Communication method and device

Abstract

The present application relates to a communication method and device. A first device obtains first indication information, the first indication information indicating one or more of the following: a first duration, used for indicating the latest time for sending first random information in one access opportunity; a first step size, which is a time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or a first number, used for indicating the number of access moments within the first duration. The first device sends the first random information at a first access moment, wherein the first access moment is a moment following the first moment, the first moment is a moment related to the value of a first counter being 0, and the first access moment is determined on the basis of the first indication information. When the first moment is reached, the first device waits for a period of time and then executes transmission, wherein the waiting time is determined on the basis of the first indication information. Thus, the probability of collisions between devices in one access opportunity is reduced, improving the quality of transmission.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on February 28, 2024, with application number 202410228375.7 and application name "A Communication Method and Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0004] Currently, the Internet of Things (IoT) is attracting much attention. In IoT scenarios, by reducing device size and complexity, it is expected that the number of devices that can be accommodated in IoT scenarios will increase. IoT devices can include a variety of types, such as those that require batteries, those that do not, or those with limited energy storage, where the batteries do not need to be manually replaced or charged. IoT devices that do not require batteries or have limited energy storage are also called ambient IoT (AIoT) devices. AIoT devices can provide services and communications by harvesting energy from the environment.

[0005] However, how IoT devices connect to the network or how they communicate with the network has not yet been discussed.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus for providing a way for an IoT device to access a network, so that the IoT device can communicate with the network.

[0008] In a first aspect, a first communication method is provided, which is applied to the first device side, that is, the method can be executed by the first device. The first device is, for example, an independent device, or a chip system or functional module included in other devices, and the chip system or functional module can realize the function of the first device. The other device is, for example, a network device or a terminal device. The network device includes, for example, a reader or an interrogator, or may also include an access network device and / or a core network device; the terminal device includes, for example, a tag, etc. The access network device is, for example, a base station. Optionally, the first device is, for example, an AIoT device. The method includes: obtaining first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates one or more of the following: a first duration, the first duration being used to indicate a latest time for sending random information in an access opportunity; a first step, the first step being the time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or a first number, the first number being used to indicate the number of access moments within the first duration; and sending first random information at a first access moment, wherein the first access moment is a moment after the first moment, the first moment is a moment associated with a value of a first counter being 0, and the first access moment is determined based on the first indication information, and the first counter is used to determine a sending time of the first random information.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present application, a first device can obtain first indication information and determine a first access time based on the first indication information. Thus, the first device can send first random information at the first access time. This first random information enables the first device to communicate with the network. Thus, the embodiment of the present application provides a method for enabling a first device to access a network, enabling the first device to communicate with the network. Furthermore, when accessing the network, the first device sends the first random information at a first access time after the first time, rather than at the first time. This is equivalent to the first device waiting for a period of time after the first time arrives, before transmitting again at the first access time. This waiting period is determined based on the first indication information. For example, different devices may have different waiting times determined based on the first indication information. Therefore, even if two devices have the same first time corresponding to an access opportunity, their different waiting times allow them to transmit at different times within that access opportunity. This reduces the probability of collision between devices within a single access opportunity and improves transmission quality.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the first access moment is determined based on the first indication information, including: the first indication information is used to determine one or more moments, and the first access moment is one of the one or more moments; or the first indication information is used to determine one or more durations, the one or more durations including a second duration, and the first access moment is the moment when the second duration arrives after the first moment. The first device can directly determine the first access moment based on the first indication information, or can determine the duration and then determine the first access moment based on the duration, which is a more flexible approach.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the first access moment is determined based on the first indication information, including: the first indication information is used to determine one or more values, the one or more values ​​including a first value, and the first access moment is determined based on the first value. The first device can determine a corresponding value based on the first indication information, and then determine the first access moment based on the value. It can be seen that in the embodiments of the present application, there are multiple ways to determine the first access moment based on the first indication information, and different ways can be used according to different scenarios or networks.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the first value is the value updated to the first counter when the value of the first counter is 0, wherein the first access time is equal to or later than the time when the updated value of the first counter is 0; or the first value is the value of the second counter, wherein the first access time is equal to or later than the time when the value of the second counter is 0. In this embodiment of the present application, when the value of the first counter is initially 0 (i.e., the value of the unupdated first counter is 0), the first device may not send random information accordingly, but instead reassign the first counter to the first value (which can be understood as updating the first counter) and wait for the updated value of the first counter to be 0 again; or it may wait for the value of the second counter to be 0, wherein the initial value of the second counter is determined based on the first value, for example, the first value, or the sum of the first value and the initial value of the first counter, etc., without limitation. The first device will not send random information again until the value of the second counter is 0 or the updated value of the first counter is 0. The waiting period is determined based on the first indication information. For example, different devices may have different waiting times determined based on the first indication information. Then, even if the first moments corresponding to two devices in one access opportunity (or one time unit) are the same, due to the different waiting times of the two devices, the sending moments of the two devices in the access opportunity can be separated, thereby reducing the probability of collision between the devices in one access opportunity and improving the transmission quality.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, if the first value is 0, the first access time is equal to or later than the time when the value of the first counter or the second counter reaches the first value. If the first value is 0, then the time when the first counter is assigned the first value or the time when the second counter reaches the first value can be the first access time without further waiting; alternatively, the first access time can be later than this time, without limitation.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the method further includes: if the first value is not 0, receiving a first message; decrementing the value of the first counter or the second counter by 1 according to the first message; and determining, until the value of the first counter or the second counter reaches 0, that the first access time is equal to or later than the time when the value of the first counter or the second counter reaches 0. It can be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the first device can decrement the counter or perform timing based on the message from the second device. Thus, even if the capabilities of the first device are relatively weak (for example, some devices may not be able to implement timing functions), the first device can still implement the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, which is conducive to expanding the scope of application of the embodiments of the present application.

[0015] In an optional embodiment, the method further includes: receiving first information, the first information being used to determine an initial value of the first counter, the initial value being greater than or equal to 0. To maintain the first counter, the first device must determine the initial value of the first counter. The initial value of the first counter can be determined based on the first information. For example, different devices can determine different initial values ​​based on the first information, thereby reducing collisions caused by random information sent by different devices to a certain extent.

[0016] In an optional embodiment, the method further includes: if the initial value is greater than 0, receiving a second message; and decrementing the value of the first counter according to the second message until the value of the first counter reaches 0. In the embodiment of the present application, the first device can decrement the counter or perform timing according to the message from the second device. Thus, even if the capability of the first device is relatively weak (for example, some devices may not be able to perform timing functions), the first device can still implement the technical solutions of the embodiment of the present application, which is conducive to expanding the scope of application of the embodiment of the present application.

[0017] In an optional embodiment, the first moment is the moment when the value of the first counter is 0; or the first moment is the moment when a third message is received, the third message being used to determine that the value of the first counter is 0. The first moment is a moment related to the value of the first counter being 0, for example, the moment when the value of the first counter is 0 (which can be understood as the moment when the first device updates the value of the first counter to 0, sets it to 0, or decrements it to 0), or it can also be the moment when the third message is received that sets the value of the first counter to 0 (which can be understood as the moment when the first device has not updated, set, or decremented the value of the first counter to 0, but after this moment, after processing by the first device, the value of the first counter will be updated, set, or decremented to 0).

[0018] In an optional embodiment, the third message is used to instruct the first device to perform access, or to indicate information for determining the initial value of the first counter, or to enable at least one device to obtain synchronization, or to resolve conflicts for access of at least one device, or to start the next round of access process; or, the third message is used to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, or to instruct the next device to access, or to indicate the next access timing, or to enable at least one device to obtain synchronization, or to resolve conflicts for access of at least one device. The third message can be of various types. For example, if the value of the first counter is decremented to 0 after receiving a message for instructing the first device to perform access, the message can be the third message; or, if the value of the first counter is decremented to 0 after receiving a message for decrementing the value of the first counter by 1, the message can be the third message; or, the third message can be other types of messages, which are not limited to this.

[0019] In an optional embodiment, the first indication information is included in a fourth message, wherein the fourth message is used to instruct a first type of device to access, or to instruct a first type of device to perform a first service, wherein the first device is the first type of device; or, the fourth message is used to instruct the first device to perform access, or to indicate information used to determine the initial value of the first counter, or to enable at least one device to acquire synchronization, or to resolve access conflicts for at least one device, or to initiate the next round of access; or, the fourth message is used to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, or to instruct the next device to access, or to indicate the next access timing, or to enable at least one device to acquire synchronization, or to resolve access conflicts for at least one device. The fourth message can be implemented in various ways, or the first indication information can be sent via different messages. In addition, the above messages can be combined. For example, the message used to instruct the first type of device to access can include partial information of the first indication information, and the message used to instruct the first device to perform access can include the remaining information of the first indication information, so that the first device can obtain the first indication information based on these two messages.

[0020] In an optional embodiment, the method further includes: receiving a fifth message; if the fifth message includes the first random information, determining that the access is successful; otherwise, determining that the access has failed. If the second device receives the random information, a fifth message may be sent, and the fifth message may include the random information successfully received by the second device. For example, the second device may send the fifth message in each access opportunity, and the fifth message may include the random information successfully received by the second device in that access opportunity. Then, for the first device, if the fifth message received in a certain access opportunity includes the first random information, it can be determined that the access was successful in that access opportunity, and there is no need to perform access again in the next access opportunity; and if the fifth message received in a certain access opportunity does not include the first random information, it can be determined that the access has failed in that access opportunity, and if there is another access opportunity, the first device can perform access again.

[0021] In an optional embodiment, the method is applied to an AIoT device. For example, the first device is an AIoT device, or the first device can also be another type of device, such as an IoT device, without limitation.

[0022] In a second aspect, a second communication method is provided, which is applied to a second device side, that is, the method can be executed by the second device. The second device is, for example, an independent device, or a chip system or functional module included in other devices, which can realize the functions of the second device. The other device is, for example, a network device or a terminal device. The network device includes, for example, a reader or an interrogator, etc., or may also include an access network device and / or a core network device. The method includes: sending first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates one or more of the following: a first duration, the first duration is used to indicate the latest time to send random information in an access opportunity; a first step duration, the first step duration is the time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or a first number, the first number is used to indicate the number of access moments within the first duration; detecting random information at a first access moment, wherein the first access moment is determined based on the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine the sending time of the random information.

[0023] In an optional embodiment, the first access moment is determined based on the first indication information, including: the first indication information is used to determine one or more moments, and the first access moment is one of the one or more moments; or, the first indication information is used to determine one or more time durations, and the one or more time durations include a second time duration, and the first access moment is the moment when the second time duration arrives after the first moment, and the first moment is the sending moment of the sixth message, and the sixth message is used to indicate the access of a first type of device, or to indicate the execution of a first service by a first type of device, or to indicate at least one device to execute access, or to reduce the value of a first counter by 1, and the first counter is used to determine the sending time of the random information.

[0024] In an optional embodiment, the method further includes: sending a first message, wherein the first message is used to decrement the value of the first counter or the second counter, wherein before decrementing, the value of the first counter or the second counter is a first value determined according to the first indication information.

[0025] In an optional implementation, the first indication information is used to determine one or more values, the one or more values ​​include the first value, and the first access time is determined according to the first value.

[0026] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: sending first information, where the first information is used to determine an initial value of the first counter, and the initial value is greater than or equal to 0.

[0027] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: sending a second message, where the second message is used to reduce the value of the first counter by 1.

[0028] In an optional implementation, the first indication information is determined according to the number of devices to be connected and / or the first information.

[0029] In an optional embodiment, the first indication information is included in a fourth message, wherein the fourth message is used to indicate access by a first type of device, or to indicate execution of a first service by a first type of device; or, the fourth message is used to indicate access by at least one device, or to indicate information used to determine an initial value of a first counter, or to enable synchronization of at least one device, or to perform conflict resolution for access of at least one device, or to start the next round of access process; or, the fourth message is used to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, or to indicate access by the next device, or to indicate the next access timing, or to enable synchronization of at least one device, or to perform conflict resolution for access of at least one device.

[0030] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: sending a fifth message, where the fifth message includes the random information.

[0031] Regarding the technical effects brought about by the second aspect or various optional implementations, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the first aspect or corresponding implementations.

[0032] According to a third aspect, a third communication method is provided, which is applied to the first device side, that is, the method can be executed by the first device. For the introduction of the first device, reference can be made to the first aspect. The method includes: obtaining second indication information, wherein the second indication information indicates one or more of the following: a third duration, wherein the third duration is used to indicate the latest time for sending random information in an access opportunity; a second step length, wherein the second step length is the time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or a second number, wherein the second number is used to indicate the number of access moments within the third duration; sending second random information at the second access moment, wherein the second access moment is a moment after the second moment, the second moment is the moment when the second indication information is received, and the second access moment is determined based on the second indication information.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present application, when the first device accesses the network, it sends the first random information at the third access moment after the second moment, rather than sending the first random information at the second moment. For example, when the second moment arrives, the first device waits for a period of time until the third access moment to perform the transmission. This waiting period is determined according to the second indication information. For example, different devices have different waiting times determined according to the second indication information. Then, even if the second moments corresponding to the two devices in one access opportunity (or one time unit) are the same, due to the different waiting times of the two devices, the sending moments of the two devices in the access opportunity can be separated, thereby reducing the probability of collision between the devices in one access opportunity and improving the transmission quality. Moreover, the first device in the embodiment of the present application does not need to maintain a counter, which is conducive to simplifying the implementation of the first device. In addition, since the first device does not need to maintain a counter, the second device does not need to send a QueryRep message, saving signaling overhead.

[0034] In an optional embodiment, the second indication information is included in a seventh message, wherein the seventh message is used to indicate the access of a first type of device, or to indicate the execution of a first service by a first type of device, wherein the first device is a device of the first type; or, the seventh message is used to indicate the execution of access by the first device, or to synchronize at least one device, or to resolve conflicts for the access of at least one device, or to start the next round of access process. The seventh message can be implemented in multiple types, or the second indication information can be sent through different messages. In addition, the above messages can also be combined, for example, the message for indicating the access of the first type of device can include part of the information of the second indication information, and the message for indicating the execution of access by the first device includes the remaining information of the second indication information, so that the first device can obtain the second indication information based on the two messages.

[0035] In an optional embodiment, the second indication information is used to determine one or more moments, and the second access moment is one of the one or more moments; or, the second indication information is used to determine one or more time durations, and the one or more time durations include a fourth time duration, and the second access moment is the moment when the fourth time duration arrives after the second moment.

[0036] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: receiving an eighth message; if the eighth message includes the second random information, determining that the access is successful; otherwise, determining that the access is failed.

[0037] In an optional embodiment, the method is applied to an AIoT device. For example, the first device is an AIoT device.

[0038] Regarding the technical effects brought about by various optional implementations of the third aspect, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the first aspect or corresponding implementations.

[0039] In a fourth aspect, a fourth communication method is provided, which is applied to the second device side, that is, the method can be executed by the second device. For the introduction of the second device, reference can be made to the second aspect. The method includes: sending a second indication information, wherein the second indication information indicates one or more of the following: a third duration, wherein the third duration is used to indicate the latest time for sending random information in an access opportunity; a second step length, wherein the second step length is the time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or a second number, wherein the second number is used to indicate the number of access moments within the third duration; detecting random information at a second access moment, wherein the second access moment is determined based on the second indication information, and the second indication information is used to determine the sending time of the random information.

[0040] In an optional implementation, the second indication information is determined according to the number of devices to be connected.

[0041] In an optional embodiment, the second indication information is included in a seventh message, wherein the seventh message is used to indicate access by a first type of device, or to indicate execution of a first service by a first type of device; or, the seventh message is used to indicate access by at least one device, or to synchronize at least one device, or to resolve conflicts in access by at least one device, or to start the next round of access process.

[0042] In an optional embodiment, the second indication information is used to determine one or more moments, and the second access moment is one of the one or more moments; or, the second indication information is used to determine one or more time durations, and the one or more time durations include a fourth time duration, and the second access moment is the moment when the fourth time duration arrives after the second moment, and the second moment is the sending moment of the seventh message, and the seventh message is used to indicate the access of the first type of device, or to indicate the first type of device to perform the first service, or to indicate at least one device to perform access.

[0043] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: sending an eighth message, where the eighth message includes the random information.

[0044] Regarding the technical effects brought about by the fourth aspect or various optional implementations, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the third aspect or corresponding implementations.

[0045] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the first device described in any one of the first to fourth aspects. The communication device possesses the functions of the first device. The communication device may be, for example, a standalone device, or a functional module or chip system (or chip) included in another device, wherein the chip system or functional module is capable of implementing the functions of the first device. The other device may be, for example, a network device or a terminal device. Optionally, the network device may include, for example, an interrogator, a reader / writer, an access network device, or a core network device; the terminal device may include, for example, a tag. In one optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). The transceiver unit is capable of implementing both transmitting and receiving functions. When the transceiver unit implements the transmitting function, it may be referred to as a transmitting unit (sometimes also referred to as a transmitting module); when the transceiver unit implements the receiving function, it may be referred to as a receiving unit (sometimes also referred to as a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional module, which is called a transceiver unit, and the functional module can realize the sending function and the receiving function; or the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a general term for these functional modules.

[0046] In an optional embodiment, the processing unit is used to obtain first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates one or more of the following: a first duration, the first duration is used to indicate the latest time for sending random information in an access opportunity; a first step, the first step is the time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or, a first number, the first number is used to indicate the number of access moments within the first duration; the transceiver unit (or, the sending unit) is used to send the first random information at the first access moment, wherein the first access moment is a moment after the first moment, the first moment is a moment associated with the value of the first counter being 0, and the first access moment is determined according to the first indication information, and the first counter is used to determine the sending time of the first random information.

[0047] In an optional embodiment, the processing unit is used to obtain second indication information, wherein the second indication information indicates one or more of the following: a third duration, the third duration is used to indicate the latest time for sending random information in an access opportunity; a second step, the second step is the time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or, a second number, the second number is used to indicate the number of access moments within the third duration; the transceiver unit (or, the sending unit) is used to send second random information at a second access moment, wherein the second access moment is a moment after the second moment, the second moment is the moment when the second indication information is received, and the second access moment is determined based on the second indication information.

[0048] In an optional embodiment, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, enabling the communication device to perform the function of the first device described in any one of the first to fourth aspects above.

[0049] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the second device described in any one of the first to fourth aspects. The communication device has the functions of the second device. The communication device is, for example, an independent device, or a functional module or chip system (or chip) included in other devices. The chip system or functional module can realize the functions of the second device. The other device is, for example, a network device or a terminal device. Optionally, the network device includes, for example, an interrogator, a reader / writer, an access network device or a core network device; the terminal device includes, for example, a tag. In an optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). For the implementation of the transceiver unit, please refer to the introduction of the fifth aspect.

[0050] In an optional embodiment, the transceiver unit (or, the sending unit) is used to send first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates one or more of the following: a first duration, the first duration is used to indicate the latest time for sending random information in an access opportunity; a first step, the first step is the time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or a first number, the first number is used to indicate the number of access moments within the first duration; the transceiver unit (or, the receiving unit) is used to detect random information at a first access moment, wherein the first access moment is determined based on the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine the sending time of the random information.

[0051] In an optional embodiment, the transceiver unit (or, the sending unit) is used to send second indication information, wherein the second indication information indicates one or more of the following: a third duration, the third duration is used to indicate the latest time for sending random information in an access opportunity; a second step, the second step is the time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or a second number, the second number is used to indicate the number of access moments within the third duration; the transceiver unit (or, the receiving unit) is used to detect random information at a second access moment, wherein the second access moment is determined based on the second indication information, and the second indication information is used to determine the sending time of the random information.

[0052] In an optional embodiment, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, enabling the communication device to perform the function of the second device described in any one of the first to fourth aspects above.

[0053] In a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a first device. The first device is, for example, an independent device, or a chip or chip system used in other devices, such as network devices or terminal devices. The communication device includes a processor, which is configured to cause the communication device to execute the method executed by the first device in the above aspects. Optionally, the processor is coupled to a memory, and when the processor reads the computer program or instruction, the communication device executes the method executed by the first device in the above aspects. The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions, and may be included in the communication device or may be provided outside the communication device. Optionally, the communication device also includes a communication interface, and the processor calls and runs the computer program or instruction from the communication interface.

[0054] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a second device. The second device is, for example, an independent device, or a chip or chip system used in other devices, such as network devices or terminal devices. The communication device includes a processor, which is configured to cause the communication device to execute the method executed by the second device in the above aspects. Optionally, the processor is coupled to a memory, and when the processor reads the computer program or instruction, the communication device executes the method executed by the second device in the above aspects. The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions, and may be included in the communication device or may be provided outside the communication device. Optionally, the communication device also includes a communication interface, and the processor calls and runs the computer program or instruction from the communication interface.

[0055] In the ninth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first device and a second device. The first device is used to execute the method performed by the first device as described in any one of the first to second aspects, and the second device is used to execute the method performed by the second device as described in any one of the first to second aspects; or, the first device is used to execute the method performed by the first device as described in any one of the third to fourth aspects, and the second device is used to execute the method performed by the second device as described in any one of the third to fourth aspects. For example, the first device can be implemented by the communication device described in the fifth or seventh aspect, and the second device can be implemented by the communication device described in the sixth or eighth aspect. Optionally, the communication system may also include other devices, such as devices of the first type, etc., which are not limited to this.

[0056] In a tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed, the method performed by the first device and / or the second device in the above aspects is implemented.

[0057] In an eleventh aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, wherein when the computer program or instructions are executed on a computer, the methods described in the above aspects are implemented.

[0058] In the twelfth aspect, a chip system is provided, comprising a processor and an interface, wherein the processor is used to call and execute instructions from the interface so that the chip system implements the above-mentioned methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the working mode of the reader and tag;

[0060] FIG2 is a flow chart of communication between an AIoT device and a network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] 3 to 7 are schematic diagrams of several communication systems applicable to embodiments of the present application;

[0062] Figures 8 to 10 are flowcharts of several communication methods provided in embodiments of the present application;

[0063] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of a device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of another device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] In the embodiments of the present application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "plural" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there may be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0067] In the embodiments of this application, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between multiple objects and are not used to define the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. Furthermore, the step numbers in the various embodiments described in this application are only used to distinguish different steps and are not used to define the order of the steps. For example, S801 may occur before S802, after S802, or simultaneously with S802.

[0068] Below, some terms or concepts in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0069] (1) In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, which can be a fixed device, a mobile device, a handheld device (such as a mobile phone), a wearable device, a vehicle-mounted device, or a wireless device built into the above devices (such as a communication module, a modem, or a chip system, etc.). The terminal device is used to connect people, objects, machines, etc., and can be widely used in various scenarios, such as but not limited to the following scenarios: perception scenarios, cellular communications, device-to-device communication (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X), machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, drones, robots, indoor commercial scenarios (such as mobile phone screen projection, file sharing, mobile phone to VR glasses video transmission) and other scenarios. When the terminal device is applied to V2X, it can also be called a V2X device, for example, a smart car (or intelligent car), a digital car, an unmanned car (or driverless car or pilotless car or automobile), a self-driving car (or autonomous car), a pure electric vehicle (or battery EV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a range-extended EV (REEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a new energy vehicle (new energy vehicle), or a roadside unit (RSU). The terminal device can also be a device used in D2D communication, such as an electricity meter or water meter.

[0070] Furthermore, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also include a terminal device in an IoT system, such as a tag in an IoT system. IoT is an important component of future information technology development. Its main technical feature is to connect objects to the network through communication technology, thereby realizing an intelligent network that interconnects humans and machines, and objects and things.

[0071] The terminal device may sometimes be referred to as UE, terminal, access station, UE station, remote station, wireless communication device, or user equipment, etc.

[0072] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device for implementing the terminal device function may be a terminal device, or may be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the terminal device. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the terminal device as an example in which the device for implementing the terminal device function is a terminal device. In addition, for ease of description, the terminal device in the embodiments of the present application is described by taking a UE as an example.

[0073] (2) The network devices in the embodiments of the present application include, for example, access network devices and / or core network devices. The access network devices are devices with wireless transceiver functions, which are used to communicate with the terminal devices. The access network devices include but are not limited to base stations (base transceiver stations (BTS), node B, evolved node B (eNodeB) / eNB, or the next generation node B (gNodeB) / gNB), transmission reception points (TRP), base stations subsequently evolved by the third generation partnership project (3GPP), access nodes in wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems, wireless relay nodes, wireless backhaul nodes, etc. The base stations can be: macro base stations, micro base stations, pico base stations, small stations, relay stations, etc. Multiple base stations can support networks with the same access technology, or they can support networks with different access technologies. The base station can include one or more co-station or non-co-station transmission and reception points. The access network device may also be a wireless controller, a centralized unit (CU), and / or a distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. The access network device may also be a server, etc. For example, the network device in the V2X technology may be a road side unit (RSU). The following describes the access network device using a base station as an example. The base station can communicate with the terminal device, or it can communicate with the terminal device through a relay station. The terminal device can communicate with multiple base stations in different access technologies. The core network device is used to implement functions such as mobility management, data processing, session management, policy and billing. The names of the devices that implement core network functions in systems with different access technologies may be different, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. Taking the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5G) system as an example, the core network equipment includes, for example, access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), policy control function (PCF) or user plane function (UPF), etc.

[0074] In the CU-DU architecture, the access network equipment may include one or more logical network elements such as a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU may be configured separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU may be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0075] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open RAN (ORAN) system, CU may also be called an open CU (open CU, O-CU), DU may also be called an open DU (open DU, O-DU), CU-CP may also be called an open CU-CP (open CU-CP, O-CU-CP), CU-UP may also be called an open CU-UP (open CU-CP, O-CU-UP), and RU may also be called an open RU (open RU, O-RU). For convenience of description, the embodiments of the present application are described by taking CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples. Any of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0076] Optionally, in various embodiments of the present application, if the network device is a distributed architecture, for example, the network device includes a CU and a DU, or includes a CU-CP, a CU-UP and a DU, then the network device sends information to the UE, specifically, the DU included in the network device sends information to the UE; the network device receives information from the UE, specifically, the DU included in the network device receives information from the UE.

[0077] In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, the network device may also include a network device in an IoT system, such as a reader or interrogator in the IoT system.

[0078] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device for implementing the network device function may be a network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the network device to implement the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the network device. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the network device as an example of the device for implementing the network device function being a network device.

[0079] (3) Devices in the IoT system.

[0080] IoT can include a variety of devices, such as AIoT devices that do not require batteries or have limited energy storage. For example, AIoT devices can be divided into two types: Type 1 and Type 2. Among them, Type 1 AIoT devices have an output power consumption of approximately 1μW, have a certain energy storage capacity, and do not have the ability to amplify downlink and uplink signals. Type 1 devices can only transmit information through backscatter of an externally provided carrier wave, and cannot generate signals on their own.

[0081] Type 2 AIoT devices have a peak power of no more than a few hundred μW, have energy storage capabilities, and are capable of amplifying downlink and / or uplink signals. Type 2 AIoT devices can generate signals themselves or reflect signals via an external carrier.

[0082] Alternatively, AIoT devices may also include other types of devices, for example, devices without energy storage capabilities, etc., without limitation. In the embodiments of the present application, "energy storage" may also be understood as capacity storage.

[0083] A tag may also be referred to as an electronic tag or a tag device. For example, a tag is implemented through an AIoT device, and the tag may also be referred to as an AIoT tag. In an embodiment of the present application, a tag may be used as a terminal device to communicate with a network device. Among them, "tag" is only an optional name, and the name may also change. For example, "AIoT tag" may also be changed to other names. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the name. For the convenience of description, the following text continues to use "tag" as an example.

[0084] In classification method 1, tags can be divided into three categories: passive tags, semi-passive tags, and active tags. Passive tags and semi-passive tags can use a reflection-based communication method, while active tags use an actively generated carrier communication method.

[0085] In classification method 2, tags can also be divided into three categories: device A, device B, and device C. Device A has no energy storage and cannot independently generate signals, but uses backscattering to transmit signals. Device B has energy storage but cannot independently generate signals, but uses backscattering to transmit signals. The energy stored in device B can amplify the reflected signal. Device C has energy storage, can independently generate signals, and has active RF components for transmission.

[0086] The AIoT tags in the embodiments of the present application can be classified according to classification method 1 or classification method 2, and the embodiments of the present application are applicable to AIoT tags of any category under classification method 1 or classification method 2. Alternatively, the AIoT tags in the embodiments of the present application are not classified according to these two classification methods, but are classified according to the classification method of the aforementioned AIoT devices, and the embodiments of the present application are applicable to AIoT tags of any category under this classification method. Alternatively, the AIoT tags in the embodiments of the present application may also have other classification methods or may not be classified, and there is no limitation on this.

[0087] The tag uses a low-precision, low-power medium-low frequency ring oscillator or a completely local oscillator to receive downlink signals. When the tag is working, the energy and / or carrier for communication comes from the reader, and communication is based on the reflected carrier. For example, as shown in Figure 1, the reader can send a carrier signal to the tag, and the tag receives the carrier signal through the antenna. The solid line in the figure is the carrier signal sent by the reader, and the dotted line represents the reflected signal transmitted by the tag based on the reflection of the carrier signal. The tag can adjust the information to be transmitted in the reflected signal. In the above manner, the tag uses a low-precision, low-power medium-low frequency ring oscillator or a completely local oscillator to receive downlink signals, which can further reduce the power consumption of the tag's downlink reception. Optionally, the carrier can also be understood as an excitation signal, and the carrier can be sent by a device other than the reader.

[0088] A tag is a miniature wireless transceiver, which mainly includes a built-in tag device antenna, a coupling element, and a chip. The tag chip has a storage space that can support the reader to read or write tag data. After the tag receives the radio frequency signal sent by the reader through the antenna, it can couple the radio frequency signal through the coupling element, and then provide energy to the tag chip within the coupling channel, and feed back the data stored in the chip to the reader through the antenna. A communication network based on cellular network infrastructure, including readers and tags, can be called a passive IOT network, or AIoT.

[0089] AIoT can be applied to passive or semi-passive IoT scenarios. For example, in logistics and warehousing scenarios, tags (such as AIoT tags) can be used to inventory and track goods, and the status of goods can be monitored during transportation. For example, in industrial manufacturing scenarios, tags can be used to monitor the environment and equipment status.

[0090] In AIoT, at least one of the following operations can be performed between a tag (such as an AIoT tag) and a reader: an inventory operation, a read operation, a write operation, a kill operation, or a lock operation.

[0091] An inventory operation, also known as a count operation, allows a tag's identity to be obtained. For example, a reader can obtain a tag's identity through commands such as query and acknowledgement (ACK). To facilitate tag inventory, tags can include four session identifiers, S0 to S3. Each session identifier corresponds to two inventory states, A and B, indicated by the sessInventoried flag. When a reader selects a tag, the select command sent to the tag may carry a session identifier, which the tag stores. When the reader performs an inventory operation on the tag, the query command sent to the tag will include the session identifier. The tag can then flip the inventory state corresponding to the session identifier from A to B. If the reader sends a query command to perform another inventory operation, the tag will not respond to the reader because its inventory state is B, thus preventing the same tag from being inventoried multiple times during a single inventory cycle.

[0092] The read operation can read the electronic product code (EPC) or tag identifier (TID) in the tag's storage area, or read the content stored in the tag's reserved area or the content stored in the user storage area.

[0093] Write operation can be used to write to the storage area of ​​the tag.

[0094] The kill operation can make the tag unable to work forever.

[0095] The lock operation can lock the information of the tag to prevent the tag from being read or written. Alternatively, the lock operation can also lock the storage area of ​​the tag to prohibit the storage area from being read or written.

[0096] The above are just examples. Other operations can be performed between the tag and the reader, which will not be explained one by one here.

[0097] In the AIoT, an AIoT device can first connect to a network device and then perform data transmission with the network device. The network device can be, for example, a reader or interrogator. Refer to Figure 2, which illustrates a communication process between an AIoT device and a network device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. In the description of Figure 2, the example of a network device performing an inventory operation on an AIoT device is used.

[0098] S201: A network device sends message 1. Correspondingly, an AIoT device receives message 1.

[0099] Message 1 may indicate an inventory or check of AIoT devices. For example, if a network device wants to check the inventory of AIoT devices, it may send Message 1. Message 1 may be a select message or a paging message. Figure 2 uses Message 1 as an example of a paging message.

[0100] S201 may be included in a first process, and the first process is, for example, a selection process or a paging process.

[0101] S202: The network device sends message 2. Correspondingly, the AIoT device receives message 2.

[0102] Message 2 may be used for one or more AIoT devices to send a random number (RN) based on message 2. Message 2 is also called a query message, and FIG2 takes message 2 as an example of a request message.

[0103] Message 2 may indicate a Q value, and the AIoT device that receives message 2 may determine an initial value of the counter based on the Q value.

[0104] S203: The AIoT device sends a random number, and the network device receives the random number accordingly.

[0105] The AIoT device can send the random number when the corresponding conditions are met, such as that the counter maintained by the AIoT device is 0. For example, after the AIoT device receives message 2, it can determine a value based on message 2, which can be used as the initial value of the counter. For example, the value is (0, 2 Q -1). When the counter decrements from this initial value to 0, the AIoT device can send a random number.

[0106] If the initial value is 0, the AIoT device can send the random number. Alternatively, if the initial value is not 0, the AIoT device can gradually decrement the counter. For example, the AIoT device can receive message 3 from the network device. Each time it receives message 3, the AIoT device can decrement the counter by 1 until the counter reaches 0. Message 3 is, for example, a repeat request (QueryRep) message.

[0107] Among them, in an inventory process, one or more rounds of access process may be experienced. For example, if all the AIoT devices to be inventoried cannot be accessed through one round of access process, the next round of access process may be carried out. In a round of access process, one or more time units may be included, each of which may also be referred to as a time slot, or may also be referred to as an access opportunity (or access opportunity, etc.), which will be described as an access opportunity in the following text. Among them, the "time slot" here may not be the same concept as the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) time slot. For example, the lengths of the two may be the same or different. In addition, the lengths of different access opportunities included in an access process may be the same or different. For example, the length of the access opportunity may be controlled by a network device.

[0108] During an access opportunity, one or more AIoT devices may be able to send random numbers, for example, if the counter of these AIoT devices is 0; while some AIoT devices may not be able to send random numbers, for example, if the counter of these AIoT devices is not 0. The network device only sends message 3 once in a time unit; the network device also only sends message 2 once in a time unit, where message 2 and message 3 do not exist in the same time unit. For example, during a round of access, the network device sends message 2 in the first time unit and sends message 3 in all subsequent time units. For this, please refer to Figure 2, which uses three time units as an example.

[0109] For an AIoT device, if the value of the counter of the AIoT device is 0 in the first time unit of a round of access process (that is, the initial value of the counter is 0), the AIoT device can send a random number in the first time unit without having to receive message 3 in subsequent time units. Alternatively, if the value of the counter of the AIoT device is not 0 in the first time unit, the AIoT device does not send a random number in the first time unit, but waits until the second time unit of the round of access process to receive message 3; in the second time unit, if the value of the counter of the AIoT device decreases to 0, the AIoT sends a random number in the second time unit, otherwise, the AIoT device will continue to receive message 3 in the third time unit of the round of access process, and so on.

[0110] Optionally, the method may further include the following S204 to S205.

[0111] S204: The network device sends a confirmation message. Correspondingly, the AIoT device receives the confirmation message, which may be, for example, an acknowledgment (ACK).

[0112] The confirmation message may include the random number received by the network device. For an AIoT device, if the received confirmation message includes the random number sent by the AIoT device, it means that the AIoT device has successfully connected to the network device or the random number has been sent successfully. If the confirmation message does not include the random number sent by the AIoT device, it means that the AIoT device has failed to connect to the network device or the random number has failed to be sent.

[0113] S205: The AIoT device sends an identifier of the AIoT device, and the network device receives the identifier of the AIoT device.

[0114] For example, if an AIoT device determines that the AIoT has successfully accessed the network device or that the random number has been successfully sent, the AIoT device can send the identifier of the AIoT device so that the network device obtains the identifier of the AIoT device. For example, the identifier of the AIoT device can include the EPC or TID of the AIoT device.

[0115] Among them, S202 to S205 may be included in the second process, which is, for example, called an inventory process, or a random access process, or a process for an AIoT device to access a network, etc. Through the second process, the network device can obtain the identifier of the AIoT device.

[0116] Optionally, the communication process may also include S206, where the AIoT device transmits data with the network device.

[0117] In S206, for example, the network device may send a downlink command (DL command), which may indicate a corresponding operation, such as a read operation or a write operation. For example, if the DL command is a read operation, the DL command may indicate the characteristics of the data to be read; for another example, if the DL command is a write operation, the DL command may include data to be written to the AIoT device. Optionally, the DL command may also include an identifier of the AIoT device, so that the AIoT device can clearly determine whether to execute the DL command.

[0118] After receiving the DL command, the AIoT device can perform the corresponding operation accordingly. For example, if the DL command is a read operation, the AIoT device can read data that meets the characteristics of the data indicated by the read operation from the storage area of ​​the AIoT device and send the data so that the network device receives the data. For another example, if the DL command is a write operation, the AIoT device can write the data carried by the DL command to the storage area of ​​the AIoT device.

[0119] Among them, S206 may be included in the third process, which is called, for example, an access process, or a command process, etc. Through the third process, the network device can implement operations on the AIoT device.

[0120] As shown in Figure 2, the embodiments of the present application provide a method for AIoT devices to access the network, enabling AIoT devices to communicate with the network. Furthermore, according to the communication process described in Figure 2, multiple AIoT devices may be able to send random numbers within a time unit during a round of access, which may cause conflicts in the sending process and affect transmission quality.

[0121] In view of this, in an embodiment of the present application, when a first device (e.g., an AIoT device) accesses a network, it transmits the first random information at a first access moment after the first moment, rather than at the first moment. The first moment is, for example, a moment associated with the value of the first counter being 0. For example, the first moment can be the moment when the value of the first counter is 0; or the first moment can be the moment when a message is received that sets the value of the first counter to 0. For example, after receiving the message, the first device can decrement the value of the first counter, and the value of the first counter after decrement is 0. The specific implementation of this message will be described in the embodiments below. For example, when the first moment arrives, the first device waits for a period of time until the first access moment before transmitting again. The waiting period is determined based on the first indication information. For example, different devices may have different waiting times determined based on the first indication information. Therefore, even if two devices have the same first moment in an access opportunity (or a time unit), the different waiting times of the two devices allow the two devices to transmit at different times in that access opportunity, thereby reducing the probability of collision between devices in a single access opportunity and improving transmission quality.

[0122] FIG3 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG3 , the communication system includes a network device and an AIoT device. The AIoT device can be a standalone device, or it can be integrated with a terminal device, that is, the AIoT device is part of the terminal device. In this communication system, the network device can communicate with the AIoT device.

[0123] FIG4 shows a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG4 , the communication system includes a terminal device and an AIoT device. The AIoT device can be a standalone device or integrated with the terminal device. In this communication system, the terminal device can communicate with the AIoT device.

[0124] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 5, the communication system includes a network device, a relay node, and an AIoT device, wherein the relay node forwards information between the network device and the AIoT device. Figure 5 takes the terminal device as an example of a relay node. The relay node can also be other devices besides the terminal device, such as a network device. For example, the network device is located outdoors, and the terminal device and the AIoT device are located indoors, which is equivalent to the outdoor network device communicating with the indoor AIoT device through the indoor relay node.

[0125] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 6, the communication system includes a network device, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node and an AIoT device. The communication system may also include other devices, such as terminal devices. In this communication system, the IAB node can serve as a relay node between the network device and the AIoT device. The AIoT device transmits information to the IAB node, and the IAB node forwards the information to the network device through the Uu interface; alternatively, the network device transmits information to the IAB node, and the IAB node forwards the information to the AIoT device.

[0126] In an embodiment of the present application, the communication system including the network device, the terminal device and the AIoT device can also be a system with a separated architecture. As shown in Figure 7, in this communication system, the network device and the terminal device can communicate directly with each other. In addition, there can be an uplink connection between the AIoT device and the network device, and a downlink connection between the AIoT and the terminal device. The terminal device can transmit information to the AIoT device, and the AIoT device then forwards the information to the network device. Alternatively, there is a downlink connection between the AIoT device and the network device, and an uplink connection between the AIoT device and the terminal device. The network device can transmit information to the AIoT device, and the AIoT device then forwards the information to the terminal network device. Optionally, the energy required for the AIoT device to send information can be provided by an excitation signal, and the excitation signal can come from the network device, from the terminal device, or from other devices other than the network device and the terminal device.

[0127] The network architecture and the above communication process described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0128] The following describes the method provided by the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the various embodiments of the present application, the relevant concept of "access opportunity" can be introduced with reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 2 above. In the various embodiments of the present application, the random information may include access-related information, for example, the information is used for the AIoT device (such as the first device) to perform access. The access process is, for example, a random access process, and the random information may be information related to random access. The random information includes, for example, a random number, a random value, a preamble, a random identifier or one or more of the identifiers, or may also include other information. In the accompanying drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of the present application, all steps represented by dotted lines are optional steps. The various embodiments of this document can be applied to the network architecture shown in any of the drawings in Figures 3 to 7. For example, the second device described in the various embodiments of this document can be a network device in any of Figures 3, 5, 6 or 7, and the first device described in the various embodiments of this document can be an AIoT device in any of Figures 3 to 7. Alternatively, the second device described in the various embodiments of this document can be a terminal device in Figure 4, and the first device described in the various embodiments of this document can be an AIoT device in Figure 4.

[0129] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. Please refer to FIG8 , which is a flowchart of the method.

[0130] S801. The first device obtains first indication information.

[0131] The first device may determine a time for sending random information based on the first indication information. Alternatively, in embodiments of the present application, the time capable of or used to send random information may be referred to as an access moment, and the first device may determine an access moment for sending random information based on the first indication information. Optionally, the first indication information may indicate one or more of the following: a first duration, a first step length, or a first quantity.

[0132] The first duration may indicate the latest time for sending random information in an access opportunity. For example, in an access opportunity, each device may send random information earlier than the latest time indicated by the first duration; in this access opportunity, the second device may continue to detect random information until the latest time is reached, at which time it stops detecting random information, thereby being able to receive random information from each device. For example, the first duration may also be referred to as the maximum response time, the random response time, the latest response time, or the latest time for sending a random number, etc., without limitation to the name. It can be understood that the first duration may be the maximum response time, the random response time, the latest response time, or the latest time for sending a random number, etc. in an access opportunity.

[0133] In an optional implementation, the first duration may include processing time, which can be used by the first device to perform one or more of the following: processing a message received from the second device, processing a counter, or generating random information. For example, the processing time may include the time from when the first device receives a message from the second device until it completes processing a counter (e.g., a first counter) based on the message. Optionally, the message from the second device is, for example, a message that sets the value of the first counter to 0, which will be described later. Optionally, the processing time is determined by the second device based on historical information or experience information. This processing time is applicable not only to the second device, but also to other devices.

[0134] For example, if the first duration includes processing time, the first moment may be the moment when the first device receives the third message, and the third message may be used to determine that the value of the first counter is 0. Features such as the first moment and the first counter will be described later.

[0135] In another optional implementation, the first duration may not include the processing time. For example, the first moment may be the moment when the value of the first counter is 0, or the moment when the first device generates the first random information after the value of the first counter is 0.

[0136] The first step length is the time interval between two access moments within the first duration. The first duration may include one or more access moments, and the first step length is, for example, the time interval between two temporally adjacent access moments within the first duration. Optionally, the time intervals between different adjacent access moments within the first duration may be the same, that is, the first duration may be divided into multiple equal time periods, each of which may be the length of the first step length.

[0137] Among them, because different devices can obtain the first indication information (for example, Figure 8 includes a first device and a third device, and both the first device and the third device can obtain the first indication information), the different devices will determine the time for sending random information based on the first indication information. If the first step length is less than the time for sending random information, and the time for sending random information determined by the two devices is two adjacent access moments indicated by the first indication information, then the transmissions of the two devices may still collide. To this end, optionally, the first step length can be greater than or equal to the time for sending random information to further reduce transmission collisions.

[0138] The first quantity may indicate the number of access moments included in the first duration. Among them, any one or both of the two access moments, the start moment and the end moment of the first duration, may be considered to be included in the first duration, or may also be considered not to be included in the first duration. For example, if the start moment of the first duration is considered to be included in the first duration, and the end moment of the first duration is considered not to be included in the first duration, then the number of access moments included in the first duration indicated by the first quantity may be equal to the number of time periods into which the first duration is divided. In this case, the first quantity may be considered to indicate the number of access moments included in the first duration, or may be considered to indicate the number of time periods into which the first duration is divided. For another example, if the end moment of the first duration is considered to be included in the first duration, and the start moment of the first duration is considered not to be included in the first duration, then the number of access moments included in the first duration indicated by the first quantity may be equal to the number of time periods into which the first duration is divided. The number of time periods into which a duration is divided. In this case, the first number can be considered to indicate the number of access moments included in the first duration, or the number of time periods into which the first duration is divided. For another example, if both the start time and the end time of the first duration are considered to be included in the first duration, the number of access moments included in the first duration indicated by the first number can be equal to the number of time periods into which the first duration is divided plus 1. For another example, if both the start time and the end time of the first duration are considered to be excluded from the first duration, the number of access moments included in the first duration indicated by the first number can be equal to the number of time periods into which the first duration is divided minus 1. Whether the number of access moments indicated by the first number includes the start time and / or the end time of the first duration can be predefined by a protocol, or by a default rule, or indicated by the second device, or preconfigured in the first device and the second device. Therefore, the first device can determine the number of access moments in the first duration based on the first number.

[0139] The first device determines the time for sending random information according to the first indication information, which can be implemented in different ways.

[0140] As an optional implementation manner for the first device to determine the time for sending the random information, the first device may determine time A based on the first indication information. For example, time A is an access time, and the first access time may be determined based on time A. For example, the first indication information may be used to determine one or more times, and time A belongs to the one or more times. The one or more times may be, for example, some or all of the access times included in the first duration.

[0141] In one example, the first device can determine some or all of the access moments within the first duration based on the first indication information, and then select an access moment from the one or more access moments as moment A. One selection method is, for example, random selection, or the first device can also adopt other selection methods. For example, the first indication information indicates the first duration and the first step length, the first duration is 10 milliseconds (ms), and the first step length is 2ms. The first device can thereby determine that the access moments within the first duration include the 0th ms, the 2nd ms, the 4th ms, the 6th ms, and the 8th ms. These access moments can be regarded as candidate access moments. The first device can randomly select one from the candidate access moments as moment A, for example, the first device selects 2ms.

[0142] In another example, although the first indication information can be used to determine one or more moments, the first device does not actually determine all of the one or more moments, but instead only determines moment A based on the first indication information. For example, the first device obtains a random number based on the first indication information, and the random number indicates moment A. For example, the first indication information indicates a first duration and a first step duration, where the first duration is 10 ms and the first step duration is 2 ms. The first device randomly determines the 4th ms based on the first duration and the first step duration, and uses the 4th ms as moment A, but does not determine access times such as the 0th ms, 2nd ms, 6th ms, and 8th ms.

[0143] In another example, the first device may determine the first random number based on the first indication information, and the access moment corresponding to the first random number within the first time length is moment A. For example, the first random number may indicate the sequence number of moment A within the first time length. Optionally, the first device may determine the first random number based on the first quantity. The first quantity may be, for example, a parameter included or indicated by the first indication information, or the first indication information does not indicate the first quantity. The first device may determine the first quantity based on the content indicated by the first indication information. The first random number is, for example, represented by N. Optionally, N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first quantity. Optionally, in various embodiments of the present application, the method of determining the first random number may include randomly selecting a random number that meets the value requirements of N as the first random number, or randomly selecting a number from the values ​​that meet the value requirements of N as the first random number, etc.

[0144] For example, the first indication information indicates a first duration and a first quantity, and the first device determines a first random number N. For example, the first device may determine the first random number N based on the first quantity. The first device may use the Nth access moment within the first duration as moment A. For example, the first duration is 10ms, the first quantity is 5, and the first device determines the first random number N to be 3 based on the first quantity, that is, the third access moment within the first duration is moment A. The access moments within the first duration indicated by the first indication information include 0ms, 2ms, 4ms, 6ms, and 8ms, and the third access moment is 4ms, that is, moment A at this time is 4ms.

[0145] Or, for another example, the first indication information indicates the first duration and the first step duration, and the first device can determine the first quantity based on the first duration and the first step duration, for example, the first quantity is the value of the first duration divided by the first step duration. Then, the first device can determine the first random number N based on the first quantity. The first device can use the Nth access moment in the first duration as moment A. For example, the first duration is 10ms, the first step duration is 2ms, the first device determines the first quantity as 10÷2=5 based on the first duration and the first step duration, and the first device determines the first random number N as 3 based on the first quantity, that is, the third access moment in the first duration is used as moment A, wherein the access moments in the first duration indicated by the first indication information include 0ms, 2ms, 4ms, 6ms, and 8ms, and the third access moment is 4ms, that is, moment A is 4ms.

[0146] Alternatively, for another example, the first indication information indicates the first step length and the first quantity, and the first device determines the first random number N. For example, the first device determines the first random number N based on the first quantity. The first device may use the access moment corresponding to the Nth first step length as moment A. For example, the first step length is 2 ms and the first quantity is 5. The first device determines the first random number N to be 3 based on the first quantity, that is, the access moment corresponding to the third first step length is used as moment A. The access moment corresponding to the third first step length is (3-1)×2ms=4ms, that is, moment A is the 4th ms.

[0147] In another example, the first device may determine some or all of the access times within the first duration and a first random number based on the first indication information. The manner in which the first device determines the first random number can be referenced above. The first random number is, for example, represented by N, where N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first number.

[0148] For example, the first indication information indicates a first duration and a first quantity. The first device may determine part or all of the access moments within the first duration based on the first duration and the first quantity. In addition, the first device may also determine a first random number N based on the first quantity. The first device may use the Nth access moment within the first duration as moment A. For example, the first duration is 10ms, the first quantity is 5, and the first device determines that the access moments within the first duration include the 0th ms, the 2nd ms, the 4th ms, the 6th ms, and the 8th ms based on the first duration and the first quantity. The first device determines that the first random number N is 3 based on the first quantity. Then, the third access moment within the first duration indicated by the first indication information is moment A, that is, the 4th ms is moment A.

[0149] Alternatively, for another example, the first indication information indicates a first duration and a first step duration. The first device may determine some or all access moments within the first duration based on the first duration and the first step duration. Furthermore, the first device may determine a first quantity based on the first duration and the first step duration. For example, the first quantity is the value of the first duration divided by the first step duration. The first device may then determine a first random number N based on the first quantity. The first device may use the Nth access moment within the first duration as moment A. For example, the first duration is 10 ms and the first step duration is 2 ms. The first device determines, based on the first duration and the first step duration, that the access moments within the first duration include the 0th ms, the 2nd ms, the 4th ms, the 6th ms, and the 8th ms. The first device further determines, based on the first duration and the first step duration, a first quantity of 10 ÷ 2 = 5. The first device determines, based on the first quantity, a first random number N of 3. That is, the third access moment within the first duration is used as moment A. The third access moment is the 4th ms, i.e., moment A is the 4th ms.

[0150] Alternatively, for another example, the first indication information indicates a first step length and a first quantity. The first device may determine some or all access moments within the first duration based on the first step length and the first quantity. The first device may also determine a first random number N. For example, the first device may determine the first random number N based on the first quantity. The first device may use the Nth access moment within the first duration as moment A. For example, the first step length is 2 ms and the first quantity is 5. The first device may determine, based on the first step length and the first quantity, access moments including the 0th ms, the 2nd ms, the 4th ms, the 6th ms, and the 8th ms. The first device may determine, based on the first quantity, the first random number N to be 3, i.e., the third access moment is used as moment A. The third access moment is the 4th ms, i.e., moment A is the 4th ms.

[0151] As another optional implementation method for the first device to determine the time for sending random information, the first device can determine a second duration based on the first indication information, and the second duration can be used to determine the time for sending random information. For example, the second duration is the time interval between the first access moment and the first moment, or the first access moment is the moment when the second duration arrives after the first moment, or the first access moment is the moment when the end moment of the second duration arrives after the first moment. The first moment will be introduced later. For example, the first indication information can be used to determine one or more durations, and the second duration belongs to the one or more durations. The maximum duration of the one or more durations can be less than or equal to the first duration. Any one of the one or more durations can be an integer multiple of the first duration.

[0152] In one example, the first device can determine one or more durations based on the first indication information, and then select a duration from the one or more durations as the second duration. One selection method is, for example, random selection, or the first device can also adopt other selection methods. For example, the first indication information indicates the first duration and the first number (wherein the first number is equal to the number of time periods into which the first duration is divided), the first duration is 10ms, and the first number is 5. The first device can thereby determine several durations such as 0ms, 2ms, 4ms, 6ms, and 8ms, which can be regarded as candidate durations. The first device can randomly select one from the candidate durations as the second duration. For example, the first device selects 2ms as the second duration.

[0153] In another example, although the first indication information can be used to determine one or more durations, the first device does not actually determine the one or more durations. Instead, the first device only determines the second duration based on the first indication information. For example, the first device obtains a random number based on the first indication information, and the random number indicates the second duration. For example, the first indication information indicates a first duration and a first quantity, the first duration is 10ms, and the first quantity is 5. The first device randomly determines 2ms as the second duration based on the first duration and the first quantity, and does not determine durations such as 0ms, 4ms, 6ms, or 8ms.

[0154] In another example, the first device may determine a first random number based on the first indication information, and the first random number may be used to determine the second duration. For details on how the first device determines the first random number, please refer to the above. Optionally, N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first number; or, N is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than the first number.

[0155] For example, the first indication information indicates a first duration and a first quantity, and the first device determines a first random number N. For example, the first device may determine the first random number N based on the first quantity. The first device may also determine a first step duration based on the first duration and the first quantity. For example, the first step duration is the value of the first duration divided by the first quantity, where N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first quantity. The first device may use (N-1) × the first step duration within the first duration as the second duration; or, alternatively, N is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than the first quantity. The first device may use N × the first step duration within the first duration as the second duration. For example, if the first duration is 10ms and the first quantity is 5, the first device may determine the first step duration to be 10 ÷ 5 = 2ms based on the first duration and the first quantity. If N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first quantity, the first device may determine the first random number N to be 3 based on the first quantity, i.e., the second duration is (3-1) × 2 = 4ms. Among them, the one or more time lengths determined by the first device according to the first time length and the first quantity include (10÷5)×(1-1)=0ms, (10÷5)×(2-1)=2ms, (10÷5)×(3-1)=4ms, (10÷5)×(4-1)=6ms, and (10÷5)×(5-1)=8ms.

[0156] Alternatively, for another example, the first indication information indicates the first duration and the first step duration, and the first device may further determine a first quantity based on the first duration and the first step duration, for example, the first quantity is the value of the first duration divided by the first step duration. The first device may determine a first random number N based on the first quantity, where N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first quantity, and the first device may use (N-1)×the first step duration within the first duration as the second duration; or, N is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than the first quantity, and the first device may use N×the first step duration within the first duration as the second duration. For example, the first duration is 10ms and the first step duration is 2ms. The first device determines the first quantity to be 10÷2=5 based on the first duration and the first step duration. N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first quantity, and the first device determines the first random number N to be 3 based on the first quantity, that is, the second duration is (3-1)×2=4ms. Among them, the one or more time lengths determined by the first device based on the first time length and the first step length include 2×(1-1)=0ms, 2×(2-1)=2ms, 2×(3-1)=4ms, 2×(4-1)=6ms, and 2×(5-1)=8ms.

[0157] Alternatively, for another example, the first indication information indicates the first step length and the first quantity, and the first device determines a first random number N. For example, the first device determines the first random number N based on the first quantity. Where N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first quantity, the first device may use the (N-1)th first step length as the second duration; or, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than the first quantity, the first device may use N×the first step length within the first duration as the second duration. For example, the first step length is 2ms, the first quantity is 5, and N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first quantity. The first device determines the first random number N to be 3 based on the first quantity, i.e., the second duration is (3-1)×2=4ms. The one or more durations determined by the first device based on the first step length and the first quantity include 2×(1-1)=0ms, 2×(2-1)=2ms, 2×(3-1)=4ms, 2×(4-1)=6ms, and 2×(5-1)=8ms.

[0158] In another example, the first device may determine one or more durations and a first random number based on the first indication information. The manner in which the first device determines the first random number can be found in the preceding text. The first random number is, for example, represented by N, where N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first number; or N is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than the first number.

[0159] For example, the first indication information indicates a first duration and a first quantity. The first device can determine the first step according to the first duration and the first quantity. For example, the first step is the value of the first duration divided by the first quantity. The first device can also determine one or more durations. For example, the one or more durations include the first step × (1-1) ms, the first step × (2-1) ms, ..., the first step × (first quantity - 1) ms. The first device can also determine a first random number N. For example, the first device determines the first random number N according to the first quantity. For example, N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first quantity. The first device can use the Nth duration among the one or more durations as the second duration. For example, the first duration is 10ms and the first number is 5. The first device determines the first duration as 10÷5=2ms based on the first duration and the first number. The one or more durations determined by the first device include (10÷5)×(1-1)=0ms, (10÷5)×(2-1)=2ms, (10÷5)×(3-1)=4ms, (10÷5)×(4-1)=6ms, and (10÷5)×(5-1)=8ms. The first device determines the first random number N as 3 based on the first number. The first device may use the third duration as the second duration, that is, the second duration is 4ms.

[0160] Alternatively, for another example, the first indication information indicates a first duration and a first step duration, and the first device may determine a first quantity based on the first duration and the first step duration, for example, the first quantity being the first duration divided by the first step duration. The first device may also determine one or more durations, for example, the one or more durations including first step duration × (1-1) ms, first step duration × (2-1) ms, ..., first step duration × (first quantity - 1) ms. The first device may also determine a first random number N, for example, the first device determines the first random number N based on the first quantity, for example, N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first quantity. The first device may use the Nth duration of the one or more durations as the second duration. For example, the first duration is 10 ms and the first step is 2 ms. The first device determines the first quantity as 10 ÷ 2 = 5 based on the first duration and the first step duration. The one or more durations determined by the first device include 2 × (1-1) = 0 ms, 2 × (2-1) = 2 ms, 2 × (3-1) = 4 ms, 2 × (4-1) = 6 ms, and 2 × (5-1) = 8 ms. The first device determines that the first random number N is 3 according to the first quantity, and the first device uses the third duration as the second duration, that is, the second duration is 4ms.

[0161] Alternatively, for another example, the first indication information indicates the first step length and the first quantity, and the first device may determine one or more durations, for example, the one or more durations include the first step length × (1-1) ms, the first step length × (2-1) ms, ..., the first step length × (first quantity - 1) ms. The first device may also determine a first random number N, for example, the first device determines the first random number N based on the first quantity, where N is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to the first quantity. The first device may use the Nth duration of the one or more durations as the second duration. For example, the first step length is 2 ms and the first quantity is 5. The first device may determine one or more durations including 2 × (1-1) = 0 ms, 2 × (2-1) = 2 ms, 2 × (3-1) = 4 ms, 2 × (4-1) = 6 ms, and 2 × (5-1) = 8 ms. The first device determines the first random number N to be 3 based on the first quantity, and the first device uses the third duration as the second duration, i.e., the second duration is 4 ms.

[0162] In the above example, the first indication information directly indicates a specific time, for example, directly indicating that the first duration is 10ms. Alternatively, the first indication information can also be indicated indirectly. Optionally, the first indication information can indicate an index, where one index corresponds to a set of parameters, where the set of parameters can include one or more of the first duration, the first step length, or the first quantity, so that the corresponding parameters can be determined using different indexes. The first indication information does not need to indicate a specific time, which can also reduce the overhead of the first indication information.

[0163] The above describes the implementation method of the first indication information. The following describes the method in which the first device obtains the first indication information.

[0164] Optionally, the first indication information may be information predefined by a protocol, and the first device can obtain the first indication information according to the information predefined by the protocol.

[0165] Alternatively, the first device may receive the first indication information, for example, the first indication information is included in the fourth message. The fourth message may come from the second device, or may also come from another device other than the first device and the second device.

[0166] The fourth message, for example, indicates access to the first type of device, or indicates that the first type of device executes the first service, or is used to page the first type of device, etc. For example, the fourth message is a paging message or a select message, or it can also be other messages that can achieve similar functions. At this time, the first indication information can correspond to the first type of device, or to the current service (for example, the first service). Any device of the first type or any device that executes the current service can use the first indication information. For example, the first indication information can be used regardless of whether one or multiple rounds of access procedures are executed. The first service is, for example, an inventory service, or it can be other services, such as a read service or a write service.

[0167] Alternatively, the fourth message may instruct at least one device to access, instruct at least one device to perform random access, indicate information for determining the initial value of the first counter, be used for synchronization of at least one device, resolve access conflicts for at least one device, or initiate the next round of access procedures, etc. The at least one device may include the first device, and optionally, the third device in Figure 8 . For example, the fourth message may be a query message, or other message capable of achieving similar functionality. In this case, the first indication information may correspond to the current access round (i.e., the access round in which the first device received the first indication information) or the current service round. For example, if the next access round is to be performed after the current access round, the second device may send the first indication information again. This approach facilitates the updating of the first indication information. For example, after the completion of a round of access procedures, some devices of the first type may have already accessed the second device, reducing the number of devices to be accessed. The second device may assess the number of devices to be accessed and, therefore, reduce the time indicated by the first indication information (e.g., by reducing the first duration) in the next access round to reduce conflicts and access latency at a finer granularity.

[0168] Alternatively, the fourth message may be used to decrement the first counter, or to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, or to indicate the next device to access, or to indicate the next access opportunity, or to synchronize at least one device, or to resolve access conflicts for at least one device. For example, the fourth message may be a QueryRep message, or it may be another message capable of performing similar functions. In this case, the first indication information may correspond to the current access opportunity (i.e., the access opportunity for which the first device received the first indication information). For example, if the current access opportunity ends and the next access opportunity begins, the second device may send the first indication information again. This approach facilitates the updating of the first indication information. For example, after an access opportunity ends, some devices of the first type may have already accessed the second device, thus reducing the number of devices to access. The second device may assess the number of devices to access and, therefore, reduce the time indicated by the first indication information (e.g., by reducing the first duration) in the next access opportunity to reduce conflicts and access latency at a finer granularity.

[0169] Alternatively, the fourth message may also be other broadcast messages other than the above types of messages, such as a message dedicated to sending the first indication information, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0170] Alternatively, the above-mentioned messages may be combined. For example, the second device may first indicate the first list through a paging message, a select message, or other broadcast messages other than the above-mentioned types of messages. The first list may include a correspondence between an index and a parameter, wherein one index may correspond to a set of parameters, wherein a set of parameters may include one or more of a first duration, a first step, or a first quantity. For example, the first list may include one or more correspondences, wherein one correspondence is a correspondence between an index and a set of parameters. For example, the first list may include a correspondence between a first index and a set of parameters A, a correspondence between a second index and a set of parameters B, a correspondence between an Mth index and a set of parameters M, and so on, where M is a positive integer. In addition, the second device may send the first indication information through a query message or a QueryRep message or other messages with similar functions. The first indication information may indicate an index in the first list. The first device then queries the first list to determine the parameters indicated by the first indication information, thereby determining the time for sending random information. For another example, the second device may first indicate partial information for determining the time to send the random information through a paging message, a select message, or other broadcast message other than the above types of messages, and then send the remaining information for determining the time to send the random information through a query message, a QueryRep message, or other messages with similar functions, so that the first device can obtain the information for determining the time to send the random information. For example, the second device may first indicate a first duration through a paging message, and then indicate a first duration through a query message. The first device may determine the time to send the random information based on the paging message and the query message.

[0171] Alternatively, the method predefined by the protocol and the method indicated by the second device can also be combined. For example, the protocol can predefine partial information for determining the time to send random information, and the second device then sends the remaining information for determining the time to send random information through the first indication information, so that the first device can obtain the information for determining the time to send random information. For example, the protocol predefines a first step length, and the second device indicates a first duration through the first indication information. The first device can determine the time for sending random information based on the information predefined by the protocol and the first indication information. For another example, the protocol can predefine the above-mentioned first list, and the second device then sends the first indication information. The first indication information can indicate an index in the first list. The first device can determine the time for sending random information based on the first list predefined by the protocol and the first indication information.

[0172] S802: The first device sends first random information at the first access time. Correspondingly, the second device receives the first random information at the first access time.

[0173] The first access moment is a moment after the first moment, and the first access moment is determined by the first device according to the first indication information. For the method of determining the first access moment, please refer to the relevant introduction of S801.

[0174] The first moment is a moment associated with the value of the first counter being 0. The first counter is a counter maintained by the first device, which can be used to determine the sending time of the first random information. For example, the second device can send the first information, and correspondingly, the first device can receive the first information, as shown in S803 in Figure 8. Figure 8 also includes a third device, and the third device can also receive the first information, for example, the first information is broadcast. The first information can be used to determine the initial value of the first counter. For example, the first information includes a Q value, and the Q value can be used to determine the initial value of the first counter. The initial value can be greater than or equal to 0. For example, one way for the first device to determine the initial value based on the Q value is that the initial value can be (0, 2 Q -1).

[0175] Optionally, the first moment may be the moment when the value of the first counter reaches 0, or the moment when a third message is received. The third message can be used to determine that the value of the first counter reaches 0, or the moment when the first device generates the first random information after the value of the first counter reaches 0. For example, after receiving the third message, the first device may set or decrement the value of the first counter. After the setting or decrement, the value of the first counter reaches 0. The third message may, for example, instruct at least one device to perform access, instruct at least one device to perform random access, or indicate information used to determine the initial value of the first counter, or be used for at least one device to acquire synchronization, or perform access conflict resolution for at least one device, or be used to initiate the next access round, such as a query message. Alternatively, the third message may be used to decrement the first counter, or to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, or to instruct the next device to access, or to indicate the next access opportunity, or to enable at least one device to acquire synchronization, or to perform access conflict resolution for at least one device, such as a QueryRep message. The at least one device may include the first device and, optionally, may also include the third device shown in FIG. 8 .

[0176] For example, if the initial value is 0, and the first moment is when the value of the first counter is 0, then the moment when the value of the first counter reaches the initial value can be the first moment. Alternatively, if the initial value is 0, and the first moment is when the third message is received, then the first moment can be when the first device receives the first information, where the third message is, for example, a query message. Alternatively, if the initial value is 0, the first moment can also be when the first device generates the first random information based on the initial value of the first counter.

[0177] Alternatively, if the initial value is greater than 0, the first device may sequentially decrement the value of the first counter. For example, the first device may receive a second message from the second device. Each time the second message is received, the first device may decrement the value of the first counter by 1 until the value of the first counter reaches 0. The second message may be used, for example, to decrement the first counter, to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, to indicate the next device to access, to indicate the next access opportunity, to synchronize at least one device, or to resolve conflicts for access by at least one device. For example, the second message may be a QueryRep message. The QueryRep message transmission mechanism can be described above. That is, during an access round, the second device may send a QueryRep message in each access opportunity, starting with the second access opportunity. For example, the second device may send a QueryRep message at the beginning of each access opportunity. After receiving a QueryRep message in a particular access opportunity, the first device decrements the value of the first counter to 0. The first device then transmits random information in that access opportunity. In this case, the first moment may be the moment when the value of the first counter is 0, or the moment when the first device receives a QueryRep message that sets the value of the first counter to 0. In this case, the QueryRep message is both the third message and the second message. Alternatively, the first moment may be the moment when the first device generates the first random information based on the value of the first counter being 0.

[0178] As described in S801, the first device can determine time A or the second duration based on the first indication information. If the first device determines time A, time A can be calculated from the first time. For example, if the first time is time T and time A determined by the first device is n, the first access time can be the nth time after time T.

[0179] For example, if the first indication information indicates that the first duration is 10ms, the protocol predefines the first duration to be 1ms, and the first device determines the moment A according to the first indication information as the 1ms, then the first access moment may be the 1ms after the first moment.

[0180] For another example, the first indication information indicates that the first duration is 10ms, the first step duration is 2ms, and the first device determines the moment A as the 2nd ms according to the first indication information. Then the first access moment may be the 2nd ms after the first moment.

[0181] For another example, the first indication information indicates that the first duration is 10ms, the first number is 5 (the access time corresponding to the first number does not include the start time of the first duration), and the first random number determined by the first device according to the first indication information is 2, then time A is Then the first access moment may be 4ms after the first moment. Alternatively, the first indication information indicates that the first duration is 10ms, the first number is 5 (the access moment corresponding to the first number does not include the end moment of the first duration), and the first random number determined by the first device according to the first indication information is 3, then the moment A is Then the first access time may be 4 ms after the first time.

[0182] Alternatively, if the first device determines a second duration, the first access moment may be counted from the first moment until the end of the second duration. For example, if the first moment is time T and the duration determined by the first device is n, the first access moment may be the end time of duration n after time T. For example, the first access moment is time T+n.

[0183] For example, if the first indication information indicates that the first duration is 10ms, the protocol predefines the first duration to be 1ms, and the first device determines the second duration to be 1ms based on the first indication information, then the first access moment may be an end moment 1ms after the first moment.

[0184] For another example, if the first indication information indicates that the first duration is 10ms and the first step duration is 2ms, and the first device determines the second duration as 2ms based on the first indication information, then the first access moment may be an end moment 2ms after the first moment.

[0185] For another example, the first indication information indicates that the first duration is 10ms, the first number is 5 (the access time corresponding to the first number does not include the start time of the first duration), and the first random number determined by the first device according to the first indication information is 2, then the second duration is Then the first access moment can be the end moment of 4ms after the first moment. Alternatively, the first indication information indicates that the first duration is 10ms, the first number is 5 (the access moment corresponding to the first number does not include the end moment of the first duration), and the first random number determined by the first device according to the first indication information is 3, then the second duration is Then the first access moment may be the end moment 4 ms after the first moment.

[0186] It is introduced in S801 that the first indication information may be included in the fourth message, and the fourth message has different implementation methods. If the fourth message indicates the access of the first type of device, or indicates the first type of device to perform the first service, or is used to page the first type of device, etc., for example, the fourth message is a paging message or a select message. Optionally, after S801, the embodiment of the present application may further include S803, for which reference may be made to Case 1 in Figure 8. Alternatively, if the query message and the paging message (or select message) are combined into one message, Case 1 may also not include S803, but the fourth message may further include the first information described in S803. In addition, optionally, in Case 1, the embodiment of the present application may further include the step of the second device sending a QueryRep message, which is not shown in the figure.

[0187] Alternatively, if the fourth message indicates access by at least one device, or indicates random access by at least one device, or indicates information for determining the initial value of a first counter, or is used for synchronization of at least one device, or performs conflict resolution for access by at least one device, or is used to initiate the next round of access, for example, the fourth message is a query message. The at least one device may include the first device, and optionally, the third device in FIG8 . Optionally, before S801 , the embodiment of the present application may further include S804 , for which reference may be made to Case 2 in FIG8 . In S804 , the second device sends message A, and the first device receives message A , which may indicate access by a first type of device, or indicate execution of a first service by a first type of device, or be used to page a first type of device, for example, message A is a paging message or a select message. FIG8 also includes a third device, which may also receive message A , for example, message A is a broadcast message. Alternatively, if the query message and the paging message (or select message) are combined into one message, the embodiment of the present application may not include S804 , and the fourth message may further implement the functionality of the paging message or the select message. In addition, in case 2, S801 and S803 may be the same step, which is represented by S801 in Figure 8. For example, the fourth message includes not only the first indication information but also the first information.

[0188] Alternatively, if the fourth message is used to decrement the first counter, or to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, or to indicate the access of the next device, or to indicate the next access timing, or to synchronize at least one device, or to resolve access conflicts for at least one device, for example, the fourth message is a QueryRep message. Optionally, before S801, this embodiment of the present application may further include S804 and / or S803. For this, reference may be made to Case 3 in FIG8 . For example, if the query message and the paging message (or select message) are not merged into one message but are two messages, then the embodiment of the present application may include S803 and S804, and case 3 in Figure 8 takes this as an example; or, if the query message and the paging message (or select message) are merged into one message, then case 3 may include S803 but not S804, wherein the message in which the first information in S803 is located can also implement the function of the paging message or the select message; or, if the query message and the paging message (or select message) are merged into one message, then case 3 may include S804 but not S803, wherein the message A in S804 may also include the first information.

[0189] Among them, in each embodiment of the present application, for the sake of simplicity of description, a message used to instruct at least one device to access, or instruct at least one device to perform random access, or indicate information for determining the initial value of a counter (such as a first counter), or for at least one device to obtain synchronization, or to resolve conflicts for access of at least one device, or to start the next round of access process, etc., is taken as an example of a query message, but the message may also be other messages that can achieve similar functions. That is, the query message in each embodiment of the present application can be replaced by a message used to instruct at least one device to access, or instruct at least one device to perform random access, or indicate information for determining the initial value of a first counter, or for at least one device to obtain synchronization, or to resolve conflicts for access of at least one device, or to start the next round of access process, etc.

[0190] In the various embodiments of the present application, for simplicity of description, a paging message or a select message is used as an example of a message for instructing a first type of device to access, instructing a first type of device to execute a first service, or for paging a first type of device. However, the message may also be another message capable of achieving similar functions. That is, the paging message or the select message in the various embodiments of the present application may be replaced by a message for instructing a first type of device to access, instructing a first type of device to execute a first service, or for paging a first type of device.

[0191] In the various embodiments of the present application, for ease of description, a QueryRep message is used as an example of a message used to decrement a counter (e.g., a first counter), decrement a counter (e.g., a first counter) by 1, indicate the next device access, indicate the next access timing, synchronize at least one device, or resolve access conflicts for at least one device. However, the message may also be another message capable of achieving similar functions. That is, the QueryRep message in the various embodiments of the present application may be replaced by a message used to decrement a counter (e.g., a first counter), decrement a counter (e.g., a first counter) by 1, indicate the next device access, indicate the next access timing, synchronize at least one device, or resolve access conflicts for at least one device.

[0192] The second device may also determine the first access time based on the first indication information. For example, the second device may determine one or more time points, or one or more durations based on the first indication information. That is, the first device may only select one time point or one duration based on the first indication information for sending the random information, while the second device may determine multiple time points or multiple durations.

[0193] For each of the one or more moments determined by the second device, the second device can determine the access moment corresponding to each moment based on the time when the query message or QueryRep message was sent, or the second device can determine the access moment corresponding to each moment in the current access opportunity based on the time when the query message or QueryRep message was sent, thereby detecting random information at each determined access moment. For example, in the first access opportunity, the second device can determine the access moment corresponding to each moment based on the time when the query message was sent; in subsequent access opportunities, the second device can determine the access moment corresponding to each moment based on the time when the QueryRep message was sent. For example, if a moment determined by the second device is 2ms, the access moment corresponding to the moment can be the 2ms after the second device sends the query message or QueryRep message, or the access moment corresponding to the moment included in the current access opportunity can be the 2ms after the second device sends the query message or QueryRep message. For another example, if the multiple moments determined by the second device are 2ms, 4ms, 6ms, and 8ms, the access moments corresponding to these moments may be the 2ms, 4ms, 6ms, and 8ms after the second device sends a query message or a QueryRep message, respectively. Alternatively, the access moments corresponding to these moments included in the current access opportunity may be the 2ms, 4ms, 6ms, and 8ms after the second device sends a query message or a QueryRep message.

[0194] Alternatively, for each of the one or more durations determined by the second device, the second device may determine the access moment corresponding to each duration based on the time at which the query message or QueryRep message was sent, or the second device may determine the access moment corresponding to each duration within the current access opportunity based on the time at which the query message or QueryRep was sent, thereby detecting random information at each determined access moment. For example, in the first access opportunity, the second device may determine the access moment corresponding to each duration based on the time at which the query message was sent; in subsequent access opportunities, the second device may determine the access moment corresponding to each duration based on the time at which the QueryRep message was sent. For example, if a duration determined by the second device is 2ms, the access moment corresponding to the duration may be the end moment 2ms after the second device sends the query message or QueryRep message, or the access moment corresponding to the duration included in the current access opportunity may be the end moment 2ms after the second device sends the query message or QueryRep message. For another example, if the multiple time lengths determined by the second device are 2ms, 4ms, 6ms, and 8ms, the access moments corresponding to these time lengths may be the end time of 2ms, the end time of 4ms, the end time of 6ms, and the end time of 8ms after the second device sends a query message or a QueryRep message, or the access moments corresponding to these time lengths included in the current access opportunity may be the end time of 2ms, the end time of 4ms, the end time of 6ms, and the end time of 8ms after the second device sends a query message or a QueryRep message.

[0195] In the above description, the second device determines the access time based on the time a Query message or QueryRep message is sent. Alternatively, the second device can determine the access time based on a first time, such as the time of sending the message plus the end time t. t can include processing time, which can be the same as the processing time described above. In other words, the second device can take the processing time of the first device into account and detect random information at a more appropriate time, thereby reducing the second device's power consumption.

[0196] In addition to the first and second devices, Figure 8 may also include a third device. For example, the third device is also a device of the first type. The processing mechanism of the third device is similar to that of the first device, illustrating how the embodiments of the present application reduce the probability of collision. The number of third devices may include one or more, with Figure 8 using one as an example. For example, the third device may also send random information, such as third random information. The time (e.g., the second access time) at which the third device sends the third random information is determined based on the first indication information. The method by which the third device determines this time is similar to the method by which the first device determines the first access time, and will not be further described. Furthermore, the counter maintained by the third device is, for example, called a third counter. The third device sends the third random information at the second access time after the value of the third counter reaches 0. After employing the embodiments of the present application, different devices may meet the condition that the first counter value is 0 within the same access opportunity. For example, the first time corresponding to different devices may be the same. However, these devices will re-determine the first access time based on the first indication information. This determination may be random, so the first access times determined by different devices are likely to be different. Therefore, different devices can send random information at different access times within one access opportunity, which reduces the collision probability of random information, improves transmission quality, and also increases the success rate of the second device in detecting random information.

[0197] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application may further include S805, the second device sends a fifth message. Accordingly, the first device receives the fifth message. The fifth message is, for example, ACK. Optionally, the fifth message may be a media access control (MAC) control element (CE), or may be a message of other protocol layers. In addition, for example, the third device may also receive the fifth message, and the fifth message may be a broadcast. Optionally, the second device may send the fifth message when or after the first time duration after sending the query message or the QueryRep message arrives. The first time duration indicates the latest time at which each device sends random information within the current access opportunity. For example, after the time indicated by the first time duration, each device no longer sends random information within the current access opportunity. If the second device sends the fifth message at this time, the probability of missing random information can be reduced.

[0198] The fifth message may include random information received by the second device in this access opportunity. For example, if the second device receives the first random information, the fifth message may include the first random information; for another example, if the second device receives the second random information, the fifth message may include the second random information. For the first device, if the received fifth message includes the first random information, the first device may determine that the access is successful; and if the received fifth message does not include the first random information, the first device may determine that the access has failed. If the first device fails to access, the first device may optionally continue to perform access in the next access opportunity or the next round of access, or may stop access. The processing method of the third device is similar.

[0199] If the fifth message includes the first random information, then optionally, after S805, the first device may also send the identifier of the first device to the second device. In addition, data transmission may also be performed between the first device and the second device, for example, refer to S205 to S206 in FIG. 2 , which will not be elaborated herein.

[0200] In an embodiment of the present application, when the first device (such as an AIoT device) accesses the network, it sends the first random information at the first access moment after the first moment, instead of sending the first random information at the first moment. The first moment is, for example, the moment when the first counter is 0. For example, the first device waits for a period of time when the first moment arrives, and performs the transmission again until the first access moment. This waiting period is determined according to the first indication information. For example, different devices have different waiting times determined according to the first indication information. Then, even if the first moment corresponding to two devices in one access opportunity (or one time unit) is the same, and because the waiting times of the two devices are different, the sending moments of the two devices in the access opportunity can be separated, thereby reducing the probability of collision between devices in one access opportunity and improving the transmission quality.

[0201] An embodiment of the present application provides another communication method. Please refer to Figure 9, which is a flowchart of the method.

[0202] S901. The first device obtains first indication information.

[0203] The first device may determine the time for sending the random information based on the first indication information. Alternatively, in the embodiment of the present application, the time capable of or used to send the random information may be referred to as the access moment, and the first device may determine the access moment for sending the random information based on the first indication information. Optionally, the first indication information may indicate one or more of the following: a first duration, a first step length, or a first quantity. For more information about the first indication information, please refer to S801 of the embodiment shown in Figure 8.

[0204] The first device may determine a time for sending the random information based on the first indication information. For example, the first device may determine a first value based on the first indication information, and the first value may determine the time for sending the random information. The first value may be greater than or equal to 0, or may be less than or equal to the first duration, or may be less than or equal to the first quantity.

[0205] In one implementation, the first indication information may be used to determine one or more values, and the first value belongs to the one or more values. For example, the first device may determine one or more values ​​based on the first indication information, and then select one value from the one or more values ​​as the first value. One selection method is, for example, random selection, or the first device may also adopt other selection methods. For example, the first indication information indicates a first duration and a first step duration, the first duration is 10ms, and the first step duration is 2ms, then the first device may determine 0ms, 2ms, 4ms, 6ms, 8ms accordingly, and these values ​​may be regarded as candidate values. The first device may randomly select one from the candidate values ​​as the first value, for example, the first device selects 2ms.

[0206] In another implementation, although the first indication information can be used to determine one or more values, the first device does not actually determine all of the one or more values, but only determines the first value based on the first indication information. For example, the first device obtains a random number based on the first indication information, and the random number indicates the first value.

[0207] For example, the first indication information indicates a first duration Y, and the first device determines a first value based on the first duration. For example, the first device determines a random number X based on the first duration, and uses the random number X as the first value, where the value range of X is X greater than or equal to 0, and X less than or equal to Y. For example, the first indication information indicates that the first duration is 10, and optionally, the unit can be ms. The first device determines that the range of the random number X is [0,10], or [0,9], or [1,10], etc. based on the first duration. For example, if the first device randomly determines that the random number X is 9, then the first value is 9.

[0208] Alternatively, the value range of X can also be X greater than or equal to 0 and X less than or equal to 2 Y For example, the first indication information indicates that the first duration is 4, optionally in ms. The first device determines that the range of the random number X is [0, 15] based on the first duration. The first device randomly determines that the random number X is 14, and the first value is 14.

[0209] For another example, the first indication information indicates a first quantity Y, and the first device determines a first value based on the first quantity. For example, the first device determines a random number X based on the first quantity, and uses the random number X as the first value. Here, the value range of X is X greater than or equal to 0, and X less than or equal to Y. For example, the first indication information indicates that the first quantity is 10, and the first device determines the range of random number X to be [0,10], or [0,9], or [1,10], etc. based on the first duration. The first device randomly determines that the random number X is 9, and then the first value is 9.

[0210] Alternatively, the value range of X can also be X greater than or equal to 0 and X less than or equal to 2 Y For example, the first indication information indicates that the first number is 4, the first device determines the random number X to be in the range of [0, 15] according to the first number, and the first device randomly determines the random number X to be 14, then the first value is 14.

[0211] For another example, the first indication information indicates the first duration and the first step duration, the first duration is 10ms, and the first step duration is 2ms. The first device randomly determines 4ms based on the first duration and the first step duration, but does not determine values ​​such as 0ms, 2ms, 6ms, and 8ms. In the above example, the first indication information directly indicates a specific value, for example, directly indicating that the first duration is 10ms. Alternatively, the first indication information can also be indicated indirectly. Optionally, the first indication information can indicate an index, where one index can correspond to a set of parameters, where a set of parameters can include one or more of the first duration, the first step duration, or the first quantity, so that the corresponding parameters can be determined through different indexes; and the first indication information does not need to indicate a specific time, which can also reduce the overhead of the first indication information.

[0212] Regarding the manner in which the first device obtains the first indication information, reference may be made to S801 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 .

[0213] S902: The first device sends first random information at the first access time. Correspondingly, the second device receives the first random information at the first access time.

[0214] Among them, the first access moment is a moment after the first moment, and the first access moment is determined by the first device according to the first indication information. Regarding the method of determining the first access moment, and regarding the first moment (including S903 similar to S803), the first information and other related content, please refer to the relevant introduction of the embodiment shown in Figure 8, for example, refer to steps S801 to S803 in the embodiment shown in Figure 8.

[0215] In an embodiment of the present application, the first device may determine the first value based on the first indication information, and then determine the first access moment based on the first value. Optionally, the first device may determine the first access moment directly based on the first value, or determine the first access moment based on the first value and a first message, where the first message comes from the second device, for example. For example, if the first value is 0, the first device may determine the first access moment based on the first value. Alternatively, if the first value is greater than 0, the first device may determine the first access moment based on the first value and the first message. Optionally, the first message may be used to decrement the value of a counter (such as the updated first counter or second counter), or to reduce the value of a counter (such as the updated first counter or second counter) by 1, or to indicate that the next device is accessing, etc. This is described below.

[0216] In an embodiment of the present application, the first device may maintain a first counter. For example, the first moment is a moment associated with the value of the first counter being 0. When the value of the first counter is 0, the first device does not immediately send random information, but instead may reassign a value to the first counter. For example, the first device may set the first counter to the first value, and the first counter at this time may be referred to as an updated first counter. The first access moment may be equal to or later than the moment when the value of the updated first counter is 0. In this manner, the first device does not need to maintain excessive counters, making implementation relatively simple.

[0217] For example, after the first device updates the first counter, if the first value is 0, the first access time may be equal to or later than the time when the updated value of the first counter is the first value.

[0218] Alternatively, after the first device updates the first counter, if the first value is not 0 (for example, greater than 0), then the first access moment may be equal to or later than the moment when the value of the updated first counter is 0. Optionally, if the first value is not 0, the first device may decrement the updated first counter one by one until the value of the updated first counter is 0. The way in which the first device decrements the updated first counter is, for example, decrementing the updated first counter according to the first message from the second device. The second device may send the first message one or more times within the current access opportunity, for which reference may be made to S904; each time the first device receives the first message, it decrements the value of the updated first counter by 1 until the value of the updated first counter is 0.

[0219] Optionally, the second device may send the first message in each access opportunity of some or all access opportunities during an access round, where the number or quantity of first messages sent in each access opportunity is the same or different. Optionally, the number of times the first message is sent in an access opportunity, the frequency of sending the first message in an access opportunity, or the length of the sub-time unit used to send the first message in an access opportunity may be determined based on the number of devices to be accessed and / or the first indication information, or may also be determined based on other factors. For example, if the number of devices to be accessed is large, the first message may be sent more times; or, if the time indicated by the first indication information is long, the first message may be sent more times. Optionally, the second device may be considered to send the first message once within a sub-time unit. That is, the time unit used to send the first message is a sub-time unit. A time unit (or, an access opportunity) may include one or more sub-time units. Therefore, the second device may send the first message once or multiple times in an access opportunity. For example, if a time unit is called a time slot, a sub-time unit may also be called a sub-time slot, or may have other names, without limitation.

[0220] Optionally, the second device may also indirectly or implicitly indicate the first step length through the time interval between sending two adjacent first messages. For example, the first indication information may indicate the first duration and / or the first quantity, but not the first step length. The first device may determine the first duration and / or the first quantity based on the first indication information, and may also determine the first step length based on the time interval between receiving two adjacent first messages, thereby determining the time for sending the random information.

[0221] The first message can be used to decrement the updated value of the first counter, decrement the updated value of the first counter by 1, or indicate the next device to access. The first message can function similarly to a QueryRep message. However, unlike a QueryRep message, a QueryRep message and a Query message cannot be sent in the same access opportunity, whereas a first message and a Query message can be sent in the same access opportunity. Furthermore, a first message and a QueryRep message can also be sent in the same access opportunity. For example, during an access round, the second device can send one or more first messages in each access opportunity included therein.

[0222] Alternatively, in an embodiment of the present application, the first device may maintain a first counter and a second counter, where the initial value of the second counter is determined, for example, based on the first indication information. Alternatively, the first device may simultaneously activate the first counter and the second counter. The initial value of the first counter can refer to the description of the embodiment shown in FIG8 , and the initial value of the second counter can be, for example, the sum of the initial value of the first counter and the first value. When the value of the first counter reaches 0, the first device does not immediately send the random information. Instead, it sends the random information when the value of the second counter reaches 0 or later. In other words, the first access time can be equal to or later than the time when the value of the second counter reaches 0. Alternatively, the first device may first activate the first counter, where the initial value of the first counter can refer to the description of the embodiment shown in FIG8 . When the value of the first counter is 0, the first device may set the first value for the second counter. When the value of the second counter reaches 0 or later, the first device sends the random information. In other words, the first access time can be equal to or later than the time when the value of the second counter reaches 0. In this manner, the first device can maintain corresponding timings using different counters, making the functions of the counters more specific.

[0223] For example, the first device sets the second counter to the first value when the value of the first counter is 0. If the first value is 0, the first access time may be equal to or later than the time when the value of the second counter is the first value.

[0224] Alternatively, the first device sets the second counter to the first value when the value of the first counter is 0. If the first value is not 0 (e.g., greater than 0), the first access time may be equal to or later than the time when the value of the second counter reaches 0. Alternatively, if the first value is not 0, the first device may decrement the second counter incrementally until the value of the second counter reaches 0. The first device decrements the second counter, for example, by decrementing the second counter based on a first message from the second device. For this purpose, reference may be made to the description of the first device decrementing the updated first counter based on the first message above.

[0225] Optionally, in various embodiments of the present application, the first access moment is equal to the moment when the value of a counter (such as the updated first counter or the second counter) is 0, which may include: the first device directly sends the first random information when the value of the counter is equal to 0.

[0226] Optionally, in various embodiments of the present application, the first access moment is later than the moment when the value of a certain counter (for example, the updated first counter or the second counter) is 0, and may include: when the value of the counter is equal to 0, the first device can first generate the first random information and then send the first random information.

[0227] It is introduced in S901 that the first indication information may be included in the fourth message, and the fourth message has different implementation methods. If the fourth message indicates the access of the first type of device, or indicates the first type of device to perform the first service, or is used to page the first type of device, etc., for example, the fourth message is a paging message or a select message. Optionally, after S901, the embodiment of the present application may further include S903, for which reference may be made to Case 1 in Figure 9. Alternatively, if the query message and the paging message (or select message) are combined into one message, Case 1 may not include S903, but the fourth message may further include the first information described in S903. In addition, optionally, Case 1 may further include the step of the second device sending a QueryRep message, which is not shown in the figure.

[0228] Alternatively, if the fourth message indicates access by at least one device, or indicates random access by at least one device, or indicates information for determining the initial value of a first counter, or is used for synchronization of at least one device, or performs conflict resolution for access by at least one device, or is used to initiate the next round of access procedures, for example, the fourth message is a query message. The at least one device may include the first device, and optionally, the third device in FIG. 9 . Optionally, before S901, the embodiment of the present application may further include S905, for which reference may be made to Case 2 in FIG. 9 . In S905, the second device sends message A, and the first device receives message A. Message A may indicate access by a first type of device, or indicate execution of a first service by a first type of device, or be used to page a first type of device, for example, message A may be a paging message or a select message. FIG. 9 also includes a third device, and the third device may also receive message A, for example, message A may be a broadcast message. Alternatively, if the query message and the paging message (or select message) are combined into one message, the embodiment of the present application may not include S905, and the fourth message may further implement the functionality of the paging message or the select message. In addition, in case 2, S901 and S905 may be the same step, which is represented by S901 in the figure. For example, the fourth message includes not only the first indication information but also the first information.

[0229] Alternatively, if the fourth message is used to decrement the first counter, or to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, or to indicate the access of the next device, or to indicate the next access timing, or to synchronize at least one device, or to resolve access conflicts for at least one device, for example, the fourth message is a QueryRep message. Optionally, before S901, the embodiment of the present application may further include S905 and / or S903. For this, reference may be made to Case 3 in FIG9 . For example, if the query message and the paging message (or select message) are not combined but are two messages, then Case 3 may include S903 and S905, as shown in FIG9 . Alternatively, if the query message and the paging message (or select message) are combined into one message, then Case 3 may include S903 but not S905, wherein the message containing the first information in S903 may also implement the functionality of the paging message or select message. Alternatively, if the query message and the paging message (or select message) are combined into one message, then Case 3 may include S905 but not S903, wherein Message A in S905 may also include the first information.

[0230] The second device may also determine the first access time based on the first indication information. For example, the second device may determine one or more values ​​based on the first indication information. That is, the first device may only select one value based on the first indication information, while the second device may determine multiple times or multiple values.

[0231] For each of the one or more values ​​determined by the second device, the second device can determine the access time corresponding to each value based on the time at which the query message or QueryRep message was sent, or the second device can determine the access time corresponding to each value within the current access opportunity based on the time at which the query message or QueryRep message was sent, thereby detecting random information at each determined access time. For example, in the first access opportunity, the second device can determine the access time corresponding to each value based on the time at which the query message was sent; in subsequent access opportunities, the second device can determine the access time corresponding to each value based on the time at which the QueryRep message was sent. For example, if a value determined by the second device is 2, the access time corresponding to this value can be the end time of the second sub-time unit after the time at which the query message or QueryRep message was sent.

[0232] In the above description, the second device determines the access time based on the sending time of the query message or QueryRep message. Alternatively, the second device may determine the access time based on a first time, such as the end time of the sending time + t. For this, please refer to the relevant description of the embodiment shown in Figure 8.

[0233] In addition to the first device and the second device, Figure 9 may also include a third device. The third device is also, for example, a device of the first type. The processing mechanism of the third device is similar to that of the first device, to illustrate how the embodiment of the present application reduces the probability of collision. The number of third devices may include one or more, and Figure 9 takes one as an example. For example, the third device may also send random information, for example, called third random information. The time when the third device sends the third random information (for example, the second access moment) is determined according to the first indication information. The way the third device determines the time is similar to the way the first device determines the first access moment, and will not be described in detail. For example, the third device maintains a third counter, reassigns a value to the third counter when the third counter is 0, and sends the third random information until the updated third counter is 0. The value reassigned to the third counter is determined according to the first indication information; or the third device maintains a third counter and a fourth counter, sends the third random information when the fourth counter is 0, and the initial value of the fourth counter is determined according to the first indication information. Among them, after adopting the embodiment of the present application, different devices may meet the condition that the value of the first counter is 0 within the same access opportunity. For example, the first moment corresponding to different devices may be the same; however, these devices will re-determine the first value based on the first indication information, and a random method can be used when determining the first value. Therefore, the first values ​​determined by different devices are likely to be different. Therefore, within a single access opportunity, different devices can send random information at different access moments, reducing the probability of random information collision, improving transmission quality, and also increasing the second device's detection success rate of random information.

[0234] Optionally, the embodiment of the present application may further include S906, where the second device sends a fifth message. Correspondingly, the first device receives the fifth message. For more information on this, please refer to S805 of the embodiment shown in FIG8 .

[0235] In an embodiment of the present application, when accessing the network, the first device (e.g., an AIoT device) sends the first random information at the first access moment after the first moment, rather than at the first moment. The first moment is, for example, the moment when the first counter is 0. For example, when the first moment arrives, the first device waits for a period of time until the first access moment before performing transmission. The waiting period is determined according to the first indication information. For example, different devices have different waiting times determined according to the first indication information. Then, even if the first moment corresponding to two devices in an access opportunity (or a time unit) is the same, due to the different waiting times of the two devices, the sending moments of the two devices in the access opportunity can be separated, thereby reducing the probability of collision between devices in an access opportunity and improving the transmission quality. In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, the first device can decrement the counter or implement timing based on the message from the second device, so that even if the capability of the first device is weak (for example, some devices may not be able to implement the timing function), the first device can still implement the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, which is conducive to expanding the scope of application of the embodiment of the present application.

[0236] The present embodiment provides another communication method. Please refer to Figure 10, which is a flowchart of the method. Unlike the previous embodiment, the AIoT device in the present embodiment does not need to maintain a counter.

[0237] S1001. The first device obtains second indication information.

[0238] The first device may determine a time for sending the random information based on the second indication information. Alternatively, in embodiments of the present application, the time capable of or used to send the random information may be referred to as an access moment, and the first device may determine the access moment for sending the random information based on the second indication information. Optionally, the second indication information may indicate one or more of the following: a third duration, a second step size, or a second quantity.

[0239] The third duration may indicate the latest time at which random information is sent within an access opportunity. The second step length is the time interval between two access moments within the third duration. The third number may indicate the number of access moments included in the third duration. For more information about the second indication information, please refer to the description of the first indication information in S801 of the embodiment shown in Figure 8, which are similar.

[0240] In addition, for more information about S1001, such as how the first device determines the time for sending random information (for example, the third access time) based on the second indication information, or how the first device obtains the second indication information, etc., please refer to S801 in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, for example, refer to how the first device determines the time for sending random information based on the first indication information in S801, and refer to how the first device obtains the first indication information in S801, etc.

[0241] S1002: The first device sends second random information at a third access time. Correspondingly, the second device receives the second random information at the third access time.

[0242] The third access moment is a moment after the second moment, and the third access moment is determined by the first device according to the second indication information. For the method of determining the third access moment, please refer to the relevant introduction of S1001.

[0243] The second moment is, for example, the moment when the first device receives the second indication information. That is, in the embodiment of the present application, the first device may not maintain a counter for determining the sending time of the random information, and the third access moment may be calculated from the moment when the second indication information is received, thereby simplifying the implementation of the first device.

[0244] As described in S1001, the first device can determine time A or the second duration based on the second indication information. If the first device determines time A, the third access time can be calculated starting from the second time. For example, if the second time is time T and the first device determines time A as n, the third access time can be the nth time after time T.

[0245] For example, if the second indication information indicates that the third duration is 10ms, the protocol predefines the second step length as 1ms, and the time determined by the first device according to the second indication information is the 1ms, then the third access time may be the 1ms after the second time.

[0246] For another example, the second indication information indicates that the third duration is 10ms, the second step length is 2ms, and the moment A determined by the first device according to the second indication information is the 2nd ms. Then the third access moment may be the 2nd ms after the second moment.

[0247] For another example, the second indication information indicates that the third duration is 10ms, the second number is 5 (the access time corresponding to the second number does not include the start time of the third duration), and the first random number determined by the first device according to the second indication information is 2, then time A is Then the third access moment may be 4ms after the second moment. Alternatively, the second indication information indicates that the third duration is 10ms, the second number is 5 (the access moment corresponding to the second number does not include the end moment of the third duration), and the first random number determined by the first device according to the second indication information is 3, then the moment A is Then the third access time may be 4 ms after the second time.

[0248] Alternatively, if the first device determines a second duration, the third access time may be counted from the second time until the end of the second duration. For example, if the second time is time T and the duration determined by the first device is n, the third access time may be the end time of duration n after time T. For example, the third access time is time T+n.

[0249] For example, if the second indication information indicates that the third duration is 10ms, the protocol predefines the second step length to be 1ms, and the first device determines the second duration to be 1ms based on the second indication information, then the third access moment may be an end moment 1ms after the second moment.

[0250] For another example, if the second indication information indicates that the third duration is 10ms, the second step is 2ms, and the first device determines the second duration as 2ms based on the second indication information, then the third access moment may be an end moment 2ms after the second moment.

[0251] For another example, the second indication information indicates that the third duration is 10ms, the second number is 5 (the access time corresponding to the second number does not include the start time of the third duration), and the first random number determined by the first device according to the second indication information is 2, then the second duration is Then the third access moment can be the end moment of 4ms after the second moment. Alternatively, the second indication information indicates that the third duration is 10ms, the second number is 5 (the access moment corresponding to the second number does not include the end moment of the third duration), and the first random number determined by the first device according to the second indication information is 3, then the second duration is The third access time may be an end time 4 ms after the second time.

[0252] Optionally, the second indication information may be information predefined by the protocol, and the first device can obtain the second indication information according to the information predefined by the protocol.

[0253] Or, optionally, the first device may receive the second indication information, for example, the second indication information is included in the seventh message, and the seventh message comes from the second device, or may also come from other devices.

[0254] The seventh message, for example, indicates access to the first type of device, or indicates that the first type of device executes the first service, or is used to page the first type of device, etc. For example, if the seventh message is a paging message or a select message, the second moment may be the moment when the first device receives the paging message or the select message; or, the seventh message may be other messages that can achieve similar functions. At this time, the second indication information may correspond to the first type of device, or to the current service (such as the first service). Any device of the first type or any device that executes the current service may use the second indication information. For example, the second indication information may be used regardless of whether one or multiple rounds of access procedures are performed. The first service may be, for example, an inventory service, or may be other services.

[0255] Alternatively, the seventh message may instruct at least one device to access, instruct at least one device to perform random access, be used for at least one device to acquire synchronization, or perform conflict resolution for access by at least one device. The at least one device may include the first device, and optionally, the third device in Figure 9 . For example, if the seventh message is a query message, the second moment may be the moment the first device receives the query message; alternatively, the seventh message may be another message capable of performing similar functions. In this case, the second indication information may correspond to the current access round (i.e., the access round in which the first device receives the second indication information) or the current service round. For example, if the current access round ends and the next access round is to be performed, the second device may send the second indication information again. This approach facilitates the updating of the second indication information. For example, after a round of access ends, some devices of the first type may have already accessed the second device, reducing the number of devices to be accessed. The second device may assess the number of devices to be accessed and, therefore, reduce the time indicated by the second indication information (e.g., by reducing the third duration) in the next access round to reduce conflicts and access latency at a finer granularity.

[0256] Alternatively, the seventh message may also be other broadcast messages other than the above types of messages, such as a message dedicated to sending the second indication information, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0257] Alternatively, the above-mentioned messages may be combined. For example, the second device may first indicate the second list through a paging message, a select message, or other broadcast messages other than the above-mentioned types of messages. The second list may include a correspondence between an index and a parameter, wherein one index may correspond to a set of parameters, wherein a set of parameters may include one or more of a third duration, a second step length, or a second quantity. For example, the first list may include one or more correspondences, wherein one correspondence is a correspondence between an index and a set of parameters. For example, the first list may include a correspondence between a first index and a set of parameters A, a correspondence between a second index and a set of parameters B, a correspondence between an Mth index and a set of parameters M, and so on, where M is a positive integer. In addition, the second device may send a second indication message through a query message or other message with similar functions. The second indication message may indicate an index in the second list. The first device then queries the second list to determine the parameters indicated by the second indication message, thereby determining the time for sending random information. For another example, the second device may first indicate partial information for determining the time to send the random information through a paging message, a select message, or other broadcast message other than the above types of messages, and then send the remaining information for determining the time to send the random information through a query message, a QueryRep message, or other messages with similar functions, so that the first device can obtain the information for determining the time to send the random information. For example, the second device may first indicate the third duration through a paging message, and then indicate the second step length through a query message. The first device may determine the time to send the random information based on the paging message and the query message.

[0258] Alternatively, the method predefined by the protocol and the method indicated by the second device can also be combined. For example, the protocol can predefine partial information for determining the time of sending random information, and the second device then sends the remaining information for determining the time of sending random information through the second indication information, so that the first device can obtain the information for determining the time of sending random information. For example, the protocol predefines a second step length, and the second device indicates a third duration through the second indication information, then the first device can determine the time for sending random information based on the information predefined by the protocol and the second indication information. For another example, the protocol can predefine the above-mentioned second list, and the second device then sends the second indication information, and the second indication information can indicate an index in the second list, then the first device can determine the time for sending random information based on the second list predefined by the protocol and the second indication information.

[0259] Optionally, if the seventh message indicates that the first type of device accesses, or indicates that the first type of device performs the first service, or is used to page the first type of device, etc., for example, the seventh message is a paging message or a select message. Optionally, after S1001, the embodiment of the present application may further include S1003, in which the second device sends message B, and correspondingly, the first device receives message B. If message B is, for example, a broadcast message, the third device in Figure 10 may also receive message B. Message B may indicate that at least one device accesses, or indicate that at least one device performs random access, etc., for example, message B is a query message. Among them, because the embodiment of the present application cancels the counter, the message B in the embodiment of the present application may not include the first information described in the embodiment shown in Figure 8. Alternatively, message B and the seventh message (or select message) are combined into one message, then the embodiment of the present application may not include S1003, but the seventh message may also implement the function of message B.

[0260] Alternatively, if the seventh message indicates access to at least one device, or indicates random access to at least one device, or is used to obtain synchronization for at least one device, or performs conflict resolution for access to at least one device, for example, the seventh message is a query message. Since the counter is canceled in the embodiment of the present application, the seventh message may not include the first information described in the embodiment shown in FIG8 . The at least one device may include a first device, and optionally, a third device in FIG10 . Optionally, before S1001, the embodiment of the present application may further include S1004, where the second device sends message A, and accordingly, the first device receives message A. Message A may indicate access to a first type of device, or indicate execution of a first service by a first type of device, or be used to page a first type of device, for example, message A is a paging message or a select message. FIG10 also includes a third device, and the third device may also receive message A, for example, message A is a broadcast message. Alternatively, the seventh message is combined with message A into one message, and the embodiment of the present application may not include S1004, but the seventh message may also implement the function of a paging message or a select message. In addition, in this case, S1001 and S1003 may be the same step, which is represented by S1001 in the figure. For example, the seventh message not only includes the first indication information, but also implements the function of message A.

[0261] The second device may also determine the third access time based on the second indication information. For example, the second device may determine one or more time points, or one or more durations based on the second indication information. That is, the first device may only select one time point or one duration based on the second indication information for sending the random information, while the second device may determine multiple time points or multiple durations.

[0262] For each of the one or more moments determined by the second device, the second device can determine the access moment corresponding to each moment based on the time when the second indication information was sent, thereby detecting random information at each determined access moment. For example, if a moment determined by the second device is 2 ms, then the access moment corresponding to this moment can be 2 ms after the second device sends the second indication information. For another example, if the multiple moments determined by the second device are 2 ms, 4 ms, 6 ms, and 8 ms, respectively, then the access moments corresponding to these moments can be 2 ms, 4 ms, 6 ms, and 8 ms, respectively, after the second device sends the second indication information.

[0263] Alternatively, for each of the one or more durations determined by the second device, the second device may determine the access moment corresponding to each duration based on the sending time of the second indication information, thereby detecting random information at each determined access moment. For example, if a duration determined by the second device is 2ms, the access moment corresponding to the duration may be the end moment 2ms after the second device sends the second indication information. For another example, if the multiple durations determined by the second device are 2ms, 4ms, 6ms, and 8ms, the access moments corresponding to these durations may be the end moment 2ms, the end moment 4ms, the end moment 6ms, and the end moment 8ms after the second device sends the second indication information.

[0264] In addition to the first and second devices, Figure 10 may also include a third device. For example, the third device is also a device of the first type. The processing mechanism of the third device is similar to that of the first device, and is used to illustrate how the embodiments of the present application reduce the probability of collision. The number of third devices may include one or more, with Figure 10 using one as an example. For example, the third device may also send random information, such as fourth random information. The time at which the third device sends the fourth random information (e.g., the fourth access time) is determined based on the second indication information. The method by which the third device determines this time is similar to the method by which the first device determines the third access time, and will not be described in detail. After adopting the embodiments of the present application, the second time corresponding to different devices may be the same; however, these devices will determine the third access time based on the second indication information. This determination may use a random method, so the third access times determined by different devices are likely to be different. This allows different devices to send random information at different access times within a single access opportunity, reducing the probability of random information collision, improving transmission quality, and increasing the success rate of random information detection by the second device.

[0265] Optionally, the embodiment of the present application may further include S1005, where the second device sends an eighth message. Correspondingly, the first device receives the eighth message. For more information on this, please refer to the introduction to the fifth message in S805 of the embodiment shown in FIG8 .

[0266] In an embodiment of the present application, when the first device (such as an AIoT device) accesses the network, it sends the first random information at the third access moment after the second moment, rather than sending the first random information at the second moment. For example, when the second moment arrives, the first device waits for a period of time until the third access moment to perform the transmission. This waiting period is determined according to the second indication information. For example, different devices have different waiting times determined according to the second indication information. Then, even if the second moments corresponding to the two devices in one access opportunity (or one time unit) are the same, due to the different waiting times of the two devices, the sending moments of the two devices in the access opportunity can be separated, thereby reducing the probability of collision between the devices in one access opportunity and improving the transmission quality. Moreover, the first device in the embodiment of the present application does not need to maintain a counter, which is conducive to simplifying the implementation of the first device. In addition, since the first device does not need to maintain a counter, the second device does not need to send a QueryRep message, saving signaling overhead.

[0267] Figure 11 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1100 may be the first device described in the embodiment shown in any of Figures 8 to 10, for implementing the method corresponding to the first device in the above method embodiment. The first device is, for example, an independent device, or a functional module or circuit system provided in other devices. Alternatively, the communication device 1100 may be the second device described in the embodiment shown in any of Figures 8 to 10, for implementing the method corresponding to the second device in the above method embodiment. The second device is, for example, an independent device, or a functional module or circuit system provided in other devices. Among them, for example, a circuit system is a chip system.

[0268] The communication device 1100 includes at least one processor 1101. Processor 1101 can be used for internal processing of the device to implement certain control processing functions. Optionally, processor 1101 includes instructions. Optionally, processor 1101 can store data. Optionally, different processors can be independent devices, located in different physical locations, or on different integrated circuits. Optionally, different processors can be integrated into one or more processors, for example, on one or more integrated circuits.

[0269] Optionally, the communication device 1100 includes one or more memories 1103 for storing instructions. Optionally, data may also be stored in the memories 1103. The processor and memory may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0270] Optionally, the communication device 1100 includes a communication line 1102 and at least one communication interface 1104. Since the memory 1103, the communication line 1102 and the communication interface 1104 are all optional, they are indicated by dotted lines in FIG11 .

[0271] Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a transceiver and / or an antenna. The transceiver may be used to send information to or receive information from other devices. The transceiver may be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, an input / output interface, etc., and is used to implement the transceiver function of the communication device 1100 via an antenna. Optionally, the transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. For example, the transmitter may be used to generate a radio frequency signal from a baseband signal, and the receiver may be used to convert the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal.

[0272] The processor 1101 may include a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the present application.

[0273] The communication link 1102 may include a pathway for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

[0274] The communication interface 1104 uses any transceiver or other device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, radio access network (RAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), wired access network, etc.

[0275] The memory 1103 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, an optical disc storage (including a compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory 1103 may exist independently and be connected to the processor 1101 via the communication line 1102. Alternatively, the memory 1103 may be integrated with the processor 1101.

[0276] The memory 1103 is used to store computer-executable instructions for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 1101. The processor 1101 is used to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1103, thereby implementing the steps performed by the first device in the embodiment shown in any of Figures 8 to 10, and / or the steps performed by the second device in the embodiment shown in any of Figures 8 to 10.

[0277] Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application code, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0278] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 1101 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG11 .

[0279] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 1100 may include multiple processors, such as the processor 1101 and the processor 1105 in FIG11 . Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. The processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0280] When the device shown in FIG11 is a chip, for example, the first device is a chip or the second device is a chip, the chip includes a processor 1101 (and may also include a processor 1105), a communication circuit 1102, and a communication interface 1104. Optionally, the chip may include a memory 1103. Specifically, the communication interface 1104 may be an input interface, a pin, or a circuit. The memory 1103 may be a register, a cache, or the like. The processor 1101 and the processor 1105 may be a general-purpose CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of a program according to any of the above-described embodiments of the communication method.

[0281] In the embodiment of the present application, the functional modules of the device can be divided according to the above-mentioned method examples. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above-mentioned integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, in the case of dividing each functional module according to each function, Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a device. The device 1200 can be the first device or the second device involved in the above-mentioned various method embodiments. The first device is, for example, an independent device or functional module or chip, and the second device is, for example, an independent device or functional module or chip. The device 1200 includes a processing unit 1202 and a transceiver unit 1201.

[0282] It should be understood that the device 1200 can be used to implement the steps performed by the first device and / or the second device in the communication method of the embodiment of the present application. The relevant features can refer to the embodiments shown in any of the figures in Figures 8 to 10 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0283] Optionally, the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver unit 1201 and the processing unit 1202 in FIG12 may be implemented by the processor 1101 in FIG11 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1103. Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing unit 1202 in FIG12 may be implemented by the processor 1101 in FIG11 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1103, and the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver unit 1201 in FIG12 may be implemented by the communication interface 1104 in FIG11.

[0284] Optionally, when the device 1200 is a chip or circuit, the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver unit 1201 may also be implemented via pins or circuits. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1201 may include a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit, where the transmitting unit is configured to implement the transmitting function and the receiving unit is configured to implement the receiving function. Alternatively, the transceiver unit 1201 may be an integral module capable of implementing the transmitting function and / or the receiving function. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1201 may be implemented via a transceiver.

[0285] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction, and when the computer program or instruction is run, implements the method performed by the first device and / or the second device in the aforementioned method embodiment. In this way, the functions described in the above embodiments can be implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can essentially or in other words, the part that contributes or the part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. Storage media include various media that can store program codes, such as USB flash drives, mobile hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0286] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when running on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method executed by the first device and / or the second device in any of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0287] An embodiment of the present application further provides a processing device, including a processor and an interface; the processor is used to execute the method executed by the first device and / or the second device involved in any of the above method embodiments.

[0288] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When software is used for implementation, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions 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 instructions 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 a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrations. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid-state drive (SSD)).

[0289] The various illustrative logic units and circuits described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented or operated by a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, and optionally, the general-purpose processor can also be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine. The processor can also be implemented by a combination of computing devices, such as a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

[0290] The steps of the methods or algorithms described in the embodiments of the present application can be directly embedded in hardware, software units executed by a processor, or a combination of the two. The software unit can be stored in RAM, flash memory, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or other storage media in any form known in the art. Exemplarily, the storage medium can be connected to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium can also be integrated into the processor. The processor and storage medium can be provided in an ASIC, which can be provided in a terminal device. Alternatively, the processor and storage medium can also be provided in different components in the terminal device.

[0291] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0292] The contents of the various embodiments of this application can refer to each other. If there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their internal logical relationships.

[0293] It is understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the first device and / or the second device can perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application. These steps or operations are merely examples. In the embodiments of the present application, other operations or variations of various operations can also be performed. In addition, the various steps can be performed in a different order than those presented in the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application need to be performed.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Obtaining first indication information, where the first indication information indicates one or more of the following: a first duration, where the first duration is used to indicate a latest time for sending random information in an access opportunity; a first step duration, where the first step duration is a time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or a first number, where the first number is used to indicate a number of access moments within the first duration; Sending first random information at a first access moment, wherein the first access moment is a moment after the first moment, the first moment is a moment associated with a value of a first counter being 0, and the first access moment is determined according to the first indication information, and the first counter is used to determine a sending time of the first random information.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first access time is determined according to the first indication information, including: The first indication information is used to determine one or more time moments, and the first access time moment is one of the one or more time moments; or The first indication information is used to determine one or more durations, where the one or more durations include a second duration, and the first access moment is a moment when the second duration arrives after the first moment.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first access time is determined according to the first indication information, including: The first indication information is used to determine one or more values, where the one or more values ​​include a first value, and the first access time is determined based on the first value.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first value is a value updated by the first counter when the value of the first counter is 0, wherein the first access time is equal to or later than the time when the updated value of the first counter is 0; or The first value is a value of a second counter, wherein the first access time is equal to or later than a time when the value of the second counter is 0.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that If the first value is 0, the first access time is equal to or later than the time when the value of the first counter or the second counter is the first value.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The method further comprises: If the first value is not 0, receiving a first message; decrementing the value of the first counter or the second counter by 1 according to the first message; When the value of the first counter or the second counter reaches 0, it is determined that the first access time is equal to or later than the time when the value of the first counter or the second counter reaches 0.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The method further comprises: First information is received, where the first information is used to determine an initial value of the first counter, where the initial value is greater than or equal to 0.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: If the initial value is greater than 0, receiving a second message; The value of the first counter is decremented according to the second message until the value of the first counter reaches 0.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The first moment is the moment when the value of the first counter is 0; or, The first moment is a moment when a third message is received, and the third message is used to determine that the value of the first counter is 0.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The third message is used to instruct the first device to perform access, or to indicate information used to determine an initial value of the first counter, or to enable at least one device to acquire synchronization, or to resolve access conflicts for at least one device, or to start a next round of access procedures; or The third message is used to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, or to indicate the access of the next device, or to indicate the next access timing, or to enable at least one device to acquire synchronization, or to resolve conflicts for access of at least one device.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The first indication information is included in a fourth message, wherein: The fourth message is used to instruct the first type of device to access, or to instruct the first type of device to perform a first service, wherein the first a device is a device of the first type; or, The fourth message is used to instruct the first device to perform access, or to indicate information used to determine an initial value of the first counter, or to enable at least one device to acquire synchronization, or to resolve access conflicts for at least one device, or to start a next round of access procedures; or The fourth message is used to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, or to indicate the access of the next device, or to indicate the next access timing, or to enable at least one device to acquire synchronization, or to resolve conflicts for access of at least one device.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a fifth message; If the fifth message includes the first random information, it is determined that the access is successful; otherwise, it is determined that the access fails.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: The method is applied to an AIoT device.

14. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Sending first indication information, where the first indication information indicates one or more of the following: a first duration, where the first duration is used to indicate a latest time for sending random information in an access opportunity; a first step duration, where the first step duration is a time interval between two access moments within the first duration; or a first number, where the first number is used to indicate a number of access moments within the first duration; Random information is detected at a first access moment, wherein the first access moment is determined according to the first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine a sending time of the random information.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The first access time is determined according to the first indication information, including: The first indication information is used to determine one or more time moments, and the first access time moment is one of the one or more time moments; or The first indication information is used to determine one or more time durations, and the one or more time durations include a second time duration. The first access moment is the moment when the second time duration arrives after the first moment. The first moment is the moment of sending the sixth message. The sixth message is used to indicate the access of a first type of device, or to indicate the execution of a first service by a first type of device, or to indicate at least one device to execute access, or to reduce the value of a first counter by 1. The first counter is used to determine the sending time of the random information.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: A first message is sent, where the first message is used to decrement a value of a first counter or a second counter, wherein before decrementing, the value of the first counter or the second counter is a first value determined according to the first indication information.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The first indication information is used to determine one or more values, where the one or more values ​​include the first value, and the first access time is determined based on the first value.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: First information is sent, where the first information is used to determine an initial value of a first counter, where the initial value is greater than or equal to 0.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The method further comprises: A second message is sent, where the second message is used to reduce the value of the first counter by 1.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that The first indication information is determined according to the number of devices to be connected and / or the first information.

21. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 20, characterized in that The first indication information is included in a fourth message, wherein: The fourth message is used to instruct the first type of device to access, or to instruct the first type of device to perform a first service; or The fourth message is used to instruct at least one device to perform access, or to indicate information used to determine an initial value of the first counter, or to enable at least one device to acquire synchronization, or to resolve access conflicts for at least one device, or to start a next round of access procedures; or, The fourth message is used to decrement the value of the first counter by 1, or to indicate the access of the next device, or to indicate the next access opportunity, or to enable at least one device to acquire synchronization, or to resolve conflicts for access of at least one device.

22. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 21, characterized in that The method further comprises: A fifth message is sent, where the fifth message includes the random information.

23. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit, wherein the processing unit is coupled to the transceiver unit to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or execute the method according to any one of claims 14 to 22.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor, and the processor is configured to cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or to cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 14 to 22.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or enables the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 14 to 22.

26. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program, and when the computer program is run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 14 to 22.

27. A chip, characterized in that: The chip includes: A processor and an interface, wherein the processor is used to call and run instructions from the interface, and when the processor executes the instructions, implements the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or implements the method according to any one of claims 14 to 22.

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