Communication method, and device and system

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a communication method, and a device and a system. The method is executed by a terminal device or an apparatus in the terminal device. The method comprises: using a first monitoring mode to monitor wake-up signals; if a first wake-up signal is received, waking up a main radio (MR) of a terminal device, wherein the first wake-up signal is used for indicating waking up the MR; and after the MR enters a sleep state, using a second monitoring mode to monitor the wake-up signals, wherein the first monitoring mode is different from the second monitoring mode. Therefore, a balance between latency and energy conservation can be achieved.

Description

Communication method, device and system

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on January 18, 2024, with application number 202410078178.1 and application name “A Communication Method, Device and System”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method, device, and system. Background Art

[0003] In the field of communications, in order to achieve lower power consumption of terminal equipment, the receiving circuit of the terminal circuit is divided into a main circuit (or called a main link) and an auxiliary circuit (which can be a low power-wake up receiver (LR or LP-WUR, hereinafter simply referred to as LR) or an auxiliary receiver, etc.). The main circuit receives data (or called business) transmission when awake, and does not receive data transmission when asleep. If the network device has data to transmit, it sends a wake-up signal (which can be a low power wake-up signal (LP-WUS)) to the auxiliary circuit, so that the auxiliary circuit wakes up the main circuit for data transmission after receiving the wake-up signal.

[0004] This method of transmitting data through a combination of main and auxiliary circuits may result in a longer delay when power consumption is low, and relatively higher power consumption when latency is low. Therefore, how to achieve a balance between latency and energy saving has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method, device, and system that can achieve a balance between latency and energy saving.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a terminal device, specifically, the method is performed by the terminal device or a device (e.g., a chip) in the terminal device. The method includes: using a first listening mode to monitor a wake-up signal; if the first wake-up signal is received, waking up a main radio (MR) of the terminal device, the wake-up signal including the first wake-up signal, the first wake-up signal being used to instruct the MR to wake up; after the MR enters a sleep state, using a second listening mode to monitor the wake-up signal; wherein the first listening mode is different from the second listening mode.

[0007] According to the above method, if the terminal device receives a first wake-up signal while monitoring in the first monitoring mode, it switches from the first monitoring mode to the second monitoring mode. By switching between the two monitoring modes, the probability that the monitoring mode used by the terminal device matches the needs of the scenario can be increased, achieving a balance between latency and energy saving. The second monitoring mode can be a monitoring mode that is tighter than the first monitoring mode, or a monitoring mode that is looser than the first monitoring mode, and can be flexibly determined based on actual usage needs. For example, if the second monitoring mode is a tighter monitoring mode, such as the monitoring duration of the second monitoring mode is shorter than that of the first monitoring mode, or the sleep period of the monitoring in the second monitoring mode is longer than that of the first monitoring mode, switching to the second monitoring mode can reduce latency. If the second monitoring mode is a looser mode, such as the monitoring duration of the second monitoring mode is longer than that of the first monitoring mode, or the sleep period of the monitoring in the second monitoring mode is shorter than that of the first monitoring mode, switching to the second monitoring mode can save energy. Flexibly switching to a tighter or looser monitoring mode that better meets the needs of the scenario can achieve a balance between latency and energy saving. In one possible implementation, a first listening mode is used to monitor for a wake-up signal. If the first wake-up signal is received within a first time period, the MR of the terminal device is awakened. Optionally, the first time period may be set by a timer or other means. For example, if the first listening mode is a periodic listening mode, the first time period may be set based on a count of the period corresponding to the periodic listening mode. The first time period can be set according to the needs of different scenarios, enabling more flexible wake-up control.

[0008] Optionally, multiple monitoring modes may be pre-set, such as pre-stored. The first monitoring mode is one of the multiple monitoring modes, and the second monitoring mode is a monitoring mode in the multiple monitoring modes that is different from the first monitoring mode.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the first monitoring mode is a periodic monitoring mode, and the second monitoring mode is a continuous monitoring mode; or, the first monitoring mode is a continuous monitoring mode, and the second monitoring mode is a periodic monitoring mode. Optionally, if the first monitoring mode is a continuous monitoring mode, when it is determined that the possibility of receiving a wake-up signal within a period of time is small, such as when no wake-up signal is received within a period of time, it is possible to switch from the continuous monitoring mode to the periodic monitoring mode to save energy; if a wake-up signal is received within a period of time, the continuous monitoring mode is maintained to avoid causing delays; if the first monitoring mode is a periodic monitoring mode, when it is determined that the possibility of receiving a wake-up signal within a period of time is small, such as when no wake-up signal is received, the periodic monitoring mode is maintained to save energy; if a wake-up signal is received, the continuous monitoring mode is switched to reduce the possibility of delays.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, and the monitoring periods of the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are different. Optionally, the periodic monitoring mode may include a long-period monitoring mode and a short-period monitoring mode, wherein the monitoring period of the long-period monitoring mode is longer than the monitoring period of the short-period monitoring mode. When the first monitoring mode is the long-period monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode is the short-period monitoring mode. Since the monitoring period of the long-period monitoring mode is longer than the monitoring period of the short-period monitoring mode, if the monitoring is switched from using the first monitoring period to using the second monitoring period, the time delay can be reduced; when the second monitoring mode is the long-period monitoring mode, the first monitoring mode is the short-period monitoring mode. In this case, if the monitoring is switched from using the first monitoring period to using the second monitoring period, the energy saving effect can be achieved.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, and the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode have different corresponding relaxation levels. The higher the relaxation level, the more energy-efficient the corresponding periodic monitoring mode is. Optionally, when the relaxation level of the first monitoring mode is lower than the relaxation level of the second monitoring mode, switching from using the first monitoring period to using the second monitoring period for monitoring can achieve energy conservation; and when the relaxation level of the first monitoring mode is higher than the relaxation level of the second monitoring mode, switching from using the first monitoring period to using the second monitoring period for monitoring can reduce latency.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the relaxation level indicates the ratio of the duration of the monitoring duration to the duration of the monitoring period. Exemplarily, the relaxation level indicates at least two different ratios of the duration of the monitoring duration to the duration of the monitoring period. This means that the relaxation level corresponds to at least two levels, and the relaxation level between the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode can differ by one or more levels. Switching between different relaxation levels can achieve different energy savings or latency reduction effects, providing greater flexibility in balancing energy savings and latency.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, wherein both the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are continuous monitoring modes, and the maximum monitoring durations corresponding to the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are different. If a wake-up signal for waking up the MR is not received after a certain period of time after entering a certain monitoring mode, the monitoring mode is switched to another monitoring mode, where the duration is the maximum monitoring duration. The maximum durations of the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are different. Switching from the continuous monitoring mode with a longer maximum duration to the continuous monitoring mode with a shorter maximum duration can save energy, and conversely, can reduce latency, thereby achieving a balance between energy saving and latency.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the first monitoring mode is to monitor according to a first monitoring period, and the first monitoring period is composed of a first monitoring duration and a first sleep period. The second monitoring mode is to monitor according to a second monitoring period, and the second monitoring period is composed of a second monitoring duration and a second sleep period. The first monitoring period and the second monitoring period satisfy: the first monitoring duration is shorter than the second monitoring duration, and the first sleep period is equal to the second sleep period, or the first monitoring duration is shorter than the second monitoring duration, and the first monitoring period is equal to the second monitoring period, or the first monitoring duration is longer than the second monitoring duration, and the first monitoring period is equal to the second monitoring period, or the first monitoring duration is equal to the second monitoring duration, and the first monitoring period is longer than the second monitoring duration, and the first monitoring period is equal to the second monitoring period, or the first monitoring duration is equal to the second monitoring duration, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, or the first monitoring duration is shorter than the second monitoring duration, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, or or, the first listening duration is shorter than the second listening duration, the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period, and the ratio of the first listening period to the first listening cycle is smaller than the ratio of the second listening period to the second listening cycle; or, the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first sleep period is equal to the second sleep period; or, the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first listening cycle is equal to the second listening cycle; or, the first listening duration is equal to the second listening duration, and the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period; or, the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period; or, the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, and the ratio of the first listening period to the first listening cycle is greater than the ratio of the second listening period to the second listening cycle. The present application determines the multiple possibilities of a terminal device or a device in the terminal device switching from using the first listening mode to using the second listening mode through the correspondence between the first listening period and the second listening period, thereby enriching the possibilities of corresponding listening modes before and after switching. In different usage scenarios, the terminal device or the device in the terminal device has a wider range of choices for the listening mode before and after switching, and the applicability of the communication method of the present application is also wider.

[0015] Optionally, the second monitoring period that satisfies the above-mentioned implementation method is indicated by the indication information carried in the first wake-up signal. Exemplarily, the terminal device is set by default to switch to a tighter monitoring mode each time the first wake-up signal is received, until the tightest. However, if the network device determines that there is no need to transmit business temporarily based on the subsequent transmission situation, in order to save energy, the indication information of the first wake-up signal may indicate the use of a more relaxed monitoring mode. At this time, the terminal device can switch according to the indication of the first wake-up signal, better adapt to the transmission requirements of the network device, and thus achieve a better balance between energy saving and latency.

[0016] In a possible implementation, according to a switching mode that is acquiescent or preset, switching is performed, and the first listening period and the second listening period meet: the first listening duration section is shorter than the second listening duration section, and the first sleep period and the second sleep period duration are equal, or the first listening duration section is shorter than the second listening duration section, and the first listening period and the second listening period duration are equal, or the first listening duration section is longer than the second listening duration section, and the first listening period and the second listening period duration are equal, or the first listening duration section and the second listening duration section are equal, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, or the first listening duration section is shorter than the second listening duration section, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, or the first listening duration section is shorter than the second listening duration section, the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period, and the ratio of the first listening period to the first listening period is less than the ratio of the second listening period to the second listening period. Switching by a switching mode that is acquiescent or preset can reduce system overhead and further save energy.

[0017] In one possible implementation, monitoring of the wake-up signal can be performed by a subject in the terminal device that can monitor the wake-up signal when the MR is asleep, such as an auxiliary receiver or a low-power receiver. When monitoring of the wake-up signal is performed by the LR of the terminal device, power consumption can be further reduced, thereby achieving energy saving.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the use of the first monitoring mode to monitor the wake-up signal includes: after the wake-up signal function is activated, if the MR is in the first sleep state, the first monitoring mode is used to monitor the wake-up signal. The activation of the wake-up signal function means that if the MR is in the sleep state, the auxiliary subject can be awakened to monitor the wake-up signal, such as waking up the LR to monitor the wake-up signal. When the LR receives the wake-up signal, the LR can wake up the MR and enter the sleep state, and this cycle continues. The first sleep state refers to the first time the MR enters sleep after the wake-up signal function is activated. In this application, when the MR is in the first sleep state, it can be determined to use the first monitoring mode for monitoring. In the subsequent sleep state, the monitoring mode can be flexibly switched according to the transmission scenario and other conditions, such as switching to the second monitoring mode for monitoring, or maintaining the first monitoring mode for monitoring, etc.

[0019] In one possible implementation, waking up the MR includes: waking up the MR if the first wake-up signal is intended for the MR. Because the wake-up signal sent by the network device may be a signal for an unspecified terminal device, waking up the MR may result in unnecessary consumption if the first wake-up signal is not intended for the MR of the terminal device. Therefore, waking up the MR after determining that the first wake-up signal is intended for the MR can make the wake-up more accurate and energy-efficient.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the wake-up signal is an ultra-low power wake-up signal (low power-wake up signal, LP-WUS). Using LP-WUS can further save power consumption.

[0021] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a terminal device, specifically, the method is performed by the terminal device or a device (e.g., a chip) in the terminal device. The method includes: using a first monitoring mode to monitor for a wake-up signal; if no wake-up signal is received, using a third monitoring mode to monitor for a wake-up signal, the first wake-up signal being used to instruct an MR of the terminal device to wake up; wherein the first monitoring mode is different from the third monitoring mode.

[0022] According to the above method, if the terminal device does not receive the first wake-up signal while monitoring in the first monitoring mode, it switches from the first monitoring mode to the third monitoring mode. The third monitoring mode can be a more relaxed monitoring mode than the first monitoring mode, such as having a longer monitoring duration period or a shorter sleep period in the third monitoring mode than in the first monitoring mode, to achieve energy saving.

[0023] In one possible implementation, if the wake-up signal is not received within the first time period, the third listening mode is used to listen for the wake-up signal. Setting the first time period allows switching of the listening mode according to the listening time requirement, making the time periods for listening in the first listening mode and switching to the third listening mode more reasonable.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the first monitoring mode is a continuous monitoring mode, and the third monitoring mode is a periodic monitoring mode.

[0025] In a possible implementation, both the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are periodic monitoring modes, and the monitoring period of the first monitoring mode is shorter than the monitoring period of the second monitoring mode.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, and the relaxation level corresponding to the first monitoring mode is lower than the relaxation level corresponding to the second monitoring mode. Optionally, the relaxation level is used to indicate the ratio of the duration of the monitoring period to the duration of the monitoring period.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the first monitoring mode is to monitor according to a first monitoring cycle, and the first monitoring cycle is composed of a first monitoring duration and a first sleep time period. The third monitoring mode is to monitor according to a third monitoring cycle, and the third monitoring cycle is composed of a third monitoring duration and a third sleep time period. The first monitoring cycle and the third monitoring cycle satisfy the following conditions: the first monitoring duration is longer than the third monitoring duration, and the first sleep time period is equal to the third sleep time period, or the first monitoring duration is longer than the third monitoring duration, and the first monitoring cycle is equal to the third monitoring cycle, or In some embodiments, the first listening duration segment is longer than the third listening duration segment, and the first listening cycle is equal to the second listening cycle in length, or the first listening cycle is equal to the third listening cycle in length, and the first sleep period is shorter than the third sleep period, or the first listening duration segment is longer than the third listening duration segment, and the first sleep period is shorter than the third sleep period, or the first listening duration segment is longer than the third listening duration segment, the first sleep period is longer than the third sleep period, and the ratio of the first listening period to the first listening cycle is greater than the ratio of the third listening period to the third listening cycle. By these methods, switching from a relatively tightened listening mode to a relatively relaxed listening mode can be achieved. In the absence of a first wake-up signal, a more relaxed listening mode is used, which is equivalent to using a more energy-saving listening mode for listening.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the wake-up signal is LP-WUS, and using LP-WUS can further save power consumption.

[0029] In a possible implementation, monitoring the wake-up signal is performed by an LR of the terminal device.

[0030] In a possible implementation, after the wake-up signal function is activated, if the MR is in the first sleep state, the first monitoring mode is used to monitor the wake-up signal.

[0031] It should be understood that the second aspect of this application corresponds to the technical solution of the first aspect of this application, and the beneficial effects achieved by each aspect and the corresponding feasible implementation methods are similar, which will not be repeated here.

[0032] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a terminal device side, specifically, the method is performed by the terminal device or a device (such as a chip) in the terminal device. The method includes: receiving a second wake-up signal, the second wake-up signal is used to instruct to wake up the MR of the terminal device, the second wake-up signal includes first indication information, the first indication information is used to instruct to wake up the MR during the monitoring duration period of the discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism of the MR or wake up the MR after a second time period.

[0033] In this communication method, according to the instruction of the second wake-up signal, the time for waking up the MR can be limited by the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism or can be independent of the monitoring duration period. This enables the MR to be woken up in conjunction with the DRX mechanism or not in conjunction with the DRX mechanism when the MR may activate the DRX mechanism, thereby improving the flexibility of combining MR wake-up with the DRX mechanism. In one possible implementation, if the MR activates the DRX mechanism, and the second wake-up signal indicates that the MR should be woken up during the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism of the MR, and the MR is in a sleep period of the DRX mechanism when the second wake-up signal is received, the MR is woken up after the continuous monitoring period of the DRX mechanism (hereinafter referred to as the continuous monitoring period of the DRX mechanism). If the second wake-up signal indicates that the MR should be woken up after the second period, the MR can be woken up in the second period after receiving the second wake-up signal, regardless of whether the MR is in the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism or the sleep period of the DRX mechanism (hereinafter referred to as the sleep period of the DRX mechanism). This communication method can flexibly respond to services sent by network devices. For example, when sending sudden, urgent, or temporary services, the MR can be awakened after the second time period, rather than waiting for the MR to enter the DRX mechanism's monitoring duration period. This reduces the latency of waking up the MR. For example, when sending subscription or regular services, the first indication information can be used to instruct the MR to wake up after the MR enters the DRX mechanism's monitoring duration period. This reduces the number of unnecessary wake-ups, lowers power consumption, and achieves energy-saving effects.

[0034] One possible implementation method is that the MR corresponds to the method of the first aspect or the second aspect. When the MR is in the DRX sleep time period, it can be regarded as the MR provided by the first aspect or the second aspect entering the sleep state, and the MR is awakened with reference to the method of monitoring the wake-up signal provided by the first aspect or the second aspect, and the corresponding monitoring mode can be used for monitoring when the MR enters the sleep state, wherein the receipt of the second wake-up signal can be regarded as the receipt of the first wake-up signal. Except for waking up the MR according to the first indication information, other operations can be performed with reference to the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, and will not be repeated.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the second wake-up signal is further used to instruct to use the second monitoring mode to monitor the wake-up signal after the MR falls asleep.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the second wake-up signal is used to instruct the MR of the terminal device to wake up, and the second wake-up signal is used to instruct the MR to wake up during the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism of the MR, or the second wake-up signal is used to indicate that the MR can be woken up during the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism or the sleep period of the DRX mechanism. The present application uses the second wake-up signal to indicate the time period for waking up the MR, thereby realizing a communication method that can wake up the MR in combination with the DRX mechanism when the MR may activate the DRX mechanism, or wake up the MR without combining the DRX mechanism, thereby realizing the combination of the wake-up signal and the DRX mechanism of the MR.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: if the second wake-up signal is directed to the MR, waking up the MR.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the wake-up signal is an LP-WUS, and using the LP-WUS can further save power consumption. The second wake-up signal is a second LP-WUS.

[0039] It should be understood that the third aspect of the present application, in a possible implementation method, corresponds to the technical solution of the first aspect of the present application, and the beneficial effects achieved by various aspects and corresponding feasible implementation methods are similar, which will not be repeated here.

[0040] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a network device side, specifically, the method is performed by the network device or a device (e.g., a chip) in the network device. The method includes: sending a first wake-up signal, the first wake-up signal being used to instruct a MR of a terminal device to wake up, and being used to instruct the MR to use a second listening mode to listen for the wake-up signal after the MR falls asleep.

[0041] The monitoring mode of the terminal device also includes a first monitoring mode:

[0042] In one possible implementation, the first monitoring mode is a periodic monitoring mode, and the second monitoring mode is a continuous monitoring mode; or, the first monitoring mode is a continuous monitoring mode, and the second monitoring mode is a periodic monitoring mode; in one possible implementation, the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, and the first and second monitoring modes have different monitoring periods; in one possible implementation, the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, and the first and second monitoring modes have different relaxation levels. Optionally, the relaxation level is used to indicate a ratio between the duration of the monitoring period and the monitoring period.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the monitoring mode of the terminal device also includes a first monitoring mode; wherein the first monitoring mode is continuous monitoring for a first duration, and the first duration is different from the second duration; or, the first monitoring mode is monitoring according to a first monitoring cycle, and the first monitoring cycle consists of a first monitoring duration segment and a first sleep time segment, and the first monitoring cycle and the second monitoring cycle satisfy: the first monitoring duration segment is shorter than the second monitoring duration segment, and the first sleep time segment is equal to the second sleep time segment, or, the first monitoring duration segment is shorter than the second monitoring duration segment, and the first monitoring cycle is equal to the second monitoring cycle, or, the first monitoring duration segment is longer than the second monitoring duration segment, and the first monitoring cycle is equal to the second monitoring cycle, or, the first monitoring duration segment is equal to the second monitoring duration segment, and the first monitoring cycle is equal to the second monitoring cycle, or, the first monitoring duration segment is equal to the second monitoring duration segment, and the first sleep time segment is longer than the second sleep time segment, or, the first monitoring duration segment is shorter than the second monitoring duration segment, and the first sleep time segment is longer than the second sleep time segment. or, the first listening duration is shorter than the second listening duration, the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period, and the ratio of the first listening period to the first listening cycle is smaller than the ratio of the second listening period to the second listening cycle, or, the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first sleep period is equal to the second sleep period, or, the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first listening cycle is equal to the second listening cycle, or, the first listening duration is equal to the second listening duration, and the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period, or, the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period, or, the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, and the ratio of the first listening period to the first listening cycle is greater than the ratio of the second listening period to the second listening cycle.

[0044] It should be understood that the fourth aspect of this application corresponds to the technical solution of the first aspect of this application, and the beneficial effects achieved by each aspect and the corresponding feasible implementation methods are similar, so they will not be repeated here.

[0045] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a network device side, specifically, the method is performed by the network device or a device (e.g., a chip) in the network device. The method includes: sending a second wake-up signal, the second wake-up signal is used to instruct to wake up the MR of the terminal device, the second wake-up signal includes first indication information, the first indication information is used to instruct to wake up the MR during the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism of the MR or wake up the MR after the second time period.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the second wake-up signal is used to indicate the wake-up of the MR of the terminal device, and the second wake-up signal is used to indicate the wake-up of the MR during the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism of the MR, or the second wake-up signal is used to indicate that the MR can be woken up during the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism or the sleep time period of the DRX mechanism.

[0047] It should be understood that the fifth aspect of this application corresponds to the technical solution of the third aspect of this application, and the beneficial effects achieved by each aspect and the corresponding feasible implementation methods are similar, so they will not be repeated here.

[0048] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a terminal device or a device in a terminal device (e.g., a chip). The communication device includes a module for executing the method described in any one of the above aspects or any possible implementation of any one of the aspects, such as a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be a transceiver. When the communication device is a terminal device, the transceiver may be a radio frequency module. When the communication device is a device in a terminal device, the transceiver may be an input / output interface, a pin, or a circuit, etc.

[0049] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a network device or a device in a network device (e.g., a chip). The communication device includes a module for executing the method described in any one of the above aspects or any possible implementation of any one of the aspects, such as a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be a transceiver. When the communication device is a network device, the transceiver may be a radio frequency module. When the communication device is a device in a network device, the transceiver may be an input / output interface, a pin, or a circuit, etc.

[0050] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communications device, comprising at least one processor coupled to a storage medium, the storage medium storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute a method as described in any of the above aspects or any possible implementation of any of the aspects. The storage medium may be included in the device or may be located external to the device.

[0051] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the method described in any one of the above aspects or any possible implementation of any one of the aspects.

[0052] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed on a processor, implement the method as described in any one of the above aspects or any possible implementation of any one of the aspects.

[0053] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a system comprising the communication device as described in the sixth aspect and the communication device as described in the seventh aspect.

[0054] It should be understood that the sixth to eleventh aspects of the present application are consistent with or correspond to the technical solutions of the first, second, third, fourth or fifth aspects of the present application, and the beneficial effects achieved by each aspect and the corresponding feasible implementation methods are similar, which will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0056] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a wake-up signal wake-up mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system structure for service transmission provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG3a is a schematic diagram of a continuous monitoring mode provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0059] FIG3 b is a schematic diagram of a periodic monitoring mode provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] FIG5 is a second flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of switching to a monitoring mode according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG7 is a third flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG8 is a second schematic diagram of switching to the monitoring mode provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG9 is a fourth flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG10 is a third schematic diagram of switching to monitoring mode according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of a C-DRX cycle provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIG12 is a fifth flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG13a is a fourth schematic diagram of switching to the monitoring mode provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG13b is a fifth schematic diagram of switching to the monitoring mode provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of a terminal device or a device in a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG15 is a second structural diagram of a terminal device or an apparatus in a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG16 is a third structural diagram of a terminal device or an apparatus in a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a network device or a device in a network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG18 is a second structural diagram of a network device or an apparatus in a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG19 is a schematic structural diagram of a device 80 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] FIG20 is a schematic structural diagram of a device 90 provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] In order to enable people in this technical field to better understand the solutions in this application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below in combination with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments.

[0079] The term "and / or" herein is merely a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. A and B can be single or multiple. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions is used to indicate any combination of the listed items. For example, at least one of A, B, and / or C can mean: A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, B and C exist at the same time, A and C exist at the same time, and A, B, and C exist at the same time. A, B, and C can be single or multiple.

[0080] In the description and claims of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order of objects. For example, the terms "first target object" and "second target object" are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order of objects.

[0081] In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be interpreted as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner.

[0082] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more. For example, "multiple processing units" means two or more processing units; "multiple systems" means two or more systems.

[0083] For ease of understanding, the following first explains the relevant nouns or terms used in the embodiments of this application:

[0084] 1. LP-WUS

[0085] LP-WUS can be applied in scenarios where the terminal device's reception is divided into primary reception and auxiliary reception. For example, in hardware implementation, as shown in Figure 1, the terminal's receiving circuit is divided into two parts: MR and LR. The MR is used for data or service transmission, and the LR serves as a dedicated auxiliary receiver for monitoring whether LP-WUS is received to monitor and process LP-WUS.

[0086] The energy-saving logic of the LP-WUS mechanism is that when the MR is not transmitting data or services, it can enter a sleep state. This MR sleep mode reduces terminal power consumption (or standby power consumption). While the MR is sleeping, the LR is awakened to detect the LP-WUS. Upon receiving the LP-WUS, the LR wakes up the MR to transmit data or services.

[0087] 2. Duty-cycled monitoring

[0088] The signal receiving device wakes up at a certain period and continuously monitors for a period of time to see if it receives a wake-up signal. This monitoring period can be defined as the monitoring duration. The period outside of the monitoring duration can be defined as the sleep period (or non-listening period). During the sleep period, the signal receiving device does not work, is turned off, or sleeps, meaning that no energy is consumed during the sleep period. Duty-cycle reception can effectively reduce power consumption.

[0089] 3. Continuous monitoring

[0090] The subject receiving the signal continues to monitor whether a wake-up signal is received.

[0091] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is executed by a terminal device (or user equipment (UE)) or a device in the terminal device (or a device in the UE, such as a chip). The embodiment of the present application uses the method executed by the UE as an example for explanation, and other execution entities can refer to the operation of the UE for execution. The UE may include a main receiving module. In the embodiments of the present application, the main receiving module is a hardened MR as an example, referred to as MR for explanation, but this is not a limitation. Modules that implement the main receiving function through software or other means can refer to the operation of the MR in this example for execution.

[0092] For example, in a service transmission scenario, a network device, such as a network node, needs to send service flows of multiple services to a UE. If these services include a first service and a second service, the service flow of the first service includes multiple data packets, and the service flow of the second service also includes multiple data packets. The service flows are transmitted in the scenario shown in FIG1 . FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system structure for service transmission provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG2 , the system 100 includes a UE 10 and a network device 20. When the first service flow is transmitted, the UE 10 is in an awake state (e.g., receiving and sending data packets corresponding to the first service flow). After the data packets of the first service are transmitted, the network device 20 and the UE 10 do not transmit the second service for a period of time. To save energy, the mobile address (MR) may enter a sleep state. Optionally, the MR entering a sleep state includes the MR being shut down, the MR being asleep, the MR being inactive, or the terminal not using the MR to receive data or service transmissions. If the second service needs to be transmitted, the MR may be awakened to transmit the data packets of the second service. Optionally, the wake-up signal is typically sent by the network device 20 on the core network side to instruct the UE to wake up the MR. The UE can monitor in a mode of continuously receiving a wake-up signal, which is defined as a continuous monitoring mode, or the UE can monitor in a mode of receiving a wake-up signal in a duty cycle, which is defined as a periodic monitoring mode. Figure 3a is a schematic diagram of a continuous monitoring mode provided in an embodiment of the present application, and Figure 3b is a schematic diagram of a periodic monitoring mode provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3a, the continuous monitoring mode includes a monitoring duration period (i.e., monitoring from the start of the continuous monitoring mode until the end of receiving the wake-up signal). If the MR of the UE enters a sleep state, the UE can monitor whether a wake-up signal is received by continuous reception, and if a wake-up signal is received, the MR is woken up. As shown in Figure 3b, the periodic monitoring mode includes at least one set of alternating monitoring duration periods and non-monitoring time periods (or sleep time periods). If the MR of the UE enters a sleep state, the UE can determine whether a wake-up signal is received by duty cycle reception. For example, in the monitoring duration period, if a wake-up signal is received, the MR is woken up. If the wake-up signal reaches the UE during the sleep time period, that is, the UE does not receive the wake-up signal, the periodic monitoring mode is maintained. However, both monitoring methods have certain defects. For example, in the above example, the network device needs to send the first service and the second service. After the data packet of the first service is sent, the data packet of the second service is not sent temporarily, and the MR enters the sleep state. When the network device needs to send the data packet of the second service, it needs to send a wake-up signal to the UE to wake up the MR.If the UE uses the continuous listening mode, although it can monitor the wake-up signal in time, it keeps monitoring, which reduces the energy saving gain brought by the mechanism of waking up the MR with the wake-up signal; if the UE uses the periodic listening mode, the wake-up signal will arrive during the UE's sleep period, and the UE will not receive the wake-up signal, so it will remain in the current sleep state and will not wake up the MR. The MR can only be woken up when the wake-up signal is received during the listening period after the sleep period, thereby increasing the delay for the MR to be awakened. In order to solve these problems, an embodiment of the present application provides a monitoring method, which achieves a balance between delay and energy saving by dynamically adjusting the monitoring mode. An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is executed by the UE and includes: S101 and S103. In addition, the method also includes S102 or S104. Figure 4 is an example of the method including S101 to S104.

[0093] S101. A UE monitors a wake-up signal using a first monitoring mode.

[0094] Here, the first monitoring mode can be the monitoring mode that the UE enters by default after entering the LP-WUS mode, or it can be the monitoring mode that the UE enters by default when the wake-up signal monitoring is turned on again after the MR falls asleep, or it can be the monitoring mode that the UE enters according to the configuration of the network device (for example, indicated by the wake-up signal), and so on. Optionally, multiple monitoring modes can be pre-stored in the UE, and the first monitoring mode is one of the monitoring modes. The multiple monitoring modes meet at least one of the following items: each monitoring mode can have a different type; the maximum monitoring duration of each monitoring mode can be different; the monitoring duration period for receiving the wake-up signal in each monitoring mode, or the sleep period for not receiving the wake-up signal can have different settings. Here, the types of monitoring modes include: continuous monitoring (i.e., uninterrupted monitoring) mode, periodic monitoring (i.e., monitoring according to a certain monitoring period) mode. In addition, the maximum listening duration can be understood as follows: if after entering a certain listening mode and still not receiving the wake-up signal for waking up the MR for a certain period of time, it switches to another listening mode, and this duration is the maximum listening duration; if a listening mode does not have an exit mechanism, that is, regardless of whether the wake-up signal for waking up the MR is received, it will not switch to another listening mode, it can be understood that the listening mode has no maximum listening duration, or it can be understood that the maximum listening duration of the listening mode is infinite; both the continuous listening mode and the periodic listening mode can have a maximum listening duration. In addition, different listening duration periods and different sleep time periods can be described by the length of the listening duration period, the length of the sleep time period, or the length of the listening cycle.

[0095] In a possible implementation, the multiple monitoring modes include two continuous monitoring modes with different maximum monitoring durations, and the first monitoring mode may be any one of the two continuous monitoring modes.

[0096] In a possible implementation, the multiple monitoring modes include two monitoring modes, one is a continuous monitoring mode, and the other is a periodic monitoring mode. The first monitoring mode can be the continuous monitoring mode or the periodic monitoring mode.

[0097] In one possible implementation, the multiple monitoring modes include two periodic monitoring modes with different monitoring periods, and the first monitoring mode may be any one of the two. For example, the different monitoring periods may refer to different lengths of the monitoring periods, such as one being a long-period monitoring mode and the other being a short-period monitoring mode, and the first monitoring mode may be either the long-period monitoring mode or the short-period monitoring mode. For another example, the different monitoring periods may refer to different relaxation levels corresponding to the monitoring modes, and the first monitoring mode may be a monitoring mode corresponding to any one of the relaxation levels.

[0098] The above-mentioned various possible implementations can be used in combination. For example, the multiple monitoring modes may include: two continuous monitoring modes with different monitoring durations, and one periodic monitoring mode. For another example, the multiple monitoring modes may include: one continuous monitoring mode, and two periodic monitoring modes with different monitoring periods.

[0099] S102: If the UE receives a first wake-up signal, it wakes up the MR of the UE. The first wake-up signal is used to instruct to wake up the MR.

[0100] Here, if the first wake-up signal is received may mean: if the first wake-up signal is received within a certain time period. The duration of the time period may be an absolute time, for example, the unit of the duration of the time period may be milliseconds, seconds, minutes, etc. The duration of the time period may also be a relative time, for example, the unit of the duration of the time period may be a system frame number (SFN), symbol, time slot, subframe, radio frame, etc. The time period may be the maximum listening duration of the first listening mode.

[0101] Exemplarily, the network device may send multiple wake-up signals. If the wake-up signal is a wake-up signal for a non-specified UE, the wake-up signal received by the UE is the first wake-up signal. After receiving it, it can first be determined whether the first wake-up signal is a wake-up signal for this UE, or in other words, it can first be determined whether the received first wake-up signal is used to wake up the MR of this UE. If so, the MR is woken up according to the first wake-up signal. If not, the MR is not woken up.

[0102] After waking up and operating for a period of time, the MR can enter a sleep state again if it determines that there is no current need for operation, thereby saving energy. For example, the period of time can be determined in advance based on factors such as the data transmission volume and transmission time. The period of time can be an absolute time, for example, a time period can be expressed in units of milliseconds, seconds, minutes, etc. The period of time can also be a relative time, for example, a time period can be expressed in units of SFN, symbol, time slot, subframe, radio frame, etc.

[0103] S103: After the MR enters the sleep state, the UE uses a second monitoring mode to monitor the wake-up signal, where the first monitoring mode is different from the second monitoring mode.

[0104] Here, the second monitoring mode may be a monitoring mode entered by default when the MR starts monitoring for a wake-up signal again after sleeping, or a monitoring mode entered by the UE configured by a network device (e.g., indicated by a wake-up signal), etc. The second monitoring mode may be one of the multiple monitoring modes pre-stored in the UE described above.

[0105] In the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the UE uses a monitoring mode after the MR enters the sleep state, which is defined as the first monitoring mode. If the UR receives a wake-up signal when using the first monitoring mode, it uses another monitoring mode (defined as the second monitoring mode) to monitor when the MR enters the sleep state again. The first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are different, which can make the UE use the monitoring mode more flexible. For example, the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both continuous monitoring modes, but the maximum monitoring duration of the second monitoring mode is shorter than the maximum monitoring duration of the first monitoring mode; or the first monitoring mode is continuous monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode is periodic monitoring mode; or the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, but the monitoring period of the second monitoring mode is longer than the monitoring period of the first monitoring mode; or the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, but the relaxation level corresponding to the second monitoring mode is higher than the relaxation level corresponding to the first monitoring mode, etc., so that the UE can effectively save energy by switching from using the first monitoring mode to using the second monitoring mode. For another example, the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both continuous monitoring modes, but the maximum monitoring time of the second monitoring mode is longer than the maximum monitoring time of the first monitoring mode; or the first monitoring mode is a periodic monitoring mode, and the second monitoring mode is a continuous monitoring mode; or the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, but the monitoring period of the second monitoring mode is shorter than the monitoring period of the first monitoring mode; or the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, but the relaxation level corresponding to the second monitoring mode is lower than the relaxation level corresponding to the first monitoring mode, etc. In this way, the UE can reduce the delay in receiving the wake-up signal by switching from the first monitoring mode to the second monitoring mode. In the embodiment of the present application, the monitoring mode used by the UE before receiving the wake-up signal is different from the monitoring mode used when the MR falls asleep again after receiving the wake-up signal. By switching the monitoring mode according to actual needs, it is possible to balance delay and energy saving, and provide users with a better communication experience.

[0106] S104: If the UE does not receive the first wake-up signal, the UE uses a third monitoring mode to monitor the wake-up signal, where the first monitoring mode is different from the third monitoring mode.

[0107] 4 , if the UE receives the first wake-up signal, it corresponds to S102 , and if not, it corresponds to S104 .

[0108] Here, "if the first wake-up signal is not received" may refer to: if the first wake-up signal is not received within a certain time period. The duration of the time period may be an absolute time, for example, the unit of the duration of the time period may be milliseconds, seconds, minutes, etc. The duration of the time period may also be a relative time, for example, the unit of the duration of the time period may be SFN, symbol, time slot, subframe, radio frame, etc. The time period may be the maximum listening duration of the first listening mode.

[0109] In addition, the third monitoring mode may be a monitoring mode entered by default after a certain monitoring mode ends, or may be a monitoring mode entered after a certain monitoring mode ends configured by the network device (for example, via a wake-up signal indication), etc. The third monitoring mode may be one of the multiple monitoring modes pre-stored in the UE described above.

[0110] In the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the UE uses a monitoring mode after the MR enters the sleep state, which is defined as the first monitoring mode. If the UR does not receive a wake-up signal when using the first monitoring mode, it switches to using another monitoring mode (defined as the third monitoring mode) for monitoring. The first monitoring mode and the third monitoring mode are different, which can make the UE use the monitoring mode more flexible. For example, the first monitoring mode and the third monitoring mode are both continuous monitoring modes, but the maximum monitoring duration of the third monitoring mode is shorter than the maximum monitoring duration of the first monitoring mode; or the first monitoring mode is continuous monitoring mode and the third monitoring mode is periodic monitoring mode; or the first monitoring mode and the third monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, but the monitoring period of the third monitoring mode is longer than the monitoring period of the first monitoring mode; or the first monitoring mode and the third monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, but the relaxation level corresponding to the third monitoring mode is higher than the relaxation level corresponding to the first monitoring mode, etc., so that the UE can effectively save energy by switching from using the first monitoring mode to using the third monitoring mode. The embodiment of the present application can provide users with a better communication experience by switching to another monitoring mode after the UE does not receive a wake-up signal using a certain monitoring mode.

[0111] For example, the UE can use software or hardware with a signal receiving function to use the monitoring mode for monitoring. The embodiment of the present application will be described below using the example of the UE using the LR to monitor the wake-up signal when the MR enters the sleep state, but it is not limited to this. Other entities that can receive the wake-up signal when the MR is asleep can refer to the operation of the LR to execute the communication method, and no further examples will be given.

[0112] For example, the embodiment of the present application will be described below using the wake-up signal being LP-WUS as an example. Other wake-up signals can refer to LP-WUS and will not be described in detail.

[0113] In one possible implementation, the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring. For example, the first monitoring mode is a mode for monitoring according to a first monitoring period, wherein the first monitoring period is composed of a first monitoring duration period and a first sleep period period. The second monitoring mode is a mode for monitoring according to a second monitoring period, wherein the second monitoring period is composed of a second monitoring duration period and a second sleep period period. For example, if the UE receives a first LP-WUS (the first LP-WUS refers to the LP-WUS received by the UE), it can be considered that there may be some subsequent business needs on the network device side, and the possibility of receiving the first LP-WUS when the LR is monitoring is greater, and the probability of waking up the MR may also be greater. Therefore, it can be assumed that after receiving the first LP-WUS, when the MR enters the sleep state next time, the LR needs to switch to a tighter second monitoring mode to avoid increasing the delay. Alternatively, the UE receives a first LP-WUS, and the first LP-WUS carries indication information, which can be defined as second indication information. The second indication information is used to instruct the LR to use a second monitoring mode to monitor the LP-WUS after the MR falls asleep. This is equivalent to the network device making a judgment based on the subsequent data packet transmission with the UE, and corresponding to the transmission situation, determining a mode that is tighter or looser than the first monitoring mode as the second monitoring mode, and instructing the UE to use the second monitoring mode for monitoring through the second indication information, so that the LR's monitoring can better meet the needs of subsequent transmission. In this case, the second monitoring mode can be a monitoring mode that is tighter or looser than the first monitoring mode.

[0114] When the second monitoring mode is tighter than the first monitoring mode, the first monitoring period and the second monitoring period meet any one of the following conditions: the first monitoring duration is shorter than the second monitoring duration, and the first sleep period is equal to the second sleep period, in which case the first monitoring period is shorter than the second monitoring period; or the first monitoring duration is shorter than the second monitoring duration, and the first monitoring period is equal to the second monitoring period, in which case the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period; or the first monitoring duration is equal to the second monitoring duration, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, in which case the first monitoring period is longer than the second monitoring period; or the first monitoring duration is shorter than the second monitoring duration, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, in which case the first monitoring period may be shorter than the second monitoring period, may be equal to, or may be longer than the second monitoring period; or the first monitoring duration is shorter than the second monitoring duration, and the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period, in which case the first monitoring period is shorter than the second monitoring period, and it is necessary to ensure that the ratio of the first monitoring period to the first monitoring period is less than the ratio of the second monitoring period to the second monitoring period. The above conditions all satisfy the aforementioned situation: the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, but the relaxation level corresponding to the second monitoring mode is lower than the relaxation level corresponding to the first monitoring mode. The condition for the first monitoring period to be longer satisfies the aforementioned situation: the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, but the monitoring period of the second monitoring mode is shorter than the monitoring period of the first monitoring mode, for example, the first monitoring duration period is equal to the second monitoring duration period, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period.

[0115] This design can ensure that the first LP-WUS subsequently sent by the network device is more likely to be received in time, avoiding increased delay.

[0116] When the second listening mode is more relaxed than the first listening mode, the first listening period and the second listening period satisfy any one of the following conditions: either the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first sleep period is equal to the second sleep period, in which case the first listening period is longer than the second listening period; or the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first listening period is equal to the second listening period, in which case the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period; or the first listening duration is equal to the second listening duration, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, in which case the first listening period is shorter than the second listening period; or the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period, in which case the first listening period may be shorter than the second listening period, may be equal to the second listening period, or may be longer than the second listening period; or the first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, in which case the first listening period is longer than the second listening period, and it is necessary to ensure that the ratio of the first listening period to the first listening period is greater than the ratio of the second listening period to the second listening period. The above conditions all satisfy the aforementioned situation: the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, but the relaxation level corresponding to the second monitoring mode is higher than the relaxation level corresponding to the first monitoring mode. The condition that the first monitoring period is shorter satisfies the aforementioned situation: the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are both periodic monitoring modes, but the monitoring period of the second monitoring mode is longer than the monitoring period of the first monitoring mode, for example, the first monitoring duration period is equal to the second monitoring duration period, and the first sleep time period is shorter than the second sleep time period.

[0117] In one possible implementation, the first listening mode and the second listening mode are, respectively, a continuous listening mode and a periodic listening mode. For example, the first listening mode is a mode for monitoring according to a first listening period, i.e., a periodic listening mode, and the second listening mode is a mode for continuous monitoring, i.e., a continuous listening mode, wherein the first listening period consists of a first monitoring duration period and a first sleep period. Alternatively, the first listening mode is a mode for continuous monitoring, i.e., a continuous listening mode, and the second listening mode is a mode for monitoring according to a second listening period, i.e., a periodic listening mode, wherein the second listening period consists of a second monitoring duration period and a second sleep period. For example, the LR may default to using the continuous listening mode for monitoring each time the MR enters the sleep state. Alternatively, regardless of whether the LR receives the first LP-WUS while using the continuous listening mode or the periodic listening mode when the MR enters the sleep state, the LR will use the continuous listening mode the next time the MR enters the sleep state. Alternatively, the second indication information of the first LP-WUS instructs the LR to use the continuous listening mode or the periodic listening mode as the second listening mode, and so on.

[0118] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication method, in which the UE uses a first monitoring mode to monitor a wake-up signal. If no wake-up signal is received, the UE uses a third monitoring mode to monitor the wake-up signal; wherein the first monitoring mode is different from the third monitoring mode, and the third monitoring mode monitors according to a third monitoring period, and the third monitoring period consists of a third monitoring duration period and a third sleep period. This method can be performed in conjunction with the method provided in Figure 4 or independently.

[0119] Since no wake-up signal is received, the UE may assume that there may be no business demand on the network device side for a period of time, so it can switch to a more relaxed monitoring mode by default. Optionally, if the first monitoring mode is not the most relaxed monitoring mode, it can switch to the third monitoring mode after a period of time (such as after the first time period). If the first monitoring mode is the most relaxed monitoring mode, the current monitoring mode is maintained.

[0120] When the third listening mode is more relaxed than the first listening mode, the first listening cycle and the third listening cycle meet any of the following conditions: the first listening duration is longer than the third listening duration, and the first sleep period is equal to the third sleep period, in which case the first listening cycle is longer than the third listening cycle; or the first listening duration is longer than the third listening duration, and the first listening cycle is equal to the third listening period, in which case the first sleep period is shorter than the third sleep period; or the first listening duration is equal to the third listening duration, and the first sleep period is shorter than the third sleep period, in which case the first listening cycle is shorter than the third listening cycle; or the first listening duration is longer than the third listening duration, and the first sleep period is shorter than the third sleep period, in which case the first listening cycle may be shorter than the third listening cycle, may be equal to the third listening cycle, or may be longer than the third listening cycle; or the first listening duration is longer than the third listening duration, and the first sleep period is longer than the third sleep period, in which case the first listening cycle is longer than the third listening cycle, and it is necessary to ensure that the ratio of the first listening period to the first listening cycle is greater than the ratio of the third listening period to the third listening cycle.

[0121] Below, several examples are used to illustrate how the UE switches to different listening modes in response to different situations. The communication methods in the following examples are performed by the UE (including MR and LR) and at least one device (i.e., a network device) set in the network as an example. The device in the UE can be executed with reference to the operation of the UE, and the device in the network device can be executed with reference to the operation of the network device.

[0122] FIG5 is a second flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, and FIG6 is one of the switching diagrams of the monitoring mode provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG5 , the method includes: S201 to S206.

[0123] S201. The UE activates the LP-WUS function and wakes up the LR if the MR enters the first sleep state.

[0124] Exemplarily, activating the LP-WUS function may also be referred to as turning on the LP-WUS function, starting the LP-WUS function, enabling the LP-WUS function, or using the LR to monitor a wake-up signal or signaling, etc. For example, the wake-up signal may be the LP-WUS. Enabling the LP-WUS function may further include shutting down the MR. Shutting down the MR may be understood as the MR entering a sleep state or sleep mode.

[0125] Exemplarily, the UE activating the LP-WUS function includes the UE waking up the LR, or turning on the LR, or starting the LR, or activating the LR, etc. The embodiment of the present application takes the UE waking up the LR as an example for explanation. The UE activating the LP-WUS function means that if the MR is in a sleep state, the LR can be woken up to listen for the LP-WUS. When the LR receives the first LP-WUS, the LR can wake up the MR, the LR enters the sleep state, the MR enters the sleep state again, and wakes up the LR again, and this cycle continues.

[0126] The sleep state that the MR enters for the first time after the UE activates the LP-WUS function can be defined as the first sleep state. Assuming that after the UE activates the LP-WUS function, its MR has no data or service to transmit for a period of time, it enters the sleep state and wakes up the LR. This sleep of the MR is called the first sleep. In the embodiment of the present application, when the MR is in the first sleep state, it can be determined to use the first monitoring mode for monitoring. In the subsequent sleep state, the monitoring mode can be flexibly switched according to the transmission scenario and other conditions, such as switching to the second monitoring mode for monitoring, or maintaining the first monitoring mode for monitoring, etc.

[0127] In one example, the UE activates the LP-WUS function, and after the UE's MR enters the first sleep state, it wakes up the LR, and the LR is responsible for monitoring whether the LP-WUS is received. The LR can use the first monitoring mode LP-WUS, and each time the LR is awakened, it can also determine to use the first monitoring mode or the second monitoring mode according to different situations. In the communication method provided in Figure 5, the first monitoring mode can be designed to be a continuous monitoring mode, and the second monitoring mode can be designed to be a periodic monitoring mode. The LR can use the continuous monitoring mode after the MR enters the sleep state for the first time according to the default setting of the UE, or it can use the periodic monitoring mode after the MR enters the sleep state for the first time according to the default setting of the UE. In subsequent operations, the LR determines whether the first LP-WUS is received during monitoring, and uses the continuous monitoring mode or the periodic monitoring mode to monitor after the MR enters the sleep state again. Referring to Figure 6, the continuous monitoring mode refers to a mode of continuously monitoring whether the LP-WUS is received (such as continuous monitoring starting from a in Figure 6, or continuous monitoring starting from i); the periodic monitoring mode includes multiple groups of alternating monitoring duration periods (such as the cd period in Figure 6) and sleep time periods (such as the de period in Figure 6). The LP-WUS can be received during the monitoring duration period, and no signal is received during the sleep period, that is, no LP-WUS is received.

[0128] S202. After the MR of the UE goes into sleep for the first time, the LR is woken up. The LR uses the continuous monitoring mode to monitor the LP-WUS. If the first LP-WUS is received within the first time period, S203 is executed. If the first LP-WUS is not received within the first time period, S204 is executed.

[0129] Optionally, the UE may preset the LR to use the continuous listening mode by default when the MR enters the first sleep state after the LP-WUS function is activated.

[0130] Optionally, the UE may execute S203 when the LR receives each first LP-WUS, or may execute S203 when it is determined that the LR receives the first LP-WUS for the MR of the current UE (that is, the first LP-WUS is the first LP-WUS for paging the MR or the UE where the LR is located). Executing S203 based on the first LP-WUS for the current UE is more directional, can avoid interference of other received first LP-WUS on the awakened MR, and achieve better energy saving effect.

[0131] Exemplarily, the first time period can be recorded as T1, and T1 can be determined according to a timer with a certain duration configured. For example, the UE starts a first timer, and the duration of the first timer is T1. If the LR receives the first LP-WUS before the first timer expires, S203 is executed. If the first LP-WUS is not received during the timing of the first timer, S204 is executed.

[0132] Optionally, in addition to receiving the first LP-WUS and executing S203, the LR of the UE may also receive and successfully decode the first LP-WUS and then execute S203; or, if the LR detects the first LP-WUS, then execute S203, etc. The embodiment of the present application is described using the reception of the first LP-WUS as an example, but is not limited thereto.

[0133] S203: The LR of the UE wakes up the MR, and the LR enters a sleep state.

[0134] Assume that starting from a in FIG6 , during continuous monitoring within the first time period, if the first LP-WUS is received, the MR is awakened. Optionally, when the MR is awakened, the LR may enter a sleep state, or the LR may disable the function of receiving signals (such as receiving LP-WUS), or the UE may shut down the LR, etc. This embodiment of the application uses the example of the LR entering a sleep state when the LR wakes up the MR as an example, but is not limited to this.

[0135] Optionally, LR waking up MR may mean turning on MR, or triggering MR to exit sleep (including triggering MR to exit sleep state or sleep mode, etc.), or triggering MR to enter wake-up state or wake-up mode (including triggering MR to start receiving service signals, etc.). There is no limitation on the way LR wakes up MR.

[0136] Optionally, the LR awakening MR manner includes: the LR sending a signal to the MR to awaken the MR, or the LR sending a current to the MR to awaken the MR, etc.

[0137] S204. The LR of the UE uses a periodic monitoring mode to monitor the LP-WUS.

[0138] Exemplarily, the network device should be aware of the monitoring rules of the UE using the monitoring mode, and can autonomously infer the UE's monitoring status based on the time when the UE activates the LP-WUS function. For example, the network device can infer whether the LR is currently awake or asleep, and if the LR is awake, which monitoring mode is used for monitoring. Based on the inferred result, the network device sends a first LP-WUS during the LR's monitoring duration period. For example, if the network device infers that the current LR uses the periodic monitoring mode and sends the first LP-WUS during the monitoring duration period.

[0139] Optionally, the network device can track the monitoring status of the UE. For example, if the UE receives the first LP-WUS and provides feedback to the network device, the network device can obtain the current monitoring status of the LR based on the feedback. If the network device receives the feedback, it can be determined that the LR is monitoring (such as in a continuous monitoring mode or a periodic monitoring mode). When the network device has data or service transmission requirements, it can send an LP-WUS.

[0140] If the first LP-WUS is not received within the first time period, the UE may consider that the network device is less likely to transmit data or services in the subsequent period. In order to save energy, the currently used continuous listening mode is switched to the periodic listening mode, that is, the LR uses the periodic listening mode.

[0141] 6 : After the MR goes to sleep for the first time, the LR uses the continuous listening mode (such as continuous listening starting from a in FIG6 ) and starts the first timer. Assuming that the duration of the ab period in FIG6 is T1, it can be seen that before the first timer expires, no LP-WUS is received and the LR enters a more energy-saving periodic listening mode; in this periodic listening mode, the listening duration period (such as the cd period and the fh period in FIG6 ) and the sleep period (such as the de period in FIG6 ) can appear alternately periodically. Each listening duration period and a sleep period constitute a cycle (such as the ce period in FIG6 ), and the duration of each cycle is T cycle , where the duration of each monitoring period is T d1(As shown in the cd period in Figure 6 .) If the LP-WUS sent by the network device reaches the UE while the LR is in the sleep period, such as reaching the UE between the de period shown in Figure 6 , the LR does not receive the LP-WUS and continues to maintain the current state. If the LP-WUS sent by the network device, such as the first LP-WUS, reaches the UE while the LR is in the listening duration period, and the LR receives the first LP-WUS, such as receiving the first LP-WUS at time g shown in Figure 6 (time g is within the listening duration period fh period), the MR is awakened based on the first LP-WUS.

[0142] When the LR monitors the LP-WUS in the periodic monitoring mode, if the first LP-WUS is received, S205 is executed. If no LP-WUS is received, the LR maintains the relatively energy-saving periodic monitoring mode for monitoring.

[0143] As shown in Figure 6, during the listening duration period (i.e., period fh in Figure 6) of periodic listening mode, the LR receives the first LP-WUS sent by the network device at time g. The LR then wakes up the MR at time g and enters sleep mode. The MR wakes up at time m, which can be the same time as time g, or after time g by a delay equal to the wake-up delay.

[0144] S205 : If the LR of the UE receives the first LP-WUS within the monitoring duration period, it wakes up the MR and enters sleep mode.

[0145] S206 : After the MR of the UE goes into sleep for the second time, it wakes up the LR again, and the LR monitors the LP-WUS in a continuous monitoring mode.

[0146] After the UE completes the service processing, the MR can enter the sleep state again and wake up the LR. The LR can still use the default continuous monitoring mode to continuously monitor whether the LP-WUS is received.

[0147] Optionally, S206 may be executed after S203 or S205.

[0148] Exemplarily, the example in Figure 6 is used for explanation: MR completes processing of the service in the mn period, which is equivalent to sleeping for the second time at time n. At the corresponding moment, LR again uses the continuous listening mode to listen to LP-WUS (continuous listening starts from i in Figure 6). In one possible implementation method, when LR starts the continuous listening mode, it starts the first timer again. The duration of the first timer is T1. The monitoring method refers to the example after continuous monitoring starts from a in Figure 6. In another possible implementation, when the LR starts the continuous listening mode, it starts a second timer with a duration of T2. Assume that the duration of the ij period in Figure 6 is T2. If the LR does not receive the first LP-WUS during the timing of the second timer, after the second timer expires, the LR switches to a more energy-saving periodic listening mode (the listening duration period of the periodic listening mode starts from k shown in Figure 6). The subsequent operation of monitoring whether the LP-WUS is received in the periodic listening mode can refer to the corresponding descriptions of S204 and S205, which will not be repeated here. If the first LP-WUS is received during the timing of the second timer, the MR is woken up, which can refer to the corresponding descriptions of S203 or S205, which will not be repeated here.

[0149] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, T1 and T2 may be the same or different. In one example, T1 and T2 may be set by a timer. In another example, T1 and T2 may be set based on a timer determined by the UE. For example, referring to FIG6 , the UE calculates the time corresponding to a, b, i, and j, respectively, determines T1 based on time a and time b, and determines T2 based on time i and time j. In another example, the duration of T1 and T2 may be determined by the number of periods in the periodic monitoring mode, such as T cycle The number is determined, etc. cycle The duration can be set by the timer. T1, T2, T cycle and T d1 It can be an absolute time, such as T1, T2, T cycle and T d1 The unit can be milliseconds, seconds, minutes, etc. T1, T2, T cycle and T d1 It can also be a relative time, such as T1, T2, T cycle and T d1 The unit can be SFN, symbol, time slot, subframe, radio frame, etc.

[0150] In a possible implementation, the UE can calculate the start time of each continuous listening period, and the start time of each listening duration period and sleep time period in the listening period of the periodic listening mode. Referring to FIG6 , when the UE enters the first sleep state when the MR enters the first sleep state and the LR uses the continuous listening mode, the UE calculates the start time of the continuous listening mode as a, and the LR starts continuous listening from a. If the LR does not receive the first LP-WUS in the first time period, the LR switches to the periodic listening mode, and the UE can calculate the start time of the first listening duration period of the periodic listening mode as c. The LR starts from c and presses T d1 After the monitoring duration period, the sleep period is entered, which is considered as a T cycle The UE calculates the start time of the next monitoring duration period as e, and the LR starts from e and presses T d1 Alternatively, the UE can calculate the start time of each time period in the periodic monitoring mode, for example, calculate c, e, f, etc. as the start time of each monitoring duration period, d and h, etc. as the start time of each sleep period, etc., and the LR enters the corresponding time period according to the calculated time.

[0151] Optionally, the parameters and configurations used by the UE in the embodiment of the present application include the first time period, T1, T2, T cycle and T d1 , or the start time of the continuous listening mode, the start time and end time of each listening duration period and sleep time period in the periodic listening mode, etc. These parameters and configurations can be calculated according to the calculation method pre-agreed between the UE and the network device. Alternatively, these parameters and configurations can be obtained by the network device and sent to the UE for use by the UE. In this case, the network device can carry the parameters and configurations in a broadcast message, such as a broadcast (system information block, SIB) message, and send it to the UE (such as a non-connected UE); or, the network device can send it to the UE (such as a connected UE) in a dedicated signaling, such as a radio resource control (RRC) message.

[0152] In the example provided in the embodiment of the present application, when the LR uses the periodic listening mode, the listening duration period is determined according to the rules pre-agreed by the UE and the network device, and is not triggered by an event. In this way, the network device should know the listening rules of the UE using the listening mode, and can autonomously calculate the UE's listening status based on the moment when the UE activates the LP-WUS, and determine whether the LR is in the continuous listening mode or the periodic listening mode. If it is in the periodic listening mode, it can be calculated whether it is in the listening duration period or the sleep period, so that when the LR uses the continuous listening mode or the LR uses the periodic listening mode and is in the listening duration period, the first LP-WUS is sent, thereby increasing the possibility of the first LP-WUS being received, thereby increasing the success rate of waking up the MR each time the first LP-WUS is sent, and correspondingly reducing the delay.

[0153] In addition to the method of communicating using the default continuous listening mode provided in step S206, the LR can also communicate by tightening the next listening mode upon receiving the first LP-WUS, such as: if the LR receives the first LP-WUS in the periodic listening mode, wakes up the MR and goes to sleep, and then waits for the MR to complete the business, goes to sleep again and wakes up the LR, the LR switches to the continuous listening mode for listening; if the LR receives the first LP-WUS in the continuous listening mode, wakes up the MR and goes to sleep, and then waits for the MR to complete the business, goes to sleep again and wakes up the LR, the LR maintains the continuous listening mode.

[0154] In one possible implementation, the LP-WUS may carry indication information, which may refer to the second indication information in the above example and is generated by the network device after making a judgment based on the transmission requirements of the current data or service, and is obtained based on whether there is subsequent data or service that needs to be processed by the MR. The second indication information is used to indicate which listening mode the LR should use for listening after the UE wakes up the LR next time. For example, the network device determines that the current data needs to be sent once, and after the sending is completed, no more data will be sent to the UE in a short time. Therefore, a first LP-WUS may be sent. After the LR receives the first LP-WUS, it instructs the LR to use a continuous listening mode or a periodic listening mode according to the second indication information to listen to subsequent LP-WUS. Assuming that the network device determines that the data currently being sent is the tail packet of a service flow (i.e., the last data packet), after the tail packet is sent to the UE, the service flow is sent and the MR does not need to work within a certain period of time, the second indication information of the first LP-WUS can instruct the LR to use a more relaxed listening mode for listening. In the method shown in FIG5 , the LR switches between continuous and periodic listening modes for monitoring. The periodic listening mode is more relaxed, while the continuous listening mode is more restrictive. Therefore, the second indication information may instruct the LR to use the periodic listening mode. That is, when executing S206 , the communication method may be modified to: The LR monitors the LP-WUS in the continuous listening mode based on the second indication information. Alternatively, if the network device determines that more data needs to be processed by the MR after the currently transmitted data, the LR should monitor the LP-WUS in a more restrictive listening mode to avoid missing the LP-WUS. In this case, the second indication information carried in the first LP-WUS may instruct the LR to use the continuous listening mode. Optionally, if both the UE and the network device know that the LR's default listening mode is the continuous listening mode, the second indication information may indicate the need to switch to the periodic listening mode by carrying information in the second indication information. For example, the second indication information may carry information indicating the need to switch, while the second indication information may not carry information when the need to switch to the periodic listening mode is not required. Alternatively, the second indication information may carry different information to indicate different listening modes. Optionally, the second indication information may instruct the LR to use the continuous monitoring mode or the periodic monitoring mode, or may instruct the LR to switch to a more relaxed monitoring mode, or to a more stringent monitoring mode, and so on.

[0155] Exemplarily, the indication information carried in the LP-WUS, such as the second indication information, may be in the form of a bit, a specific field, a predefined dictionary, or the like.

[0156] Exemplarily, the LP-WUS may carry 1-bit indication information, which is used to instruct the LR to use the continuous listening mode or the periodic listening mode, or to instruct the LR to maintain the current listening mode.

[0157] In the example of Figure 5, a communication method is designed in which the LR dynamically switches between a continuous listening mode and a periodic listening mode (also referred to as a duty cycle listening mode) to perform monitoring. In this communication method, after the UE activates the LP-WUS function, the LR can use the continuous listening mode to continuously monitor whether the first LP-WUS is received. If the first LP-WUS is not received within the first time period, it can be considered that the condition of non-intensive reception is met, and the periodic listening mode is switched to save energy. If the first LP-WUS is received during the monitoring duration period of the periodic listening mode, it can be switched to the continuous listening mode to avoid not timely monitoring the LP-WUS sent by the subsequent network device during the current cycle, and delaying the reception until the monitoring duration period of the next cycle, thereby causing a delay in MR awakening. The embodiment of the present application makes the use of the monitoring mode more suitable for current transmission needs and achieves a balance between energy saving and delay by flexibly switching the monitoring mode.

[0158] FIG7 is a third flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, and FIG8 is a second flow chart of switching to a monitoring mode provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG7 , the method can be executed by a UE including a MR and a LR. The method includes: S301 to S310.

[0159] S301. The UE activates the LP-WUS function and wakes up the LR if the MR enters the first sleep state.

[0160] Exemplarily, the LR can use the first listening mode or the second listening mode to listen to the LP-WUS. In the communication method provided in FIG7 , the first listening mode can be designed to be a long-cycle listening mode, and the second listening mode can be designed to be a short-cycle listening mode. The LR determines whether the first LP-WUS is received during the duration of each periodic listening mode, and determines whether the LR will use the long-cycle listening mode or the short-cycle listening mode to listen after the next wake-up. The long-cycle listening mode includes N groups of alternating long-cycle listening duration periods (such as the ab period and cd period in FIG8 ) and long-cycle sleep time periods (such as the bc period in FIG8 ). LP-WUS can be received during the long-cycle listening duration period, and LP-WUS cannot be received during the long-cycle sleep period; the short-cycle listening mode includes M groups of alternating short-cycle listening duration periods (such as the ef period, hi period, and jk period in FIG8 ) and short-cycle sleep time periods (such as the fh period and ij period in FIG8 ). LP-WUS can be received during the short-cycle listening duration period, and LP-WUS cannot be received during the short-cycle sleep period. Wherein, N and M are both positive integers greater than 0, and the second monitoring period is longer than the first monitoring period (ie, the monitoring period of the long-period monitoring mode is longer than the monitoring period of the short-period monitoring mode).

[0161] Optionally, the listening period of the long-cycle listening mode is longer than the listening period of the short-cycle listening mode and satisfies any one of the following conditions: the short-cycle listening duration period is longer than the long-cycle listening duration period; or, the short-cycle sleep period is shorter than the long-cycle sleep period; or, the short-cycle listening duration period is longer than the long-cycle listening duration period, and the short-cycle sleep period is shorter than the long-cycle sleep period.

[0162] Exemplarily, the short-cycle monitoring duration period is longer than the long-cycle monitoring duration period, and the short-cycle sleep period is shorter than the long-cycle sleep period. The first monitoring cycle length and the second monitoring cycle length may be equal.

[0163] In actual use scenarios, the UE may default to entering the long-cycle listening mode or the short-cycle listening mode each time the MR goes to sleep. For example, if the UE defaults to the LR using the long-cycle listening mode each time the MR goes to sleep, S302 is executed; if the UE defaults to the LR using the short-cycle listening mode each time the MR goes to sleep, S307 is executed.

[0164] S302 : After the MR of the UE goes into sleep for the first time, it wakes up the LR. The LR uses a long-cycle listening mode to monitor the LP-WUS. If the first LP-WUS is received, the MR is woken up.

[0165] The LR receiving the first LP-WUS may also mean that the LR receives and successfully decodes the first LP-WUS, or that the LR detects the first LP-WUS. This embodiment of the present application uses the example of the LR receiving the first LP-WUS for illustration, but is not limited thereto. The manner in which the LR wakes up the MR and the state of the MR after wakeup can be referred to the description corresponding to S203 and will not be further elaborated upon.

[0166] Optionally, when the MR is awakened, the LR may enter a sleep state, or the LR may turn off the function of receiving signals (such as receiving LP-WUS), or the UE turns off the LR, etc. The embodiment of the present application is described by taking the example of the LR entering a sleep state when the LR wakes up the MR, but this is not limited to this.

[0167] For example, after receiving the first LP-WUS, the LP can first determine whether the first LP-WUS is for the UE where the LR is located, that is, whether the first LP-WUS is paging the UE where the LR is located. If so, the MR can be awakened; if not, the MR is not awakened.

[0168] For example, refer to FIG8 : After MR sleeps for the first time, LR uses the long-cycle listening mode for listening (such as listening from a in FIG8 ). Since the listening period of the long-cycle listening mode is longer than that of the short-cycle listening mode, it can be considered that maintaining the long-cycle listening mode can achieve the best energy saving effect when the first LP-WUS is not received. The ab period and the cd period in FIG8 are both long-cycle listening duration periods. The bc period in FIG8 is a long-cycle sleep period. A long cycle can be composed of a long-cycle listening duration period and a long-cycle sleep period (such as the ac period in FIG8 ). The duration of each long cycle is T long Assuming that the LR receives the first LP-WUS at time g while monitoring during the cd period, the MR is awakened based on the first LP-WUS. Optionally, after receiving the first LP-WUS, the LR may enter a sleep state, i.e., no longer monitor during the long-period monitoring duration period of the gh period shown in FIG8 .

[0169] S303. After the MR of the UE goes to sleep for the second time, it wakes up the LR again. The LR uses the short cycle monitoring mode to monitor the LP-WUS. If the first LP-WUS is received within the third time period, S304 is executed. If the first LP-WUS is not received within the third time period, S306 is executed.

[0170] After the UE completes its service processing, the MR can enter the sleep state again. This sleep is called the second sleep. After the MR enters the second sleep, the UE wakes up the LR. Since the first LP-WUS was received during the previous long-cycle listening mode, the UE can switch the listening mode used by the LR to a tighter mode, such as the short-cycle listening mode, to avoid missing the first LP-WUS and causing delay.

[0171] For example, the example of Figure 8 is used for explanation: the MR completes processing of the service in the mn period, which is equivalent to the second sleep at time n. The corresponding UE wakes up the LR, and the LR switches to using the short cycle monitoring mode to monitor the LP-WUS (such as starting monitoring from e in Figure 8). The short cycle monitoring mode includes a short cycle monitoring duration period (such as the ef period, hi period and jk period in Figure 8) and a short cycle sleep period (such as the fh period and ij period in Figure 8). A short cycle monitoring duration period and a short cycle sleep period can be defined as a short cycle (such as the eh period and ik period in Figure 8). The duration of each short cycle is T short If, within the third time period, a first LP-WUS sent by the network device reaches the UE during the short-cycle sleep period and the LR fails to receive the first LP-WUS, or if the network device fails to send the first LP-WUS during the third time period, the UE may infer, based on the failure to receive the first LP-WUS, that the likelihood of subsequently receiving the first LP-WUS is low. Therefore, the UE switches to a more relaxed listening mode, namely, a long-cycle listening mode, to perform listening to save energy. As shown in FIG8 , starting at time 1, the UE uses the long-cycle listening mode for listening, where the long cycle of the long-cycle listening mode is the lq period in FIG8 . If, within the third time period, the UE receives the first LP-WUS during a short-cycle listening duration (e.g., the ef period, the hi period, or the jk period), the LR wakes up the MR based on the first LP-WUS. At this point, since the MR is awakened, the LR may determine that the likelihood of subsequently receiving the first LP-WUS is high. Therefore, the LR maintains the short-cycle listening mode for listening the next time it wakes up to avoid delays caused by missing the first LR.

[0172] For example, the third time period can be set by a timer, or can be set according to counting a certain number of long cycles, or can be set according to counting a certain number of short cycles. For example, the third time period is recorded as T3, and the LR can maintain a third timer with a duration of T3, or the LR can set T3 according to counting a certain number of short cycles, or the LR can set T3 according to counting a certain number of long cycles, etc. For example, referring to the example of FIG8 , the LR can set T3 to be equal to 3 times of T3 based on the fact that the ek period includes 3 short cycles. short Alternatively, set T3 equal to 2 times Tlong In a possible implementation, the LR may use T3 to determine whether to switch to the long-cycle listening mode in a subsequent short-cycle listening mode, or may set another duration to determine whether to switch to the long-cycle listening mode.

[0173] The duration of the long-term monitoring period can be defined as T d2 The duration of the short-cycle monitoring period is defined as T d3 Optional, T3, T long 、T short 、T d2 and T d3 It can be an absolute time, such as T3, T long 、T short 、T d2 and T d3 The unit can be milliseconds, seconds, minutes, etc. T3, T long 、T short 、T d2 and T d3 It can also be a relative time, such as T3, T long 、T short 、T d2 and T d3 The unit can be SFN, symbol, time slot, subframe, radio frame, etc. long >T short In one possible implementation, T d2 =T d3 In one possible implementation, T long It's T short An integer multiple of .

[0174] In the example provided in FIG. 7 of the embodiment of the present application, the duration of the long cycle and the short cycle of the LR is determined according to the rules pre-agreed between the UE and the network device, and is not triggered by an event, such as in T d2 =T d3 When T d2 and T d3 The duration of the LP-WUS is determined according to the rules agreed upon in advance by the UE and the network device. In this way, the network device should know the monitoring rules of the UE using the monitoring mode and can independently calculate the monitoring status of the UE based on the time when the UE activates the LP-WUS. If the network device determines that the LR is in the monitoring duration period (including the long-cycle monitoring duration period and the short-cycle monitoring duration period), it sends the first LP-WUS in its corresponding monitoring duration period to increase the possibility of the UE receiving the first LP-WUS. When T d2 =T d3When the LP-WUS sent by the network device is more likely to be received by the LR in the long-cycle listening duration period or the short-cycle listening duration period. When the listening mode determined by the network device is consistent with the listening mode used by the UE, the sending of the LP-WUS and the listening of the LR may not be aligned. For example, the network device mistakenly infers that the LR uses the short-cycle listening mode and is in the short-cycle listening duration period, so it sends a first LP-WUS, but the LR is actually using the long-cycle listening mode. The moment when the first LP-WUS arrives at the LR is likely to fall in the long-cycle sleep time period. At this time, the LR fails to receive the first LP-WUS and still maintains the long-cycle listening mode. In order to reduce the delay, T long Set to T short In this way, if the network device sends the first LP-WUS according to the first short-cycle listening duration period of the short-cycle listening mode, and the LR does not receive the LP-WUS in the current long-cycle listening duration period of the long cycle, the LR may receive the first LP-WUS in the second long-cycle listening duration period when the network device sends the first LP-WUS according to the second short-cycle listening duration period of the short-cycle listening mode. Alternatively, if the network device sends the first LP-WUS according to the first short-cycle listening duration period of the short-cycle listening mode, and the LR does not receive the first LP-WUS in the current long-cycle listening duration period of the long cycle, the network device determines that the LR has failed to receive the first LP-WUS and should be in the long-cycle listening mode based on conditions such as the UE having no hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback or uplink data within a certain period of time, and therefore the LR sends the first LP-WUS in the long-cycle listening duration period of the LR's long-cycle listening mode instead, thereby increasing the possibility of successful reception of the LP-WUS.

[0175] Optionally, the parameters and configurations used by the UE in the embodiment of the present application include the third time period, T3, T long 、T short 、T d2 and T d3, or the starting time of each long-cycle monitoring duration segment and the first sleep time segment in the long-cycle monitoring mode, the starting time of each short-cycle monitoring duration segment and the second sleep time segment in the short-cycle monitoring mode, etc. These parameters and configurations can be calculated according to the calculation method agreed upon in advance by the UE and the network device. Alternatively, these parameters and configurations can be obtained by the network device and sent to the UE for use by the UE. In this case, the network device can carry the parameters and configurations in a broadcast message, such as a SIB message, and send it to the UE (such as a UE in a non-connected state); or, the network device can send it to the UE (such as a UE in a connected state) in a dedicated signaling, such as an RRC message.

[0176] S304: The LR of the UE wakes up the MR, and the LR goes to sleep.

[0177] S305 : After the MR of the UE goes into sleep for the third time, it wakes up the LR again, and the LR monitors the LP-WUS in a short-cycle monitoring mode.

[0178] The method for the LR to monitor the first LP-WUS using the short cycle monitoring mode is described in S303 and will not be repeated here.

[0179] S306 : The LR of the UE switches to the long-cycle monitoring mode to monitor the LP-WUS.

[0180] The method for the LR to monitor the first LP-WUS using the long-cycle monitoring mode is described in S302 and S303 , which will not be repeated here.

[0181] S307. After the MR of the UE goes to sleep for the first time, the LR is woken up. The LR uses the short cycle monitoring mode to monitor the LP-WUS. If the first LP-WUS is received within the third time period, S308 is executed. If the first LP-WUS is not received within the third time period, S310 is executed.

[0182] The setting of the third time period is referred to S303 and will not be described in detail.

[0183] S308 : The LR of the UE wakes up the MR, and the LR goes to sleep.

[0184] S309 : After the MR of the UE goes into sleep for the second time, it wakes up the LR again, and the LR monitors the LP-WUS in a short-cycle monitoring mode.

[0185] The method for the LR to monitor the LP-WUS using the short-cycle monitoring mode is described in S303 and will not be repeated here.

[0186] S310 : The LR of the UE switches to a long-cycle monitoring mode to monitor the LP-WUS.

[0187] The method for the LR to monitor the LP-WUS using the long-period monitoring mode is described in S302 and S303 and will not be repeated here.

[0188] In one possible implementation, the LP-WUS may carry indication information, which may be second indication information. The above example (i.e., the second indication information carried in the LP-WUS in the scenarios of continuous monitoring mode and periodic monitoring mode) may be referred to, and is used to indicate which monitoring mode the LR uses to monitor after the UE wakes up the LR next time. For example, the network device determines that the current data needs to be sent once, and after the transmission is completed, no more data will be sent to the UE in a short time. Therefore, the LR may be instructed to use a more relaxed monitoring mode to monitor subsequent LP-WUS. Assuming that the network device determines that the data currently being sent is the tail packet of a service flow, the LR may be instructed to use a long-period monitoring mode for monitoring. In the method shown in Figure 7, if the default is to enter the short-period monitoring mode for monitoring after each MR sleep, then after receiving the first LP-WUS, the LR may switch to the long-period monitoring mode for monitoring according to the indication of the indication information in the first LP-WUS, which is more energy-efficient. Exemplarily, the indication information may be in the form of a bit, a specific field, a predefined dictionary, or the like. Exemplarily, the LP-WUS carries 1 bit of indication information for instructing the LR to use the long-cycle listening mode, or for instructing the LR to use the short-cycle listening mode, or for instructing the LR to maintain the current listening mode. The indication method of the indication information can refer to the above examples and will not be repeated here.

[0189] In the example of Figure 7, a communication method is designed in which the LR dynamically switches between the long-period listening mode and the short-period listening mode for monitoring. In this communication method, after the UE activates the LP-WUS function, the long-period listening mode or the short-period listening mode can be used by default, and then the monitoring mode can be switched according to the situation of receiving the first LP-WUS. Under normal circumstances, the UE may assume that after receiving the first LP-WUS, the monitoring mode used by the LR again should require a tighter monitoring of the LP-WUS. Therefore, after each MR sleep, the LR can switch or remain in the short-period listening mode for monitoring. When the short-period listening mode does not receive the first LP-WUS within the third time period, it can be considered that the condition of non-intensive reception is met, and the LR can switch to the long-period listening mode to save energy. The embodiment of the present application makes the use of the monitoring mode more suitable for the current transmission needs by flexibly switching the monitoring mode, thereby achieving a balance between energy saving and latency.

[0190] In some actual use scenarios, different relaxation levels of cycles can be set to correspond to different monitoring modes to monitor LP-WUS, where the number of relaxation levels is at least 2. For example, LR can switch to use multiple periodic monitoring modes with different relaxation levels to monitor corresponding to different scenarios. A periodic monitoring mode with a relaxation level has at least one corresponding cycle, and each cycle includes a monitoring duration period and a sleep period. During the communication process, if the first LP-WUS is received, the LR uses a monitoring mode with a lower relaxation level (or a higher tightening level) after the MR sleeps. If the first LP-WUS is not received for a period of time, in order to save more energy, the LR can switch to a monitoring mode with a higher relaxation level (or a lower tightening level). Optionally, this switching can be a step-by-step switching or a skip-level switching. In the embodiment of the present application, step-by-step switching is used as an example for explanation, but it is not limited. Skip-level switching can skip one or more levels. Refer to the example implementation of Figure 9.

[0191] In the embodiments of the present application, a listening mode with five relaxation levels pre-agreed upon by a network device and a UE is used as an example for explanation. Communication methods corresponding to other relaxation levels can refer to this example and will not be described in detail. Figure 9 is a fourth flow diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, and Figure 10 is a third flow diagram of switching to a listening mode provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 9, the method includes: S401 to S405.

[0192] Optionally, the UE may pre-configure periodic monitoring modes corresponding to five relaxation levels, which are simply recorded as relaxation level 0, relaxation level 1, relaxation level 2, relaxation level 3, and relaxation level 4. As the relaxation level increases, it means that the monitoring duration becomes shorter, or that the monitoring period becomes longer, or that the monitoring duration becomes shorter and the monitoring period becomes longer. Taking the example that the higher the relaxation level, the shorter the monitoring duration, the monitoring duration in relaxation level 0 (which can be recorded as monitoring duration 0) is the longest, the monitoring duration in relaxation level 1 (which can be recorded as monitoring duration 1), the monitoring duration in relaxation level 2 (which can be recorded as monitoring duration 2), and the monitoring duration in relaxation level 3 (which can be recorded as monitoring duration 3) become shorter in sequence, and the monitoring duration in relaxation level 4 (which can be recorded as monitoring duration 4) is the shortest. In other words, relaxation level 4 has the highest relaxation level, and if the LR uses relaxation level 4 for monitoring, it is the most energy-efficient.

[0193] For example, raising the relaxation level may be relaxing the original monitoring duration to Alternatively, the original monitoring duration corresponding to the monitoring period Tc is relaxed to K2 times, or the original monitoring duration is relaxed to And the original monitoring duration period corresponding to the period Tc is relaxed to K2 times, K1 and K2 are both greater than 1. For example, if the period of relaxation level 0 is Tc, the monitoring duration period 0 is T d4 , the period of relaxation level 1 is Or, the monitoring duration 1 of relaxation level 1 is T d4 ×K2, or, the period of relaxation level 1 is And the monitoring duration 1 is T d4 × K2. The same applies to relaxation levels 2, 3, and 4, and no further examples are given.

[0194] S401. The UE activates the LP-WUS function and wakes up the LR if the MR enters the first sleep state.

[0195] For example, the LR defaults to using the lowest relaxation level periodic monitoring mode, i.e., relaxation level 0, for each wakeup. Assume that the period of relaxation level 0 is Tc and the monitoring duration period 0 is T d4 For example, in an actual usage scenario, the UE may default to the LR using relaxation level 0 after each sleep of the MR.

[0196] Optionally, the UE may also default that each time the MR enters the sleep state, the LR enters a monitoring mode with a lower relaxation level than the previous one, without limiting the LR to default to the lowest relaxation level, ie, relaxation level 0.

[0197] S402. After the MR of the UE goes to sleep for the first time, the LR is awakened. The LR uses relaxation level 0 to monitor the LP-WUS. If the first LP-WUS is received within the fourth time period, S403 is executed. If the first LP-WUS is not received within the fourth time period, S405 is executed.

[0198] Exemplarily, the fourth time period is recorded as T4. T4 can be set by a timer of a fixed duration, or can be set according to counting a certain number of periods of a certain relaxation level. For example, the LR can maintain a fourth timer with a duration of T4, or the LR uses relaxation level 0 to monitor LP-WUS, determines that T4 is 2 periods of relaxation level 0, and if the first LP-WUS is not received within T4, switches to relaxation level 1 to monitor LP-WUS. After the LR uses relaxation level 1 to monitor LP-WUS, T4 can be 2 periods of relaxation level 1. If the first LP-WUS is not received within T4, switches to relaxation level 2 to monitor LP-WUS, and so on, until switching to the periodic monitoring mode with the highest relaxation level. Optionally, it is also possible to further switch from the periodic monitoring mode with the highest relaxation level to the continuous monitoring mode. It should be noted that T4 in each relaxation level can be different. The embodiment of the present application uses T4 as an example of 2 counting periods corresponding to the relaxation level for illustration, but is not limited to this. The LR monitors whether the first LP-WUS is received within the T4 duration of each relaxation level. If received, the LR executes S403 ; otherwise, the LR executes S405 .

[0199] Optional, the fourth time period, T4, T d4 and Tc can be absolute times, such as T4, T d4 The units of T4 and Tc can be milliseconds, seconds, minutes, etc. d4 and Tc can also be relative times, such as T4, T d4 The units of and Tc can be SFN, symbol, time slot, subframe, radio frame, etc.

[0200] Optionally, the LR receiving the first LP-WUS may also mean that the LR receives and successfully decodes the first LP-WUS, or that the LR detects the first LP-WUS. This embodiment of the present application is described using the example of the LR receiving the first LP-WUS, but is not limited thereto. The manner in which the LR wakes up the MR and the state of the MR after wakeup can be referred to the description corresponding to S203 and will not be further elaborated upon.

[0201] Optionally, when the MR is awakened, the LR may enter a sleep state, or the LR may turn off the function of receiving signals (such as receiving LP-WUS), or the UE turns off the LR, etc. The embodiment of the present application is described by taking the example of the LR entering a sleep state when the LR wakes up the MR, but this is not limited to this.

[0202] For example, after receiving the LP-WUS, the LP can first determine whether the LP-WUS is for the UE where the LP is located, that is, whether the LP-WUS is paging the UE where the LP is located. If so, it can be confirmed that the received LP-WUS is the first LP-WUS and the MR is awakened. If not, the MR is not awakened.

[0203] S403: The LR of the UE wakes up the MR, and the LR goes to sleep.

[0204] S404 : After the MR of the UE goes into sleep for the second time, it wakes up the LR again, and the LR uses the relaxation level 0 to monitor the LP-WUS.

[0205] After the UE completes service processing, the MR may enter a sleep state again and wake up the LR. Since the first LP-WUS was previously received, the UE may monitor the LP-WUS using the default relaxation level 0, or may monitor using a periodic monitoring mode with a relaxation level that is tighter than the relaxation level used by the LR when the first LP-WUS was previously received, such as the LR using a monitoring mode with a relaxation level tightened by 1 or X, where X is a positive integer greater than 1. The method for the LR to monitor the LP-WUS using the relaxation level 0 is described in S402 and will not be repeated here.

[0206] S405 : The LR of the UE switches to a monitoring mode with a higher relaxation level, repeats timing and switching, and reaches relaxation level 4.

[0207] For example, referring to FIG10 , after the MR goes to sleep for the first time, the LR listens for LP-WUS using Relaxation Level 0 (starting at a in FIG10 ). If the LR does not receive the first LP-WUS within T4 (i.e., two Relaxation Level 0 cycles, such as the ae period in FIG10 ), it switches to the more energy-efficient Relaxation Level 1 listening mode (starting at e in FIG10 ). If the LR still does not receive the first LP-WUS within T4 (i.e., two Relaxation Level 1 cycles, such as the ej period in FIG10 ), it switches to the more energy-efficient Relaxation Level 2 listening mode (starting at j in FIG10 ). If the LR receives the first LP-WUS at time g during Listening Duration 2 of Relaxation Level 2 (i.e., the LR is in the jk period in FIG10 ), it wakes up the MR based on the first LP-WUS. Optionally, after receiving the first LP-WUS, the LR may enter sleep mode, i.e., no longer maintaining Listening Duration 2 of the gk period. After receiving the first LP-WUS, the LR performs operations with reference to S403 and S404. In conjunction with Figure 10, that is, the MR is awakened at time m. Assuming that the MR completes processing the service in the mn period, it is equivalent to starting the second sleep at time n. The UE can wake up the LR at the time corresponding to n. The LR uses relaxation level 0 to monitor LP-WUS (starting from q in Figure 10) and monitors whether the first LP-WUS is received within T4 (T4 can still be two periods of relaxation level 0 at this time). If received, refer to S403 and S404 again. If not received, switch to a more relaxed relaxation level until switching to the highest relaxation level.

[0208] Optionally, the parameters and configurations used by the UE in the embodiment of the present application include the fourth time period, T4, T d4 and Tc, or the start time of the monitoring duration and sleep period corresponding to each relaxation level. These parameters and configurations can be calculated according to the calculation method pre-agreed between the UE and the network device. Alternatively, these parameters and configurations can be obtained by the network device and sent to the UE for use by the UE. In this case, the network device can carry the parameters and configurations in a broadcast message, such as a SIB message, and send it to the UE (such as a UE in a non-connected state); or the network device can send it to the UE (such as a UE in a connected state) in a dedicated signaling, such as an RRC message.

[0209] In the example provided in FIG9 of the embodiment of the present application, the starting time and cycle length of each relaxation level used by the LR are determined according to the rules pre-agreed by the UE and the network device, and are not triggered by events. As shown in FIG10, the starting time a and time q of the monitoring duration period 0 are both pre-calculated. For example, the monitoring using relaxation level 0 is started at time n, but the monitoring is not started when the monitoring duration period 0 is used. Instead, the monitoring is started at time q. This method can better align the monitoring duration period jointly determined by the network device and the UE, and can increase the possibility that the first LP-WUS sent by the network device is successfully received by the UE. When the monitoring mode determined by the network device is consistent with the monitoring mode used by the UE, the sending of the first LP-WUS may not be aligned with the monitoring duration period of the LR. For example, the UE uses the monitoring mode of relaxation level 3, but the network device thinks that the UE uses the monitoring mode of relaxation level 2. Therefore, the first LP-WUS sent by the network device is not received. The UE still maintains the monitoring mode of relaxation level 3 and may miss the first LP-WUS sent by the network device according to the monitoring duration period 2 of relaxation level 2. One possible solution is for the network device to align the starting points of each listening duration to ensure that, regardless of the relaxation level of the listening mode used by the UE, the LP-WUS sent at the beginning of the listening duration will be successfully received. For example, the network device pre-sets the time at which the LR is turned on after each MR is turned off to 0, the start time of the listening duration of the first relaxation level used by the LR to 0+a, the start time of the listening duration of the second relaxation level to 0+d, and the start time of the listening duration of the third relaxation level to 0+i. This increases the probability of the UE receiving the LP-WUS, regardless of whether the listening mode used by the UE after switching is consistent with the one inferred by the network device. Optionally, the network device can determine whether the LR has received the LP-WUS by determining whether the UE has received HARQ feedback or uplink data within a certain period of time. Optionally, if the network device determines that the UE has not received the first LP-WUS, it can also send the first LP-WUS according to the listening duration corresponding to the Y-level relaxation level, where Y depends on the relaxation level increased by the UE last time. If the network device is unsure whether the UE has received the first LP-WUS, it may also send the first LP-WUS according to a monitoring duration corresponding to a tighter relaxation level to increase the possibility of successful reception of the first LP-WUS.

[0210] In one possible implementation, the LP-WUS may carry indication information, which may be second indication information. Referring to the above example (i.e., the second indication information carried in the LP-WUS in the scenarios of the continuous monitoring mode and the periodic monitoring mode), it is used to indicate which relaxation level of monitoring mode the LR uses to monitor after the UE wakes up the LR next time. For example, the network device determines that the current data needs to be sent once, and after the sending is completed, no more data will be sent to the UE in a short time. Therefore, the LR can be instructed to use the most relaxed monitoring mode, such as the monitoring mode of relaxation level 4 to monitor the subsequent LP-WUS. Alternatively, the current LR uses the monitoring mode of relaxation level 1. Assuming that the network device determines that the data currently being sent is the tail packet of a service flow, the LR can be instructed to use the monitoring mode of relaxation level 2, relaxation level 3 or relaxation level 4 for monitoring, which is more energy-efficient. Exemplarily, the indication information may be in the form of a bit, a specific field, a predefined dictionary, or the like. The indication method of the indication information can refer to the above example, and will not be repeated again.

[0211] For example, the LP-WUS may carry 1-bit indication information for indicating whether to increase or decrease the relaxation level, or the LP-WUS may carry 2-bit indication information for indicating whether to increase, decrease or maintain the relaxation level, or the LP-WUS may use 2 bits to indicate whether to increase, decrease or maintain the relaxation level. n The bit indication information is used to adjust to a specific relaxation level, and n is the total number of relaxation levels.

[0212] In the example of FIG9 , a communication method is designed in which the LR dynamically switches between monitoring modes with different relaxation levels for monitoring. In this communication method, when the UE activates the LP-WUS function, it can default to monitoring in the monitoring mode with the lowest relaxation level, and then switch the monitoring mode based on the reception of the first LP-WUS. Generally, it is assumed that after receiving the first LP-WUS, the MR needs to lower the relaxation level to monitor the LP-WUS after waking up. Therefore, if the LR receives the first LP-WUS during the monitoring duration of relaxation level 0, the LR will continue to use relaxation level 0 the next time the MR goes to sleep. If the LR receives the first LP-WUS during the monitoring duration of a higher relaxation level, the LR can monitor in a monitoring mode with a lower relaxation level (such as level 1 or level Y) the next time the MR goes to sleep. The LR's use of the monitoring mode with a relaxation level 1 or level Y can be adjusted based on actual usage scenarios, providing greater flexibility. If the LR does not receive the first LP-WUS within the fourth time period of each relaxation level, it can switch to the highest relaxation level and then maintain this most energy-efficient monitoring mode for monitoring. This switching method is more flexible and can cope with more complex data and service transmission scenarios to achieve a balance between energy saving and latency.

[0213] In one possible implementation, in a connected state scenario, in order to save UE power consumption while ensuring that data can be effectively transmitted, a DRX mechanism can be introduced to control the UE's behavior of monitoring the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). If DRX is not used, the UE will continuously monitor the PDCCH to check whether there is any information from the serving cell. However, in actual usage scenarios, the UE may have some idle time and not always interact with the network device for effective information, that is, there is no upload or download service, or transmission of call data such as voice data during the idle time. If it continues to monitor the PDCCH when idle, it will consume more energy. Therefore, the UE can activate the DRX mechanism and periodically switch between the DRX sleep period and the DRX monitoring duration period, working in the DRX monitoring duration period and entering the sleep state in the DRX sleep period, thereby achieving the purpose of energy saving and power saving. The UE provided in the embodiment of the present application includes an MR and a LR, and the MR can use DRX, such as the connected mode DRX (C-DRX) mechanism, to achieve the goal of energy saving and power saving. FIG11 is a schematic diagram of a C-DRX cycle provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG11 , a C-DRX cycle includes a monitoring duration period of a DRX mechanism and a sleep period period of a DRX mechanism. After MR activates the C-DRX mechanism, it can monitor PDCCH in the monitoring period of the DRX mechanism (or called the awakened state of the DRX mechanism). For example, after MR is awakened and starts the monitoring period of the DRX mechanism, it waits to receive PDCCH. If the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH, it can remain in the monitoring period of the DRX mechanism and start an inactivity timer. The inactivity timer is used to wait for the duration of successfully decoding the PDCCH again from the last successful decoding of the PDCCH. If the inactivity timer times out, the UE can enter the sleep period of the DRX mechanism (or called entering the sleep state of the DRX mechanism). In the sleep period of the DRX mechanism, the MR no longer monitors the PDCCH. Therefore, the longer the sleep period of the DRX mechanism, the lower the power consumption, and correspondingly, the latency will also increase.

[0214] To better balance power consumption and latency, an embodiment of the present application provides a wake-up signal that can be defined as a second wake-up signal. Still taking the example of an LP-WUS as the wake-up signal, in order to distinguish it from the LP-WUS in the above example that carries indication information for indicating the monitoring mode used by the LR, an LP-WUS that carries an indication of whether the LR needs to perform monitoring in conjunction with the MR's C-DRX mechanism is defined as a second LP-WUS. Optionally, the second LP-WUS can carry indication information for indicating the monitoring mode used by the LR (this indication information can be defined as the first indication information), and communication is performed in combination with the above example.

[0215] FIG12 is a fifth flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG12 , the method can be executed by a network device and a UE, wherein the UE includes a MR and a LR. The method includes: S501 to S504.

[0216] S501: The network device generates a second LP-WUS, where the second LP-WUS carries first indication information, and is used to instruct the MR to be woken up during a monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism of the MR, or to be woken up after a second time period.

[0217] Exemplarily, the second time period can be recorded as T5. The duration of T5 can be determined by configuring a timer with a certain duration. The timing duration of the timer can be determined based on the delay between receiving the first indication information and waking up the MR. Alternatively, T5 can be a duration specified by the network device according to the network. Alternatively, T5 can also be determined based on the needs of the usage scenario. For example, in a certain scenario, if you need to wait for 10 seconds before waking up the MR, you can set T5 based on the waiting time.

[0218] Optionally, T5 may be an absolute time, for example, the unit of T5 may be milliseconds, seconds, minutes, etc. T5 may also be a relative time, for example, the unit of T5 may be SFN, symbol, time slot, subframe, radio frame, etc.

[0219] Exemplarily, the second time period is the hardware wake-up delay of the MR, which may mean that the UE wakes up the MR immediately after receiving the second LP-WUS.

[0220] For example, if the first indication information indicates to wake up MR during the monitoring duration period of MR's DRX mechanism, it means that LR needs to combine MR's C-DRX mechanism to monitor and wake up MR. If the first indication information indicates to wake up MR after the second time period, it means that LR does not need to combine MR's C-DRX mechanism to monitor and wake up MR, that is, LR can wake up MR after the second time period when receiving the second LP-WUS.

[0221] Optionally, the first indication information may be in the form of a bit, a specific field, a predefined dictionary, etc.

[0222] Optionally, the network device and the UE may pre-agree on which services need to be processed promptly, which may be defined as first-class services, and which services can be deferred, which may be defined as second-class services. For example, the first-class services correspond to services where the UE has sudden services, urgent services, or services (or data) that are about to lose timeliness, such as voice calls; the second-class services correspond to non-urgent or periodic services of the UE, such as emails, platform-pushed advertisements, subscribed news, etc. If the network device has a first-class service to transmit, the first indication information carried in the corresponding generated second LP-WUS may be used to indicate waking up the MR after the second time period. If the network device has a second-class service to transmit, the first indication information carried in the corresponding generated second LP-WUS may be used to indicate waking up the MR during the monitoring duration period of the MR's DRX mechanism.

[0223] In some possible implementations, the first indication information may also instruct the UE to wake up the MR through other indication content. For example, the first indication information may be used to instruct the UE to wake up the MR during the monitoring duration period of the MR's DRX mechanism, or to instruct the UE to wake up the MR during both the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism and the sleep period of the DRX mechanism.

[0224] S502: The network device sends a second LP-WUS.

[0225] Exemplarily, the network device may send a non-directional LP-WUS, or may send a second LP-WUS to the UE.

[0226] S503: The LR of the UE receives the second LP-WUS, and wakes up the MR during the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism of the MR according to the first indication information, or wakes up the MR after the second time period.

[0227] Exemplarily, if the first indication information indicates waking up the MR during the Listen Duration period of the MR's DRX, this is equivalent to waking up the MR in conjunction with the UE's current C-DRX mechanism. Referring to FIG13a, if the LR receives a second LP-WUS at time g, it does not wake up the MR first, but waits for the Listen Duration period of the MR's DRX mechanism to start before waking up the MR. If the first indication information indicates waking up the MR after the second time period, this is equivalent to not waking up the MR in conjunction with the UE's current C-DRX mechanism. Referring to FIG13b, if the LR receives a second LP-WUS at time g, it may wake up the MR at time h after time g, without waiting for the Listen Duration period of the MR's DRX mechanism to start. In the scenario shown in FIG13, the second time period is the duration of the hg period, i.e., T5. Optionally, after being woken up, the MR enters the Listen Duration period of the DRX mechanism and may start a timer, such as defined as the LP-WUS timer (as shown in FIG13b). The MR monitors the PDCCH before the LP-WUS timer expires. Upon expiration of the LP-WUS timer, the MR re-enters the sleep period of the DRX mechanism, maximizing energy savings. The LP-WUS timer is started for the first service corresponding to the currently received LP-WUS and is a one-time timer. When the network device obtains the next first service, it determines the duration of the next LP-WUS timer based on the time required for the next first service and starts it again.

[0228] Optionally, in one example, the duration of T5 can be set by the timer listed in S501. In another example, the duration of T5 can be set according to the determined moment calculated by the UE. For example, referring to Figure 13b, the UE calculates the moments corresponding to g and h respectively, and determines T5 based on the moment g and the moment h, etc.

[0229] Optionally, if the first indication information indicates that the MR is to be woken up during the monitoring duration period of the MR's DRX mechanism, or indicates that the MR can be woken up during the monitoring duration period of the DRX mechanism or the sleep period of the DRX mechanism, the operation is performed with reference to the example of the above-mentioned first indication information and no further details are given.

[0230] In one possible implementation, in conjunction with the examples of Figures 5 to 9, when the LR receives the second LP-WUS, it may be using different listening modes. If it is in the listening state (including the listening duration period of the continuous listening mode and the periodic listening mode), the second LP-WUS may be regarded as a first LP-WUS carrying an indication of whether to combine with the MR's C-DRX mechanism to perform monitoring and wake up the MR. For various listening modes of the LR, the above examples can be referred to for waking up the MR: for example, in the example of Figure 5, the LR may receive the second LP-WUS during the listening duration period of the continuous listening mode or the periodic listening mode, and the method for waking up the MR is referred to the example of Figure 5; for example, in the example of Figure 7, the LR may receive the second LP-WUS during the long listening duration period of the long-period listening mode or the short-period listening mode, and the method for waking up the MR is referred to the example of Figure 7; for example, in the example of Figure 9, the LR may receive the second LP-WUS during the listening duration period of the listening modes of different relaxation levels, and the method for waking up the MR is referred to the example of Figure 9, and no further details will be given.

[0231] S504: The LR of the UE wakes up the MR, and the LR enters a sleep state.

[0232] Optionally, the parameters and configurations used by the network device and the UE in the embodiment of the present application include the second time period, T5, or the starting time of waking up the MR, etc. These parameters and configurations can be calculated according to the calculation method pre-agreed between the UE and the network device. Alternatively, these parameters and configurations can be obtained by the network device and sent to the UE for use by the UE. In this case, the network device can carry the parameters and configurations in a broadcast message, such as a broadcast (system information block, SIB) message, and send it to the UE (such as a UE in a non-connected state); or, the network device can send it to the UE (such as a UE in a connected state) in a dedicated signaling, such as a radio resource control (RRC) message.

[0233] The embodiment of the present application carries the first indication information in the second LP-WUS to indicate that the LR's monitoring is coupled or decoupled with the MR's C-DRX mechanism, and can flexibly select the MR's wake-up time to receive the PDCCH. It is also applicable to scenarios where the UE activates the C-DRX mechanism, making the application scenario of balancing latency and energy saving more extensive.

[0234] Figure 14 is one of the structural schematic diagrams of a terminal device or an apparatus in a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 14, the terminal device 30 or the apparatus 30 in the terminal device includes: an MR 301 and a monitoring module 302, the monitoring module 302 is used to monitor the wake-up signal using a first monitoring mode; if the first wake-up signal is received, the MR of the terminal device is awakened, and the first wake-up signal is used to instruct the MR 301 to wake up; after the MR enters the sleep state, the second monitoring mode is used to monitor the wake-up signal; wherein the first monitoring mode is different from the second monitoring mode.

[0235] In a possible implementation, the monitoring module 302 is specifically configured to wake up the MR 301 if a first wake-up signal is received within a first time period.

[0236] In a possible implementation, the monitoring module 302 is an LR of the terminal device.

[0237] In a possible implementation, the monitoring module 302 is specifically configured to, after the wake-up signal function is activated, use a first monitoring mode to monitor the wake-up signal if the MR is in a sleep state.

[0238] In a possible implementation, the monitoring module 302 is specifically configured to wake up the MR if the first wake-up signal is directed to the MR.

[0239] It should be understood that the modules shown in Figure 14 are only examples, and each module can refer to the method portion in the embodiment of the present application to perform its operation, or perform a variation of its operation. In the examples provided in the embodiment of the present application, other operations can also be performed, and are not limited to the examples in the embodiment of the present application.

[0240] FIG15 is a second structural diagram of a terminal device or an apparatus in a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG15 , the terminal device 40 or the apparatus 40 in the terminal device includes: an MR 401 and a monitoring module 402 .

[0241] The monitoring module 402 is configured to monitor the wake-up signal using a first monitoring mode, and if no wake-up signal is received, monitor the wake-up signal using a third monitoring mode; wherein the first monitoring mode is different from the third monitoring mode.

[0242] In a possible implementation, the monitoring module 402 is specifically configured to use a third monitoring mode to monitor the wake-up signal if no wake-up signal is received within the first time period.

[0243] In a possible implementation, the monitoring module 402 is an LR of the terminal device.

[0244] In a possible implementation, the monitoring module 402 is specifically configured to, after the wake-up signal function is activated, use a first monitoring mode to monitor the wake-up signal if the MR is in a sleep state.

[0245] It should be understood that the modules shown in Figure 15 are only examples, and each module can refer to the method portion in the embodiment of the present application to perform its operation, or perform a variation of its operation. In the examples provided in the embodiment of the present application, other operations can also be performed, and are not limited to the examples in the embodiment of the present application.

[0246] FIG16 is a third structural diagram of a terminal device or an apparatus in a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG16 , the terminal device 50 or the apparatus 50 in the terminal device includes: an MR 501 and a monitoring module 502 .

[0247] The monitoring module 502 is used to receive a second wake-up signal, which is used to instruct the MR of the terminal device to wake up. The second wake-up signal includes first indication information, which is used to instruct the MR to wake up during the monitoring duration period of the MR's discontinuous reception DRX mechanism or to wake up the MR after the second time period.

[0248] In a possible implementation, the monitoring module 502 is an LR of the terminal device.

[0249] In a possible implementation, the monitoring module 502 is specifically configured to, after the wake-up signal function is activated, use a first monitoring mode to monitor the wake-up signal if the MR is in a sleep state.

[0250] In a possible implementation, the monitoring module 502 is specifically configured to wake up the MR if the second wake-up signal is directed to the MR.

[0251] It should be understood that the modules shown in Figure 16 are only examples, and each module can refer to the method portion in the embodiment of the present application to perform its operation, or perform a variation of its operation. In the examples provided in the embodiment of the present application, other operations can also be performed, and are not limited to the examples in the embodiment of the present application.

[0252] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device or an apparatus in a network device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG17 , the network device 60 or apparatus 60 in the network device includes a sending module 601 and a processing module 602. The processing module 602 is configured to obtain a first wake-up signal, which is used to instruct a MR of a terminal device to wake up. Optionally, the first wake-up signal may also be used to instruct a second listening mode to listen for a wake-up signal after the MR falls asleep. The sending module 601 is configured to send the first wake-up signal.

[0253] It should be understood that the modules shown in Figure 17 are only examples, and each module can refer to the method portion in the embodiment of the present application to perform its operation, or perform a variation of its operation. In the examples provided in the embodiment of the present application, other operations can also be performed, and are not limited to the examples in the embodiment of the present application.

[0254] FIG18 is a second schematic diagram of the structure of a network device or an apparatus in a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG18 , the network device 70 or the apparatus 70 in the network device includes: a sending module 701 and a processing module 702. The processing module 702 is configured to obtain a second wake-up signal, the second wake-up signal being used to instruct a MR of a terminal device to wake up. The second wake-up signal includes first indication information, the first indication information being used to instruct the MR to wake up during the monitoring duration period of the MR's discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism or after a second time period. The sending module 701 is configured to send the second wake-up signal. Optionally, the second wake-up signal may further include second indication information.

[0255] It should be understood that the modules shown in Figure 18 are only examples, and each module can refer to the method portion in the embodiment of the present application to perform its operation, or perform a variation of its operation. In the examples provided in the embodiment of the present application, other operations can also be performed, and are not limited to the examples in the embodiment of the present application.

[0256] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal devices or devices in the terminal devices provided in Figures 14 to 16 can all be applied in the scenario provided in Figure 2, as UE 10 or a component of UE 10 to implement the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. The network devices or devices in the network devices provided in Figures 17 to 18 can all be applied in the scenario provided in Figure 2, as network devices 20 or a component of network devices 20 to implement the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Exemplarily, the system 100 provided in Figure 2 can be a 5G NR system, which includes a 5G core network (5G core network, 5GC) and a 5G radio access network (RAN, because the interface between RAN and 5GC is NG, it is usually referred to as NG-RAN). The 5GC includes an access and mobility management function (AMF) and a user plane function (UPF). The NG-RAN can include at least one network device, such as a 5G network device (usually referred to as gNB) and a 4G network device connected to the 5GC (usually referred to as ng-eNB). When a network device provides services to a UE, the gNB is responsible for providing the UE with the user plane and control plane protocol functions of 5G NR, while the ng-eNB is responsible for providing the UE with the user plane and control plane protocol functions of 4G E-UTRA. Figure 2 illustrates an example of a system architecture for implementing an embodiment of the present application, used to illustrate a possible implementation scenario of the embodiment of the present application. The communication method of the embodiment of the present application can also be used in other systems and is not limited thereto. In some actual usage scenarios, the gNB can send information to the UE, such as paging information, information related to cell residence determination, etc. The UE can send information to the gNB, such as an RRC connection establishment request message or a recovery request message. The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be combined and applied in these scenarios.

[0257] In addition, as shown in Figure 19, Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a device 80 according to an embodiment of the present application. The device 80 shown in Figure 19 includes a transceiver 801 and a processor 802. The device 80 can be used to perform methods S101 to S104, S201 to S206, S301 to S310, S401 to S405, or S501 to S504 in the above embodiments. The device 80 is equivalent to the UE exemplified in the method, or the device 80 is equivalent to the network device exemplified in the method. When the device 80 acts as a UE, it may also include an MR.

[0258] It should be noted that the division of the various parts in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative and represents only one logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. The various functions in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processor, or the transceiver and processor may exist separately. The MR may be included in the transceiver, or the MR and transceiver may be separately divided, and so on. The aforementioned integrated devices may be implemented in the form of hardware, such as a chip, or in the form of software functional units.

[0259] In addition, an embodiment of the present application further provides a device 90, as shown in FIG20 , which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a device 90 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG20 , the device 90 may include a processor 901, a memory 902 coupled to the processor 901, and a transceiver 903. The transceiver 903 may include an MR, an LR, a communication interface, an optical module, etc., for receiving messages or data information, etc. The processor 901 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP, for executing the relevant steps of the wake-up signal processing in the device exemplified in the above embodiment. The processor may also be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The above-mentioned PLD may be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof. The processor 901 may refer to a single processor or may include multiple processors. The memory 902 may include a volatile memory, such as a random-access memory (RAM); the memory may also include a non-volatile memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid-state drive (SSD); the memory 902 may also include a combination of the above types of memory. The memory 902 may refer to a single memory or may include multiple memories for storing program instructions. In one embodiment, the memory 902 stores computer-readable instructions, which include multiple software modules, such as a sending module, a processing module, and a receiving module. After executing each software module, the processor 901 may perform corresponding operations according to the instructions of each software module. In this embodiment, the operation performed by a software module actually refers to the operation performed by the processor 901 according to the instructions of the software module.Optionally, the processor 901 may also store program codes or instructions for executing the embodiments of the present application. In this case, the processor 901 does not need to read the program codes or instructions from the memory 902.

[0260] The device 90 can be used to perform the methods in the above embodiments. Specifically, the device 90 can perform the methods S101 to S104, S201 to S206, S301 to S310, S401 to S405, or S501 to S504 in the above embodiments, performed by the UE. Alternatively, the device 90 can perform the methods S101 to S104, S201 to S206, S301 to S310, S401 to S405, or S501 to S504 in the above embodiments, performed by the network device.

[0261] In addition, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device. The communication device includes a storage medium and a processor connected to the storage medium. The storage medium stores instructions, and when the instructions are executed by the processor, the processor is configured to implement some or all of the operations of any of the methods in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0262] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores instructions. When the computer-readable storage medium is executed on a processor, it implements part or all of the operations in any of the methods in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0263] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program, which, when executed on a processor, implements part or all of the operations in any of the methods in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0264] The present application also provides a chip including an interface circuit and a processor connected to each other, wherein the processor is configured to cause the chip to execute part or all of the operations in any of the methods in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0265] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, including: a processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, the memory is used to store programs or instructions, when the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the chip system implements part or all of the operations of any one of the methods of any one of the embodiments described above.

[0266] Optionally, there may be one or more processors in the chip system. The processor may be implemented in hardware or software. When implemented in hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc. When implemented in software, the processor may be a general-purpose processor implemented by reading software code stored in a memory.

[0267] Optionally, the memory in the chip system may be one or more. The memory may be integrated with the processor or may be provided separately from the processor, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the memory may be a non-transient processor, such as a read-only memory (ROM), which may be integrated with the processor on the same chip or provided on different chips. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit the type of memory or the configuration of the memory and the processor.

[0268] Exemplarily, the chip system can be an FPGA, an ASIC, a system on chip (SoC), a CPU, an NP, a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other integrated chips.

[0269] The present application also provides a system including one or more of the above-mentioned devices, apparatuses, computer-readable storage media, computer program products, chips, or chip systems, which can be applied in the scenario shown in FIG2 , but is not limited thereto.

[0270] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like (if any) in the specification and claims of this application and in the accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a particular order or sequential sequence. It should be understood that the terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate so that the embodiments described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein. In addition, the terms "including" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, e.g., a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0271] 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.

[0272] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of units is only a logical business division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interface, device or unit, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0273] Units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0274] In addition, each business unit in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated into a processing unit, each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into a single unit. The above-mentioned integrated units can be implemented in the form of hardware or software business units.

[0275] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software business unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, all or part of the technical solution of the present application can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: U disk, mobile hard disk, ROM, RAM, Random Access Memory, disk or optical disk, etc. Various media that can store program code.

[0276] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in one or more of the examples above, the services described herein may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, these services may be stored in a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include computer storage media and communication media, wherein communication media include any medium that facilitates the transmission of computer programs from one location to another. Storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0277] The above specific implementation methods further describe in detail the purpose, technical solutions and beneficial effects of this application. It should be understood that the above are only specific implementation methods of this application.

[0278] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Listening for a wake-up signal using a first listening mode; If a first wake-up signal is received, waking up the main receiver (MR) of the terminal device, where the first wake-up signal is used to indicate waking up the MR; After the MR enters the sleep state, listening for a wake-up signal using a second listening mode; Wherein, the first listening mode is different from the second listening mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The "if a first wake-up signal is received" includes: If the first wake-up signal is received within a first time period.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The first listening mode is a periodic listening mode, and the second listening mode is a continuous listening mode; or The first listening mode is a continuous listening mode, and the second listening mode is a periodic listening mode.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Both the first listening mode and the second listening mode are periodic listening modes, and the listening periods of the first listening mode and the second listening mode are different.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Both the first listening mode and the second listening mode are periodic listening modes, and the relaxation levels corresponding to the first listening mode and the second listening mode are different.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein The relaxation level is used to indicate the ratio of the listening duration to the listening period.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 to 6, wherein The first listening mode listens according to a first listening period, the first listening period consists of a first listening duration and a first sleep duration, the second listening mode listens according to a second listening period, and the second listening period consists of a second listening duration and a second sleep duration; Wherein, the first listening period and the second listening period satisfy: The first listening duration is shorter than the second listening duration, and the first sleep duration is equal to the second sleep duration, or The first listening duration is shorter than the second listening duration, and the first listening period is equal to the second listening period, or The first listening duration is equal to the second listening duration, and the first sleep duration is longer than the second sleep duration, or The first listening duration is shorter than the second listening duration, and the first sleep duration is longer than the second sleep duration, or The first listening duration is shorter than the second listening duration, the first sleep duration is shorter than the second sleep duration, and the ratio of the first listening time period to the first listening period is less than the ratio of the second listening time period to the second listening period, or The first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first sleep duration is equal to the second sleep duration, or The first listening duration is longer than the second listening duration, and the first listening period is equal to the second listening period, or The first listening duration is equal to the second listening duration, and the first sleep duration is shorter than the second sleep duration, or The duration of the first listening period is longer than that of the second listening period, and the duration of the first sleep period is shorter than that of the second sleep period, or, The duration of the first listening period is longer than that of the second listening period, the duration of the first sleep period is longer than that of the second sleep period, and the ratio of the first listening period to the first listening cycle is greater than the ratio of the second listening period to the second listening cycle.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The first wake-up signal is further used to indicate that after the MR sleeps, the second listening mode is used to listen for the wake-up signal.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that Listening for the wake-up signal is performed by the secondary receiver LR of the terminal device.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The using the first listening mode to listen for the wake-up signal includes: After the wake-up signal function is activated, if the MR is in the first sleep state, the first listening mode is used to listen for the wake-up signal.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, Waking up the MR includes: If the first wake-up signal is for the MR, wake up the MR.

12. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Using the first listening mode to listen for the wake-up signal, if the wake-up signal is not received, using the third listening mode to listen for the wake-up signal, where the first wake-up signal is used to indicate waking up the MR of the terminal device; Wherein, the first listening mode is different from the third listening mode.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein The if the wake-up signal is not received includes: If the wake-up signal is not received within the first time period.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein The first listening mode is a continuous listening mode, and the third listening mode is a periodic listening mode.

15. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that Both the first listening mode and the second listening mode are periodic listening modes, and the listening cycle of the first listening mode is shorter than that of the second listening mode.

16. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that Both the first listening mode and the second listening mode are periodic listening modes, and the relaxation level corresponding to the first listening mode is lower than the relaxation level corresponding to the second listening mode.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that, The relaxation level is used to indicate the ratio of the listening duration to the listening cycle.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12, 13, 15 to 17, wherein The first listening mode is to listen according to the first listening cycle, the first listening cycle is composed of the first listening duration and the first sleep duration, the third listening mode is to listen according to the third listening cycle, and the third listening cycle is composed of the third listening duration and the third sleep duration; Wherein, the first listening cycle and the third listening cycle satisfy: The first listening duration is longer than the third listening duration, and the first sleep duration is equal to the third sleep duration, or, The first listening duration is longer than the third listening duration, and the first listening cycle is equal to the third listening cycle in duration, or, The first listening cycle is equal to the third listening cycle in duration, and the first sleep duration is shorter than the third sleep duration, or, The first listening duration is longer than the third listening duration, and the first sleep duration is shorter than the third sleep duration, or, The first listening duration period is longer than the third listening duration period, the first sleep period is longer than the third sleep period, and the ratio of the first listening period to the first listening cycle is greater than the ratio of the third listening period to the third listening cycle.

19. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receiving a second wake-up signal for indicating to wake up the main receiver (MR) of the terminal device, where the second wake-up signal includes first indication information for indicating to wake up the MR during the listening duration period of the discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism of the MR or to wake up the MR after a second period.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein The second wake-up signal is received by the secondary receiver (LR) of the terminal device.

21. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Sending a first wake-up signal for indicating to wake up the main receiver (MR) of the terminal device and for indicating to use a second listening mode to listen for wake-up signals after the MR sleeps.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The listening mode of the terminal device further includes a first listening mode; The first listening mode is a periodic listening mode, and the second listening mode is a continuous listening mode; or The first listening mode is a continuous listening mode, and the second listening mode is a periodic listening mode.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein The listening mode of the terminal device further includes a first listening mode; Both the first listening mode and the second listening mode are periodic listening modes, and the listening cycles of the first listening mode and the second listening mode are different.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein The listening mode of the terminal device further includes a first listening mode; Both the first listening mode and the second listening mode are periodic listening modes, and the relaxation levels corresponding to the first listening mode and the second listening mode are different.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein The relaxation level is used to indicate the duration ratio of the listening duration period to the listening cycle.

26. The method according to any one of claims 21, 23 to 25, characterized in that, The listening mode of the terminal device further includes a first listening mode; Wherein, the first listening mode is to continuously listen for a first duration, and the first duration is different from the second duration; or The first listening mode is to listen according to a first listening cycle, and the first listening cycle is composed of a first listening duration period and a first sleep period, and the first listening cycle and the second listening cycle satisfy: The first listening duration period is shorter than the second listening duration period, and the first sleep period and the second sleep period have equal durations; or The first listening duration period is shorter than the second listening duration period, and the first listening cycle and the second listening cycle have equal durations; or The first listening duration period and the second listening duration period have equal durations, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period; or The first listening duration period is shorter than the second listening duration period, and the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period; or The first listening duration period is shorter than the second listening duration period, the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period, and the ratio of the first listening time period to the first listening cycle is less than the ratio of the second listening time period to the second listening cycle, or, The first listening duration period is longer than the second listening duration period, and the first sleep period and the second sleep period have equal durations, or, The first listening duration period is longer than the second listening duration period, and the first listening cycle and the second listening cycle have equal durations, or, The first listening duration period and the second listening duration period have equal durations, and the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period, or, The first listening duration period is longer than the second listening duration period, and the first sleep period is shorter than the second sleep period, or, The first listening duration period is longer than the second listening duration period, the first sleep period is longer than the second sleep period, and the ratio of the first listening time period to the first listening cycle is greater than the ratio of the second listening time period to the second listening cycle.

27. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Sending a second wake-up signal, where the second wake-up signal is used to indicate waking up the main receiver MR of the terminal device, and the second wake-up signal includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate waking up the MR during the listening duration period of the discontinuous reception DRX mechanism of the MR or waking up the MR after a second time period.

28. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or includes a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, or includes a module for executing the method according to claim 19 or 20, or includes a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 21 to 26, or includes a module for executing the method according to claim 27.

29. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, or configured to execute the method according to claim 19 or 20, or configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 21 to 26, or configured to execute the method according to claim 27.

30. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium includes instructions that, when run, cause the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 to be implemented, or cause the method according to any one of claims 12 to 18 to be implemented, or cause the method according to claim 19 or 20 to be implemented, or cause the method according to any one of claims 21 to 26 to be implemented, or cause the method according to claim 27 to be implemented.

31. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes instructions that, when executed, cause the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 to be implemented, or cause the method according to any one of claims 12 to 18 to be implemented, or cause the method according to claim 19 or 20 to be implemented, or cause the method according to any one of claims 21 to 26 to be implemented, or cause the method according to claim 27 to be implemented.

Images