Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a first device receives, on a first resource and / or a first channel, first information of a second device, the first resource and / or the first channel being a resource and / or a channel used by the second device for sending the first information. The first device supports discontinuous reception. The first device is an intermediate node in an ambient Internet of Things (A-IOT) scenario, and the second device is one or more A-IOT device. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, an intermediate node having discontinuous reception capabilities can be supported to wake up on a specific resource and / or channel so as to monitor first information (such as an identifier and / or data of an A-IOT device) sent by the A-IOT device. The intermediate node is enabled to obtain an inventory result of the A-IOT device while ensuring energy efficiency of the intermediate node, so that statistics and management of the A-IOT device are facilitated.

Description

Communication method and device Technical Field

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

[0002] To conserve power and reduce device complexity in communication systems, a new class of devices, such as the Ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) devices, has been introduced. Instead of generating their own energy, these devices can harvest energy, for example, from the surrounding environment or signals sent by surrounding devices. This energy can then be used for communication. These devices also eliminate the need for battery replacement.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method and apparatus.

[0005] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided. The method is performed by a first device, and the method includes: receiving first information from a second device on a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are resources and / or channels used by the second device to send the first information;

[0006] The first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

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

[0008] Sending first configuration information to a first device, where the first configuration information includes a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are resources and / or channels used by a second device to send first information; and the first resource and / or the first channel are used to receive the first information sent by the second device;

[0009] The first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

[0010] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a first device is provided, including:

[0011] a transceiver module, configured to receive first information from a second device on a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are resources and / or channels used by the second device to send the first information;

[0012] The first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

[0013] According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a network device is provided, including:

[0014] a transceiver module, configured to send first configuration information to a first device, where the first configuration information includes a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are used by a second device to send first information; and the first resource and / or the first channel are used to receive the first information sent by the second device;

[0015] The first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

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

[0017] A first device, configured to perform an optional implementation of the first aspect;

[0018] A network device is configured to perform the optional implementation of the aforementioned second aspect.

[0019] According to a sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, including: one or more processors;

[0020] The processor is used to call instructions to enable the communication device to execute the optional implementation of the first and second aspects mentioned above.

[0021] According to a seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a storage medium is proposed, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes optional implementation methods of the aforementioned first and second aspects.

[0022] According to the technical solution disclosed in the present invention, it is possible to support intermediate nodes with discontinuous reception capabilities, which can wake up on specific resources and / or channels to listen to the first information sent by the environmental Internet of Things devices (such as the identification and / or data of the environmental Internet of Things devices). While ensuring energy saving of the intermediate nodes, the intermediate nodes can also obtain the inventory results of the environmental Internet of Things devices, thereby facilitating the statistics and management of the environmental Internet of Things devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following drawings required for describing the embodiments are introduced. The following drawings are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure and do not impose specific limitations on the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG2 is an exemplary diagram of a topological structure of an environmental Internet of Things scenario according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG3A is an interactive schematic diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG3B is an interactive diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG3C is an interactive schematic diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG3D is an interactive schematic diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG3E is an interactive diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG3F is an interactive diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG4A is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG4B is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG4C is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG4D is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG4E is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG4F is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0038] FIG4G is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0039] FIG5A is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0040] FIG5B is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0041] FIG5C is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG5D is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIG5E is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0044] FIG5F is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0045] FIG6 is an interactive diagram of a communication method proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0046] FIG7A is a schematic structural diagram of a first device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0047] FIG7B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] FIG8A is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 8100 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0049] FIG8B is a schematic structural diagram of a chip 8200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method and apparatus.

[0051] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication method, which is executed by a first device, and the method includes: receiving first information from a second device on a first resource and / or a first channel, wherein the first resource and / or the first channel are the resources and / or channels used by the second device to send the first information; wherein, the first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

[0052] In the above embodiment, an intermediate node with discontinuous reception capability can be supported, which can wake up on a specific resource and / or channel to listen to the first information sent by the environmental Internet of Things device (such as the identification and / or data of the environmental Internet of Things device). While ensuring energy saving of the intermediate node, the intermediate node can also obtain the inventory results of the environmental Internet of Things device, thereby facilitating the statistics and management of the environmental Internet of Things devices.

[0053] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the receiving of the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: maintaining an activation state during the activation time of the first device, and receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel; wherein the activation time includes the time domain occupied by the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the activation time (active time) specified in the protocol is defined to include the time domain occupied by the first resource and / or the first channel. The first device remains in an active state during the activation time (active time) specified in the protocol, and receives the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. That is, the first device wakes up at the activation time defined in the protocol to listen to the first information (such as the identification and / or data of the environmental Internet of Things device) sent by the environmental Internet of Things device. While ensuring energy saving of the intermediate node, the intermediate node can also obtain the inventory results of the environmental Internet of Things device, thereby facilitating the statistics and management of the environmental Internet of Things devices.

[0055] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: obtaining the first resource and / or the first channel through pre-configuration; or, receiving first configuration information sent by the network device, the first configuration information including the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0056] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving second configuration information sent by the network device, where the second configuration information includes an indication that the first device is the intermediate node.

[0057] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes at least one of the following: receiving a first indication message sent by a network device, the first indication message being used to indicate an inventory or paging of the first device; starting or restarting a first timer; the first timer being used to indicate the length of time the first device remains activated.

[0058] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the receiving of the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: during the operation of the first timer, the first device maintains the activation state; and receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0059] In the above embodiment, by defining a first timer, the first device starts or restarts the timer when receiving an inventory or paging indication sent by the network device, and remains activated during the operation of the first timer, so that the first device can monitor the first information sent by the environmental Internet of Things device (such as the identification and / or data of the environmental Internet of Things device) during this period.

[0060] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first indication information is downlink control information DCI scrambled by a radio temporary identifier RNTI.

[0061] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes: sending a second message, the second message is used to inventory or paging the second device, and the first message is the response message of the second device to the second message; after sending the second message, starting or restarting a second timer; the second timer is used to indicate the length of time that the first device remains activated.

[0062] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the receiving of the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: during the operation of the second timer, the first device maintains the activation state; and receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0063] In the above embodiment, by defining a second timer, the first device starts or restarts the second timer after sending the second information, and remains activated during the operation of the second timer, so that the first device can monitor the first information sent by the environmental Internet of Things device (such as the identification and / or data of the environmental Internet of Things device) during this period.

[0064] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, sending the second information includes: sending the second information on a second resource and / or a second channel.

[0065] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: obtaining the second resource and / or second channel through pre-configuration; or, receiving third configuration information sent by the network device, the third configuration information including the second resource and / or second channel.

[0066] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, starting or restarting the second timer after sending the second information includes: starting or restarting the third timer after sending the second information; the third timer is used to indicate the length of time that the first device remains in an inactive state; and starting or restarting the second timer when the third timer times out.

[0067] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: during the running of the third timer, the first device enters the inactive state.

[0068] In the above embodiment, by defining a third timer, the first device starts or restarts the third timer after sending the second information, so that the first device enters an inactive state during the operation of the third timer, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the first device, and when the third timer times out, starts or restarts the second timer, so that the first device enters an active state to listen to the first information sent by the environmental Internet of Things device (such as the identification and / or data of the environmental Internet of Things device).

[0069] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the receiving of the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: during the operation of the second timer, the first device maintains the activation state; and receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0070] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second information includes an inventory type and / or a first parameter, wherein the inventory type is the type of the second device inventoried, the first parameter is used by the second device to generate a random number, the random number is the initial value of the counter, and the timer is reduced by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is the first value; the first information includes the identification and / or data of the second device.

[0071] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes: receiving first information of the second device on the first resource and / or first channel, starting or restarting a fourth timer; the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time that the first device remains in the activated state; during the operation of the fourth timer, the first device remains in the activated state.

[0072] In the above embodiment, by defining the fourth timer, the first device continues to remain activated after receiving the first information from the second device to monitor the first information sent by the environmental Internet of Things device (such as the identification and / or data of the environmental Internet of Things device), so that the first device can receive the first information of multiple second devices.

[0073] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: during the running of the fourth timer, the first device receives the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or first channel.

[0074] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving fourth configuration information sent by the network device, the fourth configuration information including at least one of the following: configuration of the first timer; configuration of the second timer; configuration of the third timer; configuration of the fourth timer.

[0075] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first device is always in an activated state.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the network device does not configure the relevant configurations of discontinuous reception (such as the first timer, the second timer, the third timer, the fourth timer, the duration, etc.) for the first device. The first device is always in an activated state and receives the first information of the environmental Internet of Things device on the designated first resource and / or first channel, so that the first device can monitor the first information sent by the environmental Internet of Things device (such as the identification and / or data of the environmental Internet of Things device).

[0077] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes at least one of the following: receiving first configuration information sent by a network device; the first configuration information includes the first resource and / or the first channel; based on the first configuration information, determining the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0078] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first configuration information also includes at least one of the following: an inventory or paging cycle, the inventory or paging cycle is the time period for the first device to send the second information; the second information is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first information is the response information of the second device to the second information; an inventory or paging area, the inventory or paging area is the area where the first device inventories or pages; an inventory or paging location, the inventory or paging location is the location where the first device inventories or pages; second resources and / or channels, the second resources and / or channels are the resources and / or channels for the first device to send the second information; an inventory type, the inventory type is the type of the second device inventoried; a first parameter, the first parameter is used for the second device to generate a random number, the random number is the initial value of the counter, and the timer is reduced by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is the first value.

[0079] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first resource and / or first channel is located within the duration onduration configured by the network device for the first device; the duration is the length of time that the first device maintains the activated state.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the network device ensures that the first resource and / or the first channel are within the duration onduration of the first device, so that the first device can monitor the first information (such as the identification and / or data of the environmental Internet of Things device) sent by the environmental Internet of Things device during this period.

[0081] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication method, which is executed by a network device, and the method includes: sending first configuration information to a first device, the first configuration information including a first resource and / or a first channel, the first resource and / or the first channel being the resource and / or channel used by the second device to send the first information; the first resource and / or the first channel being used to receive the first information sent by the second device; wherein, the first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

[0082] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending second configuration information to the first device, where the second configuration information includes an indication that the first device is the intermediate node.

[0083] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first configuration information also includes at least one of the following: an inventory or paging cycle, the inventory or paging cycle is the time period for the first device to send the second information; the second information is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first information is the response information of the second device to the second information; an inventory or paging area, the inventory or paging area is the area where the first device inventories or pages; an inventory or paging location, the inventory or paging location is the location where the first device inventories or pages; second resources and / or channels, the second resources and / or channels are the resources and / or channels for the first device to send the second information; an inventory type, the inventory type is the type of the second device inventoried; a first parameter, the first parameter is used for the second device to generate a random number, the random number is the initial value of the counter, and the timer is reduced by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is the first value.

[0084] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending fourth configuration information to the first device, the fourth configuration information including at least one of the following: configuration of a first timer, the first timer being used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in an activated state, the configuration of the first timer being used for the first device to receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the first timer, wherein the first timer is started or restarted by the first device when receiving the first indication information sent by the network device, and the first indication information is used to indicate an inventory or paging of the first device; configuration of a second timer, the second timer being used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in an activated state, the configuration of the second timer being used for the first device to receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the second timer, wherein the second timer is It is started or restarted by the first device when the second information is sent, the second information is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first information is the response information of the second device to the second information; the configuration of the third timer, the third timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an inactive state, and the configuration of the third timer is used for the first device to enter an inactive state during the operation of the third timer, wherein the third timer is started or restarted by the first device when the second information is sent; the configuration of the fourth timer, the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an active state, and the configuration of the fourth timer is used for the first device to receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or first channel during the operation of the fourth timer, wherein the fourth timer is started or restarted when the first device receives the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or first channel.

[0085] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes: sending third configuration information to the first device, the third configuration information including second resources and / or second channels, and the second resources and / or second channels are resources and / or channels for the first device to send the second indication information.

[0086] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a first device, comprising at least one of a transceiver module and a processing module; wherein the first device is used to execute an optional implementation method of the first aspect.

[0087] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a network device, comprising at least one of a transceiver module and a processing module; wherein the above-mentioned network device is used to execute the optional implementation method of the second aspect.

[0088] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication system, including:

[0089] A first device, configured as an optional implementation of the first aspect;

[0090] A network device is configured to perform the optional implementation of the aforementioned second aspect.

[0091] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication device, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the processor is used to call instructions to enable the communication device to execute the optional implementation method of the aforementioned first aspect.

[0092] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication device, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the processor is used to call instructions to enable the communication device to execute the optional implementation method of the aforementioned second aspect.

[0093] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a storage medium storing instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes optional implementation methods of the aforementioned first and second aspects.

[0094] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a program product. When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device executes the method described in the optional implementation of the first and second aspects.

[0095] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in the optional implementation of the first and second aspects.

[0096] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a chip or a chip system, wherein the chip or chip system includes a processing circuit configured to execute the method described in the optional implementation of the first and second aspects above.

[0097] It is understandable that the first device, network device, communication system, storage medium, program product, computer program, chip, or chip system described above are all used to perform the method proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding method and will not be repeated here.

[0098] The present disclosure provides a communication method and apparatus. In some embodiments, the terms information processing method, communication method, etc. are interchangeable, the terms information processing apparatus, communication apparatus, etc. are interchangeable, and the terms information processing system, communication system, etc. are interchangeable.

[0099] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0100] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0101] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0102] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "the", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0103] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0104] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one," "one or more," "a plurality of," "multiple," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0105] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "at least one of A and B," "A and / or B," "A in one case, B in another case," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B" may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); and in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0106] In some embodiments, "A or B" and other descriptions may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0107] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first information" and the "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0108] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0109] In some embodiments, terms such as "time / frequency" and "time / frequency domain" refer to the time domain and / or the frequency domain.

[0110] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0111] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0112] In some embodiments, devices and equipment can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. In some cases, they can also be understood as "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", "subject", etc.

[0113] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network, such as access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.

[0114] In some embodiments, "access network device (AN device)" may also be referred to as "radio access network device (RAN device)", "base station (BS)", "radio base station", "fixed station", and in some embodiments may also be understood as "node", "access point", "transmission point (TP)", "reception point (RP)", "transmission and / or reception point (TRP)" "panel", "antenna panel", "antenna array", "cell", "macro cell", "small cell", "femto cell", "pico cell", "sector", "cell group", "serving cell", "carrier", "component carrier", "bandwidth part (BWP)", etc.

[0115] In some embodiments, "terminal" or "terminal device" may be referred to as "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal" "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, etc.

[0116] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0117] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0118] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication system may include, but is not limited to, a first device 101, a network device 102, and a second device 103. The number and configuration of devices shown in Figure 1 are for example purposes only and do not limit the present disclosure. In actual applications, one or more first devices, one or more network devices, and one or more second devices may be included.

[0119] In some embodiments, the first device 101 may be an intermediate node in an ambient IoT scenario. In some embodiments, the first device 101 may be, for example, a relay, an IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul), a terminal, or a repeater. In some embodiments, the terminal herein may be a user-side entity for receiving or transmitting signals, such as a mobile phone. It may also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), or mobile terminal (MT). The terminal may be at least one of a car with communication capabilities, a smart car, a mobile phone, a wearable device, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, etc. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal.

[0120] In some embodiments, the second device 103 may be one or more of the ambient Internet of Things devices in the ambient Internet of Things scenario. The ambient Internet of Things (Ambient Internet of Things, also called Ambient IOT or A-IOT) device does not need to generate energy by itself, but can collect energy, such as collecting energy based on the surrounding environment or signals sent by surrounding devices, and can communicate based on the collected energy. The device also does not need to be configured with batteries or replaced. In other words, the ambient Internet of Things device needs to collect radio waves sent by the surrounding environment or surrounding devices to obtain energy before it can drive itself to work. The ambient Internet of Things device has the characteristics of low memory, low processing power, low power, small data transmission, and massive deployment. The ambient Internet of Things device can be maintenance-free and have a long service life.

[0121] In some embodiments, the types of ambient IoT devices can be divided into a first type and a second type. The first type of ambient IoT devices have energy storage, lack independent signal generation / amplification, and rely on backscatter transmission for uplink transmission. The second type of ambient IoT devices have energy storage and independent signal amplification, and uplink transmission is based on internally generated signals or relies on backscatter transmission for uplink transmission. For example, the first type refers to devices with energy storage and no independent signal generation and / or amplification capabilities; the second type refers to devices with energy storage and signal amplification capabilities.

[0122] In some embodiments, the network device 102 may be an access network device. In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that connects a terminal device to a wireless network. The access network device may include at least one of an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation evolved NodeB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a NodeB (NB), a home nodeB (HNB), a home evolved nodeB (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a 6G communication system, an open RAN, a cloud RAN, a base station in other communication systems, and an access node in a Wi-Fi system, but is not limited thereto.

[0123] In some embodiments, the technical solution of the present disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within the access network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented through software or programs.

[0124] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can be used to split the protocol layer of the access network device, with the functions of some protocol layers centrally controlled by the CU, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU, but is not limited to this.

[0125] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0126] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1 , or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in FIG1 are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or part of the entities shown in FIG1 , or may include other entities outside of FIG1 . The number and form of the entities are arbitrary, and the entities may be physical or virtual. The connection relationships between the entities are illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0127] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G New Radio (NR), Future Radio Access (FRA), New-Radio Access Technology (RAT), New Radio (NR), New Radio Access (NX), Future Generation Radio Access (FX), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.17 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.18 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.19 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.21 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.22 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.23 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.24 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.25 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.26 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.27 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.28 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.29 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.30 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.31 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.32 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.33 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), systems utilizing other communication methods, and next-generation systems based on and extending these methods. Furthermore, multiple systems may be combined (for example, a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0128] It's important to note that in today's IoT networks, traditional IoT devices are often powered by conventional batteries with limited lifespans, negatively impacting the user experience. The astronomical growth of IoT networks, coupled with the proliferation of IoT devices, has pushed maintenance expenses, including labor and battery costs, to a whole new level. Billions of conventional batteries are discarded each year, with only a small fraction effectively recycled, negatively impacting the Earth's ecosystem. Maintaining IoT network operations and replacing batteries can be extremely challenging in some extreme environmental conditions. Battery-free IoT communications have been proposed, promising improved network performance and sustainability, while expanding their application scenarios. Furthermore, battery-free communications are more environmentally friendly and safer for children and the elderly. By eliminating traditional batteries, device size and cost can be significantly reduced, paving the way for a variety of new applications.

[0129] In the 5G era, various LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) technologies, such as MTC (Machine Type Communication), NB-IoT (Narrow Band Internet of Things), and RedCap (Reduced Capability), have been developed to meet the growing needs of vertical fields. These LPWA technologies achieve low cost, low power consumption, and large-scale connectivity, which can meet the requirements of many applications. However, there are still many use cases and applications that cannot be solved in the following situations. First, devices driven by traditional batteries are not applicable, such as in extreme environmental conditions (such as high voltage, extremely high / low temperature, and humid environments). Second, maintenance-free devices are required (for example, traditional batteries that do not require replacement of the device). Finally, ultra-low complexity, very small device size / form factor (such as mm thickness), and longer life cycle are required.

[0130] Ambient-powered IoT is a promising technology that can address the aforementioned unmet needs. An ambient-powered IoT device is an IoT device powered by energy harvesting, either without a battery or with limited energy storage capabilities (e.g., using capacitors), by harvesting radio waves, light, motion, heat, or any other suitable power source.

[0131] Energy harvested from the environment can power data transmission and wireless communications at sensor nodes. Current mainstream low-power IoT communication chips (such as BLE, LoRa, and NB-IoT) consume tens or even hundreds of milliwatts of power for both transmission and reception. However, ambient energy harvesting only captures microwatts of energy, making it inadequate for these types of nodes. Therefore, new wireless communication technologies are needed to reduce communication energy consumption to tens or even below ten microwatts. Backscatter communication is currently the mainstream approach. Backscatter communications is a key technology for building a green, energy-efficient, and flexibly deployable future IoT, and a crucial means of achieving the "Intelligent Connection of Everything."

[0132] Backscatter communication is a modulation and transmission technology designed with extremely low power consumption, which utilizes the principle of backscattering of radio frequency signals. For example, when a radio frequency signal reaches the surface of an object, a portion of it will be reflected. The sending node adjusts the matching between the receiving antenna and the impedance according to the information to be sent, thereby enhancing the reflection of the incident radio frequency signal and modulating the acquired sensing data onto the reflected signal to complete the transmission of the data. This process is similar to that of a reflector. Compared with other communication technologies, backscatter communication does not require a complex radio frequency structure, reduces the use of devices such as power amplifiers, high-precision crystal oscillators, duplexers, and high-precision filters, and does not require complex baseband processing. Therefore, it can simplify terminal design and significantly reduce the cost of terminal nodes.

[0133] Backscatter communication has been widely used in RFID (radio frequency identification) systems, with numerous large-scale commercial applications. Its operating principle is that a receiver (typically an RFID reader) transmits a radio frequency excitation signal, activating a passive node (typically an RFID tag). The tag then uses backscatter communication to modulate its information onto the radio frequency signal. The reader then receives the reflected signal from the passive tag and demodulates it, achieving information transmission.

[0134] Currently, RFID technology also has numerous drawbacks, such as limited coverage (the wireless signal experiences double-path fading during the round-trip communication process, resulting in high path loss and a short effective communication range), single-channel transmission, the need for strict tag alignment, and a lack of power control. RFID technology still has significant room for improvement in communication. Integration with 3GPP communication technologies is needed to improve the wireless communication performance of RFID technology in the passive IoT.

[0135] To conserve power and reduce device complexity in communication systems, new devices, such as the Ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) devices, have been introduced. These A-IoT devices require energy from radio waves emitted by the surrounding environment or surrounding devices before they can operate. Therefore, before sourcing energy, A-IoT devices are typically powered off, meaning they are disconnected from the network. To address this, communication systems must support data communication methods with shorter transmission times, lower memory consumption, and more convenient terminal management to expedite data communication.

[0136] In some embodiments, the present disclosure implements a wireless communication design based on backscatter technology for communication between ambient energy devices (also referred to as ambient IoT devices, i.e., the second device herein). In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 2, the topology of the ambient IoT scenario in this disclosure is as follows: Downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) data are indirectly received and transmitted between the ambient IoT device and a network device (e.g., a base station); intermediate nodes, such as relays, IABs, UEs, and repeaters, perform forwarding.

[0137] In some embodiments, under the above topology, the network device needs to be inventoried or paged through an intermediate node, and the intermediate node listens to the identification and / or data of the A-IOT device on specific resources and / or channels, and then sends it to the network device.

[0138] Based on this, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method and device that can support intermediate nodes with discontinuous reception capabilities, and can wake up on specific resources and / or channels to listen to the first information sent by environmental Internet of Things devices (such as the identification and / or data of the environmental Internet of Things devices). While ensuring energy saving of the intermediate nodes, the intermediate nodes can also obtain the inventory results of the environmental Internet of Things devices, thereby facilitating the statistics and management of the environmental Internet of Things devices.

[0139] Figure 3A is an interactive diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3A, the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied to a communication system 100, and the method includes but is not limited to the following steps.

[0140] Step S3101: The first device 101 obtains a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0141] In some embodiments, the first device 101 supports discontinuous reception and is an intermediate node in an ambient IoT scenario. In some embodiments, the first device 101 can be, for example, a relay, an IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul), a terminal, or a repeater.

[0142] In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first resource and / or first channel may be a preconfigured or configured resource and / or channel. In some embodiments, the first device 101 may obtain the first resource and / or first channel through preconfiguration. Exemplarily, the first resource and / or first channel is preconfigured for the first device 101, and the first device 101 obtains the first resource and / or first channel through preconfiguration.

[0143] In some embodiments, the first device 101 obtains the first resource and / or the first channel through configuration. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends first configuration information to the first device 101, and the first device 101 receives the first configuration information sent by the network device 102, and the first configuration information includes the first resource and / or the first channel. That is, the first device 101 can obtain the first resource and / or the first channel through the configuration of the network device 102. In some embodiments, the first device 101 can obtain the configured first resource and / or the first channel through SIB (System Information Block) or dedicated signaling (such as dedicated radio resource control RRC signaling). Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends SIB or dedicated signaling, and the first device 101 receives the SIB or dedicated signaling sent by the network device 102, and the SIB or dedicated signaling includes the first resource and / or the first channel, so that the first device 101 obtains the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0144] In some embodiments, the first configuration information may further include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: an inventory or paging cycle, an inventory or paging area, an inventory or paging location, an inventory type, and a first parameter. In this embodiment, the first configuration information may include an inventory or paging cycle, an inventory or paging area, a first resource and / or a first channel, and a first parameter. In this embodiment, the first configuration information may include an inventory or paging area, a first resource and / or a first channel, an inventory type, and a first parameter. In this embodiment, the first configuration information may include an inventory or paging cycle, an inventory or paging location, a first resource and / or a first channel, an inventory type, and a first parameter. In this embodiment, the first configuration information may include an inventory or paging cycle, an inventory or paging location, a first resource and / or a first channel, and a first parameter. In this embodiment, the first configuration information may include an inventory or paging location, a first resource and / or a first channel, and a first parameter. It should be noted that the above embodiments are not exhaustive and are only illustrations of some embodiments. The above embodiments can be implemented individually or in combination. The above embodiments are only for illustration and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0145] In some embodiments, the inventory or paging cycle is, for example, a time period during which the first device 101 sends the second information. The second information is used to inventory or page the second device. For example, the length of the inventory or paging cycle can be in units of symbols, slots, microseconds (us), milliseconds (ms), seconds, minutes, hours, etc.

[0146] Exemplarily, the inventory or paging cycle may include a first cycle. An inventory or paging needs to be re-initiated every first cycle (or the second message needs to be re-sent every first cycle). For example, the inventory or paging cycle may include a first cycle (e.g., 2 hours), and an inventory or paging needs to be re-initiated every 2 hours, or the first message needs to be re-sent every 2 hours.

[0147] Exemplarily, the inventory or paging cycle may include a first cycle and a second cycle. The first cycle can be understood as a large cycle, that is, the inventory or paging needs to be re-initiated every first cycle (or the second information needs to be re-sent every first cycle). The second cycle can be a small cycle, that is, the second information can be repeatedly sent within a large cycle, and the small cycle is a small cycle for resending the first information within a large cycle. For example, the inventory or paging cycle may include a first cycle (such as 24 hours) and a second cycle (such as 4 hours). The inventory or paging needs to be re-initiated every 24 hours, and within this 24-hour period, the first information is re-sent every 4 hours to perform inventory or paging on the environmental Internet of Things devices in the environmental Internet of Things scenario.

[0148] In some embodiments, the inventory or paging area is an area that the first device 101 needs to inventory or page. Exemplarily, the inventory or paging area can be represented by a zone ID or other identifier that can indicate an area, which can indicate the area that the first communication device 101 needs to inventory or page. Exemplarily, the zone identifier can be used to indicate a specific area to be inventoried, such as areas A, B, C, and D, or the zone identifier can be used to indicate a direction, such as east, west, south, north, southeast, northeast, southwest, and northwest. For example, the zone identifier can be used to indicate the coordinates, angles, and the like of a specific direction. The present disclosure does not specifically limit the number of bits occupied by the zone identifier.

[0149] For example, the area identifier has 2 bits, where 00 represents area A, 01 represents area B, 10 represents area C, and 11 represents area D. For example, the area identifier may be a Zone ID, or other identifier that can identify a geographic location or a geographic area, which is not specifically limited in this disclosure.

[0150] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned inventory or paging location is a location that the first device 101 needs to inventory or page. Exemplarily, the above-mentioned inventory or paging location can be represented by a zone ID or other identifier that can indicate a location, which can indicate the location that the first communication device 101 needs to inventory or page. Exemplarily, the location identifier can be used to indicate a specific inventory location, such as zone A, B, C, D, or the location identifier can be used to indicate a direction, such as east, west, south, north, southeast, northeast, southwest, northwest, etc. For example, the location identifier can be used to indicate the coordinates, angles, etc. of a specific direction. The present disclosure does not specifically limit how many bits the location identifier occupies.

[0151] For example, the location identifier has 2 bits, where 00 represents area A, 01 represents area B, 10 represents area C, and 11 represents area D. For example, the location identifier may be a Zone ID, or other identifier that can identify a geographic location or a geographic area, which is not specifically limited in this disclosure.

[0152] In some embodiments, the first resource and / or first channel is a resource and / or channel for the first device 101 to send the second information. The first resource and / or first channel can be used by the first device 101 to receive the first information sent by the second device on the first resource and / or first channel. Exemplarily, the resource may refer to a time domain and / or frequency domain resource, and / or a code domain resource. The first resource and / or first channel may refer to a resource and / or channel used when the first device 101 sends the second information. In some embodiments, terms such as "monitoring," "detecting," "receiving," and "discovering" may be used interchangeably.

[0153] In some embodiments, the inventory type refers to the type of second device being inventoried. Exemplarily, this inventory type can be used to inventory or page a specific type of device. In other words, the inventory type can indicate the type of second device to be inventoried or paged. In some embodiments, the types of second devices can be categorized as either Type 1 or Type 2. Type 1 second devices have energy storage, lack independent signal generation / amplification, and rely on backscatter transmission for uplink transmission. Type 2 second devices have energy storage and independent signal amplification, and their uplink transmission is based on internally generated signals or relies on backscatter transmission for uplink transmission. Exemplarily, the inventory type can be "Type 1" or "Type 2." By configuring this inventory type, only Type 1 second devices can be inventoried, only Type 2 second devices can be inventoried, or both Type 1 and Type 2 second devices can be inventoried. Alternatively, the inventory type can be "Backscatter" or "Non-Backscatter," where "Backscatter" can, for example, refer to transmitting signals based on backscatter, and "Non-Backscatter" can, for example, refer to actively transmitting signals. For example, a network device can configure an inventory type to indicate whether the signal generation type of the second device being inventoried is "backscatter" or "non-backscatter." This configuration allows only "backscatter" second devices to be inventoried, or only "non-backscatter" second devices to be inventoried, or both "backscatter" and "non-backscatter" second devices to be inventoried. It should be noted that the device types mentioned above are merely examples; other naming formats are possible and are not specifically limited in this disclosure.

[0154] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned first parameter is used for the second device to generate a random number, and the random number is the initial value of the counter. The timer is reduced by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is the first value. Exemplarily, the network device 102 configures the first parameter to the first device 101, and the first device 101 carries the first parameter when sending the second information. In this way, for the second device that receives the second information (and / or the second device that needs to respond to the second information), a random number can be generated based on the first parameter in the second information, and the random number is used as the initial value of the counter. Each time the second device receives the second information, the counter is reduced by one until the counter is the first value (such as 0), and the second device sends the first information. Exemplarily, the first parameter can be represented by Q, or it can be named by other names, and this disclosure does not specifically limit this. The first parameter (such as the Q value) is used to resolve conflicts. For example, for the second device that receives the second information (and / or the second device that needs to respond to the second information), a number is randomly selected from (0 to 2 to the power of Q) and the random number is used as the initial value of the counter. Each time the second information is received, the value of the counter is subtracted by 1. When the value of the counter is reduced to 0, the first information can be sent.

[0155] In some embodiments, the first information may be a response message of the second device to the second information, the second information may be sent by the first device 101, and the second information may be used to inventory or page the second device. Exemplarily, the first device 101 sends the second information to inventory or page the second device in the environmental Internet of Things scenario. For the second device that needs to respond to the second information, the first information is sent on a designated resource / channel to respond to the second information. In some embodiments, the first device 101 may send the second information to inventory or page the second device when receiving the first indication information of the network device 102; or, the first device 101 may send the second information based on the first device. For the second device that needs to respond to the second information, the first information is sent on a designated resource / channel to respond to the second information.

[0156] In some embodiments, the second information may include, but is not limited to, an inventory type and / or a first parameter. Optionally, in some embodiments, the second information may also include a second resource and / or a second channel. In some embodiments, the inventory type, first parameter, second resource, and / or second channel in the second information may be configured by the network device 102 for the first device 101, or may be specified by a protocol, or may be preconfigured.

[0157] In some embodiments, the second resource and / or second channel may be a resource and / or channel used by the first device 101 to transmit the second information. For example, the resource may be a time domain and / or frequency domain resource, and / or a code domain resource. The second resource and / or second channel may be a resource and / or channel used by the first device 101 to transmit the second information.

[0158] In some embodiments, the first resource and / or the first channel may be configured by the network device 102 to the first device 101 through DCI. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends DCI (Downlink Control Information), and the first device 101 receives the DCI sent by the network device 102, where the DCI includes the configuration of the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0159] In some embodiments, "paging" in this disclosure may refer to searching for or taking inventory of a second device (or ambient IoT device) in an ambient IoT scenario. "Inventory" in this disclosure may refer to checking the number of second devices (or ambient IoT devices) in an existing ambient IoT scenario by methods such as counting or reconciliation. In some embodiments, the terms "inventory," "paging," "statistics," and "inventory" may be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, the terms "triggering" and "starting" may be used interchangeably.

[0160] Step S3102: The network device 102 sends second configuration information.

[0161] In some embodiments, the second configuration information may be sent by network device 102 to first device 101. For example, network device 102 sends the second configuration information to first device 101, and first device 101 receives the second configuration information sent by network device 102. In some embodiments, the second configuration information may include an indication that first device 101 is an intermediate node. In other words, network device 102 may indicate, through the second configuration information, that first device 101 is an intermediate node.

[0162] Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends the second configuration information to the first device 101 through the SIB. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends the SIB, and the first device 101 receives the SIB sent by the network device 102, the SIB including the second configuration information, and the first device 101 determines that the first device 101 is an intermediate node through the second configuration information.

[0163] Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends the second configuration information to the first device 101 via dedicated signaling. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends dedicated signaling, and the first device 101 receives the dedicated signaling sent by the network device 102. The dedicated signaling includes the second configuration information, and the first device 101 determines that the first device 101 serves as an intermediate node through the second configuration information. Optionally, the dedicated signaling may be dedicated RRC signaling. Exemplarily, the first configuration information and the second configuration information may be the same configuration information. For example, the network device 102 implicitly configures the first device 101 as an intermediate node via the first configuration information, and the first device 101 receives the first configuration information sent by the network device and determines that the first device 101 serves as an intermediate node. Exemplarily, the first configuration information and the second configuration information are different configuration information. For example, the second configuration information explicitly configures the first device 101 as an intermediate node, and the first device 101 receives the second configuration information and determines that the first device 101 serves as an intermediate node.

[0164] In step S3103 , the first device 101 remains active during the active time of the first device 101 and receives first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0165] In some embodiments, the activation time may include a time domain occupied by the first resource and / or the first channel. Exemplarily, the activation time may be specified by a protocol. Exemplarily, the protocol specifies that the first resource and / or the first channel belong to the activation time, and the first device 101 needs to remain activated during the activation time defined by the protocol. In this way, the first device 101 can receive the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0166] In some embodiments, the first resource and / or the first channel may be periodic time-frequency domain resources, and the first device 101 needs to remain active on these resources to receive the first information from the second device.

[0167] In some embodiments, the first device 101 may send second information to inventory or page the second device when receiving the first indication information from the network device 102. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends the first indication information to the first device 101, and the first indication information is used to instruct the first device 101 to inventory or page. The first device 101 receives the first indication information and sends the second information. The second device that needs to respond to the second information sends the first information on the first resource and / or the first channel to respond to the second information. The first device 101 can remain activated during the activation time and receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. The activation time may include the time domain occupied by the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0168] In some embodiments, the first device 101 may send the second information based on the first device 101 implementation. For example, when a trigger condition for inventory or paging is met, the first device 101 sends the second information. For a second device that needs to respond to the second information, the first information is sent on the first resource and / or the first channel to respond to the second information. The first device 101 may remain in an active state during an activation time and receive the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. The activation time may include the time domain occupied by the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0169] In some embodiments, the triggering conditions for the inventory or paging described above may include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: a change in the second device is detected (condition 1); the number of detected second devices is less than or equal to the first number (condition 2); the number of detected second devices is greater than or equal to the second number (condition 3); the RSRP of the detected second device is greater than or equal to the first threshold (condition 4); the measured RSRP of the detected second device is less than or equal to the second threshold (condition 5). It should be noted that the triggering conditions for the inventory or paging described above may also include other conditions, which are not limited in this disclosure and will not be described in detail.

[0170] It is worth noting that the embodiment of the present disclosure configures the first device as an intermediate node through a network device, and stipulates the activation time (Active time) of the intermediate node in the protocol. The activation time includes the time domain occupied by the first resource and / or the first channel for receiving the first information of the second device. In this way, the first device can remain activated on the first resource and / or the first channel, so that it can receive the first information of the second device.

[0171] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may further include step S3104, namely: the first device 101 receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and starts or restarts a fourth timer; the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in the active state. Exemplarily, the fourth timer may be a newly defined timer or an existing timer, for example, the fourth timer may be a drx-retransmission timer (retransmission timer).

[0172] In some embodiments, the configuration of the fourth timer may be configured by the network device 102 to the first device 101. In some embodiments, the network device 102 sends fourth configuration information to the first device 101, and accordingly, the first device 101 receives the fourth configuration information sent by the network device 102, and the fourth configuration information may include the configuration of the fourth timer. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends the fourth configuration information to the first device 101 through dedicated RRC signaling, and accordingly, the first device 101 obtains the fourth configuration information through the dedicated RRC signaling of the network device 102. Alternatively, the network device 102 may also send the fourth configuration information to the first device 101 through other means, which is not limited in this disclosure and will not be described in detail. Exemplarily, the configuration of the fourth timer may be used for the first device 101 to receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the fourth timer.

[0173] Optionally, in some embodiments, the fourth configuration information and the first configuration information may be the same configuration information. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends configuration information to the first device 101. The configuration information may include the content included in the first configuration information (such as the first resource and / or the first channel, etc.), and may also include the content included in the fourth configuration information. That is, the content of the first configuration information and the content of the fourth configuration information may be sent by the network device 102 to the first device 101 through the same signaling or information. In some embodiments, the fourth configuration information and the first configuration information may be different configuration information. That is, the content of the first configuration information and the content of the fourth configuration information may be sent by the network device 102 to the first device 101 through different signaling or information.

[0174] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may further include step S3105, namely: during the operation of the fourth timer, the first device 101 remains in an activated state and receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. Exemplarily, the first device 101 receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, starts or restarts the fourth timer, and during the operation of the fourth timer, the first device 101 remains in an activated state, so that the first device 101 continues to receive the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, thereby allowing the first device 101 to receive the first information from multiple second devices.

[0175] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc. are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "symbol", "codeword", "codebook", "codeword", "codepoint", "bit", "data", "program", and "chip" can be used interchangeably.

[0176] In some embodiments, terms such as "uplink", "uplink", "physical uplink" can be interchangeable with each other, and terms such as "downlink", "downlink", "physical downlink" can be interchangeable with each other, and terms such as "side", "sidelink", "side communication", "sidelink communication", "direct connection", "direct link", "direct communication", "direct link communication" can be interchangeable with each other.

[0177] In some embodiments, "obtain", "get", "get", "receive", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be interchangeable, and can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, obtaining from protocols, obtaining from higher layers, obtaining by self-processing, autonomous implementation, etc.

[0178] In some embodiments, terms such as "send", "transmit", "report", "download", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be used interchangeably.

[0179] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain", "preset", "preset", "setting", "indicated", "a certain", "any", and "first" can be interchangeable. "Specific A", "preset A", "preset A", "setting A", "indicated A", "a certain A", "any A", and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-specified in a protocol, etc., or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or indication, etc., or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, etc., but not limited to this.

[0180] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be performed by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (Boolean value) represented by true or false, or by comparison of numerical values ​​(for example, comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

[0181] The method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S3101 to S3105. For example, step S3103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3101 + step S3103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3101 + step S3102 + step S3103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3103 + step S3104 + step S3105 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3101 + step S3103 + step S3104 + step S3105 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step S3101 + step S3102 + step S3103 + step S3104 + step S3105 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0182] In some embodiments, step S3101, step S3102, step S3104, and step S3105 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0183] In some embodiments, step S3102, step S3104, and step S3105 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0184] In some embodiments, step S3104 and step S3105 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0185] In some embodiments, step S3101 and step S3102 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0186] In some embodiments, step S3102 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0187] In some embodiments, step S3101 and step S3102 may be executed in an interchanged order or simultaneously.

[0188] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 3A .

[0189] Figure 3B is an interactive diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3B, the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied to a communication system 100, and the method includes but is not limited to the following steps.

[0190] Step S3201: The first device 101 obtains a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0191] The optional implementation of step S3201 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0192] Step S3202: The network device 102 sends second configuration information.

[0193] The optional implementation of step S3202 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0194] Step S3203: The network device 102 sends first indication information.

[0195] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned first indication information may be sent by the network device 102 to the first device 101. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends the first indication information to the first device 101, and the first indication information is used to instruct the first device 101 to inventory or page. Accordingly, the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102 and may send the second information to inventory or page the second device. The second device that receives the second information and needs to respond to the second information sends the first information on the first resource and / or the first channel. Among them, the optional implementation methods of the "first information" and "second information" can be found in the relevant descriptions of the "first information" and "second information" in the embodiment of Figure 3A above, which will not be repeated here.

[0196] In some embodiments, the first indication information may be a DCI scrambled by an RNTI (Radio Network Temporary Identifier). For example, the first indication information may be a DCI, etc., which may be scrambled by a newly defined RNTI or an existing RNTI. For example, the newly defined RNTI (i.e., the DCI scrambled by the RNTI) may be used in an ambient IoT scenario, for example, to indicate an intermediate node inventory or paging.

[0197] Step S3204: The first device 101 starts or restarts the first timer.

[0198] In some embodiments, the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102, and the first device 101 starts or restarts a first timer, where the first timer is used to indicate the length of time that the first device 101 remains in the active state. In some embodiments, the first timer can be a newly defined timer or an existing timer, for example, the first timer can be a drx-inactivity timer (activity timer).

[0199] In some embodiments, the configuration of the first timer can be configured by the network device 102 to the first device 101. In some embodiments, the network device 102 sends fourth configuration information to the first device 101, and accordingly, the first device 101 receives the fourth configuration information sent by the network device 102. The fourth configuration information may include the configuration of the first timer. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends the fourth configuration information to the first device 101 via dedicated RRC signaling, and accordingly, the first device 101 obtains the fourth configuration information via dedicated RRC signaling from the network device 102. Alternatively, the network device 102 may also send the fourth configuration information to the first device 101 via other means, which is not limited in this disclosure and will not be described in detail here. Exemplarily, the configuration of the first timer can be used for the first device 101 to receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the first timer. Optional implementations of the "fourth configuration information" can be found in the description of the "fourth configuration information" in FIG. 3A above, which will not be described in detail here. Exemplarily, the present disclosure does not limit the optional implementation methods for obtaining the above-mentioned first resource and / or first channel. For example, the network device 102 can configure the first resource and / or first channel for the first device 101 through DCI. Accordingly, the first device 101 can obtain the first resource and / or first channel configured by the network device 102 through DCI, or the first device 101 can also use other methods to obtain the first resource and / or first channel. The present disclosure does not limit this and will not elaborate on it.

[0200] Step S3205: While the first timer is running, the first device 101 remains activated.

[0201] In some embodiments, the first device 101 needs to remain in an active state during the operation of the first timer. That is, the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102 and starts or restarts the first timer. During the operation of the first timer, the first device 101 remains in an active state so that the first device 101 is in an active state to receive the first information from the second device.

[0202] Step S3206: The first device 101 receives first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0203] In some embodiments, the first device 101 needs to remain activated during the operation of the first timer and receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. That is, the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102, and the first indication information instructs the first device 101 to inventory or page. The first device 101 sends the second information to inventory or page the second device in the environmental Internet of Things scenario. For the second device that receives the second information and needs to respond to the second information, the first information is sent on the first resource and / or the first channel. In order to ensure that the first device 101 that supports discontinuous reception receives the first information of the second device, the first device 101 can remain activated through the first timer, so that the first device 101 is in an activated state to receive the first information of the second device.

[0204] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the first timer expires, the first device 101 may enter an inactive state. This indicates that the second device has completed sending the first message, meaning that the first device 101 has successfully received the first message from the second device. The first device 101 may then enter an inactive state, thereby reducing energy consumption of the first device 101 and achieving energy conservation.

[0205] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may further include step S3207, wherein the first device 101 receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and starts or restarts a fourth timer; the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in the active state. Optional implementations of step S3207 can be found in the optional implementations of step S3104 in FIG. 3A and other related portions of the embodiments involved in FIG. 3A , and are not further described here.

[0206] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may further include step S3208, i.e., while the fourth timer is running, the first device 101 remains activated and receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. For optional implementations of step S3208, see the optional implementations of step S3105 in FIG. 3A and other related portions of the embodiments involved in FIG. 3A , and are not further described here.

[0207] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S3201 to S3208. For example, step S3203+step S3204+step S3205+step S3206 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3201+step S3203+step S3204+step S3205+step S3206 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3201+step S3202+step S3203+step S3204+step S3205+step S3206 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3203+step S3204+step S3205+step S3206 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3203+step S3204+step S3205+step S3206 can be implemented as an independent embodiment. Step S3206+Step S3207+Step S3208 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, Step S3201+Step S3203+Step S3204+Step S3205+Step S3206+Step S3207+Step S3208 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, Step S3201+Step S3202+Step S3203+Step S3204+Step S3205+Step S3206+Step S3207+Step S3208 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0208] In some embodiments, step S3201 and step S3202 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0209] In some embodiments, step S3202 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments. That is, when step S3202 is an optional step, for example, if the network device 102 does not indicate the first device 101 as an intermediate node through the second configuration information, but the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node, or if the first device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node.

[0210] In some embodiments, step S3201, step S3202, step S3207, and step S3208 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0211] In some embodiments, step S3202, step S3207, and step S3208 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0212] In some embodiments, step S3207 and step S3208 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0213] In some embodiments, step S3201 and step S3202 may be executed in an interchanged order or simultaneously.

[0214] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 3B .

[0215] Figure 3C is an interactive diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3C, the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100, and the method includes but is not limited to the following steps.

[0216] Step S3301: The first device 101 obtains a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0217] The optional implementation of step S3301 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0218] Step S3302: The network device 102 sends second configuration information.

[0219] The optional implementation of step S3302 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0220] Step S3303: The first device 101 sends second information.

[0221] In some embodiments, the second information may be sent by the first device 101. For example, the first device 101 sends the second information, and a second device that receives the second information and needs to respond to the second information sends the first information on a first resource and / or a first channel to respond to the second information. In some embodiments, the first device 101 may implement the sending of the second information based on the first device 101. For example, when a trigger condition for an inventory or paging is met, the first device 101 sends the second information, and a second device that receives the second information and needs to respond to the second information sends the first information on a first resource and / or a first channel to respond to the second information. Alternatively, the first device 101 may receive a first indication message sent by the network device 102 and send the second information. A second device that receives the second information and needs to respond to the second information sends the first information on a first resource and / or a first channel to respond to the second information. For optional implementations of the "first information" and "second information," please refer to the descriptions of the "first information" and "second information" in the embodiment of FIG. 3A above, which will not be repeated here.

[0222] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first device 101 sends the second information on the second resource and / or the second channel. In some embodiments, the first device 101 can obtain the second resource and / or the second channel through pre-configuration. Exemplarily, the second resource and / or the second channel are pre-configured to the first device 101, and the first device 101 obtains the second resource and / or the second channel through pre-configuration. Exemplarily, the optional implementation method of obtaining the above-mentioned second resource and / or second channel is not limited in this disclosure. For example, the network device 102 can configure the second resource and / or the second channel for the first device 101 through a DCI indication. Accordingly, the first device 101 can obtain the second resource and / or the second channel configured by the network device 102 through a DCI indication, or the first device 101 can also adopt other methods to obtain the second resource and / or the second channel. This disclosure does not limit this and will not go into details.

[0223] In some embodiments, the first device 101 obtains the second resource and / or the second channel through configuration. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends third configuration information to the first device 101, and accordingly, the first device 101 receives the third configuration information sent by the network device 102, and the third configuration information includes the second resource and / or the second channel. That is, the first device 101 can obtain the second resource and / or the second channel through the configuration of the network device 102. In some embodiments, the first device 101 can obtain the configured second resource and / or the second channel through SIB or dedicated signaling (such as dedicated radio resource control RRC signaling). Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends SIB or dedicated signaling, and the first device 101 receives the SIB or dedicated signaling sent by the network device 102, and the SIB or dedicated signaling includes the second resource and / or the second channel, so that the first device 101 obtains the second resource and / or the second channel.

[0224] Optionally, in some embodiments, the third configuration information and the first configuration information may be the same configuration information. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends configuration information to the first device 101. The configuration information may include the content included in the first configuration information (such as the first resource and / or the first channel, etc.), and may also include the content included in the third configuration information. That is, the content of the first configuration information and the content of the third configuration information may be sent by the network device 102 to the first device 101 through the same signaling or information. In some embodiments, the third configuration information and the first configuration information may be different configuration information. That is, the content of the first configuration information and the content of the third configuration information may be sent by the network device 102 to the first device 101 through different signaling or information.

[0225] Step S3304: After sending the second information, the first device 101 starts or restarts the second timer.

[0226] In some embodiments, the second timer is used to indicate the duration for which the first device 101 remains in the active state. In some embodiments, the second timer may be a newly defined timer or an existing timer, for example, the second timer may be a drx-retransmission timer (retransmission timer).

[0227] In some embodiments, the second information may be an inventory signaling / instruction / command, or may be other instructions, such as an indoor command, for example, a read / write instruction, or a select command, etc. Exemplarily, the first device 101 sends the second information on a designated second resource and / or second channel. After the first device 101 sends the second information, it starts or restarts the second timer. Exemplarily, the second information sent by the first device 101 may be the last slot (time slot) / symbol (symbol) of the second resource and / or the second channel, that is, the first device 101 sends the second information on the last slot / symbol of the second resource and / or the second channel, and starts or restarts the second timer.

[0228] In some embodiments, the configuration of the above-mentioned second timer can be configured by the network device 102 to the first device 101. In some embodiments, the network device 102 sends fourth configuration information to the first device 101, and accordingly, the first device 101 receives the fourth configuration information sent by the network device 102, and the fourth configuration information may include the configuration of the second timer. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends the fourth configuration information to the first device 101 through dedicated RRC signaling, and accordingly, the first device 101 obtains the fourth configuration information through the dedicated RRC signaling of the network device 102. Alternatively, the network device 102 can also send the fourth configuration information to the first device 101 through other means, which is not limited in this disclosure and will not be described in detail. Exemplarily, the configuration of the second timer can be used for the first device 101 to receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the second timer.

[0229] Optionally, in some embodiments, the fourth configuration information and the third configuration information may be the same configuration information. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends configuration information to the first device 101. The configuration information may include the content included in the third configuration information (such as the second resource and / or the second channel, etc.), and may also include the content included in the fourth configuration information. That is, the content of the third configuration information and the content of the fourth configuration information may be sent by the network device 102 to the first device 101 through the same signaling or information. In some embodiments, the fourth configuration information and the third configuration information may be different configuration information. That is, the content of the third configuration information and the content of the fourth configuration information may be sent by the network device 102 to the first device 101 through different signaling or information.

[0230] Step S3305: While the second timer is running, the first device 101 remains activated.

[0231] In some embodiments, the first device 101 needs to remain in an active state during the operation of the second timer. That is, after the first device 101 sends the second information, it starts or restarts the second timer. During the operation of the second timer, the first device 101 remains in an active state so that the first device 101 is in an active state to receive the first information from the second device.

[0232] Step S3306: The first device 101 receives first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0233] In some embodiments, the first device 101 needs to remain activated during the operation of the second timer and receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. That is, the first device 101 sends the second information, and the second information is used to inventory or page the second device in the environmental Internet of Things scenario. For the second device that receives the second information and needs to respond to the second information, the first information is sent on the first resource and / or the first channel. In order to ensure that the first device 101 that supports discontinuous reception receives the first information of the second device, the first device 101 starts or restarts the second timer after sending the second information. During the operation of the second timer, the first information of the second device is received on the designated first resource and / or first channel, that is, the second timer is maintained in an activated state, so that the first device 101 is in an activated state to receive the first information of the second device.

[0234] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the second timer expires, the first device 101 may enter an inactive state. This indicates that the second device has completed sending the first message, meaning that the first device 101 has successfully received the first message from the second device. The first device 101 may then enter an inactive state, thereby reducing energy consumption of the first device 101 and achieving energy conservation.

[0235] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may further include step S3307, wherein the first device 101 receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and starts or restarts a fourth timer; the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in the active state. Optional implementations of step S3307 can be found in the optional implementations of step S3104 in FIG. 3A and other related portions of the embodiments involved in FIG. 3A , and are not further described here.

[0236] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may further include step S3308, i.e., during the fourth timer, the first device 101 remains activated and receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. For optional implementations of step S3308, see the optional implementations of step S3105 in FIG. 3A and other related portions of the embodiments involved in FIG. 3A , and are not further described here.

[0237] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S3301 to S3308. For example, step S3303 + step S3304 + step S3305 + step S3306 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3301 + step S3303 + step S3304 + step S3305 + step S3306 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3301 + step S3302 + step S3303 + step S3304 + step S3305 + step S3306 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3303 + step S3304 + step S3305 + step S3306 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, Step S3306 + step S3307 + step S3308 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3301 + step S3303 + step S3304 + step S3305 + step S3306 + step S3307 + step S3308 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3301 + step S3302 + step S3303 + step S3304 + step S3305 + step S3306 + step S3307 + step S3308 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0238] In some embodiments, step S3301 and step S3302 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0239] In some embodiments, step S3302 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments. That is, when step S3302 is an optional step, for example, if the network device 102 does not indicate the first device 101 as an intermediate node through the second configuration information, but the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node, or if the first device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node.

[0240] In some embodiments, step S3301, step S3302, step S3307, and step S3308 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0241] In some embodiments, step S3302, step S3307, and step S3308 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0242] In some embodiments, step S3307 and step S3308 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0243] In some embodiments, step S3301 and step S3302 may be executed in an interchanged order or simultaneously.

[0244] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 3C .

[0245] Figure 3D is an interactive diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3D, the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100, and the method includes but is not limited to the following steps.

[0246] Step S3401: The first device 101 obtains a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0247] The optional implementation of step S3401 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0248] Step S3402: The network device 102 sends second configuration information.

[0249] The optional implementation of step S3402 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0250] Step S3403: The first device 101 sends second information.

[0251] The optional implementation of step S3403 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3303 in Figure 3C and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3C, which will not be repeated here.

[0252] Step S3404: After sending the second information, the first device 101 starts or restarts the third timer.

[0253] In some embodiments, the third timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an inactive state. In some embodiments, the third timer can be a newly defined timer or an existing timer, for example, the third timer can be a drx-HARQ-RTT timer (round trip timer).

[0254] In some embodiments, the second information may be an inventory signaling / instruction / command, or may be other instructions, such as an indoor command, for example, a read / write instruction, a select command, etc. Exemplarily, the first device 101 sends the second information on a designated second resource and / or a second channel. After the first device 101 sends the second information, it starts or restarts the third timer. Exemplarily, the second information sent by the first device 101 may be the last slot (time slot) / symbol (symbol) of the second resource and / or the second channel, that is, the first device 101 sends the second information on the last slot / symbol of the second resource and / or the second channel, and starts or restarts the third timer.

[0255] In some embodiments, the configuration of the third timer can be configured by the network device 102 to the first device 101. In some embodiments, the network device 102 sends fourth configuration information to the first device 101, and accordingly, the first device 101 receives the fourth configuration information sent by the network device 102, and the fourth configuration information may include the configuration of the third timer. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends the fourth configuration information to the first device 101 through dedicated RRC signaling, and accordingly, the first device 101 obtains the fourth configuration information through the dedicated RRC signaling of the network device 102. Alternatively, the network device 102 can also send the fourth configuration information to the first device 101 through other methods, which is not limited in this disclosure and will not be described in detail. Exemplarily, the configuration of the third timer can be used to enable the first device 101 to enter an inactive state during the operation of the third timer. Among them, the optional implementation method of the "fourth configuration information" can be referred to the relevant description of the fourth configuration information in the above embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0256] Step S3405: ​​While the third timer is running, the first device 101 enters an inactive state.

[0257] For example, after the first device 101 sends the second information, it starts or restarts the third timer. Since the reception of the second information and the sending of the first information by the second device require time, the first device 101 can enter an inactive state during the operation of the third timer, which can reduce the energy consumption of the first device 101 and thus achieve the purpose of energy saving.

[0258] Step S3406: When the third timer times out, the first device 101 starts or restarts the second timer.

[0259] For example, when the third timer times out, the first device 101 may assume that the second device that has received the second information may begin to send the first information. The first device 101 starts or restarts the second timer to keep the first device 101 active during the second timer, so that the first device 101 can receive the first information from the second device. For optional implementations of the "second timer," see the optional implementation of step S3304 in FIG. 3C above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0260] Step S3407: While the second timer is running, the first device 101 remains activated.

[0261] The optional implementation of step S3407 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3305 in Figure 3C and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3C, which will not be repeated here.

[0262] Step S3408: The first device 101 receives first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0263] In some embodiments, the first device 101 starts or restarts the third timer after sending the second information. Since the reception of the second information and the sending of the first information by the second device require time, the first device 101 can enter an inactive state during the operation of the third timer to reduce the energy consumption of the first device 101. When the third timer expires, the first device 101 can assume that the second device that receives the second information may start to send the first information. The first device 101 starts or restarts the second timer so that the first device 101 remains active during the operation of the second timer, so that the first device 101 can receive the first information of the second device on the designated first resource and / or first channel.

[0264] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may further include step S3409, wherein the first device 101 receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and starts or restarts a fourth timer; the fourth timer is used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains active. Optional implementations of step S3409 can be found in the optional implementations of step S3104 in FIG. 3A and other related portions of the embodiments involved in FIG. 3A , and are not further described here.

[0265] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may further include step S3410, i.e., during the fourth timer, the first device 101 remains activated and receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. For optional implementations of step S3410, see the optional implementations of step S3105 in FIG. 3A and other related portions of the embodiments involved in FIG. 3A , and are not further described here.

[0266] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S3401 to S3410. For example, step S3403 + step S3404 + step S3405 + step S3406 + step S3407 + step S3408 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3401 + step S3403 + step S3404 + step S3405 + step S3406 + step S3407 + step S3408 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3401 + step S3402 + step S3403 + step S3404 + step S3405 + step S3406 + step S3407 + step S3408 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3403 + step S3404 + step S3405 + step S3406 + step S3407 + step S3408 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, Step S3406 + step S3407 + step S3408 + step S3409 + step S3410 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3401 + step S3403 + step S3404 + step S3405 + step S3406 + step S3407 + step S3408 + step S3409 + step S3410 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3401 + step S3402 + step S3403 + step S3404 + step S3405 + step S3406 + step S3407 + step S3408 + step S3409 + step S3410 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0267] In some embodiments, step S3401 and step S3402 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0268] In some embodiments, step S3402 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments. That is, when step S3402 is an optional step, for example, if the network device 102 does not indicate the first device 101 as an intermediate node through the second configuration information, but the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node, or if the first device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node.

[0269] In some embodiments, step S3401, step S3402, step S3409, and step S3410 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0270] In some embodiments, step S3402, step S3409, and step S3410 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0271] In some embodiments, step S3409 and step S3410 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0272] In some embodiments, step S3401 and step S3402 may be executed in an interchanged order or simultaneously.

[0273] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 3D .

[0274] Figure 3E is an interactive diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3E, the communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied to a communication system 100, and the method includes but is not limited to the following steps.

[0275] Step S3501: The network device 102 sends first configuration information and / or second configuration information.

[0276] In some embodiments, the first configuration information may be sent by network device 102 to first device 101. For example, network device 102 sends the first configuration information to first device 101, and first device 101 receives the first configuration information sent by network device 102. The first configuration information includes the first resource and / or the first channel. For optional implementations of the "first configuration information," see the optional implementations of step S3101 in FIG. 3A , which will not be described in detail here.

[0277] Step S3502: The first device 101 determines a first resource and / or a first channel based on the first configuration information.

[0278] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned first configuration information and / or second configuration information may be relevant configurations of the intermediate node. When the first device 101 receives the first configuration information and / or the second configuration information, the first device 101 may determine that it has become an intermediate node. The first device 101 may obtain the first resource and / or the first channel from the first configuration information, so that the first device 101 can receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. In some embodiments, the first information may be the response information of the second device to the second information, and the second information may be sent by the first device 101. The second information may be used to inventory or page the second device. Among them, the optional implementation methods of "first information" and "second information" can refer to the optional implementation methods of "first information" and "second information" in the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0279] Step S3503: The first device 101 receives first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0280] Exemplarily, the network device 102 configures the first device 101 as an intermediate node, and the network device does not configure the first device 101 with the relevant configuration of discontinuous reception, that is, the network device cannot simultaneously configure the relevant configuration of the intermediate node (such as the above-mentioned first configuration information and / or second configuration information) and the relevant configuration of discontinuous reception for the first device 101 (the first device 101 always remains active, and the first device 101 receives the first information of the second device on the specified first resource and / or first channel.

[0281] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S3501 to S3503. For example, step S3501+step S3502+step S3503 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0282] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 3E .

[0283] Figure 3F is an interactive diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3F, the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100, and the method includes but is not limited to the following steps.

[0284] Step S3601: The network device 102 sends first configuration information.

[0285] In some embodiments, the first configuration information may be sent by the network device 102 to the first device 101. For example, the network device 102 sends the first configuration information to the first device 101, and the first device 101 receives the first configuration information sent by the network device 102. The first configuration information includes the first resource and / or the first channel. For optional implementations of the "first configuration information," see the optional implementations of step S3101 in FIG. 3A , which will not be described in detail here.

[0286] In step S3602, the network device 102 sends a DRX (Discontinuous Reception) configuration.

[0287] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned DRX configuration is sent by the network device 102 to the first device 101. The DRX configuration includes an onduration configuration. Exemplarily, the network device 102 sends the DRX configuration to the first device 101, and correspondingly, the first device 101 receives the DRX configuration sent by the network device 102. That is, the network device 102 configures the duration (onduration) for the first device 101, and the duration (onduration) is the length of time that the first device 101 remains in the activated state. Exemplarily, the above-mentioned duration (onduration) can be configured to the first device 101 by the network device 102 through dedicated RRC signaling, or can also be configured to the first device 101 through other signaling (such as DCI). This disclosure does not limit this and will not elaborate on it.

[0288] Step S3603: The first device 101 remains activated on the first resource and / or the first channel, and receives the first information from the second device.

[0289] In some embodiments, the first resource and / or first channel is within a duration (onduration) configured by the network device 102 for the first device 101, where the onduration is the length of time that the first device 101 remains active. In other words, the first resource and / or first channel configured by the network device 102 for the first device 101 is within the onduration configured by the network device 102 for the first device 101, so that the first device 101 can remain active on the first resource and / or first channel and can receive the first information from the second device.

[0290] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may further include step S3604, wherein the first device 101 receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and starts or restarts a fourth timer; the fourth timer is used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains active. Optional implementations of step S3604 can be found in the optional implementations of step S3104 in FIG. 3A and other related portions of the embodiments involved in FIG. 3A , and are not further described here.

[0291] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may further include step S3605, i.e., during the fourth timer, the first device 101 remains activated and receives the first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel. For optional implementations of step S3605, see the optional implementations of step S3105 in FIG. 3A and other related portions of the embodiments involved in FIG. 3A , and are not further described here.

[0292] The method according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S3601 to S3605. For example, steps S3601, S3602, and S3603 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S3601, S3602, S3603, S3604, and S3605 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0293] In some embodiments, step S3604 and step S3605 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0294] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 3F .

[0295] FIG4A is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the first device 101 and may include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0296] Step S4101: Acquire a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0297] The optional implementation of step S4101 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0298] Step S4102: Receive second configuration information sent by the network device 102.

[0299] The optional implementation of step S4102 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0300] Step S4103: Maintaining an active state during the activation time of the first device 101, and receiving first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0301] The optional implementation of step S4103 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3103 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0302] Step S4104: Receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and start or restart a fourth timer.

[0303] The optional implementation of step S4104 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3104 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0304] Step S4105: Maintaining an active state during the running of the fourth timer, receiving first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0305] The optional implementation of step S4105 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0306] The method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S4101 to S4105. For example, step S4103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4101 + step S4103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4101 + step S4102 + step S4103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4103 + step S4104 + step S4105 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4101 + step S4103 + step S4104 + step S4105 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step S4101 + step S4102 + step S4103 + step S4104 + step S4105 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0307] In some embodiments, step S4101, step S4102, step S4104, and step S4105 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0308] In some embodiments, step S4102, step S4104, and step S4105 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0309] In some embodiments, step S4104 and step S4105 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0310] In some embodiments, step S4101 and step S4102 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0311] In some embodiments, step S4102 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0312] In some embodiments, step S4101 and step S4102 may be executed in an interchanged order or simultaneously.

[0313] FIG4B is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the first device 101 and may include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0314] Step S4201: Acquire a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0315] The optional implementation of step S4201 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0316] Step S4202: Receive second configuration information sent by the network device 102.

[0317] The optional implementation of step S4202 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0318] Step S4203: Receive the first indication information sent by the network device 102.

[0319] The optional implementation of step S4203 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3203 in Figure 3B and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3B, which will not be repeated here.

[0320] Step S4204: Start or restart the first timer.

[0321] The optional implementation of step S4204 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3204 in Figure 3B and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3B, which will not be repeated here.

[0322] Step S4205: Maintain the activation state while the first timer is running.

[0323] The optional implementation of step S4205 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3205 in Figure 3B and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3B, which will not be repeated here.

[0324] Step S4206: Receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0325] The optional implementation of step S4206 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3206 in Figure 3B and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3B, which will not be repeated here.

[0326] Step S4207: Receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and start or restart the fourth timer.

[0327] The optional implementation of step S4207 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3104 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0328] Step S4208: Maintaining an active state while the fourth timer is running, receiving first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0329] The optional implementation of step S4208 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0330] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S4201 to S4208. For example, step S4203+step S4204+step S4205+step S4206 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4201+step S4203+step S4204+step S4205+step S4206 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4201+step S4202+step S4203+step S4204+step S4205+step S4206 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4203+step S4204+step S4205+step S4206 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4203+step S4204+step S4205+step S4206 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, Step S4206 + step S4207 + step S4208 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4201 + step S4203 + step S4204 + step S4205 + step S4206 + step S4207 + step S4208 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4201 + step S4202 + step S4203 + step S4204 + step S4205 + step S4206 + step S4207 + step S4208 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0331] In some embodiments, step S4201 and step S4202 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0332] In some embodiments, step S4202 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments. That is, when step S4202 is an optional step, for example, if the network device 102 does not indicate the first device 101 as an intermediate node through the second configuration information, but the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node, or if the first device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node.

[0333] In some embodiments, step S4201, step S4202, step S4207, and step S4208 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0334] In some embodiments, step S4202, step S4207, and step S4208 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0335] In some embodiments, step S4207 and step S4208 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0336] In some embodiments, step S4201 and step S4202 may be executed in an interchanged order or simultaneously.

[0337] FIG4C is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4C , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the first device 101 and may include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0338] Step S4301: Acquire a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0339] The optional implementation of step S4301 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0340] Step S4302: Receive second configuration information sent by the network device 102.

[0341] The optional implementation of step S4302 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0342] Step S4303, sending the second information.

[0343] The optional implementation of step S4303 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3303 in Figure 3C and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3C, which will not be repeated here.

[0344] Step S4304: After sending the second information, start or restart the second timer.

[0345] The optional implementation of step S4304 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3304 in Figure 3C and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3C, which will not be repeated here.

[0346] Step S4305: Maintain the activation state while the second timer is running.

[0347] The optional implementation of step S4305 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3305 in Figure 3C and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3C, which will not be repeated here.

[0348] Step S4306: Receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0349] Step S4307: Receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and start or restart the fourth timer.

[0350] The optional implementation of step S4307 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3104 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0351] Step S4308: Maintaining an active state while the fourth timer is running, and receiving first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0352] The optional implementation of step S4308 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0353] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S4301 to S4308. For example, step S4303 + step S4304 + step S4305 + step S4306 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4301 + step S4303 + step S4304 + step S4305 + step S4306 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4301 + step S4302 + step S4303 + step S4304 + step S4305 + step S4306 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4303 + step S4304 + step S4305 + step S4306 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, Step S4306 + step S4307 + step S4308 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4301 + step S4303 + step S4304 + step S4305 + step S4306 + step S4307 + step S4308 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4301 + step S4302 + step S4303 + step S4304 + step S4305 + step S4306 + step S4307 + step S4308 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0354] In some embodiments, step S4301 and step S4302 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0355] In some embodiments, step S4302 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments. That is, when step S4302 is an optional step, for example, if the network device 102 does not indicate the first device 101 as an intermediate node through the second configuration information, but the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node, or if the first device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node.

[0356] In some embodiments, step S4301, step S4302, step S4307, and step S4308 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0357] In some embodiments, step S4302, step S4307, and step S4308 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0358] In some embodiments, step S4307 and step S4308 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0359] In some embodiments, step S4301 and step S4302 may be executed in an interchanged order or simultaneously.

[0360] FIG4D is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4D , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the first device 101 and may include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0361] Step S4401: Acquire a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0362] The optional implementation of step S4401 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0363] Step S4402: Receive second configuration information sent by the network device 102.

[0364] The optional implementation of step S4402 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0365] Step S4403, sending the second information.

[0366] The optional implementation of step S4403 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3303 in Figure 3C and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3C, which will not be repeated here.

[0367] Step S4404: After sending the second information, start or restart the third timer.

[0368] The optional implementation of step S4404 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3404 in Figure 3D and other related parts of the embodiment involved in Figure 3D, which will not be repeated here.

[0369] Step S4405: Entering an inactive state while the third timer is running.

[0370] The optional implementation of step S4405 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3405 in Figure 3D and other related parts of the embodiment involved in Figure 3D, which will not be repeated here.

[0371] Step S4406: When the third timer times out, start or restart the second timer.

[0372] The optional implementation of step S4406 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3406 in Figure 3D and other related parts of the embodiment involved in Figure 3D, which will not be repeated here.

[0373] Step S4407: Maintain the activation state while the second timer is running.

[0374] The optional implementation of step S4407 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3407 in Figure 3D and other related parts of the embodiment involved in Figure 3D, which will not be repeated here.

[0375] Step S4408: Receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0376] The optional implementation of step S4408 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3408 in Figure 3D and other related parts of the embodiment involved in Figure 3D, which will not be repeated here.

[0377] Step S4409: Receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and start or restart the fourth timer.

[0378] The optional implementation of step S4409 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3104 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0379] Step S4410: Maintaining an active state while a fourth timer is running, receiving first information from a second device on a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0380] The optional implementation of step S4410 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0381] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S4401 to S4410. For example, step S4403 + step S4404 + step S4405 + step S4406 + step S4407 + step S4408 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4401 + step S4403 + step S4404 + step S4405 + step S4406 + step S4407 + step S4408 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4401 + step S4402 + step S4403 + step S4404 + step S4405 + step S4406 + step S4407 + step S4408 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4403 + step S4404 + step S4405 + step S4406 + step S4407 + step S4408 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, Step S4406 + step S4407 + step S4408 + step S4409 + step S4410 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4401 + step S4403 + step S4404 + step S4405 + step S4406 + step S4407 + step S4408 + step S4409 + step S4410 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4401 + step S4402 + step S4403 + step S4404 + step S4405 + step S4406 + step S4407 + step S4408 + step S4409 + step S4410 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0382] In some embodiments, step S4401 and step S4402 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0383] In some embodiments, step S4402 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments. That is, when step S4402 is an optional step, for example, if the network device 102 does not indicate the first device 101 as an intermediate node through the second configuration information, but the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node, or if the first device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node.

[0384] In some embodiments, step S4401, step S4402, step S4409, and step S4410 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0385] In some embodiments, step S4402, step S4409, and step S4410 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0386] In some embodiments, step S4409 and step S4410 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0387] In some embodiments, step S4401 and step S4402 may be executed in an interchanged order or simultaneously.

[0388] FIG4E is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4E , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the first device 101 and may include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0389] Step S4501: Receive first configuration information and / or second configuration information sent by the network device 102.

[0390] The optional implementation of step S4501 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3501 in Figure 3E and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3E, which will not be repeated here.

[0391] Step S4502: Determine a first resource and / or a first channel based on the first configuration information.

[0392] The optional implementation of step S4502 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3502 in Figure 3E and other related parts of the embodiment involved in Figure 3E, which will not be repeated here.

[0393] Step S4503: Receive first information from a second device on a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0394] The optional implementation of step S4503 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3503 in Figure 3E and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3E, which will not be repeated here.

[0395] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S4501 to S4503. For example, step S4501+step S4502+step S4503 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0396] FIG4F is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4F , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the first device 101 and can include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0397] Step S4601: Receive first configuration information sent by the network device 102.

[0398] The optional implementation of step S4601 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3601 in Figure 3F and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3F, which will not be repeated here.

[0399] Step S4602: Receive the DRX configuration sent by the network device 102.

[0400] The optional implementation of step S4602 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3602 in Figure 3F and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3F, which will not be repeated here.

[0401] Step S4603: Maintain an active state on the first resource and / or the first channel, and receive first information from the second device.

[0402] The optional implementation of step S4603 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3603 in Figure 3F and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3F, which will not be repeated here.

[0403] Step S4604: Receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and start or restart the fourth timer.

[0404] The optional implementation of step S4604 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3104 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0405] Step S4605: Maintaining an active state while the fourth timer is running, receiving first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0406] The optional implementation of step S4605 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0407] The method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S4601 to S4605. For example, steps S4601, S4602, and S4603 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S4601, S4602, S4603, S4604, and S4605 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0408] In some embodiments, step S4604 and step S4605 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0409] FIG4G is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4G , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the first device 101 and can include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0410] Step S4701: Receive first information from a second device on a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are resources and / or channels used by the second device to send the first information.

[0411] In some embodiments, the first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an ambient Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more ambient Internet of Things devices.

[0412] In some embodiments, an optional implementation method for receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: maintaining an activation state during the activation time of the first device, and receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel; wherein the activation time includes the time domain occupied by the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0413] In some embodiments, the method further includes: acquiring the first resource and / or the first channel through pre-configuration; or, receiving first configuration information sent by the network device, the first configuration information including the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0414] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving second configuration information sent by the network device, the second configuration information including an indication that the first device is an intermediate node.

[0415] In some embodiments, the method further includes at least one of the following: receiving first indication information sent by a network device, the first indication information being used to indicate an inventory or paging of the first device; starting or restarting a first timer; the first timer being used to indicate the length of time the first device remains activated.

[0416] In some embodiments, an optional implementation of receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: the first device remains activated during the operation of the first timer; and receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0417] In some embodiments, the first indication information is downlink control information DCI scrambled by a radio temporary identifier RNTI.

[0418] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending a second message, the second message is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first message is the response message of the second device to the second message; after sending the second message, starting or restarting a second timer; the second timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains activated.

[0419] In some embodiments, an optional implementation of receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: the first device remains activated during the operation of the second timer; and receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0420] In some embodiments, an optional implementation manner of sending the second information includes: sending the second information on a second resource and / or a second channel.

[0421] In some embodiments, the method further includes: acquiring the second resource and / or the second channel through pre-configuration; or, receiving third configuration information sent by the network device, where the third configuration information includes the second resource and / or the second channel.

[0422] In some embodiments, optional implementation methods of starting or restarting the second timer after sending the second information include: starting or restarting the third timer after sending the second information; the third timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an inactive state; when the third timer times out, starting or restarting the second timer.

[0423] In some embodiments, the method further includes: during the running of the third timer, the first device enters an inactive state.

[0424] In some embodiments, an optional implementation of receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: the first device remains activated during the operation of the second timer; and receiving the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0425] In some embodiments, the second information includes an inventory type and / or a first parameter, wherein the inventory type is the type of the second device being inventoried, the first parameter is used by the second device to generate a random number, the random number is the initial value of the counter, and the timer is reduced by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is the first value; the first information includes an identification and / or data of the second device.

[0426] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, starting or restarting a fourth timer; the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains activated; during the operation of the fourth timer, the first device remains activated.

[0427] In some embodiments, the method further includes: during the running of the fourth timer, the first device receives first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0428] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving fourth configuration information sent by the network device, the fourth configuration information including at least one of the following: configuration of the first timer; configuration of the second timer; configuration of the third timer; configuration of the fourth timer.

[0429] In some embodiments, the first device is always in an active state.

[0430] In some embodiments, the method further includes at least one of the following: receiving first configuration information sent by a network device; the first configuration information includes a first resource and / or a first channel; and determining the first resource and / or the first channel based on the first configuration information.

[0431] In some embodiments, the first configuration information also includes at least one of the following: an inventory or paging cycle, the inventory or paging cycle is the time period for the first device to send the second information; the second information is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first information is the response information of the second device to the second information; the inventory or paging area, the inventory or paging area is the area where the first device inventories or pages; the inventory or paging location, the inventory or paging location is the location where the first device inventories or pages; the second resource and / or channel, the second resource and / or channel is the resource and / or channel for the first device to send the second information; the inventory type, the inventory type is the type of the second device inventoried; the first parameter, the first parameter is used for the second device to generate a random number, the random number is the initial value of the counter, and the timer is reduced by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is the first value.

[0432] In some embodiments, the first resource and / or the first channel is within a duration onduration configured by the network device for the first device; the duration is the length of time the first device remains in an active state.

[0433] The optional implementation of the method on the first device side in the embodiment of the present disclosure can be found in the optional implementation of the first device-related steps in the embodiments of Figures 3A to 3F above, and will not be repeated here.

[0434] FIG5A is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the network device 102 and can include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0435] Step S5101: Send first configuration information to the first device 101.

[0436] The optional implementation of step S5101 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0437] Step S5102: Send second configuration information.

[0438] The optional implementation of step S5102 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0439] Step S5103: Send fourth configuration information to the first device 101.

[0440] In some embodiments, the fourth configuration information may include configuration of the fourth timer. Optional implementations may refer to the description of the fourth configuration information and the fourth timer in step S3104 of FIG. 3A , which will not be repeated here.

[0441] The method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S5101 to S5103. For example, step S5101 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5102 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5101 + step S5102 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5101 + step S5103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5102 + step S5103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step S5101 + step S5102 + step S5103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0442] In some embodiments, step S5101 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0443] In some embodiments, step S5102 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0444] In some embodiments, step S5101 and step S5103 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0445] In some embodiments, step S5102 and step S5103 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0446] In some embodiments, step S5103 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0447] In some embodiments, step S5101 and step S5102 may be executed in an exchanged order or simultaneously, and step S5101 and step S5103 may be executed in an exchanged order or simultaneously.

[0448] FIG5B is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the network device 102 and can include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0449] Step S5201: Send first configuration information to the first device 101.

[0450] The optional implementation of step S5201 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0451] Step S5202: Send second configuration information.

[0452] The optional implementation of step S5202 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0453] Step S5203: Send fourth configuration information to the first device 101.

[0454] In some embodiments, the fourth configuration information may include the configuration of the first timer. For optional implementations, see the description of the fourth configuration information and the first timer in step S3204 of FIG3B , which will not be repeated here.

[0455] In some embodiments, the fourth configuration information may further include configuration of a fourth timer. Optional implementations may refer to the description of the fourth configuration information and the fourth timer in step S3104 of FIG. 3A , which will not be repeated here.

[0456] Step S5204: Send the first indication information.

[0457] The optional implementation of step S5204 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3203 in Figure 3B and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3B, which will not be repeated here.

[0458] The method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S5201 to S5204. For example, step S5201 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5202 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5201 + step S5202 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5201 + step S5203 + step S5204 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5202 + step S5203 + step S5204 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step S5201 + step S5202 + step S5203 + step S5204 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0459] In some embodiments, step S5201, step S5203, and step S5204 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0460] In some embodiments, step S5202, step S5203, and step S5204 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0461] In some embodiments, step S5203 and step S5204 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0462] In some embodiments, step S5202 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments. That is, when step S5202 is an optional step, for example, if the network device 102 does not indicate the first device 101 as an intermediate node through the second configuration information, but the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node, or if the first device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node.

[0463] In some embodiments, step S5201 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0464] In some embodiments, step S5201 and step S5202 may be executed in an exchanged order or simultaneously, and step S5201 and step S5203 may be executed in an exchanged order or simultaneously.

[0465] FIG5C is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5C , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the network device 102 and can include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0466] Step S5301: Send first configuration information to the first device 101.

[0467] The optional implementation of step S5301 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0468] Step S5302: Send second configuration information.

[0469] The optional implementation of step S5302 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0470] Step S5303: Send third configuration information to the first device 101.

[0471] In some embodiments, the third configuration information includes a second resource and / or a second channel.

[0472] Step S5304: Send fourth configuration information to the first device 101.

[0473] In some embodiments, the fourth configuration information may include the configuration of the second timer. For optional implementations, see the description of the fourth configuration information and the second timer in step S3304 of FIG. 3C , which will not be repeated here.

[0474] In some embodiments, the fourth configuration information may include the configuration of the second timer and the configuration of the third timer. For optional implementations, please refer to the relevant descriptions of the fourth configuration information, the second timer, and the third timer in the embodiment of FIG3D, which will not be repeated here.

[0475] In some embodiments, the fourth configuration information may further include configuration of a fourth timer. Optional implementations may refer to the description of the fourth configuration information and the fourth timer in step S3104 of FIG. 3A , which will not be repeated here.

[0476] The method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S5301 to S5304. For example, step S5301 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5302 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5301 + step S5302 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5301 + step S5303 + step S5304 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S5302 + step S5303 + step S5304 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step S5301 + step S5302 + step S5303 + step S5304 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0477] In some embodiments, step S5301, step S5303, and step S5304 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0478] In some embodiments, step S5302, step S5303, and step S5304 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0479] In some embodiments, step S5303 and step S5304 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0480] In some embodiments, step S5302 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments. That is, when step S5302 is an optional step, for example, if the network device 102 does not indicate the first device 101 as an intermediate node through the second configuration information, but the first device 101 receives the first indication information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node, or if the first device receives the first configuration information sent by the network device 102, then the first device 101 may consider the first device 101 as an intermediate node.

[0481] In some embodiments, step S5301 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0482] In some embodiments, step S5301 and step S5302 may be exchanged in order or executed simultaneously, step S5301 and step S5303 may be exchanged in order or executed simultaneously, and step S5303 and step S5304 may be exchanged in order or executed simultaneously.

[0483] FIG5D is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5D , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the network device 102 and can include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0484] Step S5401: Send first configuration information and / or second configuration information.

[0485] The optional implementation of step S5401 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3501 in Figure 3E and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3E, which will not be repeated here.

[0486] Figure 5E is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5E, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the network device 102 and may include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0487] Step S5501: Send first configuration information.

[0488] The optional implementation of step S5501 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3601 in Figure 3F and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3F, which will not be repeated here.

[0489] Step S5502: Send DRX configuration.

[0490] The optional implementation of step S5502 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3602 in Figure 3F and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3F, which will not be repeated here.

[0491] Step S5503: Send fourth configuration information to the first device 101.

[0492] In some embodiments, the fourth configuration information may include configuration of the fourth timer. Optional implementations may refer to the description of the fourth configuration information and the fourth timer in step S3104 of FIG. 3A , which will not be repeated here.

[0493] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S5501 to S5503. For example, step S5501 + step S5502 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step S5501 + step S5502 + step S5503 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0494] In some embodiments, step S5503 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0495] In some embodiments, step S5501 and step S5502 may be executed in an interchanged order or simultaneously.

[0496] Figure 5F is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5F, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which can be executed by the network device 102 and may include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0497] Step S5601, send 101 first configuration information to the first device, the first configuration information includes a first resource and / or a first channel, the first resource and / or the first channel are the resources and / or channels used by the second device to send the first information; the first resource and / or the first channel are used to receive the first information sent by the second device.

[0498] In some embodiments, the first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an ambient Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more ambient Internet of Things devices.

[0499] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending second configuration information to the first device, the second configuration information including an indication that the first device is an intermediate node.

[0500] In some embodiments, the first configuration information also includes at least one of the following: an inventory or paging cycle, the inventory or paging cycle is the time period for the first device to send the second information; the second information is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first information is the response information of the second device to the second information; the inventory or paging area, the inventory or paging area is the area where the first device inventories or pages; the inventory or paging location, the inventory or paging location is the location where the first device inventories or pages; the second resource and / or channel, the second resource and / or channel is the resource and / or channel for the first device to send the second information; the inventory type, the inventory type is the type of the second device inventoried; the first parameter, the first parameter is used for the second device to generate a random number, the random number is the initial value of the counter, and the timer is reduced by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is the first value.

[0501] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending fourth configuration information to the first device, the fourth configuration information including at least one of the following: configuration of a first timer, the first timer being used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in an activated state, the configuration of the first timer being used for the first device to receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the first timer, wherein the first timer is started or restarted by the first device when receiving first indication information sent by the network device, the first indication information being used to instruct the first device to inventory or page; configuration of a second timer, the second timer being used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in an activated state, the configuration of the second timer being used for the first device to receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the second timer, wherein the second timer is started or restarted by the first device when receiving first indication information sent by the network device, the first indication information being used to instruct the first device to inventory or page; configuration of a second timer, the second timer being used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in an activated state, the configuration of the second timer being used for the first device to receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the second timer, The device is started or restarted after sending the second information, the second information is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first information is the response information of the second device to the second information; the configuration of the third timer, the third timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an inactive state, the configuration of the third timer is used for the first device to enter an inactive state during the operation of the third timer, wherein the third timer is started or restarted by the first device after sending the second information; the configuration of the fourth timer, the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an active state, the configuration of the fourth timer is used for the first device to receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the fourth timer, wherein the fourth timer is started or restarted when the first device receives the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0502] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending third configuration information to the first device, the third configuration information including second resources and / or second channels, the second resources and / or second channels being resources and / or channels for the first device to send second indication information.

[0503] The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to optional implementations of the method on the network device side, and reference may be made to the relevant descriptions of the network devices in the embodiments of FIG. 3A to FIG. 3F , which will not be repeated here.

[0504] Figure 6 is an interactive diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 6, the method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied to a communication system 100, and the method includes but is not limited to the following steps.

[0505] In step S6101, the network device 102 sends first configuration information to the first device 101. The first configuration information includes a first resource and / or a first channel. The first resource and / or the first channel are the resources and / or channels used by the second device to send the first information; the first resource and / or the first channel are used to receive the first information sent by the second device.

[0506] In some embodiments, the first device 101 supports discontinuous reception, the first device 101 is an intermediate node in an ambient Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more ambient Internet of Things devices.

[0507] Step S6102: The first device 101 receives first information from the second device on a first resource and / or a first channel.

[0508] In some embodiments, the above method may include the method described in the above embodiments of the first device side, network device side, etc., which will not be repeated here.

[0509] The disclosed embodiments propose a discontinuous monitoring method in an A-IOT scenario, which solves the problem of how to enable an intermediate node to wake up on specific resources and / or channels to monitor feedback information from A-IOT devices in an A-IOT scenario.

[0510] In some embodiments, the intermediate node does not configure discontinuous reception (DRX).

[0511] Exemplarily, the base station configures the first device as an intermediate node, the base station does not configure the DRX configuration for the first device, the first device remains active, and receives the identification and / or data of the A-IOT device (such as the second device) on the designated first resource and / or first channel.

[0512] Exemplarily, the first device determines that it has received an intermediate node configuration and determines that it has become an intermediate node. The intermediate node configuration includes, but is not limited to, inventory-related configurations, such as an inventory cycle / area, and / or a second resource and / or channel for sending inventory instructions, and / or a first resource and / or first channel for receiving an A-IOT device identifier and / or data. The base station cannot simultaneously configure the intermediate node configuration and the DRX configuration for the first device.

[0513] In some embodiments, the active time includes a first resource and / or a first channel for receiving an A-IOT device identification and / or data.

[0514] Exemplarily, the first device as an intermediate node can be configured with DRX, that is, the base station can simultaneously configure the first device as an intermediate node and configure DRX for the first device. The activation time (Active time) of DRX includes the time domain occupied by the first resource and / or the first channel for receiving the identification and / or data of the A-IOT device. For example, the first resource for receiving the identification and / or data of the A-IOT device is a periodic time-frequency domain resource, and the first device needs to remain active on these resources to receive the identification and / or data of the A-IOT device.

[0515] Exemplarily, the first resource and / or first channel designated to receive the identifier and / or data of the A-IOT device may be a preconfigured or configured resource / channel. If the first resource and / or first channel is a configured resource / channel, the first device obtains the configured first resource and / or first channel through an SIB or dedicated signaling. The first resource may also be configured to the first device by the base station through a DCI.

[0516] In some embodiments, the intermediate node receives the first indication information from the base station and starts or restarts the first timer. During the running of the first timer, the first device remains active.

[0517] Exemplarily, the first timer may be a newly defined timer or an existing timer, such as an inactivity timer.

[0518] Exemplarily, the first indication information indicates an inventory of the intermediate node, for example, the first indication information may be a DCI, etc. The DCI may be scrambled with a newly defined RNTI or an existing RNTI. The newly defined RNTI may be used in an A-IOT scenario, for example, to indicate an inventory of the intermediate node.

[0519] Exemplarily, during the running of the first timer, the first device remains active, and the first device receives the identifier and / or data of the A-IOT device on the designated first channel / resource.

[0520] In some embodiments, the intermediate node sends the second information to start or restart the second timer, and the first device remains active while the second timer is running.

[0521] Exemplarily, the second timer may be a newly defined timer or an existing timer, such as a retransmission timer.

[0522] Exemplarily, the second information is inventory signaling / instruction / command. Exemplarily, the first device sends the second information on a designated second resource and / or second channel. The second resource and / or second channel may be a preconfigured or configured resource / channel. If the resource / channel is configured, the first device obtains the configured second resource and / or second channel via an SIB or dedicated signaling. The second resource and / or second channel may also be configured to the first device by the base station via a DCI.

[0523] Exemplarily, the first device starts or restarts the second timer after sending the second information. Exemplarily, the second timer may be the last slot / symbol of the second resource and / or the second channel after sending the second information.

[0524] Exemplarily, during the running of the second timer, the first device remains active, and the first device receives the identifier and / or data of the A-IOT device on the designated first channel / resource.

[0525] In some embodiments, the intermediate node sends the second information, starts or restarts three timers, and when the third timer times out, the second timer is started. During the running of the second timer, the first device remains active.

[0526] Exemplarily, the third timer may be a newly defined timer or an existing timer, such as RTTtimer. The second timer may be a newly defined timer or an existing timer, such as retransmissiontimer.

[0527] Exemplarily, the first device starts or restarts the third timer after sending the second information. Exemplarily, the second information may be sent after the last slot / symbol of the second resource and / or the second channel.

[0528] In some embodiments, the first resource and / or the first channel is within the active time of the first device.

[0529] Exemplarily, the base station ensures that the first resource and / or the first channel are within the active time of the first device, such as the onduration period.

[0530] In some embodiments, the intermediate node receives feedback on the first resource / channel and starts or restarts four timers.

[0531] Exemplarily, the fourth timer is a newly defined timer or the same as the second timer, which is a retransmission timer.

[0532] Exemplarily, the configuration of the first timer, the configuration of the second timer, the configuration of the third timer, and the configuration of the fourth timer are all acquired from the base station through dedicated RRC signaling.

[0533] The present disclosure also provides an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing each step performed by the first device in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing each step performed by the network device in any of the above methods.

[0534] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which realizes the functions of some or all of the above units or modules by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by the form of software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0535] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with information processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of the hardware circuit. The logical relationship of the above-mentioned hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and implementing the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0536] Figure 7A is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 7A, the first device 7100 may include at least one of: a transceiver module 7101, a processing module 7102, etc. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is configured to receive first information from a second device on a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are the resources and / or channels used by the second device to send the first information; wherein the first device supports discontinuous reception, is an intermediate node in an ambient IoT scenario, and the second device is one or more ambient IoT devices.

[0537] In some embodiments, the processing module 7102 is used to keep the first device in an activated state during the activation time of the first device, and the transceiver module 7101 receives the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel; wherein the activation time includes the time domain occupied by the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0538] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is further used to: obtain the first resource and / or the first channel through pre-configuration; or, receive first configuration information sent by the network device, where the first configuration information includes the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0539] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is further used to: receive second configuration information sent by the network device, where the second configuration information includes an indication that the first device is an intermediate node.

[0540] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is also used to: receive a first indication message sent by a network device, the first indication message is used to indicate an inventory or paging of the first device; the processing module 7102 is also used to: start or restart a first timer; the first timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains activated.

[0541] In some embodiments, the processing module 7102 is further configured to: maintain an active state during the operation of the first timer; and the transceiver module 7101 receives the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0542] In some embodiments, the first indication information is downlink control information DCI scrambled by a radio temporary identifier RNTI.

[0543] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is also used to: send a second message, the second message is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first message is the response message of the second device to the second message; the processing module 7102 is also used to: after sending the second message, start or restart the second timer; the second timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains activated.

[0544] In some embodiments, the processing module 7102 is further used to: keep the first device in an activated state during the operation of the second timer; the transceiver module 7101 is further used to: receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0545] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is specifically used to: send second information on a second resource and / or a second channel.

[0546] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is further used to: obtain the second resource and / or the second channel through pre-configuration; or, receive third configuration information sent by the network device, where the third configuration information includes the second resource and / or the second channel.

[0547] In some embodiments, the processing module 7102 is specifically used to: after sending the second information, start or restart the third timer; the third timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an inactive state; when the third timer times out, start or restart the second timer.

[0548] In some embodiments, the processing module 7102 is further configured to: while the third timer is running, the first device enters an inactive state.

[0549] In some embodiments, the processing module 7102 is further configured to: during the running of the second timer, keep the first device in an activated state, and the transceiver module 7101 receives the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0550] In some embodiments, the second information includes an inventory type and / or a first parameter, wherein the inventory type is the type of the second device being inventoried, the first parameter is used by the second device to generate a random number, the random number is the initial value of the counter, and the timer is reduced by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is the first value; the first information includes an identification and / or data of the second device.

[0551] In some embodiments, the processing module 7102 is also used to: receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, start or restart a fourth timer; the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an activated state; and keep the first device in an activated state during the operation of the fourth timer.

[0552] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is further configured to: receive first information from a second device on a first resource and / or a first channel during the operation of a fourth timer.

[0553] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is further used to: receive fourth configuration information sent by the network device, the fourth configuration information including at least one of the following: configuration of the first timer; configuration of the second timer; configuration of the third timer; configuration of the fourth timer.

[0554] In some embodiments, the first device is always in an active state.

[0555] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is further used to: receive first configuration information sent by the network device, the first configuration information including the first resource and / or the first channel; the processing module 7102 is further used to: determine the first resource and / or the first channel based on the first configuration information.

[0556] In some embodiments, the first configuration information also includes at least one of the following: an inventory or paging cycle, the inventory or paging cycle is the time period for the first device to send the second information; the second information is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first information is the response information of the second device to the second information; the inventory or paging area, the inventory or paging area is the area where the first device inventories or pages; the inventory or paging location, the inventory or paging location is the location where the first device inventories or pages; the second resource and / or channel, the second resource and / or channel is the resource and / or channel for the first device to send the second information; the inventory type, the inventory type is the type of the second device inventoried; the first parameter, the first parameter is used for the second device to generate a random number, the random number is the initial value of the counter, and the timer is reduced by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is the first value.

[0557] In some embodiments, the first resource and / or the first channel is within a duration onduration configured by the network device for the first device; the duration is the length of time the first device remains in an active state.

[0558] Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver module is used to execute at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving performed by the first device 101 in any of the above methods (for example, step S3101, step S3103, step S3105, step S3201, step S3206, step S3208, step S3301, step S3303, step S3306, step S3308, step S3401, step S3403, step S3408, step S3410, step S3503, step S3603, step S3605, but not limited to these), which will not be repeated here. Optionally, the above-mentioned processing module is used to execute at least one of the other steps performed by the first device 101 in any of the above methods (for example, step S3104, step S3204, step S3205, step S3207, step S3304, step S3305, step S3307, step S3404, step S3405, step S3406, step S3407, step S3409, step S3502, step S3604, but not limited to these), which are not repeated here.

[0559] FIG7B is a schematic diagram of the structure of the network device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG7B , the network device 7200 may include: at least one of a transceiver module 7201 and a processing module 7202. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7201 is used to send first configuration information to the first device, where the first configuration information includes a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are resources and / or channels used by the second device to send the first information; the first resource and / or the first channel are used to receive the first information sent by the second device; wherein the first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

[0560] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7201 is further used to: send second configuration information to the first device, where the second configuration information includes an indication that the first device is an intermediate node.

[0561] In some embodiments, the first configuration information also includes at least one of the following: an inventory or paging cycle, the inventory or paging cycle is the time period for the first device to send the second information; the second information is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first information is the response information of the second device to the second information; the inventory or paging area, the inventory or paging area is the area where the first device inventories or pages; the inventory or paging location, the inventory or paging location is the location where the first device inventories or pages; the second resource and / or channel, the second resource and / or channel is the resource and / or channel for the first device to send the second information; the inventory type, the inventory type is the type of the second device inventoried; the first parameter, the first parameter is used for the second device to generate a random number, the random number is the initial value of the counter, and the timer is reduced by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is the first value.

[0562] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7201 is further used to: send fourth configuration information to the first device, the fourth configuration information including at least one of the following: configuration of a first timer, the first timer being used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in an activated state, the configuration of the first timer being used for the first device to receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the first timer, wherein the first timer is started or restarted by the first device when it receives the first indication information sent by the network device, and the first indication information is used to indicate an inventory or paging of the first device; configuration of a second timer, the second timer being used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in an activated state, the configuration of the second timer being used for the first device to receive first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the second timer, wherein the second timer is The first device is started or restarted after sending the second information, the second information is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first information is the response information of the second device to the second information; the configuration of the third timer, the third timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an inactive state, the configuration of the third timer is used for the first device to enter an inactive state during the operation of the third timer, wherein the third timer is started or restarted by the first device after sending the second information; the configuration of the fourth timer, the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an active state, the configuration of the fourth timer is used for the first device to receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the fourth timer, wherein the fourth timer is started or restarted when the first device receives the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

[0563] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7201 is also used to: send third configuration information to the first device, the third configuration information includes second resources and / or second channels, and the second resources and / or second channels are resources and / or channels for the first device to send second indication information.

[0564] Optionally, the transceiver module is configured to execute at least one of the communication steps (e.g., step S3102, step S3202, step S3203, step S3302, step S3402, step S3501, step S3601, and step S3602) such as sending and / or receiving performed by the network device 102 in any of the above methods, which are not described in detail here. Optionally, the processing module is configured to execute at least one of the other steps performed by the network device 102 in any of the above methods, which are not described in detail here.

[0565] In some embodiments, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and / or a receiving module, and the transmitting module and the receiving module may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the transceiver module may be interchangeable with the transceiver.

[0566] In some embodiments, the processing module can be a single module or include multiple submodules. Optionally, the multiple submodules each execute all or part of the steps required to be executed by the processing module. Optionally, the processing module and the processor can be interchangeable.

[0567] Figure 8A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 8100 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 8100 can be a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network device, etc.), or a first device (e.g., a terminal, such as a user equipment, etc.), or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports a network device to implement any of the above methods, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports a terminal to implement any of the above methods. Communication device 8100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0568] As shown in Figure 8A, the communication device 8100 includes one or more processors 8101. The processor 8101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process the communication protocol and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. Optionally, the communication device 8100 is used to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, one or more processors 8101 are used to call instructions to enable the communication device 8100 to perform any of the above methods.

[0569] In some embodiments, the communication device 8100 further includes one or more transceivers 8103. When the communication device 8100 includes one or more transceivers 8103, the transceiver 8103 performs the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., step S3101, step S3103, step S3105, step S3201, step S3206, step S3208, step S3301, step S3303, step S3306, step S3308, step S3401, step S3403, step S3408, step S3410, step S3503, step S3603, step S3605, step S3102 ... 02, step S3203, step S3302, step S3402, step S3501, step S3601, and step S3602, but not limited thereto), and the processor 8101 executes at least one of the other steps (e.g., step S3104, step S3204, step S3205, step S3207, step S3304, step S3305, step S3307, step S3404, step S3405, step S3406, step S3407, step S3409, step S3502, and step S3604, but not limited thereto). In an optional embodiment, the transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, and the receiver and transmitter may be separate or integrated. Optionally, terms such as transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, and interface can be replaced with each other, terms such as transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit can be replaced with each other, and terms such as receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit can be replaced with each other.

[0570] In some embodiments, the communication device 8100 further includes one or more memories 8102 for storing data. Alternatively, all or part of the memories 8102 may be located outside the communication device 8100. In alternative embodiments, the communication device 8100 may include one or more interface circuits 8104. Optionally, the interface circuits 8104 are connected to the memories 8102 and may be configured to receive data from the memories 8102 or other devices, or to send data to the memories 8102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 8104 may read data stored in the memories 8102 and send the data to the processor 8101.

[0571] The communication device 8100 described in the above embodiment may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 8100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 8100 may not be limited by FIG. 8A. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data or programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0572] FIG8B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 8200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the communication device 8100 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 8200 shown in FIG8B , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0573] The chip 8200 includes one or more processors 8201. The chip 8200 is configured to execute any of the above methods.

[0574] In some embodiments, chip 8200 further includes one or more interface circuits 8202. Terms such as interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pins may be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 8200 further includes one or more memories 8203 for storing data. Alternatively, all or part of memory 8203 may be located external to chip 8200. Optionally, interface circuit 8202 is connected to memory 8203 and may be used to receive data from memory 8203 or other devices, or may be used to send data to memory 8203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 8202 may read data stored in memory 8203 and send the data to processor 8201.

[0575] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 8202 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (for example, step S3101, step S3103, step S3105, step S3201, step S3206, step S3208, step S3301, step S3303, step S3306, step S3308, step S3401, step S3403, step S3408, step S3410, step S3503, step S3603, step S3605, step S3102, step S3202, step S3203, step S3302, step S3402, step S3501, step S3601, step S3602, but not limited to these). The interface circuit 8202 performing the communication steps of sending and / or receiving in the above method, for example, means that the interface circuit 8202 performs data exchange between the processor 8201, the chip 8200, the memory 8203, or the transceiver device. In some embodiments, the processor 8201 performs at least one of the other steps (for example, step S3104, step S3204, step S3205, step S3207, step S3304, step S3305, step S3307, step S3404, step S3405, step S3406, step S3407, step S3409, step S3502, and step S3604, but not limited thereto).

[0576] The present disclosure also proposes a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed on the communication device 8100, causes the communication device 8100 to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto, and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto, and may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0577] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 8100, enables the communication device 8100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0578] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the above methods.

[0579] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs. When the computer program is loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer program can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0580] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[0581] 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.

[0582] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, but the scope of protection of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this disclosure should be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present disclosure should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a first device, and includes: receiving first information from a second device on a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are resources and / or channels used by the second device to send the first information; The first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The receiving first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: Maintain an activated state during the activation time of the first device, and receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel; wherein the activation time includes the time domain occupied by the first resource and / or the first channel.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The method further comprises: Acquire the first resource and / or the first channel through pre-configuration; or, First configuration information sent by the network device is received, where the first configuration information includes the first resource and / or the first channel.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The method further comprises: Second configuration information sent by the network device is received, where the second configuration information includes an indication that the first device is the intermediate node.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein The method further comprises at least one of the following: receiving first indication information sent by a network device, where the first indication information is used to instruct the first device to take inventory or page; Start or restart a first timer; the first timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains activated.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein The receiving first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: During the running of the first timer, the first device maintains the activation state; First information of the second device is received on the first resource and / or the first channel.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: The first indication information is downlink control information DCI scrambled by a radio temporary identifier RNTI.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein The method further comprises: sending second information, where the second information is used to inventory or page the second device, and the first information is response information of the second device to the second information; After sending the second information, start or restart the second timer; the second timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains activated.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein The receiving first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: During the running of the second timer, the first device maintains the activation state; First information of the second device is received on the first resource and / or the first channel.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The sending of the second information includes: The second information is sent on a second resource and / or a second channel.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein The method further comprises: Acquire the second resource and / or the second channel through pre-configuration; or, Receive third configuration information sent by the network device, where the third configuration information includes the second resource and / or the second channel.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein After sending the second information, starting or restarting the second timer includes: After sending the second information, start or restart a third timer; the third timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an inactive state; When the third timer times out, the second timer is started or restarted.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The method further comprises: During the running of the third timer, the first device enters the inactive state.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The receiving first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel includes: During the running of the second timer, the first device maintains the activation state; First information of the second device is received on the first resource and / or the first channel.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein The second information includes an inventory type and / or a first parameter, wherein the inventory type is the inventory type of the second device, and the first parameter is used by the second device to generate a random number, wherein the random number is an initial value of a counter, and the timer is decremented by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer has a first value; The first information includes an identification and / or data of the second device.

16. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 15, wherein: The method further comprises: receiving first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel, and starting or restarting a fourth timer; the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in the active state; While the fourth timer is running, the first device maintains the active state.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein The method further comprises: While the fourth timer is running, the first device receives first information from the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

18. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 17, wherein: The method further comprises: Receive fourth configuration information sent by the network device, where the fourth configuration information includes at least one of the following: configuration of the first timer; configuration of the second timer; configuration of the third timer; Configuration of the fourth timer.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first device is always in an activated state.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein: The method further comprises at least one of the following: Receiving first configuration information sent by a network device; the first configuration information includes the first resource and / or the first channel; Based on the first configuration information, the first resource and / or the first channel is determined.

21. The method according to claim 3 or 20, wherein: The first configuration information further includes at least one of the following: an inventory or paging cycle, where the inventory or paging cycle is a time period during which the first device sends the second information; the second information is used to inventory or paging the second device, and the first information is a response information of the second device to the second information; An inventory or paging area, where the inventory or paging area is an area where the first device performs inventory or paging; An inventory or paging location, where the inventory or paging location is a location inventoried or paged by the first device; a second resource and / or channel, where the second resource and / or channel is a resource and / or channel for the first device to send the second information; An inventory type, where the inventory type is the type of the second device inventoried; A first parameter, wherein the first parameter is used by the second device to generate a random number, the random number being the initial value of a counter, the timer being decremented by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is a first value.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein The first resource and / or the first channel is within a duration onduration configured by the network device for the first device; the duration is the length of time the first device maintains the activation state.

23. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a network device, and includes: Sending first configuration information to a first device, where the first configuration information includes a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are resources and / or channels used by a second device to send first information; and the first resource and / or the first channel are used to receive the first information sent by the second device; The first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein The method further comprises: Second configuration information is sent to the first device, where the second configuration information includes an indication that the first device is the intermediate node.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein: The first configuration information further includes at least one of the following: an inventory or paging cycle, where the inventory or paging cycle is a time period during which the first device sends a second message; the second message is used to inventory or paging the second device, and the first message is a response message of the second device to the second message; An inventory or paging area, where the inventory or paging area is an area where the first device performs inventory or paging; An inventory or paging location, where the inventory or paging location is a location inventoried or paged by the first device; a second resource and / or channel, where the second resource and / or channel is a resource and / or channel for the first device to send the second information; An inventory type, where the inventory type is the type of the second device inventoried; A first parameter, wherein the first parameter is used by the second device to generate a random number, the random number being the initial value of a counter, the timer being decremented by one each time the second device receives the second information, wherein the first information is sent by the second device when the timer is a first value.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein: The method further comprises: Send fourth configuration information to the first device, where the fourth configuration information includes at least one of the following: a configuration of a first timer, the first timer being used to indicate a duration for the first device to remain in an active state, the configuration of the first timer being used for the first device to receive first information from the second device on a first resource and / or a first channel during the running of the first timer, wherein the first timer is started or restarted by the first device upon receiving first indication information sent by the network device, the first indication information being used to instruct the first device to perform an inventory or paging operation; a configuration of a second timer, the second timer being used to indicate a duration for which the first device remains in an active state, the configuration of the second timer being used for the first device to receive, on the first resource and / or first channel, a first message from the second device during the running of the second timer, wherein the second timer is started or restarted by the first device upon completion of sending the second message, the second message being used to inventory or page the second device, and the first message being a response message from the second device to the second message; a configuration of a third timer, the third timer being used to indicate a duration for which the first device remains in an inactive state, the configuration of the third timer being used for the first device to enter an inactive state during the running of the third timer, wherein the third timer is started or restarted by the first device upon completion of sending the second information; Configuration of a fourth timer, the fourth timer is used to indicate the length of time the first device remains in an activated state, the configuration of the fourth timer is used for the first device to receive the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel during the operation of the fourth timer, wherein the fourth timer is started or restarted when the first device receives the first information of the second device on the first resource and / or the first channel.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein The method further comprises: Sending third configuration information to the first device, the third configuration information including a second resource and / or a second channel, the second resource The source and / or the second channel is a resource and / or a channel through which the first device sends the second indication information.

28. A first device, characterized in that: include: a transceiver module, configured to receive first information from a second device on a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are resources and / or channels used by the second device to send the first information; The first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

29. A network device, characterized in that: include: a transceiver module, configured to send first configuration information to a first device, where the first configuration information includes a first resource and / or a first channel, where the first resource and / or the first channel are used by a second device to send first information; and the first resource and / or the first channel are used to receive the first information sent by the second device; The first device supports discontinuous reception, the first device is an intermediate node in an environmental Internet of Things scenario, and the second device is one or more environmental Internet of Things devices.

30. A communication system, characterized in that: include: A first device, configured to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 22; A network device configured to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 23 to 27.

31. A communication device, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; The communication device is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1-22 and 23-27.

32. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that: When the instruction is executed on a communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 22 and 23 to 27.

33. A computer program product comprising a computer program, characterized in that When the computer program is executed by the communication device, the computer program implements the steps of the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 22 and 23 to 27.

Images