channels, and uplinks, downlinks, etc. can be replaced by side links.

[0121] In some embodiments, the terminal may be replaced by an access network device, a core network device, or a network device. In this case, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device may have a structure that has all or part of the functions of the terminal.

[0122] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0123] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0124] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of any elements, any rows, and any columns can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0125] The correspondences shown in the tables of the present disclosure can be configured or predefined. The values ​​of the information in each table are merely examples and can be configured to other values, which are not limited by the present disclosure. When configuring the correspondences between information and parameters, it is not necessarily required to configure all the correspondences shown in each table. For example, in the tables of the present disclosure, the correspondences shown in certain rows may not be configured. For another example, appropriate deformation adjustments can be made based on the above tables, such as splitting, merging, etc. The names of the parameters shown in the titles of the above tables may also adopt other names that can be understood by the communication device, and the values ​​or representations of the parameters may also adopt other values ​​or representations that can be understood by the communication device. When implementing the above tables, other data structures may also be used, such as arrays, queues, containers, stacks, linear lists, pointers, linked lists, trees, graphs, structures, classes, heaps, hash tables or hash tables, etc.

[0126] The predefined in the present disclosure may be understood as defined, predefined, stored, pre-stored, pre-negotiated, pre-configured, solidified, or pre-burned.

[0127] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1A, the communication system 100 may include a terminal and a network device. Optionally, the network device may include at least one of an access network device and a core network device.

[0128] In some embodiments, the terminal includes, for example, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and at least one of a wireless terminal device in a smart home, but is not limited thereto.

[0129] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that accesses a terminal to a wireless network. The access network device may include an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation evolved NodeB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a node B (NB), a home node B (HNB), a home evolved nodeB (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a 6G communication system, an open base station (Open RAN), a cloud base station (Cloud RAN), a base station in other communication systems, and at least one of an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, but is not limited thereto.

[0130] In some embodiments, the technical solution of the present disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within the access network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented through software or programs.

[0131] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can be used to split the protocol layer of the access network device, with the functions of some protocol layers centrally controlled by the CU, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU, but is not limited to this.

[0132] In some embodiments, the core network device may be a device including one or more network elements, or may be multiple devices or a group of devices, each including all or part of one or more network elements. The network element may be virtual or physical. The core network, for example, includes at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), and a Next Generation Core (NGC). Alternatively, the core network device may also be a location management function network element. Exemplarily, the location management function network element includes a location server (location server), which may be implemented as any one of the following: Location Management Function (LMF), Enhanced Serving Mobile Location Centre (E-SMLC), Secure User Plane Location (SUPL), and Secure User Plane Location Platform (SUPLLP).

[0133] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0134] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1A , or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in FIG1A are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or part of the entities shown in FIG1A , or may include other entities other than those shown in FIG1A . The number and form of the entities may be arbitrary. The connection relationship between the entities is illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0135] The embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), future radio access (FRA), new radio access technology (RAT), new radio (NR), new radio access (NX), future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), systems utilizing other determination methods, and next-generation systems based on and extending these systems. Furthermore, a combination of multiple systems (e.g., a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G) may also be employed.

[0136] Optionally, the device mentioned in the foregoing content that collects energy and communicates based on the collected energy can be called an Ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) device, or a low-power device. Optionally, the A-IoT device can communicate with the terminal and / or network device based on the energy collected from the outside world. Specifically, in some embodiments, the terminal and / or network device can send a downlink signal to the A-IoT device. After the A-IoT device receives the downlink signal, it can send a corresponding response message to the terminal and / or network device or perform a corresponding operation. When the A-IoT device sends a response message to the terminal and / or network device, it can use a backscatter working mode to send the response message or it can use an active sending working mode to send the response message. Optionally, the above-mentioned "backscatter working mode" can be, for example: the terminal and / or network device sends an electromagnetic wave (continuous wave, CW) signal to the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device obtains energy after receiving the CW signal (such as obtaining energy to activate the receiving and processing module inside the A-IoT device). Afterwards, the internal circuit of the A-IoT device can modulate the information to be sent based on the incident electromagnetic wave (i.e., the CW signal) through load impedance modulation, etc., and then backscatter the modulated electromagnetic wave carrying the information to the terminal and / or network device, thereby realizing backscatter communication (Backscatter Communications), wherein the modulation mode of the A-IoT device during backscatter communication can include multiple, for example, amplitude shift keying (ASK), frequency shift keying (FSK), phase shift keying (PSK), etc. Optionally, the aforementioned "active transmission working mode" can be understood, for example, as actively generating and transmitting signals without the need for CW signal excitation, wherein the A-IoT device can actively generate and transmit signals based on its stored energy, and the energy stored in the A-IoT device can be energy pre-charged for the A-IoT device by the terminal and / or network device. As can be seen from the above, the "backscattering working mode" requires the real-time transmission of CW signals to the A-IoT device, while the "active transmission working mode" does not require the real-time transmission of CW signals to the A-IoT device, and only requires the A-IoT device to be pre-charged.

[0137] Optionally, the above-mentioned A-IoT devices may be of different types, for example, including A-IoT device A, A-IoT device B, and A-IoT device C. Different types of A-IoT devices may have different corresponding capabilities.

[0138] Optionally, the above-mentioned A-IoT device A has no energy storage capability, does not support energy storage, and cannot perform independent signal generation or amplification, but needs to use a backscattering working mode to send an uplink signal (such as the aforementioned response information) to the terminal and / or network device, which has the lowest complexity and cost and consumes very little power. In addition, for the A-IoT device A, the energy for monitoring the downlink signal also needs to be provided by an external signal. Optionally, when the terminal and / or network device sends a downlink signal to the A-IoT device A, the downlink signal power received by the A-IoT device A needs to meet a certain power threshold (or called an "activation power threshold") to activate the A-IoT device A and provide the A-IoT device A with sufficient energy to detect the downlink signal.

[0139] Optionally, the above-mentioned A-IoT device B has energy storage capability but cannot generate independent signals. It can communicate using a backscattering working mode and can use the stored energy to amplify the reflected signal.

[0140] Optionally, the A-IoT device C has energy storage capabilities and can independently generate and transmit signals. For example, the A-IoT device C can include a radio frequency (RF) module for active signal transmission. Alternatively, the A-IoT device C can use stored energy to independently generate and transmit signals to achieve active transmission. However, the complexity and cost of the A-IoT device C are relatively high, and the power consumption is relatively high.

[0141] Optionally, the above-mentioned A-IoT device can be applied to a variety of different communication architectures in the communication system, wherein Figures 1B-1F are schematic diagrams of the architecture when the A-IoT device communicates with network devices and / or terminals according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Optionally, as shown in Figure 1B, data can be directly received and sent between the A-IoT device and the network device (such as a base station (BS)).

[0142] Optionally, as shown in FIG1C , data can be received and sent indirectly between the A-IoT device and the network device (such as a base station (BS)) through an intermediate node, where the intermediate node can be, for example, a relay, an integrated access backhaul (IAB) device, a terminal, or a repeater.

[0143] Optionally, as shown in FIG1D , uplink data can be directly transmitted between the A-IoT device and the network device (such as a base station (BS)), and downlink data can be indirectly transmitted between the A-IoT device and the network device (such as a base station (BS)) through an assisting node, which can be, for example, a relay, an IAB device, a terminal, or a repeater (or a relay node).

[0144] Optionally, as shown in FIG1E , downlink data can be directly transmitted between the A-IoT device and the network device (such as a base station (BS)), and uplink data can be indirectly transmitted between the A-IoT device and the network device (such as a base station (BS)) through an assisting node.

[0145] Optionally, as shown in FIG1F , data can be directly received and sent between the A-IoT device and the terminal (or user equipment (UE)). The terminal can be responsible for collecting data from the A-IoT device and forwarding the collected data to the network device.

[0146] Optionally, for the communication architecture shown in Figures 1C to 1F above, it is necessary to add a new feature to the existing terminal or a new terminal type is required to enable the terminal to implement the functions of the intermediate node in Figure 1C, the functions of the auxiliary node in Figures 1D and 1E, and the functions of the UE in Figure 1F. Therefore, it is necessary to consider introducing this new feature or new terminal type into the communication system to better support the terminal's forwarding service for A-IoT device data.

[0147] FIG2A is an interactive diagram illustrating a determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a determination method for a communication system 100, the method comprising:

[0148] Step 2101: The terminal determines whether it supports a first feature.

[0149] Optionally, the first characteristic may be a characteristic applicable to the random access process, or the first characteristic may be a characteristic related to the random access process. The random access processes of a device supporting the first characteristic and a device not supporting the first characteristic may be different, for example, different parches are selected.

[0150] Optionally, the first characteristic may be a characteristic related to the first device, or the first characteristic may refer to whether the terminal supports forwarding data of the first device, etc. The first characteristic being a characteristic related to the first device may refer to being used to perform related operations on the first device. As an example, the first device may forward data to the network device through the terminal, or the terminal may forward data sent by the first device to the network device. In this case, the first characteristic is named as being related to the operation of the first device, for example, the first characteristic is "data collection of the first device" or "first device (A-iot)".

[0151] Optionally, the first characteristic may refer to whether the terminal device supports the characteristic of being the aforementioned intermediate node, auxiliary node, relay node, etc.

[0152] Optionally, the first device may be: a device that communicates based on energy collected from the outside world. For example, the first device may be the A-IoT device described before the embodiment of Figure 2A. For relevant introductions to the A-IoT device, please refer to the description before the embodiment of Figure 2A.

[0153] Optionally, the first characteristic may be used for the terminal to communicate with the first device. Here, "the terminal to communicate with the first device" may be understood as the following situations:

[0154] Scenario 1: The terminal can act as an intermediate node in FIG1C to enable indirect data transmission and reception between the first device (i.e., the A-IoT device) and the network device (e.g., a base station (BS));

[0155] Scenario 2: The terminal can serve as an auxiliary node in FIG. 1D and FIG. 1E to enable data to be received and sent between the first device (ie, the A-IoT device) and the network device (eg, a base station (BS)).

[0156] Scenario 3: The terminal can receive and send data with the first device (ie, the A-IoT device) through the architecture shown in FIG1F .

[0157] Optionally, in some embodiments, the terminal may determine, through the terminal's medium access control (MAC) layer, that applicable characteristics of the terminal during the random access process include the first characteristic. In some embodiments, the terminal's MAC layer may determine, based on a notification from a higher layer of the terminal, that applicable characteristics of the terminal during the random access process include the first characteristic. Optionally, the higher layer may be a radio resource control (RRC) layer or a non-access stratum (NAS) layer.

[0158] Optionally, in some other embodiments, the MAC layer of the terminal may autonomously determine that the characteristics applicable to the terminal during the random access process include the first characteristic. Optionally, when the MAC layer determines that the terminal has detected a first amount of data, it may determine that the characteristics applicable to the terminal during the random access process include the first characteristic; wherein the first amount of data may be the amount of data to be forwarded by the first device through the terminal. Or, optionally, when the MAC layer determines that the terminal meets a first condition, it determines that the characteristics applicable to the terminal during the random access process include the first characteristic. Optionally, the first condition may include at least one of the following: the signal quality of the terminal is greater than a first threshold; the moving speed of the terminal is less than a second threshold; the battery level of the terminal is greater than a third threshold.

[0159] Optionally, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned terminal may be an existing (legacy) terminal, but in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the above-mentioned first feature is added for the existing terminal. Alternatively, the above-mentioned terminal may be a new terminal, and the new terminal is applicable to the above-mentioned first feature, that is, for this type of terminal, the MAC layer will learn from the RRC layer that this feature is applicable during the random access process. The new terminal may be a terminal different from the existing terminal. Optionally, the existing terminal may include, for example, an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) terminal or a reduced capability (Redcap) terminal.

[0160] Step 2102: The network device configures random access resources corresponding to the first characteristic for the terminal.

[0161] Optionally, the random access resource may be a random access channel (RACH) resource, for example, a RACH partion.

[0162] Optionally, in some embodiments, the network device may always configure the random access resource corresponding to the first feature for the terminal. Furthermore, when the terminal supports the first feature, the terminal may perform a corresponding operation (such as subsequently initiating a random access procedure) based on the random access resource; when the terminal does not support the first feature, the terminal may ignore the random access resource.

[0163] Step 2103: The network device configures the first feature to form a feature combination with at least one second feature, and / or configures the first feature to not form a feature combination with at least one second feature.

[0164] Optionally, the above steps 2102 and 2103 may also be performed simultaneously.

[0165] Optionally, the second feature may be a feature other than the first feature. Optionally, the network device may configure the first feature with a feature called "coverage enhancement (CE)" to form a feature combination. Optionally, CE may be understood as, for example, enhancing uplink coverage of random access by repeating message 3 (msg3-Repetitions). Optionally, features in the same feature combination may correspond to the same random access resource.

[0166] Optionally, the network device may configure the first feature not to form a feature combination with the feature "Redcap". Specifically, since the processing capability of Redcap itself is prioritized, a Redcap feature is not supported to form a feature combination with the first feature.

[0167] Optionally, the network device may configure the first feature to be able to form a feature combination with at least one second feature, and / or configure the first feature not to be able to form a feature combination with at least one second feature, through the following signaling structure:

[0168] Optionally, referring to the above signaling structure, four features can be configured, namely: redCap-r17, smallData-r17, msg3-Repetitions-r17, and ambientdevice-R19, where ambientdevice-R19 is the first feature mentioned above. Optionally, the network device can configure which features can constitute the same feature combination and which features cannot constitute a feature combination by configuring the ENUMERATED values ​​between different features. Specifically, different features whose ENUMERATED is "{true}" can constitute the same feature combination, and a feature whose ENUMERATED is "{false}" cannot constitute a feature combination with a feature whose ENUMERATED is "{true}". Optionally, referring to the above signaling structure, if the ENUMERATED values ​​of the four features redCap-r17, smallData-r17, msg3-Repetitions-r17, and ambientdevice-R19 are all "{true}", it means that the network device configurations redCap-r17, smallData-r17, msg3-Repetitions-r17, and ambientdevice-R19 constitute the same feature combination.

[0169] Step 2104: When the terminal supports the first feature, it determines the random access resource corresponding to the first feature and initiates a random access process.

[0170] Optionally, when determining the random access resource corresponding to the first characteristic, the terminal may determine the random access resource based on protocol predefinition, and / or may receive the random access resource configured by a network device.

[0171] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the terminal determines the random access resource corresponding to the first characteristic and initiates a random access process based on the random access resource, if the network device is configured in the above step 2103 that the first characteristic can constitute a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic, and / or the first characteristic is configured not to constitute a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic, the terminal needs to further determine whether to use the random access resource to initiate the random access process based on the configuration of the network device.

[0172] Specifically, in some embodiments, if the network device is configured with a first feature in the above step 2103, it can form a feature combination with at least one second feature, wherein, since different features in the same feature combination correspond to the same random access resource, that is, different features in the same feature combination will trigger a random access process based on the same random access resource. Based on this, the terminal usually needs to first determine all the features supported by the terminal. Only when the other second features belonging to the same feature combination as the first feature are supported by the terminal, can the terminal use the random access resource to initiate a random access process. Otherwise, the terminal cannot use the random access resource to initiate a random access process.

[0173] In other embodiments, if in the above step 2103 the network device is configured with a first characteristic that cannot be combined with at least one second characteristic, then when the terminal supports the second characteristic (i.e., the terminal supports the above-mentioned characteristic that cannot be combined with the first characteristic), the terminal cannot use the random access resource to initiate a random access process.

[0174] Optionally, referring to the above steps 2102-2104, by making the first characteristic correspond to a RACH resource, and making the terminal initiate a random access process based on the RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic, to ensure that the network device can clearly distinguish which random access processes are triggered based on the first characteristic, the network device can better differentiate and schedule the services corresponding to the first characteristic, thereby ensuring the accurate execution of the services corresponding to the first characteristic and ensuring communication stability.

[0175] In the above embodiment, the above-mentioned first characteristic is introduced for the terminal, and the first characteristic is related to the first device, and the first device can forward data to the network device through the terminal. Therefore, it can be seen that in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the relevant characteristic of the service of "the terminal forwards the data of the first device" (i.e., the first characteristic) can be introduced into the communication system, so that the terminal can apply this characteristic and can better forward the data of the first device based on this characteristic, thereby ensuring the successful forwarding of the data of the first device by the terminal and ensuring the stability of communication.

[0176] The determination method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 2101 to 2104. For example, step 2101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 2101+S2102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0177] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0178] FIG3A is an interactive diagram of a determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a determination method for a terminal, the method comprising:

[0179] Step 3101: Determine whether the first feature is supported.

[0180] Step 3102: Receive random access resources corresponding to the first characteristic configured by the network device.

[0181] Step 3103: Determine based on the configuration of the network device that the first characteristic can form a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic, and / or determine that the first characteristic cannot form a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic.

[0182] Step 3104: When the terminal supports the first feature, it determines the random access resource corresponding to the first feature and initiates a random access process.

[0183] For a detailed description of steps 3101-3104, please refer to the above embodiment description.

[0184] The determination method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 3101 to 3104. For example, step 3101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 3102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 3101+S3102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0185] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0186] FIG3B is an interactive diagram of a determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a determination method for a terminal, the method comprising:

[0187] Step 3201: Determine that applicable characteristics of a terminal during a random access process include a first characteristic.

[0188] Optionally, the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0189] Optionally, the determining that the characteristic applicable to the terminal in the random access process includes a first characteristic, including:

[0190] The medium access control MAC layer of the terminal determines, based on the notification from the higher layer of the terminal, that the characteristics applicable to the terminal in the random access process include the first characteristic.

[0191] Optionally, the determining that the characteristic applicable to the terminal in the random access process includes a first characteristic, including:

[0192] The medium access control MAC layer of the terminal autonomously determines that the characteristics applicable to the terminal in the random access process include the first characteristic.

[0193] Optionally, the MAC layer of the terminal autonomously determines that the characteristic applicable to the terminal in the random access procedure includes the first characteristic, including at least one of the following:

[0194] The MAC layer determines that the terminal detects a first data volume, and determines that applicable characteristics of the terminal in the random access process include the first characteristic; the first data volume is a data volume of data to be forwarded by the first device through the terminal;

[0195] The MAC layer determines that the terminal meets a first condition, and determines that applicable characteristics of the terminal in a random access process include the first characteristic.

[0196] Optionally, the first condition includes at least one of the following:

[0197] The signal quality of the terminal is greater than a first threshold;

[0198] The moving speed of the terminal is less than a second threshold;

[0199] The battery level of the terminal is greater than a third threshold.

[0200] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0201] Determining a random access channel (RACH) resource corresponding to the first characteristic;

[0202] A random access procedure is initiated based on the RACH resource.

[0203] Optionally, the determining the RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic includes at least one of the following:

[0204] receiving a RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic configured by a network device;

[0205] The RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic is determined based on protocol pre-definition.

[0206] Optionally, the first characteristic may form a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic; wherein the second characteristic is a characteristic other than the first characteristic.

[0207] Optionally, the first characteristic cannot form a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic; wherein the second characteristic is a characteristic other than the first characteristic.

[0208] For a detailed description of step 3101 , please refer to the above embodiment description.

[0209] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0210] FIG4A is an interactive diagram illustrating a determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4A , an embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a determination method for a network device, the method comprising:

[0211] Step 4101: Configure random access resources corresponding to the first characteristic.

[0212] Step 4102: Configure the first characteristic to constitute a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic, and / or configure the first characteristic to not constitute a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic.

[0213] For a detailed description of steps 4101-4102, please refer to the above embodiment.

[0214] The determination method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 4101 and 4102. For example, step 4101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 4102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0215] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0216] FIG4B is an interactive diagram illustrating a determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a determination method for a network device, the method comprising:

[0217] Step 4201: Configure RACH resources corresponding to a first characteristic for the terminal.

[0218] Optionally, the first characteristic is a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process, and the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0219] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0220] The first feature configured for the terminal may constitute a feature combination with at least one second feature; wherein the second feature is a feature other than the first feature.

[0221] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0222] The first feature configured for the terminal cannot be combined with at least one second feature to form a feature combination; wherein the second feature is a feature other than the first feature.

[0223] For a detailed introduction to step 4201, please refer to the content of the above embodiment.

[0224] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0225] Figure 5A is an interactive diagram of a determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5A, an embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a determination method for a communication system including a terminal and a network device, wherein the method includes at least one of the following:

[0226] Step 5201: The terminal determines that applicable characteristics of the terminal in a random access process include a first characteristic;

[0227] Step 5202: The network device configures RACH resources corresponding to the first characteristic for the terminal;

[0228] The optional implementation of steps 5201 and 5202 can be found in the above embodiments.

[0229] In some embodiments, the above method may include the method described in the above embodiments of the communication system side, terminal side, network device side, etc., which will not be repeated here.

[0230] The determination method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 5201 and 5202. For example, step 5201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 5202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0231] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0232] The following is an exemplary introduction to the above method.

[0233] 1. Add a new feature (such as the first feature) for a specific service or a specific type of terminal;

[0234] a) Specific services include assisting low-power nodes in data collection, where low-power devices are Ambient IoT devices;

[0235] b) Specific terminals are: a new type of terminal (Type 1 terminal) added to assist low-power nodes in data collection, where the low-power devices are Ambient IoT devices, and are different from existing Type 2 (eMBB terminals) or Redcap terminals (Type 3 terminals);

[0236] 2. Based on 1, for the terminal, during the random access process, the applicable feature is that the higher layer notifies the MAC layer;

[0237] a) As an embodiment, the upper layer is an RRC layer or a NAS layer;

[0238] b) As an embodiment, during the random access process, the applicable characteristics are the newly added characteristics in 1;

[0239] c) As a preferred embodiment, for type 1 terminals, during the random access process, the applicable feature is that the higher layer notifies the MAC layer

[0240] 3. Based on 1, for the terminal, during the random access process, the applicable feature is the first feature newly added in 1 as determined by the MAC layer as the currently applicable feature;

[0241] d) As an embodiment, the MAC layer may determine the amount of data waiting to be transmitted from the low-power device;

[0242] e) As an embodiment, the MAC layer may determine whether the current terminal is a condition for assisting the low-power node to collect data.

[0243] Going one step further: the condition for whether a terminal is assisting a low-power node in data collection may include sufficiently good signal quality;

[0244] Furthermore: the condition for whether the terminal is assisting the low-power node to collect data may be that the terminal is in low mobility;

[0245] Furthermore: whether a terminal is assisting a low-power node in data collection may be determined by whether the terminal has sufficient power;

[0246] The predetermined condition can be implemented by using thresholds, for example, the network configures some thresholds for judgment;

[0247] 4. Based on 1, the network can configure a dedicated RACH resource for the newly added first feature:

[0248] a) As an embodiment, RACH partion may be added to the first feature to facilitate the network to better differentiate and schedule specific services or specific types of terminals;

[0249] 5. Based on 1, the network may configure a dedicated RACH resource for the newly added first feature and the combination of other features (Featurecombination):

[0250] a) As an embodiment, RACH partion can be added to the first feature and msg3-Repetitions to facilitate the network to better differentiate and schedule specific services or specific types of terminals;

[0251] 6. Based on 1, the protocol may further restrict the combination of the newly added first feature and other features (Featurecombination) to be uncombinable:

[0252] As an embodiment, for example, the first feature and Redcap cannot be combined, because considering that the processing capability of Redcap itself is prioritized, it is not supported for a Redcap terminal to perform the task of collecting data for the auxiliary low-power node;

[0253] Example:

[0254] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network function node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0255] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which realizes the functions of some or all of the above units or modules by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by the form of software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0256] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of the hardware circuit. The logical relationship of the above-mentioned hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and implementing the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0257] FIG6A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6A , it includes:

[0258] The processing module is configured to determine that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes a first characteristic, where the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0259] Optionally, the processing module is used to execute the steps related to "processing" executed by the terminal in any of the above methods, and the terminal further includes a transceiver module, which is used to execute the steps related to "transmitting and receiving" executed by the terminal in any of the above methods. Detailed description is omitted here.

[0260] FIG6B is a schematic diagram of the structure of the network device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6B , it includes:

[0261] a transceiver module, configured to configure a RACH resource corresponding to a first characteristic for a terminal, where the first characteristic is a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process, and the first characteristic is related to a first device, wherein the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

[0262] Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver module is used to execute the steps related to "transmitting and receiving" performed by the network device in any of the above methods, and the above-mentioned network device also includes a processing module, and the above-mentioned processing module is used to execute the steps related to "processing" performed by the network device in any of the above methods.

[0263] Figure 7A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 7100 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 7100 can be a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., a user equipment, etc.), a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a network device to implement any of the above methods, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a terminal to implement any of the above methods. Communication device 7100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0264] As shown in Figure 7A, the communication device 7100 includes one or more processors 7101. The processor 7101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The processor 7101 is used to call instructions to enable the communication device 7100 to perform any of the above methods.

[0265] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more memories 7102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 7102 may be located outside the communication device 7100.

[0266] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more transceivers 7103. When the communication device 7100 includes one or more transceivers 7103, the communication steps such as sending and receiving in the above method are performed by the transceiver 7103, and the other steps are performed by the processor 7101.

[0267] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, and transceiver circuit may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0268] Optionally, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more interface circuits 7104, which are connected to the memory 7102. The interface circuits 7104 may be configured to receive signals from the memory 7102 or other devices, and may be configured to send signals to the memory 7102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 7104 may read instructions stored in the memory 7102 and send the instructions to the processor 7101.

[0269] The communication device 7100 described in the above embodiment may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 7100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 7100 may not be limited by FIG. 7a. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data or programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0270] 7B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 7200 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the communication device 7100 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 7200 shown in FIG7B , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0271] The chip 7200 includes one or more processors 7201 , and the processor 7201 is used to call instructions so that the chip 7200 executes any of the above methods.

[0272] In some embodiments, chip 7200 further includes one or more interface circuits 7202, which are connected to memory 7203. Interface circuit 7202 can be used to receive signals from memory 7203 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to memory 7203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 7202 can read instructions stored in memory 7203 and send the instructions to processor 7201. Optionally, the terms interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, and transceiver are interchangeable.

[0273] In some embodiments, the chip 7200 further includes one or more memories 7203 for storing instructions. Alternatively, all or part of the memories 7203 may be located outside the chip 7200.

[0274] The present disclosure also proposes a storage medium having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed on the communication device 7100, the communication device 7100 executes any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0275] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 7100, enables the communication device 7100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0276] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the above methods.

[0277] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs. When the computer program is loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer program can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0278] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[0279] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0280] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, but the scope of protection of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this disclosure should be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present disclosure should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A determination method, characterized in that, Executed by a terminal, the method includes: Determining that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes a first characteristic, where the first characteristic is related to a first device, and the first device is a device that forwards data to a network device through the terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The determining that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes a first characteristic includes: Based on a notification from a higher layer of the terminal, the media access control (MAC) layer of the terminal determines that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes the first characteristic.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The determining that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes a first characteristic includes: The MAC layer of the terminal autonomously determines that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes the first characteristic; where The MAC layer of the terminal autonomously determining that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes the first characteristic includes at least one of the following: The MAC layer determines that the terminal detects a first data volume, and determines that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes the first characteristic; the first data volume is the data volume of data to be forwarded by the first device through the terminal; The MAC layer determines that the terminal meets a first condition, and determines that a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process includes the first characteristic.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first condition includes at least one of the following: The signal quality of the terminal is greater than a first threshold; The moving speed of the terminal is less than a second threshold; The battery power of the terminal is greater than a third threshold.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The method further includes: Determining a random access channel (RACH) resource corresponding to the first characteristic; Initiating a random access process based on the RACH resource.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The determining of the RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic includes at least one of the following: Receiving the RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic configured by the network device; Determining the RACH resource corresponding to the first characteristic based on protocol predefined.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The first characteristic can form a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic; where the second characteristic is a characteristic other than the first characteristic.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The first characteristic cannot form a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic; where the second characteristic is a characteristic other than the first characteristic.

9. A determination method, characterized in that, Executed by a network device, the method includes: Configuring a RACH resource corresponding to a first characteristic for the terminal, where the first characteristic is a characteristic applicable to the terminal during a random access process, and the first characteristic is related to a first device, and the first device is a device that forwards data to the network device through the terminal.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein The method further includes: Configuring for the terminal that the first characteristic can form a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic; where the second characteristic is a characteristic other than the first characteristic.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein The method further includes: Configuring for the terminal that the first characteristic cannot form a characteristic combination with at least one second characteristic; where the second characteristic is a characteristic other than the first characteristic.

12. A determination method for a communication system, the communication system includes a terminal and a network device, the method includes: The terminal determines that the characteristics applicable to the terminal during the random access process include a first characteristic, and the first characteristic is related to a first device, where the first device is a device for forwarding data from the terminal to a network device; The network device configures RACH resources corresponding to the first characteristic for the terminal.

13. A terminal, characterized in that, Including: A processing module, configured to determine that the characteristics applicable to the terminal during the random access process include a first characteristic, and the first characteristic is related to a first device, where the first device is a device for forwarding data from the terminal to a network device.

14. A network device, characterized in that, Including: A transceiver module, configured to configure RACH resources corresponding to a first characteristic for the terminal, where the first characteristic is a characteristic applicable to the terminal during the random access process, and the first characteristic is related to a first device, where the first device is a device for forwarding data from the terminal to a network device.

15. A communication device, characterized in that, Including: One or more processors; A memory coupled to the processor, and instructions are stored on the memory. When the instructions are executed by the processor, the communication device is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, Including: One or more processors; A memory coupled to the processor, and instructions are stored on the memory. When the instructions are executed by the processor, the communication device is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

17. A communication system, characterized in that, Including a terminal and a network device, where the terminal is configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and the network device is configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

18. A storage medium, wherein the storage medium stores instructions, characterized in that, When the instructions run on the communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

19. A storage medium, the storage medium stores instructions, characterized in that, When the instructions run on the communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

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